Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MULTI PLE-DWELI,ING STR11CTllRE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
_ .
1 1. Field of the Invention
2 The present invention relates to a multiple-dwelling
3 structure wherein a plurality of individual dwellings are con-
4 structed in stacked fashion, one on top of the othex, and more
I particularly to a multiple-dwelling structure having an upper and
6 I lower unit positioned vertically with respect to one another and
7 ¦ directly above respective garage areas.
8 1 2. Description of the Prior Art
9 I Multiple-dwelling structures in common use today are of
j the typical apartment or condominium style, wherein "flats" are ¦
11 I stacked one upon the other, and wherein a common garage area is
12 ¦ shared by all. Additionallyt some o the "flat9' type structures
13 I lncorporate co~on hallways or passageways to the respective main
14 I entrances thereof, in addition to the common passageways or
j walkways connecting the common parking area t~ the individual
16 I dwelling unit.
17 ¦, Dwelling structures of the "townhouse" type generally
18 ¦¦ have private garage areas and private walkways connecting the
19 I garage area and dwelling unit; however, typical "townhouse" units
are not stacked one upon the other, but rather are generally two j
21 ¦ story units having the bedroom area(s3 directly above the living,
22 kitchen or garage area.
23 The drawbacks of these two typical types of multiple
24 dwelling structures are that (1) the condominium type -structures-
lack sufficient privacy and security in that they utilize common
26 j parking areas and shared walkways, and (2) the townhouse type,
27 while having a greater degree of privacy, generally makes very
28 inefficient use of the land area.
29 It is therefore a principal object of the pre~ent
invention to provide a multiple-dwelling structurle ~hich affords
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a large degree of personal privacy and security, as well as
providing a high dwelling unit per given area density.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide such a multiple dwelling structure that includes a
private garage area for each dwelling uni-t.
I-t is a still further object of the present inven-tion
to provide a multiple dwelling structure of the stacked,
multi-story type, having separate passage~ays uniquely
connecting the individual dwelling units with their respective
garage areas, thereby optimizing the privacy and security of
each individual dwelling unit, and maximizing eEficient use of
land area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One broad aspect of the present invention rel.ates to a
multiple dwelling structure, comprising: (a) lower and upper
stacked li.ving units, each of said units providing a residence
dwelling separate from the other unit, (b) first and second
vehicular parking areas respectively associated wlth said lower
and~upper living units, said first and second parking areas
disposed in end-to-end relationship, with the vehicular access
opening to said first parking area being at an opposite end to
the vehicular access opening to said second parking area; and
(c) first and second passageways, said first passageway
exten.ding from said first vehicular parking area to an
entranceway to said lower living unit, said second passageway
: ~ extending from said s~econd vehicular~parking area to an
entranceway to said upper unit; (d) said first and second
passageways being isolated from one another to define private
walkways between each living unit and associated parking area
which are not in common, nor shared, with one another. In
accordance with one embodiment of the invention, each dwelling
unit additionally includes a second stairwayr preferably
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external, leading from the ground level oE the garage up
approximately one-hal:E story to -the main entranceway of that
dwelling unit.
In another broad aspect, the present inven-tion relates
to a multiple dwelling structure, comprising- (a) lower and
upper stacked livlng units, (b) first and second garage areas
respec-tively associated with said lower ancl upper living units,
said -first and second garage areas disposed in end-to-end
relationship, with the vehicular access opening to said first
garage area being at an opposite end to the vehicular access
opening to said second garage area; and (c) a first passageway
interconnecting an entranceway to said lower living unit with
said first garage area, a second passageway i.nterconnecting an
entranceway to said upper living unit with said second garage
area; said first and second passageways being isolated Erom one
another, and the general direction of traversal of the
passageway from said first garage area to the entranceway to
said lower living unit being in a direction opposite to the
general direction of traversal of the passageway from .said
second garage area to the entranceway to said upper living unit;
(d) the grade level of said second garage area being higher than
the grade level o said first garage area.
