Patent Publication Number: US-2022228358-A1

Title: Interior Construction Structures and Systems

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/139,284 filed Jan. 19, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     As global wealth, construction technologies, and urban real estate prices advance, so do the design and construction of taller, more slender building structures. These building structures are designed to accommodate wind events and remain safe with differential displacements of more than several feet from the base of the building to the top floor. 
     Inter-story displacements or drift are displacements between adjacent building levels, and are generally small displacements, for example as small as 0.5 inches or less. Yet inter-story displacements generate stresses and strains on interior constructions, which are commonly attached to both a lower and upper reinforced concrete or concrete on composite metal “base” floor slab. This differential movement and the resulting stresses in the interior framing steel and drywall create popping and creaking sounds that can be disturbing in both residential and commercial applications. 
     Many buildings employ a tuned mass damper (TMD) to reduce building movement in a wind event and to prevent structural failures in earthquakes. However, buildings with TMDs will still sway and create significant and disruptive inter-story displacements, which translate to the interior constructions within the building. 
     In order to avoid the vertical and horizontal stresses and strains on interior construction drywall partitions due to inter-story displacement, a variety of products claim to achieve flexibility and allow movement between floor slabs. Typically, this is accomplished using a slotted steel track or steel angle braces and resilient padding. However, it has been shown that these products do not provide adequate flexibility of movements and the stress and strain on wall still generates popping and creaking sounds, as well as visible cracking in the interior construction finishes. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present invention, interior construction systems and structures are defined to mitigate noise and cracking caused by inter-story drift. 
     In one example embodiment, an interior building structure comprises a plurality of side walls, each of the plurality of side walls comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface, a bottom end, and a top end opposite the bottom end, the bottom end being connected to a lower base building slab of the base building and the top end being free. A lateral support structure, comprising a joist structure having at least one lateral support extends between two of the plurality of sidewalls. 
     The structure further comprises airspace portions located between the exterior surface of the plurality of side walls and bases wall of a building. 
     These as well as other aspects and advantages of the synergy achieved by combining the various aspects of this construction method, that while not previously disclosed, will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  depicts an isometric view of an interior building construction assembly within a base building structure, in accordance with at least one example embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an isometric view of the construction assembly of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with at least one example embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a front view of an interior building construction assembly such as the construction assembly of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with at least one example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a front view of an alternative interior building construction assembly, in accordance with at least one example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures, which form a part thereof. In the figures, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, figures, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein. Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The present disclosure provides an interior construction assembly that alleviates noise and stresses that are created by inter-story differential movements between building floors. To this end, the present disclosure comprises a decoupled interior construction assembly and structure for interior framing or construction of partitions and ceilings to significantly reduce effects created from inter-story displacement. The construction assembly also provides cosmetic benefits, such as preventing or reducing the prevalence of cracks in wall finishes and ceilings. 
     The present disclosure disconnects or decouples the interior framing of walls from a floor slab above, also referred to as the upper floor slab or upper base building slab, and slabs along the sides. Thus, contact between the interior framing of walls from the upper base building slab and sidewall slabs is eliminated, resulting in an interior construction structure that provides adequate flexibility of movements during movement of the building. While other constructions attempt to provide a structure having the ability to move as the building moves, they ultimately do not adequately free the structure from the base building, and thus do not eliminate the stress or strain on the structure. 
     The constructions and methods described herein include decoupling wall structures from an upper floor slab and side slabs and building a free-standing, five-sided framed structure supported only from the lower base building slab. 
     Turning to the figures,  FIG. 1  depicts an isometric view of an interior building construction assembly  100  within a base building structure  90 , in accordance with at least one example embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a base building structure  90  comprises a lower base building slab  91 , an upper base building slab  92 , and a plurality of base building walls  94 . The construction assembly  100  within the base building structure  90  comprises a finish ceiling  106 , a lateral support or joist structure  108 , and a plurality of stud walls  114 . A plurality of airspace portions  110  are formed between the base building structure  90  and the construction assembly  100 , as will be described in further detail below. 
     The lower base building slab  91  and the upper base building slab  92 , along with the base building walls  94 , form the base structure of a building. In some examples, the lower base building slab  91  and the upper base building slab  92  may each comprise a precast concrete slab or plank, concrete placed on metal decking, or cast-in-place concrete. The base building walls  94  each include an exterior surface and an interior surface. The sizing of the base building structure  90  may vary widely, depending on the design of the building. The structures for the building construction assembly  100  described herein are designed and sized to fit within and address the size of the base building structure  90  that is already present upon completion of construction of the building. 
     In the isometric view of  FIG. 1 , two base building walls  94  are shown; another two base building walls  94  are generally present so as to form an enclosure when combined with the lower base building slab  91  and the upper base building slab  92 , defining an interior chamber  96 . Within the interior chamber  96  resides the construction assembly  100 . 
     The stud walls  114  of the construction assembly  100  may comprise four vertical walls, each having a bottom end and a top end opposite the bottom end, the bottom end being connected to the lower building slab  91  and the top end being free. The stud walls  114  may be formed from metal or wood studs with gypsum wall board, for example. In the isometric views of  FIGS. 1-2 , three stud walls  114  are shown. Access features such as doorways  120  and windows  130 , may extend through the stud walls  114  to provide access into the construction assembly  100 . 
     The construction assembly  100  also comprises the finish ceiling  106 , which is positioned above the lower base building slab  91 , and positioned above the finish ceiling  106  is the joist structure  108 . 
     The joist structure  108  may comprise a frame  109  that holds a plurality of joists  111  that extend across the frame. In some embodiments, the joist structure  108  may be formed from metal, wood, or a composite material. The joist structure  108  provides for lateral stability since the stud walls  114  do not contact the upper base building slab  92 . 
     The lateral support or joist structure  108  is affixed to and supported off of one or more of the stud walls  114 . The joist structure  108  does not contact the upper base building slab  92 , nor the base building walls  94 . Although joists are disclosed, any lateral support element may form the lateral support structure. 
     In one example embodiment, the finish ceiling  106  hangs from the upper base building slab  92 , without any contact with the stud walls  114  or the joist structure  108 . An air gap may be maintained between edges of the finish ceiling  106  and the interior surfaces of the stud walls  114  to avoid contact between the finish ceiling  106  and the stud walls  114 . The finish ceiling  106  may be suspended with threaded rods, pencil rods, wire hangers, or the like, wherein these suspension elements extend through gaps between the plurality of joists  111 . The finish ceiling  106  may comprise drywall or another interior finish ceiling structure, in some embodiments. 
     In another example embodiment, the finish ceiling  106  is not attached to the upper base building slab  92 , but is instead attached to one or more of the interior surfaces of the stud walls  114  and/or the joist structure  108 . 
     The stud walls  114  may be connected to the lower base building slab  91  only, and be positioned a distance from the base building walls  94  and the upper base building slab  92  such that there is no contact between the base building walls  94 , the upper base building slab  92 , and the stud walls  114 . 
     Lateral support for the stud walls  114  is provided via the plurality of joists  111  and possibly also via diagonal strapping to connect the walls. Depending on the building facade system and other structural elements, specialty reveal details may be required to maintain flexible connection to the exterior system or interior columns and structural members. 
     The airspace portions  110 , which may also be referred to as unbridged airspace or unbridged voids, are formed by the distance from the base building and the interior construction assembly, comprising portions or regions located between the base building structure  90  and the construction assembly  100 . In some embodiments, the airspace portions  110  form a width about 1 inch from the exterior surface of the stud walls  114  to the interior surface of the base building walls  94  or slab  92 . In certain embodiments, the airspace portions  110  may comprise a width ranging from 0.5 inches to 10 inches or more. 
     One airspace portion  110  may be provided between the top surface of the stud walls  114  or the joist structure  108  and the upper base building slab  92  above. Thus, there may be no connection between the stud walls  114  or the ceiling structure (comprising the finish ceiling  106  and the joist structure  108 ) and the upper base building slab  92 ; these would be decoupled from each other. Alternately, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the finish ceiling  106  may be suspended from the upper base building slab  92  without connection to the joist structure  108  or the stud walls  114 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts an isometric view of the construction assembly of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with at least one example embodiment, and  FIGS. 3 and 4  depict front views of construction assemblies such as the construction assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
     The airspace portions  110  are shown in  FIG. 2 . Similarly as with the airspace portions  110  between the stud walls  114  and the base building walls  94 , in some embodiments, the airspace portions  110  between the upper base building slab  92  and the top surfaces of the stud walls  114  also comprise at least 1 inch, and in some embodiments, can range between 0.25 inches to 10 feet. In other examples, the gap may be even larger, well over 40 feet, depending on the size of the base building. Such airspace portions  110  provide for the avoidance of vertical and horizontal stresses and strains to be transmitted to the drywall partitions, stud walls  114 , due to inter-story drift. 
       FIG. 3  shows a front view of a construction assembly, wherein the finish ceiling  106  is not attached to the upper base building slab  92 , but is instead attached to one or more of the interior surfaces of the stud walls  114  and/or the joist structure  108 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a front view of a construction assembly, wherein the finish ceiling  106  is suspended with suspension elements  112  extending through gaps between the plurality of joists  111 , up to and affixing the finish ceiling to the upper base building slab  92 . 
     In one embodiment, a method for building a construction assembly within a base building structure is provided. The construction assembly may comprise the construction assembly  100 , and the base building structure may comprise the base building structure  90 , as described with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     The method comprises affixing bottom surfaces of a plurality of stud walls to a lower base building slab, and leaving a gap between the plurality of stud walls and the base building walls. 
     Next, the method comprises affixing a joist structure to interior surfaces of the plurality of stud walls. At least one joist extends within a frame of the joist structure, and the frame is affixed to the interior surfaces of the plurality of stud walls, thereby providing lateral support to the stud walls. 
     The method may further include hanging a finish ceiling via hanging elements from an upper base building slab, wherein the hanging elements are not attached to the joist structure. The hanging elements may extend through gaps between joists, as described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 . Alternatively, the method may include affixing the finish ceiling to one or both of the stud walls and the joist structure, and not the base building slab, as depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
     The disclosed non-contact construction and associated methods provide for superior interior framing to mitigate the effects of building drift, all the while without compromising the stability of the interior construction structure. 
     Thus, while traditional framing comprises interior walls spanning from building slab to building slab, being rigidly connected to the slabs to prevent the structure from falling over, the present structure disconnects or decouples the walls from the upper base building slab and the base building walls, allowing for additional movement of the structure while continuing to provide adequate support to prevent the interior structure walls from collapsing. 
     While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.