CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In building a home, the design plans for what the home will look like are usually prepared by someone having architectural experience and engineering skills. The location where the home is to be erected is suitably prepared first by the establishment of an adequate and properly installed foundation, which is, of course, essential to all types of wood structures or for that matter, to any other structure. The home is erected in accordance with the architectural plans, usually by persons with some carpenter skills and experience.

The average layman usually does not have architectural experience or engineering skills to be able to design a home, and usually does not have the skills of an experienced carpenter to be able to erect a home. A home represents one of the most significant investments that one can make in his or her life time; therefore, it behooves one to assure that the design and erection of the home is professionally done to justify this significant investment.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a series of differently designed components, which have the same uniform height and which may be selectively arranged, positioned and aligned in side-by-side relationship for constructing a home.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a series of differently designed components, which are pre-engineered to meet national, state and local building standards in building a home for a life-time of trouble-free structural durability.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a componentized, 3-dimensional, self-aligning, self-engineering building system that will make it possible even for an average layperson, at least for one willing to attempt it, to lay out a design of a home that will meet his/her needs and that will be sufficiently appealing in accordance with his/her wishes as to the appearance the home should have.

A further object of the present invention is to provide separately designed components, in the manner described above, which may be made available through any local building supply company for ready selection by the individual homeowner-to-be or by a home building contractor in accordance with his/her requirements, and which may be easily loaded, carried away and positioned on a previously prepared site foundation without the necessity of using heavy equipment.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide separately designed components, in the manner described above, which may be aligned and connected in side-by-side relationship on a flat surface at the manufacturing site to form sections of a home that may be separately moved to a building site and aligned and assembled with other sections to form a home in accordance with the expectations and wishes of the homeowner-to-be.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, therefore, is directed to a componentized, three dimensional, self-aligning, self-engineering building system for homes and similar constructions having a plurality of individual, separately installable components of predetermined width and of the same predetermined height, which are selectively arranged, positioned and secured to each other in side-by-side relationship along the perimeter of and also secured on a previously prepared flat supporting surface. Each component defines at least one load-bearing vertical wall section having a lower end adapted to engage and to be secured to the flat supporting surface, and an upper end; and an inclined roof truss section comprising a series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements connected together in side-by-side relationships having a lower end joined to the upper end of the vertical wall section to form an integrally constructed connected unit, and having an upper end, and which defines on each side thereof a plane of intersection with the roof truss section of an adjacent component.

One of the plurality of components has an inclined roof truss section that is defined by two three-sided planes each intersecting the other along a corresponding side thereof at an angle that is less than 180 degrees, as measured from the upper side of the inclined roof truss section.

Another of the plurality of components has an inclined roof truss section that is defined by two three-sided planes each intersecting the other along a corresponding side thereof at an angle that is greater than 180 degrees, as measured from the upper side of the inclined roof truss section.

In the componentized three dimensional self-aligning, self-engineering building system, each component has multiple ribs, which are connected together in spaced, parallel relationship as a single unit. Each rib defines a vertical member of the load-bearing vertical wall section having a predetermined length and a lower end adapted to engage the flat supporting surface, and an upper end; and an inclined lower chord member having a predetermined length and an inclined upper chord member having a predetermined length and overlying the inclined lower chord member in paired relationship. The inclined lower and inclined upper chord members are connected at their respective lower ends to the upper end of the vertical member, and are connected at their respective upper ends to form part of the series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements in the aforementioned inclined roof truss section.

One of the components has a left rib and a right rib connected together in parallel relationship. The left rib and the right rib each has a primary vertical member of the load-bearing vertical wall section having a predetermined length and a lower end adapted to engage the flat supporting surface, and an upper end; and a primary inclined lower chord member having a predetermined length and a primary inclined upper chord member having a predetermined length and overlying the primary inclined lower chord member in paired relationship. The primary inclined lower and primary inclined upper chords are connected at their respective lower ends to the upper end of the primary vertical member and are connected at their respective upper ends to form part of the series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements in the inclined roof truss section. The left rib and the right rib each includes a plurality of secondary inclined lower chord members having predetermined lengths and a plurality of secondary inclined upper chord members having predetermined lengths. Each secondary inclined upper chord member overlies a respective secondary inclined lower chord member in paired relationship. The secondary inclined lower and the secondary inclined upper chord members are connected at their respective lower ends, respectively, to and spaced at intervals along and inclined outwardly from the primary inclined lower chord member and the primary inclined upper chord member, and are connected at their upper ends to form part of the series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements in the inclined roof truss section. The secondary inclined lower chord members and the secondary inclined upper chord members in the aforementioned paired relationships of the left rib and the right rib each have different predetermined lengths than adjacent secondary inclined lower and upper chord members for the same rib.

