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US3707813A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Modular structure

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-30
•
Granted: 1973-01-02
•
Expires: 1991-06-30
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Abstract

Abstract A building formed by an array of identical modules held together in a space frame, each module being constituted by four quadrants, having a wedge-like formation. Each quadrant is provided with a rectangular wall section, a triangular head section, and a triangular base section, the head section being sloped upwardly relative to the wall section, and the base section being sloped downwardly relative thereto, such that when the quadrants are joined together, the head sections thereof define a four-sided pyramidical dome and the base sections define an inverted pyramidical base of the same geometry. Channels are formed at the junctions of the quadrants to establish a fourbranched channel network whose terminals are the vertexes of the head and base pyramids, such that when the modules are arrayed in side-by-side and stacked relation to create a multi-unit building they are locked together into a unitary structure by filling the channels with a moldable material that bridges the modules at their coincident channel positions to develop a space frame.

Inventors

  • 👤 M Cymbrowitz
  • 👤 J Mudgett

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 10:08
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/348; E04B1/34807; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 168 words
A building formed by an assembly of identical modules held together in a structural-space frame, each module comprising four quadrants having a wedge-like formation, each quadrant having a rectangular wall section, a triangular head section and a triangular base section, the head section being sloped upwardly relative to the wall section, the base section being sloped downwardly relative to the wall section, such that when the quadrants are joined together, the head sections thereof define a four-sided pyramidical dome and the base sections define an inverted pyramidical base of the same geometry, said quadrants having channels formed at the junctions thereof, to establish in each module a four-branched channel network whose terminals are the vertexes of the head and base pyramids thereof, such that when the modules are arranged in side-by-side and in stacked relation to create said building, they are locked together by filling the channel networks with a moldable material or beams that bridge the modules at their coincident channel positions to develop said space frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 168 words
A building formed by an assembly of identical modules held together in a structural-space frame, each module comprising four quadrants having a wedge-like formation, each quadrant having a rectangular wall section, a triangular head section and a triangular base section, the head section being sloped upwardly relative to the wall section, the base section being sloped downwardly relative to the wall section, such that when the quadrants are joined together, the head sections thereof define a four-sided pyramidical dome and the base sections define an inverted pyramidical base of the same geometry, said quadrants having channels formed at the junctions thereof, to establish in each module a four-branched channel network whose terminals are the vertexes of the head and base pyramids thereof, such that when the modules are arranged in side-by-side and in stacked relation to create said building, they are locked together by filling the channel networks with a moldable material or beams that bridge the modules at their coincident channel positions to develop said space frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
A building as set forth in claim 1 wherein said quadrants are fabricated from fiber-glass reinforced plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
A building as set forth in claim 1 wherein said moldable material is fiber-reinforced concrete.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
A building as set forth in claim 1, wherein said triangular head sections are enclosed by panels, and said rectangular wall sections are normally open and are adapted to receive placeable panels having doors, windows and other dwelling elements therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A building as set forth in claim 1, further including floor panels formed by a honeycomb grid and placeable over said base sections of the modules.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
A building as set forth in claim 5, further including ceiling panels placeable under the domes of said modules to define a ceiling space for accommodating ducts and other utility components.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
A building as set forth in claim 6 further including partitions supported between said ceiling and floor panels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
A building as set forth in claim 1 wherein one quadrant is omitted from each module in a vertical stack thereof to define a vertical passage for pipes, elevators, stairways and the like.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB174067A Cited
US2645114A Cited
US2839841A Cited
GB985338A Cited
FR1460880A Cited
FR1518818A Cited
US3527002A Cited
US3587197A Cited
US3646718A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-01-02 1976-07-03 1977-01-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-01-02 1980-07-03 1981-01-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-01-02 1984-07-03 1985-01-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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