Interlocked modular building system

Claim 2

A modular building structure, comprising: a plurality of fixedly interconnected structural elements, aligned connecting means on each of said structural elements fixedly connecting said structural elements together, said structural elements including vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams, and horizontally extending floor elements, means fixedly connecting each of said beams and floor elements at at least spaced points thereon to at least another one of said structural elements, said modules each being substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross section and including a pair of vertically extending side walls and a vertically extending back wall connected to the side walls, said side walls each having an upper marginal edge surface and a lower portion with at least one beam receiving recess in each of said upper marginal edge surfaces, said beam receiving recesses being located in the front marginal edges or corners of the upper edge surfaces of the side walls and comprising step recesses having a depth and width corresponding to the cross sectional thickness of a beam so that a beam positioned in a recess is flush with the edge surfaces of the modules, at least some of said beams received in said recesses and each fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to said modules, and each fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, said floor elements each being elongate and substantially rectangularly shaped and supported on said beams in a horizontal position, each of saId floor elements being fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to at least one other of said structural elements, and fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, adjacent connecting means on said structural elements being aligned and operatively secured together to fixedly secure said beams, modules, and floor elements together to define a threedimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 3

A modular building structure, comprising: a plurality of fixedly interconnected structural elements, aligned connecting means on each of said structural elements fixedly connecting said structural elements together, said structural elements including vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams, and horizontally extending floor elements, means fixedly connecting each of said beams and floor elements at at least three spaced points thereon to at least another one of said structural elements, said modules each being substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross section and including a pair of vertically extending side walls and a vertically extending back wall connected to the side walls, said side walls each having an upper marginal edge surface and a lower portion with at least one beam receiving recess in each of said upper marginal edge surfaces, said beam receiving recesses being located between opposite ends of the upper marginal edge surface of the side walls and comprising full recesses having a depth and width corresponding to the cross sectional thickness of a beam so that a beam positioned in a recess is flush with the upper marginal edge surface of the modules, at least some of said beams received in said recesses and each fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to said modules, and each fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, said floor elements each being elongate and substantially rectangularly shaped and supported on said beams in a horizontal position, each of said floor elements being fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to at least one other of said structural elements, and fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, adjacent connecting means on said structural elements being aligned and operatively secured together to fixedly secure said beams, modules, and floor elements together to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 4

A modular building structure, comprising: a plurality of fixedly interconnected structural elements, aligned connecting means on each of said structural elements fixedly connecting said structural elements together, said structural elements including vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams, and horizontally extending floor elements, means fixedly connecting each of said beams and floor elements at at least three spaced points thereon to at least another one of said structural elements, said modules each being substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross section and including a pair of vertically extending side walls and a vertically extending back wall connected to the side walls, said side walls each having an upper marginal edge surface and a lower portion with at least one beam receiving recess in each of said upper marginal edge surfaces, said beam receiving recesses being located between opposite ends of the upper marginal edge surface of the side walls and comprising full recesses having a depth and width corresponding to the cross sectional thickness of a beam so that a beam positioned in a recess is flush with the upper marginal edge surface of the modules, at least some of said beams received in said recesses and each fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to said modules, and each fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, said floor elements each being elongate and substantially rectangularly shaped and supported on said beams in a horizontal position, each of said floor elements being fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to at least one other of said structural elements, and fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, adjacent connecting means on said structural elements being aligned and operatively secured together to fixedly secure said beams, modules, and floor elements together to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 5

A modular building structure as in claim 2, wherein at least one beam extends between the side walls of one module and is received in the recesses in said side walls.

Claim 6

A modular building structure as in claim 2, wherein each beam is connected at two spaced points thereon to one module and at a third point to another module.

Claim 7

A modular building structure as in claim 2, wherein each beam is connected at two spaced points thereon to one module and at a third point to another beam.

Claim 8

A modular building structure as in claim 2, wherein each beam is connected at two spaced points thereon to two separate modules and at a third point to another module.

Claim 9

A modular building structure as in claim 2, wherein each beam is connected at two spaced points thereon to two separate modules and at a third point to another beam.

Claim 10

A modular building structure as in claim 2, wherein each floor element is connected at two spaced points thereon to one of the modules and at a third point thereon to another module.

Claim 11

A modular building structure as in claim 2, wherein each floor element is connected at two spaced points thereon to two separate modules and at a third point thereon to another module.

