Interlocking building system using one-piece skin-and-frame panels, vacuum-insulation, vertical slide-locks, multi-story slides, and snap-locks

Abstract

A system of structural interlocking panels for forming disaster-resistant buildings, comprising: a hollow, internally-braced, vacuum-insulated panel shell having at least two interlocking sides, the first side having a convex-inward single-curvature, the second side having a straight surface, the third side having a straight surface with at least one integral tongue with at least one head extending vertically-upward for receiving a complementary groove of a first side of an adjacent panel. Panels are thus vertically slide-locked along panel sides and faces, thereby triggering automatic snap joints that prevent backward movement of the panel. The system can assemble spheres, cylinders, toroids, tetrahedrons, flat shapes, and irregular shapes.

Claims

1. A building structure comprising a metallic panel for vertically slide-locking with adjacent panels, said panel comprising two spaced parallel face plates having three sides and a concave-upward spherical curvature with the same centerpoint, said spaced parallel face plates secured to each other by means of two straight concave-upward side plates and one convex-outward side plate having a horizontal curvature, said spaced parallel face plates also secured to each other by at least one internal brace plate with large circular perforations, the upper and lower edges of the side plates and said internal brace plate integral with and normal to said spaced parallel face plates and having integral internal rounds along the full lengths of said upper and lower edges of said straight concave-upward side plates and said internal brace plate, the three said side plates terminating at flat vertical corner features, said panel comprising: (a) the first of said flat vertical corner features formed symmetrically between said straight side plates and backed by a wide vertical internal round, the second and third of said flat vertical corner features formed between said straight side plates and said convex-outward side plate, each of the second and third corner features providing a first flat vertical surface normal to the said convex-outward side plate, a second narrow vertical surface normal to said first flat vertical surface and an adjacent said straight side plate, the double faced corner feature backed by a vertical interior round merged with the vertical internal surfaces of a said straight side plate and said convex-outward side plate; the vertical surfaces of said flat vertical corner features eliminating the sharp edges of acute corner angles and dimensioned to firmly contact the said flat vertical corner features of adjacent panels in the panel assemblies of spheric foundations and spheric domes; (b) each of said straight concave-upward side plates having a solid concave-upward header with an upright rectangular vertical cross section integral with said straight concave-upward side plates and flush with the upper of said spaced parallel face plates from a point having near proximity to said first of flat vertical corner features to a point having near proximity to said second and third flat vertical corner features; (c) each of said straight concave-upward side plates having an integral vertical tongue with a symmetrical horizontal cross section defined by a solid rectangular neck braced by solid integral base supports, said solid rectangular neck having an equally-wide outer rectangular head with integral side armatures angled back towards said straight concave-upward side plate such that angled catch surfaces are provided, the outer corners of said outer rectangular head having angled surfaces parallel with said angled catch surfaces and said solid integral base supports, said horizontal cross section of said integral vertical tongue extended vertically-downward and normal to said lower side of said solid concave-upward header and terminating at a lower semicircular tongue tip; said lower semicircular tongue tip formed at a vertical distance from said lower face plate equal to the vertical width of said concave-upward header; (d) said lower semicircular tongue tip defined by a one-half rotation of one half of said horizontal cross section of said integral vertical tongue relative to an axis centered between said lower semicircular tongue tip and said outer rectangular head of said integral vertical tongue and normal to said straight side plate, said outer rectangular head and said integral side armatures longitudinally extended beyond the newly formed rounded end of said solid rectangular neck and terminating at the defining outer semicircular arc of said lower semicircular tongue tip, thereby forming a flat vertical catch surface vertically-below said rounded end of said solid rectangular neck and bound on the sides by the extended said angled catch surfaces, said lower semicircular tongue tip integral with the longitudinally extended said tongue; (e) said integral vertical tongue and said lower semicircular tongue tip repeated at regular intervals along the full length of a said straight side plate and flush with the outer side of said solid concave-upward header, thereby forming a plurality of equally-spaced complementary grooves in between said integral vertical tongues, said complementary grooves having upper semicircular pocket joints together defined by a void of said tongue and said lower semicircular tongue tip mirrored about a horizontal plane intersecting the midpoint of said integral vertical tongue, said upper semicircular pocket joints directly adjacent to said solid concave-upward header and said integral vertical tongues such that said voids therebetween are solid; (f) said convex-outward side plate having a plurality of equally-spaced said integral vertical tongues and said lower semicircular tongue tips along the full length of said convex-outward side plate, said integral vertical tongues and said lower semicircular tongue tips together with said upper semicircular pocket joints and said solid concave-upward header reversed top to bottom such that said convex-outward side plate comprises a solid convex-outward footer with said tongues extending vertically-upward therefrom and having lower semicircular pocket joints and upper semicircular tongue tips, the horizontal centerline of each horizontal cross section of said tongues normal to the tangent of the single curvature of said convex-outward side plate at that specific locus; (g) said panel having two straight concave-upward male sides defined by a said header with downward-extending said tongues having said lower semicircular tongue tips and adjacent said upper pocket joints, said panel further comprising one horizontal convex-outward female side defined by a said footer with upward-extending said tongues having said upper semicircular tongue tips and adjacent said lower pocket joints, said straight concave-upward male sides vertically slide locking with adjacent straight concave-upward female sides, said horizontal convex-outward female side vertically slide locking with an adjacent horizontal convex-inward male side; (h) said panel is a male foundation panel defined by two straight concave-upward male sides and one convex-outward female side, said straight concave-upward male sides vertically slide locking with two straight concave-upward female sides of two adjacent female foundation panels simultaneously, said female foundation panels also having one convex-inward male side for vertically slide locking with a said convex-outward female side of a said male foundation panel, (i) said three side plates having upper rows and lower rows of rectangular snap-lock cavities equally-spaced along the lengthwise centerlines of said headers and said footers and having downward-angled cavities formed into the horizontally-aligned positions of adjacent panel sides, said rectangular snap lock cavities comprising a downward-angled metal head with a horizontal catch-surface projecting from the interior of a rectangular snap lock cavity and backed by a rectangular block of a compressible solid adhered to both the back surface of said downward-angled metal head and the back surface of said rectangular snap lock cavity such that said downward-angled metal head horizontally retracts into said rectangular snap lock cavity under the load of a directly-adjacent downward-sliding panel, thereby compressing said compressible solid to one-half of the initial depth of said rectangular block, said rectangular block expanding to said initial depth with sufficient shape memory and rebound to drive said downward-angled metal head into the mating downward-angled cavity of said downward-sliding panel such that said downward-sliding panel is locked in place when said mating downward-angled cavity and said mating downward-angled head align at the end of the sliding motion of said downward-sliding panel, said downward-angled cavities occurring in said male sides and said downward-angled metal heads occurring in said female sides; (j) said panel having a substantially hollow shell with at least one said internal brace plate having said large circular perforations, said substantially hollow shell vacuum insulated by means of a threaded vacuum port inside a panel side for receiving a two-way threaded ball valve connected to a portable vacuum pump by way of a durable hose such that the vacuum is drawn when said two-way threaded ball valve is fully open and contained when said two-way threaded ball valve is fully closed, said two-way threaded ball valve a permanent component of said panel and having a unique removable handle for protected access to said vacuum.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said panels have at least three sides.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said panels form spheres, toruses, cylinders, tetrahedrons, cubes, flat shapes, polygons, and combinations therefrom.

4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said panel sides and said panel faces are defined by a catenary curvature, an elliptical curvature, an ovaloid curvature, or combinations therefrom.

5. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said panels are made of a single material for uniform thermal expansion and contraction of the vertically slide-locked building joints throughout a said building structure.

6. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said building joints are entirely free of bolts, rivets, screws, welds, adhesives, fasteners, and like connectors.

7. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said single material is a forged stainless-steel for providing a high strength:weight ratio and high corrosion-resistance.

8. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said single material is a tungsten-based nickel alloy for providing high levels of radiation-resistance, hot-strength, tensile-strength, hardness, and corrosion-resistance.

9. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said panels are sized according to maximum forging capabilities.

10. Structure according to claim 9 wherein said panels are forged by hydraulically-pressing two thick-sided panel-halves without outer interlocks, said thick-sided panel halves forge-welded together along a central curved plane or a central flat plane, thereby forming the said substantially hollow shell of said panel, wherein said outer interlocks and said corner features are formed by removing material from the thick outer portions of said substantially-hollow shell.

11. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said single material is a cast metal-matrix composite or a cast ceramic-matrix composite.

12. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said panel sides comprise welded spring-loaded snap-joints without a said compressible solid or a said adhesive.

13. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said panel sides are sprayed with a liquid lubricant prior to placement into a panel assembly.

14. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said panel sides have a solid lubricant on all surfaces prior to placement into a panel assembly.

15. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said building structure comprises an entirely convex-outward enclosure for resisting extreme exterior live-loads and having a spherical foundation and a perimeter-wall having a lower-toroid and an upper-toroid supporting a spherical dome, said convex-outward enclosure having more than twice the depth of interior-walls and floors.

16. Structure according to claim 15 wherein said convex-outward enclosure comprises structural window cylinders.

17. Structure according to claim 15 wherein said convex-outward enclosure comprises structural skylight cylinders.

18. Structure according to claim 15 wherein said convex-outward enclosure comprises structural window cylinders and structural skylight cylinders.

