Multiple unit housing system

A housing system formed of a plurality of separate, preconstructed living units which housing system is characterized by a unique roof joint system wherein one of the adjacent living units comprises an overhanging casing protruding from and running along the length of its roof edge and the adjacent living unit comprises an uprising flange element extending along the length of its roof edge; and further characterized in that the roof edges of adjoining living units need not be equal in height and the length of any unit comprising the housing system need not be equal to the length of any other unit within the housing system. The present invention allows for a multitude of new and different housing designs for preformed, transportable homes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to the field of pre-formed housing 
systems and more especially to pre-formed housing systems comprised of 
multiple units which are attached to form a single housing system at a 
set-up site. In its most specific embodiments, the present invention 
relates to the field of mobile homes having multiple, transportable living 
units for attachment into a single housing system at a set-up site. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Over the years, a very large industry has been developed around the concept 
known as pre-formed homes. One branch of tne industry which is of 
particular importance throughout the United States and the world is the 
mobile home industry. Builders of mobile homes (or house trailers as they 
are sometimes called) have adapted to constructing larger and larger homes 
by preconstructing homes in portions, which portions are made to be 
attached together at some distant location. Each individual portion of the 
preconstructed home is made of a size small enough to be legally 
transported on roads and highways, yet when the portions are finally 
attached together, the home is of a much greater size than could be 
transported. Throughout this specification, each individual portion shall 
also be referred to as a "living unit" or "unit" to indicate that it is a 
separately constructed unit comprising at least a portion of the living 
quarters of a home (albeit, a mobile home). The industry has developed 
what is known as double-wides (two transported units attached together at 
the distant location) and triple-wides (three portions separately 
transported and attached together at the distant site). 
Although the industry has made great strides in the development or larger 
and larger "mobile" homes, there have been significant limitations by 
virtue of the means of construction, requirements of transportation, and 
concerns for stable, leak-proof final construction, all of which have 
militated against architecturally and artistically pleasing designs of the 
preconstructed homes. 
In order to provide for environmentally sealed housing systems, and for 
other reasons, the industry has found it necessary to construct the 
individually transported living units in identical lengths; the ends of 
each unit being required to match-up. Interior doorways, passages, and 
free spaces must be meticulously and intolerantly aligned from one unit to 
the next at the time of preconstruction so that, after set-up, all 
passageways and free spaces will properly match-up as one passes from one 
living unit portion into an adjacent living unit portion. Often times, a 
great deal of time and expense is expended at set-up to move and align 
passageways and freespaces of adjacent living units. Since the living 
units must match-up at their ends, it is frequently required that interior 
walls and trims be completely torn down and reconstructed at the set-up 
site in order to accomplish proper alignment. 
Wall heights and floor-to-roof distances must also be meticulously and 
intolerantly constructed in the preconstruction stage in order that the 
roof and floor will match up at the time of set-up. It is not unusual for 
a great deal of time and expense to be wasted at the time of set-up while 
doing on-site gable work to saw off, shim up or otherwise rebuild or 
repair roof structures to match the peaks or roof edges of adjacent living 
unit portions. Such match-ups can be especially difficult in dealing with 
traditional triple-wides where the gable and peak portions of the two 
outer living units must separately and sequentially be matched to the 
respective, adjacent peaks of the inner living unit. Also, due, 
apparantly, to the sheer complication of preconstruction and alignment and 
roof sealing and other problems, the industry has been unable to or has 
avoided manufacturing and selling mobile homes with two or more roof peaks 
or with a peaked roof completely fabricated on a single living unit. 
Furthermore, the industry traditionally provides for the sealing and 
covering of the roof joint between adjacent living units by the use of a 
"bridge cap". In such a construction, layers of sealant, felt paper 
(perhaps), and shingle are used to plug and overlay the gap formed between 
the two adjacent living units. Such "bridge cap" construction is not 
always desirable or efficient in sealing against rains and inclement 
weather. Also, the need for accurate alignment of adjacent roof peaks and 
edges makes the present methods of sealing roof joints critically 
important while at the same time making the chances of excellant 
construction less probable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly described, the present invention relates to a housing system formed 
of a plurality of separate, preconstructed living units which units are of 
similar or varying lengths and heights. Adjacent living units are 
outfitted with a unique roof joint system wherein one of the adjacent 
living units comprises an overhanging lip protruding from and running 
along the length of its roof edge and the adjacent living unit comprises 
an uprising flange element protruding from and extending along the length 
of its roof edge. When the two adjacent units are set-up side by side at 
the set-up site, construction is such that the overhanging lip of the one 
unit protrudes so as to overhang the uprising flange of the other unit in 
a "awning" manner; the overhanging lip and uprising flange combining to 
assist in directing rain away from the joint between the adjacent units. 
