NO885459L - MODULAR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND PREFABRICATED COMPONENTS FOR THESE AND RELATED PROCEDURES. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention generally relates to building constructions in modular form. More specifically, the present invention relates to building constructions in modular form that can be built with a number of prefabricated construction components. In particular, the present invention relates to a modular building structure which can be built from pre-formed structural components and erected using a new method in a relatively short time without the need for professionals trained in the building trade.

It is well known in the construction industry that significant financial savings can be made by reducing the amount of work needed on the construction site. To achieve this purpose, prefabrication has assumed a large scale within the construction industry both with regard to commercial buildings and with regard to residential buildings. E.g. some sources have estimated that as much as 40$ of the homes now being built use some form of prefabricated construction components. In general, the main approach has been to produce, in a remote location and in a factory environment, as many of the components of a given building as possible, which means that only the work on site and the final assembly have to be done on the building site in question.

There are many benefits to be gained from prefabrication. The most obvious of these advantages is the significant reduction of time and labor required at the workplace where labor costs are usually the highest. In addition to the reduced time required for actual construction of the building, there are other time savings that are possible, particularly as long as the reduced amount of work time at the job site reduces the potential for interruptions due to bad weather.

Furthermore, increased uniformity of the construction components due to increased quality control is possible in a controlled manufacturing atmosphere and the economic benefits of mass production techniques are also achievable with prefabrication methods. As is often the case, the use of standardized, prefabricated construction components will not only improve the uniformity of the final product, but also greatly simplify the actual construction process. This last feature also makes it possible to produce quality buildings with unskilled or minimally skilled personnel. Thus, the overall results of prefabrication within the construction industry are greatly improved efficiency and significantly reduced costs.

These advantages are of course desirable in any type of building, but are believed to be particularly promising in the production of individual homes, particularly in economically depressed areas where cost is one of the most significant obstacles to overcome.

There is a large selection of practical ways to implement the prefabrication concept.

E.g. is shown in US-PS No. 1,998,448 (Crowe) factory-prefabricated steel frame panel units of standard dimensions which are filled with cementitious material and assembled so as to leave vertical spaces between adjacent vertical walls for auxiliary connections and with laterally adjacent panels joined with cover tape or lass which are linked.

US-PS No. 2,850,771 (Wagner) describes a prefabricated building system in which wood panels are joined to vertical posts or columns with the vertical edges of the wood wall panels and posts having grooves or groove areas and with wedge blocks used to join the two.

US-PS No. 3,229,431 (Paul) teaches another approach in which a so-called "frameless" modular multi-story building is constructed from self-supporting prefabricated modules that are simply placed on a building foundation and secured thereto with anchor bolts set into the foundation.

US-PS No. 3,284,966 (Bolt) is of general interest in that it shows a prefabricated building which can be quickly assembled or erected on the job site and which is collapsible for transport purposes.

US-PS No. 3,783,563 (Moore) relates to a prefabricated building made up of panels formed of molded plastic material, reinforced with glass fibers and where the panels have channels or ribs on their edges adapted to correspond with complementary constructions on the connecting elements.

Other examples of prefabricated construction components using various plastic materials can be seen in US-PS No. 2,981,158 (Kennedy), US-PS No. 3,662,507 (Espeland), US-PS No. 3,397,496 (Sohns), and US - PS No. 4 183 185 (Colour).

The above patents are assumed to generally represent the known technique represented by US patents, and that the subject illustrates some different approaches to the prefabrication of buildings using different materials. However, none of the aforementioned prior patents, nor any other prior art known to the inventor, either alone or in combination, will achieve the many purposes and advantages of the present invention.

It is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide an improved building structure which can be built, practically in its entirety, from a number of standardized, mass-produced structural components.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a building structure, as indicated above, which can be erected by relatively unskilled workers without special tools.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a building construction, as indicated above, which can be erected in a much shorter time than a comparable construction built using previously known construction components.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide new structural components that can be mass-produced at a relatively moderate cost and can then be appropriately transported to a remote construction site, also at a relatively moderate cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide new structural components, as indicated above, which are designed to be expediently extruded from a high performance thermoplastic resin, advantageously fiber reinforced, which will equal or exceed the performance characteristics of components manufactured from conventional building materials and which are of a relatively low weight for easy handling.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide structural components in the nature of connecting elements for connecting certain other structural components, such as e.g. panel elements and frame elements.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide structural components, as indicated above, which have such a new design that they allow quick and easy connection, e.g. by means of means including at least one pair of connecting flanges on each of the coupling members and at least one pair of locking grooves on each of the other structural components to effect a sliding or telescoping engagement therebetween.

It is another object of the present invention to provide structural components in the nature of primary connecting elements with a hollow element portion and one or more further pairs of connecting flanges extending in a plane perpendicular to at least the first pair of locking flanges for connection with further structural components which are placed in the planes perpendicular to the plane of the first pair of coupling flanges.

It is another object of the present invention to provide structural components in the nature of secondary coupling elements with a step portion and two coupling flanges which extend outwards from the step in diametrically opposite directions and are adapted for connection with locking grooves in certain other structural components.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide structural components in the nature of window/door frame elements with means on at least one vertical edge surface to effect interlocking connection with adjacent coupler elements.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide structural components in the nature of shutter frames with appropriately designed, circumferential recesses for engagement with the window/door frame elements.

These and other objects of the invention, as well as the advantages of these above existing and earlier forms, which will appear from the following detailed description, are obtained by means which are described in the following and reproduced in the claims.

In general, a modular building structure incorporating the concepts of the present invention is erected on a supporting basis. The supporting base delineates the geometric location of points that define the horizontal location of at least the outer, and advantageously also the inner, walls of the modular building structure. A number of load-carrying coupling elements are placed at intervals along the aforementioned geometric location, and the coupling elements are oriented mainly vertically with respect to the supporting base. Means are provided for attaching at least some selected of the coupling elements to the supporting base.

A number of panel elements are inserted between successively spaced connection elements, and means are structurally arranged to bind the panel elements to the connection elements.

In addition to the panel elements and connecting elements, a number of supplementary construction components are arranged to accommodate the selected constructions, placement and operation of doors and windows as well as to facilitate the support and joining of adjacent components that form the roof of the modular building structure.

An exemplary building structure and at least one exemplary form of each structural component, together with appropriate modifications of these when judged desirable to provide a complete description of the present invention, is shown through an example in the attached drawings and is described in detail without attempt to show all forms of variation and modifications that the invention can assume; the invention is stated in the attached claims and not through details in the description. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a building construction in modular form that shows the concepts according to the present invention, the building construction represents a complete housing unit and part of a continuous housing unit, which can be incorporated into a successive series of such housing units, where each of these share a common dividing wall with an immediately adjacent unit; Fig. 2 is a floor plan for a typical house unit which is part of the representative building structure depicted in fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective representation of a structural component in the nature of an exemplary panel element used in the walls and roof of a modular building construction as depicted in fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective representation of a structural component in the nature of an example primary connecting element which is specially adapted to be inserted, and thereby to effect a structural bond between two consecutive, linearly oriented structural components of the type which is adapted for connecting the connecting elements; Fig. 5 is a perspective representation of yet another structural component in the nature of an alternative form of a primary connecting element which is specially adapted to be inserted, and thereby to effect a structural bond between two consecutive structural components (of the type which is adapted for connection with said connecting elements) which are perpendicularly placed, one with respect to the other; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of yet another structural component as a further alternative form of a primary connecting element which is specially adapted for insertion at the joining of three structural components (of the type which is adapted for joining at said connecting elements) and thereby to effect a structural bond between the three structural components, two of which are linearly oriented, one with respect to the other, and the third of which is perpendicularly oriented with respect to the other two; Fig. 7 is a perspective representation of yet another structural component in the form of a further, alternative primary connecting element which is specially adapted for insertion at the joint of four structural components (of the type adapted for connecting the connecting elements) and thereby to effect a structural bond between the four structural components arranged in two pairs, each pair being linearly oriented with respect to each other and perpendicularly oriented with respect to the structural components forming the other pair; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a structural component in the form of an exemplary, secondary connecting element which is specially adapted for insertion, and thereby to effect a structural bond between two consecutive, linearly oriented structural components of the type which is adapted for connecting said connecting elements; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a structural component in the form of an exemplary frame element; Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a further structural component, where this structural component is in the form of a shutter frame element and a separate, attached glass strip element which can be selectively attached to the shutter frame; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the corner crossing of two form elements which are used to delineate at least the outer perimeter of a type of supporting base on which the modular building structure depicted in fig. 1 can be raised; Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a portion of an alternative form element which is used to outline at least one outer circumference of yet another type of supporting base on which the modular building structure depicted in fig. 1 can be raised; Fig. 13 is an enlarged, vertical section taken mainly along the line 13-13 according to fig. 1 which shows the construction details in a form of a gusset plate inserted between the outer walls and that embodiment of the supporting base whose circumference was defined by the form element depicted in fig. 11; Fig. 14 is a vertical section similar to fig. 13, but which depicts the structural details of an alternative and further representative form of a sleeper plate inserted between the outer walls and that embodiment of the supporting base whose perimeter was defined by the mold element depicted in FIG. 12; Fig. 15 is an enlarged, horizontal section taken mainly along the line 15-15 according to fig. 1 which shows the details of a representative arrangement whereby one or more panel elements (fig. 3) are joined to a primary coupler element of the type depicted in fig. 4; Fig. 16 is an enlarged, horizontal section taken mainly along the line 16-16 according to fig. 1 showing details of a representative arrangement whereby two sensing panel elements (Fig. 3) are joined or joined to a secondary coupler element of the type depicted in Fig. 8; Fig. 17 is an enlarged, horizontal section taken mainly along the line 17-17 according to fig. 1 which shows not only the details of a representative arrangement whereby a frame element (fig. 9) is to be joined to a primary coupler element of the type depicted in fig. 4, but also the details of the structural interrelationship between an operatively united shutter frame member, including a suitable glazing bead (both as depicted in Fig. 10) and the frame member; Fig. 18 is an enlarged, vertical section taken substantially along the line 18-18 of Fig. 1 showing one type of operative interrelationship between a door and the frame elements used at the top and threshold of the doorway; Fig. 19 is an enlarged, vertical section taken mainly along the line 19-19 according to fig. 1 which shows a typical representative arrangement by which a roof is to be supported to an outer wall in a modular building construction that incorporates the concepts according to the present invention; Fig. 20 is an enlarged, vertical section taken mainly along line 20-20 according to fig. 1 showing an alternative arrangement whereby a roof is to be supported to an external wall; Fig. 21 is an enlarged, vertical section, similar to fig. 13 and 14, but taken mainly along the line 21-21 according to fig. 1 to show the structural details of yet another representative, and perhaps preferred, form of a sleeper plate which can be inserted between the outer and perhaps even the inner walls and practically every variation of a supporting base;

Fig. 22 is an enlarged vertical section similar to fig. 19 and 20, but showing the details of yet another representative, and perhaps preferred, arrangement by which a roof is to be supported and attached to an exterior wall in a modular building construction of the type depicted in fig. 1; Fig. 23 is an enlarged, vertical section taken mainly along line 23-23 according to fig. 1 showing details of an arrangement by which it is supported and completes the ridge or ridge of a building employing the concept of the present invention; Fig. 24 is a perspective depicting the structural details of a device by which it supports the ridge from a primary connecting element included in the end wall of a building structure of the type depicted in fig. 1; Fig. 25 is a perspective exploded view of a representative arrangement whereby a roof ash inserted at a selected location along the roof span is supported; Fig. 26 is a vertical section taken mainly along the line 26-26 according to fig. 25 and shown on the same drawing sheet as flg. 24; Fig. 27 is an enlarged, vertical section taken substantially along the line 27-27 of Fig. 1 to show the interrelationship of a number of stacked window units fabricated from structural components according to the concepts of the present invention; and Fig. 28 is a representative perspective view of a typical panel element with one side edge connected to a form of a primary connecting element and with the other side edge connected to a secondary connecting element, where the opposite longitudinal ends of the structural components have been countersunk so that one end of the the illustrated assembly will match the cross-sectional profile of a selected gusset plate and so that the other end will provide a path for electrical wiring etc. and which appears on the same drawing sheet as fig. 25 .

A representative form of a modular building structure that incorporates the concepts according to the present invention is indicated generally by the number 10 in the attached drawings. The representative building structure 10 can e.g. used to serve as living quarters. The living quarters can be individual, free-standing housing units, or the living quarters can include a series of living units, many in the form of "townhouses" or "twinplexes", where these concepts have a common wall that separates adjacent housing units. With particular reference to fig. 1 includes the construction depicted in which a complete housing unit 11 which can be integrated adjacent to a subsequent adjacent housing unit 12 which is only partially depicted.

With further reference to fig. 2 it can be seen that the living unit 12 can include two bedrooms 13A and 13B, a bathroom 14 and a combined dining and living room area 15.

