Modular building structure

Claim 2

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling and a floor slab, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels with a portion of each unit overlapping a portion of another unit at a different level such that adjacent sidewalls at successive levels are in staggered, noncoplanar relationship with each other, and column means for structurally connecting the units, said column means including a series of vertical support columns monolithically formed with the staggered sidewalls and projecting laterally therefrom, the support columns on the sidewalls of upper boxlike units resting on top of the support columns of adjacent lower boxlike units, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, the units in the upper and the lower levels partially enclosing the open space at the intermediate level.

Claim 3

A modular building structure as recited in claim 1 wHerein each boxlike unit has a vertical shaft for utilities extending through the unit.

Claim 4

A modular building structure as recited in claim 2 wherein the location of the utility shaft within each boxlike unit in the intermediate level is a mirror image of the location of the utility shaft in the boxlike unit in the adjoining upper and lower levels, the utility shafts of adjacent boxlike units in different levels being in communication with each other.

Claim 5

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling and a floor slab, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels with a portion of each unit overlapping a portion of another unit at a different level such that adjacent sidewalls at successive levels are in staggered, noncoplanar relationship with each other with a substantial overlap therebetween, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, the units in the upper and the lower levels partially enclosing the open space at the intermediate level, and post-tensioning members extending through the overlapping units to post tension at least one unit between the four other units.

Claim 6

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling and a floor slab, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels with a portion of each unit overlapping a portion of another unit at a different level such that adjacent sidewalls at successive levels are in staggered, noncoplanar relationship with each other with a substantial overlap therebetween, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, the units in the upper and the lower levels partially enclosing the open space at the intermediate level, and post-tensioning members extending through the overlapping units to post tension at least one unit between the four other units.

Claim 7

A modular building structure as recited in claim 4 wherein the post-tensioning members comprise vertical support columns integrally and monolithically projecting from the sidewalls of each boxlike unit, and means for connecting selected ones of the columns, at least some of the columns of adjoining upper and lower boxlike units being in sufficient vertical alignment with each other to allow the connecting means to extend through the support columns.

Claim 8

A modular building structure as recited in claim 4 wherein each of the boxlike units includes an interior partition.

Claim 9

A modular building structure as recited in claim 6 wherein the interior partitions are integral with the units.

Claim 10

A modular building structure as recited in claim 7 wherein the interior partitions acting in conjunction with at least one sidewall define a vertical utility shaft within each unit.

Claim 11

A modular building structure as recited in claim 8 including means defining openings in the ceiling and floor slabs of each boxlike unit to provide communication between the vertical utility shafts.

Claim 12

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling and floor slab, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels with a portion of each unit overlapping a portion of another unit at a different level beyond the combined width of the sidewalls, and column means for structurally connecting the units, said column means including a series of vertical support columns monolithically formed with the staggered sidewalls and projecting laterally therefrom, the support columns on the sidewalls of upper boxlike units resting on top of the support columns of adjacent lower boxlike units, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, the units in the upper and the lower levels partially enclosing the open space at the intermediate level.

Claim 13

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling and floor slab, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels with a portion of each unit overlapping a portion of another unit at a different level beyond the combined width of the sidewalls, and column means for structurally connecting the units, said column means including a series of vertical support columns monolithically formed with the staggered sidewalls and projecting laterally therefrom, the support columns on the sidewalls of upper boxlike units resting on top of the support columns of adjacent lower boxlike units, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, the units in the upper and the lower levels partially enclosing the open space at the intermediate level.

Claim 14

A modular building structure as recited in claim 10 wherein the overlapping portion of a unit at a given level and the overlapping portion of an adjacent unit at a different level partially define a vertically extending space through the units, and means for containing utilities disposed within said vertically extending space.

Claim 15

A modular building structure as recited in claim 11 wherein the connecting means includes means passing vertically through the support columns for post tensioning adjoining units together.

Claim 16

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units, each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling, a floor slab and at least two angularly disposed corner walls, each of the corner walls meeting two of the sidewalls at obtuse angles, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels with at least one of the corner walls of each unit in a given level abutting at least one corner wall of another unit in that level and resting on at least one corner wall of a unit in an adjoining lower level, adjacent sidewalls at successive levels being in staggered, noncoplanar relationship with each other, and means for structurally connecting the units, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between three adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, the units in the upper and lower levels partially enclosing the open space at the intermediate level.

Claim 17

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units, each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling, a floor slab and at least two angularly disposed corner walls, each of the corner walls meeting two of the sidewalls at obtuse angles, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels with at least one of the corner walls of each unit in a given level abutting at least one corner wall of another unit in that level and resting on at least one corner wall of a unit in an adjoining lower level, adjacent sidewalls at successive levels being in staggered, noncoplanar relationship with each other, and means for structurally connecting the units, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between three adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, the units in the upper and lower levels partially enclosing the open space at the intermediate level.