In one of the components, each component has a left rib and a right rib connected together in parallel relationship. The left rib and the right rib each has a primary vertical member of the aforementioned load-bearing vertical wall section and has a predetermined length and a lower end adapted to engage the flat supporting surface, and an upper end; and a primary inclined lower chord member having a predetermined length and a primary inclined upper chord member having a predetermined length and overlying the primary inclined lower chord member in paired relationship and connected at their respective lower ends to the upper end of the primary vertical member and connected at their respective upper ends to form part of the series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements in the inclined roof truss section. The left rib and the right rib each includes at spaced parallel intervals therefrom a plurality of secondary vertical members of the load-bearing vertical wall section having the same predetermined lengths and each having a lower end adapted to engage the aforementioned flat supporting surface, and an upper end; and a plurality of secondary inclined lower chord members having predetermined lengths and a plurality of secondary inclined upper chord members having predetermined lengths and each overlying a respective secondary inclined lower chord member in paired relationship, and connected, respectively, at their respective upper ends to and spaced at intervals along and inclined outwardly from the primary inclined lower chord member and the primary inclined upper chord member and connected at their lower ends to a respective upper end of a secondary vertical member to form part of the series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcement in the inclined roof truss section. The secondary inclined lower chord members and the secondary inclined upper chord members in the aforementioned paired relationships each have different predetermined lengths than adjacent secondary inclined lower and secondary inclined upper chord members for the same rib.

The componentized three dimensional self-aligning, self-engineering building system further includes flat truss section components each having pairs of horizontally extending lower chord members and horizontally extending upper chord members each overlying one of the horizontally extending lower chord members in spaced parallel relationship and are connected together in side-by-side spaced, parallel relationship to define a rectangular cross-section having a predetermined width and a predetermined length longer than the aforementioned predetermined width. Each horizontally extending lower chord member and the overlying horizontally extending upper chord member have connected therebetween a series of reinforcing members formed in multiple polygon configurations. Each flat truss section component includes at each end thereof a pair of end members connected, respectively, across the respective ends of each pair of horizontally extending lower and upper chord members in the flat truss section component. In this manner, therefore, each flat truss section component is adapted to engage at each pair of end members and to be connected to an inclined roof truss section of another of the aforementioned components.

The outer horizontally extending lower and upper chord members for each side of the flat truss section component defines a pair of side members adapted to engage and be connected to another component.

Each componentized three dimensional self-aligning, self-engineering building system further includes a flat truss section component having a rectangular cross-section and is adapted to engage at each end thereof and be connected to an inclined roof truss section of one the other aforementioned components.

Each componentized three dimensional self-aligning, self-engineering building system may further have a plurality of flat truss section components positioned in side-by-side relationship and each engaging at each end thereof and being connected to an upper end of an inclined roof truss section of one of the other aforementioned components.

In the componentized three dimensional self-aligning, self-engineering building system, each component may include a left rib and a right rib connected together in parallel relationship. The left rib and the right rib each has a primary vertical member of the aforementioned load-bearing vertical wall section having a predetermined length and having a lower end adapted to engage the aforementioned flat supporting surface, and an upper end; and a primary inclined lower chord member having a predetermined length and a primary inclined upper chord member having a predetermined length and overlying the primary inclined lower chord member in paired relationship and connected at their respective lower ends to the upper end of the primary vertical member and connected at their respective upper ends to form part of the series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements in the inclined roof truss section. The left rib and the right rib each have a plurality of secondary inclined lower chord members having predetermined lengths and a plurality of secondary inclined upper chord members having predetermined lengths and each overlying a respective secondary inclined lower chord member in paired relationship and connected, respectively, at their respective lower ends to and spaced at intervals along and inclined outwardly from the primary inclined upper chord member and connected at their upper ends to form part of the series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements.

The componentized three dimensional self-aligning, self-engineering building system may be represented on a smaller scale by modeling blocks, which include the following basic shapes:

a. a rectangular block having a predetermined width and a predetermined length greater than the predetermined width, a flat bottom surface, vertical sides intersecting the flat bottom surface at right angles, and at least one inclined top surface intersecting the vertical sides at right angles, and the rectangular block having the general configuration shown in

FIG. 17

of the drawings;

b. a rectangular block having the same predetermined length on each side, a flat bottom surface, vertical sides intersecting the flat bottom surface at right angles, at least one inclined top surface defined by two intersecting triangular plane surfaces having an angle therebetween less than 180 degrees, as measured from the top surface, the two intersecting triangular plane surfaces also intersecting the vertical sides at right angles, and the rectangular block having the general configuration shown in

FIG. 18

of the drawings; and

c. a rectangular block having the same predetermined length on each side, a flat bottom surface, vertical sides intersecting the flat bottom surface at right angles, at least one inclined top surface defined by two intersecting triangular plane surfaces having an angle therebetween greater than 180 degrees, as measured from the top surface, and two intersecting triangular plane surfaces also intersecting the vertical sides at right angles, and the rectangular block having the general configuration shown in

FIG. 19

of the drawings.

The modeling blocks may further include the following block shapes:

a. a rectangular block having the same predetermined length on each side, a flat bottom surface, vertical sides intersecting the flat bottom surface at right angles, a top flat surface intersecting the vertical sides at right angles, and the rectangular block having the general configuration shown in

FIG. 20

of the drawings;

b. a rectangular block having a predetermined length and a predetermined width, a flat bottom surface adapted to be positioned on the flat top surface of the rectangular block recited in subparagraph a., a top surface intersecting the flat bottom surface and defined by two intersecting and oppositely facing truncated triangular plane surfaces each intersecting the other along the line of truncation between the truncated triangular plane surfaces at an angle greater than 180 degrees, as measured from the top surface, and each also intersecting along one of its three sides the flat bottom surface, a triangular plane surface located between and intersecting along each of two of its three sides another of the three sides of one of the truncated triangular plane surfaces and also intersecting along its third side the flat bottom surface; the rectangular block further including a triangular side surface intersecting on one of its three sides the flat bottom surface at right angles and intersecting on each of its other two sides the third side of one of the truncated triangular plane surfaces, and the rectangular block having the general configuration shown in FIGS.

