Wall made of a plurality of interconnected collapsible modules and method of assembly

Claim 2

A building structure comprising a plurality of interconnected module assemblies, said module assemblies comprising: I. a plurality of collapsible modules, each of said modules comprising: a. at least two sheets of metal lath, each sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second side edges; b. a plurality of ring means spaced along said first and second side edges and projecting a predetermined distance therefrom, the ring means extending from said first side edge of each said sheet being intermeshible with the ring means extending from said second side edge of each corresponding sheet such that when the corresponding ring means of two of said sheets are intermeshed, the intermeshed ring means define hinge joints that project away from said sheets, at least one sheet and the ring means projecting from each side thereof thus defining a channel means; c. a securing rod inserted through the intermeshing ring means of each of said hinge joints; and d. a cementous material applied to at least one channel means; II. means for anchoring a first of said Plurality of modules such that the channel means thereof are disposed in a vertical position; III. means for anchoring a second of said plurality modules adjacent said first module such that the cementous material in a channel of said second modules is forced against the cementous material in a corredponding channel of said first module, the corresponding channel means of said first and second modules, together with the cementous material therein, forming an integral, structural column between said first and second modules; and IV. means for similarly anchoring the remainder of said plurality of modules so as to define an interconnected module assembly comprising alternately spaced modules and integral structural columns.

Claim 3

A building structure comprising: a plurality of interconnected module assemblies, said module assemblies comprising; a plurality of collapsible modules, each of said modules comprising, a. spaced, parallel first and second side sheets of metal lath, each side sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second side edges; b. a plurality of aligned ring means spaced along said first and second side edges of said side sheets, said ring means extending a predetermined distance from said side sheets; c. spaced first and second connecting sheets of metal lath, each connecting sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge and first and second side edges; d. a plurality of aligned ring means spaced along said first and second side edges of said connecting sheets and extending a predetermined distance therefrom, the ring means extending from said connecting sheets intermeshing with the ring means extending from corresponding side sheets which adjoin said connecting sheets, said intermeshing ring means forming a hinge joint that projects from each corner of said module such that when a first module is disposed adjacent a second module, the hinge joints which project from the corners of the first module cooperate with the hinge points that project from the corresponding corners of the second module to define a space of predetermined width between the proximal connecting sheets of the adjacent modules; e. a securing rod inserted through the intermeshing ring means of each of said hinge joints; and f. a force coating of cementous material filling the space between the proximal connecting sheets formed by the corresponding hinge joints of adjacent modules, said force coating, opposing connecting sheets and securing rods forming reinforced structural columns within the wall between each pair of adjacent modules.

Claim 4

A building structure comprising: a plurality of interconnected module assemblies, said module assemblies comprising; a plurality of collapsible modules, each of said modules comprising, a. spaced, parallel first and second side sheets of metal lath, each side sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second side edges; b. a plurality of aligned ring means spaced along said first and second side edges of said side sheets, said ring means extending a predetermined distance from said side sheets; c. spaced first and second connecting sheets of metal lath, each connecting sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge and first and second side edges; d. a plurality of aligned ring means spaced along said first and second side edges of said connecting sheets and extending a predetermined distance therefrom, the ring means extending from said connecting sheets intermeshing with the ring means extending from corresponding side sheets which adjoin said connecting sheets, said intermeshing ring means forming a hinge joint that projects from each corner of said module such that when a first module is disposed adjacent a second module, the hinge joints which project from the corners of the first module cooperate with the hinge points that project from the corresponding corners of the second module to define a space of predetermined width between the proximal connecting sheets of the adjacent modules; e. a securing rod inserted through the intermeshing ring means of each of said hinge joints; and f. a force coating of cementous material filling the space between the proximal connecting sheets formed by the corresponding hinge joints of adjacent modules, said force coating, opposing connecting sheets and securing rods forming reinforced structural columns within the wall between each pair of adjacent modules.

Claim 5

The building structure of claim 2, wherein at least two adjacent modules are vertically disposed to define a wall panel, and wherein the top edges of the side sheets of the vertically disposed modules extend a predetermined distance above the top edges of the connecting sheets thereof; a channel member disposed between the side sheets of the vertically disposed modules and resting on the top edges of the connecting sheets thereof to define a trough means; and cementous material applied to said trough means to fill the same and thereby form a structural beam along the top of the adjacent modules.

Claim 6

The building structure of claim 3, further including a plurality of horizontally supported modules adjacently disposed relative to said vertically disposed modules.

