US2545409A - Means for designing and laying out plans of building - Google Patents

Description

J. D. MCCALL 2,545,409

MEANS FOR DESIGNING AND LAYING OUT PLANS OF BUILDING March 13, 1951 5 Sheefcs-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17, 1947 0 00000000000 000000000000000 000000 000 000 000000 00 00000000000000 0 00000 oooooooooooooooo ooooooooooo 00000000 0000 0 oo 000000000000 o 000 00 0 000000000000000 000000 0000000000 000 0000 00 00 0000 00000000 0 00000 ooooooooooo 000000000 00000 0000 0000000000 0 00000 o0ooooooooooooooooooooooo 0000 0000 000000 0 0000000000000000 o o oo oo 00 0000 000000 0 o 00 00090000000000 0 o 0o 00 00 0000000000 000 00 00 00 00 0000 0000000000 0 oo oo 000000 00 cc 0000 00 00006000000000 mo 00 oooooooooooooooooooooo 000 o 00 00000000 000000 000 0000000 000 0000000 0 00 00000000 000000 0 00 0000 o 00 0000 0000 0 00000000 000000 000 .uHnHu-o boo 00 00000000000000 000 000000 oooobo 0000000000000 0 n 000 00 0000 000000000 00 0 00000 ooooooooooooooo u 00 00000 00 00000000 ooooo/ N 0 00 00000 ooooooooooo 0000 n 0000000 00 0000 ooooooooofi o 00 0000000 ooooooooooo 0000 n 0000000 00 c000 0000 000000 oo 00 000000 0000 000000 0000 n 00 00000 00 0000 0000000000 000 ooooo o oooooooooooo 0000 u 00 00000 00 0000 0000 o 000 00 o 0000000 o 0000 000000 0000 u 00 000 0000 0000 0000 000000 00 0000000 000 oooooooooooo u 000 00 oo oo 000000000000 00 oo oooooooooooooooooooooo u 00 0000000 00000000 0000 00 o 00 000 00 ooooooooooooooo u 00000 0000 000 00000 0000 00 o 00 0000000000 00 00 0000 0000 00 000 oo oo 000000000000 00 000 00333235355 OOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOOOO 000 000 00 000000000 00 0000000 00 0000 0000000000 0 oo ooooooooooo 00000000 00 0000 000000000 00000 0 oo 0 00000000000 0000000 0000 o on 00000000 0000 00 000 o oooooooooooooooooo ooo oo 00 000000 00 000000 0 oo o 0 0000000000 0000 0000 0000 00 00000000000000 000 0 000000000000000 00 0 00 0000 000000000 00000 0 oo 0 0000000 ooooooooo o 0000000 00000000000000 0 oo o o ooooooooooooooooo 00000 00 00000000 0000 00 o oo o oo 00000000000 00 0000000000 oeoooooo o 000 00 000 O OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO o oo 0 00000000000 0000000 00000 00 0000 0000000000 000 0 00000 oooooooooooooo oo 00 000000 0000 000000 0 oo 0 0000000000000000 0 000000 cc 0000 0000 0000 00 o 000 00 oooooooooooeooooo 000000 0000 0000 0000 000000 000 o 0000 0000 00 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOGOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO March 13, 1951 J Mcc LL MEANS FOR DESIGNING AND LAYING OUT PLANS OF BUILDING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 17, 1947 m a. 000 000000& 000000000 fi oooyooooow D Q D 240 Q C D a ca 00000 00 06000 0 ooooo 0 00000 0 00000 #0 00000 O OQ Iia loIQ o ooooohv 000000000 000 00000% WOOQJSOCDNQ ho oooooooo%w INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STAT {OFFICE "-MEANS FOR -DESIGNING' AND'LAY-ING OUT S i OF BUILDING John -D. McCall, ,Powell, Wyn.

.Application December 17, 1947, Serial N 0. 792,238

1,4 :Claims. 1

My invention relates to a: new and :improved means for designingandflaying out the floor plans of buildings, and while not :specifically limited thereto, is principally concerned with';perfecting a means by Whichthe -prospec'tive shom'e-zown'er, architect, or decorator may "be enabledtto evisual- 'ize the projected construction, renovation, "or 1 decoration of a building insadvancei of tits :com-

pletion and may adjust "the design .:or 'I'layout to meet the particular requirements of the ultimate *user.

*By means and methods "known ='and-rusedprior to my invention is-practically I-impossible lfOl the layman to "create an accurate fioor plan or design due to his inability"to use: drafting equipment. Buildings heretofore constructed have been planned and plans have ibeenv drawn "by architects or other designers swell :acquainted with such practice. Very few people are sufficiently 'skilled' in reading plans toibe abletoiully visualize and appreciatethe exactresultsin idesigning a-ndlayout that=will be obtained inthe 7 completed building. As -a consequencennany expensive drawings *and I delays are-inecessitated "as the designer tediously redraw-s 1 his :plans to a meet the newly realized needs of ithe builder. .In a great number of cases thednadequacy of :a :particular building'is not 'recognized untilith'eiowner occupies the premises and attempts to :arrange his furniture w-ithin the several :rooms. It:is then discovered that one room is too small and 'another too large, or that: the placement'tofIdoors and windows in relation 'to' the furniture ,'.lS,'l.1'n-' sightly or inconvenient.

An object of my invention is to'provide' armeans sufliciently simple and "inexpensive oft-manufacture that the layman will rbeiable to idesign the floor plan andlayout-*ofazprospectivei"residence or other building.

Another object of my invention is ito'provide a means of designing and'laying 'out lloor'zplans 'by the use of which the average 'persontwill"be ableto see-exactly and instantly thetrue:rela- 'tionsliip, one to another,:o'i' al1:o'f the component parts of the'projected 'building,:and'the effect thereon of various arrangements .and -:-combinations of furnishings.

Stillsanother -cbject:df my :inventionris-to provide a means';for.:designing: and ilaying out ifloor plansiso-simplaandiinexpensive that jtheprospecfive-homeowner \orzbuilder -will be able to conceive and executeshiszown'iplans :for projected residence or other :buil dingpmakingsuch changes and revisions nsrseemgnecessary o-both'ieasily :and

quickly as the design;orilayout5progresses.

A further object of my invention is to provide 'a means for designingand laying out floor-plans such that an architect or'designer mayrapidly translate the ideas of a :clientzinto 'a readily-understandable form that permits corrections and adjustments, so that the finally approved-plan may be arrivedat in a short'time.

Yet another object iszto provide ia1means for designing and laying out floor plans'which'will permit the accurate representation in reduced -=scale of building plans :and the arrangement thereon of various articles of furniture.

My invention contemplates the use of a substantially flat base member :'in which ;a :plurality of holes are drilled or impressed or otherwise 'formed. The'holes are located or arranged in substantially parallel lines to substantially em- -'-brace the entire area of the board on which it is desired to plan, and these holes are of such Idiametrical dimensions ands-are spaced in such relation, one with-respect to theiother, as to permit fractional measurementsthat will correspond to 'thegenerally used architectural or engineering-scales, such as 1'. With this in mind,

and'using the /4" scale, the holes willrbe drilled or located on A centers. A plurality of substantially 1 cylindrical peg-like members of diametrical-size slightlyless than the size .of the holes are provided to :be readily inserted-in and "withdrawn-fromthe holes, and these pegs canibe inserted in selected openings with the ends extending upwardly above the surface of the base 'member to indicate dimensional points'and outlinesof exteriorwalls, partitions, and the like, to

be laid out to indicate such points of a desired plan. For-example, when'the base member is 'made up for the scale of AM- 1, the pegs will .be of a diameter representing the thickness of a wall of the finished plan of a building.

It is further contemplated that filaments, such as string,"thread, or rubber bands of a color that contrasts with the color of the base member are to be provided to be wrapped'about and stretched between portions of the peglike members which extend above'the base, in order that'the user of .my invention may represent the outlines of walls,

partitions and the like in a manner that pictures truly and exactly the form to be assumed by the finished structure.

By the use ofsuch filaments it is possible not only to.,bring into relief theoutlines of walls, .buta discontinuation of the 'filamentbetweentwo or more adjoiningrpeg-like members maybe used torrepresent openings in .the walls such as doors,

windows, arches,rand the-like. .As the thread-like 3 or filament members are wrapped around and drawn on both sides of the pegs, these filaments will represent floor plan areas, and at the same time will show wall thicknesses, and will define door and window and other architectural openings and features usually desired to be indicated upon a floor plan.

My invention further contemplates the use of peglike members provided with enlarged, flattened tops, upon which tops are to be stamped or printed the names or designations of the several rooms of the building such as, kitchen, dining room, etc., and which peglike members shall be placed in holes within the outline established upon my floor planning device in order to show to advantage the relative positions of the several rooms of the building.

Also contemplated by my invention is the provision, along with the base member, filaments, and peglike members, of what I shall call twodimensional scaled furniture outlines. The dimensions of these furniture outlines are to be such as to correspond to the scale of measurements of the holes in the base member, thus enabling the user-of my device to see how furniture may best be arranged Within the various rooms of the projected building.

Many other objects and advantages of my device will be immediately apparent to those versed in the art, among which I wish to point out the use of my apparatus in determining the location,

size, and shape of a building, when the dimensions of the plot of land upon which it is to be constructed are known.

In this instance the outline of the plot of ground, or lot may be laid out on the base member by the use of the peglike members and the filaments. It is then possible to plan and adjust the size and shape of the projected building to fit the lot. During this process the thickness of walls and partitions will be readily apparent due to the scaled diametric dimensions of the peglike members, and, through a process of trial and error adjustment, maximum use may be made of all available space both on the building site, and within the outline of the building. It is further possible that peglike members may at this time be placed within the outline of the building site in order to ascertain the landscaping effect and desired position of various trees,shrubs and the like.

With these and other objects in view, some of which Will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and others which result from the construction and use of my apparatus, my invention consists of the construction, arrangement and combination of the Various parts comprising my device, by means of which the objects contemplated are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and which will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of my designing and layout device, upon which the floor plan of a building has been reproduced by the means of my invention.

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged portion of the plan view, illustrating a layout that might be used in designing a bathroom, closet or other interior structure.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and shows the insertion in the base member of the peglike members and the placement relative thereto of the filamentary members.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged portion of the plan View, showing the positioning of some of the twoand the like.

4 dimensional scaled furniture out ines within the floor plan of a building.

Fig. 5 is'a plan view of the two-dimensional scaled furniture outlines.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one type of furniture outline.

Fig. '7 and Fig. 8 are perspective views of two types of peglike members.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified peglike member used to designate the several rooms of the projected building.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference denote similar parts, I have shown a base member, substantially rectangular in outline and composed of Wood, pressed fiber, metal or other suitable material, into which a plurality of holes have been drilled or otherwise impressed partially therethrough and grouped insuch a way as to correspond generally with the rectangular outline of the base member. These holes are regularly spaced one from the other as may be seen by reference to Figure 1, the spacing to be determined by the scale of measurement intended to be used, and are further arranged in a plurality of parallel transversely extending rows. The base member may be of any desired size, and may be constructed and designed for use with any desired architectural or engineering scale.

In order to accomplish the design and laying out of a floor plan on base member I, substantially cylindrical peglike members 2 are provided to be used in defining corners, junctions, wall openings, and other significant points of the design. These members are of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of and yet to be fitted freely within holes 3, so as to permit ready placement in or withdrawal from holes 3. It is intended that these peg 2 shall be of sufiicient length to allow a substantial portion to project above the surface of the base I when they are fully seated in holes 3 as shown in Fig. 3.