In a further broad aspect, the present invention
relates to a multiple dwelling structure, comprising: (a) lower
and upper stacked living units, ~b) first and second garage
: areas respectively associated with said lower and upper living
units, said firs-t and second garage units disposed in end-to-end
relationship, with the vehicular access opening to said first
garage area being at an opposlte end to the vehicular access
3a opening to said second garage area; and (c) a first passageway
interconnecting an entranceway to said lower living unit with
said first garage area, a second passageway interconnecting an
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entranceway to said upper livlng unit with said second garage
area; said Eirst and second passageways being isolated from one
another r the beginning of said first passageway at said first
garage area being laterally spaced from the beginning of said
second passageway at said second garage area; (d) the grade
level of said second garage area being higher than the grade
level of said first garage area.
In accordance with a specific feature of the invention,
the ground level of -the garage communicating with the upper
level unit is at a higher grade than the ground level of the
garage communicating with the lower level unit, thus reducing
the vertical distance to be traversed to the upper level unit.
In particular, such grading is maintained to be at least a half
story differential, thus llmiting the vertical distance between
the ground level oE the garage for the upper unit and the living
area of the upper unit to no more than one and one-half stories.
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1 In accordance with the present invention, individual
2 units of a multiple dwelling structure incorporate separate,
3 unique stairways interconnecting the respective garage areas and
4 dwelliny units in a manner to ensure privacy and security of each
individual dwelling unit r the structure having one dwelling unit
6 stacked above the other, both being positioned directly over the
7 garage areas for both, thus maximizing the density of dwelling
8 units per given unit area of land.
9 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a detailed description of preferred embodiments of
11 the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying
12 drawings in which,
13 FIG. lA is a perspective view of the ground level
14 segment of a first preferred embodiment of the multiple-dwelling
¦ structure of the present invention, showing the two garage units
16 I associated with the upper and lower dwelling units;
17 I FIG. lB is a perspective view of the lower dwelling
18 ~ unit of the structure sho~n in FIG. lA;
l9 ¦ FIG. lC is a perspective view of the upper dwelling
¦ unit of the structure shown in FIG. lA;
21 ¦ FIG. 2A is a plan view of the segment of the structure
22 ¦ shown in FIG. lA;
23 I FIG. 2B is a plan view of the unit shown in FIG. lB;
24 FIG. 2C is a plan vlew of the unit shown in FIG. lC;
: 25 FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the first pre-
26 ferred embodiment of the multiple-dwelling structure of the
27 ¦ present i.nvention;
28 I FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the floors of the
29 garaye unit, lower unit and upper unit, showing the relationship
of the stairways interconnecting the respective garage areas and
31 living areas;
32 FIG. 5R is a perspective view of the ground level
33 segment of a second prefexred embodiment of the multiple dwelling
34 structure of the present invention;
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FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the lower dwelling
2 unit of the embodiment of the structure sh~wn in FIG. 5A;
3 FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the upper dwelling
4 unit of the embodiment of the struc~ure shown in FIG. 5A;
FIG. 6A is a plan view of the segment of the structure
6 shown in FIG. 5A;
7 ~IG. 6B is a plan view of the unit shown in FIG. SB;
8 FIG. 6C is a plan view of the unit shown in FIG. 5C;
3 FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the second pre-
ferred embodiment of the multiple-dwelling structuxe of the
ll present invention; and
12 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the floors of the
13 garage unit, lower unit and upper unit, showing the relationship
14 of the stairways interconnecting the respective garage areas and
jliving areas of the second preferred embodiment of the multiple-
16 ¦dwelling structure of the present invention.