In preferred embodiments, an evironmental seal is completed by the 
positioning of a cover plate over the flange of the one unit and below the 
overhanging lip of the other unit, as is more clearly described below. 
The invention is characterized by the unique roof joint system as briefly 
mentioned above. The invention is further characterized in that the roof 
edges of adjoining living units need not be equal in height. Rather, in 
the preferred embodiments of the present invention, that edge of one unit 
which bears the uprising flange described above is lower to the ground 
surface than is the edge which bears the overhanging lip member of the 
adjacent unit. Such inventive elements of the present invention provide 
for numerous and varying roof designs and pitches unattainable in the 
industry. Furthermore, such features allow for slight up and down 
adjustment of adjacent living units to align the adjacent floors without 
adversely affecting the roof joint. 
The present invention is further characterized in that the length of any 
unit comprising the final housing system need not be equal to the length 
of any other unit within the housing system. In the preferred embodiments, 
for example, a double-wide housing system may consist of two adjacent 
units each of differing lengths. In a triple-wide housing system of the 
preferred embodiments, the housing system may consist of three units, each 
of a differing length, or perhaps two units of the same length and one 
unit of a short length. Among other advantages, such uneven lengths allow 
for the back and forth adjustment between adjacent living units in order 
to overcome slight discrepancies in the match up between interior walls, 
passageways and free spaces. Such ability to adjust alignments of entire 
units on the set-up site greatly reduces the need for precise and 
intolerant accuracies in the initial preconstruction of each unit and 
lessens the need for expensive and time consuming rearrangement of 
interior walls at the time of set-up. Furthermore, this unique ability to 
utilize component units of varying size in a single housing system allows 
for a multitude of new and different housing designs. 
As a result of the above features, the present invention also opens the way 
for both structurally and architecturally pleasing housing systems 
comprised of four, five, six and even more large, transportable living 
unit portions. 
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a multiple 
unit housing system which allows for a vast variety of architectural 
designs. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a preconstructed, 
multi-unit housing system which uniquely allows minor errors at the time 
of preconstruction to be easily and cheaply overcome at the time of 
set-up. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and more 
flexible roof joining and sealing system for implementing the set-up of 
preconstructed, multiple unit housing systems. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a 
preconstructed, multiple unit housing system which lessens, as compared to 
the prior art, the need for expensive, precision preconstruction. 
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become 
apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which like numerals 
represent like components throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a 
multiple unit housing system 10 in accordance with the present invention 
which is formed from the attachment of two, independant, preconstructed 
living units (first living unit 20 and second living unit 40). Two side 
walls, 21, 22 of the first living unit 20 are seen in FIG. 1. Though not 
seen in FIG. 1, the first living unit 20 has a third side wall (23) 
opposing side wall 21 and a forth side wall (24) opposing side wall 22. 
The roof 25 of the first living unit 20, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, is a 
slanted or pitched roof slanting downward from the top edge 27 of the side 
wall 21 to the shorter, top edge 28 of the side wall 23. 
The second living unit 40 also has four side walls 41, 42, 43, and 44. Side 
walls 41 and 42 are visible in FIG. 1, but it is understood that a third 
side wall 43 (see breakaway) opposes side wall 41 and a fourth side wall 
44 opposes side wall 42. It can be seen that the second living unit 
comprising a pitched and peak roof 46 which includes a first pitched roof 
portion 47 and a second pitched roof portion 48 meeting at a peak 49. 
Side wall 21 of the first living unit 20 and side wall 43 of the second 
living unit 40 are what is known typically in the industry as "marriage 
walls". That is, marriage walls are those respective walls of each living 
unit which are outfitted with doorways, passageways and free spaces which 
are opened to the environment until such time as they are brought into 
abutment with an adjacent living unit. Once brought into abutment with the 
adjacent living unit, the marriage walls coordinate doorways, passageways 
and free spaces to allow movement of residents from one living unit into 
the adjacent living unit while remaining within the interior of the 
finally assembled multiple housing unit system 10. For ease of 
identification, when referring to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the marriage 
wall 21 of the first living unit 20 will also be referred to herein as the 
abutment side wall 21; and the marriage wall 43 of the second living unit 
40 will also be referred to herein as the engagement wall 43. 
Attached to and protruding outwardly from the top edge 27 of the abutment 
side wall 21 of living unit 20 is an elongated casing 31 which is formed 
of a support beam 32 and a downwardly extending lip beam 33. The 
orientation of the casing 31 defines in conjunction with the abutment wall 
21 a trough 34 (an inverted or upside down trough) along the upper edge 
of, and to the outside of, the abutment wall 21. A flange member 35, is 
attached to and extends above the upper edge 51 of the engagement wall 43 
of the second living unit 40. It will be noted that, in the particular 
embodiment of FIG. 1, the upper edge 51 of the engagement wall 43 is 
angular having two pitched portions (although one of the pitched portions 
is not in view in FIG. 1). For better detail, refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. As 
seen in FIG. 3, the flange member 35 is formed to correspond with the 
shape of the upper edge 51 of the engagement wall 43. In the preferred 
embodiment of FIG. 1, the flange member 35 is formed of a flexible, 
flashing type material which can be snipped or cut at a midway point to 
form the roof peak angles as indicated by 36 in FIG. 3. A material splice 
37 is used to give strength and support to the flange member 35 at the 
bend 36. Preferrably, the tips 38 formed by the bending of the flange 
member 35 are cut away and discarded so as to form a flat edge 39 at the 
high point 39 of the flange member 35. 
Referring back to FIG. 1, and with additional reference to FIG. 2, a 
tapered cover plate 30 is positioned on the roof 46 of the second living 
unit 40 along the upper edge 51 of the engagement wall 43. Such cover 
plate is to the outside of the flange member 35 such that the flange 
member 35 is positioned or "sandwiched" between the cover plate 30 and the 
abutment wall 21 of the first living unit 20. It is also noted, by 
reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, that the cover plate 30 is also positioned 
with the entire length of its upper most edge sheltered within the 
inverted trough 34 of the overhanging casing 31. With reference to FIG. 2, 
roofing tar or other sealant is applied to the point of intersection 
between the cover plate 30 and the roof 46 of the second living unit 40. 
The cover plate 30 of the particular embodiment of FIG. 1, is cut for ease 
of assembly into six sections (indicated as 30a-f in FIG. 4). These six 
sections of the cover plate 30 extend along practically the entire length 
of both the first pitched roof portion 47 and the second pitched roof 
portion 48 of the second living unit. The cover plates 30a-f are tapered 
to correspond with the pitch angle of the second living unit roof 46. 
FIG. 4 further shows the first living unit 20, mounted on a trailer 66 
outfitted with wheels 68 for transporting of the individual unit 20 along 
highways to the set-up site. The second living unit 40 is shown mounted on 
its own trailer 67 outfitted with wheels 69 for transporting of the second 
unit to the set-up site. 
FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the multiple unit housing system 10 
of the present invention, which embodiment comprises three living units 
attached together to form a single multiple unit housing system. In this 
"triple-wide" embodiment of FIG. 5, there exist again a first living unit 
20 which comprises an abutment side wall 21; again, a second living unit 
40 comprising an engagement side wall 43 and a pitched and peak roof 
structure 46. Again, the unique roof joining and sealing system is used as 
part of the attachment technique for the first second living units. The 
roof joining system includes: the overhanging casing 31 attached to the 
top edge 27 of the abutment side wall 21; the flange member 35 attached to 
the upper edge 51 of the engagement wall 43; and the cover plates 30, all 
as previously described. This triple-wide embodiment of FIG. 5 further 
comprises a third living unit 60 which is attached to the second living 
unit 40 at the side wall which, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, would have 
been side wall 41. In this embodiment, that side wall 41 shall be referred 
to as side wall 40' since it is somewhat different in this embodiment. 
The third living unit 60 has four side walls 61, 62, 63, and 64 (side 
walls 61 and 64 are not seen in the view of FIG. 5). Side wall 63 of the 
third living unit and the side wall 41' of the second living unit are, in 
this embodiment, "marriage walls" in that they comprise the interior 
doorways, passageways and free spaces for free movement between the two 
adjacent living units 40, 60. In order to stay with the nomenclature 
previously used, and in order to establish a common nomenclature 
throughout this specification, side wall 41' of the second living unit 40 
will be termed an engagement side wall and side wall 63 of the third 
living unit 60 shall be termed an abutment side wall. Hereafter in this 
specification, engagement side walls will be those "marriage walls" to 
which a flange member, such as flange member 35, is attached (regardless 
of the living unit being considered); and an abutment side wall shall 
refer to any marriage wall to which an overhanging casing, such as casing 
31, is attached (regardless of the living unit being discussed). 
