Shipping container for a building

Abstract

A shipping container includes a plurality of structural components and panels that are configured for assembly as a building. The plurality of panels cooperate to substantially surround the structural components.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shipping container for a building when the building is unassembled, the shipping container comprising:
 a support base that defines an overall length and an overall width of the shipping container;   a plurality of structural components configured to form at least a portion of the building when the building is assembled, the plurality of structural components being supported by the support base; and   a plurality of panels configured to form at least a portion of the building when the building is assembled, the plurality of panels being supported by the support base, wherein the plurality of panels cooperate to substantially surround the plurality of structural components.   
     
     
         2 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein each panel of the plurality of panels cooperates to define an interior of the shipping container and the plurality of structural components is disposed entirely within the interior of the shipping container. 
     
     
         3 . The shipping container of  claim 2  wherein:
 each panel of the plurality of panels comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface; 
 each of the interior surfaces faces the interior of the shipping container defined by the plurality of panels and each of the exterior surfaces defines an exterior of the shipping container; 
 the interior surfaces of each of the panels are configured for location along an interior of the building when the building is assembled; and 
 the exterior surfaces of each of the panels are configured for location along an exterior of the building when the building is assembled. 
 
     
     
         4 . The shipping container of  claim 3  wherein each panel of the plurality of panels comprises one of a floor panel of the building and a roof panel of the building when the building is assembled. 
     
     
         5 . The shipping container of  claim 4  wherein:
 the plurality of structural components comprises one of a shingle and a floor joist; 
 the shingle is configured for attachment to the exterior surface of the roof panel; and 
 the floor joist is configured for attachment to the exterior surface of the floor panel. 
 
     
     
         6 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is arranged generally vertically relative to the support base. 
     
     
         7 . The shipping container of  claim 6  wherein:
 the plurality of structural components comprises a first stack of structural components and a second stack of structural components; 
 the first stack of structural components comprises a first innermost structural component; 
 the second stack of structural components comprises a second innermost structural component that is immediately adjacent to the first innermost structural component; and 
 the first innermost structural component and the second innermost structural component are spaced further apart at the support base than at a top of the shipping container. 
 
     
     
         8 . The shipping container of  claim 7  wherein:
 the first innermost structural component defines a first centerline; 
 the second innermost structural component defines a second centerline; 
 each of the first centerline and the second centerline are angled away from vertical by between about 1 and 10 degrees. 
 
     
     
         9 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the support base comprises a pallet. 
     
     
         10 . The shipping container of  claim 1  wherein:
 the support base defines an overall width and an overall length for the shipping container; 
 the overall width is between about 40 inches and about 50 inches; and 
 the overall length is between about 40 inches and about 60 inches. 
 
     
     
         11 . The shipping container of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of panels cooperates to define an overall height for the shipping container that is less than or equal to about 110 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The shipping container of  claim 11  wherein the overall width is about 40 inches, the overall length is about 48 inches, and the overall height is less than or equal to about 84 inches. 
     
     
         13 . A shipping container for a shed when the shed is unassembled, the shipping container comprising:
 a support base that defines an overall length and an overall width of the shipping container;   a plurality of wall sections configured to form at least a portion of the shed, when the shed is assembled the plurality of wall sections being supported by the support base;   a plurality of floor panels configured to form at least a portion of the shed when the shed is assembled; and   a plurality of roof panels configured to form at least a portion of the shed when the shed is assembled; wherein:
 the plurality of floor panels and the plurality of roof panels are supported by the support base and cooperate to define an interior of the shipping container; 
 the plurality of wall sections is disposed entirely within the interior of the shipping container; 
 each floor panel defines an interior surface and an exterior surface; 
 each roof panel defines an interior surface and an exterior surface; 
 the interior surfaces of each respective floor panel and roof panel face the interior of the shipping container; 
 the exterior surfaces of each respective floor panel and roof panel define at least part of an exterior of the shipping container; 
 the interior surfaces of each of the panels are configured for location along an interior of the shed when the shed is assembled; and 
 the exterior surfaces of each of the panels are configured for location along an exterior of the shed when the shed is assembled. 
   
     
     
         14 . The shipping container of  claim 13  wherein one wall section of the plurality of wall sections defines a doorway. 
     
     
         15 . The shipping container of  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of fasteners that are configured to facilitate assembly of the shipping container and to facilitate assembly of the shed. 
     
     
         16 . The shipping container of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a plurality of floor joists disposed in the interior of the shipping container and configured for attachment to the exterior surface of at least one floor panel of the plurality of floor panels of the shed when the shed is assembled; and 
 a plurality of roof trusses disposed in the interior of the shipping container and configured for attachment to the interior surface of at least one roof panel of the plurality of roof panels of the shed when the shed is assembled. 
 
     
     
         17 . The shipping container of  claim 13  wherein:
 the plurality of wall sections comprises a first stack of wall sections and a second stack of wall sections that are arranged generally vertically relative to the support base; 
 the first stack of wall sections comprises a first innermost wall section; 
 the second stack of wall sections comprises a second innermost wall section that is immediately adjacent to the first innermost wall section; and 
 the first innermost wall section and the second innermost wall section are spaced further apart at the support base than at a top of the shipping container. 
 
     
     
         18 . The shipping container of  claim 17  wherein:
 the first innermost wall section defines a first centerline; 
 the second innermost wall section defines a second centerline; and 
 each of the first centerline and the second centerline are angled away from vertical by between about 1 and about 10 degrees. 
 
     
     
         19 . The shipping container of  claim 13  wherein the support base comprises a pallet. 
     
     
         20 . The shipping container of  claim 13  wherein:
 the support base defines an overall width and an overall length for the shipping container; 
 the overall width is between about 40 inches and about 50 inches; and 
 the overall length is between about 40 inches and about 60 inches. 
 
     
     
         21 . The shipping container of  claim 20  wherein the plurality of panels cooperates to define an overall height for the shipping container that is less than or equal to about 110 inches. 
     
     
         22 . The shipping container of  claim 21  wherein the overall width is about 40 inches, the overall length is about 48 inches, and the overall height is less than or equal to about 84 inches. 
     
     
         23 . A method of assembling a shipping container using structural components for a building, the method comprising:
 arranging a first structural component substantially vertically relative to a support base such that the first structural component is angled away from vertical by between about 1 and about 10 degrees;   arranging a second structural component substantially vertically relative to the support base opposite the first structural component such that the second structural component is angled away from vertical by between about 1 and about 10 degrees;   arranging a plurality of panels on the support base such that the plurality of panels substantially surrounds the first structural component and the second structural component and such that the panels of the plurality of panels cooperate with each other to define an interior of the shipping container within which the first structural component and the second structural component are disposed entirely, wherein the plurality of panels is configured to form at least a portion of the building when the building is assembled; and   attaching at least one of the panels of the plurality of panels to one of the first structural component and the second structural component.