US3789560A

US3789560A - Square circle house or like building structure

Info

Publication number: US3789560A
Application number: US00173526A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Wood
Original assignee: ROUND EIGHT CORP
Current assignee: ROUND EIGHT CORP
Priority date: 1971-08-20
Filing date: 1971-08-20
Publication date: 1974-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-05

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a house or like building structure in which the unique feature dictating the very foundation of the entire system is the geometrical pattern of a structural loadbearing shell which within a basic 40 foot diameter circle includes a central square cover, the square core being in direct relation to and parallel with walls of the perimeter forming tangents to the common 40 foot circle whereby the center square core now becomes, structurally speaking, the recipient box for load-carrying needed to support all members extending outward to the tangent walls which additionally results in the formation of a floor composed of five rectangular areas. A chordal wall is disposed between adjacent pairs of tangential walls thus resulting in the ''''squaring'''' of the 40 foot diameter circle and permitting the construction of the building of a limited number of different size pieces of lumber (only 2 X 4 X 16 and 2 X 6 X 12 required) in an extremely short period of time by unskilled labor, and at a low cost.

Description

[ 1 Feb. 5, 1974 1 SQUARE CIRCLE IIoUSE 0R LIKE BUILDING STRUCTURE [75] Inventor: Robert F. Wood, Oak Hill, W. Va.

[73] Assignee: Round-Eight Corporation, Oak Hill,

W. Va.

22 Filed: Aug. 20, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 173,526

52 U.S. Cl. 52/236, 52/237 51 Int. Cl E0411 1/00 58 Field of Search 52/237, 236, 234; 13/1 13 [56] References Cited Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 115,577 7/1939 Sowl 52/237 165,405 12/1951 Tesch.... 13/1 B 3,068,534 12/1962 Hu 52/237 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 69,416 2/1952 Netherlands 52/237 1,089,747 3/1953 France 52/237 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Baldwin, Wight & Brown 5 7] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a house or like building structure in which the unique feature dictating the very foundation of the entire system is the geometrical pattern of a structural load-bearing shell which within a basic 40 foot diameter circle includes a central square cover, the square core being in direct relation to and parallel with walls of the perimeter forming tangents to the common 40 foot circle whereby the Center square core now becomes, structurally speaking, the recipient box for load-carrying needed to support all members extending outward to the tangent walls which additionally results in the formation of a floor composed of five rectangular areas. A chordal wall is disposed between adjacent pairs of tangential walls thus resulting in the squaring of the 40 foot diameter circle and permitting the construction of the building of a limited number of different size pieces of lumber (only 2 X 4 X 16 and 2 X 6 X 12 required) in an extremely Short period of time by unskilled labor, and at a low cost.

7 o Claims, 8 Drawing Figures I22 35 Flg/ Patented Feb. 5, 1974 3,789,560

4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

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INVENTOR IZQBEQT 1 UJOD D BY W326! &

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 5, 1974 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RDBEQT- Rwooo ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 5, 1974 3,789,560

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ROBERT F. Udooo ATTORNEYS INVENTOR Patented Feb. 5, 1974 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR RDBERT F wooo SQUARE CIRCLE HOUSE OR LIKE BUILDING STRUCTURE A method of mass producing housing units consistent with todays social and economical factors obviously does not exist, as evidenced by the article entitled An open letter to the President, the Congress, the Secretary of HUD by the editors of House and Home dated Feb. 1970. Cited from this article are the following excerpts which are extremely pertinent to the invention to be described hereinafter:

The real problems have been virtually ignored, and it is all too possible that in the flood of publicity Operation Breakthrough is receiving, they will continue to be ignored until the crisis has turned into a disaster. (Emphasis the publishers) The main cause (of the housing crisis) is expensive money, and thereafter other problems are listed as taxes, maintenance, land, red tape and manpower with only the latter being described as an area where industrialization may eventually help. (Emphasis again the editor's) However, the article quickly pointed out the Lustron failure (the first real attempt to industrialize the whole house) and the attempted industrialization of home production by Alside, Inc., in 1963 which is described as one more great big industrialization fiasco to convince everyone that this and other nontradi tional industrialized systems should have taught people three basic lessons:

1. Old fashioned wood-and-masonry construction is still the least expensive there is and, thanks to its easy workability in the field, the most flexible. Every other system, no matter how highly industrialized, has turned out to be more expensive.