With reference again to FIG. 5, an overhanging casing 31' is attached to 
the top edge 65 of the abutment side wall 63 in a manner similar to casing 
31 of living unit 20. A flange member 35' is attached along the upper edge 
52 of the engagement side wall 41' in a similar manner to that of flange 
member 35 at engagement side wall 43. Tapered cover plates 30' are slid 
within the trough 34' of the casing 31' and overlay the flange member 35' 
to sandwich the flange member against the abutment side wall 63 of the 
third living unit 60. Again, a sealant is placed along the intersection of 
the cover plate 30' and the second living unit roof 46. Thus, FIG. 5 shows 
a triple-wide, multiple unit housing system 10 comprised of three 
side-by-side living units 20, 40, 60 which are attached together in roof 
sealing, leak proof manner using overhanging casings, uprising flange 
members and cover plates in the unique manner of the present invention. 
It should be noted here that both the double-wide embodiment of FIG. 1 and 
the triple-wide embodiment of FIG. 5 comprise living units which are not 
of equal length. The term "length" used throughout this specification 
shall refer to the dimension along the direction of travel in the event 
the unit where supported on the trailer for transportation as indicated in 
FIG. 4. For example, the length of living unit 20 is the distance from 
side wall 22 to side wall 24. The length of living unit 40 is the distance 
between side walls 42 and 44. With additional reference to FIG. 5, the 
figure is drawn with the intent of indicating that the third living unit 
60 extends further to the front of said wall 42 that does the first living 
unit 20. That is, with reference to FIG. 6, side wall 62 is further in 
front of side wall 42 than is side wall 22. 
The relative construction of the respective marriage walls of the 
individual living units 20, 40, 60 will be discussed in reference to the 
triple-wide embodiment of FIG. 5 by reference to the floor plan of FIG. 6. 
This is simply a sample floor plan and the invention is in no way to be 
limited to the particular plan disclosed. FIG. 6 shows living unit 20, 
living unit 40 and living unit 60 placed side by side after set-up. The 
respective marriage wall 21, 43, 41', 63 are shown in floor plan view. 
Marriage/abutment wall 21 of living unit 20 is shown to have three 
doorways 72, 73, 74 and a fourth passageway 75 without a door. Two of the 
doorways 72, 73 possess hanging doors which swing in the first living unit 
20 while one of the doorways 74 possesses a hanging door which swings 
outwardly from the first living unit 20 and thus into the second living 
unit 40. The marriage/engagement wall 43 comprises two, long free spaces 
78, 79 spaning between solid wall portions. The marriage/engagement wall 
41' comprises a passageway 82 and two free space areas 83, 84 all of which 
interrupt the solid wall member. Marriage/abutment side wall 63 includes a 
doorway 87, with a hanging door that swings away from the third living 
unit 60 and into second living unit 40, and two passageways 88, 89, all of 
which interrupt the solid wall portions. It can be seen by studying this 
FIG. 6 that in order for proper flow to be accomplished, and in order for 
the proper swing of outwardly swinging doors (such as doorways 74 and 87) 
it is necessary for the respective doorways, freespaces and passageways to 
be properly aligned when the housing system 10 is finally set-up. 
Preconstruction: Each of the living units 20, 40, 60 is preconstructed in a 
typical manner to include all of the appropriate interior and exterior 
finishings. Preferably, the flange member 35 is formed and attached to the 
respective engagement side wall 43, 41' at the time of preconstruction. 
Also, preferably, the overhanging casing 31 is formed at the time of 
preconstruction and attached to the respective abutment side wall 21, 63. 
In the preferred embodiment, the support beam 32 is permanantly attached 
to the top edge 27 of the abutment wall 21 at preconstruction. The lip 
beam 33 is also, preferrably, permanently attached along the entire length 
of the support beam 32. The connections between the lip 33, support beam 
32, abutment wall 21 and roof 25 are sealed against rain and other 
environmental conditions by using roofing tars, sealants and other roofing 
materials such as shingles which cover and protect the casing 31 at the 
time of preconstruction. In an alternate embodiment, the lip beam 33 is 
preconstructed with a removable mid-section 55 which is easily removed and 
reattached at the time of set-up. (See FIG. 4.) The purpose of this 
removal mid-section 55 is to allow for clearance of the high point 39 of 
the flange member 35 in the event that the roof peak 49 of the second 
living unit 40 is so high as to require the high point of the flange 
member to itself be tucked into the trough 34 of the casing 31. Thus, at 
the time of set-up, once the abutment wall 21 and engagement wall 43 have 
been brought into position abutting one another, the removable mid-section 
55 can be replaced into the casing 31 covering any portion of the flange 
member 35 which extends into the trough 34. Cover plates 30 are, 
preferably, pre-cut to the proper lengths and taper and are placed inside 
one of the living units for safe storage until they are needed at the 
set-up site. Each of the living units 20, 40, 60 is mounted on a wheeled 
transporting trailer 66, 67 in a manner known and typical to the industry. 