19. Structure according to claim 15 wherein said building structure comprises a lamella structural pattern for said spherical foundation and said spherical dome of said convex-outward enclosure as applied to a system of singular cohesive skin-and-frame panels, said spherical foundation and said spherical dome thereby divided into eight identical forty-five-degree sections of rotation about the central vertical axis of said building structure, each rotated section of said spherical foundation and said spherical dome sharing radial primary-arcs with adjacent sections, each of the two said radial primary-arcs of each section reinforced by five equally spaced diagonal-arcs parallel with one another and the opposite primary-arc of said section, said radial primary-arcs and said diagonal-arcs reinforced by forty-five degree segments of concentric rings, said diagonal-arcs and said concentric rings intersecting one another at specific locii within said section such that the eight identical sections together form five rows of said female panels and said male panels, a first foundation row and a sixth dome row each having four said female panels and four said male panels defined by two parallel ring-segments and two primary-arc segments, said first foundation row directly adjacent to a central circular base panel, said sixth dome row directly adjacent to a central circular apex panel.

20. Structure according to claim 19 wherein said building structure comprises a geodesic structural pattern as applied to a system of singular cohesive skin-and-frame panels.

21. Structure according to claim 19 wherein said building structure comprises a sequence of panel placements whereby said spherical foundation is assembled outward and upward row-by-row from said central circular base panel to a circular perimeter having a lower toroid, said lower toroid bracing a circular perimeter-wall assembled vertically upward from said lower toroid and from lower panels to upper panels, said perimeter-wall braced by directly adjacent multi-story long-slide interior-wall panels normal to said perimeter-wall and extending inward towards the vertical central axis of said building structure, said interior-wall panels thereby supporting triangular floor panels assembled from lower floors to upper floors, said triangular floor panels thereby bracing interior-walls and perimeter-walls, said perimeter-wall having an upper toroid supporting a spherical dome assembled upward and inward row-by-row from said upper toroid to said central circular apex panel.

22. Structure according to claim 19 wherein said building structure comprises a sequence of panel placements whereby each said panel presses down on one or two previously placed panels, said male panels pressing down on two said female panel sides simultaneously, said female panels pressing down on one said male panel side, said sequence alternating between said male panels and said female panels throughout said foundations and said domes.

23. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said spheres comprise a concave-upward spherical foundation-slope having said female panels with one lower convex-inward male side for vertically slide-locking with said male panels having one upper convex-outward female side.

24. Structure according to claim 23 wherein said spheres comprise a concave-downward spherical dome slope having said female panels with one lower convex-outward male side for vertically slide-locking with male panels having one upper convex-inward female side, said spherical dome having a smaller radius and a larger surface-area than said foundation.

25. Structure according to claim 24 wherein said spheres comprise horizontal foundation-rings centered on the central vertical axis of said building-structure and spaced at regular intervals along the outer face of said foundation, said horizontal foundation-rings having increasing heights and increasing diameters within said foundation relative to the foundation center and formed by the juncture of the convex-outward female sides and the convex-inward male sides of adjacent foundation-panel rows.

26. Structure according to claim 25 wherein said spheres comprise said horizontal foundation-rings under a total building dead load, wherein the lowest centerpoint of the defining outer sphere generates a fifty-two degree angle off the vertical central axis of said building structure such that said horizontal foundation-rings below said fifty-two degree angle are in compression and said horizontal foundation-rings above said fifty-two degree angle are in tension, thereby forming lower-foundation compression-rings and upper-foundation tension-rings.

27. Structure according to claim 21 wherein said building structure comprises a central circular female foundation-panel having at least one internal brace with spherical said face plates and positioned first, thereby providing an open perimeter of female interlocks for receiving the male sides of four equally-spaced four-sided female foundation-panels and the said male sides of four four-sided male foundation-panels.

28. Structure according to claim 27 wherein said building structure comprises four four-sided female foundation-panels of a first said foundation-panel row, said four four-sided female foundation-panels defined by a said lower convex-inward male side and a longer upper convex-outward female side connected together by two straight divergent female sides, the lower convex-inward male sides of said four-sided female foundation-panels vertically slide locking with said central circular female foundation-panel, thereby forming four segments of a first ring of the foundation frame.

29. Structure according to claim 28 wherein said building structure comprises four four-sided male foundation-panels of a first said foundation-panel row identical in shape to said four-sided female panel and further defined by one said lower convex-inward male side and one longer parallel convex-outward female side connected together by two straight concave-upward divergent male sides, the three male sides vertically slide locking with the two adjacent female sides of said female panels and the one adjacent said female side of said central circular female foundation-panel simultaneously, thereby forming four segments of said first ring of said foundation frame and the first eight segments of said primary-arcs radially-aligned with the center of said central circular female foundation-panel.

30. Structure according to claim 29 wherein said building structure comprises a female isosceles-triangle foundation-panel of a second said foundation-panel row and having a lower said convex-inward male side for vertically slide locking with the adjacent said convex-outward female side of a previously-placed said male four-sided foundation-panel, thereby forming a single segment of the second ring of said foundation-frame.

31. Structure according to claim 30 wherein said building structure comprises a female right-triangle foundation-panel of a second said foundation-panel row and having a said straight concave-upward male side for vertically slide locking with a said straight concave-upward female side of the previously-placed adjacent said female isosceles-triangle panel, thereby forming a single segment of a said reinforcing-arc of said foundation-frame.

32. Structure according to claim 31 wherein said building structure comprises a male right-triangle foundation-panel of a second said foundation-panel row and having two said straight concave-upward male sides for vertically slide locking with two said straight concave-upward female sides of adjacent said female right-triangle foundation-panel and an adjacent said female isosceles-triangle foundation-panel simultaneously, thereby forming a segment of a said primary-arc and a segment of a said reinforcing-arc of said foundation-frame.

33. Structure according to claim 32 wherein said building structure comprises a male isosceles-triangle foundation-panel of a third said foundation-panel row and having an upper convex-outward female side and two said straight concave-upward male sides for vertically slide locking with two adjacent mating said female sides of two said female scalene-triangle foundation-panels simultaneously, thereby forming two segments of said reinforcing-arcs of said foundation-frame.

34. Structure according to claim 33 wherein said building structure comprises a third foundation-panel row assembled of said female panels placed first and said male panels placed second, thereby completing the row.

35. Structure according to claim 34 wherein said building structure comprises a fourth foundation-panel row assembled of said female panels placed first and said male panels placed second, thereby completing the row.

36. Structure according to claim 35 wherein said building structure comprises a fifth foundation-panel row assembled of said female panels placed first and said male panels placed second, thereby completing the row.

37. Structure according to claim 36 wherein said building structure comprises a male scalene-triangle foundation-toroid panel of a sixth foundation-panel row defined by a non-interlocking convex-outward toroidal side integral with the lower male scalene-triangle section of said panel, said male sides of said lower section vertically slide locking with the female interlocks of an adjacent said isosceles-triangle foundation-panel and an adjacent said female scalene-triangle foundation-panel simultaneously, the toroid of said lower section having an integral single-curved rectangular extension projecting vertically-upward from said toroid to a height providing an interior horizontal strip of female interlocks for later-receiving the said male floor-panels of the first floor-level of said building structure, said single-curved rectangular extension having an integral horizontal top-plate defined by a raised flat surface having a perimeter of four sloped sides extending parallel and equidistant to the four top edges of said single-curved rectangular extension for receiving the mating recess of a horizontal bottom-plate of an upwardly-adjacent lower-perimeter panel, thereby forming the first and lowest of three horizontal panel-offsets of said perimeter-wall panels, said panel-offsets horizontally-aligned with the floor-surfaces of the two lowest floor-levels and the fourth floor-level of said building structure, said floor-panels placed after said lower-perimeter panels and said interior-wall panels.

38. Structure according to claim 37 wherein said building structure comprises a male right-triangle foundation-toroid panel of said sixth foundation-panel row identical to a said male scalene-triangle foundation-toroid panel having a lower right-triangle section for vertically slide locking with an adjacent said female scalene-triangle foundation-panel and an adjacent said female right-triangle panel simultaneously, thereby forming a segment of a said foundation primary-arc and a single segment of a said foundation reinforcing-arc, said horizontal top-plate vertically-receiving the said mating recess of a said horizontal bottom-plate of an upwardly-adjacent said lower-perimeter panel, said horizontal top-plate forming the first and lowest of said three horizontal panel-offsets and the bottom of a female panel-column of said perimeter-wall panels having long-slide female interlocks on opposite panel sides for vertically slide locking with the long-slide male interlocks of adjacent male panel columns simultaneously and forming two segments of perimeter-wall structural columns of the building-frame located between said female panel columns and said male panel columns, said male long-slide interlocks and said female long-slide interlocks having rounded upper ends and rounded lower ends without said headers and said footers.

39. Structure according to claim 38 wherein said building structure comprises a female scalene-triangle perimeter-toroid panel of a sixth said foundation-panel row identical to a said male scalene-triangle foundation-toroid panel and having an integral said single-curved rectangular extension projecting vertically-upward from said toroid to a height providing two interior horizontal strips of female interlocks for later-receiving the said male floor-panels of the first floor-level and the second floor-level of said building structure, said single-curved rectangular extension providing two opposite vertical sides of open long-slide female interlocks, the lower scalene-triangle section having said male interlocks on both of said straight concave-upward sides for vertically slide locking with the adjacent said female sides of two female scalene-triangle foundation-panels simultaneously, thereby forming two segments of said foundation reinforcing-arcs and two sides of said toroid section, said top-plate of said single-curved rectangular extension forming a second horizontal panel-offset and the lowest side of a said female panel-column of said perimeter-wall, said lower scalene-triangle section and said single-curved rectangular extension together with said toroid having at least one said perforated internal-brace each.

40. Structure according to claim 39 wherein said building structure comprises a male lower-perimeter panel of a said male panel column and defined by an upright single-curved rectangle having the depth of said foundation-panels and said foundation-toroid panels of said continuous deep enclosure, said long-slide vertical interlocks centered on the interior face of said lower-perimeter panel for vertically slide locking with the mating said female side of a first rectangular interior-wall panel, said male lower-perimeter panel vertically slide-locking with the open adjacent female sides of two said perimeter-toroid panels and stopping at the said top-plate of a said foundation-toroid panel below, thereby forming two segments of structural perimeter-wall columns and a horizontal perimeter-wall offset between said lower-perimeter panel and said foundation-toroid panel below, said interior face also having said horizontal strips of said female interlocks for vertically slide-locking with four floor-levels of adjacent mating male floor-panels, such that the two lowest said horizontal strips of said lower-perimeter panel are horizontally-aligned with the two said horizontal strips of the two adjacent said perimeter-toroid panels, said male lower-perimeter panel having at least one said internal-brace and rounded upper and lower ends on each of said male long-slide interlocks without said headers and said footers, said male lower-perimeter panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

41. Structure according to claim 40 wherein said building structure comprises a first rectangular interior-wall panel having said multi-story long-slide interlocks on each of two opposite parallel sides, the first opposite parallel side vertically slide-locking with multi-story long-slide tongues centered on the said interior face of the said lower-perimeter panel from said bottom-plate to said top-plate, the second opposite parallel side providing open multi-story long-slide grooves for vertically slide-locking with a second rectangular interior-wall panel, said first rectangular interior-wall panel having an integral footing with non-interlocking double-curved bottom sides prevented from movement down the upper slope of said spheric-foundation by the said long-slide interlocks on said interior face of said lower-perimeter panel, said first rectangular interior-wall panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

42. Structure according to claim 41 wherein said building structure comprises a second rectangular interior-wall panel having said multi-story long-slide tongues on the first of two opposite parallel sides extending from said bottom-plate to said top-plate for vertically slide-locking with the said open multi-story long-slide grooves of said first rectangular interior-wall panel, thereby forming a vertical interior-wall column from said bottom-plate to said top-plate, said second interior-wall panel having an integral footing with non-interlocking double-curved bottom sides for distributing wall loads evenly onto the interior surface of said spheric foundation and prevented from movement down the upper slope of said spheric-foundation by the said long-slide interlocks of said first rectangular interior-wall panel, said second rectangular interior-wall panel having a second non-interlocking side and at least one said perforated internal-brace.

43. Structure according to claim 42 wherein said building structure comprises a first male right-triangle floor-panel for vertically slide locking with said horizontal strips of said female interlocks on the faces of said lower-perimeter panels and said interior-wall panels, thereby bracing said perimeter-wall panels and said interior-wall panels, said first male right-triangle floor-panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

44. Structure according to claim 43 wherein said building structure comprises a second male right-triangle floor-panel for vertically slide locking with said horizontal strips of said female interlocks on the faces of said lower-perimeter panels and said interior-wall panels, thereby bracing said perimeter-wall panels and said interior-wall panels, said second male right-triangle floor-panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

45. Structure according to claim 44 wherein said building structure comprises a central male isosceles-triangle floor panel having one non-interlocking convex-inward side with a structural facia and two male panel sides for vertically slide locking with said mating female sides of said male right-triangle floor-panels, thereby forming two diagonal floor beams, said central male isosceles-triangle floor panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

46. Structure according to claim 45 wherein said building structure comprises a female upper-perimeter panel of a said female panel column and defined by a said upright single-curved rectangle having two opposite parallel long-slide female sides extending upward from a said bottom plate to the outer surface of said upper-toroid segment, said opposite parallel long-slide female sides vertically slide locking with the two opposite parallel long-slide male sides of two adjacent said lower-perimeter panels simultaneously, said upper-toroid segment having a female scalene-triangle extension projecting upward and inward from said upper-toroid segment and conforming to the double-curvature of said spherical dome, thereby forming two segments of said structural perimeter-wall columns and two segments of upper-toroid braces of said dome frame, said upper-perimeter panel having three said continuous horizontal strips of said female interlocks on the interior panel-face for receiving the said male sides of said floor-panels, the horizontal top strip of said female interlocks directly adjacent to the top edge of said upper-toroid for receiving a single side of male interlocks of a said female dome-panel and having the depth of said perimeter-wall panels and said upper-toroids of said deep enclosure, said female upper-perimeter panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

47. Structure according to claim 46 wherein said building structure comprises a male perimeter-dome panel having a lower single-curved rectangular section of a said male perimeter-wall panel-column and having two said opposite parallel long-slide male sides for vertically slide-locking with said upper-toroid and said opposite parallel long-slide female sides of the adjacent said female upper-perimeter panels simultaneously, said lower single-curved rectangular section also having a said upper-toroid with a female right-triangle extension of a first dome-panel row for vertically slide-locking with said male sides of adjacent male dome-panels and conforming to the double-curvature of said spherical dome, said male perimeter-dome panel thereby forming two segments of said structural perimeter-wall columns and two segments of said upper-toroid together with one segment of a said primary-arc and one segment of a said reinforcing-arc of said dome-frame, said lower single-curved rectangular section and said female right-triangle section together with said toroid having at least one said perforated internal-brace each.

48. Structure according to claim 47 wherein said building structure comprises horizontal dome-rings centered on the central vertical axis of the dome-structure and spaced apart at regular intervals along the upper face of said dome-structure, said horizontal dome-rings having increasing heights and decreasing diameters within said dome structure, said horizontal dome-rings formed of mated convex-outward panel sides of adjacent male dome-panel rows and adjacent female dome-panel rows.

49. Structure according to claim 48 wherein said building structure comprises said horizontal dome-rings under a total building dead-load as determined geometrically, wherein the centerpoint of the defining sphere of said dome generates a fifty-two degree angle off the vertical central axis of the upper said defining sphere, such that said horizontal dome-rings below said fifty-two degree angle are in tension and said horizontal dome-rings above said fifty-two degree angle are in compression, thereby forming lower-dome tension-rings and upper-dome compression-rings.

50. Structure according to claim 49 wherein said building structure comprises a female scalene-triangle dome-panel of a first dome-panel row and having one lower convex-outward male side for vertically slide locking with the deep female interlocks adjacent to the top edge of the interior face of a said upper-perimeter panel, thereby providing two open straight concave-downward female sides and forming a single segment of the first ring of the dome-frame of the deep enclosure, said female scalene-triangle dome-panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

51. Structure according to claim 50 wherein said building structure comprises a first male scalene-triangle dome-panel of said first dome-panel row and having one upper convex-inward female side with two straight concave-downward male sides for vertically slide locking with the said open straight concave-downward female sides of the adjacent female right-triangle extension of the first said perimeter-dome panel and the adjacent side of said female scalene-triangle dome-panel simultaneously, thereby providing an open said upper convex-inward female side and forming two segments of reinforcing-arcs of said dome-frame of said deep enclosure, said male scalene-triangle dome-panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

52. Structure according to claim 51 wherein said building structure comprises a second said male scalene-triangle dome-panel of said first dome-panel row and having one said upper convex-inward female side with two said straight concave-downward male sides for vertically slide locking with the two said open straight concave-downward female sides of the adjacent female scalene-triangle extension of the second said perimeter-dome panel and the adjacent side of the said female scalene-triangle dome panel simultaneously, thereby providing an open said upper convex-inward female side and forming two segments of said reinforcing-arcs of said dome-frame of said deep enclosure, said second male scalene-triangle dome-panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

53. Structure according to claim 52 wherein said building structure comprises a male isosceles-triangle dome-panel of said first dome-panel row and having one said upper convex-inward female side with two said straight concave-downward male sides for vertically slide locking with the two said open straight concave-downward female sides of the adjacent female scalene-triangle extension of the second said perimeter-dome panel and the adjacent side of the said female scalene-triangle dome-panel simultaneously, thereby providing the open said upper convex-inward female side and forming two segments of said reinforcing-arcs of said dome-frame of said deep enclosure, said male isosceles-triangle dome-panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

54. Structure according to claim 53 wherein said building structure comprises a female right-triangle dome-panel of a second dome-panel row and having one said lower convex-outward male side for vertically slide locking with said upper convex-inward female side of an adjacent said male scalene-triangle dome-panel, thereby providing two open said female sides and forming a single segment of a second ring of said dome-frame of said deep enclosure, said female right-triangle dome-panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

55. Structure according to claim 54 wherein said building structure comprises a female isosceles-triangle dome-panel of said second dome-panel row and having one said lower convex-outward male side for vertically slide locking with the said upper convex-inward female side of the previously-placed said male isosceles-triangle panel, thereby providing two said open female sides and forming a single segment of the said second ring of said dome-frame of said deep enclosure, said female isosceles-triangle dome-panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

56. Structure according to claim 55 wherein said building structure comprises a third dome-panel row assembled of said female panels placed first and said male panels placed second, thereby completing the row.

