Modular building construction
A building panel is constructed of a corrugated material. The panel can be folded into a U-shaped configuration. Successive folded panels can be coupled together using complementary shaped corrugations to fix panels in position relative to each other. Shaped connectors can be used to connect building panels in one plane to building panels in another plane.
1 . A plurality of panels for use in a modular building, each of the plurality of panels including a first side wall, a second side wall, and a base portion;
each of the plurality of panels having a longitudinal direction;
each of the plurality of panels being constructed from a corrugated material, having ridges and grooves extending in the longitudinal direction;
each of the plurality of panels being movable between a first position and a second position;
whereby when each of the plurality of panels is in the first position the first side wall and the second side wall are angled with respect to each other;
when each of the plurality of panels is in the second position the first side wall is generally parallel to and opposed to the second side wall;
such that when a first panel of the plurality of panels is in the second position an open space is created between the first side wall and the second side wall;
whereby a second panel of the plurality of panels can be received in the open space, where ridges of the second panel can locate within grooves of the first panel and contiguous with the first panel.
2 . A plurality of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall is joined to the base portion along a longitudinally extending bend, whereby movement of the plurality of panels between its first and second positions is achieved by rotation of at least one of the first and second side walls relative to the base portion about the respective longitudinally extending bend.
3 . A plurality of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall is joined to the base portion at a hinge, such that movement of the plurality of panels between its first and its second positions can be achieved by rotation of at least one of the first and second side walls relative to the base portion about the respective hinge.
4 . A plurality of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base portion includes a first base portion joined to a second base portion along a longitudinally extending bend, whereby movement of the plurality of panels between its first and second positions is achieved by movement of the first base portion relative to the second base portion about the longitudinally extending bend.
5 . A plurality of panels as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the first base portion is connected to the first side wall at a bend of about 90°, and the second base portion is connected to the second side wall at a bend of about 90°.
6 . A plurality of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base portion locates internally of the side walls when in its first position.
7 . A plurality of panels as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels panel includes further longitudinally extending bends located on the first side wall and/or the second side wall.
8 . A plurality of panels as claimed in claim 7 , wherein movement of at least one side wall portion about one of said further longitudinally extending bend permits movement of the plurality of panels into a third position in which the plurality of panels is closed at an outer end remote from the base portion.
9 . A plurality of panels as claimed in claim 8 , wherein movement of at least one side wall portion about one of said further longitudinally extending bend permits movement of the plurality of panels into a fourth position in which an outer portion of the first side wall extends away from the plurality of panels in a direction parallel to the base portion.