Main and rear doors 16 and 18 respectively. allows entry and exit from the combined dining and living space 15 and a number of windows 19 can be positioned appropriately to allow light and/or allow selective air circulation.

In the description that follows, a suffix has been used. That is to say, a specific structural arrangement can be used in one or more places. In addition, several variations of a construction component can be displayed. When general reference is made to a common construction arrangement or variations of a construction component, this arrangement or this component must be indicated with a letter suffix used in combination with the number indication used for general identification of this construction arrangement or this construction component. This same suffix must be used throughout the description, and in that respect the suffix will be used e.g. with the windows 19, the load-bearing coupling elements 30, the positioning shoulders 41 and 42, the coupling flanges 70, the extension arms 71, the locking pawls 75, the support bases 130, the forms 131, the gusset plates 140, the frame rafts 168, the stop rafts 169, the window assemblies 181 and the wall cap assemblies 200.

Because of. the sizes of a building constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention are modular, as will become clearer in the following, a variable selection of individual floor plans for the living room units can be incorporated into a building structure that demonstrates the concepts according to the present invention. Thus, it should be understood that the floor plan depicted in fig. 2 is only representative.

The representative housing unit 11 has an external wall 20 which forms the front facade, an external wall 21 which forms the rear facade, an external wall 22 which forms the visible end facade and a common wall 23 which serves to separate the successive adjacent housing units 11 and 12. It should be understood that if should the housing unit 11 be an individual, free-standing construction, the wall 23 would in this situation also constitute a visible end facade. The entire housing unit 11 is covered by a roof 24 (Fig. 1) which can, as shown, continue in the longitudinal direction of the building structure 10 to cover the housing unit 12 as well.

As depicted, a window 19A can be provided in the outer wall 20 to serve the bedroom 13A and a similar window 19B can be provided in the outer wall 21 to serve the bedroom 13B. In addition, a pair of windows 19C and 19D can be arranged in the outer wall 20 for the combined dining and living room 15, and a further window 19E can be arranged in the outer wall 21 for the bathroom 14. The front door 16 is arranged in the outer wall 20 and the back door 18 is arranged in the outer wall 21. The constructional details of the doors and windows will be explained more fully below.

The various rooms arranged inside the housing unit 11 are outlined by the inner walls. More specifically, an inner wall 25 extends inwards from the outer wall 21 which forms the end facade to divide the bedrooms 13A and 13B from each other. An inner wall 26 extends inwards from the outer wall 20 which forms the front facade to divide the bedroom 13A from the combined dining and living room 15, and an inner wall 27 extends inwards from the outer wall 21 which forms the rear facade to divide the bedroom 13B from the bathroom 14. A a further inner wall 28 extends inwards from the outer wall 21 which forms the rear facade, and a return wall 29 can be arranged at the innermost end of the inner wall 28. The inner walls 28 and 29 together serve to divide the bathroom 14 from the combined dining and living room 15.

An interior door 31A can be used to provide selective privacy to a bedroom 13A, and a similar interior door 31B can be used to provide selective privacy to another bedroom 13B. A third, interior door 31C can be used to provide selective privacy to the bathroom 14.

As will generally appear from fig. 2 is a number of load-bearing coupling elements, identified generally by the numeral 30, located at spaced intervals along the geometric location delineating the outer walls 20-22, the common wall 23, the inner walls 25-28 and the return wall 29. A sequence of a number panel elements 35 are inserted between successively spaced connecting elements 30 to form the previously identified internal as well as the external walls. Certain additional structural components are used in jointing not only during the manufacture, and hanging, of the doors 16, 18 and 31 and the windows 19, but also in effecting the structural bonds that must exist between the supporting base and the walls, the walls with each other and the walls with the ceiling, all during the construction of building structures 10 which will be described in detail in what follows. In order to facilitate the description of the present invention, the number of structural components most commonly used in the construction of the walls and roofs of a building structure 10 will first be described in detail.

One of the primary structural components is the panel element 35. As best shown in fig. 3, the panel element 35 has an element part 36. The element part 36 has planar, transversely spaced essentially parallel wall skins 38 and 39. A number of reinforcing ribs 40 run transversely between the wall skins 38 and 39. The ribs 40 are themselves spaced laterally, one in relation to the others, and they are oriented essentially parallel to the side edges of the element portion 36. The side edges of the element portion 36 are delimited by positioning shoulders 41 and 42 shown at opposite ends of each wall skin. As depicted in fig. 3, a positioning shoulder 41A defines a side edge of the skin 38, and a corresponding and opposite positioning shoulder 41B delimits a side edge of the wall skin 39. The positioning shoulders 41A and 41B are transversely opposed and do not only define a side edge of the element portion 36, but also the offset transition between the element portion 36 and the connecting tongue 45 which extends in the longitudinal direction along the side edge of the element portion defined by the positioning shoulders 41, which will be described in more detail later.

Similarly, a positioning shoulder 42A defines a second side edge of the skin 38, and a corresponding and opposite positioning shoulder 42B defines the other side edge of the wall skin 39. The positioning shoulders 42A and 42B are transversely opposed and define not only the other side edge of the element portion 36, but also the offset transition between the element part 36 and the connecting tongue 46 which extends in the longitudinal direction along the side edge of the element part defined by the positioning shoulders 42.

The tongue 45 has a transversely oriented closing wall 48 which is laterally spaced from the side edge of the element portion 36 defined by positioning shoulders 41A and 41B. The transverse edge of the closing wall 48 is connected to transversely spaced locking walls 49 and 50. A longitudinally extending locking groove 51 is recessed into the tongue 45 between the locking wall 49 and the element part 36 so that the locking groove 51 lies parallel to and next to the positioning shoulder 41A. A longitudinally extending locking groove 52 is likewise recessed into the tongue 45 between the locking wall 50 and the element portion 36 so that the locking groove 52 lies parallel to and next to the positioning shoulder 41B.

The tongue 46 has a transversely oriented closing wall 53 which is laterally spaced from the side edge of the element portion 36 defined by the positioning shoulders 42A and 42B. The transverse edge of the closing wall 53 is connected to transversely spaced locking walls 54 and 55. A longitudinally extending locking groove 56 is recessed into the tongue 46 between the locking wall 54 and the element portion 36 so that the locking groove 56 lies parallel to and next to the positioning shoulder 42A. A longitudinally extending locking groove 58 is likewise recessed into the tongue 45 between the locking wall 55 and the element portion 36 so that the locking groove 58 lies parallel to and next to the positioning shoulder 42B.

The pair of tongues 45 and 46 shown from the side edges 41 and 42, resp. of the element part 36 has a transverse thickness which is smaller than the transverse thickness of the element part 36.

In particular, the locking walls 49 and 54 are displaced transversely with respect to the plane of the wall skin 38 and the locking walls 50 and 55 are transversely displaced with respect to the plane of the wall skin 39. It is this lateral displacement of the four locking walls 49, 50, 54 and 55 in relation to the two skin walls 38 and 39 which means that the transverse thickness of the tongues 45 and 46 is less than the transverse thickness of the element part 36. The functional purpose of this deliberate disparity between the transverse thickness of the tongues 45 and 46 in relation to the transverse thickness of the element part 36 in each panel element 35 will will be explained in more detail later.

There are at least two types, and perhaps three subtypes, of connection elements 30 that can be used to construct a building structure 10 that incorporates the concepts according to the present invention. E.g. is the primary connecting element 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D, as depicted in FIG. 4 to 7 resp. and there is a secondary coupling element as depicted in fig. 8.

By taking the coupling elements in order, the primary coupling element 30A depicted in fig. 4 to effect a structural bond between two linearly oriented elements. Typically, a primary connecting element 30A can be used to effect a structural bond between two panel elements 35, a panel element 35 and a door 16, 18 or 31, a panel element 35 and a window 19 or any other desired arrangement in which the structural components are attached through a primary connecting element 30A is desired to be linearly oriented.

The primary connecting elements 30A to 30D inclusive, each have an element part 61 which advantageously has a square cross-section. That is, the element portion 61 is hollow and has a substantially rectilinear outer circumference which defines a number of outer surfaces such as the four 62, 63, 64 and 65 as depicted. The square cross-section provides excellent flexural strength with a minimum of material as well as excellent column stiffness with an excellent L/R ratio.

Since at least a pair of connecting flanges 70 are arranged on the element portion 61. Each connecting flange 70 has an external arm 71 with proximal and distal edges 72 and 73 resp. The proximal edge 72 of the extension arm 71 of the coupling flange 70 is integrally attached to the element portion 61 so that the extension arms 71 are each oriented in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the exterior surface and in the same plane as an adjacent exterior surface.

As can best be seen with reference to fig. 4, the extension arm 71A included in the first pair of coupling flanges 70A is oriented not only in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the outer surface 62, but also in the same plane with respect to the outer surface 65. Likewise, the extension arm 71B included in the first pair of coupling flanges 70A oriented not only in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the outer surface 62, but also in the same plane with respect to the outer surface 63. The extension arms 71A and 71B are thus positioned in the transversely spaced parallel relationship to form the first pair of connecting arms 70A.

A locking pawl 75 extends transversely outwards from the longitudinal edge 73 of each of the long Ise sar m 71A and 71B which form the first pair of coupling flanges 70A. In particular, the pawl 75A is arranged from the distal end 73 of the extension arm 71A and the pawl 75B is arranged from the distal end of the extension arm 71B. As can be seen in fig. 4, the pawls 75A and 75B arranged in this way extend towards each other and face each other.

The primary connecting element 30A depicted in fig. 4 also uses a second pair of coupling flanges 70B which extend outwards from the element portion 61 in a diametrically opposite direction in relation to the first pair of coupling flanges 70A. As such, the extension arm 71C included in the second pair of coupling flanges 70B is oriented not only in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the outer surface 64, but also in a planar relationship with respect to the outer surface 65. Likewise, the extension arm 71B included in the second pair coupling flanges 70B oriented not only in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the outer surface 64, but also in the same plane with respect to the outer surface 63. The extension arms 71C and 71D are thus positioned in a transversely spaced, parallel relationship to form the second pair of connecting arms 70B.

A locking pawl 75 also extends transversely outwardly from the distal edge 73 of each extension arm 71C and 71D in the second pair of coupling flanges 70B. The locking pawls 75C and 75D provided from the distal ends of the extension arms 71C and 71D respectively. it forms a second pair of connecting flanges 70B which also extend towards each other in opposing relationships.

The primary coupling element 30B depicted in fig. 5 is used to effect a structural bond between two perpendicularly oriented elements. Typically, a primary coupler element 30B can be used to effect a structural bond between two panel elements 35, a panel element 35 and a door 16, 18 or 31, a panel element 35 and a window 19 or any other desired arrangement where the structural components are attached through a primary coupler element 30B is desired to be perpendicularly oriented.

As will be apparent from a comparison between fig. 5 and fig. 4, the first pair of coupling flanges 70A included in the primary coupling element 30B depicted in fig. 5 identical to the first pair of coupling flanges 70A which are included in the primary coupling element 30A depicted in fig. 4, and the description of the first pair of coupling flanges 70A therefore need not be repeated. Nevertheless, the same reference numerals have been used for each element in the structural design of the first pair of connecting flanges 70A depicted in FIG. 5 which appears in connection with the first pair of connecting flanges 70A depicted in fig. 4, so that one can refer to the description given in connection with fig. 4 should any question arise in relation to the structural arrangement for the first pair of connecting flanges 70A used for the primary connecting element 30B depicted in 1 fig. 5.

The primary coupling element 30B depicted in fig. 5 also uses a second pair of coupling flanges 70C, but the second pair of coupling flanges 70C extends outwards from the element portion 61 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first pair of coupling flanges 70A extends outwards from the element portion 61.

As such, the extension arm 71E included in the second pair of connecting flanges 70C is oriented not only in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the outer surface 63, but also in the same plane as the outer surface 64. Likewise, the extension arm 71F included in the second pair of connecting flanges is 70C oriented not only in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the outer surface 63, but also in the same plane as the outer surface 62. The extension arms 71E and 71F are thus placed in a transversely spaced parallel relationship to form the second pair of coupling flanges 70C on the primary coupling member 30B.

A locking pawl 75 also extends transversely outwardly from the distal edge 73 of each extension arm 71E and 71F in the second pair of coupling flanges 70C. That is the pawl 75E is arranged from the distal end 73 of the extension arm 71E, and the pawl 75F is arranged from the distal end of the extension arm 71F. The locking pawls 75E and 75F are thus arranged from the distal ends of the extension arms 71E and 71F which form the second pair of coupling flanges 70C which also extend towards each other in opposing relationships.

The primary connecting element 30C depicted in fig. 6 is used to effect a structural bond between three elements, two of which are linearly oriented and the third of which is perpendicularly oriented with respect to the other two. Typically, a primary connecting element 30C can be used to effect a structural bond between three panel elements 35, two panel elements 35 and a door 16, 18 or 31, two panel elements 35 and a window 19 or any other desired arrangement in which the structural components move towards a common junction point.

