US3004302A - Building construction - Google Patents

Description

w. w. NlGHTlNGALE 3,004,302

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Oct. 17, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1957 INVENTOR. WesleyWNighfingale BY BUILDING CONST RRRRR ON INVENTOR. WesZeyWNz'gh fin gal e BY 7 M /ML HHys.

nite at a n 3,094,302 BUILDlNG CONSTRUCTION Wesley W. Nightingale, Rte. 2, Box 157, Cresweil, Greg. Filed Dec. 31, 1957, Ser. No. 706,328 6 (Iiairns. (6i. 20--2) This invention relates to building constructions, and more particularly to building constructions such as may be used for forming the walls, ceiling, and/or floor of a building. The building construction is characterized by the use of a plurality of interchangeable unitary building components, disposed in parallel rows with the building components of one row staggered with respect to the building components of adjacent rows. The invention includes the building construction, as well as the building components of which the building construction is comprised.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved building construction comprised of interchangeable building components which has rigidity and strength, and a symmetrical appearance.

Another general object of the invention is to provide an improved type of building component useful in the construction of prefabricated buildings of various sizes and shapes.

A building constructed according to this invention is made up of a plurality of interchangeable unitary build ing components arranged in rows, with the building components of one row attached to those of an adjacent row in such a manner that a rigid frame is produced. The building components of a given section of a building are interchangeable, whichfacilitates the assembly of a building and tends to reduce the cost thereof.

Each of the building components is comprised of a pair of aligned strip structures, fastened one to another at points spaced along their length, or more specifically, at their ends. The length of one strip structure exceeds the length of the other strip structure. Because of its longer length, this one strip structure arches away from the other strip structure intermediate its ends;

According to an embodiment of this invention, the arching strip structure of a building component functions as a surface strip and the other strip structure functions as a bracing strip. When several building components are assembled together, the surface strips of adjacent components smoothly meet each other to produce an even extended surface which tends to arch. In another embodiment, the shorter of the two strip structures functions as a surface strip, and the arching strip structure serves as a bracing strip. if the shorter of the two strip structures is substantially flat, when several such components are assembled together a more or less flat extended surface is produced.

The strip structure which serves as a bracing strip may be somewhat wider than the strip structure which functions as the surface strip. The former then may be provided with notches, whereby several components may be fitted together in producing a frame. The latter is provided preferably :with buttressing means whichbrace together the surface strips of laterally adjacent building components. 1 A further object of the invention, therefore, is to provide building components fora prefabricated building construction which may be employed conveniently to construct building frames of widely differing sizes and shapes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building construction which, if desired, may be readily disassembled to prepare the building for transportation to another'erection site. h

Still another object of this invention is to provide ice building components for a building construction which are relatively economical and simple to manufacture, and also possess considerable strength.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent as'the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in perspective, three building components constructed according to this invention arranged in two parallel rows, one of the rows containing two components and the other row containing a single component;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the construction in FIG. 1 illustrating the manner in which the bracing strip structures may be interlocked;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, slightly simplified, of a completed building constructed from a plurality of building components;

FIG; 4 is a perspective view, with portions removed, illustrating the base of a building construction;

FIG. 5 shows a joint between the ends of two strip structures; and

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate modifications of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings for a description of an embodiment of this invention, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, 10 indicates generally a building component. In FIGS. 1 and 2, three building components are shown assembled together. Each of the building components iscomprised of a'connecting strip structure 11 and an arching strip structure 12. The two strip structures are affixed. together at their ends, with the arching strip structure 12 arching away from strip structure 11 intermediate its ends. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, strip structures 11 and 12 are each made of a singlepiece of material. Strip structure 12 isslightly longer than strip structure 11, and curves between its ends in a continuous sweep. Strip structure 11 extends between the ends of strip structure 12 along a fiat plane. In some applications it may be desirable to construct the component with stripstructure 11 curving slightly between the ends of structure 12.

The ends of the strip structure are affixed rigidly to one another. Referring to FIG. 5, adjacent ends of the two strip structures may be secured together as by attaching plates 16 and 17. Each of these plates is attached to a strip structure as by screws 15. Plate 17 carried by ship structure 11 is provided with a hooked-end portion 13 which seats edge 19 of the other plate 16.-

Strip structures 11 and 12 are conveniently prepared from plywood by cutting plywood sheets into strips along their length. They may also be made of metal or other material such as plastic, the particular material employed depending upon the strength required of the building components and their alternate use. For most buildings, plywood is quite satisfactory, because of its relatively low cost and its physical qualities.

The arching strip structure .12 of each component has affixed thereto along its inner face a series of buttressing means, which are employed for joiningthe arching strip'structures of laterally'adjacent components, so that when a frame is prepared from the components, a smooth, continuous surface is formed by the arching strip structures. Thus the arching strip structures of this embodiment function as surface strips, whereas the connecting strip structures serve as bracing strips. These buttressing means may take the form of a plurality of rod segments 21 arranged at intervals along the inner face of a strip structure 12, with their ends projecting outwardly on both. sides of the strip structure. The ends 21a of the rod segments on one side of a strip the lug projections of one strip structure are staggered with respect to the lug projections of a laterally adjacent strip structure as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting strip structure of each building component, which functions as a bracing strip, is somewhat wider than the arching strip structure. When the arching strip structures of two laterally adjacent components are abutted together edge to edge,'the connecting strip structure for the componentsoverlap. The connecting strip structures are provided with pairs of notches, such as notches 22, 23, spaced equal distances from the ends of the strip structures.- -In an assernbled frame, the notches formed on one side of a component fit into the notches formed on one side of laterally adjacent components, to form an interlocking connection between the various components.

.-An assembled building frame made up of the building components of this invention may take the form of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3. The outer surface of the structure is a smooth, continuously sweeping surface having generally an .arched configuration. The structure shown in FIG. 3 could be used as a complete housing unit, although obviously it could also be emplol l ed as a roof for a building having conventional wa s.

The base edges of a building structure may be constructed as best shown in FIG. 4. Referring to this figure, alternate base components, indicated at 25, have half the length of the regular building components described above. They are set with-their butt ends resting on a support member 26. Components 25 are each comprised of a pair of strip structures, roughly one-half as long as the strip structures of the regular building components making up the main portion of a building.

The upper edges of the strip structures of components.

25 are afi'ixed together by attaching plates such as those illutsrated in FIG. 5. The lower edges are spaced apart as by blocks 27. As in the case of the regular building components, components 25 include rod segments 21 protruding outwardly on each side of the component.

In a building construction, the various building components in one row are staggered with respect to the building components of adjacent rows, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The building components making up the outer rows of ..a building, that .is rows 28 in FIG. 3, are modified in that the outer ends of the rod segments for these components terminate at the edges of arching strip structures 12, and the connecting strip structures have outer edges even with the outer edges of the arching strip structures. Cover plates 29 may then'be fixed in place along the outer sides of the structure.

The components of a building structure are held together by means exerting a compressive force directed inwardly on the sides of the building. This means or mechanism may take the form of a series of cables 31. Cables 31 extend the length of the building, with their ends protruding outwardly of cover portions 29. The cables are provided at their ends with studs 32. A nut 33'is screwed on the end of each stud 32. Tightening of the nuts 33 carried on the opposite ends of a cable increases the compressive force exerted on the sides of the building. The cables prevent the building components from shifting laterally of each other.

:A building is anchored on support members 26 by anchoring cables 36. Each extends the length of the building, and is fastened to a support member as by eye brackets 37. A turnbuckle 38 is included to tighten the anchor.

frame.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate modified building components such as may be used to construct a flat surface. In this instance, the connecting strip structure 41 of a component functions as the surface strip. The arching strip structure 42 serves as the bracing strip. The two strip structures may besecured together at their ends by means of plates similar to plates 16 and 17 illustrated in FIG. 5.

In the embodiment illustrated'in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 arching strip structure 42 is made up of two strip segments, 43 and 44, respectively. These strip segments have a combined length which exceeds the length of strip structure 41, so that the intermediate portion of strip structures 42 arches away from the intermediate portion of strip structure 41.

Arching strip structure 42 in this form of construction is somewhat wider than strip structure 41, and contains notches 46, 47 for interlocking the building components. Rod segments 48 are fastened to the inner face of connecting strip structure 41.

The inner edges of strip sections 43 and 44 are joined together as by lacing members 51. A bracing plate 52 may be included between the center of strip structure 41 and the center of strip structure 43. A wedge 53 inserted between the inner face of strip structure 41 and the upper edge of bracing plate 52 provides a means for adjusting the position of the bracing plate between the two strip structures. Support portions 54, 56 affixed to the inner face of strip structure 41 and projecting outwardly one on each side of the strip structure, may also be included to add strength to a surface prepared from the building components.

The building components, illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, are assembled to make a frame in much the same manner as the components illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5. The components are interlocked using notches 46, 47, and the components of an assembled frame are kept from shifting laterally of each other as by the cable mechanism already described in conjunction with the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows another modification of this invention. As in the case of the second embodiment discussed, an arching strip structure 61 of a component in this embodiment functions as the bracing strip, and a connecting strip structure 62 functions as the surface strip. In this embodiment, connecting strip structure 62 is curved inwardly slightly, so that a frame prepared from the components will have a concave surface defined by curved strip structures 62.