57. Structure according to claim 56 wherein said building structure comprises a fourth dome-panel row assembled of said female panels placed first and said male panels placed second, thereby completing the row.

58. Structure according to claim 57 wherein said building structure comprises a fifth dome-panel row assembled of said female panels placed first and said male panels placed second, thereby completing the row.

59. Structure according to claim 58 wherein said building structure comprises a female four-sided dome-panel of a sixth dome-panel row and defined by two said straight concave-downward female sides diverging from a short said upper convex-inward female side to a said lower convex-outward male side for vertically slide locking with the said upper convex-inward female side of a male isosceles-triangle panel of the said fifth dome-panel row, thereby providing two open said straight concave-downward female sides and one said open convex-inward female side and forming a single segment of the sixth ring of said dome-frame of said deep enclosure, said female four-sided dome-panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

60. Structure according to claim 59 wherein said building structure comprises a male four-sided dome-panel of the said sixth dome-panel row identical in shape to the previously-placed said female panel and having three said male sides and one said convex-inward female side, said three male sides vertically slide locking with the two said open female sides of the adjacent said four-sided female dome-panels and the one said open female side of the adjacent said upper convex-inward female side of a said male isosceles-triangle panel of said fifth dome-panel row simultaneously, thereby providing one said open convex-inward female side and forming two segments of said primary-arcs and a single segment of said sixth ring of said dome-frame of said deep enclosure, said male four-sided dome-panel having at least one said perforated internal-brace.

61. Structure according to claim 60 wherein said building structure comprises a male circular dome-apex panel identical to the said central circular foundation panel and having a full perimeter of said male interlocks for vertically slide locking with four said upper female sides of four said male four-sided dome-panels and four said upper female sides of four said female four-sided dome-panels, thereby forming the seventh ring of said dome-frame of said deep enclosure and completing the assembly of said building structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the first preferred embodiment taken at line A-A of FIG. 1.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dome and the foundation of the first preferred embodiment taken at line B-B of FIG. 1.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view of the walls and the floors of the first preferred embodiment taken at line C-C of FIG. 1.

[0053] FIG. 5 is a cutaway perspective view of the building enclosure of the first preferred embodiment.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a cutaway elevation view of the perimeter-wall of the first preferred embodiment.

[0055] FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation view of the perimeter-wall and the interior-walls of the first preferred embodiment taken at line D-D of FIG. 6.

[0056] FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional detail view of the heavy-duty vertical interlocks that repeat throughout a building assembly to form foundations, walls, floors, and domes of the first preferred embodiment.

[0057] FIGS. 9-11 are horizontal sectional views of the heavy-duty wall-interlocks of the first preferred embodiment.

[0058] FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a horizontal perimeter-wall joint of the first preferred embodiment.

[0059] FIGS. 13-14 are horizontal sectional views of heavy-duty vertical interlocks on the sides of panels to form foundations, domes, and floors of the first preferred embodiment.

[0060] FIGS. 15-16 are horizontal sectional views of an alternate embodiment of heavy-duty vertical interlocks spaced apart on the sides of panels in groups to form foundations, floors, and domes.

[0061] FIGS. 17-18 are vertical sectional views of the first preferred embodiment of panel sides of foundations, floors, and domes aligned for mating.

[0062] FIG. 19 is a vertical sectional detail view of an upper-groove pocket aligned for mating with a lower tongue head of the first preferred embodiment.

[0063] FIG. 20 is a vertical sectional detail view of an upper tongue head aligned for mating with a lower groove pocket of the first preferred embodiment.

[0064] FIG. 21 is a vertical sectional detail view of an upper-row snap-lock of the first preferred embodiment.

[0065] FIG. 22 is a vertical sectional detail view of a lower-row snap-lock of the first preferred embodiment.

[0066] FIGS. 23-26 are vertical sectional detail views of the snap joint locking process of the first preferred embodiment.

[0067] FIG. 27 and FIG. 28 are vertical sectional detail views of the vacuum system apparatus of the first preferred embodiment.

[0068] FIG. 29 and FIG. 30 are elevation views of the upper and lower vertical interlocks and snap-locks of mating foundation-panel sides of the first preferred embodiment.

[0069] FIG. 31 is an elevation view of a segment of the building enclosure of the second preferred embodiment with window openings and without skylight openings.

[0070] FIG. 32 is an elevation view of the integral internal bracing of the perimeter-wall panels of the assembly of the second preferred embodiment.

[0071] FIG. 33 is a plan view of a dome panel without skylight openings of the second preferred embodiment.

[0072] FIG. 34 is a sectional plan view of a dome panel without skylight openings of the second preferred embodiment.

[0073] FIG. 35 is an elevation view of a segment of the building enclosure of the third preferred embodiment with skylight openings and without window openings.

[0074] FIG. 36 is a plan view of a dome panel of the third preferred embodiment with a single skylight opening.

[0075] FIG. 37 is a sectional plan view of a dome panel of the third preferred embodiment with a single skylight opening.

[0076] FIG. 38 is an elevation view of a segment of the building enclosure of the fourth preferred embodiment with skylight openings and window openings.

[0077] FIGS. 39-56 are detail views and horizontal sectional detail views of the joint intersections of domes and foundations of the first preferred embodiment.

[0078] FIGS. 57-74 are perspective views of the step-by-step panel placements of the first preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0079] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an elevation view of the first preferred embodiment of the exterior of the heavy-duty interlocking building system 10 of the present invention. The system 10 preferably consists of multiple, internally-braced, vacuum-insulated one-piece panels of forged stainless steel that interlock with adjacent panels to form a structural building frame 12 with integral structural skins 14, together having high-resistance to natural and man-made disasters, such as, but not limited to: explosions, earthquakes, liquefaction, landslides, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, wildfires, volcanic explosions, and continental drift.

[0080] Additionally, the rounded overall shape of the first preferred embodiment is entirely convex-outward, having high resistance to all loads acting on the enclosure 16 from the outside, whether they are from above, below, or the sides. Further, the exterior of the building enclosure 16, including the spheric-dome 86, is completely smooth, having no features for tornadoes, hurricanes, and tsunamis to pull upon. Furthermore, all panels of the building system 10 are locked together along the full lengths of their sides by a straight-downward motion that connects the integral, vertical, mating tongues and grooves of adjacent panels, thereby activating upper and lower courses of snap joints that hold the panels in place. Also, there is illustrated the central-foundation panel 20, the dome apex panel 22, the perimeter-wall 26, an upper-perimeter panel 66, a perimeter-wall panel 148, perimeter wall offsets 170, 172, 174, a perimeter-dome panel 62, a lower-perimeter panel 70, and a foundation-toroid panel 34, of the first preferred embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a sectional elevation view of the first preferred embodiment, showing the foundation interior without interior earth and gravel, wherein the enclosure 16 of the interlocking building system 10 has a deep continuous triangulated frame 18 from the central foundation panel 20 up to the dome apex panel 22, thereby imparting high-resistance to the loads of severe geologic and atmospheric conditions. Further yet, the perimeter-wall 26 supports the spheric dome 86; the long-slide interior-walls 24 brace the perimeter-wall 26; and the triangulated floor structure 44 braces both the interior-walls 24 and the perimeter-wall 26, imparting high-resistance to the sudden lateral loads of earthquakes.

[0081] In the first preferred embodiment of the interlocking building system 10, the layouts and sequences of the system allow for multiple panel placements to take place at any given time. In sequence, two types of panels are used to form the triangulated rows of the spheric foundation 28 and the spheric dome 86 of the building system 10: female panels, having two sides that receive descending male panels, and male panels, having two sides that load stationary female panels. Accordingly, panel placements proceed: first, from the center of the central foundation panel 20 outward; second, from the foundation perimeter 150 upward; third, from the completed perimeter-wall 26 to the interior walls 24; fourth, from lower floors 106 to upper floors 108; and last, from the dome perimeter 110; inward and upward to its apex 22.

[0082] Additionally, there is illustrated the double-curved panels 30 of the spheric foundation 28 shaped as triangles, circles, and curved trapezoids, having: a closed lower face 76, a closed upper face 164, and a lower toroid 32 formed by outer foundation-toroid panels 34 and lower perimeter-toroid panels 70. Further, there is illustrated: floors 38 assembled of flat panels 40 shaped as triangles; central floor-panel facias 100; and the spheric-dome 86 assembled of double-curved panels 30 shaped as triangles, circles, and curved trapezoids of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment.

