Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A multi-level building formed from precast concrete parallelepiped modules each having spaced-apart side walls, respectively having upper and lower edges, a top slab extending between said upper edges of said side walls and a bottom slab extending between said lower edges of side walls, the modules in each level being spaced apart from each other with the modules in a level being positioned over the spaces between modules of the next lower level, each module including, one or more support columns formed in a substantially U-shaped metal shell on the outside surface of each side wall, and said bottom slab extends beyond said side walls a distance so that the outer extension is coplanar with the base of said U-shaped metal shell, said support columns extending upwardly from said lower edges and terminating below said upper edges a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said top slab, said columns of a module in a level being positioned over the columns of two spaced-apart modules in the next lower level to provide support of the modules in a multi-level structure, the side walls of a module in a level being positioned inside the planes defined by the outside edges of the columns of two spaced-apart modules in the next lower level to ensure that the side walls of the modules do not overlap and that said columns receive the loads of said building, said top slab of one module abuts and is longitudinally coplanar with the bottom slab of a module in the next upper level and a plurality of tension members passing through the abutting top and lower slabs to provide for support in the multi-level structure with respect to horizontal loads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
A multi-level building formed from precast concrete parallelepiped modules each having spaced-apart side walls, respectively having upper and lower edges, a top slab extending between said upper edges of said side walls and a bottom slab extending between said lower edges of side walls, the modules in each level being spaced apart from each other with the modules in a level being positioned over the spaces between modules of the next lower level, each module including, one or more support columns formed in a substantially U-shaped metal shell on the outside surface of each side wall, and said bottom slab extends beyond said side walls a distance so that the outer extension is coplanar with the base of said U-shaped metal shell, said support columns extending upwardly from said lower edges and terminating below said upper edges a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said top slab, said columns of a module in a level being positioned over the columns of two spaced-apart modules in the next lower level to provide support of the modules in a multi-level structure, the side walls of a module in a level being positioned inside the planes defined by the outside edges of the columns of two spaced-apart modules in the next lower level to ensure that the side walls of the modules do not overlap and that said columns receive the loads of said building, said top slab of one module abuts and is longitudinally coplanar with the bottom slab of a module in the next upper level and a plurality of tension members passing through the abutting top and lower slabs to provide for support in the multi-level structure with respect to horizontal loads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
Structure according to claim 1, in which each metal shell is capped at its lower and upper ends by metal plates which may be welded to corresponding plates of other support columns of modules thereabove and therebelow in a multi-level building to provide for a continuous metallic support column vertically throughout the building.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Structure according to claim 1, in which the metal shell is capped at its upper end by a metal plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Structure according to claim 1, including a gasket material positioned between the abutting surfaces of abutting bottom and ceiling slabs to prevent leakage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Structure according to claim 1, in which each column comprises a metal beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
Structure according to claim 1, in which each column includes reinforcing bars encased in concrete.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Structure according to claim 1, including a structural beam positioned in the space between two modules in a level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Structure according to claim 7, in which said beam is connected to opposed support columns of spaced-apart modules.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Structure according to claim 7, in which said beam is positioned below and against the bottom slab of the module thereabove.