US2653356A - Building construction - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1953 M. o. BRANNON BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Shree?l 1 Filed Dec. 7, 1951 ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1953 M. o. BRANNON BUILDING coNsTRUcTroN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1951 l 3 6 7 0 5 6 r\/ L VA FJ 3 7 3 O V a ...J 7 f W, 3 ,do 5 2 Uv M14 .V 6 2 3 7 N w L 7 f 6 2 8 2 2 6 B 1re/ 1 .lwl (IAM .E f w F Wl A n Nl 2 w 6 a T A f Oni 0 72 Q 4 H Mx 3 w 0 2v..

f lNvENToR: MHV/NMA//rm ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE 2,653,356 BUILDING coNs'rRC'rIo Melvin Brannon, Waynesville, N. 'Application December 7, 1951, serial No. ecosse This invention relates to building construction and more especially to an improved building construction yernboilying the use of a plurality of prefabricated panel assemblies and to the novel constructonlof said panel assemblies. l

I t is an object of v this invention to provide means whereby buildings may be vconstructed quickly 'and at low cost with a minimum amount of materials. Buildings of this type are particularly useful as so-called `temporary buildings in defense -or Government vprojects and also may beused for many other purposes where a building 'of light weight construction is practical and desirable. l o o l It is an object of this invention to provide a building formed from a plurality of prefabricated panel assemblies, each of said panel assemblies having 'an upper and lower beam and a plurality of horizontally spaced vertically disposed studs connetingsaid upper` and lower beams. The studs are positioned out of horizontaljalinement with 'each other and panels, vsuch as wall board, are secured to the studs. The lfact that the studs are out of horizontal alinement causes the wall board to assume a bowedN or irregular shape which serves te increase the strength f the ran'els 'and the resulting 'panel `assembly'.t `plurality of these panel assemblies may be intercnnectedand extended at substantially right angles to each other to foif'm "the walls 'fja puil'diiifgaildupaiiel assemblies o f similar construction be fsecured5 over the upper vedges 'of said walls to forni a ro'of. Y

llit is another `bect ofr thisini/entii to provide Y a Wallunit orpan'ell assembly for building constructi'ii which panel assembly easily ecoh'ornib'ally constructed and wherein maximum sirngnii is arrordu in light weight construction. The wall una or panel assembly cb'riiplise's an upper and lower beam, the bntrinst outer edges of the upper 'and lliivvifgr paiiishbing 'silbst'aiitial'ly flat and the opposite endmost buter edges of the 'upper and lower beams b'iilg cui ai ari ngi to iijclirier inwardly friii 'dieser ceiitmost 'outer edge so that each of theilpper and lower beams. will haveV three substantially nat edge surfaces, which surfaces Aare vnot in aliiinlelit with 'each piiiei. 4 A pliiialiiypi studs ar' provided extending'betwen the upper (arid lower beams land having their outer e ges in alirieni with 'iil outer gefflill're lippe; iid lower ricains, with the ve Y Y i poiiilbd iiiivfdl'y ffii .me eiiiimpii sidi; A siiiiai had.' sich givin. para isernia@ ilis studs and tthe upper aiiuliver beams 3 Claims. (Cl. 20-2) 2 by extending a horizontally disposed panel across the frame formed from the studs andbeams to cause the panel to be bent kat vat least two points intermediate its ends to conform to the conguration of the skeleton lframeforrned from the beams and studs. 'Ilie'completeol panelassembly will thus comprise at least three sections which are substantially flat fand which extend atl slight angles to each other so that the overall panel as sembly or wallunit will have an outwardly bowed appearance. By bowing the wall unit in Vthis manner, additional structural strength is added to the same and, eac'hwof the sections thereof being iiat, permits the insertion of windows, doors or the like with alf'nijnimum amount of diiiculty. Some of the objects of the invention having been stated* other Ajc'lbjects will appear as the de scription proceeds, when taken in connection withY the accompanying drawings, in whichn l Figure l is an isometric view of a building of the type Whichmay be formed with the improved panel assemblie`s`; o K

Figure 2is a top plan view of the building shown in Figure 1 on a reduced scale; l

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 2; Y

Figure 4 is a fragmentary isometric View with parts broken awaynan'd parts shown in dotted lines looking at one inside corner of the buildingshown in Figure 1 and looking substantially along the line "4--4 in Figure 1. l

Referring more specifically to the drawings, there will be observed a building broadly designated at Il] WhichY is formed from a plurality of panel assemblies or wall units made according to the present invention. Each of these panel assemblies isV made as a separate unit and may be prefabricated before being moved to the site of the building or may be fabricated at the site of the building before the building is erected. The building I0 is shown for purposes of illustrationonly and it will be readily observed `that the panel assembliesmay, according to this invention,vbe utilized to lform buildings of varying dimensions and character. l

