US2666233A - Prefabricated building construction - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 19, 1954 E. o. KLEMM PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1949 INVENTOR.

Jan. 19, 1954 E. o. KLEMM PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 EB- 1E! INVENTOR.

Filed Jan. 12, 1949 155 FEE E. o. KLEMM PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Jan. 19, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 12, 1949 INVENTOR.

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E. O. KLEMM PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Jan. 19, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 12, 1949 INVENTOR.

Jan. 19, 1954 E. o. KLEMM PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 12, 1949 INVENTOR. YQAZ/WW 8% E. o. KLEMM PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Jar;. 19, 1954 Filed Jan. 12, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Jan. 19, 1954 Y PREFABRICATED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION V Y Edwin o. Klemm, Saginaw, Mien. Application January 12, 1949, Serial No. 70,439

My present invention consists or building construction. .The invention deals with the problem of housing shortage today to the extent'that a primary. aim thereof is to devise a'pre-fabricated type of house having special features of advantage. These features includetemployment of architectural elements which, from the mechanical angle, maybe made economically,and quickly assembled into theultimate dwelling or building. .In this connection it is notable that in building details I employ structural parts and assemblies,'making use of lumber, largely, and furnishing labor to the usual artisans employed in the building industry, both at the mill and on the dwelling site where the building is to be erected.

Secondly'my new construction deals with'the social phase of enabling the user to construct a dwelling of relatively small. size,-say two or three rooms, and progressively add rooms or extensions to the original structure without in any way requiring the demolishing, or mutilation, of such original structure. Thus the needs of a small family may be met, as well as those of a family increasing in size, or even a veryflarge family, utilizing all the while abasic plan with many variations according therewith, and basic units of pre-built structure always to be available as apart of the pre-planned constructions.

In its third phase my invention has fully in contemplation the importance of dwelling production, especially, that may be brought within the financial reach of largest number of people having ability to buy homes; To this end I have designed all structural details with a view to obtaining mass production, ease of assemblage at the site of erection, *sturdiness of construction for long lasting quality, quick annexing of supplemental chamber or room space, economy of space, and conveniencein arrangement of rooms, closets, Stairways, and divers other structural features.

Exemplifying one of the above matters in more detail, I deal with the feature of additions to the original buildingstructure. Where the floor joist connections f a1 made .to the walls of the building, there are provided openin s in the wall leading from-the joist ends. These openings originally are capped or closedrby what :may be ornamental cap blocks or 'members. Adding a room extension only requires removal of these blocks at the wall from which the addition is to :extend, to enable introducing the cends of extension joists pf the original type, and

of a new house Claims. (01120-2) then the walls and ceilings or roofs of the extensions maybe made from the same type of prefabricated panel and other units as was the original structure.

Another feature of my invention resides in having, as a basic unit of my architectural 'assembly, a special type of prefabricated panel unit, .preferably of wood, though metal may be resorted to in its construction. This anel unit' enters. into the construction of many portions of the building, i. e., walls, partitions, floors, roofs, doors, windows, counters, cabinets, closets, and any load bearing sections of the erection.

Still another feature of my invention lies in the frame construction employed, which is conducive to making curved side and roof buildings and buildings having combined curved and straight sides, with additions of more conventional rectangular shapes. The frame structure issusceptible of being structurally self-supporting and independent of the side and roof structure .in this respect. This enables ageneral curved'outer building enclosure to -be set up either before orafter the frame assemblage is complete, all conducive'to a flexibility of erection and material handling not heretofore achieved, to my knowledge.

Many other features of my invention of less major importance than those above referred to are included in my invention and will be dealt with in the description hereinafter to be read ,in conjunction with the annexed drawings, and

in the latter:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a typical dwelling incorporating the general features of my invention, the front side of the dwelling being unclosed to enable the frame construction to be seen,'the arrangement of the stairway and certain closet space being disclosed in dotted lines. I

Figure 2 isa view similar to Figure 1, showing how the general originalbody construction of the dwelling may be combined with extensions panel unit employed in my building construetion and utilized for building the sides-,1 fiools v and roof features of the said construction. V

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the tongue and groove members of the panel unit alone. I

Figure 7 is an end view of the member shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a front edge view of the member shown in Figure 6.; I Figure .9 is asfragmentary isectional viewiziofr the tongue and'rgroove interlocked aportins. ofj two of the members such as shown;in: Figure;:6.

Figure 10 is a perspective view 'shovving:;partially one of the panel units-of Figure 6, as: when. mounted between two .:joists;l dotted lines IShOW! ing adjacent panelaunits;as-assooiated with said joists and the joists themselves being illustrated in'dotted lines, the view-bringing out the'manner'. in' which, the. panel unit actually measures or; establishes the :distancesatwhich .thejoists are; spaced when they are placed in position.

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view through a special panel unit ofj'thetgeneralzclass shown insFigure 5 but designedfor .:providing;;window construction.