As will be apparent from a comparison of fig. 6 and fig. 4, the first and second pair of coupling flanges 70A and 70B included in the primary coupling element 30C depicted in FIG. 6 identical to the first and second pair of coupling flanges 70A and 70B which are included in the primary coupling element 30A depicted in fig. 4. As such, the description of the first and second pair of coupling flanges 70A and 70B therefore need not be repeated. For convenience, however, the same reference numerals are used on each element of the structural design of the first and second pair of coupling flanges 70A and 70B depicted in FIG. 6, such as those appearing in connection with the first and second pair of coupling flanges 70A and 70B depicted in fig. 6, so that one can refer to the description given in connection with fig. 4 should any questions arise regarding the structural arrangement of the first or second pair of coupling flanges 70A or 70B used with the primary coupling element 30C depicted in FIG. 6.

The primary connecting element 30C depicted in fig. 6 also uses a third pair of connecting flanges 70C, but the third pair of connecting flanges 70C extends outward from the element portion 61 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first and second pairs of connecting flanges 70A and 70B extend outward from the element portion 61.

As such, the third pair of coupling flanges 70C included in the primary coupling element 30C depicted in FIG. 6 identical to the second pair of coupling flanges 70C which are included in the primary coupling element 30B depicted in fig. 5. For that reason, the description of the second pair of coupling flanges 70C described in connection with the primary coupling element 30B depicted in fig. 5 is therefore not repeated to define the third pair of coupling flanges 70C used with the primary coupling element 30C. However, the same numerals are used for each element in the structural design of the third pair of coupling flanges 70C depicted in FIG. 6 which occurs in connection with the second pair of coupling flanges 70C depicted in fig. 5, so that one can refer to the description given in connection with fig. 5 should any questions arise regarding the structural arrangement of the third pair of coupling flanges 70C used with the primary coupling element 30C depicted in FIG. 6.

The primary coupler element 30D depicted in FIG. 7 is used to effect a structural bond between four elements arranged in two pairs, where each pair is linearly oriented with respect to each other and perpendicularly oriented with respect to the other pair. Typically, a primary coupler element 30D can be used to effect a structural bond between four panel element 35, three panel element 35 and a door 16, 18 or 31, three panel element 35 and a window 19 or any other desired arrangement in which four structural components run towards a common junction point.

As will be seen from a comparison between fig. 7 and fig. 6, the first, second and third pairs of coupling flanges 70A, 70B and 70C are included in the primary coupling element 30D depicted in fig. 7 identical to the first, second and third pair of coupling flanges 70A, 70B and 70C included in the primary coupling element 30C depicted in fig. 6. As such, the description of the first, second and third pair of coupling flanges 70A, 70B and 70C therefore need not be repeated. Nevertheless, the same numerals have been used for each element of the structural design of the first and second pairs of coupling flanges 70A and 70B depicted in Fig. 7 as seen in connection with the first and second pair of connecting flanges 70A and 70B depicted in fig. 6 and described in connection with fig. 4 so that one can refer to the description given in connection with fig. 4 should any question arise in relation to the structural arrangement for the first and second pairs of coupling flanges 70A and 70B used with the primary coupling element 30D depicted in FIG. 7.

Likewise, the same number indications have been used for the various elements in the structural design of the third pair of connecting flanges 70C depicted in fig. 6 and described in connection with fig. 5, so that one can refer to the description given in connection with fig. 5 should any questions arise regarding the structural arrangement of the third pair of coupling flanges 70C used with the primary coupling element 30D depicted in FIG. 7.

The primary coupler element 30D depicted in FIG. 7 also employs a fourth pair of coupling flanges 70D, and the fourth pair of coupling flanges 70D not only extends outward from the element portion 61 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first and second pairs of coupling flanges 70A and 70B extend outward from the element portion 61, but also extends outwards from the element portion 61 in a direction diametrically opposite to the direction in which the third pair of connecting flanges 70C extends outwards from the element portion 61.

As such, the extension arm 71G included in the fourth pair of coupling flanges 70D is oriented not only in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the outer surface 65, but also in the same plane as the outer surface 64. Likewise, the extension arm 71H included in the fourth pair of coupling flanges 70D is oriented not only in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the outer surface 65, but also in the same plane as the outer surface 62. The extension arms 71G and 71H are thus placed in a spaced parallel relationship to form a fourth pair of coupling arms 70D.

A locking pawl 75 also extends outwardly from the distal edge 73 of each extension arm 71G and 71H in the fourth pair of coupling flanges 70D. The locking pawls 75G and 75H provided from the distal ends of the extension arms 71G and 71H which form the fourth pair of coupling flanges 70D also extend towards each other in opposite relationship.

The second connecting element 30E depicted in fig. 8 is also used to effect a structural bond between two linearly oriented elements. The secondary coupler element 30E is perpendicularly adapted for use in those places where a greater resistance to bending stresses than column stresses is desired or in those places where additional column strength provided by the primary coupler elements is not required. E.g. the secondary coupler elements 30E can be replaced with the primary coupler elements 30A in the construction of walls, assuming that sufficient column strength for the particular wall can be obtained by replacing the coupler elements in this way. In addition, it has been found that in the construction of a roof one requires little, if any, resistance to column stresses compared to the potentially high bending stresses. The secondary coupler elements 30E are therefore particularly suitable for use in the construction of roof structures which will be more fully described in the following.

A preferred design of the construction for the secondary coupler element 30E will now be described, where the secondary coupler element uses a step part 81 with a first and second pair of coupling flanges which extend outwards from the step part in diametrically opposite directions.

As will be apparent from a comparison between fig. 8 and fig. 4, the first and second pair of coupling flanges 70A and 70B are included in the secondary coupling element 30E depicted in fig. 8 identical to the first and second pair of coupling flanges 70A and 70B which are included in the primary coupling element 30A depicted in fig. 4, and the description of the first and second pair of coupling flanges 70A and 70B therefore need not be repeated. In this situation, as in the previous situations where identical elements form part of a separate structural component, the same numerical references are used for the various elements of the first and second pair of connecting flanges 70A and 70B depicted in fig. 8 which they used in connection with the first and second pair of coupling flanges 70A and 70B depicted in fig. 4, so that reference can be made to the description given in connection with fig. 4 should any questions arise regarding the structural arrangement of the first and second pair of coupling flanges 70A or 70B used with the secondary coupling element 30E depicted in FIG. 8.

The carmel element 90 depicted in fig. 9 is used to effect a structural bond between a door 16, 18 or 31 and a connector element 30, or a window 19 and a connector element 30. As such, the frame element 90 can be connected to each of the variants of the primary connector elements 30A to 30D, or for that matter the secondary element 30E. The carmel element 90 has an element part 91 which has spaced substantially parallel surfaces 92 and 93. At a side edge of the surface 92, a frame surface 94A extends across the element part 91 in the opposite relationship to a frame surface 94B which extends across the element part 91 at the corresponding side edge of the surface 93.

A stop block 95 extends laterally outward from the opposite and flush frame surfaces 94A and 94B to provide oppositely directed stop surfaces 96. The stop surface 96A extends perpendicularly outward from the frame surface 94A, and the stop surface 96B extends perpendicularly outward from the frame surface 94B. Stop surfaces 96A and 96B are substantially parallel to each other and surfaces 92 and 93 are also parallel. A closing surface 97 extends across the stop block 95 in a substantially perpendicular relationship with the stop surface 96 and in a substantially parallel relationship with the frame surface 94 to define a side edge of the frame member 90.

The oppositely directed side edge of the frame member 90 is bounded by the positioning shoulder 42. A positioning shoulder 42A defines a side edge of the surface 92, and a corresponding, and opposite, positioning shoulder 42B defines a side edge of the surface 93. The positioning shoulders 42A and 42B are opposite each other and define not only the other side edge of the frame element 90, but also the transition between the part 91 and the connecting tongue 46 which runs in the longitudinal direction along this side edge of the element part defined by the positioning shoulders 42.

As will be apparent from a comparison of fig. 9 and fig. 3, the tongue 46 included in the frame element 90 is identical to the tongue 46 included in the panel element 35, and the description of the tongue 46 therefore need not be repeated. In this situation, the same numerical references that have been used on the tongue 46 and the frame element 90 depicted in fig. 9 which occurs in connection with the tongue 46 on the panel element 35 so that one can refer to the description given in connection with fig. 3 should any questions arise with regard to the structural design of the tongue 46 used with the frame element 90 depicted in fig. 9.

Reference is now made to fig. 10, where the closing frame 100 is a structural element with a mainly rectilinear overall contour that is interrupted by a first recess 101 and an oppositely directed second recess 102. One can also think of the closing frame 100 as composed of two rectilinear designs 103 and 104 which are placed on each other, but offset laterally, one with respect to the other to provide two oppositely directed internal corners 105 and 106, which form the apex of the first and second recesses 101 and 102 resp. No matter how many designs one can think of for the closing frame 100, it will preferably be hollow in order to reduce unnecessary weight to a minimum. As is also shown in fig. 10, a hollow, rectilinear glass strip 110 will cooperate with the recess 101 or 102 which will be described in more detail later.

The adjacent ends of selected lengths 111 and 112 of the closing frame 100 can e.g. mitered and joined together in the traditional way to form a frame for receiving an insert 113. The insert 113 can be a transparent or translucent pane of glass or the like. Conversely, the insert 113 can be an opaque plastic sheet or the like. depending on the wishes of the people using the building structure 10. In any case, the insert 113 can be received in the recess 102 circumscribing the internal opening 114 provided by the frame formed by the selected lengths 111, 112, etc. of the closing frame 100. Placed inside the recess 102, the insert 113 can be fixed in position at suitable lengths of the glass strip 110 which can be removably attached to the closing frame 100 by means of a number of screws 115 which extend through the glass strip 110 and down into a wall 116 of the closing frame 100.

As an alternative to mitering the corners in selected lengths of the jointed shutter frame 100, it would also be possible to use a connecting plug 120 to attach adjacent ends of two lengths 111 and 112 of the shutter frame 100. As depicted in fig. 10, the connecting plug 120 can have a corner portion 121 which will remain visible and which can, if desired, have an external design which corresponds identically to that of the closing frame element 100. In this way, a smooth outer surface can be provided for the entire assembly which surrounds the internal opening 114.

Appropriately designed legs 122 and 123 can extend outwards from the corner portion 121 of the connecting plug 120, preferably at right angles to each other, in order to be received in the hollow interior 124 of the lengths 111 and 112 of the closing frame 100 to be joined. A permanent connection can be effected using a suitable adhesive 125 between the legs 122 and 123 and the inner surface 126 of the closing frame 100. On the other hand, the lengths 111 and 112 of the closing frame 100 can be releasably attached to the legs 122 and 123 of the connecting plug 120 using removable fasteners. The screw 115 can e.g. serve the dual function of attaching a glass strip 110 to the closing frame 100 as well as attaching the lengths 111 and 112 of the closing frame 100 to the connecting plug 120.

The construction components used in the present invention - those described above as well as those that will be described in the following - may well constitute an extruded thermoplastic resin. Such resins or resins are preferably reinforced with fibres, such as glass fibre, and provide a material commonly referred to as a fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP). While a variety of thermoplastic materials and fiber reinforcements are known, a particularly suitable FRP is vinyl chloride resin reinforced with glass fibers.

The amount of fiber reinforcement in such a product may range from: roughly from about 5 to 50 weight-# based on the combined weight of glass fibers and vinyl chloride resin; desirably from about 10 to 40 weight-#; advantageously about 15 to 35 wt.#; and most advantageously about 30 weight-#. A good description of these products and the method for their preparation can be found in US-PS No. 4,536,360, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

As will be obvious to the person skilled in the art, the practice of the present invention requires that the structural components constitute vinyl chloride resins reinforced with glass fiber and the invention is therefore not limited to this or to what is described in US-PS No. 4,536,360. Thus, the structural components do not have to be fiber-reinforced or thermoplastic as long as they can be manufactured with a design as described here.

Reference is now made to the construction of a modular building structure 10 which uses the foregoing structural components, where first a supporting base 130 (fig. 1) must be stored on which a modular building structure 10 can be erected. At this point, it must be emphasized that the supporting base 130, or at least the geometric location of points that define the walls - and especially the outer walls - to be erected on the supporting base 130, must be precisely located and dimensioned. The concepts according to the present invention allow the various structural components from which the building structure is to be built to be mass-produced at another location and delivered for assembly without special tools and without special knowledge for the building craftsmen. That is, that the various structural components can be simply joined together by unskilled workers, and after all the various structural components have been assembled, the result is a complete building structure 10. For these reasons, the dimensions and design of the supporting base 130 are critical, with regard to the correct conditions for each structural component for the previous and subsequent erected structural components as well as all the structural components that make up the complete building structure 10.

