CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
NOT APPLICABLE
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
NOT APPLICABLE
INCORPORATED-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC
NOT APPLICABLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to building construction system involving interlocking components made of relatively rigid, light weight material.
Traditionally, buildings are constructed of concrete, steel, wood frame or masonry block by assembling the individual components and joining them by appropriate means to form exterior walls, internal frame, and panels of drywall attached thereto, forming the interior walls. This is a laborious and time consuming process, providing much possibility of errors resulting in cracks or holes detracting from the effectiveness of the walls.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a building construction system which involves interlocking components made of relatively rigid, lightweight material. Each component comprises an entire section of wall or roof panel, that is exterior walls and interior walls, as well as windows, doors, etc. Each panel fits interlocking to the adjacent panel. Depending on the number and nature of the assembled panels, a large variety of building types, shapes and sizes can be constructed to satisfy numerous functions, residential, institutional, health care, commercial, etc.
(2) Description of Related Art
Applicant is aware of no prior art directly relevant to the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a construction system comprises interlocking components made of relatively rigid light weight material such as extruded or expanded polystyrene. The components include an exterior wall and an interior wall, and some include windows or doors. The component panels can be joined and interlocked in various combinations so as to provide a building of various different types, shapes and sizes to satisfy various numerous functions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a center panel with shelves
FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a center panel with shelves
FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a panel forming an interior passageway
FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a door panel
FIG. 5 is an inside perspective view of a corner panel
FIG. 6 is an outside perspective view of a corner panel
FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a beam
FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a roof panel
FIG. 9 is front view of a small configuration of assembled panels
FIG. 10 is a side view of a small configuration of assembled panels
FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of a medium sized configuration of assembled panels
FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of a large configuration of assembled panels
FIG. 13 is a floor plan of the configuration shown in FIG. 12
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made to the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
A center panel 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes an exterior wall 2b, and an interior wall 2a. Shelves 3 are formed in interior wall 2. Footings 4a and 4b are formed at the bottom of walls 1 and 2 and extend horizontally outward therefrom. When in place the footings would normally be covered with earth and sod. Each of the sides 5 and 6 that extend between walls 1 and 2, include lateral channels 7a and 7b formed parallel to walls 1 and 2. Channels 7a and 7b are for the purpose of accommodating corresponding protrusions in an adjacent panel. A roof portion 8 extends upwardly from exterior wall 1. At its upper end, an overlap 9 is formed, to accommodate a corresponding underlap in the adjacent roof panel.
A window panel 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2, includes an exterior wall 11b and an interior wall 11a extends up only to the floor level 12. A window 13 is formed in the exterior wall 11b. Footings 16a and 16b are formed at the bottom of walls 11a and 11b. Each of the sides 14 and 15 that extend between walls 11a and 11b include lateral channels 17a and 17b formed parallel to walls 11a and 11b. Channels 17a and 17b are for the purpose of accommodating corresponding protrusions in an adjacent panel. A roof portion 18 extends upwardly from exterior wall 11b.
FIG. 3 illustrates a panel 19 for forming an interior passageway. Its positioning relative to other panels is best understood from reference to FIG. 13. This panel 19 has an interior wall 20a and an exterior wall 20b. It has sides 21 and 22. It has footer 23. Side 21 has lateral channels, similar to those shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 to facilitate interlocking with adjacent panels. But side 22 has no channels; it is solid and smooth since it forms half of an interior passageway. The other half is formed by a panel identical to FIG. 3 but with the sides reversed so that the solid smooth side is opposite side 22. Its other side has the interlocking channels.
The door panel 24 illustrated in FIG. 4 has an interior wall 25, which includes a door 24 and adjacent window 27. A floor 28 extends between sides 29 and 30. Steps 31 extend out from floor 28 and just above ground level 32. Channels 33a and 33b are formed in side 30 parallel to wall 25, and for the purpose of accommodating corresponding protrusions in an adjacent panel. Similar channels are formed in side 29. A roof portion 33 is above sides 29 and 30, as well interior wall 25. The upper end 34 forms a butt joint against the adjacent roof panel.
A corner panel 35 is illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. It comprises exterior walls 36a and 36b, which join one another at a right angle forming corner 37. Interior walls 38a and 38b extends up to the floor level 39, above footer 40. A window 41 is formed in exterior wall 36a. Channels 42a and 42b are formed in side 43, parallel to side 36b. Channels 44a and 44b are formed in side 45, parallel to side 36a. Roof portion 46a and 46b are joined at angled corner 47 and extend upwardly from sides 36a and 36b.
A beam 48 has two support legs 49a and 49b, which extend downwardly and outwardly from the support surface 50. Legs 49a and 49b at angled end portions 51a and 51b. Triangular notches 52a and 52b are to accommodate horizontal triangular beams, not shown.
A roof panel 53 shown in FIG. 8, comprises a triangular roof 54, with passageway 55 formed thereunder. The roof 54 has underlaps 56a and 56b formed to accommodate the overlaps 9 on the center panel roof.
FIGS. 9. through 12 show the panels in various configurations, including simple (FIGS. 9, 10 and 11), and combination (FIG. 12). FIG. 13 is a floorplan of the structure shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is an exemplary subunit of the inventive modular construction system showing the beam 48 depicted in FIG. 7 spanning the distance opposing panels. The beam 48 ties opposing panels together, thereby ensuring the structural integrity of the unit, and provides support for the roof panel 53 (not shown).
The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. However, the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular embodiments which have been described above. Instead, the embodiments described here should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims:
Patent Application
20100269420