21

(

a

),

21

(

b

) of the drawings;

c. a rectangular block having a predetermined length and a predetermined width, a flat bottom surface adapted to be positioned on the flat top surface of the rectangular block recited in subparagraph a., two triangular plane surfaces each intersecting at one of its three sides the flat bottom surface at right angles, at least two inclined, oppositely facing rectangular flat surfaces each intersecting the other along one of its four sides at an angle greater than 180 degrees, as measured from the top surfaces, the two inclined rectangular flat surfaces each also intersecting along one of two other of its sides one of teach of the triangular planes surfaces and along still another of its four sides the flat bottom surface, and the rectangular block having the general configuration shown in

FIG. 22

of the drawings; and

d. a triangular block having a predetermined length and a predetermined width, a flat bottom surface adapted to be positioned on one of the truncated triangular plane surfaces of the rectangular block recited in subparagraph b. and on one of the inclined rectangular flat surfaces of the rectangular block recited in subparagraph c., a top surface defined by two oppositely facing inclined triangular plane surfaces each intersecting the other along one of its three sides at greater than 180 degrees, as measured from the top surface, and intersecting along another of its three sides the flat bottom surface, a flat triangular surface inclined from a vertical plane of less than 90 degrees and intersecting along one of its three sides the flat bottom surface and intersecting along each of its other two sides the third side of one of the oppositely facing inclined triangular plane surfaces, and the triangular block having the general configuration shown in FIGS.

23

(

a

),

23

(

b

) of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG.

1

(

a

) is an isometric view of a secondary rib illustrating a secondary inclined upper chord member having a dual pitch;

FIG.

1

(

b

) is an isometric view of a rib illustrating a primary inclined upper chord member having a dual pitch;

FIG.

1

(

c

) is an alternate embodiment of the secondary rib shown in FIG.

1

(

a

) and illustrates a secondary inclined upper chord member having a single pitch, the reference numbers in the alternate embodiment having prime marks after them to show elements corresponding to elements in the embodiment of FIG.

1

(

a

);

FIG.

1

(

d

) is an alternate embodiment of the rib shown in FIG.

1

(

b

) and illustrates a primary inclined upper chord member having a single pitch, the reference numbers in the alternate embodiment having prime marks after them to show elements corresponding to elements in the embodiment of FIG.

1

(

b

);

FIG.

2

(

a

) is an isometric view of an expansion section component and illustrating an inclined roof truss section having a dual pitch, and employing the dual pitch secondary rib of the embodiment shown in FIG.

1

(

a

);

FIG.

2

(

b

) is a view similar to that shown in FIG.

2

(

a

), with the exception that the framework shown in FIG.

2

(

a

) is illustrated as being mostly covered with panels, and shows that the length along one side of the expansion section component may be 2W and that the width along another side may be W;

FIG. 3

is an isometric view illustrating the left inside corner component and the right inside component of the inside corner component as separately constructed and wherein the secondary and primary inclined upper chord members have a dual pitch;

FIG.

4

(

a

) is an isometric view illustrating the left inside corner component and the right inside corner component of

FIG. 3

assembled and secured together to form the completed inside corner component;

FIG.

4

(

b

) is a view similar to FIG.

4

(

a

), with the exception that the framework shown in FIG.

4

(

a

) is illustrated as being mostly covered by panels, and shows that the length along each side of the inside corner component may be 2W;

FIG. 5

is an isometric view of the left outside corner component and the right outside corner component as separately constructed and wherein the secondary and primary inclined upper chord members have a dual pitch;

FIG.

6

(

a

) is an isometric view of the left outside corner component and the right outside corner component of

FIG. 5

assembled and secured together to form the completed outside corner component;

FIG.

6

(

b

) is a view similar to FIG.

6

(

a

), with the exception that the framework shown in FIG.

6

(

a

) is illustrated as being mostly covered by panels, and shows that the length along each side of the outside corner component may be 2W;

FIG. 7

is an isometric view of one form of home that may be constructed by use of the components described herein and wherein the inclined roof truss sections are dual pitch;

FIG. 8

is an isometric view of a flat truss section component;

FIG. 9

is an isometric exploded view of two oppositely facing expansion section components having dual pitch and a flat truss section component therebetween in preparation for assembly together;

FIG. 10

is an isometric view of another form of home that may be constructed to enlarge the depth or size of a home with the use of the illustrated flat truss section components and wherein the inclined roof truss sections are dual pitch;

FIG. 11

is an isometric view of the form of home shown in FIG.