Figure 12' is a -view:in elevation :of the panel: unit of Figure 11.;

Figure 13. is an edge view "of-the. panelunitiofi Figure 11.. 7

Figure 14 isva modifiedform of :panel unit filluser trated 'in end view,'and showing how-thesunitstructure may be modified for:providing diiier';- ent "arrangements of the. individualmembers: thereof for artistic or other reasons;

Figure 15 is a front elevation of the unit shown: iniFigure 14 and having curved formation-:atits upper end to conformwith .the'curvature oflthe end wall of the dwelling:as showniin'nFigure 1.'

Figure 16 isiafrontielevationalzview of another a type of-panel similar to that of Figure-:"15'yand designed for the same general purposevas-ere-s gards fitting the curved: end of the dwellings Figure 17 is'an end view of the unit :shown in; I

Fig re. 22 ois a fragmentary view ,i11u'stratingvv one of thelplate members at the upper ends of: two column members, one of the latterflshownx in full lines and one ,indotted lines; with the joist membersinterlocked" with the plate mem ber, of which there would-be two "spaced apart; one of the joists being shown in full lines as much as: may be illustrated in full lines, the other joist being illustrated in dottedlinesgand one; ofthe;

floor panels beingshown in position on the joists in dotted lines, illustrating the manner in which the joists may be actually controlled in spacing by means of said panels, the panels, of course being of standard size for such purpose.

Figure 23 is a view showing largely the members shown in Figure 22, fragmentary in illustrating,and bringing out the openings at the top of the acolumn" members; for" receiving heating pipes; watch pipes; and otherservice connections of a similar nature, this view showing clearly the manner of the interlocking of the end blocks on thexjoistwmember with the plates at the top of the-column members.

Fig-ure 24 is a view in side elevation of one of the column members alone.

Figure 25.;isiantedge elevation of the member shown in Figure 24; Fig-uree26 is a perspective view, partly broken away and bringing out some details of modified arrangements of thezwall zconstruction,partition construction, that may beiembodied in;the;frame: andtwal'l features ofi'theidwelling; embodyingomy dltiOiISDfTUSG-T:

Figure 2lrzisxa rfragmentary sectional view br-inginguout more'clearlyrthe mounting of cer: tain: of the panel-'unitssiasfor afioor or ceiling construction; upon" the:.;joistimembers-, with ceilin orother pipes; be'neathizthezxpanel units for, obtaining radiant: rheatingrorcarryingxwater or the like to yariousiportionsrzof'. the 'idwelling. In this view theJ'joists are: showniiascut so: as to re:- ceive upwardlyl "or adownwardly;v curved sealing plates of suitableaflexiblezmetal or:the:.1ike which may be easily placed in position and also. easily removed when zaccessi ii 'edesired ito they-parts housed between athei'panel'ilnitsi and :said .plates, and for cleaning purposeszas' wellix.

Figure" 28fis-:;a ViBW KSOIIIGWhEtL similar; to Fi ure 1 27 "showing; a somewhatr: difierentarrange-- ment of the sealing .platesathat: may. be applied to the joists;;.as.:compared;-rwith those of Figure 27; V

Figure 29 is -a fragmentaryrzperspective view showing how-:the: panel iinitsofxmy invention may be embodieduinithe.curved endwall or roof structure ofthe dwelling,'. thezboard members of,

I thnnits' beingdisposed-:tto;:fa'ce inwardly. and

provide a'finished :wallijor ceiling structure; as the-casem'ay be,-' and1a metal: covering being dis-. posed overflthe panel unitstat thesiedges,:of the strin'gers thereof; 1

Figure -30is a view-ia imilarcto.rFigure' 29 but showing how :the panel unitsi'may be placed in positions reversed :to .those'ashown in Figure 29, whereby the board members: are; outermost; and provide a weather protectivexcoveringpor. siding as for-use.in vconjunction withrthe ends ofroof portions of- -the:.:bui-lding= :shown :rin Figure-1, or the panels; if placed straightzin dine, may be em ployed to supply a regular flat roof-"structure. In the form ofFigure '30 thehjoistszbetween the edges of the panels .willlbe :suppliediwith' the felt weatheristrips-and:also maytbeusedrto carry the, eaves troughs iif;"'.dBSilZefl,i; as-iillustratedz in the figureti:

Figure 3B is a front;viewoffcertainiiramework' of: the main'iibody ofipthe. flouilding as; sher n in Figure 32 shows a wall of the building from the foundation .to the roof, viewing the panel units edgewise thereof, and in a somewhat diagrammatic manner.

Figure 33 is a general perspective view of the frame structure of the building somewhat like Figure 18 but showing certain architecturaldetails absent in Figure 18; also how certain plate members may have ornamental extensions at ends thereof for projection from walls of the building at corners or elsewhere, together with the use of edge finishing strips at the vertical edges of the panel units.

