GB2062044A - Garden sheds - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to overcome transportation problems etc., a shed of modular construction comprises a set of wall modules (10, 16, 22) assembled to form a box-like structure of uniform height with a further set of modules (40, 62, 66) assembled onto the structure to give a desired roof inclination e.g. single or double pitched. Preferably door (22), window (16) and wall (10) modules are approximately the same rectangular shape and size and have peripheral frames (12). Wall and window modules will have cladding (14), for example weatherboard, on at least part of one side thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to garden sheds or the like The invention relates to garden sheds and the like.

Usually garden sheds are prefabricated, i.e.

sidewalls, roof and floor factory-built, and erected at the customer's chosen site. Typical sizes of sheds are 4' x 4', 6' x 4', 8' x 6' or larger, usually with a height of 6ft. or more to give adequate headroom.

It will be appreciated then that the prefabricated parts will be relatively large and awkward to handle during transportation. Thus such prefabricated sheds usually have to be transported by relatively large goods vehicle manned by two people, since one person cannot load and unload the parts or, where applicable, erect the shed. Such transportation leads of course to increased costs which are passed onto the customer.

A further disadvantage for the customer is that, after the shed has been ordered, delivery may be delayed for several days, or even weeks if, as is common, the supplier does not carry a full range of the different sizes of shed.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid problems and to this end there is provided a garden shed of modular construction.

Thus, according to one aspect of the invention a garden or like shed comprises a plurality of modules, e.g. wall panels of similar height and width, each of such a size that it can be handled easily by one person and transported by private transport, such as in an estate car, light van or on a roof rack.

According to another aspect of the invention a garden or like shed comprises a plurality of modules assembled together to form a box-like structure of uniform height. A further set of modules may then be assembled onto the structure to give a desired roof inclination, e.g.

single pitch (pent) or double pitch (pitched).

Such a roof kit will usually comprise triangular wall extension modules to fit upon and extend upwardly from the tops of modules forming opposite walls of the shed such that the uppermost edges of the extension modules will support the shed roof at a desired inclination.

For a pitched roof, a pair of isosceles-triangular wall extension modules having bases substantially equal to the subject wall width, will provide the required gable wall shape. Alternatively a pair of oppositely handed right-angled wall extension modules may be used to provide a uniformly sloped upper edge to support a pent roof.

In preferred embodiments each wall module comprises a rectangular peripheral framework, the intention being that modules can be secured edge-to-edge by the framework to form a wall of any desired width.

For a normal wall section the frame will be clad with tongue and groove timber, weatherboard or other suitable board.

Where doorways are required the same basic module frame will be used but with a door hinged thereto.

Where the basic framed modules must be connected at angles e.g. at corners, a suitable.

corner or angle part e.g. solid timber post, may be provided, to which the frames of the respective modules will be attached.

Windows may be provided as and when required merely by dividing the basic frame, say by a horizontal frame member, glazing one part thereof and cladding the remainder.

Preferably a window sill takes the form of a plastics strip which is secured to the frame by one web with the other limb spaced from the wall to form a drip edge. Typically the strip will be of Lsection.

Similar strips may be used for securing roofing felt to the roof and be provided around the roof edges or eaves, again with one web spaced to form a drip edge and along the ridge. In the latter case different ridge angles can be accommodated if the strip is sufficiently flexible.

Where the length of the roof is such that several pieces of roofing felt are required it is preferred to overlap them and then use more plastics strips conveniently flat as battens nailed through to retain the felt.

According to a further aspect of the invention an assemblage of parts for assembling a garden or like shed comprises a plurality of modules having peripheral framework clad on at least part of one side, the modules each having a width which is a multiple of a predetermined unit width.

According to another aspect of the invention an assemblage of parts for extending a garden shed comprises a plurality of wall modules, one or more roof modules or/and one or more floor modules, all of the same unit width.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a selection of modules for a garden or like shed; Figure 2 is an exploded view of a part of a modular garden shed having a double-pitched roof; Figure 3 is a cutaway perspective view of the shed; Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 but of a shed having a single pitch or pent roof; and Figure 5 is a cutaway perspective view of the pent roof shed; Figure 6 shows a selection of different sheds which can be made with modules shown in Figure 1.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a wall module 1 0 comprises a rectangular timber frame 12 clad with horizontal strips 14 of weatherboard or tongued-and-grooved timber..

A window frame module 16 comprises a similar frame 12 divided into two by a horizontal bar 18.

Below the bar 18 the frame has cladding 14, the window opening 20 above the bar 18 being equipped with beading (not shown) for securing a pane of glass in conventional manner.

A door module 22 also comprises a rectangular frame 12 differing only from that used for the wall and window modules in that it has a more substantial post 24 at one side. A door 26 is secured in the frame by hinges 27 attached to the post 24.

