US3738083A

US3738083A - Prefabricated house

Info

Publication number: US3738083A
Application number: US00088256A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Shimano
Original assignee: Shimano Inc
Current assignee: Shimano Inc
Priority date: 1969-11-25
Filing date: 1970-11-10
Publication date: 1973-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-12
Also published as: FR2068644B3; FR2068644A7

Abstract

A prefabricated house constructed in accordance with a primary arrangement wherein a number of prefabrication unit panels peripherally provided with dovetail recesses or projections are dovetail-wise interconnected lengthwise and breadthwise; and a prefabricated house constructed in accordance with a secondary arrangement based on said primary arrangement. Other structural advantages and details will be made clear.

Description

Bard 52/588 O United States Patent 1191 1111 3,738,083 Shimano June 12, 1973 [54] PREFABRICATED HOUSE 3,638,384 2/1972 Martin 52/601 2,231,065 2/1941 Gabel v 1 52/282 [761 Taka f f 3,516,216 6 1970 Galloway 52/582 m 3,152,568 10/1964 Mayer 52/582 Honedorl 2-chome, Nlshl-ku, 3,192,671 7 1965 Smith.... 52/282 Osaka, Japan 3,592,289 7/1971 Aysta 52/586 [22] Filed: Nov, 10, 1970 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 606,106 1926 France 52/285 [21] Appl' 88256 1,384,509 1964 France 52/282 1,544,759 1968 France 52/588 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary ExaminerFrank L. Abbott Nov. 25, 1969 Japan ..44/94812 Assistant Examiner-H. E. Raduazo Nov. 27, I969 Japan ..44/I 13629 Attorney-Hall and Houghton Dec. 28, 1969 Japan ..44/2038 Mar. 31, 1970 Japan ..45/3] 160 52 0.8. Ci. 52/582, 52/282, 52/271, [57] ABSTRACT 1 52/28() A prefabricated house constructed in accordance with 511 im. Cl. E04C 3 02 a Primary arrangement wherein a number 9f Prefabri- [58] Field of Search 52/580, 584, 582, Cation unit Panels p p y provided with dovetail 52/586, 588, 271, 270, 0 282, 591, 594 595 recesses or projections are dovetail-wise interconnected lengthwise and breadthwise; and a prefabri- [56] References Cited cated house constructed in accordance with a second- UNITED STATES PATENTS ary arrangement based on said primary arrangement.

0th tr t l d t d '1 3,310,917 3/1967 Simon 52/601 Clea? s um a van ages an detalls W1] be made 3,436,881 4/I969 Schlecht 52/582 3,605,363 9/1971 2 Claims, 28 Drawing Figures PMBIIEDJUII 2875 stunts 7 Jam avq INVENTOR.

PAIENTED Jim 1 2 1975 SHEEI20F8 INVENTOR.

PAIENTEBmvzma 721(40 W 4 Iva INVENTOR.

BY X741! 7 PATENIED 3.738.083

saw u w a INVENTOR.

PATENIEB Jill I 2 B73 INVENTOR.

' mmmmm 54040 J/f/MA n/a I NVENTOR.

PREFABRICATED HOUSE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION a. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prefabricated house which, like tent for camp, can be easily conveyed and easily assembled and disassembled and which can be used as a prefabricated bungalow, hut, lodge, etc.

b. Field of the Prior Art A prefabricated house constructed by connecting members together by means of nails, bolts and nuts, welds, adhesives, etc. has heretofore been known.

However, such system of connecting members together by means of nails, bolts and nuts, welds, adhesives, etc. deponds much on field work, thus being far fromachieving the ultimate goal of prefabricated construction to manufacture all components of a building in factories and tosimplify field work as much as possible. The system requires much time and labor in assembling operation, and a house, once constructed on such system, is very difficult to disassemble and even if disassembly could be somehow effected, the parts could hardly be put to use for re-fabrication. Moreover, with parts connected together by nails, bolts and nuts, welds, adhesives, etc., the resulting junction is, as it were, a point, or it is localized, with the result that the strength of junction between structural members is low. Further, it is necessary to provide a waterproof packing or the like between connected members to fill the clearance therebetween for preventing the entrance of water. Further, it is undesirable from the aesthetic point of view that the bolts and nuts are exposed here and there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a prepabricated house which comprises a number of prefabrication unit panels peripherally provided with dovetail recesses or projections adapted to be dovetail-wise interconnected lengthwise and breadthwise and likewise disconnected thereby to permit easy and quick assembly and damage-free disassembly of the house, and which will withstand repeated use through alternate assembling and disassembling operations and is convenient for conveyance, wherein the strength of junction between parts is especially greatly increased due to the fit extending throughout the length of the contacted region and waterproofing at the junctions is achieved without using any waterproof packings; the prefabricated house thus constracted has a pleasing appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings showing preferred embodiments of FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view of a junction between two prefabrication unit panels at a corner of a house;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view, in longitudinal section, of a junction between a prefabricated unit panel and a triangular panel at an end of a gable roof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view, in longitudinal section of a junction between a ridge piece and roof panels at both sides of a gable roof;

