US3712007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Building system and components therefor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-08-03
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1990-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A building system employing standardized mass produced components cable of being assembled to form a large variety of different building structures, from simple individual dwellings to complex communities, by the selection of different combinations of standard components. The standard components include structural frame components, space modules and supports which support the space modules from the assembled frame components. The structural frame components comprise column sections having vertical clusters of support members held by horizontal web member which also serves to support vertical service pipes and conduits. Beams cantilever outwardly from said column sections and are adapted to be connected to beams of adjacent column sections, or to a cross beam which connects between adjacent column sections. The connection can be by means of a connector which also forms the support for the modules. The space each structurally define a volume of space with openings including frame means which are engaged by connecting collars to join adjacent modules and to engage with connectors to support the modules. Closure components are interchangeable with the frame means to form doors and windows.
Inventors
- 👤 E Kump
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:11
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/18; E04B1/24; E04B1/2403; E04B1/348; E04B1/34807; E04B2001/2415; E04B2001/2451; E04B2001/2457; E04B2001/2463
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A modular building structure comprising a plurality of cube shaped space modules each having four outer walls structurally defining a volume of space, an opening formed in each wall of said modules, a frame inside surrounding each of said openings and extending beyond said outer walls, said modules being placed adjacent to one another with selected frames of adjacent modules being disposed in face to face relation to provide direct communication between modules, a collar engaging said selected face to face frames to directly interconnect adjacent modules at said adjacent selected frames, closure means for closing the openings defined by the other frames of each of said modules, supports, and support means having one end in engagement with said collar and the other end with said supports for supporting the modules solely by said frames at said openings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A modular building structure comprising a plurality of cube shaped space modules each having four outer walls structurally defining a volume of space, an opening formed in each wall of said modules, a frame inside surrounding each of said openings and extending beyond said outer walls, said modules being placed adjacent to one another with selected frames of adjacent modules being disposed in face to face relation to provide direct communication between modules, a collar engaging said selected face to face frames to directly interconnect adjacent modules at said adjacent selected frames, closure means for closing the openings defined by the other frames of each of said modules, supports, and support means having one end in engagement with said collar and the other end with said supports for supporting the modules solely by said frames at said openings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A modular building structure as in claim 1 wherein said support means are adjustable to level the associated modules.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A modular building structure as in claim 2 wherein said support comprises a foundation member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A modular building structure as in claim 2 wherein modules are placed above one another and the support means for the upper modules rests on the frames of the next adjacent lower module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
160 words
A modular building structure comprising a supporting structure including a plurality of spaced vertical columns and horizontal beams interconnected between said columns at one or more levels to form a rigid support system; space modules each structurally defining an enclosed space adapted to be supported on said frame, openings formed in each of said modules, a frame surrounding each of said openings, said modules being placed adjacent to one another with selected frames of adjacent modules being disposed in face to face relation to provide direct communication between modules, means connecting said face to face frames thereby directly interconnecting adjacent modules at said frames, means closing the openings defined by the other frames of said modules, said modules including curved outer surfaces adapted to accommodate the associated supporting frame and to provide air circulation and sound isolation between adjaceNt modules; and support means adapted to engage said frames and said structure and support said space modules solely from said frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
160 words
A modular building structure comprising a supporting structure including a plurality of spaced vertical columns and horizontal beams interconnected between said columns at one or more levels to form a rigid support system; space modules each structurally defining an enclosed space adapted to be supported on said frame, openings formed in each of said modules, a frame surrounding each of said openings, said modules being placed adjacent to one another with selected frames of adjacent modules being disposed in face to face relation to provide direct communication between modules, means connecting said face to face frames thereby directly interconnecting adjacent modules at said frames, means closing the openings defined by the other frames of said modules, said modules including curved outer surfaces adapted to accommodate the associated supporting frame and to provide air circulation and sound isolation between adjaceNt modules; and support means adapted to engage said frames and said structure and support said space modules solely from said frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A modular building structure as in claim 1 wherein said frame includes an outwardly extending portion at each of said openings whereby to receive the interconnect means and maintain the adjacent modules spaced from one another to provide air circulation and sound isolation between adjacent modules.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
137 words
A modular building structure comprising a supporting structure including a plurality of spaced vertical columns and horizontal beams interconnected between said columns at one or more levels; space modules each structurally defining an enclosed space, openings formed in each of said modules, a frame surrounding each of said openings, said modules being placed adjacent to one another with selected frames of adjacent modules being disposed in face to face relation to provide direct communication between modules, connecting means engaging said frames to directly interconnect said adjacent modules at said frames, means closing the openings defined by the other frames, said modules including curved outer surfaces adapted to accommodate the associated supporting frame; and support means disposed to engage said frames and said horizontal beams to support said space modules from said supporting structure solely at said frames.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
A modular building structure comprising a supporting structure including a plurality of spaced vertical columns and horizontal beams interconnected between said columns at one or more levels; space modules each structurally defining an enclosed space, openings formed in each of said modules, a frame surrounding each of said openings, said modules being placed adjacent to one another with selected frames of adjacent modules being disposed in face to face relation to provide direct communication between modules, connecting means engaging said frames to directly interconnect said adjacent modules at said frames, means closing the openings defined by the other frames, said modules including curved outer surfaces adapted to accommodate the associated supporting frame; and support means disposed to engage said frames and said horizontal beams to support said space modules from said supporting structure solely at said frames.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A modular building structure as in claim 7 wherein said supporting means are adjustable to level the associated space module.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A modular building structure as in claim 7 wherein said frame includes a rim.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A modular building structure as in claim 9 wherein said frame includes raceways for accommodating utilities and said modules include raceways communicating between the frame raceways.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
A modular building structure as in claim 7 wherein said connecting means and means for closing includes a collar member adapted to surround at least a portion of said opening and engage the frames of adjacent modules to secure the modules to each other, said collar also including means for engaging said support means for supporting the module.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A modular building structure as in claim 11 wherein a portion of said collar member is adapted to surround at least a portion of said opening and engage the rim, and another portion of said collar includes means for receiving windows, doors and the like.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
152 words
A modular building structure comprising a supporting structure including a plurality of spaced vertical columns, utilities integrated in said columns, horizontal beams interconnected between columns to form a rigid support system, a plurality of space modules each structurally defining an enclosed volume of space adapted to be removably supported from said frame, openings formed in said modules, a frame surrounding each of said openings, said modules being placed adjacent to one another with selected frames of adjacent modules being disposed in face to face relation to provide direct communication between modules, means connecting said selected face to face frames thereby directly interconnecting adjacent modules at said selected frames, means closing the openings defined by other frames of said module, means for detachably connecting the modules to said integrated utilities, and support means disposed between said frames and said supporting structure for supporting said modules from the supporting structure solely at said frame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
152 words
A modular building structure comprising a supporting structure including a plurality of spaced vertical columns, utilities integrated in said columns, horizontal beams interconnected between columns to form a rigid support system, a plurality of space modules each structurally defining an enclosed volume of space adapted to be removably supported from said frame, openings formed in said modules, a frame surrounding each of said openings, said modules being placed adjacent to one another with selected frames of adjacent modules being disposed in face to face relation to provide direct communication between modules, means connecting said selected face to face frames thereby directly interconnecting adjacent modules at said selected frames, means closing the openings defined by other frames of said module, means for detachably connecting the modules to said integrated utilities, and support means disposed between said frames and said supporting structure for supporting said modules from the supporting structure solely at said frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A modular building structure as in claim 13 wherein said frames include outwardly extending portions whereby the interconnected modules are spaced from one another to provide air circulation and sound isolation between modules.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A modular building structure as in claim 14 wherein said modules include curved outer surfaces to accommodate the supporting frame and utilities.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A modular building structure as in claim 15 including closure panels adapted to fit between adjacent modules to close the space between selected modules to form with said modules Roofs or walls of an enlarged space.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |