Method for arranging lines in a floor level to be divided up into smaller rooms and elements suitable for this method

Claim 1

The method of building construction, which comprises the steps of: forming a building framework including a supporting floor having a slab-like layer disposed in spaced relation above the bottom surface of the floor, said layer having horizontal grooves in its lower surface and horizontal grooves in its upper surface so that the grooves in the lower surface and the grooves in the upper surface are adapted to receive lines or conduits of different kinds; laying a line of a first kind in a horizontal groove of said lower surface, laying a line of a second kind in a first horizontal groove of said upper surface, and laying a line of a third kind in a further horizontal grove of said upper surface so that said lines of said second and third kink pass over said line of a first kind; said horizontal grooves in said upper surface being orthogonal to each other to define a grid and said lines of said second and third kind being routed within said grid.

Claim 2

The method of building construction, which comprises the steps of: forming a building framework including a supporting floor having a slab-like layer disposed in spaced relation above the bottom surface of the floor, said layer having horizontal grooves in its lower surface and horizontal grooves in its upper surface so that the grooves in the lower surface and the grooves in the upper surface are adapted to receive lines or conduits of different kinds; laying a line of a first kind in a horizontal groove of said lower surface, laying a line of a second kind in a first horizontal groove of said upper surface, and laying a line of a third kind in a further horizontal grove of said upper surface so that said lines of said second and third kink pass over said line of a first kind; said horizontal grooves in said upper surface being orthogonal to each other to define a grid and said lines of said second and third kind being routed within said grid.

Claim 5

The method of constructing a building having different categories of utility lines at multiple, separated vertical levels in the same floor structure whereby the utility lines may be installed in orderly sequence of different levels without interference in routing among the lines, which comprises the steps of: providing a building structure having a horizontal, sidewall-surrounded load-bearing floor layer presenting an upper surface level and a lower surface level, and defining an occupancy area; providing at least a first channel in said floor layer so as to lie between said upper surface level and said lower surface level; providing a first category of utility lines within said first channel so that any such utility line is disposed at a level below said upper surface level; providing a layout of partitioning ducts on the load-bearing floor layer with the layout defining selected rooms in accord with a freely selected layout of rooms within the occupancy area; providing interruptions in said partitioning ducts at door openings to the rooms; providing a further category of utility lines within at least one of said partitioning ducts so as to be at a level which is above said upper surface level; providing a covering layer of finite thickness on the upper surface of the load-bearing floor layer to form sides of sill recesses bounding the interruptions; lengthwise bridging the sill recess of said at least one of said partitioning ducts with the further category of utility lines; covering the sill recesses; and providing partition walls atop said partitioning ducts to close off said rooms.

Claim 6

The method of constructing a building having different categories of utility lines at multiple, separated vertical levels in the same floor structure whereby the utility lines may be installed in orderly sequence of different levels without interference in routing among the lines, which comprises the steps of: providing a building structure having a horizontal, sidewall-surrounded load-bearing floor layer presenting an upper surface level and a lower surface level, and defining an occupancy area; providing at least a first channel in said floor layer so as to lie between said upper surface level and said lower surface level; providing a first category of utility lines within said first channel so that any such utility line is disposed at a level below said upper surface level; providing a layout of partitioning ducts on the load-bearing floor layer with the layout defining selected rooms in accord with a freely selected layout of rooms within the occupancy area; providing interruptions in said partitioning ducts at door openings to the rooms; providing a further category of utility lines within at least one of said partitioning ducts so as to be at a level which is above said upper surface level; providing a covering layer of finite thickness on the upper surface of the load-bearing floor layer to form sides of sill recesses bounding the interruptions; lengthwise bridging the sill recess of said at least one of said partitioning ducts with the further category of utility lines; covering the sill recesses; and providing partition walls atop said partitioning ducts to close off said rooms.

Claim 14

The method of building construction, which comprises the steps of: forming a building framework including a slab-like floor layer having an upper surface defining a habitable area, said layer having at least one horizontal groove opening onto its lower surface; providing a pattern of duct-like parts on said layer in accord with an arbitrarily selected room layout in said habitable area; providing utility lines required for said habitable area in said horizontal groove below said upper surface as well as in said duct-like parts above said upper surface; and providing partition walls atop said duct-like parts to form rooms.

Claim 15

The method of building construction, which comprises the steps of: forming a building framework including a slab-like floor layer having an upper surface defining a habitable area, said layer having at least one horizontal groove opening onto its lower surface; providing a pattern of duct-like parts on said layer in accord with an arbitrarily selected room layout in said habitable area; providing utility lines required for said habitable area in said horizontal groove below said upper surface as well as in said duct-like parts above said upper surface; and providing partition walls atop said duct-like parts to form rooms.