Claim 7

In combination, a plurality of interconnected modules for forming floor and ceiling panels in a building, comprising: a. spaced, parallel top and bottom sheets of metal lath forming the bases of a module having a trapezoidal cross-section when expanded, said top sheet being the lesser base and said bottom sheet being the larger base, each of said top and bottom sheets having spaced integrally formed rings along first and second opposite side edges; b. spaced first and second connecting sheets of metal lath forming the sides of said module, each connecting sheet having spaced integrally formed ringS along first and second opposite side edges, said rings along the edges of said top and bottom sheets intermeshing with rings along corresponding edges of said connecting sheets adjoining said top and bottom sheets, said intermeshing rings forming a hinge joint at each corner of said module; c. a securing rod inserted through the intermeshing rings of each said hinge joint; d. the hinge joints at the side edges of the bottom sheets of a module being adjacent the hinge joints at the side edges of the bottom sheets of adjacent modules within said roof and floor panels, and the hinge joints at the side edges of the top sheets of said adjacent modules being spaced to form V-shaped grooves between adjacent modules; and e. reinforcing members and cementous material disposed within said grooves to form a structural beam within said roof and floor panels at each juncture of said interconnected modules.

Claim 8

In combination, a plurality of interconnected modules for forming floor and ceiling panels in a building, comprising: a. spaced, parallel top and bottom sheets of metal lath forming the bases of a module having a trapezoidal cross-section when expanded, said top sheet being the lesser base and said bottom sheet being the larger base, each of said top and bottom sheets having spaced integrally formed rings along first and second opposite side edges; b. spaced first and second connecting sheets of metal lath forming the sides of said module, each connecting sheet having spaced integrally formed ringS along first and second opposite side edges, said rings along the edges of said top and bottom sheets intermeshing with rings along corresponding edges of said connecting sheets adjoining said top and bottom sheets, said intermeshing rings forming a hinge joint at each corner of said module; c. a securing rod inserted through the intermeshing rings of each said hinge joint; d. the hinge joints at the side edges of the bottom sheets of a module being adjacent the hinge joints at the side edges of the bottom sheets of adjacent modules within said roof and floor panels, and the hinge joints at the side edges of the top sheets of said adjacent modules being spaced to form V-shaped grooves between adjacent modules; and e. reinforcing members and cementous material disposed within said grooves to form a structural beam within said roof and floor panels at each juncture of said interconnected modules.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 5 wherein the hinge joints at the said edges of the bottom sheets of each module abut the hinge joints at the side edges of the bottom sheets of adjacent modules.

Claim 10

In a method of fabricating a building structure, wherein a plurality of prefabricated modules are adjacently disposed in a vertical position, and wherein each of the prefabricated modules has a top, a bottom and two vertically disposed sides, the improvement which comprises: anchoring a first module in a vertical position; applying a cementous material to a first side of said first module; movably supporting a second module in a vertical position adjacent said first side of said first module; applying a cementous material to the side of said second module nearest said first side of said first module; moving said second modules toward said first module to force the cementous material on said second module against the cementous material on said first module, said cementous material thus forming an integral structural column between the corresponding sides of said first and second modules; and repeating the above sequence to form a structure comprising a predetermined number of adjacent modules each having an integral structural column therebetween.

Claim 11

In a method of fabricating a building structure, wherein a plurality of prefabricated modules are adjacently disposed in a vertical position, and wherein each of the prefabricated modules has a top, a bottom and two vertically disposed sides, the improvement which comprises: anchoring a first module in a vertical position; applying a cementous material to a first side of said first module; movably supporting a second module in a vertical position adjacent said first side of said first module; applying a cementous material to the side of said second module nearest said first side of said first module; moving said second modules toward said first module to force the cementous material on said second module against the cementous material on said first module, said cementous material thus forming an integral structural column between the corresponding sides of said first and second modules; and repeating the above sequence to form a structure comprising a predetermined number of adjacent modules each having an integral structural column therebetween.

Claim 12

In a method of fabricating a building structure, wherein a plurality of prefabricated modules are adjacently disposed in a horizontal position, and wherein each of the prefabricated modules has two horizontally disposed sides, the improvement which comprises: anchoring a first module in a horizontal position; applying a cementous material to a first side of said first module; movaby supporting a second module in a horizontal position adjacent said first side of said first module; applying a cementous material to the side of said second module nearest said first side of said first module; moving said second module toward said first module to thereby force the cementous material on said second module against the cementous material on said first module, said cementous material thus forming an integral structural beam between the corresponding sides of said first and second modules; and repeating the above sequence to form a structure comprising a predetermined number of adjacent modules each having an integral structural beam therebetween.