With this in mind, the supporting base 130 may well include a sole, a batten, a deck, a number of posts or pillars or any other arrangement that can support the building structure 10. In all cases, the supporting base 130 must constitute the geometrical place for the points that define at least the outer walls of the building structure. One way of achieving the critical measurements for accurately delineating the above-mentioned geometric location is to provide forms 131 (Figs. 11 and 12) which will not only provide a supporting base 130 in the form of a concrete sole, sleeper etc. which must be arranged with the necessary dimensional accuracy, but also provide a built-in arrangement for the placement of the means by which the selected primary connecting elements 30 are to be bonded to the resulting support base 130.

With particular reference to fig. 11, a pair of molds 131A and 131B, of the type usually fabricated from steel, may be placed as shown to define the outer perimeter of a corner of a support base 130A on which a building structure 10 as depicted in FIG. 1 can be raised. A number of such shapes 131A and 131B may well be used to define the outer circumference of the entire support base 130A.

A number of tabs 132 are fixedly connected to and extend horizontally from the upper edge 133 of the molds 131A and 131B, to lie above the prepared surface 134 on which the supporting base 130A will be integral, and each tab 132 represents a countersunk guide slot 135 which is of sufficient length and width to accurately determine the location along the geometric points defining the exterior walls of the building structure 10 at which it is desired, or required, that a reinforcing bar 136 can be placed to connect selected primary connecting members 30A-30D to the supporting base 130A .

By pre-numbering a complete set of the aforementioned molds 131A and 131B, necessary to define the entire perimeter of the supporting base 130A, and/or by providing means well known to those skilled in the art to ensure that the molds 131A and 131B can only be set together in a predetermined way, will even an unskilled worker could accurately position the multiple molds 131A and 131B necessary to circumscribe the entire circumference of the supporting base 130A. As the supporting base 130A is poured in, the worker will insert appropriate reinforcing bars 136 into the freshly poured concrete, using the countersunk guide slots 135 to accurately place each such reinforcing bar 136. A supporting base 130A is completely on the prepared surface 134 circumscribed by a number of molds 131A and 131B provides a cross-section in accordance with that depicted in fig. 13.

At least one type of form 131 will also be described in detail in what follows. Regardless of which type of form is used, however, the purpose is to provide a supporting base 130 from which the building can be erected, and to which selected coupler elements 30 can be attached. In this regard, it must be ensured that not only preselected coupler elements 30 are permanently attached to the support base 130 when the building is completed, but also that some means are provided to effect a temporary anchoring of the coupler elements 30 in relation to the support base 130 during construction.

In many geographical areas, it is essential that some permanent anchoring means can be arranged at the base of at least the outer walls to provide a rigid or fixed resistance to lateral wind loads. Wind loads can reach relatively large proportions when calculating a structure that must withstand hurricane-sized wind speeds. In addition, it is also highly desirable and generally required that certain means are arranged to exclude water ingress between the outer walls and the supporting base. Both of these purposes are accomplished by the three illustrated arrangements for permanently attaching selected coupler elements to the supporting base, which will be more fully explained later. The means for effecting anchorage of the coupler elements to the supporting base should - in addition to effecting a permanent anchorage by which wind loads applied to the outside of the exterior walls, which tend to push the walls inward into the building - be effected a temporary resistance to loads which is applied to the inside of the outer walls, at least before the time when the permanent anchoring is achieved. Two of the arrangements depicted here to effect permanent anchorage against lateral loads provide the necessary temporary resistance as well, but the third arrangement described here and the one described first require assistance during the construction phase to provide the necessary temporary protection.

With particular reference to fig. 13 (which depicts the "third" arrangement mentioned above) it can be seen that the reinforcing bar 136, structurally anchored in the supporting base 130Å by virtue of the well-known provision in the form of a hook 138 immersed in the concrete from which the supporting base 130A is formed, extends vertically upwardly out of the supporting base 130A to penetrate the swell plate 140A through a bore 141 to be received internally by a hollow primary coupler element such as the illustrated element 30A. The interior of the hollow coupler member 30A may be filled with concrete 142 to enclose the reinforcing bar 136. To achieve the necessary structural bond between the concrete 142 and the reinforcing bar 136, the bar 136 should generally extend upward approximately 45 to 61 cm. The concrete 142 thereby ensures a permanent anchoring of the coupler element 30A to the supporting base 130, through the rod 136 to withstand significant lateral loads, but only after the concrete has hardened.

The sleeper plate 140A used in the arrangement depicted in fig. 13 may be in the form of a Z-bar. As such, the central step portion 143 thereof has side edges from which flange portions 144 and 145 extend perpendicularly outwards, but in opposite directions. The flange portion 144 lies above, and preferably engages the peripheral edge 146 of the base 130A. The flange 145, on the other hand, extends outwardly from the support base 130A to engage the primary coupler member 30A along the side 65 facing the interior of the building structure 10. In this way, wind loads applied externally by a wall erected on a sill plate 140A is resisted by the substantially vertically extending flange 145, even before the time that the concrete 142 has hardened. It should also be understood that the flange 145 provides a continuous resistance to lateral loads applied externally by the building structure 10 along the entire length of each external wall, thus supplementing the resistance provided by the reinforcing bars 136 even after the concrete in which they are enclosed has hardened.

The mainly vertical position of the flange 145 in relation to the horizontally positioned central step part 143 also serves as an effective means by which water is excluded from the introduction of water into the building 10 from the underside of the outer walls.

As will be readily understood, however, until such time as the concrete 142 has hardened, the structural arrangement depicted in FIG. 13 not a temporary anchorage which would preclude movement of either the primary coupler element 30 or the other structural components from which the wall 20 is formed from moving upwards away from the flange 145. To avoid this problem, one can e.g. drive stakes 147 into the ground surrounding the support base 130A and use these stakes, or other comparable means, to effect the necessary temporary anchoring of the wall 20 against lateral outward movement until such time as the permanent anchoring device is fully operational. As shown, a washer or block 148 can be inserted between the stake 147 and the wall 20 to provide the necessary temporary anchoring.

If the need to provide temporary anchoring devices by virtue of certain temporary structural arrangements is not included in the swell plate 140 itself is unacceptable, one can safely use an alternative design of a swell plate, representative examples of which will be described in what follows.

As an alternative to forms 131A and 131B, one can e.g. use the molds 131C depicted in fig. 12, which is also prefabricated from steel, to define the outer circumference of one side of a supporting base 130B. A swelling plate 140B can, by means well known in the art, be releasably attached to and extend horizontally outward from the upper edge 133 of each form 131C to lie above the prepared surface 134 on which the supporting base 130B will be poured. As best shown in fig. 14, the foam board 140B can be held firmly in the concrete that forms the support base 130B even after the molds 131C have been removed.

By pre-numbering a complete set of the aforementioned forms 131C necessary to define the entire circumference of the support base 130B, and/or by arranging devices well known in the art to ensure that the forms 131C can only fit together in a predetermined manner, even an unskilled worker would be able to accurately locate and position the successive number of such molds 131C necessary to define the outer circumference of the supporting base 130B. As the supporting base 130B is poured, a worker will insert suitable reinforcing bars 136 into the freshly poured concrete using bores 149 arranged at longitudinally spaced intervals along the sleeper plate 140B to precisely indicate the locations at which the reinforcing bars 136 are to be inserted into the concrete when the supporting base 130B, which is the smallest circumferentially defined of the molds 130C, is poured. A support base 130B is poured onto the prepared surface 134 circumscribed by a number of molds 131C providing a cross-section consistent with that perhaps best depicted in fig. 14.

In the embodiment of the support base 130B depicted in FIG. 14, the reinforcing rod 136 extends vertically upwardly out of the support base 130B to penetrate the baffle plate 140B, through the bore 149 and to be received internally by the hollow primary coupler element 30A. The interior of each hollow coupler element 30A into which a reinforcement bar 136 extends is preferably also filled with concrete 142 to achieve the necessary structural bond between the coupler 30A and the base 130B, through the reinforcement bar 136, as previously explained in connection with the description of the support base 130A.

The baffle plate 140B used in the arrangement depicted in fig. 12 and 14 may be in the form of a J-bar. The central stepped portion 150 of the surge plate 140B is placed substantially horizontally, and a first flange portion 151 extends substantially perpendicularly upward from a side edge of the central stepped portion 150. As such, when the surge plate 140B is supported by the form 131C, the concrete completely below defines a shelf 152 in the circumferential edge 153 of the support base 130B. This surface of the shelf 152 formed by the central step portion 150 becomes a substantially horizontally oriented bearing surface 154, and this surface of the shelf 152 formed by the first flange portion 151 becomes a substantially vertically oriented reaction surface 155. The first flange portion 151 remains in continuous extension of the reaction surface 155 and is to that extent also considered to be a part of the reaction surface which engages with the side 65 of the primary coupler element 30A which is directed towards the inside of the building 10. Each wind load applied externally of the wall - the wall 20 for example, as depicted - in which the coupler element 30A is used, will be resisted not only by the reinforcing rod 136, but also by the mainly vertically extending first flange portion 151 and the reaction surface 155 represented by the shelf 152 of the support base 130B.

The mainly vertical location of the first flange portion 151 in relation to the horizontally placed central step portion 150 also serves as an effective means by which it excludes water ingress into the building 10 from the underside of the wall 20.

A second flange extends outwards from the other side edge of the step part 150. At least a first part 158 of the second flange extends outwards of the step part 150 in the same direction as the first flange 151, and a second part 159 of the second flange extends outwards of the step part 150 in an opposite direction 1 in relation to the first flange part 151. The first part 158 of the second flange is thus placed parallel, in relation to the distance to the first flange part 151 and can well serve as the temporary anchoring device by which each side force applied must be resisted towards the inside of each wall erected on the sleeper plate 140B.

The second portion 159 of the second flange overlies and preferably engages a portion of the circumferential edge 153 of the support base 130B. The second part 159 of the second flange therefore serves primarily as a decorative means by which the visible boundary between the central stepped part of the sill plate 140B and the support base 130B is to be camouflaged.

As will now be clearly apparent, if the foam board 140B is used along the entire perimeter of the building 10, it will serve to achieve the aforementioned desirable purposes along it.

When calculating the stresses applied at the connections between the primary coupler element 30A-30D and the support base 130 on which the building structure 10 rests, it will generally be determined that only certain of the hollow primary coupler elements 30A-30D will need to be filled with concrete. At those locations along the geometric location of the points defining the exterior walls where the primary coupler members 30A-30D must be filled with concrete to effect a structural bond between the coupler members and the support base 130, it would be highly desirable for the primary coupler members 30A-30D to fully engage with the sill plate 140, or up to with the support base itself 130. At other locations, the structural components forming the outer walls can either rest on the swell plate 140 itself or they can rest on an element inserted between the vertically oriented structural components and the swell plate 140.

For example, as depicted in fig. 18, a frame element 90 is able to be cooperatively accommodated on the step portion 150 and between the flanges 151 and 158 of the swell plate 140B. If the frame element 90 were to be placed under the structural elements, apart from the primary coupler element 30, it is highly desirable that the downwardly directed ends of the other structural elements that engage with the frame element 90 are recessed to a design that correspondingly engages with the upwardly directed cross-sectional profile of the frame element 90. However, at those locations along the outer walls where either a door 16 or 18 or a window 19 will be placed, the doors and windows will cooperate with the frame element 90, which will be more fully explained below in connection with the description of cooperation between the closing frames 100 and the frame elements 90.

The last of the representative silt plates that will be described here is best depicted in fig. 21 and is generally identified by the reference 140C. In particular, the gusset plate 140C has a horizontally arranged, substantially planar back or base 165. A stop block 166 extends vertically upwards from the central portion of the base 165, so that the portions of the base 165 which extend laterally outward from the stop block 166 exhibit opposing, flush frame surfaces 168A and 168B. The side walls of the stop block 166 have oppositely directed stop surfaces 169A and 169B. The stop surface 169A extends perpendicularly upwards from the frame surface 168A, and the stop surface 169 extends perpendicularly upwards from the frame surface 168B. As such, the stop surfaces 169A and 169B are substantially parallel to each other. A closing surface 170 extends across the stop block 166 in a substantially perpendicular relationship to the stop surfaces 169 and substantially parallel to the frame surfaces 168 to define the top surface of the swell plate 140C.

The stop block 166 thus extends upwards from the base 165 to contact the structural components along the walls of the building structure 10. Wind or other lateral load applied to each wall erected on a sill plate 140 will be resisted not only by the reinforcing bars occupied internally by these primary coupler elements 30A-30B which is filled with concrete, as previously discussed, but also by cooperation between the mainly vertically extending stop block 166 and the structural components from which the wall is formed. As such, the design of the swell plate 140C can serve as a temporary anchor, if some means is provided to attach the swell plate 140C to the support base 130A during erection of the building structure 10.