These wall, door and window modules are all of the same height, 1625 mm and unit width "W" of 750 mm. A further wall module 28, has a width equal to one half the unit width i.e. 375 mm. The purpose of this half-width wall module will become apparent later.

The garden shed of Figures 2 and 3 comprises a kit of seven wall modules 10, one window module 16, one door module 22 and two half-wall modules 28. The modules are secured together edge-to-edge by bolting 30 through registering holes in the juxtaposed uprights of adjacent frames to form a box-like structure of uniform height, three units "W" along and two units "W" wide. The half units 28 allow the door module to be positioned centrally of the end or gable wall.

As can be seen from Figure 2a, at the corners of the shed the adjacent modules are secured to a corner post 32 by screws 34 extending through the frame uprights 12.

The modules are assembled around a floor comprising three floor modules 36 each 1560 mm long by 780 mm wide. These modules 36 also have rectangular frames and are secured together in the same way as the wall modules, the frames being clad with a suitable strong board such as plywood, flooring grade chipboard or ASPENITE (trade mark).

A gable wall extension module 40 has a peripheral timber frame 42 clad with weatherboard and has the form of an isosceles triangle with a base length equal to 1560 mm i.e.

approximately two units "W". Two extension modules 40 are secured to the top of the respective end-walls of the box-like structure to form double-pitched gable ends.

The pitched roof of the shed comprises a plurality of roof sections 44, again having peripheral frames and clad with plywood, chipboard or the like. As can be seen from the detailed inset to Figure 3, the frame members at the ridge and eaves incline inwardly at an angle corresponding to the pitch of the roof. At the ridge, juxtaposed frame members are secured together by a tie bar 46 nailed or screwed to both. At the eaves the inclined frame members rest upon, and are bolted or screwed in the usual way to, the upperframe members of the sidewalls.

Additional rigidity for the roof is provided by tie members 50 attached at their opposite ends to central portion of frame parts of the roof modules, and by steel angle plates 52 at the eaves.

It should be noted that the roof modules are each of the same unit width as the wall modules but of slightly longer length and that the joints of roof, wall and, where applicable, floor modules are in register.

Roofing felt or plastics sheeting is applied to the roof in strips 56 which extend from side-toside and overlap. The strips 56 are secured in place by nails or tacks and also be plastics angle sections 58 secured along the ridge and at the gable ends and eaves. The plastics sections at the ridge are relatively thin so as to flex to accommodate different roof pitch angles. At the gable ends and eaves the plastics section are preferably fixed so that the depending limb is spaced from the adjacent shed wall to form a "drip" lip.

Figures 4 and 5 show a single pitch or pentroofed shed 60 constructed using the same number of wall 10, door 22 and window 1 6 modules as the shed previously described to form a box-like structure of uniform height.

The pent-roof inclination is achieved using a pair of oppositely handed wall extension modules 62, each in the form of a right-angled triangle with a base length 1530 mm approximately equal to two unit widths and of framed construction similar to the other modules. The extension modules 62 are each secured to the upper edge of a respective one of the opposed end walls so that their vertical edges are adjacent the same wall 64 of the shed.

That wall 64 is then extended by rectangular wall extension modules 66, each of clad, framed construction to match the main wall modules.

Each extension module 64 has a width "W" and height equal to the vertical edge of the triangular extension member 62 i.e. 350 mm.

The pent-roof of the shed comprises roof modules 68 similar in construction to those used for the double-pitched roof shed, secured at the eave or lower point in the same way and secured at the opposite or upper edge by a fillet or cross member 70 extending across the angle between, and secured to, the roof member 68 and wall extension member 66, respectively.

The roof covering is by means of felt and plastics strip in a similar manner to that described for the double-pitched roof shed.

In both cases, flat plastics strip, nailed through the overlapped portions may be used as battens to secure the roofing felt or plastic.

In both embodiments angled plastics strip of similar section to that used for the roof may be used as a window sill, being secured to the intermediate frame 18 of the window opening by one web so that the other web projects downwardly away from the shed wall, thus forming a "drip" lip.

It will be appreciated that various permutations of the basic wall, door and window modules will enable sheds of many different shapes and sizes to be assembled having lengths and widths which are multiplies of the unit width "W". Clearly halfwidth wall modules or even other fractional widths could be used to give intermediate lengths and widths, although it is intended that they be used primarily for door and window positioning purposes.

Figure 6 shows a selection of the many different sheds which can be produced. It will be noted that two of the gable wall extension modules of the shed shown in Figure 6(a) could be used instead of the isosceles wall extension module 40.

Apart from providing ease of handling and erection; embodiments of the invention are advantageous in providing for different sizes of shed to be selected from a basic range of modules, each of the same unit width.