Strip sections 63 and 64 make up arching strip structure 61. These are affixed together at their inner edges by means of a cleat member 65 fastened to each of the strip sections, and their outer edges may be secured to strip structure 62 as by plates similar to those shown in FIG. 5. Each component'includes a bracing plate 66, and a pair of cooperating support portions 67. Bracing plate 66 is fastened at one edge to cleat member 65, and at its'opposite edge tostrip 62. Arching strip structure 61 is somewhat wider than connecting strip structure 62, andcontains a pair of notches 69, 71 in each of its sides. The building components are fitted together as shown in FIG. 9 to produce a building As in the case of the other embodiments discussed, a cable mechanism is employed ,to maintain the building components in place.

It will be noted from the above that the building components of this invention are suited for constructing frame structures of almost any size and shape. The building components individually are rigid units, and when assembled together produce a rigid, interlocked building frame. For a given section of a building, the building components are interchangeable, which tends to reduce the cost of constructing a building. Further, if desired, a building While there have been described several embodiments of this invention, it is desired not to be limited to the specific organizations and constructions discussed hereinabove. It is intended to cover all modifications and variations of the invention which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and that come within the scope of the appended claims.

it is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A building construction comprised of a plurality of interchangeable unitary building components arranged in parallel rows with a plural number of said building components arranged end to end in each row, the building components of one roW being staggered with respect to the building components of an adjacent row, each of said building components having a surface strip structure smoothly meeting the surface strip structures of adjacent building components, each of said building components also having an elongated bracing strip structure connected at its ends to the ends of said surface strip structure, the surface and bracing strip structures for each component diverging from each other progressing inwardly from the ends of the strip structures, the bracing strip structure for each component having a greater Width than the surface strip structure therefor, the bracing strip structures of laterally adjacent building components overlapping each other.

2. The building construction of claim 1 wherein each building component has buttressing means protruding outwardly from each side of the surface strip structure for the component and joined thereto, which support the surface strip structures of laterally adjacent building components.

3. The construction of claim 2 wherein the bracing strip structure of one building component and the bracing strip structure of a laterally adjacent building component are overlapped by means of complementary notches formed in each bracing strip structure which are fitted together to form an interlocking connection between the strip structures.

4. A building wall construction comprising a plurality of equisized and interchangeable, unitary building components arranged in parallel rows with a plural number of said building components arranged end to end in each row and the components of one row staggered with respect to the components of an adjacent row; said components supporting themselves by mutually forming in the wall construction triangular bracing structures; each of said components comprising an arching strip structure, and a connecting strip structure spanning the ends of the arching strip structure and having ends secured to the ends of the arching strip structure; said building components being positioned in the wall construction with the arching strip structures of the components on one side and the connecting strip structures of the components on the other side of the wall construction; the strip structures of laterally adjacent components on one side of said wall construction meeting smoothly with each other; the strip structures of laterally adjacent components on the other side of the wall construction extending across each other; the triangular bracing structures being formed through the crossing of the strip structures on said other side of the wall construction; and means securing together the strip structures of laterally adjacent components on said other side of the wall construction at approximately the location where they cross each other whereby they mutually support the building components.

5. A building wall construction comprising a plurality of equisized and interchangeable, unitary building components arranged inparallel rows With a plural number of said building components arranged end to end in each row and the components of one row staggered with respect to the building components of an adjacent row; said components supporting themselves by mutually forming in the wall construction triangular bracing structures; each of said components comprising a convexly curved surface strip structure and a substantially flat connecting strip structure spanning the ends of the surface strip structure and having its ends secured to the ends of the surface strip structure; said building components being positioned in the wall construction with the convexly curved surface strip structure on one side of the wall construction and the connecting strip structures on the other side of the wall construction; the surface strip structures of laterally adjacent components smoothly meeting each other and the connecting strip structures of laterally adjacent components extending across each other; the triangular bracing structures being formed through the crossing of the connecting strip structures; and means securing together the connecting strip structures of laterally adjacent components on said other side of the wall construction at approximately the location where they cross each other whereby they mutually support the building components in the construction.

6. The building construction of claim 5 wherein each building component has buttressing means protruding outwardly from each side of the surface strip structure for the component and joined thereto, said buttressing means supporting the surface strip structures of laterally adjacent building components.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,486,541 Ottosson-Elliot Mar. 11, 1924 1,974,130 Wedberg Sept. 18, 1934 2,297,175 Tarran Sept. 29, 1942 2,666,233 Klemm Jan. 19, 1954 2,682,235 Fuller June 29, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 251,186 Italy Dec. 14, 1926 846,453 France June 5, 1939

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