DWELLING COMPLEX

Abstract

A dwelling complex includes lower and upper dwelling units and a flooring system. Lower and upper dwelling units have a circumference defined by one or more walls. The upper dwelling unit is above the lower dwelling unit. The flooring system forms a floor between the lower dwelling unit and the upper dwelling unit. The flooring system extends beyond the circumference of the upper dwelling unit sufficiently to form a mezzanine walkway outside the upper dwelling unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dwelling complexes are groups of dwelling units designed to accommodate many occupants. These complexes are suitable for many types of environments. In particular, dwelling complexes may be useful in secure holding facilities such as jails and prisons. Often these complexes have mezzanine walkways attached to the side of dwelling units above the ground level. These mezzanine walkways are not integral with the floors inside the upper level dwelling units.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention dwelling complex.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a top elevation of one embodiment of the dwelling complex of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed isometric view of the flooring system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the joists of the flooring system shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is side elevation of the structure of the dwelling complex of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the structure of the dwelling complex of FIGS. 1, 2, and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a dwelling complex 2 according to the present invention. Dwelling complex 2 includes lower dwelling units 4, upper dwelling units 6, and flooring systems 8. Although some of the Figures illustrate dwelling complex 2 having two lower dwelling units 4, two upper dwelling units 6, and two flooring systems 8, only one lower dwelling unit 4, one upper dwelling unit 6, and one flooring system 8 are necessary for the present invention.

Lower dwelling unit 4 has a circumference defined by at least one wall 10. Upper dwelling unit 6 has a circumference defined by at least one wall 12. Upper dwelling unit 6 is provided above lower dwelling unit 4. In one embodiment, lower dwelling unit 4 and upper unit 6 are a pair of stacked dwelling units.

FIG. 2 is a top elevation of dwelling complex 2 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows the circumference of each upper dwelling unit 6 defined by four walls 12. Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the circumferences of upper dwelling unit 6 and lower dwelling unit 4, as defined by walls 10 and 12, are congruent and that the circumference of upper dwelling unit 6 is superimposed above the circumference of lower dwelling unit 4.

Flooring system 8 forms a floor 14 between lower dwelling unit 4 and upper dwelling unit 6. In one embodiment, flooring system 8 wholly separates upper dwelling unit 6 from lower dwelling unit 4. Flooring system 8 also extends beyond the circumference of upper dwelling unit 6 sufficiently to form a mezzanine walkway 16 outside upper dwelling unit 6. In one embodiment, flooring system 8 extends under the at least one wall 12 of upper dwelling unit 6. In one embodiment, as shown in the Figures, flooring system 8 also extends beyond the circumference of lower dwelling unit 4.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of two side by side flooring systems 8. In one embodiment, space between adjacent flooring systems 8 is concealed by mezzanine joint plate 18. In an embodiment of flooring system 8, each flooring system 8 includes floor joists 20 and floor plate 22. Floor plate 22 is affixed to floor joists 20 and provides a flooring surface. Floor joists 20 provide structural support for floor plate 22.

In one embodiment, recesses 24 are formed in the edges of each floor plate 22 on the mezzanine walkway 16. Recesses 24 provide additional room for attaching mezzanine joint plate 18 to mezzanine walkway 16.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an embodiment of joists 20 of flooring system 8. In one embodiment, at least one joist 20 supports both floor 14 and mezzanine walkway 16. As illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the longitudinal joists support both floor 14 and mezzanine walkway 16.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side and front elevations, respectively, of one embodiment of the internal structure of dwelling complex 2. In one embodiment, a doorway 26 is formed in one of the walls 12 of upper dwelling unit 6 and flooring system 8 extends under the wall 12 having the doorway 26.

The foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives, modifications, and variances can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention embraces all such alternatives, modifications, and variances that fall within the scope of the described invention.

Claims

1. A dwelling complex comprising:

a lower dwelling unit having a circumference defined by at least one wall;

an upper dwelling unit above the lower dwelling unit and having a circumference defined by at least one wall; and

a flooring system forming a floor between the lower dwelling unit and the upper dwelling unit, the flooring system extending beyond the circumference of the upper dwelling unit sufficiently to form a mezzanine walkway outside the upper dwelling unit.

2. The dwelling complex of claim 1 wherein the flooring system includes at least one joist supporting both the floor and the mezzanine walkway.

3. The dwelling complex of claim 1 wherein the flooring system wholly separates the upper dwelling unit from the lower dwelling unit.

4. The dwelling complex of claim 3 wherein the flooring system includes at least one joist supporting both the floor and the mezzanine walkway.

5. The dwelling complex of claim 1 wherein the flooring system further extends beyond the circumference of the lower dwelling unit.

6. The dwelling complex of claim 1 wherein the circumferences of the upper dwelling unit and the lower dwelling unit are congruent.

7. The dwelling complex of claim 6 wherein the circumference of the upper dwelling unit is superimposed above the circumference of the lower dwelling unit.

8. The dwelling complex of claim 1 wherein the flooring system includes a plurality of longitudinal joists and each of the plurality of longitudinal joists support the floor and the mezzanine walkway.

9. The dwelling complex of claim 1 wherein the flooring system extends under the at least one wall of the upper dwelling unit.

10. The dwelling complex of claim 9 wherein a doorway is formed in one of the walls of the upper dwelling unit and the flooring system extends under the wall having the doorway.

11. A dwelling complex comprising:

a pair of stacked dwelling units, each of the dwelling units unit having a circumference defined by at least one wall; and

a flooring system forming a floor between the pair of stacked dwelling units, the flooring system extending beyond the circumference of the dwelling units sufficiently to form a mezzanine walkway outside one of the dwelling units.

12. The dwelling complex of claim 11 wherein the flooring system includes at least one joist supporting both the floor and the mezzanine walkway.

13. The dwelling complex of claim 11 wherein the flooring system wholly separates the pair of stacked dwelling units.

14. The dwelling complex of claim 13 wherein the flooring system includes at least one joist supporting both the floor and the mezzanine walkway.

15. The dwelling complex of claim 11 wherein the circumferences of the dwelling units are congruent.

16. The dwelling complex of claim 15 wherein the circumference of one of the dwelling units is superimposed above the circumference of the other dwelling unit.

17. The dwelling complex of claim 11 wherein the flooring system includes a plurality of longitudinal joists and each of the plurality of longitudinal joists support the floor and the mezzanine walkway.

18. The dwelling complex of claim 11 wherein the flooring system extends under the at least one wall of one of the dwelling units.

19. The dwelling complex of claim 18 wherein a doorway is formed in one of the walls of one of the dwelling units and the flooring system extends under the wall having the doorway.