Figure 34 is a diagrammatic elevational view of my building structure when of generally curved or semi-circular form. 1

Figures 35, 36 and 37 are sectional views taken on the lines 35-35, 3636 and 31-31, respectively, of Figure 34, bringing out details of the relations of the side or roof shell portions, joist and panel unit assemblies. 7

Figure 38 is a perspective view of a modified form of panel unit board member, one which is recessed on opposite sides so as to receive stringer connecting members, one to be on each side of the panel unit made of such board members.

To give a general idea of my dwelling type structure, though my invention is not necessarily limited to such because quite adaptable to other classes of buildings, I first refer to Figure l of my drawings. In this figure I depict a generally curved end wall structure with partly curved and partly flat roof sections. The shape is semicircular, generally speaking, in reference to a two story structure.

The space in the house is economized by placing the stairs I at one of the four corners and extending up from the first floor to the second fioor, by inclining in the direction of the inclination of the curved end wall 2. This view also discloses the frame structure in the enclosure of the dwelling, which frame structure is erected preferably prior to the enclosure being completed by the erection of the various panels that constitute the units of special novelty of my invention and which are used for the outside wall, end wall, partition, floor, and group structures of the completed dwelling unit. Thus, the frame construction may be employed as a scaffolding. to a certain extent for facilitating the emplacement of the various members of the end and side walls, and the roof structure of the completed building unit. The general arrangement of the end wall and roof panel units is observable, as well as the column members, floor, ceiling, and joist members, closets, and wall compartments, in Figure 1.

For small dwellings the base structure, as an ex-.

The sizes of dwellings made in accordance with my invention will of course be standardized, and

may be similarlyincreased proportionally for larger dwellings of original construction. 0r.

dwelling structure may be of course enlarged by making quickly constructable additions in a manner that will more fully be described hereinafter,

the original completed building structure someoperations that may be performed easily upon istics and general sealing advantages.

6 what in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 3 of my drawings.

Since much of the construction of a building embodying my invention is wrapped up in the provision of a peculiar form of a basic structural panel unit, I shall refer first to the form of this unit which is designed to be embodied in a form of universal application for different purposes in the building construction and this unit is designed to be of sufficient thickness for insulation against weather, and also for sound insulation. Figure 5 of the drawings illustrates a preferred form of the structural panel unit to which I refer same being a load supporting unit and being especially designed to be made, where wood is used, from. lumber provided in short lengths to overcome many undesirable characteristics of lumber, such as warping, undue expansion and contraction, etc. By using short lengths of lumber in this panel unit, waste is avoided and thus a saving in construction cost is afforded, not to mention the facility with which smaller pieces of lumbermay be handled in assembling panel units. Each panel unit, generally designated at A in Figure 5, is made up of a series of transverse board members 3 providing a flat body section, and which members 3 are connected by parallel stringers 4 that extend generally the entire length of the panel unit. The transverse board members 3 are largely of the construction seen in Figures 6, '7, and 8, and comprise rather short lengths of board near the opposite ends of which, and on one side, are provided the stringer receiving grooves 5 which may be characterized as cut in notches. The notches are importantly used because they afford a saving of time in that they enable self-aligning of the members 3 in assembling them in the panel. Likewise,the notches 5 aid in preventing the panel from sagging, especially when disposed vertically or in partial vertical direction, and likewise the notches are useful in self-spacing the stringers 4 in the assembly operation. Each of the members 3 of the panels A is provided with a tongue 6 on one longitudinal edge, and a groove 1 on the other edge, after the manner of tongue and groove flooring structure of common known type, and for the purpose of preventing infiltration of weather on joining of the pieces 3 into the final panel structure, as well as providing the usual bracing structure intermediate the members 3. At each end thereof, the member 3 is formed with grooves 8, and when the members 3 are as sembled, the various grooves 8 are in alignment and form a continuous groove along each of the opposite longitudinal edges of the panel unit structure. The grooves 8 are designed to receive a sealing strip which is disposed to interlock in the adjacent grooves of two panels when the latter are assembled. Figure 10- illustrates a little more clearly the manner of arrangement of said sealing strips which are designated 9 in said view, and which may be made of various types of material having weather resistant character- The strip may be of specially coated wood, or may be made of metal, or may be made of composition of weather-resistant nature. In Figure 5 the panel A is seen fully assembled, with the stringers A in the notches 5 of the members 3 and the various tongue and groove portions of the members 3 suitably interlocked to afford complete rigidity and weather resistant assemblage, in an obvious manner. having load supporting characteristics, and it is This panel unit -A is a structural unit designed to-bemade in special'standard'sizes; and

to be used for the construction of walls,2:parti tions, floors, doorsw roofs-,windows,- by. certain modification, counters or cabinets, and to pr0- vide a truss over wider spaces-having in view its load-bearingfunctions The-stringers 4 are'intended tobe spaced apart standard distances, so

that when the panel'units are utilized somewhat in the manner shown in Figure 10, the units A will-enable the joists NJ-see Figure 18, or the columns H see the same figure, to be properly spaced when placed in position without the necessity for actually measuring thedistances along.-

the plate members l2 atthe upper ends of the column members I I; asexamples of the utility of the units in the above connection.