[0083] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a sectional plan view of the double-faced, concave-upward, spheric, lamella building foundation 28 and the double-faced, concave-downward, lamella spheric-dome 86 of the first preferred embodiment, each having eight sections, six rows, and a central circular panel. The lamella pattern described hereinafter is only used in conjunction with the interlocked frames 12 and the integral structural skins 14 of the enclosure 16 of the interlocking building system 10. The enclosure panels that form the lamella patterns of the dome and the foundation have integral joints, integral bracing, and integral structural skins. The lamella pattern is further constructed of eight primary arcs 96 braced by multiple intersecting structural members 98, the total system having the same stiffness as a geodesic dome and seventy percent of its strength.

[0084] The double-curved lamella pattern used for the spheric dome 86 is the same as that used for the spheric foundation 28, except the spheric dome 86 is defined by a spheric segment having a smaller radius but a larger surface area. Additionally, there is illustrated: a lower toroid 32; the foundation perimeter 150; an isosceles-triangle foundation panel 152; a right-triangle perimeter foundation panel 154; a perimeter foundation-panel row 158; a lower transition panel 160; and the interior face of a perimeter-toroid panel 162 of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment.

[0085] Also in FIG. 3, there is illustrated two types of panels that form the transition between the triangulated foundation panels 84 and the lower, single-curved, rectangular perimeter-wall panels 36. Both types are placed into every other panel position, and both provide the double-curved surfaces of the spheric foundation 28 and the lower toroid 32. The difference between these two types of panels is that the lower transition panel 160 receives the bottom floor level only, whereas the other transition panel 164 extends straight upward from the lower toroid 32, providing an inner face 168 that receives the bottom floor level, plus the next floor level above. The result is a pattern of perimeter panel offsets that provide open slots for receiving descending perimeter-wall panels 36, two, opposite, vertical parallel sides at a time.

[0086] Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a sectional plan view of the floors 38, the interior-walls 24, and the perimeter-wall 26 of the first preferred embodiment. Once the perimeter-wall panels 36 are entirely in place, the long-slide vertical female interlocks of a first interior-wall panel side are slidingly received by a set of long-slide vertical male interlocks provided by the vertical central axis of every other panel of the perimeter-wall 26. Thereafter, second interior wall panels 176 are slidingly received by a set of long-slide vertical male interlocks provided by the interior side of the first interior wall panel. In sequence, three types of triangular floor panels 180, 182, 184 are placed two sides 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196 at a time. With this perimeter structure of walls 198, 200 and floors 202, 204, 206 completely in place, dome panels are placed one row at a time in the reverse direction of the foundation panels, from the perimeter wall 26 inward and upward to the central circular apex panel of the spheric dome.

[0087] In FIG. 5, there is illustrated a cutaway elevation view of the panels, the seams, and the integral internal bracing of the enclosure of the first preferred embodiment, showing: the spheric dome 86; the internal double-curved dome frame 12; the integral outer double-curved skin 14; a dome panel 304; a perimeter-dome panel 62 with an upper-perimeter toroid 418 and a triangular panel-extension 640; the vertical seams 92, 148, and the horizontal perimeter offsets 170, 172, 174, of the perimeter wall 26; the foundation-toroid panel 162; the upper-perimeter panel 314, and the lower-perimeter panel 316 of the interlocking building system 10. Additionally, there is illustrated a lower-perimeter toroid panel 104, the internal double-curved foundation frame 222, the internal lower toroid bracing 228, and the exterior seams of the inverted lamella foundation 230.

[0088] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a cutaway elevation view of the panels, the seams, the internal bracing of the perimeter-wall 26 and the foundation 28 of the interlocking building system 10 of a first preferred embodiment, showing: the horizontal perimeter offsets 170, 172, 174; the footings 176 of the interior-walls 24; the perimeter-dome panel 62 having an integral upper-toroid 418 with an integral triangular extension 640; vertical seams 92, 148, a foundation-toroid panel 312, an upper-perimeter panel 314, a lower-perimeter panel 316, internal cross-bracing 320, internal vertical bracing 322, upper toroid bracing 324, horizontal bracing 326, and the lamella foundation frame 222. Further, there is illustrated: the positions of the interior walls 24, the floors 38, and the horizontal slide-locked juncture 18 between the dome 86 and the perimeter-wall 26 relative to the positions of the horizontal perimeter offsets.

[0089] Referring to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a sectional elevation view of the structure of the perimeter enclosure and the two, vertical, long-slide interior-wall panels 178, 434, of the interlocking building system 10 of a first preferred embodiment, showing: a first, vertical, female long-slide joint 562 situated between the interior face of a perimeter-wall panel 148 and a first adjacent side of a first perpendicular interior-wall panel 178; a second side of the first interior-wall panel providing the second vertical long-slide interlocks 346 that mate with the second interior wall panel 434 of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment. Further, there is illustrated: a foundation panel 142; a foundation-toroid panel 354 having an integral outer lower-toroid 342; an upper-perimeter panel 332; a perimeter-dome panel 62 having an integral upper-toroid 418 with an integral triangular extension 640; a female dome-panel 334; and a male dome-panel 414. Furthermore, there is illustrated: the wall-panels 178, 434, having integral diagonal bracing 338; integral horizontal bracing 340; integral vertical bracing 344 with structurally-efficient perforations 336; the central floor-panel facia 100; the concourse floor 566; and the vacuum-ports 58, as described hereafter.

[0090] Referring now to FIGS. 8-20, there are illustrated sectional views and sectional detail views of the vertically slide-locking joints of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment. In FIG. 8, there is illustrated a horizontal sectional detail view of the heavy-duty vertical slide-locking interlock that is used in repetition on panel sides throughout building assemblies to form short-slides for spheric-foundations 28, triangulated floors 44, and spheric-domes 86, and vertical multi-story long-slides for perimeter-walls 26 and interior-walls 24 of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment. As illustrated, each interlock has a continuous back-plate 566, a tongue neck 378 having angled side supports 630 and a tongue head 632 with adjacent angled armatures 634 for providing angled catch-surfaces 376 with touch-safe blunt edges 636, 638, of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment. In FIGS. 9-11, there is illustrated sectional detail views of the long-slide interlock used in groups as joints that occur between the walls of the first preferred embodiment, with the lengths of the joints determined solely by manufacturing capabilities. As with all slide-locking joints having two or more tongues, long-slide male panel sides have pocket joints at the tops of the slide-lock grooves, whereas female panel sides have pocket joints at the bottoms of the slide-lock grooves, as described hereinafter, of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment. In FIG. 9, there is illustrated a horizontal sectional detail view of the long-slide joint used for connecting straight interior-wall panels 178, 118 of a first preferred embodiment, having the male and female interlocks 388, 640, respectively, therein. In FIG. 10, there is illustrated a horizontal sectional detail view of a long-slide joint used for connecting curved interior-wall panels 394, 396 of the first preferred embodiment, having a backplate 566 on each side of the joint, and male and female interlocks 388, 640, respectively, therein. In FIG. 11, there is illustrated a horizontal sectional detail view of an interior-wall panel 178 and the interior face 148 of a perimeter-wall panel 36 having perforated internal integral bracing 322 aligned with the outer plates of the interior wall 178 of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment, and further having male and female interlocks 388, 640, respectively, therein. In FIG. 12, there is illustrated a vertical sectional detail view of an upper panel-side 130 and a lower panel-side 160 of a horizontal perimeter-wall joint of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment, the upper panel side 130 having continuous reinforcing edge-ribs 642 extending downward, thereby transferring vertical loads through the continuous angled corner supports 644 of the lower panel-side 160.

[0091] In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, there are illustrated horizontal sectional detail views of the two interlocking joints used to connect the adjacent panel sides of domes, floors, and foundations, and the interior-faces of perimeter-wall panels of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment and corresponding with the interlock of FIG. 8. FIG. 13 shows a straight joint having the interlocks 388, 640, used to connect the adjacent concave-downward sides of dome panels and the adjacent concave-upward sides of foundation panels, the joint thereby forming the primary-arcs and the diagonal bracing-arcs of the domes and the foundations of a building assembly of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment. FIG. 14 shows a curved joint having the interlocks 388, 640, used to connect the curved sides of adjacent dome panels, the curved sides of adjacent foundation panels, and the curved sides of corner floor-panels, the joint thereby forming the horizontal rings of the domes and the foundations of a building assembly of the first preferred embodiment and corresponding with the interlock of FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, there are illustrated sectional plan detail views of the joints of foundations 28, floors 38, and domes 86 of an alternate embodiment, for applications where lightweight panels are used and fewer interlocks are required. FIG. 15 shows the angled vertical catch-surfaces 376 in spaced-apart groups of interlocks 378 corresponding with the interlock of FIG. 8 and having a flat recessed surface 540 bordered by flat angled surfaces 522, 524, of an alternate embodiment. FIG. 16 shows the angled vertical catch-surfaces 376 in spaced-apart groups of interlocks 378 corresponding with the interlock of FIG. 8 and formed along a single-curved backplate 566 in perpendicular fashion, further showing a single-curved recessed surface 542 bordered by flat angled surfaces 522, 524, of an alternate embodiment.

