US3566558A - Apartment buildings and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS PATENT DISCLOSES AN APARTMENT BUILDING THAT CAN BE ERECTED AS RAPIDLY AS THERE CAN BE ERECTED ITS CENTRAL CORE WHICH, AS HEREIN TAUGHT, COMPRISES PRECAST MEMBERS OF CONCRETE, PREFERABLY BUT NOT NECESSARILY REINFORCED WITH STEEL BARS, COMPRISING A STAIRCASE MADE IN TWO PIECES SUCH THAT THE PIECES MAY BE READILY EXTRACTED FROM THE MOLDS IN WHICH THEY ARE CAST. THE CENTRAL CORE FURTHER COMPRISES ELEVATOR-SHAFT SPACE. THE BUILDING IS SUPPORTED BY INTERNAL SEGMENTS, EACH OF PRECAST CONCRETE, PREFERABLY BUT NOT NECESSARILY INTERNALLY REINFORCED WITH STEEL BARS, WITH THE SEGMENTS BEING OF SUCH SHAPE THAT ONE MAY READILY BE SECURELY JOINED TO ANOTHER OF SIMILAR SHAPE AND IMMEDIATELY ABOVE IT, THE SEGMENTS HAVING AN ANGULAR SHAPE, SO THAT IN A FREE-STANDING STRUCTURE THERE IS OBTAINED SUPERIOR RESISTANCE TO SHEAR STRESSES, THE EXPENSE OF ORDINARILY INCIDENT TO THE SECURING IN PLACE OF INTERNAL SEGMENTS, AS BY RIVETING, BOLTING, GROUTING OR THE LIKE ALL BEING AVOIDED.

Description

March 1971 J. v. FISHER APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE 3. Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1969 INVEN TOR. JOSEPH l. FISHER forneys March 2 1971 J, v, F|$HER 3,566,558

APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 5, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet F I r15 5- J11 \I L l 4: 76 GBCLQ 60 21 E E 87 66' WW 1,70 .nfj .JL. W m s2 s4 64 V as Altar/rays March 2, 1971 J. v. FISHER APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE I 3 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed on. s, 1969 INVEN TOR.

JOSEPH l FISHER BY ay vm A Harneys United States Patent Office 3,566,558 Patented Mar. 2, 1971 3,566,558 APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE Joseph V. Fisher, Ridge Road, RD. 1, Valencia, Pa. 16059 Filed Oct. 3, 1968, Ser. No. 764,822. Int. Cl. E04b 1/34; E04c 1/10; E04f 11/14 US. Cl. 5273 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This patent discloses an apartment building that can be erected as rapidly as there can be erected its central core, which, as herein taught, comprises precast members of concrete, preferably but not necessarily reinforced with steel bars, comprising a straircase made in two pieces, such that the pieces may be readily extracted from the molds in which they are cast. The central core further comprises elevator-shaft space. The building is supported by internal segments, each of precast concrete, preferably but not necessarily internally reinforced wtih steel bars, with the segments being of such shape that one may readily be securely joined to another of similar shape and immediately above it, the segments having an angular shape, so that in a free-standing structure there is obtained superior resistance to shear stresses, the expense of ordinarily incident to the securing in place of internal segments, as by riveting, bolting, grouting or the like all being avoided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates to apartment buildings and the like.

(2) Description of the prior art It is known to construct buildings supported by interior segment of load-bearing masonry, the building having a non-load-bearing exterior shell. For the most part, the interior segments of load-bearing wall that have been used have been straight, and substantially perpendicular to the segments of load-bearing wall, there have been used a necessary number of shear walls. The interior segments of load-bearing wall have been riveted, bolted, welded or grouted into place, and though construction of this kind has been shown, in experience in foreign countries, to be generally less expensive than conventional construction based upon either the exterior load-bearing walls or the use of an internal framework of structural steel, it is nevertheless true that in connection with structures of this kind, the use of a considerable quantity of skilled labor in the erection has been unavoidable. Yet another factor militating against the use of construction based upon interior segments of load-bearing masonry or the like has been the delay caused by the need to provide a central core in the building comprising elevator shafts and stairways.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided a building having interior load-bearing walls and a non-load-bearing exterior shell, with the interior load-bearing walls being constructed of precast members that are angular in plan cross section and have in the vicinity of their tops and bottoms means for joining them to other parts of similar shape. Such a building is especially inexpensive to construct, considering that it withstands the shear stresses from wind or earthquake well, without need for the expense ordinarily incident to securing in place internal load-bearing segments by such methods as riveting, bolting or grouting. More particularly, the parts or panels mentioned above have a height substantially equal to that 3 Claims of one story of the building and are preferably L-shaped in plan cross section, with a tongue in the vicinity of the top edge and a groov. in the vicinity of the bottom edge. Openings are provided running crosswise of the tongues and grooves, such that when such parts are placed one atop another, the openings register with one another to permit the passage of securing means, such as pins, therethrough, affording a strong structure with a minimum of labor and expense. In accordance with yet another feature, the time required for the erection of such a building is further shortened by using parts as described above to provide a central core furnishing the means for vertical transportation internally of the building, such as a stairway and/or one or more elevators. The abovementioned parts or panels also preferably contain pockets or recesses, which may serve to support lintels or the like running from one to another of such parts or panels. In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, such pocketed parts or panels are used, in constructing a central core for vertical transportation, so as to support a stairway, with the stairway being made of a pair of members of precast building material, each of the members having a major portion comprising treads and risers and an end portion adapted to provide a landing, and more particularly, a stairway in which each of said members has a landing portion at each end thereof. Such stairway members are easily stripped from the mounts on which they are formed and are conveniently handled thereafter. If used, handrails are cast integrally with the stairway members mentioned above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A complete understanding of the invention may be had from the foregoing and following description and explanation thereof, taken together with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial assembly view, showing one step in the assembly of the part of FIG. 1 with other parts to construct a building in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a second partial assembly view, showing a further step in the assembly of one part of FIG. 1 with a similar part and other parts to construct a building in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a fioor plan of a building constructed in accordance with the present invention, the building having interior load-bearing wall segments and an exterior non-load-bearing shell, with there being used for the interior load-bearing wall segments a structure according to FIG. 3 using parts such as are shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a typical floor plan for a similar building, but using basic parts of alternate shape and providing a central core for vertical transportation;

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional elevation view taken on the line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate form of staircase member, for use in place of that of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view, partly schematic, of a balcony lintel member for use in the practice of a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a view taken on the line IX-IX of FIG. 8, being a sectional elevation of the balcony lintel member of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, there is shown a part 2 in accordance with the present invention. The part 2 is generally L-shaped in plan cross section, having legs 4 and 6, which may be,

for example, about five feet long. In the bottom edges 8 and 10 of the legs 4 and 6, respectively, there are provided grooves 12 and 14. Along the top edges 16 and 18 of the legs 4, 6, respectively, there are provided tongues 20 and 22, which have such shape and dimensions as to fit snugly into grooves of the same size and shape as the grooves 12 and 14. Passing crosswise of the grooves 12 and 14 and completely through the legs 4 and 6, there are openings 24, and in corresponding locations, there are openings that pass through the tongues 20 and 22.

The part 2 may be of any suitable height, but for most purposes, it will be convenient to provide a part 2 having a height substantially equal to that of a single story of a building to be constructed with its use. Thus, the part 2 will in most instances have an overall height on the order of eight or twelve feet.

The legs 4 and 6 also have, near their top edges 16 and 18, respectively, and in the vicinity of the ends of the legs 4 and 6, recessed portions 26 and 28, respectively. These extend downwardly from the upper edges 16 and 18 by a suitable distance such as about one foot, for a purpose that will be well understood from an examination of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, there is shown a part 2, upon which has been laid certain additional members, of which only fragments are shown, this view serving to illustrate how the part 2 is utilized with such other members in the construction of a building of the kind supported by interior segments of load-bearing wall and having a non-loadbearing exterior shell. In the recessed portion 26, there is set a lintel 30, which may be of rectangular cross section and have dimensions of, for example, about twelve inches square. Although any suitable building material may be used, satisfactory results are obtained if the lintel 30 is made of prestressed concrete. In the recessed portion 28 at the leg 6, and extending in the direction of the leg, there is placed another lintel '32, which may be of the same general size as the lintel 30. If desired, the lintel 32 may be provided with a tongue 34 corresponding in thickness to the tongue 22, to aid in alignment thereof. Lintels are used in the structure as and where needed to provide support for flooring plank members, as hereinafter disclosed, or for other purposes. An alternative form of lintel, useful for forming a balcony, veranda, or the like, will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow.

From FIG. 1, it will be seen that the tongues 20' and 22 are set centrally of the upper edges 16 and 18, and this is done in order that the edges 16 and 18 may serve as bearing surfaces for a plank member 36, which may be of prestressed concrete about one foot thick by four feet wide by any suitable length, such as about ten feet.

In FIG. 3, it is shown how one part 2 may have set atop it a second part 38 of the same size and shape, after the part has had placed upon it the lintels 30, 32 and the plank 36, as described above. The part 38 has openings passing through its groove '42, and those openings 40 register with the openings 25 in the tongues 20 and 22 of the part 2, so that fastening members may be placed therethrough.

In FIG. 4, there is shown a floor plan of a typical floor of a building constructed with interior load-bearing walls and a non-load-bearing exterior shell, using for the loadbearing walls a structure according to FIG. 3 of parts such as shown in FIG. 1. The building has a number of segments of load-bearing wall, each L-shaped in plan cross section and made of parts such as the part 2 described above. The building has, moreover, a number of lintels 52 adjoining the segments 50. The lintels 52 are of substantial length, such as about twenty or forty feet. FIG. 4 also indicates how planks 54 are laid to extend between one lintel and another. There is thus obtained a building of generally octagonal shape, having a nonload-bearing exterior shell 56.

It is not essential that, in plan cross section, a part 2 appear generally L-shaped. Those skilled in the art will appreciate how similar members can be made and used that are, in plan cross section, shaped like a T, X or H. Still other configurations will possibly suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, consonant with the requirement that the part have at least one pair of legs substantially at right angles to each other, i.e., so that the part is angular in plan cross section, in order that a structure made of such parts may impart to the building superior resistance to shear stresses, such as are caused by wind or earthquake.

Referring now to FIG. 5, with shows a schematic typical floor plan for a similar building, but one providing for a central core for vertical transportation and using parts of alternate shape, as indicated above, this provides a building having exterior shell members 60 that join parts 62, generally similar to the parts 2, with either another similar part 62 or with a structural part 64 having, in plan cross section, the shape of a cross. In order to provide a central core 66 for vertical transportation within the building, members 68 and 70 cooperate with the members 64 by resting on a lintel running therebetween. The member 68 comprising a landing 72 and a second landing 74, with there extending therebetween a set of stairs 76. The member 70 similarly comprises a landing 78 and a downwardly extending set of stairs 80, leading to a lower-floor landing area 82, It will be apparent to those skilled in the art how suitable walls between the parts 64 and the doors therein may be provided on the various levels of the building. It will also be apparent how the central core 66 can be made so that it comprises not only stairway members such as the members 68 and 70 but also elevator shafts.

FIG. 5 also shows how there may be provided, between load-bearing members 83, 85, each of which is of the same construction as the members 62, a lintel member 87 that serves not only to provide a balcony, veranda or the like but also, if needed, as support for plank members (not shown) running between it and a lintel connecting the two members 64 that lie nearest to the members 83, 85. Further details appear below in connection with the description of FIGS. 8 and 9.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there are shown further details of the member 68, including stanchions 84 and 86 integral with the member 68 and having extending therebetween a handrail member 88, similarly integral with the member 68. As can be seen in this figure, the stairway 76 comprises a number of treads 90 and a number of risers 92.

In FIG. 7, there is shown an alternate form of stairway member, for use in place of that of FIG. 6. In common with the member 68, the member 94 has upper and lower landings 96 and 98, respectively, and a set of stairs 100 therebetween. In place of the stanchions 84 and 86 and handrail member 88, there is provided, integral with the member 94, an upstanding portion 102 that serves as a handrail. This structure is less fragile than that of FIG. 6, and the molds for producing it are less complicated and accordingly less costly.

The above-mentioned balcony lintel member 87 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 8-9. It comprises a portion 104 of substantial horizontal extent, the exterior portion 106 of which is preferably but not necessarily somewhat narrower, as at 108, than the remainder thereof, to reduce somewhat the bending moment that, because of the cantilever positioning of the lintel, tends to tip its exterior end downwardly. At its interior end, the member 87 has a downwardly extending portion 110 that fits into the pockets 26 of the members 83 and 85, and the portion 110 has a recess 112, seen in FIG. 9, that receives the plank members 114, which correspond to the plank members 36. The member 87 is preferably provided in the vicinity of its exterior edges with a precast railing member 116, which may be of concrete and have a metal insert 118 cast therein, with a metal bracket or hook 120 welded thereto. If desired, a rail of metal or the like may be used in place of the insert 118. This engages a channelshaped member 122 that overlies a nose portion 124 cast in the exterior end of the member 87 and may be joined to the member 122 in any suitable way, such as by Welding. Grouting 126 completes the joint. Structure such as that described above for joining the rail member 116 to the lintel 87 may be provided all along the periphery of the balcony lintel 87 or, preferably, only at selected locations spaced therealong. Other satisfactory means for joining the two members will also suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

The member 87 is preferably internally reinforced, as with steel bars. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the exact pattern for the placement of the reinforcing bars is not critical, but the pattern may advantageously include a number of bars running parallel to the exterior edge, these being more closely spaced toward the middle of the member 87 and somewhat more sparsely near the interior and exterior edges, and a second set of bars running crosswise of the first set and also embedded in the concrete, but somewhat nearer to the upper surface thereof, these latter bars being spaced more closely near the lateral edges of the member 87 and somewhat more sparsely near its center. The member 87 is also preferably provided with drain means (not shown), or it may be set at a slight angle to the horizontal to cause water falling thereon to flow as desired.

In multiple-story masonry buildings, it is usual for a lintel to be positioned so as to span an opening leading to a balcony, with the balcony floor being cast into place and supported upon two lintels, the above-mentioned one and a second one outboard of it and generally parallel thereto. In accordance with engineering practices known prior to this invention, the use of both lintels was thought necessary, but the teachings of the present invention demonstrate that such is not the case. The structure of the present invention is simple, provides a good appearance, and yields a saving in cost.

While I have shown and described herein certain embodiments of my invention, I intend to cover as well any change or modification therein which may be made without departing from its spirit and scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A building having a non-load-bearing exterior shell and a plurality of vertically-extending load-bearing interior segments, said segments each being in the form of a plurality of vertically superimposed parts each of which is angular in cross section and whose cross section is in alignment with the cross section the part above and below it, a groove formed in the bottom of each part, a tongue projecting upwardly from the top of each part and fitted into the groove of a part above it, said tongues having longer lengths than the depths of said grooves to provide recesses in the sides of said segments when the parts are superimposed one above the other with a tongue in a groove, horizontally-extending lintel members having their opposite ends fitted into the recesses of spaced segments of said building, flooring planks resting on said lintels, openings in said tongues and in the walls of said grooves and extending transversely thereof, and securing means extending through said openings.

2. A building as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said building further comprises at least one balcony lintel member set in recesses between adjacent ones of said parts.

3. A building as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that a plurality of said vertically-extending segments define a central core for providing means for vertical transportation internally of said building.

40 FRANK L. ABBOIT, Primary Examiner S. D. BURKE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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