The-members 3 of thepanel units A may of course-be nailed or attachedto the stringers i in any suitable mannerxforrigid connection be- 7 tween said'parts. Under some conditions it is within the purview of my invention, in View of the versatility of the use of the panel member or unit A,that this member may be constructed out of metal parts, such as channels having the general'conformation-of the members 3, and rectangular channels having. the conformation of Obviously,-the panel units A may bemade of different lengths and diiferent widths, but always it"should beborne in'mind that they should be built in standard sizes, sizes that will fit along side and endwise of one another and sizes that may be especially designed for use in building, say closets, orsquare compartments, as the case may be.

Necessarily, there aresome variations in the shapes of these panel units A, dependent upon the particuiar function to be performed by said units. The edges of the members or stringers 4 of the panel unitsmay be square, rounded, and in any other ways beautified to suit the environment of the interior or the exterior exposure of the panel,

dependent on whether the said members i are tion a series of the members 3 is used at the top of the panel and the corresponding series of such members 3 at the bottom of the panel. In conjunction with these series-of members 3,-I employ longitudinalmembers 13 which are longitudinally grooved to receive the. stringers 4. Thespacing of the members-i3 enables one "or more glass panes" to be used between "the same and between i the upper and lower series of members 3, said panes; being designated l4 aspseen in Figure 11 and in Figure 129 The foregoing illustrates how a window may bemade' in a uniform standard size I by employing the general features of my panel structure, it being understood that the outer edgesofrthe boardslorilongitudmalnmembers i 3: willi'be grooved as: at: I3 "so that the grooves I williformta I continuation. of the-grooves}; on the edges of I the members 3.

In Figures '14 and 15 I illustrate a form of panel made up and designated A, the same for the purpose of dealing with the' problem of the curvature of the end 2 of a dwelling unit like'that in Figure 1. The panels of Figures 14 and 15' are largely made just like the panels A,-though' at the upper portion the panels A" may have longitudinal members I5 ofdifferent lengths and' intermediate tongue and groove connected short transverse members 16 in-orderto provide variation of possible artistic utility in the panel construction. However, the upperend' ofthe entirepanel A" in Figuresle and 15 is'curved and the curvature-is predetermined so that it wil1 fit the general curvature of the end or roof portion of the'dwelling structurein Figure 1 illustration, so

that there isno necessity to do any cutting or sawing of the panels on the job. The idea of the,

invention is that everything entering into the construction :shall largely be prefabricated and that the dwelling structure-to be erected shall be economically made ,bythe assembling of the various prefabricated shapes and the units of the invention.

In Figures l6.and 17 I illustrate in end and elevation'views 'anotheitkind of panel unit designated A' largely made the same as theunitof Figures 15 and 14 but in which they uppercurved end of the unit is provided by forming the uppermost transverse board member 3"of.,substantially tapering formation in order to give the. curved general conformatiomto the, upper, end. of the unit.

I nextrefer tothe frame. construction of my proposed dwelling or building, because this con.- struction is of great importance and fundamental to the carrying out of theobjectives of my invention. Reference is nowmade primarily to Figure 18 of the drawings, which involves an assembly frame construction includes-the joists it whichare provided usually atopposite endspbut at-least at one end, with the interlock blocks It. The said blocks l6 are attached to opposite sides of the joists W at the ends thereofland project some distancebeyond the ends, and the blocks are additionally formediwithv downwardly extending extensions or lugs I! of somewhat less l0ngitudinal depth than the general structure of the blocks I 6'. The buildin'gfr'ame alsoincludes the uprights orcolumns ll previously referred to and which columns at their lower ends are mounted upon blocks l8 resting upon the floor structure below.

The joists I0 aremadeof predetermined standard lengthsyand these lengths control the extent of the span or width of the basic structure of the dwelling. In'theexample given, the joists are preferably fourteen" to sixteen-feet long, making the basic structure, therefo'ra-fourteen to sixteen feetwide', from front to rear as seen from Figure 1 of the drawings. The formation of the joists ID is such asto enable the same tobe easily lo cate'd and interlocked and kept in alignment with l2 are secured to the columns II at the outer and inner sides thereof and in Figure '23 it is to be seen that the plates I2 interlock with the extensions or lugs I'I projecting downwardly from the blocks I 6 on 'the'joist ends. This interlock of course affords a rigidifying of the connection between the various'wall or partition features'cf the dwelling, the joists I virtually constituting interlocking girders. The plate members I2 rest on shoulders 20 provided by indentations in the front and rear edges of the columns I l which are members similar to studding of common forms of dwellings, except that it is preferred that these columns or column members I I shall be of somewhat greater weight and sturdiness of construction. The plate members I2 do not enter fully into the notches or indents 20 of the columns II but project substantially half the thickness of these members from said indent portions, as seen I lower members being horizontal boards 2I at the i outer sides and adjacent to the lower ends of the column members II. Thi has to do, of course, with the arrangement of the panel units A at the outer sides of the frame and in conjunction with the showing in Figure 23, it might be noted that by reason of the setting, on the inner shoulder of the columns I I, of the inner plate member I2, any suitable inside finishing boards or wall structures may be applied to the inner edges of the columns II flush or inset from the inner surface of the inner plate member I2 to thus provide a suitable finish for inner wall formation. The inner plate members I 2 are advantageous also in that they may sup-port curtainrails such as designated at 22, and the wall or windows or other portions thereof may be curtainized very readily with appropriate artistic draperies suspended from the rails 22, as may be desired.

