Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – With traffic-guiding feature
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2001-06-05
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
With traffic-guiding feature
C052S090100, C052S092100, C052S092300, C052S093100, C052S093200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240684
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to: buildings and parts thereof with coatings or coverings, including portable buildings; roofs for buildings; roofs for portable buildings; integral roofs for buildings; buildings with such a roof; and, in one particular aspect, such a building for use in the automotive repair and service industries.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art discloses a variety of portable buildings and buildings assembled from prefabricated building elements. Many such buildings have been used for various functions in the automotive repair and service industry; however, in the past such buildings did not provide for easy portability and enlargement.
It is known in the art to place a single-piece roof structure or truss system on the walls of a portable building and to secure it to the walls, and to cover the top and outer sides of such a roof structure with a layer or membranes of protective material such as rubber, rubber roof membrane, flexible plastic, elastomeric material, and fiberglass. Prior art roof trusses are made of metal (e.g. aluminum or steel), wood, fiberglass or some combination thereof.
In certain prior art systems, one or several pieces or panels of roof covering or “membrane” material are installed on top of a roof; and, when multiple pieces are used, to join and seal them together. Such roof coverings are secured to the underlying roof by adhesives, or other suitable fasteners. In certain prior art a fiberglass covering is used, and in others the edges or joints between a roof covering and an underlying roof are sealed with a separate member (e.g. a flashing or batten). The top edges of vertical walls on which the roof is to be positioned are covered with a protective apron. With other prior art roof structures a metal plate is used on the top outer edge of the structure to seal abutting members used to make the roof structure. In one prior art system a trough or support is attached around the vertical walls and a lower edge of the roof is received and held in the trough or support.
In various prior art systems interfaces between roof and walls and between roof holders or supports and a roof need to be sealed, often requiring the use of an additional member. The use of roof holders, e.g. “J” rails, requires the emplacement and attachment of the “J” rails to the walls.
There has long been a need for buildings and parts thereof, including portable buildings, with components coated and/or covered with protective material. There has long been a need for an efficient and effective roof for portable buildings. There has long been a need for such a roof that has protected edges and which does not present roof/wall sealing problems. There has long been a need for a simple roof structure that also seals a roof/wall interface.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention, in certain aspects, discloses a portable building with a plurality of interconnected walls defining an interior space therebetween, a floor on which the walls are positioned, a roof structure connected on top of the walls, and at least one (or a plurality of) bay area for servicing an automobile.
The present invention, in certain embodiments, discloses a portable building useful in the automotive service and repair industries that has a roof, which in certain aspects is a typical prior art roof or is a roof as described below; one, two, three or more bay areas for working on automobiles; at least one storage area; at least one waiting area; at least one office area; at least one bathroom area; and central air conditioning and/or heating apparatus. In certain aspects such a building has a roof with protective material thereon, and, in certain aspects is coated with any suitable coating, including but not limited to, commercially available spray-on coating, e.g., but not limited to, Line-X coatings. In certain aspects, such a building is essentially a box with a floor, four walls, and a roof over the floor connected to the walls. It may have a series of pane windows that form a storefront, a drop ceiling in any desired area (including, but not limited to, in the waiting area, office area, and/or bathroom areas); a tiled floor in any desired area; a coated floor in any desired area, including but not limited to, in the bay area(s); and/or roll-up garage doors for the bay area(s). Such a building is easily installed at an original location (owned or leased) and easily re-located to a new location. Such a building can be temporarily located in a test location and then left there or moved depending on the test results.
The present invention, in certain embodiments, discloses a roof structure for a building (including, but not limited to a portable building and/or a building made of prefabricated elements) that includes a plurality of walls; roof support or truss; a top roof member or members on the roof truss; and a roof covering that covers the top roof member, the sides or “apron” of the roof truss, and which at least wraps under a bottom edge of the roof truss both to protect the roof truss and to enhance securement of the roof covering on the roof truss. In one aspect the roof covering wraps over the lower roof edge and extends up on the apron's interior surface. In another aspect such an extending portion of the roof covering serves as a sealing gasket between the roof and the upper portion of the walls.
In one aspect the roof covering is a single piece of flexible material or fabric or is an integral unit, coating, and/or covering applied on the roof truss. In another aspect the roof covering is made of a series of panels, pieces sections, e.g. of rubber, plastic, fiberglass or rubber roof membrane that are arranged side-by-side on top of the roof truss and then sealed together at their abutting edges and glued on the top roof member and on the apron of the roof truss. In one aspect at least part of the apron's interior surface is covered by the material.
In one aspect, a lower overlapping edge of the roof covering that projects beneath the bottom of the roof truss system may be farther secured to the roof truss system or to the walls with appropriate nails, staples, screws, bolts, or other fasteners.
In one aspect the roof material is flexible rubber, flexible synthetic material, flexible plastic, flexible fiberglass, rubber roof membrane material whose thickness ranges between 0.025 and 1.00 inches. In one particular embodiment a single piece of rubber roof membrane about 0.065 inches thick is used to cover the entire top deck of a truss and the sides or apron.
In one aspect the roof material is a thermoplastic polyurethane/polyurea or thermoplastic polyurea (collectively referred to herein as “spray-on thermoplastic polyurethane” materials). Such materials may be used as two component spray-in-place flexible 100% solids materials as are known and commercially available. In certain embodiments such materials are sprayed-on and set with a thickness of between about {fraction (1/16)}″ and about ⅜″; in one aspect, with a thickness between about ⅛″ and ¼″; and, in one aspect, about {fraction (3/16)}″ thick.
The present invention also discloses a method for applying a roof covering to a roof truss and for repairing such a roof covering. The roof material is attached or glued on the top and on outer sides of the roof apron with any suitable adhesive as well as on an inner portion of the sides or apron. Known repair methods for repairing holes or cuts in rubber, plastic, synthetic material, or fiberglass are used to repair such damage to the roof material. Known seam connection, adhering or welding techniques are used to connect and seal seams when multiple pieces are used. Electrical and/or air conditioning conduits and ducts may be disposed in the roof truss.
The present invention discloses, in certain embodiments, a building with a floor, walls connected to the floor, and any new roof structure as described herein secured to the walls. In one aspect the floor, wal
Dorsey Dennis L.
Friedman Carl D.
McClung Guy
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