Modular building system and a plurality of mating modules thereof

Abstract

A modular building and a pair of mating modules thereof are described. A first module of the pair comprises a male connector projecting from a first face of the first module to form a cylindrical projection terminated by a hemispherically shaped terminus. A second module of the pair comprises a female connector comprising a rigid plate having therethrough an aperture dimensioned to receive the terminus and at least a portion of the cylindrical projection so as to permit the inter-connection of the modules by off-level installation. A second-face male connector is disposed on a second face of the first module opposite the first face. The second-face male connector projects from the second face to form a second-face cylindrical projection terminated by a hemispherically shaped second-face terminus suitable to be received by a corresponding female connector of a corresponding module of the modular building.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pair of mating modules for a modular building, the pair comprising a first module and a second module, the first module comprising a male connector projecting from a first face of the first module to form a cylindrical projection terminated by a hemispherically shaped terminus, the second module comprising a female connector comprising a rigid plate having therethrough an aperture dimensioned to receive the terminus and at least a portion of the cylindrical projection so as to permit the first module to be connected to the second module by off-level installation, the pair of mating modules further comprising a second-face male connector disposed on a second face of the first module opposite the first face, the second-face male connector projecting from the second face of the first module to form a second-face cylindrical projection terminated by a hemispherically shaped second-face terminus suitable to be received by a corresponding female connector of a corresponding module of the modular building. 
     
     
         2 . The pair of mating modules of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second faces of the first module are horizontal and are vertically separated from each other, and the first module is connected to the second module by at least partially vertical mating of the first module to the second module. 
     
     
         3 . The pair of mating modules of  claim 2 , wherein the first module is positioned on top of the second module. 
     
     
         4 . The pair of mating modules of  claim 2 , wherein the second module is positioned on top of the first module. 
     
     
         5 . The pair of mating modules of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second modules further comprises a module gasket for rendering the at least one of the first and second modules self-sealing. 
     
     
         6 . A building comprising the pair of mating modules of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A modular building comprising a plurality of inter-connected modules including a first module and a second module, the first module defining a first face of the first module and a second face of the first module opposite the first face of the first module, the second module defining a first face of the second module and a second face of the second module opposite the first face of the second module, the first module of the plurality of modules comprising a first male connector projecting from the first face of the first module to form a cylindrical projection terminated by a terminus having a hemispherical shape, the first male connector being dimensioned for being received by a first female connector of the second module having an aperture dimensioned to receive the terminus and at least a portion of the cylindrical projection so as to permit the first module to be connected to the first female connector by off-level installation when the modular building is assembled, the first female connector comprising a rigid plate defining the aperture, the first female connector being disposed on the first face of the second module, at least one of the first and second modules having a second connector selected from the group consisting of a second male connector on the second face of the first module, and a second female connector on the second face of the second module. 
     
     
         8 . The modular building of  claim 7 , wherein the first male connector is connected to the first female connector by at least partially vertical mating of the first male connector to the first female connector. 
     
     
         9 . The modular building of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of modules comprise at least one module gasket for rendering at least one module of the plurality of modules self-sealing. 
     
     
         10 . The modular building of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of modules comprise a gasketed roofing module and a gasket-receiving roofing module. 
     
     
         11 . The modular building of  claim 7 , wherein the second connector is the second female connector comprising a second rigid plate having therethrough a second aperture dimensioned to receive a corresponding male connector of a corresponding module of the modular building. 
     
     
         12 . The modular building of  claim 7 , wherein the second connector is the second male connector projecting from the second face of the first module to form a second cylindrical projection terminated by a second terminus having the hemispherical shape, the second male connector being dimensioned for being received by a corresponding female connector of a corresponding module of the modular building. 
     
     
         13 . The modular building of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of modules comprise a third module comprising a third male connector, the first and third male connectors being horizontally adjacent to each other when the modular building is assembled, the modular building further comprising at least one connector plate dimensioned for being received by the first and third male connectors. 
     
     
         14 . The modular building of  claim 13  wherein at least one of the first and third module comprises a module gasket for rendering the at least one of first and third module self-sealing. 
     
     
         15 . The modular building of  claim 7  further comprising a bolt for attaching the first male connector and the first female connector to each other. 
     
     
         16 . The modular building of  claim 7  further comprising a key-lock system for locking the first male connector and the first female connector to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The modular building of  claim 16  wherein the key-lock system comprises a key-lock male connector comprising at least one key, the key-lock system further comprising a key-lock female connector comprising a key-lock plate defining a key slot, the key-lock male connector being rotatable when connected to the key-lock female connector such that the at least one key locks against the key-lock plate when the at least one key is not aligned with the key slot.