US 12,331,509 B2
System and methods employing prefabricated volumetric construction modules including transforming truss elements
Jason Langer, New York, NY (US); and Christian Moore, London (GB)
Assigned to ROBERT BIRD GROUP PTY LTD, (AU)
Filed by ROBERT BIRD GROUP PTY LTD, Fortitude Valley (AU)
Filed on Jun. 4, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/733,753.
Application 18/733,753 is a division of application No. 18/296,529, filed on Apr. 6, 2023, granted, now 12,031,318.
Application 18/296,529 is a continuation of application No. 18/164,408, filed on Feb. 3, 2023, granted, now 11,802,402, issued on Oct. 31, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0410159 A1, Dec. 12, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E04B 1/344 (2006.01); E04B 1/343 (2006.01); E04B 1/348 (2006.01)
CPC E04B 1/3441 (2013.01) [E04B 1/34384 (2013.01); E04B 1/34815 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of construction using prefabricated volumetric modules that generates open space without interrupting vertical columns comprising:
fabricating a plurality of transforming volumetric modules, each transforming volumetric module including a habitation zone and a truss zone positioned above the habitation zone, the plurality of transforming volumetric modules including vertical support columns positioned on external edges that are configured to fold at a column joint and become trusses in the truss zone, wherein the column joint is positioned where the habitation zone meets the truss zone;
configuring the plurality of transforming volumetric modules for transport on trucks, wherein the vertical support columns are folded horizontally in the habitation zone thereby reducing a height of each of the plurality of transforming volumetric modules and enabling multiple to stack on each truck; and
stacking multiple folded transforming volumetric modules on a single truck bed.