FIG. 9 is an enlarge perspective view of a roof panel for gable roof, a portion of said roof panel being cut away; I

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view, in longitudinal section, of a junction between two roof panels;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged side view, in longitudinal section, of a junction between a roof panel and a triangular panel at an end surface of a hipped-roof;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective of a triangular roof panel for hipped-roof, a portion of said panel being cut away;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged side view, in longitudinal section, of a junction between two roof panels forming a surface of a hipped-roof;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view, in longitudinal section, of a junction between two roof panels forming two adjacent surfaces of a hipped-roof;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged side view, in longitudinal section, of a junction between a roof panel for hipped-roof and a prefabrication unit panel forming a peripheral wall;

FIG. 16 is a front view of the 'top of a hipped-roof, a portion thereof being cut away;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view of a junction in cases where the connection between two prefabrication panels fonning a peripheral surface is effected by a different arrangement;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the doorway to a house;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional plan view thereof;

FIG. 20 is a side view, in longitudinal section, of a window panel;

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing the connection of sill beams;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a socket member for use at an end of a sill beam;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of a sill beam on which a socket member is mounted;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a junction between a partition sill beam and a peripheral small sill beam;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the floor of a house installed with floor panels;

FIG. 26 is a side view, in longitudinal section, of a sill beam installed on a concrete foundation;

FIG. 27 is a front view of a house installed on a slope site; and

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a connecting section for the connection between a peripheral wall panel and a leg bar when a house is installed on a slope site.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A prefabricated house in accordance with the present invention may be of gable roof construction as shown in FIG. 1 or of hipped-roof construction as shown in FIG. 2. In either case, basically, such house is constructed by dovetail-wise interconnecting prefabrication unit panels 1.

It is to be understood that the term dovetail" used herein is used in a broader sense, referring not only to the usual dovetail joint but also to other joints equivalent thereto having recess and projection means in that said means is so designed that the connection and disconnection of a pair of members provided with said means can be effected in one direction alone.

The prefabrication unit panel 1 in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, is prepared by forming a core body cut to a tetragon of a material which is highly noncombustibile, waterproof and heat insulating and which is light in weight, e.g., foamed styrol, applying colored aluminum foils to both sides of said core body to form a main body 2, and surrounding the periphery of said main body with aluminum shape mambers 3, which have the function of reinforcing the main body 2 and also the function of connecting the panels together. Such aluminum shape member 3 is produced as by an aluminum extniding'machine in such a manner as to minimize the weight, have a shape providing a high reinforcing action, and have a dovetail recess or a dovetail projection 6. The prefabrication unit panel 1 is constructed by peripherally fitting the main body 2 into grooves 4 in the aluminum shape members 3 and clamping the longitudinal and horizontal aluminum shape members 3 against the main body by screws 7 at the four corners by making use of tapped holes 3 formed in the members 3.

The peripheral walls of a prefabricated house of the present invention are constructed by dovetail-wise interconnecting a plurality of said prefabrication unit panels 1 in the direction of width. In this case, adjacent prefabrication unit panels 1 are dovetail-wise interconnected by the dovetail recesses 5 and dovetail projections 6 of the adjacent edges, as shown in FIG. 4. The innermost portion of the recess 5 (or projection 6) of the prefabrication unit panel 1 is provided with steps 5', thereby forming inner and outer water passageways 5" at the fitting region whereby rainwater pouring on the peripheral wallscan be positively prevented from entering the inside of the house through the fitting region. Further, the junction clearance at said fitting region is shaped to have an intricate labyrinth effective to prevent draughts from directly coming in through the junction. In order to construct a peripheral wall in a straight line, prefabrication unit panels 1 are dovetailwise connected to a sill beam 8, Such sill beam is formed by an aluminum extruding machine to have a channel shape as shown in FIG. 5 having a dovetail projection 9 integrally formed thereon throughout the upper surface. Thus, the dovetail recess 5 of the bottom side of the prefabrication unit panels 1 are dovetailwise connected to the dovetail projection 9. In this manner, the prefabrication unit panels form peripheral walls of equal hight, each wall having its constituent panels connected in a straight line without any surface uneveness.

Used in the corners of the peripheral walls of a prefabricated house are corner engagement columns 12 of hollow tetragonal cross-section formed by an aluminum extruding machine, each having dovetail recesses 10 or dovetail projections 11 on two adjacent surfaces throughout the length of the latter. Thus, the dovetail projections 5 or dovetail recesses 6 of the lateral edges of the prefabrication unit panel 1 are dovetail-wise connected to the dovetail recesses 10 or dovetail frojections 11 of two adjacent surfaces of the comer engagement column 12. In this case, the innermost portion of the dovetail recesses 10 (or projections 11) of the corner engagement column 12 is provided with steps 10' adapted to be engaged with the steps 5 of the recess 5' at the side of the prefabrication unit panel I to form two inner and outer water passageways 10'. The latter prevent water and draughts from directly coming in through the junction.

After the four peripheral walls for a prefabricated house have been constructed in this manner, when it is desired to built a house having a gable roof as shown in FIG. 1, right triangular panels 14 for installing a ridge piece 13 will be connected to the upper sides of the prefabrication unit panels 1, as shown in FIG. 1. The right triangular panel 14 is prepared by forming a main body 15 cut to a right triangular shape of the same material of the above-mentioned main body 2 of the prefabrication unit panel 1 and surrounding the periphery of said main body 15 with aluminum shape members 16. Its construction is substantially the same as that of the prefabrication unit panel. Four right triangular panels 14 are used and dovetail-wise connected in pairs to provide two isosceles triangular panels, which are then dovetail-wise connected at their bases to the upper sides of the opposed two of the four peripheral walls of the prefabricated house by inserting them laterally as shown in FIG. 7. i

The ridge piece 13 lies with each end thereof received in a notch formed in the vertex of each of said isosceles triangular panels 17. As shown in FIG. 8, the ridge piece 13 is formed of an aluminum shape member of hollow cross-section having a dovetail recess 18 formed integral therewith. Fitted laterally into the dovetail recess 18 of the ridge piece 13 is a projection 20 on the lower surface of a ridge piece carrier 19. As shown in FIG. 8, roof panels 22 are laterally brought into engagement with projections 21 formed integral with the opposed lateral sides of the intermediate portion of the ridge piece carrier 19, and also with the dovetail recesses 5 in the upper surfaces of the prefabrication unit panels 1 which formtwo peripheral walls, thereby forming a gable roof. The roof panel 22, as shown in FIG. 9, comprises a main body partitioned into main bodies 23 and 23' for the covering portion and roof portion, respectively, three top, middle and bottom transverse sash bars 24, 25 and 26, and two iongitudinal sash bars 27 and 28. The main bodies 23 and 23 are formed of the same material as that of the main body 2 of the prefabrication unit panel 1. The transverse sash bar 24, as shown in FIG. 9, has a recess 24 in the inner side for eceiving the upper portion of the main body 23 of the roof portion and a recess 24" in the opposite or outer side. The recess 24" in the outer side is so formed that one of the projections 21 on the intermediate portion of the ridge piece carrier 19 of FIG. 8 can be inserted into it in the direction of the gable surface. The intermediate transverse sash bar 25, as shown in FIG. 9, is provided at both sides thereof with recesses 25' and 25" for receiving the lower portion of the main body 23' of the roof portion and the upper portion of the main body 23 of the covering portion, respectively, and it also has a projection 25" on the lower surface thereof adapted to be fitted into the recess 5 of the upper surface of the prefabrication panel of FIG. 8. Further, the two longitudinal sash bars 27 and 28 are provided at their respective inner surfaces with recesses 27 and 28' for receiving both sides vided at their innermost portions with

steps

29 and 30,

respectively. These three transverse sash bars 24, 25, 26 and two longitudinal sash bars 27, 28 surround the main body 23 of the covering portion and the main body 23 of the roof portion and are connected together by screws 31, thereby forming a single roof panel 22. Incidentally, the covering portion may sometimes be omitted from the roof panel. The manner in which the roof panels22 are fitted to the projections 21 on the intermediate portion of the ridge piece carrier 19 of FIG. 8 and the dovetail recesses 5 of the upper surfaces of the prefabrication unit panels 1 will now be described in more detail. Initially, a first roof panel 22 is placed in position by laterally fitting, the recess 24" of the top transverse sash bar 24 thereof over one projection 21 on the intermediate portion of the ridge piece carrier 19 and, at the same time, laterally fitting the projection 25" on the lower surface of the intermediate transverse sash bar 25 into the dovetail recess 5 of the upper surface of the prefabrication unit panel 1, leaving the distal longitudinal sash bar 28 intact. Next, a second roof panel 22 is inserted from above or below into the dovetail recess 29 of the longitudinal sash bar 28 with the help of the projection 30 on the longitudinal sash bar 27, as shown in FIG. 10, whereby two roof pannels 22 are transversely interconnected. The second roof panel 22 is then laterally moved to be engaged with the ridge piece carrier 19 and the upper portion of the prefabrication unit panel 1. A third roof panel 22, as well as those that follow, will be likewise fitted. A corner engagement beam 32, as shown in FIG. 11, is brought into engagement with the dovetail recess 29 or projection 30 of the

longitudinal sash bar

27 or 28 of the end roof panel 22 and also with the recess 16' or projection 16" of the upper aluminum shape member 16 of the triangular panel 14. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 10, the junction between roof panels 22 is formed with water passageways 33 and 34 by the steps 29' of the innermost portion of the recess 29 (or projection 30), thereby positively preventing leaking of rain. Finally, as shown in FIG. 8, a ridge cover plate 36 is mounted by laterally inserting its recess 36' over the projection 35 of the top of the ridge piece carrier 19, thereby completing the prefabricated house of gable roof construction shown in FIG. 1.

Next, the prefabricated house of hipped-roof construction shown in FIG. 2 will now be described. In this case, since the construction of the peripheral walls and sill of the prefabricated house is exactly the same as that for the prefabricated house of gable roof construc tion, a description of the detailed construction thereof will be omitted. Thus the attaching construction of the roof panels is somewhat different. That is, the roof panel 37, as shown in FIG. 12, is formed of a main body 37a cut to a right triangular shape and surrounded with aluminum shape members 37b. The main body 37a is of the same material as that of the main body of the prefabrication unit panel I. The outer surface of the aluminum shape member 37b is formed with a dovetail recess 37b or projection 37b". The construction of the hipped-roof is initiated by fitting the lower projection 40' of a pole plate 40 into the dovetail recesses 5 of the upper sides of the prefabrication unit panels 1 forming a peripheral wall, as shown in FIG. 15. Next, two roof panels 37 are used and their aluminum shape members 37b are placed on the upper projections 40" of the opposed pole plates 40 for the peripheral walls. A latch 42 is fitted into the recesses 37b of the upper aluminum shape members 37b of thesetwo roof panels 37, as shown in FIG. 16. The upper sides of these two roof panels 37 are connected to a canopy 38 by means of stainless steel bolts and nuts 44, 44', as shown in FIG. 16. At the same time, the lower portions of these, two roof panels 37 are connected to the latch 42 by means of stainless stell bolts 41 screwed into nuts 41' embedded in the lower aluminum shape members 37b of the roof panels 37. Other roof panels 37 are them fitted along the sides of said two panels 37 from below, with the lower and upper portions thereof being connected to the pole plate 40 and canopy 43. This fitting is effected by the use of the dovetail recesses 37b and projections 37b" of the lateral edges of the roof panels 37 in the manner shown in FIG. 13. This junction, as shown in FIG. 13, is formed with two inner and outer water passageways 38 defined by the steps 37b" formed in the innermost portion of the projection 37b (or recess 37b), thereby positively preventing leaking of rain. The above-mentioned roof panel is of a right triangular shape, and two such roof pannels, when transversely interconnected, constitute a surface of the hipped-roof. Next, an engagement beam 39 made of a hollow aluminum shape member having an inverted trapezoidal cross-section as shown in FIG. 14 is fitted along each edge of the hipped-roof which is a quadrangular pyramid. In this case also, the fitting is effected by the use of dovetail projections 39 formed on both sides of the engagement beam 39, and the junction is also formed with water passageways 39" defined by steps 39" formed in the innermost portion of the projection 39' on each side, thereby preventing leaking of rain. It will be seen that the hipped-roof thus constructed is an isosceles triangule in each of its surfaces forming a quadrangular pyramid. Thereby, the prefabricated house of hipped roof construction shown in FIG. 2 is completed.