[0092] Referring to FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, there are illustrated vertical sectional views of the vertically slide-locking sides of panels used for spheric foundations 28, triangulated floors 44, and spheric domes 86 of a first preferred embodiment of the interlocking building system 10. Such panels are slide-locked together along the full lengths and widths of their sides, wherein the tongues 48 and grooves 56 of descending upper panels fully penetrate the tongues 48 and grooves 56 of stationary lower panels, the upper panels thereby activating the upper and lower courses of retractable snap joint heads 74 of the lower panels that mate with the upper and lower cavities 64 of the upper panels to lock the upper panels in place, as described in detail hereafter. Further, there is illustrated rounded tongue tips 50, vacuum ports 58, upper and lower pocket catch-surfaces 54, and vertical slide-lock catch-surfaces 376.

[0093] Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, there are illustrated twice-mirrored vertical sectional detail views of mating pocket joint interlocks located above the slide-locking grooves of male panel-sides and below the slide-locking grooves of stationary female panel-sides, as described heretofore and hereafter, of the first preferred embodiment. In FIG. 19, there is illustrated an upper pocket 64 of a descending male panel-side with an adjacent integral catch-surface 54 aligned for mating with the upper tongue tip 50 of a stationary female panel-side, the tongue also having an adjacent integral catch-surface 54 and an angled vertically-slide-locking catch-surface 376 of an upper female panel-side that penetrates into the sides of the upper pocket of the first preferred embodiment. In FIG. 20, there is illustrated a twice-mirrored image of the previous view, showing a lower pocket 64 of a stationary female panel-side with an adjacent integral catch-surface 54 aligned for mating with a lower tongue tip 50 of a descending male panel-side, the tongue also having an adjacent integral catch-surface 54, and an angled vertically-slide-locking catch-surface 376 of a male panel-side that penetrates into the sides of the lower pocket of the first preferred embodiment.

[0094] Referring to FIGS. 21-26, there are illustrated vertical sectional detail views of the snap joints located above and below the vertical slide-locks of all panels of the interlocking building system 10 of a first preferred embodiment. In FIGS. 21 and 22, there are illustrated vertical sectional perspective detail views of the horizontally-acting upper and lower male-halves of the snap-joints, showing: a rectangular cavity 72; a wedge-shaped metal head 74 that projects from the rectangular cavity 72; and a rectangular block 68 of a compressible solid 84 that adheres to both the back-surface 80 of the rectangular cavity 72 and the inner-surface 82 of the wedge-shaped head 74.

[0095] In FIGS. 23-26, there are illustrated vertical sectional detail views of the activation of an upper snap joint of the first preferred embodiment, showing: a heavy descending upper panel 118 and a stationary lower panel 544, having: a rectangular cavity 72 inside the stationary lower panel 544; a wedge-shaped cavity 64 inside the descending upper panel 118; a wedge-shaped metal head 74 that projects from the rectangular cavity 72; and a rectangular block 68 of a compressible solid 84, that is adhered to both the back-surface 80 of the rectangular cavity 72 and the inner-surface 82 of the wedge-shaped head 74, having sufficient shape memory and rebound to drive the wedge-shaped head 74 into the wedge-shaped cavity 64, thereby preventing reverse movement of the panels. Further, the wedge-shaped cavities 64 occur in half of the system panels, and mating wedge-shaped heads 74 occur in the other half, such that the features lock in place when the wedge-shaped cavities 64, and mating wedge-shaped heads 74, align at the ends of panel sliding motions. In a first preferred embodiment, the compressible solid 84 of the insert joints is composed of Teflon, or the like, as it will compress down to half of its original size, then expand outward to its original size and shape. Materials known to those skilled in the art may also work for this function. In an alternate embodiment, a spring-loaded insert-joint may be used.

[0096] Referring now to FIG. 27 and FIG. 28, all panels of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment are insulated against sound-transmission, heat-gain, and heat-loss by an internal vacuum that is contained by the dense metal sides and faces of the panels without the need for internal foils, sheets, foams, or the like, as described heretofore and hereafter. The vacuum is produced in a panel by way of an open, threaded vacuum-port 58 for receiving a simple, threaded, open/close ball-valve that becomes a permanent fixture of the panel and connects with a portable heavy-duty vacuum-pump by way of a high-performance steel-braided hose, or the like. Also described heretofore, all panels of the building system 10 have internal structural braces with large perforations for structural-efficiency that allow a single vacuum to be drawn throughout the panel interior. The close spacings between the internal panel perforations are such that a very small amount of sound or heat will pass through the material being used there. Also, all vacuum-ports 58 are located in the panel faces of the building interior, such that: foundation-panels 142 have a vacuum-port 58 in their upper face; interior-wall panels 24 and perimeter-wall panels 36 have ports 58 in their interior faces; and floor-panels 42 and dome-panels 46 have ports 58 in their lower faces.

[0097] In FIG. 27, there is illustrated a vertical sectional view of a floor-panel vacuum-system of a first preferred embodiment, showing: a portable vacuum-pump 148; a steel-braided vacuum-hose 102; a manually-operated, open-close, double-threaded, quarter-turn ball-valve 60; the threads between the lower ball-valve 60 and the vacuum-port 58; the open sides of the internal ball 168 and a screw-down hose-lock 70. Additionally, there is shown: a snap-lock head 74; an upper catch-surface 54; a vertical female-tongue 210; and an angled vertical catch-surface 376 of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment. In FIG. 28, there is illustrated a vertical sectional detail view of the floor-panel vacuum-system of a first preferred embodiment, showing: the manually-operated, open-close, double-threaded, quarter-turn ball-valve 60; the threads between the lower ball-valve 60 and the vacuum-port 58; the open-sides of the rotating internal-ball 168; the closed-sides of the rotating internal-ball 218; a ring-shaped metal-angle 164 adhered to the steel-braided vacuum-hose 102 for controlling the depth of the insertion, and a screw-down hose-lock 70 of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment.

[0098] In FIG. 29 and FIG. 30, there are illustrated elevation views of sections of sloped panel sides having mating tongues and grooves of the interlocking building system 10 of a first preferred embodiment. The main advantage of using this alternating layout of catch-surfaces, such as those shown, is that it maximizes the linear distance of the heavy-duty catch-surfaces, thereby strengthening the panel-sides of the first preferred embodiment. In FIG. 29, there is illustrated: a recessed male panel-side 240 having the wedge-shaped cavities 64 of the snap-joints; the downward-extending tongues 48; the lower tongue tips 50; the grooves 56; the upper pocket joints 58; wedge-shaped heads 74; and the vertical angled catch-surfaces 376 of the first preferred embodiment. In FIG. 30, there is illustrated the mating female panel side 536 having a recessed receiving surface 564; an extended outer surface 540 having the wedge-shaped heads 74; the upper tongue tips 50; the upward-extending tongues 48; the grooves 56; the lower pocket joints 58; wedge-shaped cavities 64; and the vertical angled catch-surfaces 376 of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment.

[0099] In a second preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 31-34, there is provided the building enclosure 16 of the first preferred embodiment with a modified perimeter structure for providing repeating vertical circular-window arrangements. The vertical circular window arrangements are necessary to allow vertical loads to transfer downward with minimal obstruction and to provide natural light and exterior views to the perimeter interiors of the building enclosure 16 of the present invention. FIG. 31 shows: the female dome panel 334; the perimeter-wall 26 having structural window cylinders 102 in the upper window-panels 66 and the lower window panels 162; the panels further having an upper toroid 418 and a lower toroid 32 with a generally-square integral upper extension 640 and a lower integral triangular extension 642; a foundation-toroid panel 354 also having a lower integral triangular extension 644; and concourse panels 328 defined by the single-curvature of the perimeter-wall 26, and the double-curvatures of the upper-toroid 418, and having an integral upper triangular extension 658 defined by the double-curvature of the spheric dome 86. FIG. 32 shows: the internal integral bracing and the joints of the perimeter wall 26 of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment, having: vacuum ports 58, structural window cylinders 102 in the upper window-panel 66; an upper-toroid joint 418; a horizontal joint 658; a vertical joint 648; a horizontal brace 650; a diagonal brace 652; a perimeter-wall panel 654; a vertical brace 656; a lower window-panel 70; and a lower-toroid joint 32. FIG. 33 shows the female dome panel 334 with an integral upper structural skin 14 having: a single-curved, vertical, male panel side 144 and two straight panel sides 452, 456 defined by vertical planes and having upward-extending female interlocks 466, 472 between exterior vertical corner surfaces 368, 370, 372, 382, 410. FIG. 34 shows the lower half of the female dome panel 334, having a lower panel skin that reinforces the bottom edges of all vertical panel members, further showing straight panel sides 452, 456 of exterior interlocks 466, 472, vacuum ports 58, a curved panel side 144 of exterior interlocks 48, perforated integral internal bracing 212, inner panel rounds 300, 380, and corner surfaces 368, 370, 372, 382, 410. The vertical corner surface 410 is flat to eliminate a sharp corner, thereby creating a void in a corner joint with adjacent panels. The remaining corner surfaces 368, 370, 372, 382 are thus shaped to fill the void in the joint, as described hereafter, such that the corner surfaces 370, 372, are perpendicular to the flat adjacent surfaces 368, 382 and the adjacent curved surface 144. All panels of the building enclosure 16 that are made of a metal, steel, or alloy are forged by the same necessary but effective method, wherein the upper half-panel of FIG. 33 and the lower half-panel of FIG. 34 are hydraulically-pressed separately and forge-welded together having thick panel sides with no interlocks, which are subsequently forged into the panel sides wherein metal is removed to establish smooth interlocking surfaces 48, 466, 472, 144, 452, 456 with close dimensional tolerances for easy panel sliding. Forge-welding is a solid-state welding process wherein coalescence between parts is produced first by heating a metal, steel, or alloy to between fifty-percent and ninety-percent of its melting point, and secondly, by applying pressure or blows sufficient to cause permanent bonding at the interface. Such an interface may be defined by a double-curved plane, for toroids 418, spheric domes 86, and spheric foundations 28, a single-curved plane, for cylinders 662, a flat level plane, for floors 38, a vertical plane, for straight interior walls 24, or any combination of planes therefrom. The positions of the panel interfaces are such that the vertical panel sides 144, 452, 456 and the perforated vertical internal bracing 212 of the female dome panel 334 intersect a double-curved plane that is centered halfway between and parallel to the two curved panel faces, thereby forming an interior panel space with three or more sides having interior corner rounds 300, 374, 380 and two or more panel faces.

[0100] In a third preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 35-37, there is provided the building enclosure 16 of the first preferred embodiment as described heretofore, having modified male and female dome panels 304, 334 for providing one or more skylight openings 218 centered in the upper structural skin 14 of each panel. The skylight openings 218 are necessary to reduce panel dead weight and to provide sky-views and sunlight to the building interior. FIG. 35 shows the building enclosure 16 similar to the building enclosure of FIG. 31, except for the modifications described heretofore. FIG. 36 shows an upper half-panel similar to the upper half-panel of FIG. 33, except for the addition of one or more skylight openings 548, as described heretofore. FIG. 37 shows a vacuum port 58, a lower half-panel similar to the lower half-panel of FIG. 35, except for the addition of a structural window cylinder 484 and the addition of one or more skylight openings 548, as described heretofore.

[0101] In a fourth preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 38, there is provided the building enclosure 16 of the first preferred embodiment as described heretofore, having the skylight openings of FIG. 35 of the third preferred embodiment, and the window openings of FIG. 31 of the second preferred embodiment, for providing a building enclosure 16 having full views, full natural lighting, and reduced panel dead-weights. FIG. 38 additionally provides the perimeter-wall 26, the spheric dome 86, and the upper-building toroid 418.

[0102] Referring to FIGS. 39-56, there is illustrated a plan detail view and sectional plan detail views for each of the six, vertically-slide-locking, heavy-duty joints of the first preferred embodiment. Each plan detail view shows the configuration of the upper seams of the joint and the critical order of the panel placements, as shown by the progression of the numeric references of the view. In FIG. 39, there is illustrated a plan detail view of a first six-panel foundation joint of the first preferred embodiment, showing: a first-placed female panel 574; a second-placed male panel 576; a third-placed male panel 578; a fourth-placed female panel 580; a fifth-placed female panel 582; and a sixth-placed male panel 584. In FIG. 40, there is illustrated a sectional plan detail view of the interlocks of the foundation-joint of the first preferred embodiment, wherein four diagonal braces and a curved ring-segment brace one another against heavy dead-loads and catastrophic live-loads. In FIG. 41, there is illustrated a second sectional plan detail view showing the joint interfaces located just below the upper-joint seams and above the panel slide-locks of the first preferred embodiment.

[0103] In FIG. 42, there is illustrated a plan detail view of a second six-panel foundation-joint of the first preferred embodiment, showing: a first-placed female panel 586; a second-placed male panel 588; a third-placed female panel 590; a fourth-placed female panel 592; a fifth-placed female panel 594; and a sixth-placed male panel 596. In FIG. 43, there is illustrated a sectional plan detail view of the interlocks of the foundation-joint of the first preferred embodiment, wherein two diagonal braces, a ring-segment, and one of the eight primary foundation-arcs brace one another against heavy dead-loads and catastrophic live-loads. In FIG. 44, there is illustrated a second sectional plan detail view showing the joint interfaces located just below the upper joint seams and above the panel slide-locks of the first preferred embodiment.

[0104] In FIG. 45, there is illustrated a plan detail view of a three-panel floor-joint adjacent to the perimeter-wall of the first preferred embodiment, showing: a first-placed perimeter wall panel 598; a second-placed male floor-panel 600; a third-placed male floor-panel 602; and a fourth-placed female floor-panel 604. In FIG. 46, there is illustrated a sectional plan detail view of the interlocks of the floor-joint of the first preferred embodiment, wherein two braces, an internal brace, and a ring-segment brace one another against heavy dead-loads and catastrophic live-loads. In FIG. 47, there is illustrated a second sectional plan detail view showing the joint interfaces located just below the upper-joint seams and above the panel slide-locks of the first preferred embodiment.

[0105] In FIG. 48, there is illustrated a plan detail view of a three-panel central-foundation joint of the first preferred embodiment, showing: a first-placed, circular, female central-foundation panel 20; a second-placed, four-sided, female foundation-panel 112; and a third-placed, four-sided, male foundation-panel 140. In FIG. 49, there is illustrated a sectional plan detail view of the interlocks of the foundation-joint of the first preferred embodiment, wherein a central foundation-panel brace and two first-row foundation-panels brace one another against heavy dead-loads and catastrophic live-loads. In FIG. 50, there is illustrated a second sectional plan detail view showing the joint interfaces located just below the upper-joint seams and above the panel slide-locks of the first preferred embodiment.

[0106] In FIG. 51, there is illustrated a plan detail view of a three-panel corner floor-joint of the first preferred embodiment, showing: a first-placed perimeter wall panel 36; a second-placed interior-wall panel 428; and a third-placed male floor-panel 622. In FIG. 52, there is illustrated a sectional plan detail view of the interlocks of the corner floor-joint of the first preferred embodiment, wherein an internal perimeter-wall brace, an interior-wall panel, and a corner floor-panel brace one another against heavy dead-loads and catastrophic live-loads. In FIG. 53, there is illustrated a second sectional plan detail view, showing the joint interfaces located just below the upper-joint seams and above the panel slide-locks of the first preferred embodiment.

[0107] In FIG. 54, there is illustrated a plan detail view of a three-panel floor-joint of the first preferred embodiment, showing: a first-placed interior-wall panel 624; a second-placed, male, corner floor-panel 626; and a third-placed, male, panel 628. In FIG. 55, there is illustrated a sectional plan detail view of the interlocks of the floor-joint of the first preferred embodiment, wherein an interior-wall, a corner floor-panel, and a central floor-panel brace one another against heavy dead-loads and catastrophic live-loads. In FIG. 56, there is illustrated a second sectional plan detail view, showing the joint interfaces located just below the upper-joint seams and above the panel slide-locks of the first preferred embodiment.

[0108] Referring now to FIGS. 57-75, there are illustrated perspective views of each type of panel placement of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment. In FIGS. 57-59, there are illustrated perspective views of the central foundation assembly. In FIG. 57, there is illustrated: the central foundation panel 20 having a perimeter of female interlocks 90; a curved generally-trapezoidal female panel 140 having sloped female interlocks 88 and male interlocks 166, the interlocks aligned for mating with the central foundation panel 20 of the first preferred embodiment. In FIG. 58, there is illustrated a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, wherein the central circular foundation panel 20 provides eight open panel positions around its perimeter 130. Second, every other one of those positions is filled by curved trapezoidal female panels 112 that are placed one side at a time, subsequently receiving the four, curved, trapezoidal male panels 140 that are placed three sides at a time, thereby completing the first row of central foundation panels 142 and having a complete perimeter of female interlocks 216 for beginning the second foundation row, wherein all panels are placed one row at a time, with all triangular female panels 94 placed before the male panels of the row, each having a panel tip 410, a vacuum port 58, and one side of male-interlocks 78 that mate with the outer female interlocks of the first panel-row.

[0109] Referring to FIG. 59, there is illustrated a perspective view of the double-curved central foundation assembly of the first preferred embodiment, showing: vacuum ports 58, the first triangulated row 138 of the inverted-lamella pattern 134, as applied to the interlocking building system 10. Further, there is illustrated a female isosceles-triangle panel 120 having two female sides 122, 124, a continuous outer perimeter of female interlocks 130, a descending male right-triangle panel 128, and a segment 136 of one of the eight inverted arches of the lamella pattern 134. Additionally, there is illustrated a male right-triangle panel 126 having two male sides 132, 52, a first foundation panel row 556, and the upper seams 262, 410 of the panel corner features of the interlocking building system 10 of the first-preferred embodiment. Referring to FIG. 60, there is illustrated: vacuum ports 58, a foundation-toroid panel 420, having: male side interlocks 408, upper, inner-face, female interlocks 394 for receiving a first-floor panel; a stationary female foundation panel 460, female side interlocks of a stationary triangular foundation panel 412, toroid interlocks 398, the panel top plate 396 for receiving a descending vertical wall panel; the outer and inner toroids 266, 268, and the side and corner features 402, 410, respectively.

[0110] Referring now to FIGS. 61-64, there are illustrated perspective views of each type of panel placement of the interior-walls and perimeter-wall of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment. In FIG. 61, there is illustrated: vacuum ports 58, a perimeter-toroid panel 162 having: a single-curved upward-extension 272 with long-slide tongues and grooves 418 on vertical panel sides; further having male side interlocks 408; horizontal female interlocks 270, 274, 394 for receiving lower floor panels; the panel top plate 396; the interlocks of the perimeter-toroid joint 416; and the corner feature 402. Additionally, there is illustrated: open space for an interior-wall long-slide 114, the outer and inner surfaces of the panel-toroid 266, 268, respectively; and the panel tip 410 of the first preferred embodiment.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 62, there is illustrated a perspective view of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment, showing: the vertical long-slide interlocks 424 on the panel sides of a perimeter-wall panel 36 aligned for mating with the side interlocks of a pair of perimeter-toroid panels 162 and supported from below by a foundation-toroid panel 354. Further, there is illustrated: vacuum ports 58, horizontal strips of female interlocks 422 for receiving floor panels; and centered long-slide interlocks 426 on the inner faces 276 of perimeter-wall panels 36. Referring to FIG. 63, there is illustrated: a perspective view of a first interior-wall panel 24 aligned for mating with the long-slide interlocks 418 of a perimeter-wall panel 36. Also, there is shown: vacuum ports 58, the horizontal strips of female interlocks for floors 284; an interior-wall footing 176; and the second long-slide interlocks 430 of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment. Referring to FIG. 64, there is illustrated a perspective view of vacuum ports 58, a second interior-wall panel 178 aligned for mating with the first interior-wall panel 24 that is fully slide-locked with the perimeter-wall panel 36 and provides long-slide interlocks 430. Further, there is illustrated female interlocks 280, 282, 436, for floors; an interior-wall panel side having no interlocks 278; and the second interior-wall panel footings 176.

[0112] Referring now to FIG. 65, there is further illustrated perspective views of each type of panel placement of the walls of the interlocking building system 10, of the first preferred embodiment. In FIG. 65, there is illustrated a perspective view of: a vacuum port 58, an upper-perimeter panel 66 aligned for mating with the perimeter-wall panels 36; a first interior-wall panel 24; a second interior-wall panel 178; the deep interlocks 18 of the interior face of an upper-perimeter panel 66 having female interlocks for floors 280, and the female interlocks for top floors on the first and second interior-wall panels 284.

[0113] Referring to FIG. 66 and FIG. 67, which are mirror images of one another, there are illustrated perspective views of: vacuum ports 58, a first, triangular, corner floor-panel 446 and a second triangular corner floor-panel 454 aligned for mating with the bottom-floor female interlocks 440 of first interior-wall panels 24, second interior-wall panels 178, perimeter-toroid panels 162, and perimeter-wall panels 148 for providing the female interlocks of the diagonal, corner floor-panel sides 448. Additionally, there is illustrated: corner floor-panel tips 474, interior-wall footings 176, and the upper-perimeter panels 66 of the interlocking building system 10 of a first preferred embodiment.

[0114] Referring to FIG. 68, there is illustrated a perspective view of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment, showing: the male side-interlocks 450 of a central triangular floor-panel 184 aligned for mating with the female-interlocks 448 of the corner floor-panels 446; the central panel having a facia 100 without interlocks. Further, there is shown: upper-perimeter panels 442; a perimeter-wall panel 148 having a panel top-plate 396; a segment of an upper-toroid 312; deep female enclosure-interlocks 438; and the female interlocks 440, 444 of a second interior-wall panel 178 and a perimeter-wall panel 148, respectively, of the interlocking building system 10, of the first preferred embodiment.

[0115] Referring now to FIGS. 69-74, there are illustrated perspective views of each type of panel placement of the dome of the interlocking building system 10, of the first preferred embodiment. In FIG. 69, there is illustrated a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, showing: a vacuum port 58, a female dome-panel 470 aligned for mating with the deep female interlocks 18 of a perimeter-dome panel 62 having a segment of the upper toroid 312; the female dome-panel 470 having an integral outer skin 14, a panel tip 410, and female side-interlocks 472. Additionally, there is shown: a first, triangular, corner floor-panel 446; a second, triangular, corner floor-panel 454; a central triangular floor-panel 184; a first interior-wall panel 24, a second interior-wall panel 178; and a central-panel facia 100.

[0116] Referring to FIG. 70, there is illustrated: a perspective view of a male dome-panel 480 having an outer structural skin 14, a ring-segment of female interlocks 218, and two panel-braces with male interlocks 478 aligned for mating with the two female dome-panels 332, 334 of the first outer-row 220 of the spheric-dome 86. Additionally, there is illustrated: the upper-toroid 418; a first triangular corner floor-panel 446, a second triangular corner floor panel 454, and the female interlocks 472, of the female dome panel 334, of a first preferred embodiment of the interlocking building system 10. In FIG. 71, there is shown: a perspective view of a female dome-panel 470 aligned for mating with a ring-segment of female interlocks 218 of a male dome-panel 480; the female dome-panel 470 having a double-curved structural skin 14 of a dome perimeter 110, and the female interlocks 546 of the female dome-panel 470 of a first preferred embodiment of the interlocking building system 10.

[0117] Referring to FIG. 72, there is illustrated a perspective view of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment, showing: vacuum ports 58, a male dome-panel 480 aligned for mating with the female interlocks 488 of the two bracing panel-sides 214. Further, there is shown: the lower interior panel-skin 288 and the female interlocks 472 of the male dome-panel 480 having a concave-downward spheric slope of the interlocking building system 10 of the first preferred embodiment. Referring to FIG. 73, there is illustrated a perspective view of: vacuum ports 58, a female dome-panel 362 aligned for mating with the curved horizontal strip of female interlocks 482 of the male dome-panel 480, and having female side-interlocks 292 of a curved concave-downward side 490, further showing the seams of adjacent panel sides 296, 492. Referring to FIG. 74, there is illustrated a perspective view of the circular, male, dome-apex panel 558 having male tongues and grooves 208 aligned for mating with the female vertical tongues 210 and the female vertical grooves 56 of the opening below, and the top row of curved trapezoidal dome panels 318 of the first preferred embodiment.

[0118] Accordingly, there are a number of advantages provided by the present invention. Each panel of the interlocking building system has a structural interlocking perimeter with one or two integral structural skins and integral, internal, perforated triangular bracing, thus providing the advantage of high-resistance to extreme loads from natural and man-made disasters, such as, but not limited to: bomb explosions, earthquakes, liquefaction, tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, wildfires, avalanches, mudslides, volcanic explosions, and continental drift.

[0119] Also, the durable tongue and groove connections of the panels fully slide-lock with the durable tongue and groove connections of adjacent panels, providing the advantage of a joint having high-resistance to the extreme loads of natural and man-made catastrophes.

[0120] Further, the vertical interlocks throughout the interlocking panel assemblies allow for buildings and panels to have virtually any profile at all, providing the advantage of broad design flexibility.

[0121] Further yet, the rounded overall building shape is entirely convex-outward, providing the advantage of high resistance to all loads acting on the enclosure from the outside, whether they are from above, below, or the sides.

[0122] Furthermore, the exterior of a completed building assembly is completely smooth, providing the advantage of high-resistance to the high winds of tornadoes and hurricanes.

[0123] Moreover, upper and lower courses of automatic snap joints lock panels in position after the panels slide into place, providing the advantage of full structural integrity in a single sliding motion.

[0124] Further, the interlocking building system is free of welds, rivets, screws, bolts, adhesives, siding, roofing, and interior gypsum boards, providing the advantage of simple building construction.

[0125] Also, all panels of the interlock system are made from a high-performance steel or alloy, providing the advantages of high corrosion-resistance, high specific-strength, and a high service-temperature.

[0126] Also, all panels of the interlock system are made from a single metal, steel, or alloy, providing the advantages of uniform thermal expansion and contraction and resistance to electrogalvanic corrosion.

[0127] Additionally, the building assembly sequence allows for multiple simultaneous panel placements, providing the advantages of balanced construction and a faster assembly pace.

[0128] Furthermore, the building enclosure has a deep continuous triangulated frame from the central foundation panel up to the dome apex panel, providing the advantage of high-resistance to the bending loads and flexural loads of severe geologic and atmospheric conditions.

[0129] Moreover, the building structure is such that: the perimeter-wall supports the dome; the interior-walls brace the perimeter-wall; and the triangulated floor structure braces both the interior-walls and the perimeter-wall, providing the advantage of high-resistance to the sudden lateral loads of earthquakes, volcanoes, and explosions.

[0130] Further, the surfaces of all panel joints are coated with a compressible solid lubricant/sealant, providing the advantage of preventing penetration of the joints by radon gas, floodwaters, ants, and roaches.

[0131] Further yet, panels can be large or small, single-faced or double-faced, flat, single-curved, double-curved, multi-curved, or any combination therefrom. Panel faces can also have an overall shape that is triangular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal, hexagonal, octagonal, circular, or any combination therefrom, providing the advantage of design flexibility.

[0132] The interlocking building system additionally provides optional features such as windows and skylights.

[0133] Additionally, the interlocking building system may have panels with interlocking features on their sides in spaced-apart groups of two or more with flat sections in-between the groups, providing the advantage of lighter panel weight.

[0134] While the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.