Relocatable habitat unit
A construction set and method for assembling a single level Relocatable Habitat Unit (RHU) requiring a plurality of flat panels that include male (M) and female (F) lock connectors located on their respective peripheries and a frame constructed from a plurality vertical corner posts and horizontal beams. The panels are a wall panel, a ceiling panel, or a floor panel. The entire RHU can be assembled using a single, hand-operated tool to engage a selected M lock with a selected F lock in addition to other securing hardware. First the floor is established and leveled. Next, starting at a corner, the walls are erected around the floor using vertical corner posts and horizontal beams. Finally, the roof is created. The hand-operated tool is used for each task.
1. A relocatable habitat unit construction set comprising:
a plurality of panels of expanded polystyrene foam framed by pultruded fiberglass reinforced plastic beams, the plurality of panels comprising:
a plurality of wall panels;
at least one ceiling panel; and
at least one floor panel,
wherein each of the panels has a periphery defined by a left side edge, a right side edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, and each of the edges being formed with at least one male lock connector and at least one female lock connector;
a plurality of horizontal beams having at least two orthogonally disposed faces, each of the faces formed with at least one male lock connector and at least one female lock connector for engagement of at least one of the wall panels;
a plurality of vertical corner posts having at least two orthogonally disposed faces, each of the faces formed with at least one male lock connector and at least on female lock connector; and
a hand tool for actuating lock connectors and hardware to fixedly join the panels together during assembly of the habitat unit, and
wherein each wall panel further comprises a horizontal ledge extending along the bottom edge of each wall panel, and wherein each left side edge and each right side edge of each wall panel extends from the top edge to below the bottom edge.
2. The relocatable habitat unit construction set of claim 1 , wherein each of the wall panels is further configured as a door panel, a solid panel, or a window panel.
3. The construction set for assembling a relocatable habitat unit of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of adjustable extensions on the bottom of the vertical corner posts.
4. The relocatable habitat unit construction set of claim 1 , wherein the hand tool comprises:
a hex head;
a drive for holding said head;
a swivel ratchet; and
a handle,
wherein the swivel ratchet is connected to the drive, and
wherein the handle is connected to the swivel ratchet.
5. The relocatable habitat unit construction set of claim 4 configured for complete assembly using only the hand tool.
6. The relocatable habitat unit construction set of claim 1 , wherein each male connector comprises:
a socket mounted on a panel for receiving the hand tool therein; and
a cam lock affixed to the socket for rotation therewith, wherein the cam lock includes a first ramp and an opposed second ramp, with the ramps inclined to form a decreasing taper with increased distance from the socket.
7. The relocatable habitat unit construction set of claim 6 wherein the socket is a hex socket.
8. The relocatable habitat unit construction set of claim 1 , wherein each female connector comprises:
a first abutment formed on a panel; and
a second abutment formed on the panel, with the second abutment being distanced from the first abutment for simultaneous engagement with a respective ramp on the male connector to hold the respective panels together.
9. The relocatable habitat unit construction set of claim 1 wherein each panel is about four feet wide, about eight feet long, and has a depth between about two inches and about three inches.
10. The relocatable habitat unit construction set of claim 1 wherein each panel is sprayed with about one-eighth of an inch of a fire retardant pro-bond.
11. The relocatable habitat unit construction set of claim 1 wherein the wall, ceiling, and floor panels are laser cut and “sceniced” to resemble actual building materials.
12. The relocatable habitat unit construction set of claim 1 wherein said panels can be selectively removed and replaced while the remaining panels, horizontal beams, and corner posts are left in place.