Patent ID: 6223487
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: E02D,E04C

Abstract:
A building comprising wall modules horizontally arrayed end-to-end in series, thereby forming a continuous vertical wall, each module including:a. opposing inner and outer wall surfaces extending between its ends, and wherein the ends of each module include:(1) a first end including a vertically elongated protrusion having opposing sides with a terminal end therebetween, the sides being spaced from the inner and outer wall surfaces, with lands extending from the sides to the inner and outer wall surfaces;(2) a second end including a vertically elongated recess having opposing sides with a floor situated therebetween, the sides being spaced from the inner and outer wall surfaces, with lands extending from the sides to the inner and outer wall surfaces;wherein each recess is configured to receive a protrusion therein with a substantially complementary fit;b. a passage defined therein, the passage being surrounded by passage walls; andc. a tensioning member extending through the module's passage, the tensioning member being bonded to at least a substantial portion of the passage walls of the module,wherein the tensioning member extends through the passages of at least two adjacent modules to maintain them in side-by-side relationship;wherein the ends of two of the modules, when fit together to form the joint, define a vertically elongated channel extending through at least a substantial portion of the joint.