17 IDETAILED DESCRIBTION OF THE INVENTION
I
18 ¦ Turning now to the drawings, wherein like parts are
19 ¦indicated throughout the specification and drawings with the same
~reference numerals, and more specifically to FIGS~ lAr- l~ and lC,
21 ~a first preferred embodiment of the multiple-dwelling structure
22 lof the present invention is shown. It will be appreciated that
23 Ithe multiple-dwelling structure is shown in exploded pictorial
24 ¦form in FIGS, lA, lB and lC, and that it is to be understood that
Ithe structure is constructed to be stacked in that ordex, i.e.,
26 ¦the ground level portion which is the garage unit 12 ~FI~. lA) is
27 ¦constructed flrst, with-- the lower dwelling unit 1~ (FIG. lB)
28 ~constructed directly above the garage unit~ and the upper dwell-
29 ling unit 16 (FIGr lC) is constructed directly above the lower
jdwelling unit. To aid in the understanding the layout of the
31 respective units 12, 14 and 16, the plans of said units are shown
32 ~at FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, respectively.
33 The multiple-dwelling structure of the present inven-
34 tion incorporates a dual ground level garage unit 12 ~FIG. lA)
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1 ¦Ihavlng a lower garage 18, associated with the lower dwelling unit
2 ¦l14, and an upper garage area 20 associated with the upper dwel-
3 ¦ling unit 16. As shown in FIG. lA, and as best shown in FIG. 3,
4 ¦the lower garage area 18 is at a first ground level or grade I
¦22, and the upper garage area 20 is at a second ground level or ¦
6 grade 24 slightly elevated from the first ground level. These
7 separate ground levels 22, 24 are attained by selective grading
8 of the land prior to beginning construction on the ¦
9 multiple-dwelling structure of the present invention. As a ¦
particular advantageous feature, the second ground le~el 24 is at
11 least one-half story higher than the first ground level 22, in
12 order that the vertical distance between the floor of garage 20 i
13 and the floor of the entranceway of the upper dwelling unit 16 be
14 no more than one and one-half stories. Furthermore, maintaining
Ithe grade differential at approximately one-half story limits the j
16 ¦vertical distance between living levels of any one unit to ,
17 ¦approximately one-half story.
13 I Referring again to FIG, lA, the lower garage area 18
19 ¦has a staircase 26 leadlng up from the floor of the garage to an
lintermediate plaza area 28. As best shown in FIG. 3, the level
21 lof this plaza area 28 is very close to that of the second ground
22 llevel 24 li.e., approximately one-half story above the first ;
23 Iground level 22~. The lower unit plaza area 28 also includes a
24 Imain entranceway 30 for providing easy access equally to the ,
¦lower unit garage area 18 and the lower dwelling unit 1~ as will
26 ¦be described in--greater ~etail hereinbelow. I
27 ¦ As best shown in ~IGS. lB, 2B and 3, the lower dwelling ,
28 unit 14 includes a second stairway 32 interconnecting the lower
29 unit plaza area 28 with the lower dwelling unit 14. Those
skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the s~aircases
31 leading from the lower garage area 18 to the lower dwelling unit
32 14, and the intermediate plaza area 28 associated therewith,
33 define a separate, unique s~airway in~erconnecting the garage
34 larea and the dwelling unit which is not in common with or shared
jwith any other passageway or walXway connecting various parts of
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the upper dwelling unit 16. This second stairway 32 leads up
2 jfrom the plaza area 28 to the living, dining and ki~chen area of
3 ¦the lower dwelling unit, generally illustrated at 34, which is
4 ¦positioned, as shown, directly above the lower garage area 18,
¦and at a first occupied level above ~he garage area approximately
6 ~one~half story higher than the lower unit plaza area 28. In this
7 jmanner, from the entry level at the main entra~ce~ay 30, it is
8 approximately one-half story down to the ground level of the
9 garage 18 and approximately one-half story up to the first
occupied level of the lower unit living, dining and kitchen area
ll 34 via the unique staircase 26, 32.
