US3316682A

US3316682A - Polygon building structure

Info

Publication number: US3316682A
Application number: US348414A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert E Natalis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-03-02
Filing date: 1964-03-02
Publication date: 1967-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-02

Description

y 2, 1967' H. E. NATALIS 3,316,682

POLYGON BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed March 2, 1964 3 Sheetsheet l /5 ll l g /2 F772 ///1 x L4H: \Z'L INVENTOR. HERBERT 6'. NATA L15 EAM/ y 2, 1957 H. E. NATALIS 3,316,682

POLYGON BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed March 2, 1964 6 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR. HERBf/PTE. NA 744 /.S

AGE N7- y 2, 1957 H. E. NATALIS POLYGON BUILDING STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 2, 1964 INVENTOR. f/f/FEERTE. WAIT/41.15

United States Patent C 3,316,682 POLYGON BUILDING STRUCTURE Herbert E. Natalis, 22 Linda Circle, Matawan, NJ. 07747 Filed Mar. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 348,414 2 Claims. (Cl. 52-237) This invention relates to building structures and the components therefor. More particularly, this invention relates to structural units of integrated form, wherein the individual units, when employed for fabrication of a roof and wall of a polygon building or the like, comprise both the protective covering as well as the framework of the structure in which they are incorporated.

One specific example in which the individual structural units of this invention may be employed to great advantage is in the fabrication of a polygon shaped structure. When incorporated into this type of structure the structural units provide a building structure having exceptional strength, lightness, and attractiveness. The individual structural units taken alone are unique in configuration. They are also rugged, light in weight and exceptionally easy to handle and easy to fabricate.

It is an object of this invention to provide a building structure in which the units are exceptionally light in weight and in which the structure may be quickly and easily assembled or disassembled by unskilled labor.

It is an object of this invention to provide a polygon shaped building structure wherein each unit has an exceptionally high strength to weight ratio.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a structural unit for building structures wherein the framework of the finished design is automatically formed by components of the structural units as they are combined to form the completed structure.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a building wall made up of a plurality of structural units according to this invention which are arranged in such a fashion that the distribution of stress is that of .a uniform circular shell under similar loading.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a building structure comprised of a plurality of structural units wherein each structural unit comprises both a stressed skin and at the same time performs as the framework of the finished structure.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a structural unit in which the particular design and construction effectively resists flexing and bending after all units have been completely connected.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a building structure comprised of structural units for the wall which are rectangular in form and structural units for the roof that are quadrangular in form with the units being so assembled together that the various load stresses imposed on the units are equally divided to form a continuous shell and equal distribution of stresses.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tank wall made up of a plurality of structural units according to this invention which are arranged in such fashion that the distribution of stress is in the form of a homogeneous shell.

Further objects of this invention shall be apparent by reference to the accompanying detailed description and the drawings in which FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a polygon building structure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of an enlarged polygon building structure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of a further embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of a single structural wall element, with interlocking flanges facing outward.

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of a single structural wall element, with interlocking flanges facing inward.

'FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a roof element illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a root element illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

d 'FIlG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a structural etai FIG. 9 is a detail of a further embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a further embodiment of the wall structure.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an elevational detail of a partition element.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a portion of a sectional base for the building shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and -3.

FIG. 14 is an elevational view of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1515 of FIG. 14, and

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective elevational view of a further embodiment of'this invention, and *FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a variation of a structural joint.

Referring to the drawings and specifically FIG. 1 there is illustrated a polygon shaped building structure comprised of a plurality of wall units 10 and a plurality of roof elements 11 all joined at their edges to form a composite structure. Referring to FIG. 2 there is illustrated a further embodiment of this invention in which a building structure of approximately twice the diameter of the structure shown in FIG. 1 may be constructed using the same wall units 10 and provided with a plurality of roof units 111A. With the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of supporting column 112 are necessary to support the inner periphery of the joined elements 11A. Referring to FIG. 4 there is illustrated a single wall unit :10 which may be comprised of a single sheet of metal in which the edges have been crimped or turned to form four separate edges 10A, 10B, 10C and ND. The edges 10B are in turn perforated with apertures 14 to permit the means of clamping one unit to the next unit as illustrated in FIG. 4. Utilizing clamps 15 and the edges 101) which are U or V shaped and provided with a pair of aligned apertures 14A, as illustrated in an enlarged view in FIG. 8, the clamp 15 which is comprised of a pivotal end 15A and a U shaped and connected by an arm 15B, the clamp by means of its end 15A is passed through one of the apertures 14A of the edge 10D and the aperture 14 of an adjoining edge 16B when it is aligned and then through the opposite aperture 14A and then pivotally moved so that the U shaped end 15C clamps over the U shaped format-ion of the edge 10D to retain clamp -15 locked in this position to in turn lock the adjoining edges of panels 10 as illustrated in FIG. 4. It is to be noted that in view of the form taken by panel 10 it is easy to install insulating panels 16 to the inside (FIG. 4) or in each of the panels 10 (FIG. 5.). It is also to be noted that the panels 10 may be a single sheet of material either metal or plastic boards or a wood board. It is to be further noted that with any treatment, such as doors or windows to be installed within a panel, they do not interrupt the structural value of each panel. In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a window 18 installed as a unit in an aperture 19 that has been cut in panel 10. Similarly referring to FIG. 1 two panels may be utilized to provide a door 20 and due to the radial stress of the complete wall, the door cannot be cut completely through but a structural element must be used to tie across the top and bottom to provide the panels with the necessary strength to permit tying to the akrlljtfiining panels 10 and to retain the complete radial s e Referring to 'FIG. 5 there is illustrated the same panel but reversed so that the joining edges are faced towards the inside of the building so that the building is completely locked from the inside and cannot be tampered with to be opened from the outside. In this embodiment the

edges

10B and 10D are joined in the same fashion as illustrated in FIG. 4 and in addition a covering channel 21 may be utilized to cover the joints to provide a more pleasing appearance. The attachment of channels 21 may be in any conventional manner such as inserting tabs 22 through 23 in panel 10 and bending over the tab 22. A covering strip 24 may be also provided for the exterior edge of the joints between panels for making a water tight seal for the exterior of the building. Strip 24 may also be applied in any conventional manner such as by rivets and a weather proofing seal or caulking fluid may be used to insure a weather tight joint.

Referring to FIG. 6 there is illustrated a typical roof panel 11 quadrangular in form. The manner of connecting adjacent panels as illustrated in FIG. 1 is similar to the manner of connecting panels 10 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The same perforations 14 are formed in the edge 11B and the same perforations 14A are formed in the edge 11D and the same clamps already described are utilized. Thus a plurality of panels 11 may be joined to form a circular roof as illustrated in FIG. 1, the outer periphery resting upon the upper edge 10A of panels .10. It is to be noted that panels 11 are joined to form a cone shaped structure, that is, the angle of panel 11 is a minimum of 15 above the horizontal so that the joined structure retains a structural rigidity to support at its periphery the complete structural load or weight of the entire roof plus a required load capacity for snow. Of course if the apex of the cone is increased to greater than 15 from the horizontal, the load capacity of the roof will increase so that the roof may be designed to comply with any building code requirements. In addition it is to be noted that panels 11 when joined to form a circular roof as illustrated in FIG. 1, there is a small circular opening around the apex of the cone shaped area. This is beneficial to the structure, that is, in the hot weather this permits a natural ventilation of the covered area. To provide a complete coverage of this opening to make it rain-proof, a small cone 9 may be mounted over the apex of the cone. The manner of supporting cone 9 may be simply by resting it upon the ridges formed by the joints of panels 11 or an interior structure 13 or exterior structure 13A may be utilized to carry the cone 9 as an entire separate element over the central opening in the roof.

Referring to FIG. 7 there is illustrated a similar quadrangular panel 1 1A, that is, similar to panel 111 of FIG. 6 except that the angle of the joining edges 11D and 11B is half the angle of the panels 11 to permit forming a larger structure such as shown in FIG. 2. If the structure shown in FIG. 2 is double the diameter of the structure shown in FIG. 1, the panels 11 and 11A may be utilized in a structure shown in FIG. 3, that is, the outer tier of roof panels 11A in FIG. 3 will be similar to the panels 11A shown in FIG. 2 and the central tier of panels .11 will be similar to the panels 11 shown in FIG. 1 and of course panels 11 at their base edge 11C will be joined to the upper edge of panel 111A. However at this joining edge, there will be a plurality of supports 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2 and as in FIG. 1 a central cone 9 may be utilized in the same manner as described in FIG. 1. It is also to be understood that although FIGS. 1 and 3 have been described .as completely covered circular structure, the roof and wall structure may be formed with any one or more panels removed. However in this case the missing section X has to be provided with tie bars Z, Z (FIG. 2) thus holding the structure together. The sector removed may be one or more panels up to half of the structure. Due to the manner of connecting all panels remaining and the tie rods this permits a distribution of stress without weakening the structure unduly. It is thus apparent that the roof structure may be formed as a half-circle with the tie rods across the opening and still retain the required structural support, although a degree of the structural strength is forfeited, but due to the attachment of the roof structure to the wall structure sufiicient strength and balance is retained.

A further embodiment of panel 11 and 11A is illustrated in FIG. 9 in which the edge 11B is formed in a U shape and the free edge M is extended downward.

Referring to FIG. 16 there is illustrated a hanging ceiling so suspended from the free edge M of the panel 11 or 11A. The hanging straps 51 may be of any desired length with the upper end 52 attached to edge M by clips or bolts and the lower end 53 similarly attached to an inverted T strip. Ceiling panels 54 are simply slipped into position as illustrated and supported by the T strips.

A further embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 in which a plurality of panels 10E that are similar to panels 10 of the prior embodiment except that one edge 10F is formed circular to about 315, and the opposite edge 106 is formed circular to about 315. Each circle is formed using two radii. Then edge 10G mates and fits sidewise into the edge 10F and rotates into position as illustrated in FIG. 11. Within the center of the mating circular edges there is provided a pin 30. Pin 30 can be hollow in the form of a pipe of a diameter 31 to fit the internal radius of the circular aperture formed by the mating edges of the panels 10E. Or pin 30 may be formed as a solid central rod 30 with enlarged bushings 33 of a diameter 31 to fit the central aperture formed by the circular mating edges of the panels 10E. It is to be noted that pin or

pipe

31 or 30 may be inserted through the length of the mating edges of panels 10E and in addition may extend into the base or ground upon which the structure is to be mounted to thus anchor the structure solidly upon the base. This particular embodiment also lends itself to some variations, that is, by forming apertures 32 in the circular edges 10F and 10G so that the apertures 32 will be positioned in alignment when the panels are positioned in their proper angular relationship (in this example 15) thus forming a complete aperture to permit inserting the anchoring elements 34 illustrated in FIG. 12, elements 34 being extended from a partition wall 35. Elements 34 must of course be aligned with the position of the apertures 32 so that the partition 35 may be readily placed in abutting relationship with the coacting circular edges thus hanging partition 35 to permit dividing a circular structure into a plurality of compartments and the outer edges of partitions 35 may be anchored or connected in any usual manner to form open compartments or closed compartments as desired.

Referring to FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, there is illustrated a sectional base to be used in connection with the panels 10 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10. The sectional base is comprised of a plurality of strips 60. The strips are L shaped in form as illustrated in FIG. 15. With a fiat base 61 to rest upon the ground and an upright leg 62 which is placed inside the wall or panel 10. The base or panel 10 thus rests upon the L shaped strip 60. The strips 60 are interconnected at each end to the adjoining strip. As illustrated in FIG. 14 and one end 63 of strip 60 is provided with a lower extension while the opposite end 64 of strip 60 is provided with an upper extension. The end 63 is provided with a small circular threaded aperture 65 large enough to receive the center threaded end of the rod or post 30 FIG. 10. While the end 64 is provided with an elongated aperture 66 to permit adjustment or variation in the positioning of the strips with relation to each other. Therefore it is apparent that the buildings illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 may be readily positioned upon the base comprised of strips 60 to prevent the flanged lower edge of panels from sinking into the ground and they will thus retain the complete structure on a fairly level base. Although the base has been described in connection with the use of the pipe or pin it may also be used in connection with the panels shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 without using the pins 30. In this instance it is possible to utilize anchoring pins simply inserted through the base into the ground, while the panel flange 10C can be connected to the base through aperture 14.

Referring to FIG. 17 there is illustrated a still further embodiment of this invention in which the panels 10 illustrated in FIG. 4 are combined to make a first tier or ring 40 and in which a plurality of panels 10 are combined to make a second tier 41 and a third group of panels 10 are combined to make a third tier 42. In this embodiment the upper and lower edges 10A and 10C of panels 10 are utilized and similar apertures 14 are provided so that the first tier 40 may be structurally joined to the second tier 41 by means of the edge 10A and 10C and similarly the third tier 42 may be joined to the second tier 41 and the roof panels 11 may be combined as shown in FIG. 1 and the edges 11C as shown in FIG. 6 may be utilized to join to the edges 10A of the upper tier. A further embodiment of this particular connection would be to provide the edge 11C in a U shaped or crimed form (FIG. 18) similar to edge 10D so that the flange 10A of panel 10 will fit into the U shaped edge 11C to provide a better structural joint. With the structure completely joined as illustrated in FIG. 17, a tank may be quickly and easily formed for the storage of bulk material and the radial stress may be reinforced by increasing the number of clamps 15 utilized or by additionally providing reinforcing bands 45 around the complete circular structure if required.

Although this invention is primarily drawn around the formation of a polygon shaped structure comprised of panels of minimum thickness, the panels may be of any rigid material providing the necessary structural strength "and the panels may be joined by bolts or any manner of retaining the joints rigidly aflixed without departing from the spirit of this invention and although a particular designed panel has been illustrated, the panels may be larger in size and somewhat diiferent in shape, that is, square or elongated rectangularly or trapezoidal in form without departing from the spirit of this invention and the panels although described as joined to form a polygon shaped structure, they may be joined to form a half-round or half polygon structure or an out of round structure without departing from the spirit of this invention althongh one type of base has been illustrated the base may take other forms such as a foundation type of base unit without departing from the spirit of this invention and this invention shall be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A prefabricated structural panel adapted for use in multiple in a wall structure comprising a unitary quadrangular flat member provided with an upper and lower flanged edge and two partially circular mating edges, formed to interlock with an adjoining edge, a locking pin being smaller in diameter than the diameter of said circular mating edges and fitted with bushings that are of the same diameter as said circular mating edge, said bushings spaced apart on said locking pin and a plurality of apertures formed in said partially circular mating edges and located between said bushings, said locking pin fitted between the interlocking partially circular edges of adjoining members, to form a unitary ring shaped wall.

2. In a ring shaped wall according to claim 1, a plurality of partitions having anchoring hook shaped elements on one side, said anchoring hook shaped elements spaced to fit into said apertures of said mating edges of said panels to hang and support said partitions and provide a plurality of compartments within said ring shaped wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 446.028 2/1891 Smith 52-246 X 493,355 3/1893 Erickson 52245 X 922,329 5/1909 Porter 52-82 X 1,232,604 7/1917 Quick 52-82 X 2,918,151 12/1959 Kennedy 52-81 X 2,918,992 12/1959 Gelsavage 5281 2,953,276 9/ 1960 Dunn 52-245 X 2,967,379 1/196-1 Small 5282 X 3,040,478 6/1962 Ferguson 52-82 X 3,197,926 8/1965 Shumaker 52588 X FOREIGN PATENTS 7,889 6/1927 Australia.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. RICHARD W. COOKE, Jr., Examiner. C. G. MUELLER, Assistant Examiner,

Claims

1. A PREFABRICATED STRUCTURAL PANEL ADAPTED FOR USE IN MULTIPLE IN A WALL STRUCTURE COMPRISING A UNITARY QUADRANGULAR FLAT MEMBER PROVIDED WITH AN UPPER AND LOWER FLANGED EDGE AND TWO PARTIALLY CIRCULAR MATING EDGES, FORMED TO INTERLOCK WITH AN ADJOINING EDGE, A LOCKING PIN BEING SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID CIRCULAR MATING EDGES AND FITTED WITH BUSHINGS THAT ARE OF THE SAME DIAMETER AS SAID CIRCULAR MATING EDGE, SAID BUSHINGS SPACED APRT ON SAID LOCKING PIN AND A PLURALITY OF APERTURES FORMED IN SAID PARTIALLY CIRCULAR MATING EDGES AND LOCATED BETWEEN SAID BUSHINGS, SAID LOCKING PIN FITTED BETWEEN THE INTERLOCKING PARTIALLY CIRCULAR EDGES OF ADJOINING MEMBERS, TO FORM A UNITARY RING SHAPED WALL.