Claim 18

A modular building structure as recited in claim 13 wherein the connecting means includes vertical support columns projecting from the sidewalls of each boxlike unit which are aligned with the vertical support columns of adjoining upper and lower boxlike units, first post-tensioning means extending vertically through the support columns, and second post-tensioning means extending vertically through the pairs of abutting corner walls.

Claim 19

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling and a floor slab, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels such that adjacent sidewalls at successive levels are in staggered, noncoplanar relationship with each other, and column means for structurally connecting the units, said column means including a series of vertical support columns monolithically formed with the staggered sidewalls and projecting laterally therefrom, the support columns on the sidewalls of upper boxlike units resting on top of the support columns of adjacent lower boxlike units, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, the units in the upper and lower levels partially enclosing the open space at the intermediate level, said units being arranged in skewed manner such that selected corresponding corners of the units lie in a single vertical plane and the sidewalls of the units form oblique angles with the vertical plane.

Claim 20

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling and a floor slab, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels such that adjacent sidewalls at successive levels are in staggered, noncoplanar relationship with each other, and column means for structurally connecting the units, said column means including a series of vertical support columns monolithically formed with the staggered sidewalls and projecting laterally therefrom, the support columns on the sidewalls of upper boxlike units resting on top of the support columns of adjacent lower boxlike units, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, the units in the upper and lower levels partially enclosing the open space at the intermediate level, said units being arranged in skewed manner such that selected corresponding corners of the units lie in a single vertical plane and the sidewalls of the units form oblique angles with the vertical plane.

Claim 21

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling and a floor slab, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels such that adjacent sidewalls at successive levels are in staggered, noncoplanar relationship with each other, and post-tensioned column means for structurally connecting the units, said column means including a series of vertical support columns monolithically formed with the staggered sidewalls and projecting laterally therefrom, the support columns on the sidewalls of upper boxlike units resting on top of the support columns of adjacent lower boxlike units, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, the units in the upper and lower levels partially enclosing the open space at the intermediate level, each unit overlapping a portion of another unit at a different level, said units being arranged in a skewed manner such that selected corresponding corners of the units lie in a single vertical plane and the sidewalls of the units form an oblique angle with the vertical plane.

Claim 22

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling and a floor slab, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels such that adjacent sidewalls at successive levels are in staggered, noncoplanar relationship with each other, and post-tensioned column means for structurally connecting the units, said column means including a series of vertical support columns monolithically formed with the staggered sidewalls and projecting laterally therefrom, the support columns on the sidewalls of upper boxlike units resting on top of the support columns of adjacent lower boxlike units, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, the units in the upper and lower levels partially enclosing the open space at the intermediate level, each unit overlapping a portion of another unit at a different level, said units being arranged in a skewed manner such that selected corresponding corners of the units lie in a single vertical plane and the sidewalls of the units form an oblique angle with the vertical plane.

Claim 23

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling and a floor slab to define a first living enclosure, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between adjacent units, a ceiling slab anD sidewalls bridging and enclosing the open space to define a second living enclosure, and means within one of said boxlike units for defining a pair of utility areas, one of the utility areas servicing the first living enclosure defined by said one unit and the other utility area servicing the second living enclosure defined by the adjacent open space.

Claim 24

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units each of which has sidewalls, a ceiling and a floor slab to define a first living enclosure, the units being positioned so that there is an open space between adjacent units, a ceiling slab anD sidewalls bridging and enclosing the open space to define a second living enclosure, and means within one of said boxlike units for defining a pair of utility areas, one of the utility areas servicing the first living enclosure defined by said one unit and the other utility area servicing the second living enclosure defined by the adjacent open space.

Claim 25

A building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units having exterior walls and interior partitions, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels with only a portion of each unit overlapping a portion of another unit at a different level such that adjacent sidewalls at successive levels are in staggered, noncoplanar relationship with each other, the units being positioned so that there is an open living area between adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, column means monolithically projecting from the sidewalls of the units and serving as structural support members for the building, and means for post tensioning the one unit at the intermediate level between the four other units.

Claim 26

A building structure comprising a plurality of boxlike units having exterior walls and interior partitions, the units being stacked in upper, lower and intermediate levels with only a portion of each unit overlapping a portion of another unit at a different level such that adjacent sidewalls at successive levels are in staggered, noncoplanar relationship with each other, the units being positioned so that there is an open living area between adjacent units in the same level and so that there is at least one unit in the intermediate level which is stacked between at least four other units, column means monolithically projecting from the sidewalls of the units and serving as structural support members for the building, and means for post tensioning the one unit at the intermediate level between the four other units.