The foregoing represents another major phase of advantage of the type of construction that I employ to provide a means to have the house curtainized on the interior and is a contributing reason for the design and combination of the plate members I2 to be used for curtaining purposes. Dealing further with the frame construction as seen in Figure 18, it is to be understood,

of course, that the panels A will be mounted at predetermined intervals between the members I2 and 2I and at the outer sides of the columns II so that the stringers 4 of the panel units will predetermine the points of location of thecolumns I I'without necessity for measurement, just as the said panel units A used for the floor structure in Figure 18 are designed to perform the same function in locating of the distance between the joists ID. The predetermined sizes of the panels A as used in the side walls will of course permit of the employment of the window panels of the type shown in Figures 11 and 12 or curved upper .end panels of the type shown in Figures 15 and 1 6,..the widths of all these panels being the same-{ 10 so that they can properly be located dependent upon where they belong in the building structure. Under these conditions it will be apparent that a window may b :located at a very suitable place, depending upon the desires of the architect setting ,up the erection inhis plans. In

- Figure 18 a short form of panel A is seen at the rear of the floor, and this panel unit/may be made, just for example, of one-half the area of the main panel units of the floor or ceiling as shown in this figure, the aim being to have the units designed to make for the erection of spaces for use of joist lengths of all standard sizes. The joist lengths at the rear in Figure 18 are of course short joists because they only span about half the distance of that spanned by the joists I0 for making a relatively small rear compartment such as a sun room or the like, as compared with the front compartment made by the joists I0, which might be a living room, or similar part.

The lower ends of the columns II are likewise extended or notched to provide the shoulder portions 23. Under these conditions, of course, base plates or boards may be attached to the opposite sides of the lower ends of the column in a manner similar to the mode of attachment of the head plates or members I2, previously referred to, at the upper ends of the columns.

It will be seen that the outer closing board 2| at the base of the columns H, which are the front columns, will be nailed or secured in position so that it will lie against the front edges of the front columns II which are not notched at such edges at the bottom. As respects the columns II at the rear outer side of the house, as

, seen in Figure 18, these also are not notched at their outer lower edges, so that boards like the boards 2I may lie flush against these outer edges of the columns II for suitable and rigid attachment thereto. Below the boards or members 2I, the lower edges of which are approximately flush with the lower sides of the panels A for the floor at the base of the columns II, are located closing boards 24 which close the spaces between the adjacent blocks I6 of the joists I0. These members" 24 are rather short boards and their ends are spaced apart so that an opening is provided between such ends that leads to the space between the blocks I6 of each of the joists. For closing the space between the said blocks I6 at the outer end of each of the joists I0 where said joist is adjacent to the outer side, in Figure 18 the front side of the building, I use removable cover or cap members 25. The members 25 may be of ornamental shapes. They could be round, or rectangular as illustrated, with bevelled edges, and they may be secured in place quite rigidly by nailing or other attachment to the boards 21 and 24. Whenever an addition to the front of the house is desired to be erected, all that is necessary to do in order to emplace the extension joists in position is to remove the cover members form direct longitudinal continuation joists for the extension structure that is to be added to the front of the house as seen in Figure 2.

Under some conditions, referring to Figure 4, it is desirable to use rest members that may be readily disposed in longitudinal alignment with joists. Such rest members are shown in Figure 4 at 21a. These members, instead of joist members, maybe introduced into the spacing be- T struction of partitions emanates hen the suitable i covier neiribers '25 have been emo'ved a'nd -such--=rest members-inav haempl'oy'ed "to support I -baleony extensions of the housetor practical utility "and also for enhancing the artistic construction-of the dwelling, or such rest inembers, if short, may be employedtor support window-boxes or 'the like.

A's seen in'Figure 23, =-atthe -upper ends thereof thecolur'nn members I I are-provided with trans- -ve1 -se openings 2 8 which may-be ofdifiierent sizes and which are' intended" to enable pipes orelectric lighting conduits or' like' fixture members to beplaced in -no"sition after the frame 1 of the building is- 'rected. The "various openings 2 8 are in alignment and-th ns provide continuous passage'wa ys in 'the spaee 'betw'een the plates 1 2 and through the ufiper ends of "the column menibers I -'l ior 'suchprovi's'ions as above indicated, including heating;- water, and similar-'pines'nr conduits "-'-It is ohvious that th mate membersMa -used to upbort the -'jo'ists" l afford a --substantial ineans 'to' finish th apnearance of the-house insid and o1'1tside;}as well as "c-arryimg tlie load oi thfioors, -rhofs'; and similar featui es 0f the dwelling '-c'on# structiom depending on'the location ofthe members. The- -lowermost 0f th' side or" plate members l2 (see Figure 1'8) inaybe-and are used as I a" part of thefoundation snace for mounting on conventional cement-or-brick foo'ting." }-Obviously it -"m'ay" be envisioned from= Figure 18" that the l columns I may lee-extendedup *for' second' floor --oonstruction-;' or *et'en higher- "as may be desired,

depending unon the size of the dwelling; and the "joist arrangement 'is'-'- 'such that these joists may -be extended forwardlyjand "rearwa rdlyto any desired distance for erecting'} extensions" forwardly andrearwardlyofthe dwelling. Likewise,

the dwelling may be added' toendwise, after the mannerillustrated in Figure 3, by building 'ex-. tensions thereon.

Referringto Figure' '26; it'will be" seen" from Figure 26 illustrates'clearly how the panel" units "may be emplored 1m diversified"arrangements, .1 and for manydifferent-purposes. v

" In Figures"27 '-andi28' Ifhaveillustrated sec- L'tiOnal'VieW of ceilingsofj'second floor's'lto'show how in Figure 27 various kindofpipi'ng, elecltric conduits,- orfairiconduit's' may be'fchanneled between the floor' j dists. lCeiling-lights inay be easily installediat-the time 015 erection orqafter the erection 30f sthe.-; house. For improving the appearance of the:ceiling'whereverineeded; flexible materials such as beautiful-plywood or metal 'slicdecorated surface members :vmay betnsedby being F quickly coved *into-'- the space I between the joists lflmsaid joists beine'provided' with grooves for redeivingthe edges ofthe plywood or metal plates designated' tflj-" the said "plates' may- 'be bellied upwardly or downwai'dly as shownat the left andright-bf gure '--26;-r'especti tely. I hey may be quickly' installed andthey may be-re'adily "removed" ='when' necessary. #1 A--niodified 'form= of#75- arrangement ,ofnthe decorative;ceiling. flexible 1 plate members 3 i. is shown. in Figu're '28.,

i InJfFigure- :29 I provide an enlarged: sectional wiew of the roofv shown in Figure liofmy-drawings; and'it will beobs'erved that the ,roofspanels aregthesamepanelunits A, previously described, arranged somewhat at-an anglelto each other and minterlocked by means of-the strips fiat the 'upper. and lower longitudinal-edges-of-vtheysaid panels. Thestrips area designed to; seal; and

, strengthen thejoining ofthe panels of the edges, maintain the same leakproofigand preventinfiltration offthe weather. Inqit-his; construction the panel units A-iace inwardly; and: whenthey are" made of Wood they -may; afiord aiqvery interesting decoratiye phase---;of the house, construction ifgthe grain of, thewood ,is suitable; .or

they may be painted,- -;dependent 'uponl-the ,-whim and artistic desiresfof theowner ofrtherdwelling.

On the" outside of thestringer members; 4 a of l the panel units I contemplateapplying aqshell or cover which wil1;-.be made of-sections of plywood immunized to weather, conditions lay-suitable treatment, or the shell m;ay;. be made-of -steel,-*a1uminum,-or other sheetrnetal sections a suitably nailed -orotherwise-secured-to thewari- =ous stringer members 4 of the unit, base. -Moreover,- the-above construction affords a-donble side structureewhich is a :feature of importance in thateit provides-an, intermediate space to resist the penetration. of cold and heat -u-nder. summer and winter weatherrconditions.

\ Another-form, of roof construction whichn ay beemployed andstill utilize thepanelzunitsifit z: is shown in Figure-30. In this view the stringers 4 of the-panel unitstace inwardly andrtheshell.

plywood i lining, or-l m'etalling inner structure ,is designated 32 e and; is vattached to. V the v stringer [members 4 at their. inner edges as contrasted with the- .dispositionrof .the'rs'hell 33. at the. outer edges of saidis'trifnger membersvin the construction'of Figure 29,

Under the conditions of. the construction of v-Fig1ire30,the'members. 3 of thdunitSAQaredevsigned, to take the weather and. will be I finished for weather resistance in any suitable, manner 1 as, by beingsuitahlylnainted or weather protected panel m mbersnarefa in any desirable way. f. Inj Figure '30, the ,mannerjn which, rain troughs 34 may, held, in

fi by in n iend extension-5.; di posed. between the adjacent ngitndinal edges f the v 1 !li iplaceby nails or otherwisebis, clis'closed. 10f course the space hetween ithepanelfljmemhers A and ,the angles of the joinder of thevlon'gitudinaliedges of the same in ,the construction, oi Figure 30 may be filled with waterandair-resistant material in'the, 0D- eratlon of renderingithe roof,weatheriprotected.

,Insome locations. of the, building structure .the

space between'gthe panel members are filled with longitndinali'strip ofwoodwhich will give 31 101 1 er iwejatherv, sealjfand'I-extra strengthening fonthe Joining .ofjthe. panels ifl'hisstrip. of, woodn'omiprises as .very" important. 'pfart of," the structural lelementsiespeciallyl'when the panels arelused in a jvertical.'positiomaslin'Fiurelzdfand indicated as ,Ba. This;,"strip;j sometimes ,as .occasions 'requirein the"jdesigii'ofithefrooms and'wa'l ls, will .substitute'. for the column I I.

' Figure 31fishows how"the"top "roof"'menibe1's coniposedof paneruhits as 'seen-in-Figure 5 are 'laid' on"jo'ists35, -36 and 3"! -using-the interlockingfsystenroi block -l l 6. This'preventssagging otthej 'p nelunits. The lioists I0 rest-on -the columnar members 1 I. The' p'anel"nnits on the curved ends of the semi-circular body structure are not supported by any joists. Thepanel-units when positioned at an angle of 45 degrees and almost 90 degrees from the nearly flat position shown on top of the structure, act as a truss or become joists in themselves and, therefore,

are self-supporting. These panel units need but be anchored to the side walls. On the inner surface of these side wall panels are nailed cleats 38. To these cleats are fastened the ends of panel units. The strips 9 strengthen, join and weather seal the panels. Said strips 9 may be rigid, partially rigid, of composition or metal, or both. 7 I

The boards 3a of Figure 38 of the drawings are like those 3 previously described except, thatv they are each formed with one stringer recess on each side so the stringers 4 do not lie on the l. A building construction comprising a framework including a series of column members spaced apart and disposed in alignment, a second series of column members spaced apart and disposed in alignment, plate members fastened to the column members of each series at corre sponding ends thereof and to opposite'edges of the column members, and wood joist members of prefabricated form having attached preformed end parts extending therefrom on opposite sides thereof interlocking between the plate members of the twoseries of column members, said interlocking parts comprising wood blocks attached at opposite sides of the ends of the joist members and having downward projections engaging between the adjacent plate members.

2. A building construction as claimed in claim 1, combined with panel units supported on opposite edge portions on the joist members and each panel unit comprising a body having spaced stringers spaced from the adjacent edges of the panel unit and projecting from one side thereof and engaging between and against adjacent joists for predetermining the spacing of the latter,'said stringers resting on the joist interlocking parts aforesaid.

3'. A building construction as claimed in claim 1, combined with 'panel units arranged so as to be supported on the joist members and each panel unit comprising a body having spaced stringers projecting from one side thereof and engagingbetween and against adjacent joists for predetermining the spacing of the latter, and other panel units of the same width and construction as those first mentioned arranged at one side of'the column members and attached thereto and having spaced stringer members lying between and against adjacent column members for predetermining the spacing of the latter.

4. A building construction as claimed in claim 1, combined with panel members attached to the outer sides of the column members for forming a wall, there being wall openings in alignment with the ends of the joist members, and a removable cover member for said openings detachable for enabling other aligned joist members to be engaged with the plate members first'menti oned.

5. A building construction comprising spaced column members, plate members attached to the column members at the upper and lower ends thereof and at corresponding outer sides thereof, vertical panel units comprising each a body and spaced stringers attached to the body at the inner side thereof slightly spaced from the vertical edges of the body, and arranged to lie against the opposing adjacent sides of spaced column members with said vertical edges overlapping the outer edges of adjacent column members, for predetermining the spacing and reinforcing of the latter, said panel units being supported on and fastened to the column members and lying between the plate members at the upper and lower ends of the column members.

6. A building construction comprising a framework and a covering outer wall for forming side and roof sections of the construction, said covering wall including a series of panel units, each panel unit comprising transverse boards and longitudinal stringers applied to the boards at one side and secured thereto in spaced relation, adjacent panel units having grooves at the end edges of said transverse boards and having such edges juxtaposed in abutting relation, and sealing means in said grooves between the juxtaposed edgesof the panel units, the sealing means interlocking the juxtaposed edgesof the panel units, combined with a covering applied to the free edges of the stringers in spaced relation to the bodies of the panel units.

7. In a building construction, a frame-work comprising a plurality of column members, spaced apart for carrying vertical loads, horizontal plate members attached to the outer and inner edges of the column members, joists comprising unitary prefabricated end blocks interlocking between the plate members and supported by said blocks on the column members, and panel members comprising body portions having spaced stringers unitary therewith and disposed to lie between and flat against adjacent sides of said joists and supported at their ends on the said blocks and thereby on said plates to carry vertical loads.

8. In a building construction, a frame-work comprising a series of spaced column members, a second series of spaced column members spaced from the first series, a horizontal plate member carried by each of the series of column members, joists extending from one series of column members to the second series of such members, said joists having end interlocking members fabricated in unit therewith and resting on and interlocking withthe plate members of the two series of column members to predetermine the spacing of the said series, and panel members each comprising a body unit having spaced stringers par- ,allel with and engaging adjacent sides of a pair of joists to predetermine spacing of the latter and reinforcing said joists, said stringers of each panel resting on the said interlocking members and thus carried by the plate members of the two series of column members.

9. A building construction as claimed in claim 8, in which the unitary end interlocking members of the joists consist of blocks attached to opposite sides of each joist end. said blocks having lugs extending downwardly to engage the plate members, and each block extending from the adjacent side of the joist member to form a rest for an adjacent stringer of the panel member above same, edge portions of each panel member v ,11, in which each oist cq spacedhblocks atseaeh e Wardly mam spa e .plate members; and Q spaced rparts to 1 receive an .extension.- jpist when 4 end-r ajvoistf is remoyed.

I framework comprising a:

4 member eennecting--the top portions; o f the column members of each -series sbacewapart joists supported a-toppositeends on the plate members of the spaced series-0f columnmembersg each N joist having a pain-of side interlock block's at opposite sides 0t each end;to= engage -doyvn-over the plate member-adjacentsuch end to interlock-the :plate members:togetherwand a prefabricated 10. z A building-construction asielaimeckinzclaim :1 7;: in. which; the i stringers on each .panelsrnemher 0f ;continuouslengthtcorresn ndina cethat uof n adjacent-joist.

nmb ildings constructions amt 'ameswe zcqmpri n ;s aced.seri saoftcqlnmntm mbersiara ed in;sneqed relatio asp a e m mh n conn st n the ;;column m mhe s e asa h ser st s es ie stssspa n n x-th spa e tweenath WQ ri s L t co um at i en siontt e 4 134,1 a bu din ibnz tme e of ,column members, a ho: 4 member connecting the-top portionsyog th 1- umn members oi-each series, seaced apart "joists 4 supported-sat. io n s e, en s p.011; e Ew -am bers;ofwthespaceq seriesot m1 a 10 h vi azpe r i e ni vr e k i lc at opposite sides or 1 each; end it engage .doiv11 overthe plate, member adjacent r o thee'pla membe s tose h fabricatedpanelunitfipgmlifist semen-t eet sa d o s n h yinens aged n tud nalstr n ers on its underside parallel ad cent to the adjacent sides -of, the spaced jpi each Y stringer being spacedfslightly frornthe ad acent tud F GT iLP pan l. fil t W i o edge restson" the :tOp'tOt: thefagijacent 'joist, .and each 'of saigl stringers resting atthe-endsther eof framework comprisingaplurality of spaced series as of i; -,pane 1;,nni tspannin i the snacebetWen; said.jcists andhaving spaceilongitudinaL stringers on its i underside parallel with and adjacent to the adiia ent Sid -[I fr:tl Q sp ce joi each strin being spacedslightly fromtthe ajacent longitudi- ,nal edge of the panel unit and which edge rests ,;on; the top of the adjacent joist, and eachof said stringersresting ,at the ends-thereof on the inter- 1901;; blocks on the opposite ends. of an adjacent loq iqistgthe column members and the said joi sts 15; ,iacentsides of the columnmempers, a lower horizontalplate member connecting the lower ends of the-column members, the said wall vpanel memerszbeing disposed betweenthe npper and. lower l plate members.

5420' 1.15 A buildingrconstruction as claimed in claim 13,:in..Which1the panel units are made up of a series of board-members 'laidedge to edge transy .erse.,an(i ,perrnanent1y secured to the stringers, ,said boarq members .havingalinecl notched porg t liQns L'nearl their ends receiving the said stringers and interlo cking thelatter. to the board members.

QEDWINO References Cited in the file 0i, this -.pa tent .1 i iIf LE SQLAEITESPAIENTS 4 Number Name Date 353; 162 -M'cVay =Mar.13, 1866 827=,030 Noblett 'Ju1y 24, 1906 1559,4533 Goodrich ..-Aug;;24;1920 11 ,563,481 Gilchrist et al. Dec. 1,1925 1;;669541 .Spre'en May 15,1928 1,846,658 Rockwell '-Feb;' 23, -1932 1 2,053,462 .LChaplin Sept; 8, 1936 2,109365 Foster Feb. 221938 2,129,441 Otto Sept.'6,-1 938 ,2,'177',699 :"Fisher .Oct 31, 1939 2,300,113 :-;,-Eab er rOct.-27, 1942 ;=2 ,351 209 1 'HQbbS June 13,1944 2,384;L98 :fiheldon, -4 Sept. 4, 1945 2,401,589 Smith "Li June 4, 71946 i j Cl0ss .Sept.v 10, 1946 Jansen N0v.416,-.19.48 Kumpaflr Sept.:-27,.1949

OIHERREEERENGES HORSE Qor sir q mnpetails.s co djes it by Burban hubl b d 19 9, .simm d a li h s v i? reo,rm ,"N.evv; York,

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