As stated, the base is made of desired size and shape to suit the particular use and the particular scale; and, in the present instance, the illustration may be taken as typical of a base member and associated parts capable of employment in the generally used architectural scale of A"1'. For this scale, the holes will be drilled or located on A" centers. The substantially cylindrical peg-like members are provided of a diameter to be freely fitted in the holes and to be readily removed; and, with the use of a plurality of pegs it is possible to locate main points or salient dimensions for the outlines of exterior walls, partitions, and the like as it is desired to lay these out. When the pegs are in place with the ends upstanding, the diameter will represent the thickness of a wall, and when the filament or thread-like members are wrapped around and upon both sides of the pegs, such filaments will represent both sides or the thickness of a wall, and at the same time will represent dimensions of rooms and other spaces desired to be indicated.

With particular reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, filaments 4, such as string, thread, or rubber bands are supplied to outline'walls, partitions These filaments 4 are to be of a color contrasting with the color of base member I, so that When secured to and stretched between the pegs 2 as shown, they bring into vivid relief the dimensions and positions'of the several portions of the projected structure or other design, and so that the interval between two adjacent, parallel filaments will accurately represent imam-c9 the scaled down dimensions of:the" wall thikness,

*as at 5.

'-I=n iFig. 4, the layout 'df a 'roo'm h'a's been a'ccomplished f and the arrangement of :fiirniture is being 1 undertaken. 'I wo di 'mens'ional seal'ed turnitureoutlines are provided in sizes to corresp'ond toth'escaleof'base member I, and in the layout shown, scale outlines of a bathtub 6, toilet I and Wash bowl *8 -='have"been placed on the base member -I, withinwthe outlines-of the room, to determine whether the room is-of the proper shape and dimensions to .containthe furniture and most eificien'tly "s'erv'e "thepur'pose for which it was -designed.

' In it'figt': 'areshownsome of tlie two-dimensional scaled' f-urni-ture outlines' that may be em ployed "in the practice of my --invention 1 such .idouble bed 4], twin bed ifl dr-esser i l, chest of lid'r aw'ers 4 2, crib l3, davenpor-t Hi, *occaslional :chair I715, lounge chair 4-6, dining table n, dining chair T8, bath tub ii, wash -bowl '8, toilet .1,.kitchen range N), refrigerator-2.0, w ork table -.and sink 21, the several types of work table 22E223,2t and 25, floor lamp 26, console radio 21, and night stand 26. Of course, many other articles may be represented by scaled outlines and I do not limit myself to those above listed.

The two-dimensional scaled outline furniture may be made of any suitable material, preferably light, tough cardboard, and may be furnished as separate pieces, or may, as is well known, be furnished in the form of a sheet upon which are printed, and the outlines perforated, the several articles to be represented.

In Fig. 7, I have shown the peglike member 2 to be used in designating significant points of design, and upon which the filamentary members 4 are placed. Fig. 8 represents a modification of the peglike members in which a slot or cut 29 is provided in the head of the peg 30 along the longitudinal axis in which it is intended that a filament may readily be supported.

In Fig. 9 I have shown an element which is to be used to differentiate the several rooms of a building design. It consists briefly of a supporting member 3|, and a flat, head member 32 supported thereon, upon which head member 32 is stamped or imprinted the designation of a particular room 33.

. In practicing my invention, the designer, with the base before him as shown in Figure 1, selects a suitable point from which to start the floor plan. A peg is inserted at this point. Using this peg as a reference point, and counting the spaces between holes of vertical or horizontal rows as a measure of scale distance, the designer may then lay out the exterior Walls of the building to such dimensions as he deems correct. When the perimeter of the building has been established in this manner it is possible for the designer to place pegs to mark the location of the interior partitions of the several rooms. Pegs may be placed two or more spaces apart to represent openings in the walls and partitions. Filaments are then placed about the proper pegs for exterior walls, partitions, and the like, leaving breaks in the filament at spaces that represent doors and other full openings in the walls. After the filaments are in place on the exterior walls,

the designer may insert pegs between such filaments to show the position of windows and similar partial openings.

To identify the functions of the several rooms the designer inserts the peglike identification elements into the base within the outline of the rooms to be designated.