The building I6 has side walls ll and I2, a rear wall I3 and a front wall I4. In this illustration, each of the walls Il, I2, I3 and Ill comprisesa single panel assembly or wall `unit made according to the invention.w'lhe panelassemblies or wall units Il; I2, I3v and I4 are of substantially identical construction and, therefore, only the panel assembly I I will `be described in detail, and like parts of the panel assemblies I2, rI3 and I4 will bear like reference characters and, Where minor changes are present, these will be speciiically described.

t will thus be observed that the frame of the panel assembly or wall unit II comprises a bottom beam or shoe 29 and a top beam or plate 2 I, each having the same configuration. The beams 2t and 2l are wider at the centermost portions thereof than at each end and the centerrnost outer edges thereof are flat and substantially parallel with the opposite edges thereof, as at 22. These flat edge medial portions 22 preferably extend substantially one-third of the entire length of the respective beams and 2|. Each of the opposite endmost outer edges of the beams 2d and 2 are cut at an angle relative to the inner edges or longitudinal axis thereof, as at 23 and 2e, and the edges 23 and 24 extend inwardly so that the beams 2li and 2| are of lesser width at opposite ends thereof than at the center portions thereof. The opposite end edges of the beams 2d and 2| are mitred or beveled, as at 25, for connecting the same to similar beams of adjacent panels extending at an angle thereto. The innermost edge of each of the beams 2% and 2l is preferably straight throughout its length, as will be observed at 26.

The beams 2t and 2| are connected at their opposite ends by vertical studs 2'I and 28. The studs 2l and 28 are disposed at an angle so the outer surfaces thereof are in alinement with the mitred surfaces 25 at the ends of the beams 2Q and 2i and whereby the vertical studs 2'I and 28 will t flush with similar vertical studs on the adjacent panel assemblies I4 and I3.

The vertical studs 2l and 28 are secured at their opposite ends to the beams 2|] and- 2| by any suitable means such as nails, not shown. Disposed intermediate the ends of the beams 2| and 22 are a pair of horizontally spaced intermediate vertical studs and 3|. The studs 30 and 3| connect the beams 2| and 20 and span the distance therebetween and are suitably connected thereto at their opposite ends, by any suitable means such as nails, not shown. The stud Sd is positioned at the juncture of the edges 22 and 25 and the stud 3| is positioned at the juncture of the edges 22 and 24. It is thus seen that the studs 2?, 28, 33 and 3| divide each of the panel assemblies or wall units II, I2, I3 and if; into three portions or sections, namely, a center section 32, and end sections 33 and 34, each of said sections being substantially flat and disposed in angular relation toI the other of said sections.

Now, panels or sheets of wall board, such as plywood or any other suitable wall board, are suitably secured to the outermost surface of the frame comprising the studs 2l, 2'8, 3B and 3| and the beams 2i) and 2i. A rst or lower sheet of wall board et has its opposite end edges secured to the studs 2l and 2S, as by nails 4I, and the lowermost edge of the wall board 4i] is preferably substantially flush with the lowermost edge of the shoe it, although it is evident that the panel lili may extend below the shoe 2B. This sheet of wall board it normally extends substantially half the height of the panel assembly II. A second or upper panel or sheet of wall board 42 is suitably secured to the upper portion of the frame comprising studs 28, 3Q and 3| and plate 2|, the opposite ends of the panel 42 being suitably secured to the studs 2l and 28, as by additional nails tl. The panels or sheets of wall board IIJ and 52 extend over the outer edges Q the Sud 30 and 3l and are suitably secured thereto, as by additional nails fil. The upper edge of the upper panel or sheet of wall board :l2 extends substantially above the upper edge of the beam or plate 2| and this upper edge slightly lower in the centermost portion thereof, as at 53, than at the outermost end portions thereof for purposes to` be described.

It is preferred that the proximate edges of the panels 4l) and 42 be beveled downwardly and outwardly and relatively thin sealing strips S be suitably secured to the inner surfaces of the panels il@ and 42 at their junctures (Figure Kl). The sealing strips extend between the studs and assist in sealing the joint formed at the juncture of adjacent panels.

A particular advantage of a panel assembly of this type is that wall board or standard dimensions may be used with a minimum amount of cutting. It will be observed that the wall board when secured to the studs 2l, 23, Sii and 3i, defining the sections 32, 33 and Se, provided a flat outer surface for each of the sections 32, 33 and 34. The sheets of wall board or panels lll), 42 are thus bent intermediate their ends at the points at which they are secured to the studs Sli and tI and this bending lends additional strength to the completed panel assembly, Wall board is usually sold in convenient sizes of approximately four feet wide and eight, ten or twelve feet long. l't will thus be seen that by using panels of wall board of these dimensions, a panel assembly, such as the panel assembly il, will be approximately eight feet high and wo-uld be from eight to twelve feet long. Thus, a plurality of such panel assemblies will readily facilitate constructing a building of the type described.