In the case of house trailers or mobile homes the living units are 
permanently mounted to their respective trailers 66, 67. In the case of 
modular type housing, the individual units are placed upon trailers for 
later removal therefrom. 
Set-up: With reference to all of the above described elements and features, 
a description of these features and elements as they relate to set-up of 
the housing system 10 at a permanent or semi-permanent site is described 
below. Each living unit 20, 40, 60 is separately transported, for example 
by truck, along highways to a chosen set-up site where they are set 
side-by-side and brought into close abutment with one another in 
accordance with their predesigned sequence (ie. first unit, then second 
unit, then third unit) by means and techniques typically known in the 
industry. Unique to the present invention, each engagement wall is brought 
into position against its respective, adjacent wall 43, 41' such that the 
flange member 35, 35' is flush against the engagement wall 21, 63. 
Once the respective marriage walls are brought into position, the 
respective living units 20, 40, 60 are adjusted by moving them along their 
lengths for proper alignment of doorways, free spaces and passageways. The 
floor plan of FIG. 6 is helpful in pointing out the unique adjustment 
features of the present invention. Although, in some locations along 
abutting walls, there is very great clearance with little concern for 
blockage of openings, there are some locations where clearance and 
alignment are critical. Attention is drawn to the marriage of passageway 
82 and doorway 87 where, at intersection point "A", an error of just a few 
inches could result in the end wall 44 blocking the doorway 87. Attention 
is also directed to two other critical points "B", "C" where slight errors 
of a few inches in preconstruction of either the second living unit 40 or 
the third living unit 60 could result in blockage of a passageway 88, 89. 
Since adjacent living units, in the preferred embodiments, are of unequal 
lengths, and since it is not extremely important that the other units be 
exactly aligned at their end walls 24, 64 and 22, 62, then each of the 
units can separately be adjusted along its length so as to compensate for 
minor preconstruction errors at critical points such as "A", "B", and "C". 
The unique nature of the roof joining system of the present invention also 
assists in this lengthwise movement and adjustment since, by virtue of the 
nature of the roof joining system, a proper roof joint and seal can be 
accomplished regardless of the position of the abutment walls 43, 41' 
along the lengths of the respective, adjacent engagement wall 21, 63. 
Once the lengthwise adjustments have been completed to align openings, the 
respective living units 20, 40, 60 are aligned vertically by moving each 
unit separately up and down to assure that the floors of all three living 
units are level and on the proper horizontal plane or planes. Since there 
are no roof edges to match between the living units and the relative roof 
heights of the respective units are not extremely critical, reasonable 
vertical adjustments of one or more of the living units to overcome 
preconstruction errors can be easily and practically accomplished with the 
system of the present invention. Furthermore, the unique nature of the 
roof joining system of the present invention allows for a proper roof 
joint and seal regardless of the relative heights of the engagement walls 
43, 41' and their respective, abutment side walls 21, 63. 
Once all of the units are finally aligned and adjusted, the set-up crew 
simply takes the cover plates 30, 30' and slides them into position such 
that they are within the trough 34, 34' of the casing 31, 31' and 
sandwiching the flange member 35, 35' against the respective abutment wall 
21, 63. In the event that adjustments are made to the relative heights of 
the adjacent living units, the cover plates 30, 30' can be modified for 
desired fit by simply trimming the top edge or an end of the plate. In the 
preferred embodiment, the cover plate 30, 30' is cut into small portions 
for ease of transportation and handling. At set-up, each portion is slid 
into its proper location by inserting it from the end of the casing 31, as 
in the view of FIG. 2. Once the cover plates 30, 31' are properly in place 
the roof tar of other sealant 53 is applied as indicated above. Proper 
sealant is also applied along the cut seams of the cover plates. 