It is possible to further facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the prefabricated house of the present invention by the use of the following connections.

As shown in FIG. 17, an intermediate engagement column 45 formed of an aluminum shape member is used for effecting lateral connection between prefabrication unit pannels l forming a peripheral wall of a prefabricated house, said column being formed at both sides thereof with dovetail projections (or recesses) 45' for dovetail connection. By this measure, assembling and disassembling operations can be facilitated, since assembly and disassemble can be effected simply by inserting and withdrawing the intermediate engagement column 45 between two prefabrication unit panels 1. Further, it is possible to provide both the engagement column and the prefabrication unit panel with dovetail recesses of projections of the same shape on both sides.

The above-mentioned construction using the intermediate engagement column 45 may be applicable not only to the peripheral walls of a prefabricated house but also to the connection between two roof panels 22 and between two right triangular panels 14 for roof side in the case of the gable roof shown in FIG. 1 and to the connection between two right triangular roof panels 37 in the case of the hipped-roof construction shown in FIG. 2 while providing similar functions and merits.

Further, the peripheral walls of the prefabricated house of hipped-roof construction of the invention are not limited in shape to a tetragon, but they may be in the shape of a hexagon, octagon, etc. In this case, the connection between peripheral wall comers is effected by the use of a corner engagement column having a trapezoidal cross-section similar to that shown in FIG. 14, with the angle between both lateral surfaces being adapted for the particular polygon.

Further, the doorway to a house is constructed in the manner shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. Thus, the doorway comprises a door panel 46 interposed between prefabrication unit panels 1 constituting a peripheral wall of the house in such a manner as to be free to be opened and closed with the help of a hinge member 47. The door panel 46 has a main body out to a tetragonal shape and surrounded with aluminum shape members 60. The door panel 46 is provided at both lateral edges thereof with cylindrical projections 51 integral with the aluminum shape members 50. In FIGS. 18 and 19, the numerals 52 and 53 denote a door stopper and a door support column, respectively, dovetail-wise connected to both lateral edges of the prefabrication unit panels 1 on both sides of the doorway. The door support column 53 has a cylindrical projection 54 integral therewith. The hinge member 47 is fitted over the cylindrical projection 51 of the door panel 46 and the cylindrical projection 54 of the door support column 53, thereby pivotally mounting the door panel 46 for opening and closing movements with respect to the door support column 53. The hinge member 47 has a slipping off preventive member 56 fixed to the upper portion of its recess 55 fitted over the cylindrical projection 54 of the door support column 53 by means of a screw 57, the lower end of said slipping off preventive member 56 abutting against the upper end of the cylindrical projection 54 of the door support column '53, thereby preventing the downward slipping off of the hinge member 47. Further, the prevention of the door panel 46 from slipping off relative to the hinge member 47 is ensured by a slipping off preventive member 60 fixed to the lower portion of the other recess 58 of the hinge member 47.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the door of the house of the invention is constructed by placing a panel 62 such as veneer board, wooden plate or almnium plate in the lower half within a tetragonal aluminum shape frame 61 of the same construction as the prefabrication unit panel 1 and a glass sheet 63 in the upper half in such a manner that it is free to move upwardly and downwardly and that the degree of opening of the window can be adjusted.

The outer periphery of the aluminum shape frame 61 is provided with a dovetail recess (or projection) 65 and has the same external form as that of the prifabrication unit panel, the method of connection therefor being also the same as that for the prefabrication unit panel 1.

Further, the connection at the corners of the sill beams 8 is effected by obliquely cutting both ends of each sill beam 8 as shown in FIG. 8, fitting socket members 66 shown in FIG. 22 over the sill beams 8 as shown in chain lines in FIG. 21, and securing them in position by stainless steel bolts 67 as shown in FIG. 23. In FIG. 21, the

numerals

68 and 69 denote sill beams used when it is desired to effect partition. When it is desired to connect the sill beams 68 and 69 to sill beams 8 associated with peripheral walls, socket members 70 as shown in FIG. 24 are secured to the sill beams 8 by stainless steel bolts 71 and them the sill beams 68 and 69 are inserted into socket members.