Claim 12

A modular building structure as in claim 2, wherein each floor element is connected at two spaced points thereon to a module and a beam and at a third point thereon to another floor element.

Claim 13

A modular building structure, comprising: a plurality of fixedly interconnected structural elements, aligned connecting means on each of said structural elements fixedly connecting said structural elements together, said structural elements including vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams, and horizontally extending floor elements, means fixedly connecting each of said beams and floor elements at at least three spaced points thereon to at least another one of said structural elements. said modules each being substantially U-shaped in cross section and including a pair of vertially extending side walls and a vertially extending back wall connected to the side walls, said side walls each having an upper marginal edge surface and a lower portion with at least one beam receiving recess in each of said upper marginal edge surfaces, a plurality of said modules being connected together in superposed, vertically stacked relationship to form a vertical column, said structural including a plurality of said columns in spaced apart relationship with said columns each comprising a pair of adjacent, vertical stacks of U-shaped modules, with the back walls of the modules in one stack adjacent the back elements of the modules in the adjacent stack, a horizontal projection on the back wall of each module extending toward the back wall of an adjacent module, and means connecting together the extensions on adjacent pairs of modules, at least some of said beams received in said recesses and each fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to said modules, and each fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, said floor elements each being elongate and substantially rectangularly shaped and supported on said beams in a horizontal position, each of said floor elements being fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to at least one other of said structural elements, and fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elments, adjacent connecting means on said structural elements being aligned and operatively secured together to fixedly secured said beams, modules, and floor elements together to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 14

A modular building structure, comprising: a plurality of fixedly interconnected structural elements, aligned connecting means on each of said structural elements fixedly connecting said structural elements together, said structural elements including vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams, and horizontally extending floor elements, means fixedly connecting each of said beams and floor elements at at least three spaced points thereon to at least another one of said structural elements. said modules each being substantially U-shaped in cross section and including a pair of vertially extending side walls and a vertially extending back wall connected to the side walls, said side walls each having an upper marginal edge surface and a lower portion with at least one beam receiving recess in each of said upper marginal edge surfaces, a plurality of said modules being connected together in superposed, vertically stacked relationship to form a vertical column, said structural including a plurality of said columns in spaced apart relationship with said columns each comprising a pair of adjacent, vertical stacks of U-shaped modules, with the back walls of the modules in one stack adjacent the back elements of the modules in the adjacent stack, a horizontal projection on the back wall of each module extending toward the back wall of an adjacent module, and means connecting together the extensions on adjacent pairs of modules, at least some of said beams received in said recesses and each fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to said modules, and each fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, said floor elements each being elongate and substantially rectangularly shaped and supported on said beams in a horizontal position, each of said floor elements being fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to at least one other of said structural elements, and fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elments, adjacent connecting means on said structural elements being aligned and operatively secured together to fixedly secured said beams, modules, and floor elements together to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 15

A modular building structure, comprising: a plurality of fixedly interconnected structural elements, aligned connecting means on each of said structural elements fixedly connecting said structural elements together, said structural elements including vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams, and horizontally extending floor elements, means fixedly connecting each of said beams and floor elements at at least three spaced points thereon to at least another one of said structural elements, said modules each including at least two vertically extending, angularly interconnected walls each having an upper marginal edge surface and a lower portion with at least one beam receiving recess in each of said upper marginal edge surfaces, at least some of said beams received in said recesses and each fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to said modules, and each fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, said floor elements each being elongate and substantially rectangularly shaped and supported on said beams in a horizontal position, each of said floor elements being fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to at least one other of said structural elements, and fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, adjacent connecting means on said structural elements comprising metallic members cast into said modules, beams and floor elements with portions thereof exposed, said exposed portions of adjacent, aligned connecting means welded together, to fixedly secure said beams, modules, and floor elements together to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and verticala loads.

Claim 16

A modular building structure, comprising: a plurality of fixedly interconnected structural elements, aligned connecting means on each of said structural elements fixedly connecting said structural elements together, said structural elements including vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams, and horizontally extending floor elements, means fixedly connecting each of said beams and floor elements at at least three spaced points thereon to at least another one of said structural elements, said modules each including at least two vertically extending, angularly interconnected walls each having an upper marginal edge surface and a lower portion with at least one beam receiving recess in each of said upper marginal edge surfaces, at least some of said beams received in said recesses and each fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to said modules, and each fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, said floor elements each being elongate and substantially rectangularly shaped and supported on said beams in a horizontal position, each of said floor elements being fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to at least one other of said structural elements, and fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, adjacent connecting means on said structural elements comprising metallic members cast into said modules, beams and floor elements with portions thereof exposed, said exposed portions of adjacent, aligned connecting means welded together, to fixedly secure said beams, modules, and floor elements together to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and verticala loads.

Claim 17

A modular building structure, comprising: a plurality of fixedly interconnected structural elements, aligned connecting means on each of said structural elements fixedly connecting said structural elements together, said structural elements including vertically extending, precast concrete modules, horizontally extending percast concrete beams, and horizonally extending precast floor elements, means fixedly connecting each of said beams and floor elements at at least three spaced points thereon to at least another one of said structural elements, said modules being substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross section with vertically extending, angularly interconnected walls each having an upper marginal edge surface and a lower portion with at least one beam receiving recess in each of said upper marginal edge surfaces, at least some of said beams received in said recesses and each fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to said modules, and each fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, said floor elments each being elongate and substantially rectangularly shaped and supported on said beams in a horizontal position, each of said floor elements being fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to at least one other of said structural elements, and fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, adjacent connecting means on said structural elements being aligned and operatively secured together to fixedly secure said beams, modules, and floor elements together to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 18

A modular building structure, comprising: a plurality of fixedly interconnected structural elements, aligned connecting means on each of said structural elements fixedly connecting said structural elements together, said structural elements including vertically extending, precast concrete modules, horizontally extending percast concrete beams, and horizonally extending precast floor elements, means fixedly connecting each of said beams and floor elements at at least three spaced points thereon to at least another one of said structural elements, said modules being substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross section with vertically extending, angularly interconnected walls each having an upper marginal edge surface and a lower portion with at least one beam receiving recess in each of said upper marginal edge surfaces, at least some of said beams received in said recesses and each fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to said modules, and each fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, said floor elments each being elongate and substantially rectangularly shaped and supported on said beams in a horizontal position, each of said floor elements being fixedly connected at at least two spaced points thereon to at least one other of said structural elements, and fixedly connected at a third point thereon to another one of said structural elements, adjacent connecting means on said structural elements being aligned and operatively secured together to fixedly secure said beams, modules, and floor elements together to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 19

A modular building structure as in claim 13, wherein a poured in situ concrete topping is on top of said floor elements.

Claim 20

A modular building structure as in claim 14, wherein metal tie rods are cast into said modules and have exposed portions extending into said poured in situ topping to secure the topping to the modules.

Claim 21

A modular building structure, comprising a plurality of fixedly interconnected, vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams and horizontally extending floor elements, said modules each comprising precast concrete and each substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross section and including a back wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls having upper edge surfaces, aligned notches in the front, upper corners of the side walls of each module, a pair of axially aligned, horizontal, end-to-end beams received in the notches in each module in perpendicular relationship to the plane of the side walls and with adjacent ends of the pair of beams positioned between the side walls of the associated module, beam connecting means on the adjacent ends of the pair of beams, means connecting the beam connecting means together to rigidly connect the beams to one another, a plurality of horizontal floor elements supported on the beams, each of said floor elements having a pair of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinally extending, downwardly projecting ribs on the underside thereof, said ribs supported on the tops of said beams, floor element and beam connecting means on said ribs and on adjacent portions of said beams, means connecting the floor element and beam connecting means together to rigidly secure the floor elements to the beams, floor element and module connecting means on the floor elements and on adjacent portions of the modules, and means connecting the floor element and module connecting means together to rigidly connect the floor elements to the modules, to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 22

A modular building structure, comprising a plurality of fixedly interconnected, vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams and horizontally extending floor elements, said modules each comprising precast concrete and each substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross section and including a back wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls having upper edge surfaces, aligned notches in the front, upper corners of the side walls of each module, a pair of axially aligned, horizontal, end-to-end beams received in the notches in each module in perpendicular relationship to the plane of the side walls and with adjacent ends of the pair of beams positioned between the side walls of the associated module, beam connecting means on the adjacent ends of the pair of beams, means connecting the beam connecting means together to rigidly connect the beams to one another, a plurality of horizontal floor elements supported on the beams, each of said floor elements having a pair of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinally extending, downwardly projecting ribs on the underside thereof, said ribs supported on the tops of said beams, floor element and beam connecting means on said ribs and on adjacent portions of said beams, means connecting the floor element and beam connecting means together to rigidly secure the floor elements to the beams, floor element and module connecting means on the floor elements and on adjacent portions of the modules, and means connecting the floor element and module connecting means together to rigidly connect the floor elements to the modules, to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 23