10

and illustrates the upper ends of the inclined roof truss section components prior to installation of the flat truss section components shown in

FIG. 10

to which the flat truss section components will be attached;

FIG. 12

is an isometric view of a roof truss joiner cap to be installed over a flat truss section component;

FIG. 13

is an isometric view of a roof truss hip cap to be installed over a flat truss section component;

FIG. 14

is an isometric view of a roof truss expansion cap to be installed over a flat truss section component;

FIG. 15

is a partial view of one form of home that may be constructed, and illustrating where a roof truss joiner cap, a roof truss hip cap and a roof truss expansion cap may be positioned over flat truss section components (not illustrated in this drawing figure) to complete the pitch of the inclined roof truss sections;

FIG.

16

(

a

) is a front elevational view of a vertical wall section, showing the panel covering it being partially broken away to illustrate the supporting framework beneath the panel;

FIG.

16

(

b

) is an isometric view of multiple vertical wall sections of FIG.

16

(

a

) assembled and joined together on a flat supporting surface (not shown) to illustrate the appearance of part of two vertical walls one intersecting the other at right angles and representing part of the first story above and upon which the components of the invention would be positioned in the next or second story of a home;

FIG. 17

is an isometric view of a modeling block representing an expansion section component disclosed in FIGS.

2

(

a

),

2

(

b

);

FIG. 18

is an isometric view of a modeling block representing an inside corner section component disclosed in FIGS.

3

and

4

(

a

),

4

(

b

);

FIG. 19

is an isometric view of a modeling block representing an outside corner section component disclosed in FIGS.

5

and

6

(

a

)

6

(

b

);

FIG. 20

is an isometric view of a modeling block representing a flat truss section component disclosed in

FIGS. 8 and 9

;

FIG.

21

(

a

) is an isometric view of a modeling block representing a roof truss hip cap disclosed in

FIG. 13

;

FIG.

21

(

b

) is an isometric view of the modeling block of FIG.

21

(

a

), and illustrating it as being oriented to show the opposite side of this modeling block;

FIG. 22

is an isometric view of a modeling block representing a roof truss expansion cap disclosed in

FIG. 14

;

FIG.

23

(

a

) is an isometric view of a modeling block representing a roof truss joiner cap disclosed in

FIG. 12

;

FIG.

23

(

b

) is a plan view of the modeling block of FIG.

23

(

a

) and illustrating a different orientation of this modeling block;

FIG. 24

is an isometric view illustrating the position of the roof truss joiner cap modeling block upon part of the array of roof truss expansion cap modeling blocks extending in one direction and between two roof truss expansion cap modeling blocks extending at right angles to the array;

FIG. 25

is a side elevation view of the modeling blocks shown in FIG.

24

and illustrating the position of the roof truss joiner cap block upon part of the array of FIG.

24

and between the two roof truss expansion cap modeling blocks extending at right angles to the array;

FIG. 26

is an isometric view illustrating the position of the roof truss joiner cap modeling block upon one of the truncated surfaces of the roof truss hip cap modeling block, which extends in one direction and between the roof truss expansion cap modeling blocks, which extend at right angles to the roof truss hip cap and the two adjoining roof truss expansion cap modeling blocks;

FIG. 27

is an isometric view of one form of a model home that may be selectively arranged together by the potential home owner by the various modeling blocks disclosed herein, and illustrating in partial exploded view the modeling blocks for the different roof caps and showing the modeling blocks representing the flat truss section components in position below above and over which the roof cap modeling blocks are to be installed;

FIGS. 28 through 33

represent “draw files” of the different components described herein that may be filed in a computer system and retrieved and by use of a computer mouse to assemble the different components on a monitor screen to form different designs of homes, and wherein:

FIG. 28

shows four different orientations for the expansion section component of FIGS.

2

(

a

),

2

(

b

),

17

;

FIG. 29

shows four different orientations for the inside corner component of FIGS.

4

(

a

),

4

(

b

),

18

;

FIG. 30

shows four different orientations for the outside corner component of FIGS.

6

(

a

),

6

(

b

),

19

;

FIG. 31

shows four different orientations for the roof truss hip cap of

FIGS. 13

,

21

(

a

),

21

(

b

);

FIG. 32

shows four different orientations for the roof truss expansion cap of

FIGS. 14

,

22

; and

FIG. 33

shows four different orientations for the roof truss joiner cap of

FIGS. 12

,

23

(

a,

23

(

b

).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The building system disclosed herein is a result of a gradual recognition on the part of the inventor that the design of almost every home, if not every home, could, in effect, be cut into certain basic parts or “components”; that those basic components could be separately duplicated as many times as necessary; and that then those basic components could be selectively arranged and positioned like three-dimensional building blocks in different ways and assembled together to achieve an infinite variety of home designs.

It should be understood that the building system disclosed herein is not solely limited to “homes” in the sense of a private or single resident family home, but may also apply to apartment buildings, condominiums and small commercial buildings having pitched or inclined roofs.

The inventor then realized that these parts or “components” could be designed to incorporate all the necessary architectural and engineering standards that would be required to meet state and local standards; that the selective arrangement and to positioning of these components could be accomplished in accordance with the wishes of the homeowner to-be or home building contractor; and that the assembly of these components could be accomplished with minimal carpentry skills.

Although the reference above of “minimal carpentry skills” naturally suggests the use of wood in the construction of the disclosed components of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited solely to the use of wood, but may also involve the use of steel or other suitable metals, suitable plastic construction materials, compositions of any other materials, or combinations of any of the aforementioned materials.

