Abstract:
A multi-story residential building complex. The building complex includes two ground floor single-story units that each have a front facing entry directly accessing each unit. The building complex further includes up to four second floor units that each have direct stair or elevator access from their ground floor entries. Each building has a front facing the street and a back with a garage unit having one or more parking spaces facing the alley. This configuration allows occupants direct access to their units without the need for common access ways, while simultaneously allowing for improved support for increased population density within a residential area. The present multi-story housing building eliminates the high initial and operating costs of common areas and provides an efficient and economical alternative to current building types.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/166,840 filed on May 27, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to building arrangements. More particularly, the present invention relates to residential building complexes designed to provide increased population density and eliminate the need for common entry areas to each of the individual housing units within the building. 
         [0003]    Multi-family residential buildings typically require common areas to provide access to each unit within the building via stairs, elevators, hallways, or any combination thereof. However, common areas carry substantial construction and operational costs that can be prohibitive in meeting market needs. Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for building configurations that lack the prohibitively expensive common areas generally utilized for providing tenants access to their units, while at the same time not sacrificing the amount of livable space available in the residential area. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of multi-story buildings now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a multi-story building configured to maximize population density and eliminate the need for entryways common to all of the housing units within the building. The present multi-story building comprises two ground floor single story units that each have a front facing entry directly accessing each unit. The building further includes up to four second floor units that each have direct stair or elevator access from their ground floor entries. Each building has a front facing the street and a back with garages facing the alley. This configuration allows occupants direct access to their units without the need for common access ways, while simultaneously allowing for improved support for increased population density within an area. The present multi-story housing building eliminates the high initial and operating costs of common areas and provides an efficient and economical alternative to current building types. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the front of a diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the rear of a diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a plan view of the first floor of a diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the second floor of a diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a plan view of the first floor of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows a plan view of the second floor of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows a plan view of the third floor of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows an elevational view of the front of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  shows an elevational view of the rear of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  shows an elevational view of the right side of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  shows an elevational view of the left side of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the XXX. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are shown perspective views of the front and the rear of a diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. The present building  111  includes two one-story units, i.e. flats, disposed on the first level  131  thereof. The one-story units include a first one-story unit  112 A and a second one-story unit  112 B arranged adjacently to each other. The present building  111  further includes a garage unit  113  arranged adjacently to the first one-story unit  112 A and the second one-story unit  112 B. The first one-story unit  112 A, the second one-story unit  112 B, and the garage unit  113  together define the first level  131  of the building  111 . The first level  131  has the shape of a closed geometric shape, e.g., a rectangular cuboid. 
         [0020]    As used herein, a “garage unit” is enclosed structure having one wall substantially occupied by one or more openable doors to permit access to the interior of the garage unit by a vehicle. The interior of the garage unit can contain one or more spaces in which a vehicle can park. As used herein, a “unit” in the context of a “one-story unit” or a “multi-story unit” is an enclosed structure utilizable as a dwelling by one or more individuals. As used herein, an “access way” is a structure or mechanism for obtaining entry to a unit, e.g., a stairway, an elevator, or a lift. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment of the present building  111 , the garage unit  113  has a number of spaces equal to the number of dwelling units, i.e., the sum of the number of one-story units  112 A, B and the number of multi-story units  114 A, B, C, D in the building  111 . This arrangement ensures that each tenant has access to a parking space. For example, in the depicted embodiment of the building  111 , there are two one-story units  112 A, B and four multi-story units  114 A, B, C, D; therefore, there are six parking spaces within the garage unit  113 . In an illustrative embodiment of the present building  111 , the garage unit  113  is equal in height to the one-story units  112 A, B situated adjacently thereto, thereby creating a planar or level division between the first level  131  and the second level  132  lying thereover. Furthermore, in an illustrative embodiment of the present building  111 , the perimeter of the second level  132  is coextensive with the perimeter of the first level  131  such that the exterior walls of the first and second levels  131 ,  132  are coplanar. 
         [0022]    The present building  111  further includes up to four multi-story units, i.e. townhouses, disposed on the second level  132  thereof. In an illustrative embodiment of the present building  111 , the second level  132  includes a first multi-story unit  114 A, a second multi-story unit  114 B, a third multi-story unit  114 C, and a fourth multi-story unit  114 D arranged adjacently to each other. Whereas the first level  131  is a single story, the second level  132  has multiple stories as it is made up of multi-story units  114 A, B, C, D. Both the second level  132  individually and the combination of the first level  131  with the second level  132  have the shape of a closed geometric shape, e.g., a rectangular cuboid. 