A modular building structure, comprising a plurality of fixedly interconnected, vertically extending modules, horizontal beams and horizontal floor elements, said modules each comprising precast concrete and each substantially U-shaped in horizOntal cross section and including a back wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls having upper edge surfaces, aligned notches in the upper edge surfaces of the side walls between opposite ends of the upper edge surfaces, a horizontal beam received in the notches and extending between and perpendicular to the side walls of the modules, a plurality of horizontal floor elements supported on the beam, a longitudinally extending, downwardly projecting rib on the underside of each floor element, said ribs supported on top of the beams, floor element and beam connecting means on the rib of each floor element and on an adjacent portion of the beams, means connecting the connecting means together to rigidly connect the floor elements to the beams, floor element and module connecting means on the ribs of the floor elements and on adjacent portions of the modules, and means rigidly connecting the floor element and module connecting means together to rigidly connect the floor elements to the modules to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 24

A modular building structure, comprising a plurality of fixedly interconnected, vertically extending modules, horizontal beams and horizontal floor elements, said modules each comprising precast concrete and each substantially U-shaped in horizOntal cross section and including a back wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls having upper edge surfaces, aligned notches in the upper edge surfaces of the side walls between opposite ends of the upper edge surfaces, a horizontal beam received in the notches and extending between and perpendicular to the side walls of the modules, a plurality of horizontal floor elements supported on the beam, a longitudinally extending, downwardly projecting rib on the underside of each floor element, said ribs supported on top of the beams, floor element and beam connecting means on the rib of each floor element and on an adjacent portion of the beams, means connecting the connecting means together to rigidly connect the floor elements to the beams, floor element and module connecting means on the ribs of the floor elements and on adjacent portions of the modules, and means rigidly connecting the floor element and module connecting means together to rigidly connect the floor elements to the modules to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 25

A modular building structure, comprising a plurality of fixedly interconnected, vertically extending modules, horizontal beams and horizontal floor elements, said modules each comprising precast concrete and each substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross section and including a back wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls having upper edge surfaces, aligned notches in the upper edge surfaces of the side walls between opposite ends of the upper edge surfaces, a horizontal beam received in the notches and extending between and perpendicular to the side walls of the modules, a plurality of horizontal floor elements supported on the beams, a longitudinally extending, downwardly projecting rib on the underside of each floor element, said ribs supported on top of the beams, floor element and beam connecting means on the rib of each floor element and on an adjacent portion of the beams, means connecting the connecting means together to rigidly connect the floor elements to the beams, each module having an undercut portion in a front, lower portion thereof defining a downwardly facing shoulder, and at least one floor element having an end portion thereof received in said undercut portion and clamped between said shoulder and a beam spaced vertically below said shoulder, to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 26

A modular building structure, comprising a plurality of fixedly interconnected, vertically extending modules, horizontal beams and horizontal floor elements, said modules each comprising precast concrete and each substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross section and including a back wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls having upper edge surfaces, aligned notches in the upper edge surfaces of the side walls between opposite ends of the upper edge surfaces, a horizontal beam received in the notches and extending between and perpendicular to the side walls of the modules, a plurality of horizontal floor elements supported on the beams, a longitudinally extending, downwardly projecting rib on the underside of each floor element, said ribs supported on top of the beams, floor element and beam connecting means on the rib of each floor element and on an adjacent portion of the beams, means connecting the connecting means together to rigidly connect the floor elements to the beams, each module having an undercut portion in a front, lower portion thereof defining a downwardly facing shoulder, and at least one floor element having an end portion thereof received in said undercut portion and clamped between said shoulder and a beam spaced vertically below said shoulder, to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 27

A modular building structure as in claim 18, wherein vertically extending, elongate tie bolts extend through aligned vertical openings in said modules, beams and floor elements to securely clamp the modules, beams and floor elements together.

