Abstract: A plurality of metalogs form a freestanding wall or fence, or structure comprising walls, upper floors whenever applicable and/or roof of a building. Each metalog has an axis. A stiffener extends through a set of aligned holes in the metalogs at right angles to the axes. One or more additional stiffeners may similarly extend through one or more additional sets of aligned holes in the same metalogs. The stiffeners function to resist forces acting in a direction parallel to the axes of the metalogs and therefore enhance the stability of the structure and obviate otherwise required X-bracing.

Abstract: A foundation for building superstructures is formed of metalogs that define an aboveground enclosure, a confined first fill that substantially fills the enclosure to a height sufficient to anchor and support the superstructure, and a loose second fill that is placed atop the first fill and leveled and compacted to form a hardpan floor.

Abstract: An assembly comprises a first connector attached to a first hollow metal log of a building superstructure; a latch; and a second connector attached to a second hollow metal log of the superstructure. The first connector comprises a slot for receiving a projecting flange of the latch, and the second connector comprises an opening adapted to receive a cam portion of the latch. The projecting flange can be pre-engaged with the slot to form a preassembly. The engagement of the cam with the opening formed in the second connector then forms a final assembly wherein the first connector, the latch, and the second connector are latched together so that the first and second logs are interconnected and made resistant to wind uplift.

Abstract: A modular connector element has a hook, a catch, and fittings for connection to an end of a hollow log for assembly into a wall or building superstructure. In assembling three such connector elements in a sequence conforming a corner between two structural walls, the hook of the middle connector element makes a click connection with a catch formed on a second such connector element positioned on one side of the middle connector element, and the catch of the middle connector element makes a click connection with a hook formed on a third such connector element positioned on the side of the middle connector element opposite the second connector element. The connector elements with their respective logs are thus rapidly, securely and manually click-locked together to erect walls and building superstructures.

Abstract: A plurality of metalogs form a-freestanding wall or fence, or structure comprising walls, upper floors whenever applicable and/or roof of a building. Each metalog has an axis. A stiffener extends through a set of aligned holes in the metalogs at right angles to the axes. One or more additional stiffeners may similarly extend through one or more additional sets of aligned holes in the same metalogs. The stiffeners function to resist forces acting in a direction parallel to the axes of the metalogs and therefore enhance the stability of the structure and obviate otherwise required X-bracing.

Abstract: An assembly comprises a first connector attached to a first hollow metal log of a building superstructure; a latch; and a second connector attached to a second hollow metal log of the superstructure. The first connector comprises a slot for receiving a projecting flange of the latch, and the second connector comprises an opening adapted to receive a cam portion of the latch. The projecting flange can be pre-engaged with the slot to form a preassembly. The engagement of the cam with the opening formed in the second connector then forms a final assembly wherein the first connector, the latch, and the second connector are latched together so that the first and second logs are interconnected and made resistant to wind uplift.

Abstract: A building wall or roof is formed of tubular structural members arranged in parallel, planar, spaced-apart relation. Saddle-shaped structural members having strengthening portions are respectively mounted on the tubular members with a clearance space, and thermal and/or acoustical insulation is interposed in the clearance space between the strengthening portions and the tubular members. As compared to conventional tubular log structures, the resulting wall or roof is resistant to horizontal forces generated by the wind or earthquakes and is faster and easier to construct and, furthermore, considerably better performing in terms of thermal and acoustic insulation without having to increase its thickness on an otherwise proportionate basis.

Abstract: For use in a building having a roof and a wall each formed of hollow logs, wherein the wall has an uppermost horizontal log, a device is provided for connecting the roof to the wall. The device has a connector for connection to an end of a roof log, a saddle for mounting on the wall log and spreading the roof load over a wide area of the wall log, and a plate for securing the connector to the saddle.

Abstract: A substantially flat roof has elongated log-shaped members arranged horizontally in adjacent, side-by-side relation. Each log-shaped member has a contoured upper surface, and the contoured upper surfaces of adjacent members define a space between them that tapers from a maximum width at the highest elevation of the contoured surfaces to a minimum width where the contoured surfaces of adjacent log-shaped members are closest together. Elongated inserts are arranged between the contoured upper surfaces. Each insert has a wide portion that abuts an adjacent pair of the contoured upper surfaces at a relatively high elevation, and tapers to a narrow portion that abuts the contoured surfaces at a relatively low elevation substantially at the ends of the adjacent pair of log-shaped members. Rain falling on the roof drains by gravity from the contoured upper surfaces to the inserts and along the inserts towards their narrow portions and falls from the roof.

Abstract: Hollow metal “logs” each extending usually horizontally are arranged in adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart relation to form, or be part of, a wall or roof. Rigid insulating members are inserted between the logs. Each insulating member is shaped to fit around a log on either side of the insulating member. Each insulating member has a pair of outer faces respectively on either side of the wall or roof and lying substantially in respective planes parallel to the axes of the logs. The insulating members abut one another and collectively surround the logs and insulate the wall or roof.