12 ¦ Referring ayain to FIGS. lB and 2B, the lower dwelling
13 lunit 14 also includes a ~edroom area 36 at a second occupied
14 !level approximately one-half story up from the level of the
¦living, dining, kitchen area 34. These two areas of the lower
16 Idwelling unit 34, 36 are interconnected by a staircase 38 which
17 ~leads from the living, dining and kitchen area up to a hallway
18 jleading into the bedroom area 36. The bedroom area 36 is posi-
19 ¦tioned directly above the garage area 20 for the upper dwelling
lunit 16. As best shown in FIG. 3, the bedroom area 36 is at an
21 elevation approximately one-half story above that of the lower
22 lunit living, dining and kitchen area 34.
23 I Returning once again to FIGS. lA and 2A, the upper
24 Igarage area 20 associated with the upper dwelling unit 16 is
Ishown. in essentially spaced end to-end relationship with the
26 ¦lower garage area 18. As in the lower gara~e area 18, the upper
27 !garage area 20 incIudes a fi-rst staircase 40 leading from the
28 second ground level 24 of the upper garage to a upper unit plaza
29 area 42. As best shown in FIG. 3, this upper unit plaza area ~2
is at a level approximately one-half story above the second
31 ground level 24, therefore approximately on the r~a:me level with
32 the lower unit livi.ng, dining and kitchen area 34. Additionally,
33 as shown in the drawings, the upper dwelling unit 16 also
34 includes a main entranceway 44 opening into the plaæa area 42.
¦The plaæa area 42 further includes a second staircase 46 leading i
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1 ¦~P from the upper unit plaza area 42 to the upper dwelling uni~
2 ¦16 (see FIGS. lC and 2C)o As in the case of the lower dwelling
3 unit 14, this staircase 46 leads up to and opens into the upper
4 unit living, dining and kitchen area 43. Those skilled in the
art will readily appreciate that each of the sets of staircases
6 comprising the passageways connecting respective garage areas and
7 living areas ~26, 32 in the lower dwelling unit 14, and 40, 46 in
8 the upper dwelling unit 16) is unique or exclusive to its partic-
9 ular dwelling unit in that the set of staircases leading to the
upp~r unit is independent, separate and apart from the set of ¦
11 staircases leading to the lower dwelling unit.
12 As shown in FIGS. lA and 2A, the stairway 46 includes a
13 twister 45, 49 to enable the stairway to turn the corner from the
1~ plaza area 42 up to the upper unit living, dining and kitchen
area 48. A third staircase 50 tSee FIG~ lC) leads from the
16 living, dining and kitchen area 48 via a hallway 52 into the I
17 upper unit bedroom area 54, as in the corresponding lower unit ¦
18 ¦staircase 38; the bedro~m area of the upper unit is at a level I
l9 ¦approximately one-half story above the level of the living, j
¦dining and kitchen area~ as in the lower unit l4, and is posi-
21 ¦tioned directly above the lower unit.
22 I It should be noted that because the upper unit main
23 lentranceway 44 is at a level approximately one-half story above I
24 Ithe ground le~el 24 entrance to the upper---garage~ ar~ea 20, the j
distance from the upper level main entranceway 44 to the upper
26 level living, dining and kitchen area 48 is -approximately one ,
27 story. In this manner, those residents of the upper unit (effec- ,
28 tively, the second story unit~ travel up only ~ne story fr~m the
29 main entranceway to the living,~- dining, kitchen area, as opposed I
Ito two stories of travel for those residents llving in second ¦
31 story units having parking areas below the first story unit.