A cut-down fastener 171, as depicted in fig. 21, constitutes a device by which a swelling plate 140C can be attached to a supporting base 130A. In particular, the fastening means 171 attach the part of the substrate 165 which extends laterally from the stop block 166 to the support base 130A. This approach allows the foam board 140C to be placed, and secured, after the concrete forming base 130A has hardened. It should be noted, however, that it may be advantageous to attach only the portion of the substrate 165 that has the frame surface 168B, as shown, so long as that portion of the substrate 165 representing the frame surface 168A can be so close to the circumferential edge 146 of the base 130A that insertion of the fastener 173 could split the circumferential edge 146 of the support base 130A. Fig. 27 shows an alternative form of foam plate 140C'. The gusset plate 140C is virtually identical to the gusset plate 140C, except that the gusset plate 140C' includes a built-in mechanical joint 172 extending downwardly from the base 165. The built-in joint 172 may include a leg 173 formed in one with and extending downwardly from the base 165 to terminate in a domed foot portion 174. Such an alternative construction for attaching the swell plate 140C to the support base 130A would require the swell plate 140C' to be set into the concrete in the support base 130A before the concrete hardens. Enclosing the joint 172 in the concrete forming the support base 130A would allow the sleeper plate 140C' to provide the temporary anchoring desired during erection of the building structure 10.

Reference is again made to fig. 21 where the ends of the structural components, the panel member 35J is depicted, which engages the gusset plate 140C (or for that matter the gusset plate 140C') should be countersunk, as at 175, to have the same shape as the cross-sectional profile of the gusset plate 140C or 140C'. E.g. can the end edges 176A and 176B for the resp. wall skins 38 and 39 of the panel member 35 rest directly on the base 130A, but the transverse members of the panel member 35, such as the closing walls, not shown in the figure and the ribs 40, as shown, are recessed in a stepped manner to have end edges 177A and 177B which make engagement with the frame surfaces 168A and 168B resp. on the swelling plate 140C or 140C and an end edge 178 which contacts the closing surface 170 on the swelling plate 140C or 140C'. The ends of the other coupler elements 30 are likewise countersunk to engage the swell plate 140C or 140C', and this arrangement works quite well to effect the desired temporary anchoring between the wall 20 - or any other exterior, or interior, wall - and the base. 130A until such a time as the permanent anchorage between them becomes fully operational.

By arranging a recess 175 at both ends of each structural component, two purposes are achieved. First and most obvious, the workers would not have to orient each structural component during the erection process, and second, the recess 175 at the top of each structural component would form a path running the length of each wall through which electrical wiring could be routed. An exemplary representation of the use of a recess 175 at both ends of each structural component is further depicted in fig. 28. As shown, a panel member 35 is operatively engaged by one form of a primary coupler member - i.e. 30A - as well as a secondary coupler member 30E and both ends of all three structural components are provided with a recess 175. From the representative illustration it should be it should now be clear that any of the structural components used in a building structure 10 that incorporates the concepts according to the present invention can be recessed in a corresponding manner.

At those locations along the geometric point for the points defining the exterior walls where the primary coupler members 30A-30D must be filled with concrete to effect a structural bond between the coupler members 30A-30D and the support base 130A, it would be highly desirable that the primary coupler members 30A-30D as a whole engages the base 130A instead of the gusset plate 140C or 140C to not only ensure that the desired bond is effected between the concrete inside the primary coupler elements 30A-30D and the reinforcing bar 136 extending upwards from the support base 130A at these locations, but also to ensure that the column load supported by at least these concrete-filled primary coupler members 30A-30D 142 is transferred directly to the support base 130A without intervention by any component that was not intended to support the column load to be carried by a concrete-filled primary coupler member 30A -30D.

The mainly vertical position of the stop block 166 in relation to the horizontally placed base 165 also serves as an effective device by which the passage of water under a wall erected thereon is excluded. It is therefore obvious that, if the foam board 140C or 140C is used along the entire perimeter of the building 10, apart from the places where a primary coupler element 30A-30D is to be filled with concrete, the foam board 140C or 140C' will achieve its purposes as a whole.

With a basic understanding of the structural components described so far, as well as the many variations by which one can bind these structural components to the representative support bases described, one is ready to consider one or more representative methods by which the walls of a building structure 10 can be raised.

It may be assumed that the appropriate support base 130 has been integral with the reinforcing rods 136 having been secured within the support base at precisely located, spaced intervals along at least the geometric locus of points defining the outer walls. It will further be assumed that the selected sill plates 140 have also been placed at the right time. With the above description, one skilled in the art would be able to pre-fabricate the necessary components and complete the support base 130 in preparation for erecting the walls of a building structure 10.

To erect the walls themselves, there are generally two different approaches that can be used. That is, either the walls can be directly assembled in their final, vertical position, or the walls can be assembled at ground level and then raised to their final, vertical position. Each approach is acceptable, but there will likely be those who prefer one method over the other.

To erect the walls on site, at least one worker will require a ladder, stairs or some form of scaffolding. By starting e.g. at a corner, such as the corner between the front wall 20 and the end wall 22 as seen in fig. 1, the workers can begin erecting the wall 22 by placing two sequential panel elements 35A and 35B in linear juxtaposition along the selected sill plate 140 which defines the geometric location of the points at which the wall 22 is to be erected on the support base 130. At this point it should be explained that the following description shall begin with the erection of the wall 22 only as an example. Those who understand the invention could just as easily start with practically every other wall. With this understanding and with the panel elements 35A and 35B positioned as previously described, the worker on scaffolding or the like can take a secondary coupler element 30E and slide it vertically between the linearly aligned panel elements 35A and 35B so that, as depicted in fig. 16, the coupling flanges 70A of the secondary coupling member 30E operatively contact the tongue or spring 45 of the panel 35A and the coupling flanges 70B operatively contact the tongue or spring 46 of the panel member 35B.

Operative engagement of the coupling flanges 70A on the secondary coupling element 30E with the spring 45 on the panel element 35A requires that the pawls 75A and 75B of the coupling flanges 70A are slidably received inside the locking grooves 51 and 52 resp. arranged from the tongue 45 on the panel element 35A. Likewise, operative engagement of the coupling flanges 70B on the secondary coupling element 30E with the tongue 46 on the panel element 35B requires that the pawls 75C and 75D of the coupling flanges 70B are slidably received in the locking grooves 56 and 58 resp. arranged at the tongue 46 of the panel element 35B. When the flanges 75A-75D are engaged in this way with the locking grooves 51, 52, 56 and 58 resp. on the linear aligned panel members 35A and 35B, the secondary coupler member 30E will relatively easily slide downward between the panel members 35A and 35B until the lower end of the secondary coupler member 30E correctly contacts the gusset plates 140. At this point, the panel members 35A and 35B are fully bonded to the coupler member 30E and thus to each other.

Reference to fig. 16 will also reveal the functional purposes of having the tongues 45 and 46 of less transverse thickness than the thickness of the element portion 36 of the panel elements 35 from which the tongues are arranged. By making the transverse displacement between the locking wall 49 and the wall skin 38 on the panel element 35A equal to the transverse thickness of the extension arm 71A of the coupling flanges 70A, the surface 65 of the secondary coupling element 30E will be located flush with the surface of the wall skin 38 on the wall panel 35A. With all lateral displacements between the wall skins 38 and 39 of the panel elements 35 and the corresponding locking walls 49, 50, 54 and 55 of the coupling tongues 45 and/or 46 dimensioned in this way, the inner and outer surfaces of the end wall 22 defined by the wall skins 38 and 39 on subsequent panel element 35 over the length of the wall be practically edge to edge with each other and with the correct surfaces 62 to 65 on the coupler elements 30 used to connect the panel elements 35.

Continuing with the explanation of a method by which at least the outer walls of a building structure 10 are erected, workers can position a third, sequential panel member 35C in linear alignment with the now bonded panel members 35A and 35B. The third panel element 35C will, however, be moderately spaced, albeit flush, with the panel element 35B as best shown in fig. 15. The aligned but moderately spaced placement of panel members 35B and 35C allows the worker on scaffolding or the like. can take a primary coupler element 30A and slide it vertically between the panel elements 35B and 35C so that the coupling flanges 70A of the primary coupler element 30A contacts the tongue 45 of the panel element 35B and the coupling flanges 70B of the primary coupler element 30A contacts the tongue 46 of the panel element 35C.

In the arrangement depicted in fig. 15, also, engagement of the connecting flanges 70A of the primary coupling element 30A with the tongue 45 of the panel element 35B requires that the pawls 75A and 75B of the coupling flanges 70A are slidably received in the locking grooves 51 and 52 resp. arranged on the tongue 45 of the panel element 35B. Likewise, engagement of the coupling flanges 70B on the primary coupling element 30A with the tongue 46 on the panel element 35C requires that the pawls 75C and 75D on the coupling flanges 70B are slidably received in the locking grooves 56 and 58 resp. arranged on the tongue 46 of the panel element 35C. When the flanges 75A-75D are engaged like this with the locking grooves 51, 52, 56 and 58 resp. on the flush, but moderately spaced, panel elements 35B and 35C, the primary coupler element 30A will relatively easily slide downward between the panel elements 35B and 35C until the lower end of the primary coupler element 30A correctly contacts the swell plate 140. At this point, the panel element 35B and 35C are completely connected to the coupler element 30A and thus to each other.

The panel elements used to erect the walls 20 and 21 should preferably all be of the same height. However, it should be understood that when erecting the end wall 22 as described above, as well as the common wall 23, the successive panel elements 35 must be of progressively increasing height, and the upper ends should be sloped to match the pitch of each slope 24A and 24B of the roof 24 after which the slopes 24A and 24B converge upwards towards the ridge 269. The progressive increase in height of the panel elements 35 which form the end wall 22, for example, should be apparent from the images according to fig. 25 and 26.

It should be understood that the lower ends of each of the elements previously assembled should be shaped, as necessary, to engage the selected gusset plate 140. It should also be understood that the use of a reinforcing bar would probably not be necessary to tie the structural components previously assembled to the support base 130. However, it is conceivable that a reinforcing bar would likely be required at the intersection of walls 20 and 22, and for that reason, erecting panel member 35D in wall 20 will now be described.

To this end, the workers would position the panel member 35D perpendicular to the previously erected panel members 35A-35C and coincident with the selected sill plate 140 which defines the geometric location of the points along which the wall 20 is to be erected on the support base 130. With the panel member 35 thus placed in relative to the panel element 35A, the worker on scaffolding etc. take a primary coupler member 30B and slide it vertically between perpendicularly oriented panel members 35A and 35D so that the coupling flanges 70A of the coupler member 30B contact the tongue 46 of the panel 35A and the coupling flanges 70C contact the tongue 45 of the panel member 35D. Because of. the operative engagement between the coupling flanges 70A and 70C with the resp. tongues on the panel elements 35A and 35D are the same as explained earlier in connection with fig. 15 and 16, there is no need to depict or describe the details of this joint. It should suffice to say that the engagement of the primary coupler element 30B with the panel elements 35A and 35D causes a bond between each panel element 35A and 35D as well as the primary coupler element 30B and thus between the panel elements 35A and 35D itself.

It is also quite likely that a primary coupling element used at a corner of the building structure 10 should be connected in turn to the support base 130 on which the building structure 10 is erected. As such, when the coupler member 30B is operatively insertable between the perpendicularly oriented panel members 35A and 35D, it will also slide longitudinally over the vertically positioned reinforcing bar 136 located in the corner of the building structure 10.

Erection of the walls thus continues component by component. E.g. one could continue along the wall 20 by placing a subsequent panel element 35E flush with the panel element 35D and connecting these two panel elements by means of another secondary coupler element 30E which would be insertably received therebetween in the manner previously depicted and described in connection with the joining of panel elements 35A and 35B.

A primary coupler element 30A can be attached to the edge of the panel element 35E which is not connected to the secondary coupler element 30E. This coupler member 30A would serve as a portion for the structural window frame "pin" on the left side of the opening 180 (when viewed in Fig. 1) into which the composite window 19A could be placed. Another coupler member 30A could also serve as the structural window frame stud on the opposite, or right side of the opening 180, and that coupler member 30A could be connected - in the manner previously described in detail with respect to bonding the panel member 35C to the primary coupler member 30A - to panel element 35F.

A frame member 90 would be supported from the primary coupler members 30A defining each side of the opening 180. The arrangement by which a frame member 90 is supported from a primary coupler member 30 is perhaps best shown in FIG. 17. With special reference to fig. 17, it can be seen that the coupling flanges 70B on the primary coupling element 30A contact the tongue 46 on the frame element 90. This means that they resp. locking pawls 75C and 75D shown on extension arms 71C and 71D of coupling flanges 70B are slidably received in resp. locking grooves 56 and 58 in the tongue 46 of the frame element 90.