         [0023]    The present building  111  further includes a plurality of entries  115 A, B, C, D, E, F providing access to the various dwellings or units of which the building  111  is composed. The first entry  115 A is disposed on the front of the building  111  and provides access to the first one-story unit  112 A. The second entry  115 B is likewise disposed on the front of the building  111 , separated from the first entry  115 A, and provides access to the second one-story unit  112 B. A third entry  115 C and fourth entry  115 D are disposed on a first lateral side of the building  111  and provide access to the first multi-story unit  114 A and the second multi-story unit  114 B, respectively. A fifth entry  115 E and sixth entry  115 F are disposed on a second lateral side of the building  111  and provide access to the third multi-story unit  114 C and the fourth multi-story unit  114 D, respectively. 
         [0024]    Within the context of a residential environment, an illustrative embodiment of the building  111  is positioned so that the front of the building  111  is facing a street  191  and the rear of the building  111  is facing an alley  192  extending behind the building  111 . The individuals living in the building  111  can access the garage unit  113  located on the rear of the building via the alley  192 . A plurality of the present buildings  111  can be arranged adjacently to each other along a common street or road, thereby forming a neighborhood or complex. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there are shown plan views of the first and second floors of a diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the present multi-story building. In an illustrative embodiment of the present building, the first level  301  includes the first one-story unit  302 A, the second one-story unit  302 B, and the garage unit  303  arranged in a rectangular floor plan. The first level  301  further includes a first entry  304 A positioned to provide access to the first one-story unit  302 A and a first entry  304 B positioned to provide access to the second one-story unit  302 B. The first entry  304 A and the second entry  304 B each provide individualized access to the first one-story unit  302 A and the second one-story unit  302 B. 
         [0026]    The first level  301  further includes a third entry  304 C and a fourth entry  304 D positioned adjacently next to each other between the first one-story unit  302 A and the garage unit  303 . The third entry  304 C includes a first access way  305 A configured to provide individualized entry to the first multi-story unit  402 A. The fourth entry  304 D further includes a second access way  305 B configured to provide individualized entry to the second multi-story unit  402 B. The first level  301  further includes a fifth entry  304 E and a sixth entry  304 F positioned adjacently next to each other between the second one-story unit  302 B and the garage unit  303 . The fifth entry  304 E includes a third access way  305 C configured to provide individualized entry to the third multi-story unit  402 C. The sixth entry  304 F further includes a fourth access way  305 D configured to provide individualized entry to the fourth multi-story unit  402 D. In the depicted embodiment of the present building, the access ways  305 A, B, C, D are illustrated as stairways; however, the access ways  305 A, B, C, D in other embodiments of the present building include elevators, lifts, and other mechanisms for obtaining entry to a higher level unit or structure. 
         [0027]    In the embodiment of the present building depicted in  FIG. 1 , the multi-story units  402 A, B, C, D are two stories in height. However, no claim is made as to a specific maximum height restriction for the multi-story units  402 A, B, C, D. In alternative embodiments of the present building, the multi-story units  402 A, B, C, D can be three or more stories in height. Furthermore, in the depicted embodiment of the present building the multi-story units  402 A, B, C, D are depicted as symmetrical in shape in layout. However, no claim is made as to the multi-story units  402 A, B, C, D being symmetrical in shape, size, or layout. 
         [0028]    The depicted configuration of the present building gives each unit within the building its own individual access way, while still supporting a degree of population density that does not needlessly sacrifice living space. By providing each unit its own access way, there is no need for common access ways that are prohibitively expensive to construct and operate for the building owner. Furthermore, the tight, compact design of the building is convenient to reproduce and situate in complexes or neighborhoods. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5-12 , there are shown perspective, plan, and elevational views of an embodiment of the present building. As in the aforementioned diagrams depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , the present building  501  includes a garage unit  503 , a first entry  504 A that provides individualized access to a first single-story unit  502 A, a second entry  504 B that provides individualized access to a second single-story unit  502 B, a third entry  504 C that provides individualized access to a first multi-story unit  505 A, a fourth entry  504 D that provides individualized access to a second multi-story unit  505 B, a fifth entry  504 E that provides individualized access to a third multi-story unit  505 C, and a sixth entry  504 F that provides individualized access to a fourth multi-story unit  505 D. The third entry  504 C, the fourth entry  504 D, the fifth entry  504 E, and the sixth entry  504 F include a first access way  506 A, a second access way  506 B, a third access way  506 C, and a fourth access way  506 D, respectively. 
         [0030]    The illustrative embodiment of the present building  501  further includes a patio  515  disposed along the front exterior of the building  501  for each of the single-story units  502 A, B and a balcony  514  disposed on the exterior of the building  501  for each of the multi-story units  505 A, B, C, D. Each of the single-story units  502 A, B and the multi-story units  505 A, B, C, D further includes bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and other such amenities common to living spaces. Furthermore, in the depicted illustrative embodiment of the present building  501 , each parking space of the garage unit  501  includes its own corresponding garage door. 
         [0031]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0032]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.