This invention is to transmit the horizontal force between the general floor portion and skip floor efficiently, to avoid the damage to the boundary part between the skip floor structure and the general floor portion in the event of an earthquake or the like, and can heighten the degree of freedom in design by reducing restrictions on the building form.

As a solution, skip floor structure of this invention has the bellyband beams (5) constructed at the same height level as the floor beams (1) above or below the outer peripheral floor beams (3) of skip floor (4).

In addition, transmission beams (10) for transmitting horizontal force from the outer peripheral floor beams (3) to the bellyband beams (5) are interposed at key points between the outer peripheral floor beams (3) and the bellyband beams (5).

This invention is to transmit the horizontal force between the general floor portion and skip floor efficiently, to avoid the damage to the boundary part between the skip floor structure and the general floor portion in the event of an earthquake or the like, and can heighten the degree of freedom in design by reducing restrictions on the building form.

As a solution, skip floor structure of this invention has the bellyband beams (5) constructed at the same height level as the floor beams (1) above or below the outer peripheral floor beams (3) of skip floor (4).

In addition, transmission beams (10) for transmitting horizontal force from the outer peripheral floor beams (3) to the bellyband beams (5) are interposed at key points between the outer peripheral floor beams (3) and the bellyband beams (5).

An arena apparatus for staging a sport with at least one athlete is provided. The arena apparatus includes a floor having a perimeter; and at least one wall at the perimeter and extending upwardly and outwardly from the floor at an angle greater than or equal to fifteen degrees measured from an axis perpendicular to the floor, wherein the angle of the wall prevents the athlete from standing on the wall.

A building truss including a structural floor element, a vertical support on each side of the structural floor element, rafters spanning the vertical supports, a structural horizontal tie which interconnects the rafters, and a roof peak on the horizontal tie. A building is constructed by erecting multiple trusses parallel to each other in sequence in a longitudinal direction spanning one gable end to the opposed gable end. Each building truss defines the full room and roof spaces and provides the required structural strength. Each truss defines a 2D envelope; the floor element spanning in the horizontal direction, vertical supports for the vertical direction, and a roof assembly joining the two vertical supports. Each truss is unitary and constructing the multiple trusses parallel to each other provides a 3D structural building envelope.

The innovation relates to a pool covering system that is usable as a flooring surface. The pool covering system includes brackets and support beams spanning the pool opening. The beams provide structural support to cross members and flooring placed on top of the beams. The pool covering system does not require significant drainage of the pool and does not damage the pool structure during installation and use.

Modules providing structural platforms for floors, ceilings, walls, and a roof of a wood frame building are shown and described. Once installed, modules receive suitable finishing materials providing continuous, flat surfaces, with exceptions for penetrations. Each module may include a wood perimeter, upper joist boards or roof rafters, coupled to the wood perimeter at relatively high positions thereon, and lower joist boards or roof rafters coupled to the bounded wood perimeter at relatively low positions thereon. Within each module, each upper joist board or upper roof rafter has a lowermost edge above a level of an uppermost edge of each said lower joist board or lower roof rafter. A gap between the lowermost edge and every lower joist board or roof rafter accommodates ducts, wiring, and plumbing. Each upper joist board or roof rafter is staggered in plan view relative to the lower joist boards or roof rafters.

Modules providing structural platforms for floors, ceilings, walls, and a roof of a wood frame building are shown and described. Once installed, modules receive suitable finishing materials providing continuous, flat surfaces, with exceptions for penetrations. Each module may include a wood perimeter, upper joist boards or roof rafters, coupled to the wood perimeter at relatively high positions thereon, and lower joist boards or roof rafters coupled to the bounded wood perimeter at relatively low positions thereon. Within each module, each upper joist board or upper roof rafter has a lowermost edge above a level of an uppermost edge of each said lower joist board or lower roof rafter. A gap between the lowermost edge and every lower joist board or roof rafter accommodates ducts, wiring, and plumbing. Each upper joist board or roof rafter is staggered in plan view relative to the lower joist boards or roof rafters.

A method of raising a framed structure. The method comprises the steps of: supporting a roof structure of the framed structure, cutting a stud of the framed structure at a desired level, leaving a bottom portion of the stud in place, removing a top portion of the stud, raising the roof structure of the framed structure, installing a flooring structure on the bottom portion of the stud, building a wall structure using a second stud supported by and secured to the flooring structure, lowering the roof structure onto the wall structure, and securing the roof structure to the wall structure. The method also allows for the leveling of the framed structure without modifications to the foundation. The method further allows for newly raised structures to have higher ceilings and modified floor plans without changes to the foundation.

A volumetric modular unit constructed at a modular unit factory and shipped assembled to a modular building project site is disclosed. A modular building constructed from shipped volumetric modular units is also disclosed. Features of a volumetric modular unit and modular building are designed to account for and leverage traditional building practices. Shipping constraints often dictate volumetric modular unit design constraints. The volumetric modular unit and modular constructed building addresses both design needs and shipping constraints to leverage more economical resources available at a volumetric modular unit manufacturing plant.

An LVL structure is a rectangular cell suitable for weight bearing uses such as floor trusses. The LVL structure includes one or more LVL beams having first surfaces that are a single outer layer of a veneer stack. Fastening plates/devices having penetrating members are used to attach the one or more LVL beams to the LVL structure with the penetrating members penetrating the single veneer layer first surface of the LVL beams substantially perpendicular to the first surfaces. In this way, the penetrating members do not split/separate the layers of veneer making up the LVL beams and tend to secure the penetrated layers of the veneer making up the one or more LVL beams together in a nail like fashion.