Abstract: For use in a building having a roof and a wall each formed of hollow logs, wherein the wall has an uppermost horizontal log, a device is provided for connecting the roof to the wall. The device has a connector for connection to an end of a roof log, a saddle for mounting on the wall log and spreading the roof load over a wide area of the wall log, and a plate for securing the connector to the saddle.

Abstract: A substantially flat roof has elongated log-shaped members arranged horizontally in adjacent, side-by-side relation. Each log-shaped member has a contoured upper surface, and the contoured upper surfaces of adjacent members define a space between them that tapers from a maximum width at the highest elevation of the contoured surfaces to a minimum width where the contoured surfaces of adjacent log-shaped members are closest together. Elongated inserts are arranged between the contoured upper surfaces. Each insert has a wide portion that abuts an adjacent pair of the contoured upper surfaces at a relatively high elevation, and tapers to a narrow portion that abuts the contoured surfaces at a relatively low elevation substantially at the ends of the adjacent pair of log-shaped members. Rain falling on the roof drains by gravity from the contoured upper surfaces to the inserts and along the inserts towards their narrow portions and falls from the roof.

Abstract: A U-shaped rigidifying member cooperates with parallel metal “logs” each usually extending horizontally. A curved portion of the U wraps halfway around a first log, and first and second legs respectively descend in parallel from opposite sides of the curved portion. The legs are substantially tangent to a second log. This structure is repeated with the U-shaped members overlapping and inverted or otherwise oriented to shed rain, and forms all or part of a wall or sloping roof of a building. The U-shaped members are secured to each other and to the logs to form a continuous structural ensemble that is aesthetically pleasing, even without additional interior and exterior sheathing. It is moreover strong and highly resistant to an external force having a horizontal component parallel to the plane of the wall or roof. The rigidifying members can alternatively be J-shaped.

Abstract: A foundation for a building superstructure has a number of hollow foundation tubes laid horizontally on the ground and susceptible to degradation over time by contact with the ground. Each tube is protected by one or both of the following: (1) a reinforcement housed within the tube, shaped conformably to the interior of the tube, and resistant to degradation by contact with the ground; and (2) a membrane surrounding the tube, shaped conformably to the exterior of the tube, and resistant to degradation by contact with the ground. The tubes are arranged to form the footprint of a small building. In completing the building superstructure, other tubes, which need not have the same protection, are stacked on the foundation tubes. Degradation of the foundation tubes over time because of their contact with the ground is rendered inconsequential by the reinforcement or prevented by the membrane.

Abstract: A foundation for a building superstructure has a number of hollow foundation tubes laid horizontally on the ground and susceptible to degradation over time by contact with the ground. Each tube is protected by one or both of the following: (1) a reinforcement housed within the tube, shaped conformably to the interior of the tube, and resistant to degradation by contact with the ground; and (2) a membrane surrounding the tube, shaped conformably to the exterior of the tube, and resistant to degradation by contact with the ground. The tubes are arranged to form the footprint of a small building. In completing the building superstructure, other tubes, which need not have the same protection, are stacked on the foundation tubes. Degradation of the foundation tubes over time because of their contact with the ground is rendered inconsequential by the reinforcement or prevented by the membrane.

Abstract: Hollow metal “logs” each extending usually horizontally are arranged in adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart relation to form, or be part of, a wall or roof. Rigid insulating members are inserted between the logs. Each insulating member is shaped to fit around a log on either side of the insulating member. Each insulating member has a pair of outer faces respectively on either side of the wall or roof and lying substantially in respective planes parallel to the axes of the logs. The insulating members abut one another and collectively surround the logs and insulate the wall or roof.

Abstract: A U-shaped rigidifying member cooperates with parallel metal “logs” each usually extending horizontally. A curved portion of the U wraps halfway around a first log, and first and second legs respectively descend in parallel from opposite sides of the curved portion. The legs are substantially tangent to a second log. This structure is repeated with the U-shaped members overlapping and inverted or otherwise oriented to shed rain, and forms all or part of a wall or sloping roof of a building. The U-shaped members are secured to each other and to the logs to form a continuous structural ensemble that is aesthetically pleasing, even without additional interior and exterior sheathing. It is moreover strong and highly resistant to an external force having a horizontal component parallel to the plane of the wall or roof. The rigidifying members can alternatively be J-shaped.

Abstract: A tubular wall member useful for the erection of building structures comprises an end connector inserted into the open ends of a hollow tubular member. The end connector provides a flat, substantially circular front end portion and a rearward extending body portion comprising two spaced, matchingly notched, parallel plates. Tabs rearwardly extending from the periphery of the circular front end of the connector are provided with the rear end portion thereof bent upwardly and forward so that when the front of the end connector is inserted into the open end of the tubular member, the bent tabs contact the end of the tubular member.

Abstract: A building structure including a plurality of horizontally disposed hollow tubular structural members stacked to form walls joined at a corner, a method of constructing the same, and a wall member, and end connector for a wall member, utilized therein. In one form of the invention, wall members are formed of hollow metal tubes each having affixed to at least one end an end connector having a notch for interlocking with a like end connector of at least one intersecting, abutting wall member.