It should be understood, however, that the particular dimensions of the panels or sheets of wall board are not critical and these dimensions are given for purposes of illustration only in order to indicate the manner in which panels or sheets of wall board of sizes readily available on the market may be conveniently used in constructing these improved wall units or panel assemblies.

Now, in erecting a building from .a plurality of panel assemblies, such as the panel assemblies II, I2, I3 and I4, a suitable slab 50 or other flooring of conventional or other type is provided, and the lower beam or shoe 20 of each of the panel assemblies II, I2, I3 and I4 is suitably secured to the upper surface, of the slab 50, at one edge thereof, as by anchor bolts 5I, which are embedded in the slab 50. 'I'he mitred ends 25 of the beam or shoe 20 will, thus, be positioned at the corners of the slab 50 and will extend inwardly from said corners bisecting the same (Figure 4). With the panel assemblies I I and I2 in position, the panel assemblies I3 and I4 may be secured to the rear and front edges of the slab 50 in a like manner so that the endmost studs 2'I and 28 of the panel assemblies or wall units I4 and I3 will be positioned flush with the corresponding endmost studs 21 and 28 of the panel assemblies II and I2. 'I'hese proximate endmost studs may then be secured together as by bolts 52 (Figures 3 and 4). It will thus be observed that the substantially rectangularly arranged side Walls are formed for the building I0.

Now, the roof for the building I0 is formed from a single panel assembly or a plurality of panel assemblies of similar construction to that of the wall units. 'I'he roof, as illustrated, is

.formed from two roof panel assemblies 55 and 55. Vthe -,panel v`assen'xbly 55 being Vpositioned Viat thefront of the building `=I I) fand'extendi'ng transversely thereof and the'pa'nel lassembly 55 coveri-,ng the rearmost .portion of vrthe building.

Since the yroof fpanel assemblies 55 'and '55' are identical, -except vopposite hand, nonly the panel assembly -55 will be described 'and likefreference characters will apply to thepanel assernbly 5 5 with the prime notation added. The roof panel assembly 55 comprises a plurality of'transversely extending ribs l6I), which may also ire termed as rafters. The lower edge 'of 'earch -of the Yribs -60 is preferably straight, as vat'lil, fand opposite ends thereof are rcut perpendicular to the lower edge, as at 62. The upper f'edge of each of the -r-ibs AIiI'I -is Acut to substantially the same configuration as the outer edges of the beams 1.26 and 2| `so that a fiat or horizontally disposed center section 63 is formed with two slanting end sections 64 and 65, respectively.

Secured to the upper surfaces of the ribs 60 are panels or sheets of wal-l board 56 an'd 17. The panels vor sheets of wall board may be plywood or of anylother suitable material and are secured to the ribs or rafters 6I), as by nails which are omitted from the drawings for purposes of clarity. It will be observed that, in a building of the size illustrated in Figure l, the panel 66 extends outwardly beyond the outermost 60 and also extends from the rearmost or outermost rib 60 to the third rib 60 and the panel 61, which is of lesser width than the panel 66, spans the distance between the third rib 60 Vand the foremost or innermost rib 60 of the section 55. It will be observed that the panels 66 and 67 are bent intermediate their ends at the junctures of the surfaces 63, 64 and 65 on the ribs 60 to form three substantially at surfaces to the roof, including a center horizontally disposed surface and slanting surfaces extending from ach side of the center horizontally -disposed surace.

The opposite ends of the ribs 60 of the panel assemblies 55 and 55 are suitably secured to the upper surfaces of beams which extend the entire length of the side panels II and I2. The beams 10 are of identical configuration to the beams and 2| and the ribs 60 are preferably secured thereto, as by nails 1I. It will thus be observed that the roof panel assemblies 55 and 55 are secured together, to form a composite roof, by means of the beams 10.

A similar beam 'I2 is secured to the lower surface of the rearmost rib 60 of the roof section 55 and to the foremost rib 60 of the roof section 55. These beams 12 are of the same configuration as the beams o-r plates 2| and are adapted to rest upon the plates 2| of the corresponding rear and front panels I3 and I4. The beams I0 and 'I2 may be secured to the upper beams 2| of the panel assemblies II, I2, I3 and I4, as by bolts 'I3 (Figures 3 and 4). It will thus be observed that the entire building I0 is secured together to form a compact unit from panel assemblies made according to this novel construction.