I $6 With the ba'sic fl'o'or plan thus established,

"the designer may'-place thefscale furniture withinthe outlines of th'e rooms so that f the relation While the form of my device which "I have described-and the-method Hiave set forth herein are such as I have constructed and usedand h'a-ve found-by trial to be suit'ed to the purposes --fstateii, it "will *be rea'dily understood by those *sfkil-le'ci' i'n the art that my inventionis susceptible bf various cha'nge's and 'modi'fic'a'tions without departing l 'from the spirit and scope explained herein and set Torthin the appended claims.

-I laim:

Means f'or designing andEla'yi-ng out 'plans ildings conrpri si-ng a substantially flat base member ha ving a plur-ali ty of 'hole's therein locate'd and-spaced to desired scale-dimensions, said openings being or. diameter substantially 'corresponding with wall thickness on the scale adopted, a plurality of substantially cylindrical peglike members of diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the holes insertable in desired plan outline relationship in holes in the base and having their upper ends extending above the top plane of the base, and thread-like members wrapped around and on both sides of the extending ends of the peg-like members in such a way that the space between two peg-like members in the order of the plan is enclosed on both sides by the thread-like member, thus indicating both sides of the wall intended to be shown and giving wall limits of spaces and areas desired to be shown on the plan.

2. Means for designing and laying out plans of buildings comprising a substantially flat base member having a plurality of holes therein located and spaced to desired scale dimensions, said openings being of diameter substantially corresponding with wall thickness on the scale adopted, a plurality of substantially cylindrical peg-like members of diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the holes insertable in desired plan outline relationship in holes in the base and having their upper ends extending above the top plane of the base, thread-like members wrapped around and on both sides of the extending ends of the peg-like members in such a way that the space between two peg-like members in the order of the plan is enclosed on both sides by the thread-like member, thus indicating both sides of the wall intended to be shown and giving wall limits of spaces and areas desired to be shown on the plan, and designation carrying peglike members insertable in certain of the openings of the base member to designate room areas and the like as thus defined by the thread-like members.

3. Means for designing and laying out plans of buildings comprising a substantially flat base member having a plurality of holes therein located and spaced to desired scale dimensions, said openings being of diameter substantially corresponding with wall thickness on the scale adopted, a plurality of substantially cylindrical peglike members of diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the holes insertable in desired plan outline relationship in holes in the base and having their upper ends extending above the plane of the top of the base, threadlike members wrapped around and on both sides of the extending ends of the peg-like members in such a way that the space between two peglike members in the order of the plan is enclosed on both sides by the thread-like member, thus indicating both sides of the wall intended to be shown and giving walllimits of spaces and areas desired to be shown on the plan, and two dimensional furniture and fixture outline members made to dimensions corresponding to the adopted scale placeable upon the base member within the areas as outlined by the threadlike members.

4. Means for designing and laying out plans of buildings comprising a substantially fiat base member having a plurality of holes therein located in parallel transversely extending rows and with individual holes and the rows spaced apart to correspond with desired adopted scale dimensions, said holes being of a diameter corresponding substantially to a wall thickness of the adopted scale, a plurality of substantially cylindrical peg-like members of diameter corresponding to the diameter of the openings insertable in the holes at desired designated planned corner and 8 opening locations for walls and having their upper ends extending above the plane of the base member, and thread-like members wrapped around and drawn between the cylindrical peglike members and on both sides thereof to thus give a plan outline and indicate wall thickness.

JOHN D. McCALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 757,568 Renshaw Apr. 19, 1904 1,519,965 Hovhannessian Dec. 16, 1924 1,891,654 Simon Dec. 20, 1932 1,973,900 Hylander Sept. 18, 1934 1,987,480 Kelley Jan. 8, 1935 1,988,301 Cofiin Jan. 15, 1935 2,006,462 Kupper July 2, 1935 2,298,081 Cohen Oct. 6, 1942 2,405,808 Armbright Aug. 13, 1946

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