Underground structure for residential and business use

Claim 1

A subsurface construction including at least one uncovered apertured wall, additional load-bearing walls located at a subsurface level and extending below ground surface to be surrounded by earth on at least two sides of said construction, an unstressed arched roof extending between two of the load-bearing walls and forming between the confronting arches a channel for directing water in each of opposite directions to drain water to a location beyond the outlines of the construction, an overhead layer of earth above the roof line to completely encompass the structure with an earthen layer on at least two sides of the structure, an inverted T-shaped means carried on an internal wall for bracing the roof structure between arch spans by opposing the tendency of the arched span ends to expand under the weight of the overhead earth and providing a common vertical support therefor, elongated pipe drainage means for conducting water away from the vicinity of the base of the structure and away from the roof structure, said roof structure being ribbed with corrugations extending throughout the entire length of the weight-supporting roof spans and being scalloped throughout the entire roof line thereof, said ribbed corrugations radiating from the horizontal axis of the roof structure and being in communication with said water drainage means to direct water from between the earth and the arched roof, and an arcuate cross section member extending across the intersection of the arch spans providing a support surface for said elongated pipe means and to shield the intersection against infiltration of water.