Claim 28

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of fixedly interconnected, vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams and horizontally extending floor elements, said modules each comprising precast concrete and each substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross-section and including a back wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls having upper edge surfaces, a pair of spaced apart notches in each upper edge surface with the notches in one side wall in alignment with the notches in the other side wall, an undercut portion in a lower front corner of each side wall defining a downwardly facing shoulder in each side wall, horizontal beams received in the notches in the side walls, a plurality of substantially rectangular, flat floor elements supported on top of said beams, at least one floor element having an end portion thereof received in said undercut portion and clamped between said shoulder and an underlying beam, beam and floor element connecting means on the underside of the floor elements and on adjacent aligned portions of the beams, and means rigidly connecting the aligned connecting means together to rigidly secure the floor elements to the beams, to define a three dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 29

A modular building structure comprising a plurality of fixedly interconnected, vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams and horizontally extending floor elements, said modules each comprising precast concrete and each substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross-section and including a back wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls having upper edge surfaces, a pair of spaced apart notches in each upper edge surface with the notches in one side wall in alignment with the notches in the other side wall, an undercut portion in a lower front corner of each side wall defining a downwardly facing shoulder in each side wall, horizontal beams received in the notches in the side walls, a plurality of substantially rectangular, flat floor elements supported on top of said beams, at least one floor element having an end portion thereof received in said undercut portion and clamped between said shoulder and an underlying beam, beam and floor element connecting means on the underside of the floor elements and on adjacent aligned portions of the beams, and means rigidly connecting the aligned connecting means together to rigidly secure the floor elements to the beams, to define a three dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 30

A modular building structure, Comprising a plurality of fixedly interconnected, vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams and horizontally extending floor elements, said modules each comprising precast concrete and each substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross-section and including a back wall, a horizontal projection extending rearwardly from the back wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls having upper edge surfaces, aligned notches in the front, upper corners of side walls of each module, said modules arranged in pairs in back-to-back relationship with the horizontal projections on adjacent modules in alignment with one another, module connecting means on the horizontal projections, means connecting the module connecting means together to rigidly secure the modules to one another, a pair of axially aligned, horizontal, end-to-end beams received in the notches in each module in perpendicular relationship to the side walls and with adjacent ends of the pair of beams positioned between the side walls of the associated module, beam connecting means on the adjacent ends of the pair of beams, means connecting the beam connecting means together to rigidly connect the beams to one another, a plurality of horizontal floor elements supported on the beams, each of said floor elements having a pair of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinally extending, downwardly projecting ribs on the underside thereof, said ribs supported on the tops of said beams, floor element and beam connecting means on said ribs and an adjacent portion of said beams, means connecting the floor element and beam connecting means together to rigidly secure the floor elements to the beams, floor element and module connecting means on the floor elements and on adjacent portions of the modules, and means connecting the floor element and module connecting means together to rigidly connect the floor elements to the modules, to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.

Claim 31

A modular building structure, Comprising a plurality of fixedly interconnected, vertically extending modules, horizontally extending beams and horizontally extending floor elements, said modules each comprising precast concrete and each substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross-section and including a back wall, a horizontal projection extending rearwardly from the back wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls having upper edge surfaces, aligned notches in the front, upper corners of side walls of each module, said modules arranged in pairs in back-to-back relationship with the horizontal projections on adjacent modules in alignment with one another, module connecting means on the horizontal projections, means connecting the module connecting means together to rigidly secure the modules to one another, a pair of axially aligned, horizontal, end-to-end beams received in the notches in each module in perpendicular relationship to the side walls and with adjacent ends of the pair of beams positioned between the side walls of the associated module, beam connecting means on the adjacent ends of the pair of beams, means connecting the beam connecting means together to rigidly connect the beams to one another, a plurality of horizontal floor elements supported on the beams, each of said floor elements having a pair of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinally extending, downwardly projecting ribs on the underside thereof, said ribs supported on the tops of said beams, floor element and beam connecting means on said ribs and an adjacent portion of said beams, means connecting the floor element and beam connecting means together to rigidly secure the floor elements to the beams, floor element and module connecting means on the floor elements and on adjacent portions of the modules, and means connecting the floor element and module connecting means together to rigidly connect the floor elements to the modules, to define a three-dimensional space frame which resists horizontal and vertical loads.