It is anticipated that a supplier will keep a stock of basic wall, window and door modules plus a selection of special roof kits. The customer will choose a roof kit which is particular to a shed of a desired size and shape.

The choice of roof kit will then determine the perimeter of shed base and hence how many modules will be required. These can then be selected to give whatever door/window configuration the customer prefers. For example, doors could be provided at both ends of the sheds.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the supplier will be able to supply almost any shape or size of shed "off the shelf" yet with little outlay on stock as compared with conventional prefabricated sheds.

The sizes of the modules will be such that they can be stored on supermarket or department stores shelves.

A further advantage of sheds embodying the present invention is that they can be extended merely by inserting additional wall and roof modules (plus floor modules if required).

Thus it will be appreciated that the shed shown in Figure 6(h) could be extended to make that shown in Figure 6(i) merely by adding a set of modules comprising a 2 x 1 floor module, a window module 80 a wall module (opposite side) and a pair of roof modules 81.

Hence the invention also comprehends a set of modules for extending a shed in the aforesaid manner.

Claims (25)

1. A garden or like shed comprising a plurality of wall modules assembled to form a box-like structure of uniform height and a plurality of wall extension modules extending upwardly from at least some of the wall modules to support one or more inclined roofing modules.

2. A garden or like shed as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more wall extension modules are provided at each gable end wall to support a double pitched roof.

3. A garden or like shed as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wall extension modules comprise two members of isosceles triangular form each secured to a different gable end of the shed.

4. A garden or like shed as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more wall extension modules are provided at each gable end to support a single pitch or pent roof.

5. A garden or like shed as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wall extension modules comprise a pair of oppositely handed right-angled triangles, each secured at a different gable end of the shed.

6. A garden or like shed comprising a plurality of wall modules each comprising a rectangular peripheral frame having cladding on at least part of one side thereof.

7. A garden or like shed as claimed in claim 6 comprising a plurality of said modules assembled edge-to-edge to form a wall, juxtaposed upright frame sections of adjacent modules being secured together.

8. A garden or like shed as claimed in claim 6 or 7, including at each corner of the shed an upright corner post to which are secured respective upright frame portions of the pair wall modules adjacent said corner.

9. A garden or like shed as claimed in any preceding claim, having a roof comprising a plurality of framed modules of substantially the same width as the wall modules.

10. A garden or like shed as claimed in claim 9, wherein the roof comprises a pair of roof modules relatively inclined to form a double-pitched roof section.

11. A garden or like shed as claimed in claim 10, wherein juxtaposed frame portions of the pair of roof modules are inclined inwardly corresponding to the pitch angle and secured together by an elongate member extending parallel to the ridge.

1 2. A garden or like shed as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein opposite sidewalls of the shed each comprise a plurality of modules secured edge-to-edge, and the roof comprises a plurality of roof modules secured edge-to-edge and registering with the wall modules.

13. A garden or like shed as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the width of each module is a multiple of a predetermined unit width.

14. A garden or like shed as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one module comprising a door hingedly supported by a peripheral frame structure of similar shape and size to the other modules.

1 5. A garden or like 'shed as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one module comprises a rectangular frame with an intermediate cross-member defining an upper window opening, the lower part of the frame having cladding on at least one side thereof.

1 6. A garden shed as claimed in any preceding claim, including a ridge capping in the form of an elongate synthetic plastics member of angled section.

17. A garden shed as claimed in any preceding claim, including synthetic plastics strips of angled section secured at gable ends and/or eaves of the roof such that one web thereof depends away from the shed wall to form a drip edge.

18. A garden shed as claimed in claim 1 5 including a window sill of angular synthetic plastics material secured to the cross member such that one web thereof depends spaced from the clad exterior surface.

1 9. A garden shed as claimed in any preceding claim having roof covering secured by battens in the form of synthetic plastics strips.

20. A garden or like shed substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 and 3 or Figures 4 and 5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A garden or like shed comprising a plurality of modules having peripheral framework clad on at least part of one side, the modules each having a predetermined unit width.

22. A kit of parts for use in assembling a garden or like shed as claimed in claim 1, including a plurality of rectangular wall modules of substantially the same height which, secured together edge-to-edge will form shed walls of generally uniform height.

23. A kit of parts for use in assembling a garden or like shed as claimed in claim 1, including a plurality of wall extension members shaped and adapted for assembly upon a uniform height boxlike structure to provide inclined upper roof support edges.

24. A kit of parts for extending a shed as claimed in any of claims 1 to 21, including a pair of wall, door or window modules, and one or more roof and/or wall extension modules according to the type of roof construction, the modules being of the same width.

25. A kit as claimed in claim 20, including one or more floor modules of the same width.