The inventor further realized that a home, apartment building, condominium or small commercial building, which have the above-mentioned pitched or inclined roofs, enclose or define space only in a limited number of configurations. In some instances only a few of these configurations may be used, and may also be repeated in the same construction; and in other instances perhaps all of these configurations may be used and may also be repeated in the same construction. These configurations for enclosing space in a particular manner in a home, apartment building, condominium or small commercial building, which have the aforementioned pitched or inclined roofs, become in this invention the “components” described herein, and where the word “home” is used herein it is intended to apply to these different building constructions, as mentioned above.

If all necessary architectural and engineering construction standards to meet and in many cases exceed state and local building construction standards are incorporated in the constructed and completed components described herein, then it is no longer necessary to be concerned about how the framing for a “home” should go together or should be erected because that would already be accomplished in the completed components described herein. The only concern remaining, therefore, would be the selective arrangement of these components to achieve the desired “home,” which could be accomplished by anyone, irrespective of their skills or lack of skills, just so long as the end result of the exterior appearance of the “home” is pleasing to the homeowner to-be.

These configurations or “components” would also serve to educate people on how to build the exterior of a “home,” and they would no longer have to think of a house or home having walls, but rather of space confined and configured in a particular manner.

These configurations or “components” could be reduced to small modeling blocks for the homeowner to-be to selectively arrange and re-arrange on a flat surface until a result is obtained that would be pleasing to the homeowner to-be, without having to consult a draftsman or architect to design a home. The modeling blocks would serve as a tool for looking at certain space configurations instead of looking at individual studs, framing, and the like. The modeling blocks can also serve as toys to educate children as to how to build a home, at least as far as the exterior appearance is concerned. The well-known Lincoln Logs® have entertained children since about 1918 by the children learning to simply assemble individual interlocking parts into walls, which are formed at right angles, and then to add to the top of the walls a roof, as for the construction of a log cabin, for example. Here again, however, the children are learning about the assembly of individual construction members, and not about the concept of confining space into the different but limited configurations one sees present in homes, apartment buildings, condominiums, and small commercial buildings, which have pitched or inclined roofs.

The same results can be achieved if each configuration or “component” were to be generated or entered in a “file” of a computer and shown in four different orientations, and then by use of a mouse, each particular orientation of a component may be selected to take a particular position in the drawing of a home so that the home can be seen from different perspectives.

In the absence of or lack of a computer, a template may be devised having formed therein the different orientations of each configuration or “component.”

The manner of construction of these parts or “components,” which incorporate the architectural and engineering standards, commences, therefore, by reference to the drawings, and initially to FIGS.

1

(

a

) and

1

(

b

).

10

in FIG.

1

(

a

) is directed to a secondary rib that constitutes a fundamental element of most of the three dimensional, self-aligning, self-engineering components that will be described in this invention; and

12

in FIG.

1

(

b

) is directed to a primary rib that constitutes an essential element of two of the components that will be described in this invention.

In FIG.

1

(

a

) the secondary rib

10

comprises a secondary vertical member

14

, a secondary inclined lower chord member

16

and a secondary inclined upper chord member

18

, which overlies the secondary inclined lower chord member in paired relationship.

The secondary inclined upper chord member

18

is shown as providing a dual pitch, i.e., the initial length of the secondary inclined upper chord member extends at one angle with respect to and from the secondary vertical member

14

, and then about intermediate of its length it breaks to extend at a different angle with respect to the secondary vertical member

14

. It should be recognized, however, that the secondary inclined upper chord member

18

may also be a single pitch in which it extends from the secondary vertical member

14

at the same angle throughout the length of the second inclined upper chord member

18

, as shown in the embodiment of FIG.

1

(

c

). It should, therefore, be understood that although the drawings show constructions of dual pitch inclined roof truss sections, the inclined roof truss sections may also be single pitch. The invention is not limited to a particular pitch, single, dual, or any other kind of pitch.

The secondary vertical member

14

is designed to be a load-bearing member in the outside perimeter wall of a home, and it will correspond to a wall stud as used in homes of the prior art, and it has a predetermined length that will generally correspond to the intended perimeter outside height of one story of a home. By use of the term “predetermined,” this means that a specific length has been decided upon beforehand in the architectural and engineering sense, and is intended to remain a constant for all components in which it is used in a series of homes. In other words, it is intended to describe a standard, whatever that standard may have been decided upon beforehand, and thus it is “predetermined.” It should be appreciated, however, that other standards may be chosen, but the lengths in those cases will still be “predetermined.”

The secondary inclined lower chord member

16

and the secondary inclined upper chord member

18

each also has a predetermined length; and they are connected at their lower ends,

20

(for the secondary inclined lower chord member),

22

(for the secondary inclined upper chord member), to the upper end

24

of the secondary vertical member

14

, and are connected at their upper ends,

26

(for the secondary inclined lower chord member),

28

(for the secondary inclined upper chord member), to form part of a series of multiple polygon configured reinforcements in an inclined roof truss section.