Claim 20

The method of constructing a building, which comprises the steps of: providing a building structure having a horizontal, sidewall-surrounded load-bearing floor defining an occupancy area; providing a pattern of horizontally-extending, narrow, and open-sided partitioning ducts of interrupted, finite vertical height on the load-bearing floor with the pattern being in accord with an arbitrarily selected layout of rooms within the occupancy area and with the partitioning ducts being interrupted at door openings into said rooms whereby to present sill recesses therealong; providing utility lines within at least some of said partitioning ducts whereby said lines are exposed for access through the open sides of the partitioning ducts within which they are located and are temporarily exposed within any sill recesses in which they may be located; providing partition walls atop said partitioning ducts to close in said rooms while leaving said lines exposed; providing a finish floor covering on the load-bearing floor within the boundaries of said pattern and over said sill recesses; and closing off the open sides of the partitioning ducts.

Claim 21

The method of constructing a building, which comprises the steps of: providing a building structure having a horizontal, sidewall-surrounded load-bearing floor defining an occupancy area; providing a pattern of horizontally-extending, narrow, and open-sided partitioning ducts of interrupted, finite vertical height on the load-bearing floor with the pattern being in accord with an arbitrarily selected layout of rooms within the occupancy area and with the partitioning ducts being interrupted at door openings into said rooms whereby to present sill recesses therealong; providing utility lines within at least some of said partitioning ducts whereby said lines are exposed for access through the open sides of the partitioning ducts within which they are located and are temporarily exposed within any sill recesses in which they may be located; providing partition walls atop said partitioning ducts to close in said rooms while leaving said lines exposed; providing a finish floor covering on the load-bearing floor within the boundaries of said pattern and over said sill recesses; and closing off the open sides of the partitioning ducts.

Claim 24

The method of building construction, which comprises the steps of: providing a building floor having a horizontal layer defining an upper surface and a lower surface, said layer having horizontal grooves in its upper surface and at least one horizontal groove in its lower surface so that the groove in the lower surface and the grooves int eh upper surface are adapted to receive utility lines or conduits of different kinds with vertical separation therebetween; providing a layout of duct-like parts on said upper surface; providing a utility line of a first kind in the horizontal groove of said lower surface; providing further utility lines in the duct-like parts and in the horizontal grooves of said upper surface so that said lines of said first kind and said further utility lines are vertically separated; and providing a finish floor layer on the upper surface of the horizontal layer.

Claim 25

The method of building construction, which comprises the steps of: providing a building floor having a horizontal layer defining an upper surface and a lower surface, said layer having horizontal grooves in its upper surface and at least one horizontal groove in its lower surface so that the groove in the lower surface and the grooves int eh upper surface are adapted to receive utility lines or conduits of different kinds with vertical separation therebetween; providing a layout of duct-like parts on said upper surface; providing a utility line of a first kind in the horizontal groove of said lower surface; providing further utility lines in the duct-like parts and in the horizontal grooves of said upper surface so that said lines of said first kind and said further utility lines are vertically separated; and providing a finish floor layer on the upper surface of the horizontal layer.

Claim 29

The method of constructing a building, which comprises the steps of: providing a building structure having a horizontal, sidewall-surrounded load-bearing floor layer presenting an upper surface at a first level and defining an occupancy area; providing at least one horizontal-extending channel structure in said layer and opening downwardly below said first level; providing a utility line of a first kind within said channel structure; providing a pattern of horizontally-extending partitioning ducts of finite vertical height on the load-bearing floor layer with the pattern being in accord with an arbitrary layout of rooms within the occupancy area, said ducts being open-sided above said first level; providing a utility line of a second kind at a second level above said first level within at least one of said partitioning ducts whereby said line of a second kind is exposed for access through the open sides of the at least one partitioning duct; providing partition walls atop said partitioning ducts to close off said rooms; and providing a finish floor layer on the upper surface of the load-bearing floor layer.

Claim 30

The method of constructing a building, which comprises the steps of: providing a building structure having a horizontal, sidewall-surrounded load-bearing floor layer presenting an upper surface at a first level and defining an occupancy area; providing at least one horizontal-extending channel structure in said layer and opening downwardly below said first level; providing a utility line of a first kind within said channel structure; providing a pattern of horizontally-extending partitioning ducts of finite vertical height on the load-bearing floor layer with the pattern being in accord with an arbitrary layout of rooms within the occupancy area, said ducts being open-sided above said first level; providing a utility line of a second kind at a second level above said first level within at least one of said partitioning ducts whereby said line of a second kind is exposed for access through the open sides of the at least one partitioning duct; providing partition walls atop said partitioning ducts to close off said rooms; and providing a finish floor layer on the upper surface of the load-bearing floor layer.