Alternate Embodiments: In addition to the two embodiments of FIG. 1 and 
FIG. 5, in which the living units 20, 40, 60 are placed side by side with 
their lengths running parallel, the present invention envisions and 
encompasses numerous other embodiments which incorporate the features of 
the present invention. Some of the possible alternate embodiments, but not 
all of the possible embodiments, are displayed in FIGS. 7-17. FIGS. 7A and 
7B show a side view and end view respectively of a double-wide embodiment 
of the present invention. The embodiment of FIG. 7 includes a first living 
unit 20' and a second living unit 40' having oppositely slanted roofs 25', 
46'. The second living unit 40' is shorter in length than the first living 
unit 20' (see FIG. 7A). The first living unit 20' includes an abutment 
side wall 21' and an overhanging casing 31' protruding from the top edge 
27' of the abutment side wall. The second living unit 40' includes an 
engagement side wall 43' which is shorter in height than the abutment side 
wall 21' of the first living unit 20'. A flange member 35" is attached to 
the outside of the engagement wall 43' along the upper edge 51' of the 
engagement wall 43'. A cover plate 30" is slid into place, in accordance 
with the present invention, with its upper portion held within the 
inverted trough 34' of the casing 31' and its lower edge resting on the 
roof 46' of the second housing unit 40', while the cover plate sandwiches 
the flange member 35" against the abutment side wall 21' of the first 
living unit 20'. It will be noted here that the upper edge 51' of the 
engagement wall 43' is a straight edge and not a peak as in the previous 
embodiment. Furthermore, the cover plate 30" is an elongated, rectangular 
member rather than the tapered member of the previous embodiments. 
It is within the scope of this invention for certain embodiments of the 
invention to eliminate the cover plate 30. With reference, for example to 
FIG. 7, the flange member 35" protrudes into the trough 34' along the 
entire length of the flange member. That is, the flange member 35" is not 
simply below the casing 31' but also protrudes into the trough for its 
entire length. In such a case, the cover plate, although still preferred, 
is dispensible. 
FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which two living units 20', 40' are 
positioned with their lengths perpendicular to one another. Unlike the 
previous embodiments, the marriage wall of the first living unit 20' is 
one of the shorter side walls (ie. side wall 22). The first living unit 
20' again has a pitched roof 25' and the second living unit 40' has a 
pitched and peaked roof 46' with a pitch which is at a lesser angle than 
that of the first unit roof 25'. It will be noted that the marriage wall 
22 of the first living unit 20' is again the abutment side wall and 
carries the overhanging casing 31'. The marriage wall 43' of the second 
living unit 40' is again the engagement side wall carrying the flange 
member 35". The cover plate 30" of this embodiment is again tapered to 
match the angle between the two roofs 26', 46'. 
The alternate embodiment of FIG. 9 shows a multiple unit housing system 10 
comprised of three living units 20', 40', 60'. This embodiment shows the 
mixing of varying roof structures and progressively smaller living units. 
This embodiment of characterized by the second living unit 40' having both 
an engagement side wall 43' which carries the uprising flange member 35"; 
and the same living unit 40' also includes an abutment side wall 41" which 
carries the overhanging casing 31". 
FIGS. 10A and 10B disclose an embodiment in which the second living unit 
40' includes a pitched and peaked roof 46' which begins below and extends 
above the top edge 27' of the side wall 21' of the first living unit 20'. 
In this embodiment, the respective marriage walls 21' and 43' serve as 
both abutment side walls and engagement side walls in that each marriage 
wall 21', 43' carries a flange member 35", 35' attached to a portion of 
its upper edge 27', 51' and also carries an overhanging casing 31", 31' at 
the remaining portion of its upper edge. This hybrid is shown in FIG. 10B. 
FIGS. 11-17 show planar views of various arrangements of living units which 
can be accomplished using the elements and techniques of the present 
invention, as described above. The invention is not limited by those 
designs which are disclosed in the drawings. Without describing all of the 
features presenting themselves in FIGS. 11-17, which in most cases will be 
self-explanatory in light of the above specification, some of the more 
interesting features are stated below. In FIG. 11, the second living unit 
40' has marriage walls on two adjacent side walls rather than two opposing 
side walls. FIG. 16 makes use of a fourth living unit 90', indicating that 
the present invention is not limited as to the number of living units 
which can be attached to form the multiple unit housing system 10. FIG. 16 
and FIG. 17 show housing units 10 which are formed by the attachment of 
two or more housing units 20', 40', 60' of unusual geometric 
configurations. 
Whereas this invention has been described in specific detail with 
particular reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be 
understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the 
spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinbefore and as defined 
in the appended claims.