The simplest definition of a “polygon” is that it is a closed plane figure bounded by three or more line segments. A triangle, for example, is the simplest polygon. The secondary inclined lower chord member

16

and the secondary inclined upper chord member

18

(of the secondary rib

10

), as connected by their respective upper ends

26

and

28

to the end base connecting segment

30

, encompass a main triangle (disregarding the dual pitch aspect of the secondary inclined upper chord member

18

), which in turn is divided into three smaller triangles to form a truss, all of which form a reinforced truss section. A diagonal connecting segment

32

extends from one end portion of the end base connecting segment

30

where it also intersects with and connects to one side of the secondary inclined lower chord member

16

; and the diagonal connecting segment

32

at its other end intersects with and connects to one side of the secondary inclined upper chord member

18

and one end portion of a second end base connecting segment

34

; the other end portion of the second end base connecting segment

34

intersects with and is connected to the secondary inclined lower chord member

16

about intermediate of the length of the latter. A third end base connecting segment

36

intersects with and is connected at its one end to the secondary inclined lower chord member

16

; it intersects with and is connected at its other end to the secondary inclined upper chord member

18

; and it is in abutment along its length with the length of the second end base connecting segment

34

. The aforementioned main triangle, therefore, is formed by the end base connecting segment

30

, and the secondary inclined lower and upper chord members

16

,

18

at the location where their respective lower ends

20

,

22

intersect. A smaller triangle is formed by the end base connecting segment

30

, the diagonal connecting segment

32

and a portion of the length of the secondary inclined upper chord member

18

. A second smaller triangle is formed by the second end base connecting segment

34

, the diagonal connecting segment

32

and a portion of the length of the secondary inclined lower chord member

16

. The third triangle is formed by the third end base connecting segment

36

, a portion of the length of the secondary inclined lower chord member

16

and a portion of the length of the secondary inclined upper chord member

18

. The resulting main triangle and the three smaller triangles, as defined by the elements forming the triangles, all constitute part of the aforementioned series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements and serve to transmit any load placed thereon to the secondary vertical member

14

of the secondary rib

10

.

Expansion Section Component

In reference to FIG.

2

(

a

) of the drawings,

40

is directed to one of the components of the invention, identified herein as an “expansion section component.” This latter component may be built with multiples of the secondary rib

10

, which are connected together. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG.

2

(

a

), the center most secondary rib

10

comprises two such secondary ribs abutting together in face-to-face relationship. One of the purposes of this arrangement is to facilitate assembly of the expansion section component. Other purposes are to provide a component having greater integral strength and stability. The outer two secondary ribs

10

are equally spaced in parallel relationship from the center two secondary ribs

10

, as for example, about sixteen (16) inches or about twenty four (24) inches on center of each secondary vertical member

14

, in the manner as conventional wall studs are typically positioned in a home of the prior art.

A sole plate

42

is connected across and to the bottom ends of the secondary vertical members

14

of the secondary rib

10

. Horizontal connecting members

44

are connected about midway along the length of secondary vertical members

14

from the sole plate

42

. In reference again to each of the two secondary ribs

10

abutting each other in face-to-face relationship, the horizontal connecting members are more easily secured by nailing or screwing at right angles through the secondary ribs and into the ends of the horizontal connecting members without having to “toe-nail” the horizontal connecting members to the secondary ribs and thereby run the risk of the horizontal connecting member being moved out of horizontal alignment in the process and not being at right angles with respect to the secondary ribs. Horizontal connecting members

46

are connected between the upper ends

24

of the secondary vertical members

14

. Horizontal connecting members

48

are connected between the lower ends (

20

,

22

, see FIG.

1

(

a

)) of the secondary inclined lower and upper chord members. Horizontal connecting members

50

and

52

are connected intermediately of the lengths of the secondary inclined upper chord members

18

; and horizontal connecting members

54

are connected across the upper ends

28

of the secondary inclined upper chord members

18

.

In further regard to the horizontal connecting members just described, as well as all of the horizontal connecting members that will be described later herein, all horizontal connecting members will be of the same uniform length, facilitating economy of construction and inventory.

The expansion section component

40

, the construction of which is described above, is intended to be of uniform height with other expansion section components, and may be selectively arranged, positioned and secured on a previously prepared flat supporting surface in side-by-side relationship with other expansion section components, or with other components, which are to be described hereafter, to form a home.

In the manner of construction of the expansion section component, and as aforementioned, the secondary vertical members

14

, the sole plate

42

, and the horizontal connecting member

44

,

46

, collectively, form and constitute a load-bearing vertical wall section

56

. The secondary inclined lower chord members

16

, secondary inclined upper chord members

18

, the horizontal connecting members

48

,

50

,

52

, and the other structural members forming the main triangle and the three smaller triangles, collectively, form and constitute part of the aforementioned series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements of the inclined roof truss section

58

.

Expansion section components

40

may not only be positioned in side-by-side relationship, but also may be selectively arranged,. positioned and secured, each opposite the other, in reverse relationship to form a gable for a home, for example, and as illustrated in

FIG. 7

, or positioned with each secured in side-by-side relationship to other components that will be described herein, and as also illustrated in FIG.

7

.

In reference to FIG.

2

(

b

), the framework of the expansion section component

40

of FIG.

2

(

a

) is shown in this drawing figure as being mostly covered by panels

59

. This drawing also serves to show that the width of the expansion section component may be W, and the length thereof may be 2W.

Inside Corner Component

In reference to FIG.