Further, the connection between the sill beams 8 and the prefabrication unit panels 1 of a house of the invention may be effected by providing L-shaped projections 72 on the sill beams 8 as shown in FIG. 23, engaging said projections 72 with the dovetail recesses S of the lower sides of the panels 1 and using square bars 73 for the purpose of preventing slipping off. Such method of connection is advantageous in that the panels 1 can be easily disconnected from the sill beams 8 by the removal of the square bars 73 and that the connection between the sill beams 8 and panels 1 can also be easily effected.

In cases where floor panels 74 are used with a house of the invention, floor sash bars 75 will be attached to the sill beams 8 as shown in FIG. 25. The floor sash bars 75 are supported on brackets 77 secured to the sill beams by stainless steel bolts 76.

Further, it is also possible to use a house of the invention by installing the sill beams directly on the ground. Thus they may be installed on a concrete foundation constructed on the ground, as shown in FIG. 26. In FIG. 26, the numeral 79 denotes an anchor bolt having its lower portion embedded in the concrete foundation 78; 80, a nut therefor; 81, a washer; and the numeral 82 denotes an opening provided in the side of a sill beam 8 for turning the nut 80.

When a house of the invention is installed directly on the ground, if the ground is inclined or uneven, then stainless steel leg bars 83 adjustable in height are used, as shown in FIG. 27. In this case, instead of using the sill beams 8, the intermediate engagement columns 45 and comer engagement columns 12 described previously are used for lateral connection of the panels 1 forming the peripheral walls and a panel-receiving plate 84 as shown in FIG. 28 is secured to the lower end of each

engagement column

45, 12 by screws 85. A nut 86 is rigidly secured to each panel-receiving plate 84 and the upper threaded portion 87 of the leg bar 83 is screwed into the nut 86. The nuts 86 are received in the hollow portions 88 of the

engagement columns

45 and 12 arid it is so arranged that the upper threaded portion 87 of the leg bar 83 can be received in the hollow portion 88. In FIG. 28, the numeral 89 denotes a seat plate secured to the lower end portion of the leg bar 83, said seat plate serving to plevent the leg bar from sinking into the ground.

Whiles there have been described herein what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the several features of the invention, it will be obvious to these skilled in the art that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention.

It is therefore to be understood that the examplary embodiments thereof are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the oppended claims and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.

I claim:

1; A prefabricated house comprising a plurality of panel members in assembled, interconnected relationship forming the walls of the house, the vertical edge of at least one of said panel members being provided with a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending projecting side wall portions, the free ends of said projecting side wall portions being provided with inwardly extending flange portions at right angles thereto, said wall and flange portions forming a first longitudinally extending channel member along said vertical edge having a centrally positioned, longitudinally extending slot therealong, the vertical edge of the next adjacent and interconnected panel member having longitudinally extending projecting leg means centrally positioned along said vertical edge and positioned in said longitudinal slot of the adjacent panel member, said projecting leg means being provided on either side thereof with a foot portion extending outwardly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto, said leg portion and foot portion being in interfitted relationship within the formed channel member of the adjacent panel in a dovetail manner, the free end of each of the foot portions being provided with a notch portion extending along its longitudinal length at the corner of its outer extremity facing the inner surfaces of the wall and flange portions of said first channel member and forming therewith vertical drain means between the said projecting parts of the adjoining panel members.

2. A prefabricated house construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said leg means include a pair of laterally spaced parallel leg portions, with each leg portion being provided with an outwardly extending foot portionnotched.

Claims

1. A prefabricated house comprising a plurality of panel members in assembled, interconnected relationship forming the walls of the house, the vertical edge of at least one of said panel members being provided with a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending projecting side wall portions, the free ends of said projecting side wall portions being provided with inwardly extending flange portions at right angles thereto, said wall and flange portions forming a first longitudinally extending channel member along said vertical edge having a centrally positioned, longitudinally extending slot therealong, the vertical edge of the next adjacent and interconnected panel member having longitudinally extending projecting leg means centrally positioned along said vertical edge and positioned in said longitudinal slot of the adjacent panel member, said projecting leg means being provided on either side thereof with a foot portion extending outwardly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto, said leg portion and foot portion being in interfitted relationship within the formed channel member of the adjacent panel in a dovetail manner, the free end of each of the foot portions being provided with a notch portion extending along its longitudinal length at the corner of its outer extremity facing the inner surfaces of the wall and flange portions of said first channel member and forming therewith vertical drain means between the said projecting parts of the adjoining panel members.

2. A prefabricated house construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said leg means include a pair of laterally spaced parallel leg portions, with each leg portion being provided with an outwardly extending foot portion notched.