2. All of homebuilding is geared to wood-andmasonry construction, and the introduction of other materials, particularly those requiring special skills and equipment, is bound to be costly.

3. l-lomebuyers are leery of unfamiliar building materials. Only a very low price will tempt them away from the traditional."

However, even assuming that people have learned these three basis lessons there is not yet being produced low cost housing which solves the money, tax, manpower, etc., problems heretofore noted because no one has heretofore appreciated one other problem or if so have not solved the same, namely, a system or plan which is (1) simple, (2) repetitive without boredom, (3) flexible and expansible without sacrificing simplicity, (4) capable of being assembled with a minor number of different size conventional materials, and (5) erected in a minimum amount of time with unskilled labor.

In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel system or plan which achieves the five latter-numbered advantages through the discovery and/or utilization of a common factor (40 foot diameter) which is utilized as the exterior design perimeter of the building structure to which a plurality of walls are disposed in alternating tangential and chordal relationships such that the circle is essentially squared to thereby permit the utilization of standard sizes and lengths of lumber and thus essentially mates buidling-in-the-round with square building materials resulting in not only an economically erected but a rapidly erected building structure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel building structure of the type heretofore described wherein within the tangential and chordal walls lies a generally square central core whose walls are parallel to the tangent walls and serve as the main supporting core outwardly and upwardly from which other units are disposed, the arrangement being such that by standardized partitioning numerous esthetically different room arrangements may be evolved and upward and outward expansion it is readily feasible by duplicity of the lower design in whole or in part thus permitting the extension of a simple one story single family dwelling to a two story single family dwelling, a duplex dwelling, one and one-fifth stories, one and three-fifth stories, and other arrangements which will be described more fully hereinafter.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel building structure of the type heretofore described wherein the foot diameter circle may be stretched in but one direction without in any way altering the simplicity of design or ease of assembly, while at the same time achieving proportional expansion of sleeping, living, and utility footage or areas.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a floor plan to scale of the basic shape of the squared circle house or building unit of this invention, and illustrates in dot-and-dash lines a 40 foot diameter circle serving as the basic design dimension for the overall system to which a plurality of walls are disposed in alternating tangential and chordal relationship, with a central generally square core serving, structurally speaking, as the recipient box for load-carrying needed to support all members extending outward to the tangent walls resulting in the form ofa cross (FIG. 2) composed of five rectangular areas.

FIG. 2 is a highly schematic view of the plan of FIG. 1, and more clearly illustrates the cross composed of five rectangular areas and the floor framing thereof.

FIGS. 3 through 7 are like schematic views similar to FIG. 2, but illustrate 'variations in partitioning resulting in different room arrangements with each partition being normal to its associated tangential or chordal wall.

FIG. 8 is another plan view again utilizing a circle of 40 feet in diameter to which isdisposed chordal and tangential walls and a centrally generally square core, although in this case the building unit has been stretched in one direction to form a duplex as opposed to the single unit dwelling of FIG. 1 but without changing the sizes of material involved while obtaining automatic proportioning of utility and sleeping or living areas.

A novel house or similar building unit constructed in accordance with this invention is genarally designated by the reference numeral 10, and though internal partitioning may be varied, the essential features of this invention are common to FIGS. ll through 7, although for ease of understanding reference will be first made to H68. 1 and 6 which are identically partitioned and to FIG. 2 for the basic floor system for all layouts.

The building unit includes a foundation 11 (FIG. 6) defined by the double parallel dot-dash lines which may be, for example, concrete overlaid by block to form an octagon defined by walls 12 through 19 which are of equal length and are in chordal relationship to a common imaginary circle 20 of a 40 foot diameter having an apex 21. At the apex 21 is a central footing 22 and eight other footings 23 through with the latter footings each lying on a radius normal and centrally of an associated one of the plurality of chordal walls 12 through 19. The footings are boxed in a conventional fashion by, for example, running 2 X 65 across the footings as indicated by the dot-dash lines 32 through 36 of FIG. 2 forming a generally square structural central core 37. Thus, within the 40 foot perimeter of the circle 20 is the square load-bearing central core shell 37 whose

walls

32, 33, 34 and 35 are parallel to the

respective walls

16, 14, 12 and 18 of the foundation 1! but more importantly are also parallel to walls tangent to the circle 20, as will be described more fully hereinafter. However, it is important to note at this stage that the central square shell 37 becomes, structurally speaking, the recipient box for load carrying needed to sup port all members extending outward to the latter-noted tangent walls and particularly for the basic wood floor system illustrated in FIG. 2 and designated by the reference numeral 40.

The floor system 40 of the building structure 10 whether prefabricated" at a factory or assembled at the site includes a generally cross-shaped pattern 41 defined by a central rectangular area 42 and four likewise rectangular arms or arm areas 43 through 46 formed by a plurality of appropriately conventionally interconnected 2 X 6 X l2 floor joists 47. The floor system 40 also includes four triangular floor areas 50 through-53 disposed respectively between the arm floor areas 43, 46; 43, 44; 44, 45; and 45, 46. The triangular floor areas through 53 are likewise constructed from a plurality of 2 X 6 X 12 joists 54, it being noted that any twoareas as, for example, 50, 51 define a square and thus minimize loss due to cutting joists-to size since what would otherwise be waste in constructing the triangular floor area 50 is utilized to form the triangular area 51. The overall floor system 40 may be bounded by risers through 67 with the even numbered risers being tangent to the circle 20 (FIG 6) and parallel to the foundation walls thereunder which are likewise evenly numbered, whereas the odd numbered boundary risers are in chordal relationship to the circle 20 and in overlying relationship to the odd numbered foundation walls of FIG. 6. The floor system 49 may, of course, be then covered by suitable material (5-8 inches plywood Group II).

Reference is now made specifically to FIG. l in which the building unit 10 is shown as including a plurality of exterior peripheral panels or walls 70 through 77 which, by a comparison with FIG. 2, are respectively in overlying relationship to the risers 60 through 67. The

walls

70, 74 and 72, 76 are in parallel relationship to each other and are in tangential relationship to the common circle 20. The

walls

71, 75 and 73, 77 are likewise in parallel relationship to each other and in chordal relationship to the circle 20. Moreover, the ends (unnumbered) of each adjacent chordal and tangential wall or panel are joined by short walls or panels each identically identified by the reference numeral 78, it being noted that each short wall 78 is normal to its associated tangential wall (any one of the

walls

70, 72, 74 or 76) and merges with its most closely adjacent chordal wall (any one of the

walls

71, 73, 75 and 77) at a point upon the circle 20 with each such intersection of each wall 78 upon the circle 20 being designated by the reference numeral 80. The walls 70 through 78 thus impart an octagonal or stepped octagonal con figuration to the building unit 10 as viewed in top plan and in effect square the circle 26 as was done in the case of the shell 37 and the floor system 40 (FIG. 2).

The building unit 10 is next divided by establishing a generally polygonal or square core centrally of the common circle 20 which is additionally symmetrical to fourimaginary diametric lines 86 through 89 spaced approximately 45 degrees from each other with each line being disposed normal to'at least two of the walls 70 through 77 and passing through the apex 21 of the circle 20. Upon two of these lines, namely the

lines

87, 89, are disposed four

points

91, 92, and 93, 94, respectively, which are equidistant from the apex 21 and essentially overlie the

respective footings

23, 24, 27 and 28. As is most readily apparent from FIG. 1, lines eonnecting the points 91 through 94 which are normal to each other define a generally square core which may include, for example, three walls 95 through 97 merging at the corners or

points

91, 92, 93 and another wall 98 which is offset radially inwardly from a line connecting the

points

91, 94. However, all the walls 95 through 98 are in chordal relationship to the circle 20 and in parallel relationship to the respective

tangential walls

70, 76, 74 and 72. The

walls

95, 96 also cooperate with two further inboard walls 100, E0]. to define a generally L-shaped passageway 102 opening outwardly of the central core 85 through

opposite end passages

103, 104 and

other passages

105, 106; 107, 108, in the

respective walls

95, 96. The central or utility core 85 may be further divided by two L-shaped partitions 110, llll to define areas within the central or utility core 85 for such facilities as a sink 112, a commode 1 13, a bath tub 114, and a broom, linen or similar closet 115. A suitable starwell 116 is utilized to connect the lower floor (unnumbered) of the building unit 10 through a passageway 117 with the second story (not shown) thereofThe center core 85 is completed by including as parts thereof roughed in closet walls 120, two

walls

121, 122 lying on the line 87 and another wall 123 on the line 89. The basic core 85 thus far described is shown schematically in FIG. 2 and this structure constitutes what will be termed the basic building unit 10 in conjunction with, of course, appropriate ceiling framing which would correspond to the floor system 40 except for the access for the stairwell 116 and an appropriate covered roof. Here again, however, it is to be noted that the application of a ceiling system to the building unit 10 corresponding to the cross configuration of the floor system 40 in effect elevates the central supporting core and permits the extension thereof to form two story, three story, etc., building units by simply in effect superimposing structures of the type heretofore described upon each other which, irrespective of the height involved, transmits loading forces downwardly through the superimposed walls 95 through 98 of the central cores 85 as well as through the peripheral superimposed walls 70 through 76.

Considering now the possible variations from the basic theme of FIG. 2, reference is made once again to the four imaginary lines 86 through 89 which between any two adjacent radial portions thereof define a total of eight habital areas Al through A8 which may be partitioned essentially as desired with permanent or removable partitions, and reference is again made to FIGS. 1 and 6 for a typical partitioning arrangement in which areas A8, A1, A2 and A3 have been made sepa rate bedrooms by

partitions

125, 126, 127, 128 and 129 which lie respectively along the radial or

diametric lines

87, 88, 89, 86, 87 and normal to the

respective walls

71, 70, 77, 76, 75 with the points of intersection therewith being midway between the

points

80, 80. Thus the now defined and partitioned living areas each set off three bedrooms A1 through A 3 and A8 of an identical area (approximately 128.5 square feet) with the latter square footage being calculated inboard of the

walls

95, 96. That is, the approximate 128.5 square foot area of the area A8 is set off by the partition 126, the wall 70 to the left thereof as viewed in FIG. 1, the short wall 78, the portion of the wall 71 to the right of the partition 125, the partition 125 itself, the wall 121, and the portion of the wall 95 to the left of the wall 126 which merges thereof through the central closet wall 120. The similarly delineated areas A1 through A3 likewise define an area of 128.5 square feet, again on a 40 foot diameter common circle 20, leaving the areas A4 through A7 for subsequent usage with thecombined areas A4 and A5 (approximately 264 square feet) defining a living area with the combined area A6, A7 of similar cross section defining a combined kitchen-dining area. With the central core 85 defining an area of approximately 196 square feet, the total overall area of the building unit is approximately 1224 square feet, and although this overall square footage is uniform through all interior arrangements, such can be readily, simply and inexpensively varied from the basic unpartitioned arrangement of FIG. 2 as, for example, the arrangement shown in FIG. 3 in which the original area A8 of FIGS. 1 and 6 is divided by a partition 135 normal to the wall 70 but offset to the left of the line 88 and two

additional partitions

136, 137 on the

lines

89, 87, respectively. This forms in effect two bedrooms (combined area A1, A8 and A2, A3), a living area (combined areas A4, A5), a kitchen area (combined areas A6, A7) and a dining area in the remainder of the area A8 to the left of the partition 135.

To achieve a somewhat similar though different effect from that heretofore described, reference is made to the building unit 10 of FIG. 4 which includes partitions 145 on the line 88 and partitions 146, 147 on the

respective lines

89, 87. By this arrangement area A1 becomes a bedroom, combined areas A2, A3 become a larger or master bedroom, combined areas A4, A5 constitute a living room, areas A6, A7 are a kitchen and area A8 is a den accessible from the kitchen.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example of interior partitioning in which

partitions

156, 157 lie on the

respective lines

89, 86, while a partition 155 is parallel but offset to the left of the line 88. By this arrangement the master bedroom may now occupy area A1 as opposed to areas A2, A3 of FIGS. 3 and 4, area A2 is a bedroom, area A3 may be a study or the like, combined areas A4, A5 are a living room, combined areas A6, A7 constitute a kitchen while the remaining portion of the area A8 to the left of the partition 155 may be a dining area.

' A final illustration of the design potential achieved by internal partitioning is illustrated in FIG. 7 in which three partitions 165 through 167 are shown with only the partition 166 lying upon one of the lines 89 and the

other partitions

165, 167 being parallel but offset to the

lines

88, 86. This in effect forms two relatively large bedrooms from the area A1 and a portion of the area A8 between the

partitions

166, 165, and another bedroom from a portion of the area A3 and the area A2 between the

partitions

166, 167. The remaining areas might be, for example, a sitting room and the remainder of the area A4 adjacent the partition 167, a living room (instead of kitchen) in the combined area A4, A5, a kitchen in the areas A6, A7, and a dining room in the portion of the area A8 to the left of the partition 165.

The foregoing examples not only illustrate the versatility of the building unit 10, but by comparing the various partitioning plans of FIGS. 3 through 7, which are merely exemplary several interesting facts are discernible, most important of which is the use of only two unit lengths of the partitions to achieve almost any interior room arrangement desired. For example, by comparing FIGS. 3 and 4, the

partitions

136, 146 are positioned identically and are of identical lengths, as are the partitions 137, 147. Likewise, the partitions 135, 145 are of like lengths and in effect shifting the partition from the position shown in FIG. 3 to obtain the partition po sition shown by the partition in FIG. 4 in no way affects the length or distance between the partition 145 and any of the

permanent walls

120, 120, 120 projecting outwardly from the wall 95. Likewise, the

walls

136, 146 could just as easily not be positioned in FIGS. 3 and 4 as shown and be positioned between the walls 121, 71, just as the partition 125 in FIG. 1, to achieve another arrangement. Simply stated, due to the unique and proportional arrangement of the central core 85 and the tangential and chordal walls, the partitions 135, 145, 155, are all of equal length as are the

partitions

136, 146, 156 and 166, yet the varied interiors of FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 7 may be obtained therefrom. The same is true of FIG. 6.

Through exterior details achieved by the building unit 10 have not been considered thus far, it is important to note from FIG. 1 that each of the

chordal walls

71, 73, 75 and 77 is provided with a window and/or doorway respectively designated by the reference characters W and D. These portals (windows W and/or doors D) are uniquely positioned in the

chordal walls

71, 73, 75 and 77 to achieve the standardized yet selective partitioning heretofore described with respect to FIGS. 3 through 7 and do so in a manner which will provide each area A1 through A8 with natural light and/or access and obtain this by spacing each portal at appreciable distance to one side of its panel center line as, for example, the windows W of the panel 77 being spaced from one another a sufficient distance to permit the partition 127 to contact and be secured to the midportion of the panel 77. Therefore, noting that it is only the

chordal walls

71, 73, 75 and 77 that are provided with portals (W or D), it should likewise be noted that the

tangential Walls

70, 72, 74 and 76 are devoid of portals. Thus, as again considering FIG. 1, the partition 126 can be removed and shifted to the left or right and joined to the outboard walls 120 associated therewith thus varying the areas A1, A8, but in no way affecting natural light to each area with a like situation occurring with respect to the removal of the partition 128 or its shifting to the outboard walls 120 of the associated closet. First, this advantage is achieved by alternating the chordal and tangential walls which also achieves an automatic and desirable longer projection of the eaves with respect to the

portal panels

71, 73, 75 and 77, as compared to the solid or

nonportal panels

70, 72, 74, 76. This is most readily apparent from FIG. l in which the roof line perimeter R is illustrated in octagonal dashed lines with all sides parallel to the walls 70 through 77 withthe exception of a short projection P overlying a utility or tool shed T. Thus, those walls 70,

72, 74 and 76 which will be least damaged and/or af-- fected by adverse weather are more closely adjacent the edge R of the roof whereas the

portal walls

71, 73, 75 and 77 have a greater eave depth which is highly desirable, particularly in such areas as the outer entranceways at the doors D, D of the walls 71, 73, respectively.

Reference is once again made to FIG. 2 of the drawings in which in broken lines the

walls

65, 66 and 67 are shown shifted to the right as the result of one additional floor joist being added to the

floor areas

43, 43 and 45 resulting in an expansion of the area originally illus trated by the rectangular crosshatched area A. This in effect stretches the 40 foot diameter circle 20 into a slightly oval-shaped configuration and while there is a lengthening in one direction left-to-right or right-to-left as viewed in FIG. 2, there is no change in the opposite up-down or vice versa direction. Thus, even though the original circle 20 has now been stretched slightly and can be stretched appreciably more standardization of material is retained and the entire structure can still be constructed from 2 X 4 X 16 and 2 X 6 X 12 material. Though this is but a limited example of an increase in the area of the basic unit by the area A, it is relatively simple to imagine, for example, a duplication in the structure of the foundation 37 to the right of that illustrated and duplications of the floor areas 43, 45 to the right of the respective areas illustrated resulting in a stretching of theinitial building unit 10 to an additional area totaling the combined areas of the areas 42, 43, 45 yet doing so without any change in the two basic sizes of lumber mentioned. For example, assuming as in the original case that the areas 43 and 45 were 12 X 12 and the area 42 was 16 X 16 (maximum) these areas could be duplicated by using 2 X 6 X 16 risers for the additional central area 42 and like size risers for the areas 43, 45.

In order to more fully appreciate this stretching of the basic unit 10, reference is now made to FIG. 8 of the drawings in which a basic unit 10 has been illustrated with like elements thereof corresponding to elements of the building unit 10 being primed. The building unit 10' is a so-called duplex'structure which as its base includes two 40 foot diameter circles 20' at opposite ends thereof having centers 21', 21. The now elongated generally octagonal configuration of the building unit 10' is defined by exterior walls 70, 7!, 72', 73, 74', 75', 76 and 77'. As in the case of the building unit 10, the building unit 10 is constructed such that the walls 71', 73' are in chordal relationship to the left-hand portion of the left circle 21' while the walls 75', 77' are in chordal relationship to the righthand portion of the right circle 21. Likewise, the walls 72' and 76 are in tangential relationship to the left and right sides of the left and right circles 21 respectively. Insofar as the walls 70', 74' are concerned, these walls are tangential to each of the upper and lower portions of the left and right circles 21', 21. Thus in essence the walls 74' have been stretched which could be achieved simply in the manner heretofore described, namely, by duplicating the footings 22 through 30, the central core of shell 37, the areas 42, 43, 45 and to obtain the duplex arrangement equally bisecting the unit it) by a common concrete block or similar wall i150. To either side of the wall 150 the structure is identical and for purposes of comparison with the building unit 10 each central core 85' includes a wall 95 parallel to the wall 70, a wall 98' adjacent and parallel to the walls 72', 76', a wall 94' adjacent and parallel the wall 74', and an imaginary wall or line 96 terminating at imaginary points 92', 93, while other such imaginary points are indicated at,9l and 94'. Just as in the case of the building unit 10, the building unit 10' includes radial or

diametric lines

86, 87, 88' and 89' which pass through the centers 21' of both circles and are disposed 45 degrees relative to each other. Thus, except for the particular interior paneling, the wall 150, and the specifics of the utilities, passageways, etc., the builiding unit 10' is equivalent to the building unit 10 from a structural standpoint except for the stretching thereof in but one direction resulting in the acquisition of an additional 800 feet of living space due to the extension of the original

l6 foot walls

70,74 each an added 20 feet or a total of 36 feet between the walls 78, 78' of the ends of the walls 70', 74 which in conjunction with the unchanged 40 foot diameter results in a 40 X 20 or 800 square foot addition in the absence of material change sizewise or lengthwise.

It will also be noted that room partitioning occurs normal to all exterior walls, be they chordal or tangential, and the

chordal walls

71', 73, and 77 automatically achieve the extra eaves overlap heretofore noted with respect to the building unit 10. Moreover, there is nothing to preclude the superimposing or stacking of like units 10' upon each other to create two story, three story, etc., buildings.

Insofar as the present invention is concerned, almost any type, style and height building can be constructed from the 2 X 4X 16 and 2 X 6 X 12 material so long as the 40 foot diameter 20 is maintained as a maximum, the stretching heretofore noted occurs inbut a single direction such that 40 feet is the maximum span involved per unit and the ratio of core area to total area is approximately one-sixth. That is, the ratio of the area of the core to the total area as defined by the walls 70 through 77 is approximately one-sixth and this general area is maintained as the overall unit is stretched and/0r otherwise expanded.

Reference is once again made to the building unit 10 and particularly the floor system 40 of FIG. 2 which is essentially composed of five fifths defined by the five areas 42 through 46. Assuming that the ceiling joists were disposed in like panels and the roof R is relatively shallow, the area between the plane of the ceiling joists and the overlying roof would be unacceptable for habitation. However, by erecting a full height or partial height core corresponding to the core 85 centrally of the central ceiling joist panel we would have a story and one-fifth of habital area. Likewise, by building over an additional one of the panels 43 through 46 we have one and two-fifths stories, and this can be extended to one and three-fifths stories, one and four-fifths stories, and a full two story building. ln addition, the designs are such that another unit identical to the unit 10 could be constructed in side-by-side relationship with any of the

tangential walls

70, 72, 74, 76 being common to both units. Alternately, one identical unit corresponding to the unit 10 could be constructed with a tangent wall common to the

walls

70, 72, 74, 76, thereby achieving a generally clover leaf configuration as viewed in top plan or, if desired, the clover leaf can be extended by rectangular arms therebetween or other architectural characteristics between the various units 10 or the stretched embodiments thereof. Thus, though designed for unique single dwellings, any one or a combination of the follwoing structures and their uses can be made in keeping with this invention:

Single Family Units:

One Story:

Four bedrooms, living room, family-kitchen, playroom. Four bedrooms, living room, kitchen, formal dining room.

Five bedrooms, living room, kitchen-family room. Four bedrooms, living room, family-kitchen, study (Any variation can have one or two bathrooms) Many others. Two Story:

Two to eight bedrooms, one to four baths, which naturally means dozens of room arrangements. Yet none of these changes in plan entail the rearrangement of structure or require a different exterior treatment unless desired. One and one-fifth story. One and two-fifths stories. One and three-fifths stories. One and four-fifths stories. Four and three story efficiency apartments. Nursing homes. Schoolroom units. Townhouse units. Duplexes. Motel units. Professional offices. Garden-type apartments. Vacation homes. Beach cottages. Restaurants. Stores and shops. Barracks. Churches. Church-educational rooms. Removable-temporary units. Emergency housing. Floating living units. Air-delivered units. Complete cities.

Light industry shops.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. A house or like structure comprising a first plurality of walls defining a generally octagonally contoured exterior as veiwed in top plan, a first pair of said first plurality of walls being in spaced parallel relationship to each other, a second pair of said first plurality of walls are in spaced parallel relationship to each other, said second pair of walls are each tangential to a com mon circle, adjacent points of tangency being spaced from each other approximately degrees, said first plurality of walls including one additional wall between each two adjacent tangential walls of said first and said second pair of walls, each said one additional wall is in chordal relationship to said common circle, and a plurality of joists defining a floor with said joists being normal to said tangential walls.

2. The house or like structure as defined in claim 1 including another level atop said plurality of walls having joists which are normal to said tangential walls and parallel to said first-mentioned joists.

3. The house or like structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said joists are disposed in a cross-shaped pat tern including a central generally polygonal area.

4. The house or like structure as defined in-claim 3 wherein said joists are disposed in generally five rectangular areas including one central area.

5. The house or like structure as defined in claim 4 including a generally triangular joist area between adjacent rectangular joist areas with the joists of said triangular areas running parallel to said tangential walls.

6. A house or like structure comprising a first plurality of walls defining a generally octagonally contoured exterior as veiwed in top plan, a first pair of said first plurality of walls being in spaced parallel relationship to each other, a second pair of said first plurality of walls being in spaced parallel relationship to each other, said second pair of walls are each tengential to a common circle, adjacent points of tangency being spaced from each other approximately 90 degrees, said first plurality of walls includes one additional wall between each two adjacent tangential walls of said first and second pair of walls, a foundation, and said tangential walls being in cantilevered exterior projecting relationship to said foundation.

Claims

1. A house or like structure comprising a first plurality of walls defining a generally octagonally contoured exterior as veiwed in top plan, a first pair of said first plurality of walls being in spaced parallel relationship to each other, a second pair of said first plurality of walls are in spaced parallel relationship to each other, said second pair of walls are each tangential to a common circle, adjacent points of tangency being spaced from each other approximately 90 degrees, said first plurality of walls including one additional wall between each two adjacent tangential walls of said first and said second pair of walls, each said one additional wall is in chordal relationship to said common circle, and a plurality of joists defining a floor with said joists being normal to said tangential walls.

3. The house or like structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said joists are disposed in a cross-shaped pattern including a central generally polygonal area.

4. The house or like structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said joists are disposed in generally five rectangular areas including one central area.