Claim 13

In a method of fabricating a building structure, wherein a plurality of prefabricated modules are adjacently disposed in a horizontal position, and wherein each of the prefabricated modules has two horizontally disposed sides, the improvement which comprises: anchoring a first module in a horizontal position; applying a cementous material to a first side of said first module; movaby supporting a second module in a horizontal position adjacent said first side of said first module; applying a cementous material to the side of said second module nearest said first side of said first module; moving said second module toward said first module to thereby force the cementous material on said second module against the cementous material on said first module, said cementous material thus forming an integral structural beam between the corresponding sides of said first and second modules; and repeating the above sequence to form a structure comprising a predetermined number of adjacent modules each having an integral structural beam therebetween.

Claim 14

In a method of fabricating a building structure, wherein a plurality of prefabricated modules are adjacently disposed in a vertical position, and wherein each of the prefabricated modules has a top, a bottom and two vertically disposed sides, the improvement which comprises: anchoring a first module in a vertical position; applying a cementous material to one side of said first module; applying a cementous material to one side of a second module; moving said second module in a vertical position against said first module to press the cementous material on the side of said second module against the cementous material on the side of said first module thereby forming an integral structural column between said first and second modules; and repeating the above sequence to form a structure comprising a predetermined number of adjacent modules each having an integral structural column therebetween.

Claim 15

In a method of fabricating a building structure, wherein a plurality of prefabricated modules are adjacently disposed in a vertical position, and wherein each of the prefabricated modules has a top, a bottom and two vertically disposed sides, the improvement which comprises: anchoring a first module in a vertical position; applying a cementous material to one side of said first module; applying a cementous material to one side of a second module; moving said second module in a vertical position against said first module to press the cementous material on the side of said second module against the cementous material on the side of said first module thereby forming an integral structural column between said first and second modules; and repeating the above sequence to form a structure comprising a predetermined number of adjacent modules each having an integral structural column therebetween.

Claim 16

An improved wall structure including a plurality of adjacent and interconnected modules, said modules having a generally rectangular cross section when expanded, said modules comprising: a. spaced, parallel first and second side sheets of metal lathe, each side sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second side edges, and having spaced integrally formed rings along its said first and second side edges; b. spaced parallel first and second connecting sheets of metal lathe, each connecting sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge and first and second side edges and having spaced integrally formed rings along its said first and second side edges, said first and second side sheets forming the front and back of said module and said first and second connecting sheets forming the sides of said modules, said rings along the first and second side edges of said side sheets intermeshing with the rings along corresponding edges of said connecting sheets which adjoin said side sheets, said intermeshing rings forming a hinge joint at each corner of said module; c. a securing rod inserted through the intermeshing rings of each of said hinge joints, at least one of said securing rods being removable from its respective hinge joint; and d. a force coating of cementous material between the adjacent sheets of said interconnected modules and filling the space between said adjacent sheets formed by said corner hinge joints, said force coating, adjacent sheets and securing rods forming reinforced structural columns within the wall at each juncture of the abutted modules.

Claim 17

An improved wall structure including a plurality of adjacent and interconnected modules, said modules having a generally rectangular cross section when expanded, said modules comprising: a. spaced, parallel first and second side sheets of metal lathe, each side sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second side edges, and having spaced integrally formed rings along its said first and second side edges; b. spaced parallel first and second connecting sheets of metal lathe, each connecting sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge and first and second side edges and having spaced integrally formed rings along its said first and second side edges, said first and second side sheets forming the front and back of said module and said first and second connecting sheets forming the sides of said modules, said rings along the first and second side edges of said side sheets intermeshing with the rings along corresponding edges of said connecting sheets which adjoin said side sheets, said intermeshing rings forming a hinge joint at each corner of said module; c. a securing rod inserted through the intermeshing rings of each of said hinge joints, at least one of said securing rods being removable from its respective hinge joint; and d. a force coating of cementous material between the adjacent sheets of said interconnected modules and filling the space between said adjacent sheets formed by said corner hinge joints, said force coating, adjacent sheets and securing rods forming reinforced structural columns within the wall at each juncture of the abutted modules.

Claim 18

The improved wall structure of claim 10, further including at least one transverse brace secured within said module to prevent said module from collapsing when said module is used in forming a wall of said building enclosure.

Claim 19

The improved wall structure of claim 10, further including a trough extending along the top edge of the wall structure, said trough being defined by extending the top edges of said first and second side sheets of said modules above the top edges of said connecting sheets thereof.