US3750366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Building
Assignee: RICH F HOUSING CORP
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Filing: 1971-07-16
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Granted: 1973-08-07
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Expires: 1991-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A building employing prefabricated room-enclosing modules which function also as box-shaped horizontal beams and ties for connecting vertical weight-supporting columns into a rigid framework. The columns are preferably concrete members which are poured in place into spaces formed between the modules. The inter-module spaces include vertical chases and horizontal plenums which are in communication with each other and with a heating/cooling plant output, to form an air jacket which surrounds each module over a plurality of its exterior surfaces, and operates as an effective radiant heat exchanger therewith. The heated or cooled air is ultimately discharged into the interior occupancy space of the modules, so as to provide a combination radiant and convective heating/cooling system. The interior occupancy space of the modules is sealed during on-site construction, so that no workmen may enter. The interior of the modules is finished prior to shipment to the construction site, including the installation of all interior service facilities and connecting lines leading from such facilities to a special chamber which is accessible from the exterior of the module. At the construction site workmen can enter this chamber to connect the modules to service risers which extend vertically through a duct formed by vertical alignment of the module chambers, and upper and lower hatchways thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 F Rich
- 👤 A Mcdonald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:24
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/348; E04B1/34807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A multi-story building of modular construction including a plurality of modular box beams of substantially similar structural strength, each said beam enclosing at least one room of the interior space of said building, said box beams being in spaced horizontal layers and in spaced vertical alignment, a plurality of vertical columns for supporting the weight of said box beams, said columns being cast-in-situ in laterally and longitudinally spaced apart relation and being positioned between said horizontally spaced box beams adjacent the ends thereof box beam support members on said columns to receive and support the box beams of the story thereabove, said box beams being rigidly bonded to said support members, and said box beams above the ground floor being supported substantially entirely upon said support members and having strength enough to span the space between said support members without support from box beams therebelow, whereby said box beams have substantially their entire weight carried by said vertical columns.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A multi-story building of modular construction including a plurality of modular box beams of substantially similar structural strength, each said beam enclosing at least one room of the interior space of said building, said box beams being in spaced horizontal layers and in spaced vertical alignment, a plurality of vertical columns for supporting the weight of said box beams, said columns being cast-in-situ in laterally and longitudinally spaced apart relation and being positioned between said horizontally spaced box beams adjacent the ends thereof box beam support members on said columns to receive and support the box beams of the story thereabove, said box beams being rigidly bonded to said support members, and said box beams above the ground floor being supported substantially entirely upon said support members and having strength enough to span the space between said support members without support from box beams therebelow, whereby said box beams have substantially their entire weight carried by said vertical columns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A multi-story building as set forth in claim 1 in which said box beams collectively bear at least the major portion of all horizontal structural loads of said building in the direction of the longitudinal axes of said box beams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
A multi-modular building adapted for ready on-site construction through use of pre-fabricated modules of uniform strength, said building including: a base support, a plurality of layers of box beam room modules, each of said layers including a plurality of said room modules in spaced horizontal relationship, said layers being positioned one above another with said room modules in spaced vertical alignment, a series of vertical concrete supporting columns fabricated of material in a portion of the space between said horizontally disposed modules, said columns being spaced apart laterally and longitudinally of said modules and positioned near the ends thereof, said supporting columns carrying module supporting shoulders for said layers of modules above said base, said cast-in-situ supporting shoulders and columns bearing the weight of the respective modules positioned thereabove and rigidly binding horizontally adjacent modules together, said room modules having sufficient structural strength to be self-supporting between said shoulders, whereby a building is constructed of substantially uniform room modules which do not themselves support the weight of the modules thereabove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
170 words
A multi-modular building adapted for ready on-site construction through use of pre-fabricated modules of uniform strength, said building including: a base support, a plurality of layers of box beam room modules, each of said layers including a plurality of said room modules in spaced horizontal relationship, said layers being positioned one above another with said room modules in spaced vertical alignment, a series of vertical concrete supporting columns fabricated of material in a portion of the space between said horizontally disposed modules, said columns being spaced apart laterally and longitudinally of said modules and positioned near the ends thereof, said supporting columns carrying module supporting shoulders for said layers of modules above said base, said cast-in-situ supporting shoulders and columns bearing the weight of the respective modules positioned thereabove and rigidly binding horizontally adjacent modules together, said room modules having sufficient structural strength to be self-supporting between said shoulders, whereby a building is constructed of substantially uniform room modules which do not themselves support the weight of the modules thereabove.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A building as in claim 3 wherein: said box beams have side walls reinforced with a plurality of exterior vertical ribs, at least some of said ribs of confronting box beam walls engaging with said cast in situ columns to provide structural rigidity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A building as in claim 3 wherein: the width of said columns decreases with increasing height of said building.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A building as in claim 3 wherein: said box beams comprise side plates formed with a downwardly increasing tHickness, and the confronting outer surfaces of said side plates of horizontally consecutive box beams converge toward each other in the downward direction, whereby said columns cast-in-situ therebetween taper downwardly to a smaller thickness at the lower portion of each story than at the upper portion thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A building as in claim 3 wherein: horizontal outrigger beams are embedded in said poured columns and project beyond said box beams, and an external gallery is supported upon said outrigger beams.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A building as in claim 3 wherein: said box beams have side walls reinforced with exterior vertical ribs, and said cast in situ column material interlocks said box beams and columns against mutual displacement along the longitudinal axis of said box beams.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A building as in claim 1 wherein: said room-enclosing box beams also extend between two of said columns in a second horizontal direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said box beams, and are secured thereto and effective to act as horizontal ties between said columns for lending horizontal rigidity to said framework along said second horizontal direction; and said room-enclosing box beams collectively also bear at least the major portion of all structural loads exerted by said building in said second horizontal direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A building as in claim 9 wherein said structural framework includes no other horizontal structural members apart from said room-enclosing boxes which are capable by themselves of bearing the horizontal structural loads exerted by said building.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A building as in claim 10 wherein said structural framework consists exclusively of said columns and said room-enclosing boxes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |