US3559354A - Freestanding building structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A FREESTANDING BUILDING HAVING PARTICULAR ADAPTABILITY FOR LOW COST STABLE CONSTRUCTION AND BEING CHARACTERIZED BY THE USE OF A PLURALITY OF IDENTICL PRE-CAST CONCRETE BENT MEMBERS THAT ARE SUPPORTED WITH RESPECT TO THE GROUND BY IMPROVED BY TYPE, LOW COST FOUNDATION COMPONENTS INCLUDING TRIANGULARLY DISPOSED UPRIGHT RODS WHICH ARE EMBEDDED IN THE GROUND AND SECURED BOTH TO THE BOTTOM EDGES OF THE BENT MEMBERS AND TO THE BOTTOM EDGES OF TRANSVERSE BRACING MEMBERS WHICH ARE, IN TURN, SECURED TO VERTICAL EDGES OF THE BENT MEMBERS TO FORM A BUILDING STRUCTURE WITH A SERIES OF STALLS OR COMPARTMENTS IN A NOVEL AND UNIQUE FSHION, THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE BEING COVERED BY ROOF DECKING.

Description

FREBSTANDING BUILDING: STRUCTURE Original Filed April 18, 1968 QSheetS-Sheet 1 FIG. I I

INVENTOR. THOMAS J. DILLON ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1971 T, J, DHQLON 3,559,354

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THOMAS J. DILLON BY 4% f% A T TO RNE YS Feb. 2, 197 1 T. J. DILLON FREESTANDING BUILDING STRUCTURE Original Filed-April 18, 1968 9 Sheets- Sheet 7 INVEA TOR. THOMAS J. DILLON ATTORNEYS Feb.-2, 1971 11,1. DILLON 5 3 FREESTANDI'NG BUILDING STRUCTURE Original Filed Ap1 i1'18, 1968 I I 9 Sheets-She s: 8

I INVENTOR. 'THOMAS J. DILLON ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1971 'r. .1. DILLON FREESTANDING BUILDING STRUCTURE Original Filed April 18, 1968 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Vi il-r1298 9 6048,!

INVENTOR. THOMAS J. DILLON ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,559,354 FREESTANDING BUILDING STRUCTURE Thomas I. Dillon, 692 Woodbrook Road, 'Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223 Continuation of application Ser. No. 722,342, Apr. 18, 1968. This application Dec. 22, 1969, Ser. No. 887,371 Int. Cl. E04b 7/02, 2/84; E02d 27/00 US. CI. 52-90 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A freestanding building having particular adaptability for low cost stable construction and being characterized by the use of a plurality of identical pre-cast concrete bent members that are supported with respect to the ground by improved type, low cost foundation components including triangularly disposed upright rods which are embedded in the ground and secured both to the bottom edges of the bent members and to the bottom edges of transverse bracing members which are, in turn, secured to vertical edges of the bent members to form a building structure with a series of stalls or compartments in a novel and unique fashion, the entire structure being covered by root decking.

RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of applicants copending application Ser. No. 722,342, filed Apr. 18, 1968, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention In the field of building construction, there are often instances where only minimum shelter is required because of the temperate elements in which the building is to be used. A typical example of such construction is in the field of horse barns where the horses are normally sheltered in the barn area only during the temperate seasons of the year with only basic shelter being required to protect the animals from exposure.

Heretofore, to the best of applicants knowledge, conventional building techniques have been employed to produce such shelters notwithstanding the fact that the only minimum shelter requirements, are in fact, required.

Thus in the case of conventional construction, present known types of construction in this regard include the digging and pouring of concrete footings together with the laying up of cinder blocks to form dividing partitions, with the only savings in cost in conventional construction of a building of this nature in contrast to an all-purpose building being elimination of window enclosures and similar features which are not required in this particular type of construction.

While costs may be reduced in this manner over conventional square footage costs, the reduction in cost that can be obtained has been minimal.

Further and by use of such types of construction, the buildings in question are subjected to the normal dangers and damages due to inclement weather in the off season including, but not limited to, the hazardous effects of frost and freezing that oftentimes serves to damage the foundation and wall structures.

Structures of this type can also be made of wooden, frame construction, but they involve increased maintenance costs, fire hazards and reduced building life.

Description of the prior art Other than the use of conventional building techniques as above described and other than structures generally Patented Feb. 2,, 1971 ICC utilizing pre-cast concrete components, applicant is unaware of any pertinent prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Applicants freestanding building structure is based on the use of identical building slabs or bents that are appropriately shaped so as to coact with other building components to form the freestanding building that is the subject of this invention.

Specifically, applicants main building component, a concrete slab known in the trade as a concrete bent, includes a generally rectangular lower portion that includes a lower edge that rests on foundation supports as well as opposed side edges that serve as points of mounting for other components that are removed from the precast slab during the pouring thereof, with this arrangement permitting the components so removed to serve as wall portions and stable entry doors as will subsequently be described.

The upper marginal edge of the concrete bent is formed in a roughly arrowhead type configuration so as to not only overhang the front and rear portions of the stable, but so as to also serve as a point of mounting for the roof components that are generally used in this type of construction.

With regard to supporting the entire structure, each slab or bent is supported by a series of pipes that project from the ground in a generally triangular pattern after first having been embedded in and located with respect to concrete that has been poured into an open void in the ground and allowed to set.

By this construction, the main assembly of divider walls formed by the bents can be rapidly erected after casting the components with erection taking a minimum amount of time in the field and with finishing off of the building being a relatively routine matter following erection of the concrete bent members and securing of the roof components and wall components thereto.

By the structure above described, the building so erected will be jar more immune to the hazards of the off seasons including the hazards that occur because of frost and freezing, for example. Also, by creating a void in the main structural concrete, bent, the circulation is not only improved but utilization is made of the components removed from the void, which components serve as structural components as will hereinafter be described.

Production of an improved freestanding building having the above advantages accordingly becomes the principal object of this invention with other objects thereof becoming more apparent upon a reading of the following brief specification, considered and interpreted in the light of the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view, partially broken away, illustrating a freestanding building in a preliminary stage of erection and prior to the completion of the internal framework that divides the space between the concrete bent members into stalls.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view illustrating a typical concrete bent member and the manner of connecting the same with respect to the foundation, roof and wall components.

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on the lines 33, 44 and 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically illustrating the framing arrangement for pouring the concrete bent member.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the lines 8-8- of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a detailed sectional view of the finished concrete bent taken on the lines 9-9 of FIG. 7 and illustrating schematically the connecting and supporting components that are associated therewith.

FIG. is a typical layout of the space between adjacent concrete bent members.

FIG. 11 is a vertical elevational view of the plan layout shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a typical floor plan layout of a stable built in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view, partially broken away and illustrating a modified bent member.

FIG. 14 is an elevational view taken from the left of FIG. 13 and showing the support members.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the foundation or support members.

FIG. 16 is a detailed view of the roof structure.

FIG. 17 is another detailed view of the roof structure.

FIG. 18 is an elevational view of a typical layout of a series of bent members as shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a typical layout of bent members as shown in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, the improved building structure, generally designated by the numeral 10, includes a plurality of concrete bent members 11, 11 each of which is connected at its opposed sides to bracing members 12, 12 with each connected bent and pair of bracing members being supported by projecting posts 13, 13 that are provided in sets of three arranged in generally triangular disposition so as to provide support for the bent member 11 and bracing members 12, 12 with respect to the ground surface.

Purlins 14, 14 also extend transversely between adjacent bent members 11, 11 and receive a conventional roof decking 15 so as to form an enclosed structure of the type shown in FIG. 1.

Also, and for the purposes of the invention, each bent is provided with a relatively large void opening 16 with the bracing members 12, 12 having been removed from the voids 16, 16 as will subsequently be described.

Regarding the manner of connecting the lower edge 11a of each bent with respect to the pipes 13, 13 reference is first made of FIG. 3 wherein it is noted that each pipe or post 13, which will normally be made of suitable metal, is embedded in concrete footing 20 and is associated with anti-rotational rods 21, 22 and that are similar embedded in the concrete so as to give rigidity to the pipe 13. These pipes 13, 13 will normally be filled with concrete for strength purposes and also to insure support regardless of any deterioration which might occur with regard to the pipes themselves.

It will also be noted that the bent member 11 has embedded therein, in addition to the usual reinforcing rods 25, 25, upwardly extending rods 26, 26 that have ends 26a, 26a which overlie at least the lowermost reinforcing rod 25 as clearly shown in FIG. 3, with the lower ends of rods 26, 26 being secured to a plate 27 on the bottom edge of bent 11 that is, in turn, welded as at 28 to the projecting end of the pipe 13. A similar connecting method exists with respect to the manner in which each bracing member 12 is secured with respect to the edge of the concrete bent 11 and also with respect to the pipe members 13a and 13b that are positioned therebelow as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings.

In this regard and referring first to FIG. 4', it will be noted that the concrete bent member 11 has a metal flange 30 secured to embedded rod 30a and adapted to be welded to a similar flange 31 that is carried by the bracing member 12 in the usual fashion on the end of rod 31a. In this manner, bracing member 12 may be secured to bent 11 in substantially right angle relationship thereto. Alternatively, a threaded connection could be utilized to connect these two members together in the condition shown in FIG. 4.

With reference to the manner of supporting each bracing member 12 with respect to the ground on foundation components or pipes 13a and 13b, it will be noted that the bracing components 12, 12 have U-shapcd looplike reinforcing rods 32, 32 embedded therein and connected to a plate 33 as best shown in FIG. 6 with this arrangement again permitting tack welding of plate 33 to the top of the posts 13a, 13b so as to support bracing member 12 with relation to the ground and complete the structural arrangement that is best shown in FIG. 2.

With reference to the roofing section, it Will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the purlins 14, 14 are adapted to be tack welded to appropriate angle plates 35, 35 that are located on the upper marginal edge of the bent members 11, 11 as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings, with this arrangement permitting welding as at 36 followed by conventional application of the roofing material 15 as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings.

Due to the arrowhead shape of the top edge of bent 11, it will also be noted that overhanging portions 11a, 11b extend beyond the vertical walls so that when the building is assemblied a covered Walkway or exercise area is provided that is free of posts or other obstructions which might cause injury to the animals.

While the overall structural arrangement of the freestanding building has been described in terms of operating principal, and while many variations of contour could be undertaken without departing from the inventive concept recited, applicant would next like to describe with particularity the method of manufacture that exists with regard to the forming of each concrete bent member 11.

Accordingly and referring to FIG. 7, an encircling frame member, generally indicated by the numeral 40, is shown contiguously secured together so as to define the peripheral outline of the concrete bent in its cured and bored form.

Additionally, three supplementary forms 41, 42 and 43 are provided for the dual purpose of creating a void in the finished bent and, optionally, producing the end bracing members 12, 12 as will be described.

In this regard, it will be noted from FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, that a beveled board 44 is employed between the lower ends of the forming members 41 and 42 to create the final boundary of the bracing members 12, 12 with a preferred central guiding board 45 being similarly employed to provide a out line to separate the members 12, 12 into the two components that are required for attachment to the opposed ends of the bent member 11.

It will also be noted from FIG. 7 that metal U-shaped loop members 32, 32 are secured to the forms 41 and 42 and further that lifting templates 46, 46 are provided so that once concrete is poured into the area bounded by the forms 41, 42 and 43 and the divider boards 44 and 45, that the lifting templates can be utilized to facilitate removal after the forms and divider boards have been stripped away.

Again referring to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the lower edge portion a of the form 40 includes the rod members 26, 26 with these being attached to the form in the manner best shown in FIG. 9. Additionally, and to facilitate the tack welding operation earlier described, a series of angle plates 48, 48 are laid flat in the form with one edge being flush with the wall of the form as clearly shown in FIG. 7 and with these plates being used to facilitate attachment of the bent members with respect to first, the supporting pipes 13, 13 and then end braces 12, 12.

Finally and for the purpose of adding rigidity to the end product, a plurality of reinforcing rods 25, 25 are positioned within the confinements of the form with the result that these are embedded in finished concrete bent '11 following pouring and curing.

With reference to the method and operation of constructing the novel and unique freestanding building that is the subject of this invention, a plurality of concrete bent members 11, 11 will first be prepared by repetitive molding into the form of the type shown in FIG. 7.

After pouring is completed, the forms 41, 42 and 43 are first removed following removal of the divider boards 44 and 45. At this time the end brace members 12, 12 may be lifted out by use of the lifting fixtures 46, 46.

As noted earlier, end braces 12, 12 may also be formed independently in separate forms or molds, if desired.

During the time that the bent members are being poured as just described the preparation of the site will be simultaneously undertaken and in this regard, it is merely necessary that pits be dug and filled with concrete. Following this and by use of a simple transit, the support pipes 13, 13a and 13b will be lined up for proper relationship as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for example, with all projecting edges being in a commonplane and with the supporting poles being properly aligned. The pipes 13, 13a and 13b then can be filled with concrete if desired. At this time and assuming that the necessary grading, etc. has been completed, the site is prepared for reception of the bent members 11, 11.

By use of a crane, the bent members may be placed in an upright position and then located so that the lower edge surface 11a thereof comes to rest on the spaced pipes 13, 13a and 13b as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. At this point in time, the pipes 1 3, 13a and 13b may be tack welded as at 28 to the plates 27, 27 of bent 11 and when this is completed, a similar placement of the end bracing members 12, .12 may be undertaken so that the plate portions thereof may be tack welded to the projecting ends of the support pipes 13a and 13b as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings.

In like fashion, the bent member 11 may then have the plate 30 thereof welded to the end brace 12 as clearly shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

Following erection of two or more bent members in the fashion just described, the roof pulins 14, 14 may then be tack welded to the plate members 35, 35 as best shown in FIG. 2 and at this point a rigid freestanding structure is created.

Conventional application of roofing material serves to enclose the building. At this time and referring to FIG. 10, internal dividing walls 50, 50 may be installed together with end partition members 51, 51 that serve to divide the space between each set of bents into four stall areas.

In this regard and while the principle of the structure has heretofore been described as not being limited to any specific construction, it is believed apparent from FIG. 12 that the use of fourteen concrete bent members 11, 11, for example, can result in a creation of fifty stalls as shown in FIG. 12. In this regard, the end rooms 52, 52 of FIG. 12 can be utilized as tack rooms that, of course, can be constructed of conventional construction so as to complete and finish off the exterior surfaces of the building.

With reference to the floor, it is normally merely necessary to fill the floor with earth to a height a few inches below the bottom of the wooden partition walls 50, 50 with this level being best illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

The modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 13 through 19 illustrates the manner in which the unique construction principle previously described can be utilized with a differently shaped structure to permit a different type of barn construction while still employing the basic principles of the invention.

Accordingly and referring first to FIG. 13, the concrete bent, generally indicated by the numeral 100, includes a base portion 101 together with opposed arm portions 102 and 103 that extend outwardly and upwardly from the opposed edges of the base portion 102 so as to give the bent a V'shaped upper surface as is clearly apparent from FIG. 13.

Again the conventional transverse reinforcing rods 104, 104 and vertical reinforcing rods 104a, 104a are provided within the bent member which may be cast in the manner previously described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 12. Purlins 105, 105 (FIG. 16) may be attached to the upper edges and in turn covered with metal decking 106 and assembled together a clearly shown. In this regard, FIG. 16 shows the low point of connection at the apex of the V-shaped upper surface while FIG. 17 shows the upper points of connection that will exist between the projecting ends of adjacent units 100 and 100a for example.

It should also be understood that the necessary welding plates are embedded in the bend 100 as described earlier with regard to bents 11, 11.

Foundation pads 110 of the type shown in FIG. 15 and being T-shaped in planar configuration are placed beneath each bent member 100 at the opposed ends thereof so as to support not only the bent member itself but also the bracing member 111 that is clearly illustrated in FIG. 14 of the drawings. In this regard the pipe members 112, 113 are placed beneath the lower edge of the wall member 111 while the pipe 114 is positioned beneath the end portion of the bent member 100 as clearly shown in FIGS. 13 and 15. The pipes can then be filled with concrete as noted earlier with regard to pipes 13, 13a and 13b.

While the pad 110 is shown in FIG. 15 as a shaped unit, it is believed apparent that the pipes 112, 113 and 14 could be supported by merely digging oversized holes and fitting the bottoms with concrete if desired.

The bent member 100 is secured at right angles to bracing members 111, 111 and edges 1000 and 100d are secured thereto by use of Welding plates 115, 115 that may be embedded within the end walls as earlier described.

By the arrangement just described, the stall portions per se will be defined by one-half of the width of the base of the bent member 100 with the arms 102 and 103 of adjacent bent being engaged (see FIG. 17) to form a walkway within which horses may be exercised, for example.

A detailed example of this construction is best shown in FIG. 19 wherein adjacent bents 100e and 100 cooperate with bracing members 111a, 111b, 111a and 111d to form four stall members generally given the numeral 120, with the four stall members being created by partitioning units 121, 122, 123 and 124 and with the construction of these units being merely that the same are framed into place following assembly of the bent member and with such arrangement creating four stalls between adjacent bent members. Closure doors 125, 125 complete the stall arrangement.

The typical finished appearance of a building constructed in accordance with this modified teaching is shown in FIG. 18 of the drawings wherein a series of bents 100, 100' are shown.

With reference to FIG. 19, it will also be observed that the arm portions 102, 103 of the bents are not shown but it is believed clear from FIG. 18 and the foregoing description that outside of each stall there would be a projecting arm that would in turn define an appropriate walkway 126 within which the horses may be exercised.

While a full and complete description of the invention has been set forth in accordance with the dictates of the Patent Statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to he specific form herein shown. Accordingly, modificaions of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A freestanding single stor building of the character described, comprising:

(A) a plurality of identical roof supporting unitary structural bent members (1) arranged transversely of the longitudinal axis of said building (2) in spaced apart relationship along said longitudinal axis of said building and (3) adapted to form a series of wall structures and divide said building into a series of compartments;

(B) a plurality of end braces (1) secured to opposed transverse edges of said bent members at substantially right angle thereto and (2) adapted to vertically stabilize said bent members (3) extending from the bottom edges of said bent members upwardly to a point spaced below the to edges thereof;

(C) foundation means (1) secured to the bottom edges of said bent members and said braces;

(D) roof means extending transversely of said bent members and spanning the distance between adjacent bent members; and

(E) a pair of substantially closed end walls disposed at the opposed ends of said building.

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that each said bent has an inverted V-shaped top edge and vertical side edges depending therefrom; the outboard ends of the legs of said top edge extending beyond said side edges. 1

3. The device of claim 2 further characterized by the fact that each said bent member has an open area beneath its top edge.

4. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that each said bent has a top edge that is formed in the shape of a V and vertical side edges depending therefrom; the Outboards ends of the legs of said top edge extending beyond said side edges.

5. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that said foundation means include a concrete footing unit adjacent the point of juncture of each end brace and bent; and at least three supporting members embedded in an projecting above each of said footing units and adapted to be fixed to and to support the bottom edges of said bent and said end braces; said supporting members being disposed so as to form the apexes of a triangle when viewed in plan.

6. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the presence of a plurality of plates embedded in each peripheral edge surface of said bent members and adapted to be secured to said end braces, said foundation means and said roof means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,958 12/1938 Corbett et al. 52294X 2,549,155 4/1951 Ash 529OX 2,691,291 10/1954 Henderson 5279X 2,858,694 11/1958 Akins et al. 52294X 2,881,876 4/1959 Williams 52293X 2.961,940 11/1960 Kump 52234X 3,233,346 2/1966 Cornbers 52234X 3,233,376 2/1966 Naiccon et al. 52293X 3,378,963 4/1968 Obaja 52234X FOREIGN PATENTS 705,577 3/1965 Canada 5279 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner S. D. BURKE III, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52270, 295

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