As shown in fig. 1, the window 19A is a composite window. That is that window 19A may form a series of four vertically stacked window units 181A-181D. Fig. 17 shows the aspect ratio of the window unit 181B in relation to the frame element 90, and as shown, a fastening arm 182 of hinge 183 can be attached by conventional fastening means, such as adhesive, screws or rivets (not shown) to the surface 92 of the element part 91 of the frame element 90, and the second attachment arm 184 of the hinge 183 can be attached to the side piece 185 formed by a length of the closing frame 100. An ear 186 extends outwards from the attachment arm 182 to lie in adjacent abutment to an ear 188 which extends outwards from the attachment arm 184. A hinge pin 189 extends between and operatively connects the two lugs 186 and 188 to permit relative movement of the attachment arms 182 and 184 about the axis defined by the hinge pins 189. A comparable hinge arrangement may be provided on both sides of each window unit 181A-181D to permit each window unit pivots in relation to the primary coupler element 30A, and the associated frame element 90 from which the window units 181 are supported. As can also be seen in fig. IV, a suitable sealing strip, such as the sealing strip 190, can be inserted between the stop surface 96A of the frame element 90 and the side piece 185 of the window unit 181B.

With reference to fig. 27, it can be seen how a vertically stacked, successive array of window units 181A-181D cooperate with each other to allow each window unit 181A-181D to be individually opened and closed. To start at the bottom of the stack, a stop block is provided at the support base 130A. One means of representing a stop block, such as 95, would be to use a frame element 90 as depicted in fig. 18. Another device for providing a stop block 166 at the desired location would be to use a shim plate 140C, as shown in fig. 27. The lower rail 191 (also formed by a length of the shutter frame 100) of the window assembly 181A contacts the stop face 169A of the stop block 166, and a suitable sealing strip 190 can be inserted therebetween.

The upper limit of the interior opening 114 of the window unit 181A constitutes an upper, meeting rail 192 (also formed by a length of the closing frame 100) which is placed in parallel relationship with the lower rail 191. The side ends of the horizontally placed lower rail 191 and the upper meeting rail 192 is connected, as in the manner depicted in fig. 10, to vertically placed left and right side pieces 185.

A blind stopper 193 is attached to the upper meeting rail 192 and extends vertically upwards from there. In particular, the blind stopper 193 - which may constitute a suitable length of a structural body which may be hollow and of square cross-section, so that it is substantially similar to the glass strip 110, except that it has a larger dimension in at least one direction across its length - fixed internally by the recess 101 provided at the closing frame 100 from which the upper meeting rail 192 is formed. As shown, the blind stopper 193 can be attached, as by a number of fasteners such as screws 197, to the wall 194 arranged from the length of the closing frame 100 which forms the upper meeting rail 192, and if a sealing strip 190 is to be used between the blind stopper 193 on the window unit 181A and the window unit 181B, as described below, it may be desirable to place a disc 195 between the blind stopper 193 and the wall 194 of the upper meeting rail 192 as shown.

The lowest element of the next, upwardly following window unit 181B is a lower meeting rail 196 which can also be formed by a length of the closing frame 100. As can best be seen by reference to fig. 27, the lower facing rail 196 of the window assembly 181B is oriented in exactly the same location as the lower facing rail 191 of the window assembly 181A, and although the upper facing rail 192 of the window assembly 181A has an identical cross-section to the lower facing rail 196 of the window assembly 181B, they are placed in a mirror-image relationship when included in successive upwardly stacked window units 181A and 181B. As such, the blind stopper 193, as provided and attached to the upper meeting rail 192 of the window unit 181, engages the wall 194 of the recess 191 in the shutter frame 100 from which the lower meeting rail 196 of the window unit 181B is formed. If a sealing strip 190 is to be used between the window units 181A and 181B, it may well be inserted between the blind stopper 193 on the window unit 181A and the wall 194 in the lower, meeting rail 196 of the window unit 181B.

In order to be able to open the window unit 181A without conflict between the blind stopper 193 on the upper, meeting rail 192 of the window unit 181A and the lower, meeting rail 196 of the window unit 181B, it is necessary that the window unit 181A pivots around an axis, such as the horizontal axis indicated by the number 198, which allows the upper, outer corner 199 of the blind stopper 193 to swing inward of the structure 10 and away from the lower, meeting rail 196 and the window assembly 181B.

The preceding arrangement can be repeated successively upwards until the desired number of window units, such as the four 181A-181D depicted in fig. 1, is stacked in the window opening 180 between the two vertically placed primary coupler elements 30A which delimit the sides of the window opening 180.

As also depicted in fig. 27, the top window unit 181D does not use a blind stopper 193. The upper outer edge of the window opening 180 may well be delimited by a frame element 90 which is supported from a wall cover device 200, the details of which will be more fully described later. As such, the wall 194 of the length of the shutter frame 100 which forms the upper facing rail 201 of the window unit 181D contacts the stop surface 196A of the stop block 95 provided on the frame member 90, and a sealing strip 190 can be inserted therebetween. Because of. the above-described difference between the window unit 181D and the other window units 181A-181C, it will be decisive that the horizontally placed pivot axes 202 around which the window unit 181D swings are positioned so that the top, internal corner 203 of the recess 101 in the closing frame 100 which forms the upper , the oncoming rail 210 swings downwards and outwards away from the stop block 95 on the frame element 90.

The windows 19B-19E can each be mounted in the manner of the window 19A to include one or more window units 181.

Proceeding now with the assembly of the wall 20, it should be noted that one or both of the primary coupler elements 30A forming the sides of the window opening 180 may be determined to enclose a reinforcing rod 136 encased in concrete 142, as also depicted in FIG. 17.

The side edge of the panel member 35F which is opposite the side edge connected to the primary coupler member 30A forming the right side of the window opening 180 (when viewed in Fig. 1) can be connected to a primary coupler member 30C to effect the necessary structural bond between the interior wall 26 and the outer wall 20 to be crossed by the inner wall 26 at this point.

To prepare for erecting the primary coupler 30C in such a way as to effect a bond between the interior wall 26 and the exterior wall 20, the worker will place a panel member 35G in linear alignment with the previously erected panel members 35D, 35E and 35F, as well as the window 19A, which cumulatively form the outer wall 20 to this location. However, the panel element 35G will be moderately spaced, albeit in line, with the panel element 35F in the same way as previously described in connection with the connection of the panel element 35B and 35C. Additionally, the worker will place a vertically positioned panel member 35H (Fig. 2) perpendicular to the plane of the wall 20 and converging toward the moderate distance between flush panel members 35F and 35G. As such, panel member 35H will be oriented flush with the geometric locus of points along which interior walls 26 are to be erected.

The baffle plate 140C is also very suitable for use in determining the geometric location of points at which each interior wall is to be erected, and a length of the baffle plate 140C can also be positioned to extend perpendicularly inward from the exterior wall 20, not only to define the location of the interior wall 26 , but also to facilitate the physical placement of the panel element 35H during construction of the building structure 10.

With the three panel elements 35F-35H correctly positioned, the worker on scaffolding, etc., can slide the primary coupler element 30C vertically between the three converging panel elements 35F-35H so that at the same time the coupling flanges 70A of the primary coupler element 30C will contact the tongue 46 of the panel element 35F and the coupling flanges 70B will contact the tongue 45 of the panel member 35G and the coupling flanges 70C will contact the tongue 45 of the panel member 35H.

As engagement of the coupling flanges 70A-70C with resp. tongues on the panel elements 35F-35H are carried out in the same way as explained earlier in extensive detail with regard to the connection of the previously erected panel elements 35 with the previously erected coupler element 30, there is no need to repeat either an illustration or a description of the details at in which such a join is performed. It should be sufficient to say that engagement of the primary coupler element 30C with the panel elements 35F-35H causes a bond between each panel element 35F, 35G and 35H to the primary coupler element 30C, and thus between the panel elements 35F-35H themselves.

Continuing the explanation with respect to the erection of representative wall 20, the erection of the composite windows 19C and 19D in line with the previously erected panel elements 35D-35G can be carried out in the same general manner as the erection of the composite window 19A, and then the continued erection of the floating panel elements 351 and 35J would bring the workers to the door 16.

As shown, the door 16 can be hung from a coupler element 30D. The use of a coupler member 30D would allow a frame member 90 to be provided on one side for securing the door 16 and a second frame member 90 to be provided on the opposite side of the coupler member 30D for securing the door 16A to the housing unit 12. Additionally , a coupler member 30D would effect the desired structural bond between the outer wall 20 and the common wall 23 by engaging the first panel member 35K in the common wall 23. Finally, a coupler member 30D would allow the erection of a panel member 35L which would extend outward from the building structure 10 in a direction opposite to the common wall 23 to form a privacy barrier between the doors 16 and 16A which provide entry to and exit from the adjacent housing units 11 and 12.

The binding of the oppositely directed panel elements 35K and 35L as well as the oppositely directed frame elements 90, which are placed perpendicularly with respect to the aligned panel elements 35K and 35L, to the primary coupling element 30D is carried out (by virtue of the engagement between the locking pawls 75 on the coupling flanges 70 arranged from the coupler element 30D and the locking grooves 51, 52, 56 and 58 on the tongues 45 and/or 46 of the panel elements 35K and 35L as well as the frame elements 90) in the same manner as described above, so that when the workers slide the coupler element 30D downwards between the opposing, aligned and moderately spaced panel elements 35K and 35L (the frame elements 90 can be slid into position after the coupler element 30D is in place) and all the elements joined together will be structurally connected. It is very likely that the coupler element 30D will also be connected to the support base 130, and this is of course carried out by having correctly anchored a reinforcing bar 136 inside the support base 130 when the base is complete, so that after the coupler element 30D is placed, the concrete 142 will completely the hollow element portion 61 of the coupler element 30D encloses the reinforcing rod as desired.

The doors 16, 16A, 18 and 31 may be fabricated in a manner similar to that used to fabricate the window units 181. As depicted in FIG. 18, however, it is quite likely that the door 16 will preferably swing inwards into the housing unit 11 rather than outwards, which is usually the case for the window units 181.

To begin with the base of the door 16, a stop block is provided on the support base 130. Perhaps the preferred means of providing a stop block, such as 166, would be to use a sill plate 140C attached to a support base 130A, as shown in FIG. 21 and 27. However, a stop block 95 can be used by using a frame element 90 such as e.g. is accommodated in the swell plate 140B arranged from the support base 130B as depicted in fig. 18.

The lower rail 205 (formed by a length of the shutter frame 100) of the door 16 contacts the stop face 96B of the stop block 95, and a suitable sealing strip 190 can be inserted therebetween. The upper rail 206 (also formed by a length of the closing frame 100) is arranged in a vertically parallel relationship with the lower rail 205. The side ends of the horizontally placed lower and upper rails 205 and 206 resp. is joined, as in the manner depicted in fig. 10, to the vertically arranged left locking side piece 208 and the right hinge side piece 209 (Fig. 1). The central insert 113 for the door 16 is placed inside the continuous recess 102 represented by lengths of the closing frame 100 from which the rails 205 and 206 as well as the side pieces 208 and 209 are formed. The central insert 113 for the door 16 is fixed inside this recess 102 by suitable lengths of the glass strip 110 in the same way as the glass insert 113 is fixed inside the window units 181.

The wall 207 arranged from the closing frame 100 which forms the upper rail 206 contacts the stop surface 96B on the stop block 95 arranged from the frame element 90 attached to the wall lid device, regardless of whether one uses the wall lid device 200C depicted in fig. 27 or the relatively uncomplicated wall cover devices 200A or 200B depicted in fig. 19 or 20 resp. Here too, a sealing strip 190 can be inserted between the wall 207 of the upper rail 206 and the stop surface 96B.

The side pieces 208 and 209 would likewise contact the stop surfaces 95B arranged from the frame elements 90 connected to the coupler elements 30 placed on each side of the door 16. The connection between a frame element 90 and a vertically oriented coupler element 30A is well depicted in fig. 17, and explained in connection with the use of the coupler elements 30A at each side edge of the windows 19. As such, reference may be made to FIG. 17 if desired, to refresh the understanding of how this binding is carried out, but it seems redundant to repeat the entire explanation now. It should be understood that the bond between the frame element 90 and the coupler element 30D is carried out in a similar manner.

At this point it should be completely clear how one would erect all the interior and exterior walls of a building structure incorporating the concepts of the present invention. Not only has each of the many novel structural components used up to this point been described in detail, but one or more means by which these structural components can be connected to each other and to one or more typical support base designs has been described in detail. The remainder of the external and/or internal walls of the exemplary construction 10, or a reasonable variant thereof, should now be able to be erected quite individually by using the construction techniques described above.

It should now be remembered that there are mainly two separate approaches by which the walls themselves can be erected. The preceding description has described the direct assembly of the walls in their final vertical position. It should now also be understood that the walls can also be mounted at ground level and then raised to their final vertical position. With an understanding of how the various construction components can be linked together, one can immediately understand that the same general assembly techniques can be carried out with the construction components placed in a horizontal as well as a vertical orientation. With reasonable lengths of the walls assembled in this way at ground level, several workers can then raise the top of the wall sections to a vertical position. About the only difficulty that could be encountered would be the raising of a length of wall so that a reinforcing rod 136 extending upwardly from the support base would be received in the hollow interior of the member portion 61 of any one of the primary coupler members 30 intended to receive a reinforcing bar. In order to avoid this potential difficulty, the primary coupler element can only be partially slid into position. Then, after the wall has been positioned vertically and the primary coupler is flush with the reinforcing bar extending upwardly out of the support base, workers can continue to slide the primary coupler downward over the reinforcing bar. In this way, the walls can be practically mounted in a horizontal position and then raised to their vertical position with only moderate work required to slide the selected primary coupler elements down to their final positions.

With the walls erected in this manner, expediency dictates that one must decide whether or not the panel elements 35 provide sufficient insulation for the environment to which the building structure 10 is exposed. The numerous cavities 211 that exist between the wall skins 38 and 39 and the many transverse reinforcement ribs 40 may be sufficient in themselves. On the other hand, it is also possible that one may prefer to fill the cavities 211 with insulation to reduce thermal and/or acoustic conductivity between that provided by material from which the building components are fabricated. In addition, it is possible that one may prefer to arrange some other internal substrate for the wall skins 38 and 39 of the panel elements 35, or any other exposed surface, by filling the cavities 211 with some material. In any case, the cavities 211 can conveniently be filled after the walls have been erected and before the time that the roof 24 is erected. As an example, you could fill the cavities with sand, a foam plastic or even a suitable cementitious material such as an aerated concrete or a concrete that uses an aggregate with a cellular structure such as a foam plastic or a material found in nature such as pumice stone.

After the walls have been erected, the electrical wires (not shown) can be placed in the recess 175 which can run along the top of the construction components that form the walls and then attach a suitable wall cap device in a position on top of the various outer and inner walls. As an overview, the wall cap devices 200 are to serve several purposes. First and foremost, they must provide at least one support on which the roof 24 can rest. Secondly, they must allow for certain devices whereby a structural bond is to be effected between the roof and the walls (if not to the support base itself), which is generally required according to the building regulations in the areas exposed to strong winds. Finally, a preferred wall cap device should provide a means by which alignment of the structural components forming the walls is ensured - particularly along those portions of the walls where lateral stability would not be inherent between adjacent structural components. An excellent example of a situation exemplifying potential inherent lateral instability would be in the span of any wall within which a window or door exists. The structural components on each side of a window or door are not rigidly connected to each other above the door, and while special attention may be given to an attempt to ensure that these components are tied to the supporting base, it is also highly desirable that these components in some way are tied together across the span of each incoming window or door. A correctly designed and fabricated wall cap device 200 will provide the necessary integrity to the overall structural design.

Three variants of the wall lid device 200 are illustrated and described. With reference to fig. 19, the cross-sectional configuration of a typical wall cap assembly 200A is depicted as it passes over the top of one of the primary coupler elements 30A selected for attachment to the support base 130. Although it is possible that the reinforcing rod 136 extending upwardly from the support base 130 may be of sufficient length to extend the entire vertical extent of the coupler element 30A, and beyond that it is much more likely that the head 213 and a considerable length of the shaft 214 of a bolt 215 would be buried in the concrete 142 enclosed by the element portion 61 of the primary coupler element 30A as shown.

The wall cover device 200A can form a metal channel 216 in which the step portion 218 spans across the wall 20. Because the surfaces of all wall skins on all the panel elements 35 and the outer sides 62-65 of all the various coupler elements 30 are in a plane when they are part of a wall, either externally or internally, by making the transverse span of the step portion 218 equal to the transverse span between opposite external sides 63 and 65 of the coupler elements 30A depicted in fig. 19, the flanges 219 and 220 extending downward from the side edges of the step 218 in the channel 216 will frictionally engage the wall skins of the panel elements 35 as well as the outer sides 63 and 65 of the coupler elements 30. Installation of a channel 216 to embrace the top of a wall along its longitudinal extent thus serves to effect the desired side stabilization for the wall.

The wall cap device 200A also includes a spacer block 221 which rests on, and extends along the longitudinal direction of the step portion 218 in the channel 216. The bolt 215 which extends upwards from the concrete 142 in the element portion 61 of the coupler part 30A extends a bore 222 in the step portion 218 of the channel 216 and a bore 223 in the spacer block 221 which is aligned with the bore 222. The bore 223 terminates in a countersunk bore 224 which may be of sufficient depth and diameter to receive a washer 225 and a nut 226 by which the wall cap device 200A is attached to at least selected coupler elements 30. As also depicted in fig. 19, the roof 24 can be attached to the spacer block 221, as with a suitable adhesive 228. In this regard, it should be noted that there may be a need to keep the roof 24 in the correct position until such a time that the adhesive has hardened. On that basis, it may be desirable to use a temporary fastener, such as a small rivet or screw 229 through the spacer block 221 and into the wall skin 38 or 39 of the panel elements 35 used to form the roof 24, which will be explained in more detail later.

It is also possible to extend the bolt 215 upwards through the adjacent wall skin 38 and attach the nut 226 to the inside of the panel element 35, as depicted in fig. 22 and as explained in what follows here in connection with this figure.

The wall cap device 200B, which is depicted in fig. 20, as the main part of the previously described construction components can constitute an extruded thermoplastic resin which may well be fibre-reinforced. The wall cover device also includes a channel part 130 where the step part 231 of this spans across the wall 20. As previously explained in connection with the description of the wall cover device 200A, by making the cross span of the step part 231 equal to the cross span between the outer surfaces of the opposite wall skins 38 and 39 on the panel elements 35, the retaining flanges 232 and 229 will extend downwards from the side edges of the wall portion 233 and frictionally engage not only the wall skins 38 and 39 on the panel elements 35, but also the outer surfaces of the coupler elements 30 used to connect the panel elements to each other. Installation of a wall cap device 200B so that the holding flanges 232 and 233 embrace the top of a wall along its length and thus serve to effect the desired lateral stabilization of the wall.

The wall cap device 200B also includes a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally offset spacer arms 234 and 235 which extend upwards from the side edges of the step portion 231 in diametrically opposite directions to the retaining flanges 232 and 233. Each spacer arm 234 and 235 ends resp. in a coupling flange 236 and 238. As also depicted in fig. 19, the roof 24 can be attached to the coupling flanges 236 and 238, as by a suitable adhesive 239. In this regard, it should be noted that there may be a need to keep the roof 24 in the correct position until such a time as when the adhesive has hardened. On this basis, it may be desirable to use a temporary fastener, such as a small rivet or screw 240 which extends through the connecting flange 238 and into the downward facing wall skin 38 or 39 of the panel elements 35 used to form the roof 24, which will be more fully explained later.

Although fig. 20 represents the span of the wall which lies between the longitudinally spaced coupler elements 30, so that the means for effecting a structural bond between the roof 24 and the coupler elements 30 are not actually depicted in fig. 20, it should be understood that a bolt 215 such as depicted in connection with fig. 19 and/or 22 may well be used at the appropriate places.

The wall cap device 200C, as depicted in fig. 22, can, like the majority of the previously described construction components, also constitute an extruded thermoplastic resin which may well be fibre-reinforced. The wall cap device 200C also includes a channel portion 245 where the step portion 246 spans across the wall 20. As previously explained in connection with fig. 19, by making the transverse span between the retaining flanges 248 and 249 equal not only to the transverse span between the opposite wall skins 38 and 39 of the panel elements 35, but also the transverse span between opposite surfaces 63 and 65 (or 62 and 64) of the coupler elements 30, the retaining flanges 248 and 249 frictionally engage not only with the wall skins 38 and 39 of the panel elements 35, but also the outer sides of the coupler elements 30 used to connect the panel elements to each other. Installation of a wall cap device 200C so that the retaining flanges 248 and 249 enclose the top of a wall along its longitudinal extent thus serves to effect the desired lateral stabilization of the wall.

The wall cap assembly 200C also includes a pair of longitudinally extending laterally offset spacer blocks 250 and 251 which are connected to the step portion 246 by offset walls 252 and 253 which extend upwardly from the step portion 246 and then laterally in opposite directions to intersect the spacer blocks 250 and 251. The cross section defined by the step portion 246, the offset walls 252 and 253 as well as the holding flanges 248 and 249 which delimit cooperating cavities 255A and 255B, where the profile of these exactly duplicates the profile of the coupling flanges 70 arranged at each of the various coupling elements 30 for purposes which will be further explained later.

The upper extent of each spacer block 250 and 251 connects the corresponding connecting flanges 256 and 258 resp. The connecting flanges 256 and 258 are arranged angularly so that the parts which extend angularly upwards converge, and are preferably joined, at a vertex 259. Conversely, the parts of the connecting flanges 256 and 258 which extend angularly downwards past the resp. spacer blocks 250 and 251 from which they are arranged diverge so that each joins a vertically oriented leg of an angle support 260 or 261 resp. The second leg of each angle support 260 and 261 extends horizontally and joins the holding flanges 248 or 249 at their joining with resp. spacer blocks 250 or 251.

As also depicted in fig. 22, the roof 24 can be attached to the coupling flanges 256 and 258, as by a suitable adhesive 262. In this regard, it should be noted that there may be a need to hold the components from which the roof 24 is mounted in the correct position until such time that the adhesive is hardened. On that basis, it may be desirable to use a temporary fastener, such as a small rivet or screw 263 which extends through the coupling flange 256 and into the downward facing wall skin 38 of the panel element 35 used to form the roof 24, which will be more fully explained later. Access to the temporary fastener may be provided by drilling an access bore 264 through the angle support 260 at spaced intervals along the length of the wall cap assembly 200C, which is also depicted in FIG. 22. The wall cap device 200C can also be attached to the coupler element 30A, as with a bolt 215, where head 213 and part of the shaft 214 are encased in concrete 142 which fills the coupler element 30A. The shaft 214 extends upwards out of the concrete 142 to pass through a bore 265 in the step portion 246, a bore 266 in the apex 259 of the wall cap device 200C, as well as a bore 267 in the wall skin 38 of the panel element 35 of the roof 24. A chamfered disc 268 is received over the shaft 214 and a nut 226 serves to bind the lid device 200C, as well as the roof 24 to the coupler element 30A, and thus the support base 130A, in a manner that will satisfy the most stringent building regulations.

With the selected wall cap assembly 200 in place on the exterior walls 20 and 21 running generally parallel to the ridge 269 of the roof 24, workers can erect the structural support arrangement desired at the ridge 269, and any intermediate ridge (described later) deemed necessary. , before mounting the roof 24. As depicted in fig. 23, the wall cap device 200C is particularly suitable to serve as the element on which the roof 24 will rest at the ridge 269 of the roof 24.

The description of the arrangement used at the ridge 269 may conveniently begin at the intersection of the inner wall 25 with the outer end wall 22. For privacy between adjacent bedrooms 13A and 13B, it is likely that one would wish to have the wall 25 continuous upwards to any extent that is necessary to close a gap between the top of the wall 25 and each roof supporting arrangement used. An arrangement which would effect the desired result would be to mount a wall cap device 200C on the upper end of the panel elements 35 forming the wall 25. So mounted, the retaining flanges 248 and 249 of the wall cap device 200C would contact the opposite wall skins 38 and 39 of the panel element 35 in the same way as the retaining flanges 248 and 249 on the wall cover device 200C contact the outer surfaces 63 and 65 of the coupler element 30A, as depicted in and described in connection with fig. 22.

Along the longitudinal extent of the ceiling 24 which spans from the coupler element 30C (located at the transition between the three interior walls 25, 26 and 27) over the combined dining and living space area 15 to a coupler element 30A inside the common wall 23, however, some structural reinforcement will be required to provide the necessary beam strength along this span of the ridge 269. As best shown in fig. 24, a beam hanger 270 can be attached from the top of the coupler element 30C. The anchor flange 271 of the beam hanger 270 extends horizontally across the top of the coupler member 30C, and the shank 214 of the bolt 215 extends upwardly through the bore 272 in the anchor flange 271 to receive a nut 226 (not shown in Fig. 24, but depicted in Fig. 22). A brace 273 extends downwardly from the anchor flange 271 for a distance substantially equal to at least the lateral size of a panel member 35 minus the lateral size of the tongue 45. This design would allow the tongue 45 to extend upwardly above the level of the anchor flange 271 of the beam hanger 270. As shown, it should upper surface of the anchor flange 271 preferably lie in the same plane as the positioning shoulders 41A and 41B. With the panel element 35 thus positioned, the tongue 46 rests on the horizontal support foot 274 of the beam hanger 270.

One can, of course, allow the tongue 46 to form the shown underside of the beam formed by the panel element 35 which spans the combined dining and living space 15. However, it is also possible that one would prefer to provide a geometrically cleaner appearance of the underside of the beam which spans the combined dining and living space 15, and in this situation one could support a closing coupling element 275 from the tongue 46.

The termination member 75 may be fabricated in the same manner as the primary coupling member 30A, except that the coupling flanges 70B would be omitted from the termination member 275. As such, the coupling flanges 70A of the termination member 275 would operatively engage the tongue 46 of the panel member 35 supported in the bracket 273. This means that the locking pawls 75A and 75B on the coupling flanges 70A would be received in the locking grooves 56 and 58 resp. of the tongue 46. The hollow member portion 61 of the termination member 275 would serve as an excellent path within which electrical wiring may be received, and the unobstructed rectilinear exterior surfaces 63, 64 and 65 of the member portion 61 would provide a clean surface for the lower edge portion of the composite beam formed by the panel element 35.

Although one could choose to use a terminating coupler element 275 on the underside of the panel element 35, when the latter serves as a beam, one still has the choice of resting the tongue 46 on the support foot 274 of the hoop 273 or resting the terminating coupler element 275 on the support foot 274. Should one choose to rest the tongue 46 of the panel member 35 on the support foot 274, even when a terminating coupler member 275 is supported therefrom, the depth of the beam hanger 275 would not change. However, one would choose to remove the length of the coupling flanges 70A which would exclude the element portion 61 of the terminating coupling element 275 from engaging the external surface 65 of the coupling element 30C from which the beam hanger 270 is supported. This arrangement is depicted in fig. 24, and it can be observed that the coupling flanges 70A terminate the transition with the side plates 276 of the beam hanger.

It is also possible that one might prefer to have the terminating coupler element 275 rest directly on the support foot 274 of the hoop 273 in the beam hanger 270. This choice would require not only that the depth of the hoop 273 be extended to include the depth of the element portion 61 for the terminating coupler element 275 .

In each situation, the panel element 35 spans across the combined dining and living space 15 to be received, in the desired way, in the bracket 273 of the second beam hanger 270 supported from the coupler element 30 in the common wall 23. The design of the panel element 35 is such that it not only provides excellent bending strength, but also relatively good column strength along its longitudinal axis. However, it should be understood that the design of the panel element 35 provides relatively poor strength against relatively high compressive loads (in the order of magnitude of what one might expect to encounter with a significant roof load) in a direction laterally of the panel element 35 itself. As a result, it is considered to be highly desirable, if not absolutely necessary, that at least the end openings of the cavities 211, which extend longitudinally inside the panel element 35, be re-plugged to provide the additional strength necessary to prevent the longitudinal ends of the panel element 35 - resting on the coupler elements 30 serving as beam supports - from buckling when used as a single beam.

In particular, the panel element 35 must be reinforced to receive the stresses assigned to its ends as a result of the distribution of forces necessary to effect a transfer of the load carried by the panel element 35 acting as a beam (across the span of the combined dining and living space 15 ) into the column support provided by the coupler elements 30 from which the beam hangers 270 are carried. The necessary plugging can be effected by simple wooden plugs 278 inserted in the ends of the cavities 211, as depicted in fig. 24. If the closing coupler element 275 should rest directly on the support foot 274 of the beam hanger 270, it is recommended that consideration be given to whether the hollow element part 61 of the closing coupler element 275 should also be plugged. Such calculations are well within the expertise of engineers who will determine the details for a given environment and do not need to be discussed to any greater extent here.

With the panel element 35 thus supported as a single beam extending between the beam hangers 270, the coupling flanges 70A on a secondary coupling element 30E, as best shown in fig. 23, operatively engaging the tongue 45 at the top edge of the panel member 35. As previously described in considerable detail, operatively engaging the coupling flanges 70A with the tongue 45 will require the locking pawl 75A and 75B of the coupling flanges 70A to be received in the locking grooves 51 and 52 resp. . of the tongue 45 on the panel element 35.

The coupling flanges 70B of the secondary coupling element 30E are operatively received in the contacting cavities 225 of the wall cap assembly 200C to effect a structural bond therebetween. As is also depicted in fig. 23, the cross-sectional profile of the extension arm 71C, including the locking pawl 75C disposed thereon, is sufficiently congruent with the cross-sectional profile of the engaging cavity 255A, and the cross-sectional profile of the extension arm 71D, including the cross-sectional profile of the locking pawl 75D disposed therefrom, is sufficiently congruent with the cross-sectional profile of the engaging cavity 255B, that the wall cap device 200C can simply slide relative to the secondary coupler element 30E as necessary to effect operative engagement therebetween.

In some environments, the roof 24 can be adequately supported between the ridge 269 and the parallel outer walls 20 and 21. In these situations, the roof can be mounted as soon as the roof support arrangement is mounted at the ridge 269. With continued reference to fig. 1, 22 and 23, a pair of panel members 35 resting on the coupling flange 256 provided on the wall cap assembly 200C is attached to the top of the outer wall 20. The pair of panel members 35 is then manipulated until they are positioned, as desired, to span between the wall cap- device 200C on an outer wall and a second wall cover device 200C placed at the ridge 269 of the roof 24.

Where the wall cap device 200A is attached to the wall 20, the panel members 35 would rest on the spacer block 221 (as depicted in Fig. 19), and where the wall cap device 200B is attached to the wall, the panel members 35 would rest on the connecting flanges 236 and 238 (as depicted in Fig. 20).

In any case, when two wall panel elements 35 are thus supported between a wall cap device 200 on an outer wall and the support arrangement used at the ridge 269 of the roof 24, the workers can slide a coupler element 30 therebetween to operatively be effective between two panel elements placed on this manner. Typically, one would connect the successive panel elements 35 forming the roof 24 with secondary coupler elements 30E, as depicted in and as described in connection with fig. 16. The roof 24 is thus assembled by sequentially positioning successive panel elements 35 along the longitudinal extent of two sloping sides 24A and 24B of the roof 24 and by connecting successive panel elements to each other with the appropriate coupler elements 30 as well as tying the panel elements 35 to the wall cover units 200 on the manner previously described in connection with the description of the various variants for the wall cover devices 200 shown.

With the panel elements 35 forming two slopes 24A and 24B of the roof 24 connected in place as depicted in fig. 23, the ridge cap element 280 can be installed. The ridge cap element 280 has a pair of mounting tabs 281A and 281B which contact the wall skins 39 of the panel elements 35 which form the opposite slopes 24A and 24B respectively. of the roof 24, and they can be attached to these by fasteners such as screws, rivets or adhesive 282.

The cross-sectional profile of the ridge cap element 280 can be practically any shape desired, but the miniature representation of the depicted roof line is rather functional. That is, the sloped upper walls 283A and 283B carry away water, and the horizontally placed laterally extending walls 284A and 284B may be perforated, as desired, with a number of openings 285 accommodating one for each desired ventilation.

It was previously mentioned that roof hooks could be used to provide an intermediate support for the span of each slope 24A and 24B forming the roof 24. A typical arrangement for supporting a metal latch 290 is best shown in fig. 25 and 26.

In order to ensure a suitable column support for the ends of the ridge 290, the coupler elements 30 selected to support at least the opposite ends of the ridge 290 should preferably be connected to the support base 130 in a manner previously described. The hollow interior of the element portion 61 for this coupler element 30 should be filled with concrete 142 up to a level so that the support flange 291 on the ridge 290 can rest on the concrete 142 in the coupler element 30. Additional load-bearing support can also be provided by using a coupler element 30C instead of the coupler element 30A which can usually be used at a place where a ridge 290 would be placed. By using a coupler element 30C, a frame element 90, as depicted in fig. 25 and 26, run upwards under the hill 290 and terminate preferably at the same level as the concrete 142 in the coupler element 30C. In addition to providing an additional support surface on which the ridge 290 can rest, the presence of the frame member 90 increases the L/R ratio of the combination to provide the most effective column arrangement for supporting the ends of the ridge 290.

Assuming one would choose to support the ridge 290 from a coupler member 30C, then the outer surface 63 would be provided with a notch or groove, as at 292, to receive the end of the ridge 290. The support flange 291 would include not only the horizontal portion 293 resting on the support surface, but also a vertically oriented return portion 294 which contributes to the strength of the support flange 291 to resist bending moments. The ridge 290 also includes a step portion 295 which provides the primary measure for the beam depth. Finally, the ridge 290 preferably also has a coupling flange 296 which is angularly arranged to match the pitch of the taxi sides 24A or 24B, as best depicted in FIG. 26, to engage with the wall skins 38 of the panel elements 35 used to mount the roof 24. Here too, the wall skins 38 can preferably be attached to the connection flange 296, as with suitable devices, such as adhesive 262, and even a temporary fastener, such as the screw 298, may be used to allow the adhesive 262 the necessary time to cure.

The choice of whether or not ridges are to be used will depend on the roof load that can be expected in the environment where the building structure 10 is to be erected, and also on the span between the outer walls and the ridge 269. However, it should also now be clear that ridges 290 could just as well be used on either side of the ridge 269 to serve as the main support for the ridge 269. Such choices may well be made by those designing the building structure for a particular application and/or environment and are not considered to be limitations on the concept of the present invention.

The preceding description has included several alternative designs for various construction components, and as such there is a large number of choices for the specific combinations of construction components that can be incorporated into a given building construction 10. It should be understood that the choice of which design for each construction component to be used will be carried out by the designers, architects and/or engineers at a location other than the construction site and before the time that the construction components are transported to the construction site. When the choice has been made, based on whatever considerations may be present, with regard to which special design is desired for each construction component to be used in a specific construction project, the construction components as chosen can however be delivered to the construction site in the form of kits for erection by practically unskilled workers workers under the direction of a minimal number of foremen with the necessary knowledge.

As will now be clearly seen, the present invention not only teaches that a building can be built practically in its entirety from a number of standardized, mass-produced structural components by relatively unskilled workers without special tools in a much shorter period of time than a comparable structure can be built by prior art components, but also that other purposes of the invention can also be implemented.

Claims (10)

1. Construction components for a modular building to be erected on a supporting basis, characterized in that the construction components include: a number of load-bearing coupler elements to be placed at spaced intervals along the geometric locus of the points defining the walls of a modular building, which coupler elements to be oriented substantially vertically with respect to the supporting base; means for selectively attaching the coupler members to the supporting base, a number of panel members, and means for structurally bonding the panel members to the coupler members. 2. Construction components for a modular building according to claim 1, characterized in that the devices which structurally bind the panel elements to the coupler elements further include: at least one pair of transversely spaced parallel coupling flanges disposed on the coupling elements; opposite side edges of the side panel elements: tongue devices arranged from at least one of the side edges of the panel element, and that the coupling flanges operatively cooperate with the tongue devices selectively to bind the panel elements to the coupling elements. 3. Construction components for a modular building according to claim 2, characterized in that the devices for structurally binding the panel elements to the coupler elements further include: at least one pair of transversely spaced parallel coupling flanges disposed from each of the coupling members; and at least one pair of locking grooves recessed in the tongue means; means provided from the coupling flanges to cooperatively engage the locking grooves to selectively bond the panel members to the coupler members. 4. Structural element for engaging with and supporting a roof in a modular building structure, characterized in that the structural element includes: a pair of laterally spaced, substantially vertically oriented spacer blocks having upper and lower portions; step means extending substantially horizontally between the lower portions of the spacer blocks; retaining flanges extending downwardly from the lower portions of the spacer blocks; and connecting flanges attached to and oriented substantially across the upper portions of the spacer blocks to support the roof. 5 . Modular building construction, characterized in that it includes: a supporting base extending along the geometric locus of the points defining at least the exterior walls of the building structure; a number of load bearing coupler members located at spaced intervals along the supporting base, said coupler members being oriented substantially vertically with respect to the supporting base; means for selectively attaching at least selected coupler elements to the supporting base; a number of vertically oriented panel elements inserted between the spaced coupler elements to form the walls; and devices for structurally binding the panel elements to the coupler elements. 6. Modular building construction according to claim 5, characterized in that one or more anchor devices are attached to the supporting base and extend upwards from this; and devices are arranged to operatively engage with the anchor devices and thereby attach at least selected load-bearing coupling elements to the supporting base. 7. Modular building construction according to claim 5, characterized in that it includes: a sill plate; which gusset plate is inserted between the supporting base and the panel elements as well as at the least selected of the load-bearing coupler elements; and means for attaching the sill plate to the supporting base. 8. Method for constructing a building from a number of prefabricated components, characterized in that it includes the steps: to provide a supporting base; placing a panel element next to another panel element; sliding a coupler element between the placed panel elements and into locking engagement with them; sequentially adding panel elements and coupler elements by repeating the steps of positioning and sliding to form inner and outer walls of the desired building structure. 9. Method for building a building from a number of prefabricated components according to claim 8, characterized in that it includes joining the top edges of the panel elements and the coupler elements along the inner and outer walls with wall cover devices. 10. Method for building a building from a number of prefabricated components according to claim 9, characterized in that a roof is attached to the wall cover devices.