3

and

FIG. 4

,

FIG. 3

illustrates a second of the components of the invention, and is identified herein as “inside corner component”

60

, which is divided and separated as the left inside corner component

60

(

a

) and the right inside corner component

60

(

b

).

FIG. 4

illustrates the completed assembly of the left inside corner component

60

(

a

) and the left inside corner component

60

(

b

) to from the completed inside corner component

60

.

In reference to FIG.

1

(

b

), the primary rib

12

, as previously mentioned, constitutes a fundamental element of two of the three dimensional, self-aligning, self-engineering components to be described herein, including the aforementioned inside corner component

60

.

Primary rib

12

comprises a primary vertical member

72

, a primary inclined lower chord member

74

, and a primary inclined upper chord member

76

, which overlies the primary inclined lower chord member

74

in paired relationship. The primary vertical member

72

and the primary inclined upper chord member

76

for the left inside corner component

60

(

a

) and the right inside corner component

60

(

b

) are each provided with a 45 degree bevel or miter on their narrow edges. In this manner when

60

(

a

) and

60

(

b

) are united to form the completed inside corner component

60

, the resulting two side-by-side primary vertical members

72

and the two side-by-side primary inclined upper chord members

76

will present a right angle corner having flat faces to which appropriate panels may be secured. More significantly, however, the beveled edges or miters enable the use of standard panels having a width of W or 2W, W generally being 4 feet, and 2W being 8 feet. If the two vertical members

72

, for instance, from the left inside corner component

60

(

a

) and from the right inside corner component

60

(

b

) were not beveled or mitered and were to be joined together face-to-face when the two halves of the inside corner component were assembled together, the width of a panel to be attached on either side of the inside corner component would have to be W or 2W plus the width of the vertical member

72

. The W primary inclined upper chord member

76

, similar to the secondary inclined upper chord member

18

of FIG.

1

(

a

), provides a dual pitch, i.e., the initial length of the primary inclined upper chord member extends at one angle with respect to and from the primary vertical member

72

and overlies the primary inclined lower chord member

74

, as better seen in FIG.

1

(

b

), and then about intermediate of its length it breaks to extend at a different angle with respect to the primary vertical member

72

. It should be recognized, however, that the primary inclined upper chord member

76

may also be a single pitch in which it extends from the primary vertical member

72

at the same angle throughout the length of the primary inclined upper chord member

76

, as shown in the embodiment of FIG.

1

(

d

). Again, as noted previously, it should be understood that although most of the drawings herein show constructions of dual pitch inclined roof truss sections, the inclined roof truss sections may also be single pitch, or any other pitch. The primary vertical member

72

is designed to be a load-bearing member in the outside perimeter wall of a home, and it also will correspond to a wall stud as used in homes of the prior art; and it has a predetermined length that will generally correspond to the intended perimeter outside height of one story of a home. The term “predetermined,” as used here has been previously described herein.

The primary inclined lower chord member

74

and the primary inclined upper chord member

76

each also has a predetermined length; and they are connected at their lower ends,

78

(for the primary inclined lower chord member),

80

(for the primary inclined upper chord member), to the upper end

82

of the primary vertical member

72

, and are connected at their upper ends,

84

(for the primary inclined lower chord member),

86

(for the primary inclined upper chord member), to form part of the series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements in an inclined roof truss section, in the same manner as heretofore described with respect to the secondary rib

10

.

The primary inclined lower chord member

74

and the primary inclined upper chord member

76

(of the primary rib

12

), as connected by their respective upper ends

84

and

86

to the end base connecting segment

88

encompass a main triangle (again, disregarding the dual pitch aspect of the secondary inclined upper chord member

18

), which in turn is divided into three smaller triangles to form a truss, all of which form a series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements in an inclined roof truss section. A diagonal connecting segment

90

extends from one end portion of the end base connecting segment

88

, where it also intersects with and connects to one side of the primary inclined lower chord member

74

. The diagonal connecting segment

90

at its other end intersects with and connects to one side of the primary inclined upper chord member

76

and one end portion of a second end base connecting segment

92

.

The other end portion of the second end base connecting segment

92

intersects with and is connected to the primary inclined lower chord member

74

about intermediate of the length of the latter. A third end base connecting segment

94

intersects with and is connected at its one end to the primary lower chord member

74

; intersects with and is connected at its other end to the primary inclined upper chord member

76

; and is in abutment along its length with the length of the second end base connecting segment

92

. The aforementioned main triangle, therefore, is formed by the end base connecting segment

88

, and the primary inclined lower and upper chord members

74

,

76

at the location where their respective lower ends

78

,

80

intersect. A smaller triangle is formed by the end base connecting segment

88

, the diagonal connecting segment

90

and a portion of the length of the primary inclined upper chord member

76

. A second smaller triangle is formed by the second end base connecting segment

92

, the diagonal connecting segment

90

and a portion of the length of the primary inclined lower chord member

74

. The third smaller triangle is formed by the third end base connecting segment

94

, a portion of the length of the primary inclined lower chord member

74

and a portion of the length of the primary inclined upper chord member

76

. The resulting main triangle and the three smaller triangles, as defined by the elements forming the triangles, all constitute part of the aforementioned series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements and serve to transmit any load placed thereon to the primary vertical member

72

of the primary rib

12

.