Now, it will be observed that the rear panel assembly I3 and the front panel assembly I4 are slightly different from the side panel assemblies II and I2. This difference lies in the configuration of the uppermost edges of the panels 42 thereof. In order to have the uppermost portions of the front and rear walls conform to the configuration of the panels 65 and 66 of the roof panel assemblies 55 and 55', it is necessary that these walls extend upwardly a sub-` stanti'al distance beyond the upper surfaces vof the corresponding beams 2| and the yupper edges thereof be cut to conform to the configuration of the roof line.

The sidewalls II and I2 must` also conform to the roof li'ne and, since these walls are bowed outwardly, the panels 56 and 66 contact theautermost upper edges at the center thereof at different elevations than the points vat 'which they contact the endmost upper edges thereof. Consequently, the `panels yof the side panel assemblies II and I2 must be cut so that the centermost portions 43 ther-eci` are slightly lower than the end portions thereof. It will thus be' observed that thepanels 56,51, 66' and 6l of the roof panel assemblies 55 and 55' flt closely against the upper edges of the panels 42 on the Wall 'units or panel assemblies II, I2, I3 and I4 and a small overhang or eaves portion is provided around the-entire building I 0.

Now, one of the features of this building construction is the simplicity with which doors or windows may be installed, if desired. rIhis is due to the fact that each of the sections 32, 33

and 34 of the wall units or panel assemblies is flat and is notl bowed between the studs. For purposes of illustration only, the front wall vunit I4 of the building I0 issho'v'vn as being provided with 'a door 81) and windows 8| and 82. The doolI may be provided by cutting a suitable opening i'n the section 32 fof the front panel assembly I4 and facing the 'saine with framing 83 to form a door jamb and, if'fdes-iredfa suitable stop 84 may be provided. The window 8| is provided by cutting an opening in the section 34 of the front panel assembly I4 and facing the same with framing 85. The window 82 may be formed in a like manner by cutting an opening in the section 33 of the panel assembly I4 and facing the same with framing 86. Windows or doors may be provided in the other sections of the building as desired.

It will thus be observed that there is provided an improved form of building construction which comprises a panel assembly having a pair of horizontal beams spanned by a plurality of studs to form at least three flat sections to said panel assembly wherein said sections extend at an angle to each other to give the panel assembly a bowed appearance for adding strength thereto and whereby a plurality of said panel assemblies may be readily connected to each other to form a building.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A structural unit for building construction comprising upper and lower beams, the inner edges of said beams being straight, the outer edges of said beams each being out to define at least three straight edges the centermost of which is parallel to the inner edge of said beam and the endmost of which extend inwardly toward said inner edge of said beam, a plurality of studs having their opposite ends secured to said beams to hold said beams in spaced relation to each other, the outer edges of said studs being flush with the outer edges of said beams, sheets of wall board connected to the outer edges of said studs and said beams and conforming in curvature tothe outer edges of said beams to form three substantially at panels to said unit, the opposite ends of each of said beams being beveled and the endmost studs connecting said beams being positioned at an angle to conform to said bevel, whereby a plurality of said units may be connected to each other in rightangular relation to each other to form the walls of a building.

2. A building formed from a plurality of pre fabricated wall panels secured to each other to form the walls of said building and a plurality of prefabricated roof panels secured to the upper edges of said wall panels forming the roof of said building wherein each of said wall panels is formed from at least one pair of longitudinally extending structural sheets positioned. in superposed edge to edge relation and having upper and lower beams secured thereto and deiining the upper and lower edges of said walls and a plurality of studs connecting said beams, said studs being so positioned as to denne a plurality of panel areas and said structural sheets being bent intermediate their ends at each of said studs to cause said wall to be bowed outwardly in a plurality of substantially at areas, and wherein said roof panels are provided with a plurality of ribs, the upper edges of which are cut to dei-lne a plurality of lat areas, additional structural sheets secured to the ribs and being bent intermediate their ends at the juncture of said flat areas of said ribs to cause said roof to be bowed upwardly in a plurality of flat areas of the same configuration as said walls.

3. A building formed from a plurality of prefabricated wall panels secured to each other to form the walls of said building and a plurality of prefabricated roof panels secured to the upper edges of said wall panels forming the roof of said building wherein each of said wall panels is formed from at least one pair of longitudinally extending structural sheets positioned in superposed edge to edge relation and having upper and lower beams secured thereto and defining the upper and lower edges of said walls and a plurality of studs connecting said beams, said studs being so positioned as to define three panel areas and said structural sheets being bent intermediate their ends at each of said studs to cause said wall to be bowed outwardly in three substantially flat areas, and wherein said roof panels are provided with a plurality of ribs, the upper edges of which are cut to denne three nat areas, additional structural sheets secured to the ribs and being bent intermediate their ends at the juncture of said flat areas of said ribs to cause said roof to be bowed upwardly in thrlflee flat areas of the same configuration as said wa s.

MELVIN O. BRANNON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

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