Simulated log construction element

Claim 1

A construction unit comprising: a plurality of prefabricated modular construction elements positioned adjacent one another in stacked parallel relation, each construction element comprising: a plurality of longitudinally spaced supports, each support having a top, a bottom, a first convex curved side, and a second side opposite the first side, the tops of the supports of one modular construction element being located to be adjacent the bottoms of the supports of a modular construction element stacked above; rigid sheath means at least partially enclosing and attached to the supports to form an at least partially circular and generally rigid hollow cylinder capable of independently bearing structural weight; upper flange means integral with and extending upward from the sheath means along generally the entire length of the cylinder; and lower flange means integral with and extending downward from the sheath means along generally the entire length of the cylinder, the lower flange means being positioned to engage in overlapping relationship to the upper flange means of an adjacent parallel modular construction element; and means for fixedly connecting the upper flange means of one modular construction element with the lower flange means of an adjacent modular construction element stacked above so that the supports of the stacked elements are aligned in stacked relation to provide vertical strength and the sheath means of the stacked elements are attached together to form a rigid wall.

Claim 14

A method for constructing a structural unit from a plurality of essentially identical prefabricated modular construction elements, the method comprising: providing a first hollow generally cylindrical modular construction element, said element comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced supports, each support having a top with a concave portion, a bottom of a convex shape, and at least one curved side, rigid sheath means at least partially enclosing and attached to the supports to form an at least partially circular and generally rigid hollow cylinder and first and second flange means integral with and extending from the sheath means along generally the entire length of the cylinder; placing a second hollow cylindrical modular construction element of essentially identical construction to the first element against the first element with the convex bottom of the supports of the second element aligned with the concave top of the supports of the first element, and with the first flange means of the first element in overlapping relationship to the second flange means of the second element; and connecting the first flange means of the first element with the second flange means of the second element.

Claim 15

A method for constructing a structural unit from a plurality of essentially identical prefabricated modular construction elements, the method comprising: providing a first hollow generally cylindrical modular construction element, said element comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced supports, each support having a top with a concave portion, a bottom of a convex shape, and at least one curved side, rigid sheath means at least partially enclosing and attached to the supports to form an at least partially circular and generally rigid hollow cylinder and first and second flange means integral with and extending from the sheath means along generally the entire length of the cylinder; placing a second hollow cylindrical modular construction element of essentially identical construction to the first element against the first element with the convex bottom of the supports of the second element aligned with the concave top of the supports of the first element, and with the first flange means of the first element in overlapping relationship to the second flange means of the second element; and connecting the first flange means of the first element with the second flange means of the second element.