It should be noted that the primary vertical member

72

of the primary rib

12

has the same predetermined length as the secondary vertical member

14

of the secondary rib

10

. The predetermined lengths of the primary inclined lower chord member

74

and of the primary inclined upper chord member

76

are longer than the predetermined lengths of the corresponding elements of the secondary rib

10

.

In reference again to

FIG. 3

, the left inside corner component

60

(

a

) includes a primary left rib

12

, and the right inside corner component

60

(

b

) includes a primary right rib

12

, and each primary left and each primary right ribs

12

have a plurality of secondary inclined lower chord members

96

,

98

,

100

, and

102

, having predetermined lengths, and a plurality of secondary inclined upper chord members

104

,

106

,

108

, and

110

having predetermined lengths. It should be noted, as was the case in the construction of the expansion section component, the secondary inclined lower and upper chord members, which are located inwardly from the outermost ones are also doubled in abutting together face-to-face relationship to facilitate construction, and to provide greater integral strength and stability. Each secondary inclined upper chord member overlies a respective secondary inclined lower chord member in paired relationship. The secondary inclined lower chord members

96

,

98

,

100

,

102

and the secondary inclined upper chord members

104

,

106

,

108

,

110

, are connected at their respective lower ends

112

(collective representation of the four lower ends of the secondary inclined lower chord members),

114

(collective representation of the four lower ends of the secondary inclined upper chord members), respectively, to and spaced at intervals along and inclined outwardly from the primary inclined lower chord member

74

(see FIG.

1

(

b

)); and are connected at their upper ends

116

(collective representation of the four upper ends of the secondary inclined lower chord members),

118

(collective representation of the four upper ends of the secondary inclined upper chord members) to form part of the series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements in the inclined roof truss section

119

(see FIG.

4

(

a

)).

The meaning of “polygon configurated reinforcement” has previously been discussed and is also applicable here as well as wherever else it is mentioned in this specification.

The four upper ends

118

(

FIG. 3

) of the secondary inclined upper chord members

104

,

106

,

108

and

110

for each of the left inside corner component

60

(

a

) and the right inside corner component

60

(

b

) are connected to a horizontal connecting member

120

. A second and third horizontal connecting members

122

,

124

are connected spaced from each other intermediately of the lengths of three of the secondary inclined upper chord members

104

,

106

and

108

. As noted with respect to the expansion section component, the doubled abutting together in face-to-face m relationship of the secondary inclined lower and upper chords enable these horizontal connecting members to be secured at right angles with respect to these chord members. Each of the secondary inclined lower chord members

96

,

98

,

100

,

102

and the secondary inclined upper chord members

104

,

106

,

108

,

110

are connected at their respective upper ends

116

,

118

to an end base connecting segment

126

(collective representation for the four end base segments shown in FIGS.

3

and

4

(

a

)). A diagonal connecting segment

128

(collective representation of the four diagonal connecting segments shown for the primary left and the primary right ribs

12

in FIGS.

3

and

4

(

a

)) extends from one end portion of the end base connecting segment

126

where it also intersects with and connects to one side of the secondary inclined lower chord member (

96

,

98

,

100

,

102

); and the diagonal connecting segment

128

at its other end intersects with and connects to one side of the secondary inclined upper chord member (

104

,

106

,

108

,

110

) and one end portion of a second end base connecting segment

130

(collective representation for the three second end base connecting segments

130

); the other end portion of the second end base connecting segment

130

intersects with and is connected to the secondary inclined lower chord member (

96

,

98

,

100

,

102

) about intermediate of the length of the latter. A third end base connecting segment

132

(collective representation for the three third end base connecting segments

132

) intersects with and is connected at its one end to the secondary inclined lower chord member (

96

,

98

,

100

,

102

); it intersects with and is connected at its other end to the secondary inclined upper chord member (

104

,

106

,

108

); and it is in abutment along its length with the length of the second end base connecting segment

130

.

Each of the secondary inclined lower chord members (

96

,

98

,

100

,

102

) and the secondary inclined upper chord members (

104

,

106

,

108

,

110

), as connected by their respective upper ends (

116

,

118

) to the end base connecting segment

126

encompass a main triangle (still again, disregarding the dual pitch aspect of the secondary inclined upper chord member

18

), which in turn is divided into three smaller triangles (except for secondary inclined lower chord members

102

and secondary inclined upper chord members

110

) to form a truss, all of which form part of the series of multiple polygon configurated reinforcements in the inclined roof truss section

119

(FIG.

4

(

a

)).

The left inside corner component

60

(

a

) and the right inside corner component

60

(

b

) are each separately constructed, for ease of construction, and may also be sold in this manner for subsequent assembly on a building site of both into the assembled inside corner component

60

shown in FIG.

4

(

a

). When assembled, the primary left and primary right ribs

12

are suitably fastened together to result in the completed assembled inside corner component

60

.

One of the purposes of the inside corner component, as may be noted in

FIG. 7

, is to change direction of the different components illustrated in a home being constructed. For instance, the individual components leading to the left side of the inside corner component are at right angles with respect to the individual components leading away from the right side of the inside corner component. It will, therefore, be recognized that the inside corner component enables and facilitates this change of direction.

In reference to FIG.