32 As best shown in FIG. 2A, the garage areas 20, ~2 are I
33 separated by a wall or partition 56 for total separation and ¦
34 privacy. As noted, adjacent this wall 56, and on either side ¦
thereof, are the respective lower and upper unit plaza areas 28, 1
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1 142, and the respective lower and upper unit main entranceways 30,
2 l44~ leading thereinto at a level of approximately one-half story ¦
3 above the respective ground levels of the upper and lower garage j
4 areas 22, 24. As shown, the lower and upper units further
include respective outer stairways 58, 60 that lead up rom
6 respective first and second ground levels 22, 24 to the lower and
7 upper unit plaza areas 28, 42. Alternatively, the land could be
8 contoured in this particular area to have a sloping sidewalk to
9 replace either or both of the outer stairways 58, 60, or parts ¦
thereof, to result in the same effect of each of the lower and ¦
11 ¦upper dwelling units having the entranceway 30, 44 at a level ¦
12 approximately one-half story above the respective garage levels. I
13 From these respective levels, in the preferred embodiment, it is
14 approximately one-half story up to the lower unit living, dining
and kitchen area 34, and in the upper unit, it is approximately
16 one story up to the living, dining and kitchen area 48.
17 The interrelationship of the various interconnecting
18 stairways in this embodiment of the multiple dwelling structure
19 of the present invention are best shown in FIG. 4. It should be
understood that FIG. 4 is not complete in terms of structure of
21 ¦the dwelling units (those details being shown in the previous
22 ¦figures), but rather shows only the individual stairways connect- ,
23 ¦ing the respective garage areas and lower and upper dwelling .
24 ¦units, and those portions of the floors necessary to enable one
Iskilled in the art to easily understand these .relationships. As
26 shown, the stairway 26 leading from the lower unit garage area 18
27 connects the garage area and the lower unit--plaz-a area 28. The
28 staircase 32 connects the lower unit plaza area 28 and the lower
29 unit living, dining and kitchen area 34, and enters the area 34
at the location thereof shown by the phantom lines 62. Also as
31 shown, the stairway 38 interconnects the lower unit living,
32 dining and kitchen area 34 to the lowex unit bedxoom area 36.
33 The stairway 40 connects the upper unit garage area 20
34 with the upper unit plaza area 42. A stairway then leads from
the upper unit pla~a 42 by way of the twister 45, 49 to the upper
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1 I living, dining and kitchen area 48. As shown, this upper unit
2 ¦ staircase 46 is located directly above the corresponding lower
3 unit staircase 32, therefore, the upper unit staircase 46 entersl
4 the upper unit living, dining and kitchen ar~a 48 at exactly at¦
the same location as in the lower unit, this location designated
6 by the phantom lines 66 indicating the connection of the upper
7 step of the staircase 46 with the upper unit living, dining and
8 kitchen area 48. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that
9 the upper unit staircase 46, being directly above the correspond-
ing lower unit staircase 32, does not occupy any appreciablell space of the lower unit. In this manner, even though the stair-
12 case 46 interconnecting the upper unit garage area 20 and the
13 living, dining and kitchen area 48 passes "through" the floor
14 plan of the lower unit, very little usable space is taken up in
so doing.
16 In this first preferred embodiment, the lower dwelling
17 unit 14 is shown as a smaller unit than the upper dwelling unit
18 16, the former having one bedroom and the latter having two
l9 bedrooms. Those skilled in the art-will appreciate that each of
the units may be essentially identical, or one- of .the _units may
21 ¦ be considerably larger than the other, resulting in either open
22 ¦ or covered balconies on either end for either the upper or the
23 ¦ lower unit.
24 ! A second p.referred-embodiment of the multiple ~dwelling ¦
¦ structure of the prese~t invention is shown in FIGS. 5-8. As in
26 ¦ ~he ~irst preferred embodiment of the multiple dwelling structure
27 ! shown in FIGS. 1-4, this second pre~erred embodiment..is con-
28 I structed in the same sequence as the first preferred embodiment,
29 that is the garage unit 72 ~FIGS. 5A,--6A) is constructed first,.
with the low r dwelling unit 74 (FIGS. 5B, 6B) constructed
31 directly above the garage unit and the upper dwelling unit 76
32 (FIGS. SC, 6C) constructed directly above the lower dwelling
33 unit. The garage unit 72 includes a lower garage area 78 and an
34 upper garage area 80. These separate garage areas are located at
a first ground level 82 and a second ground level 84, slightly
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1 ¦elevated from the first ground level. These separate ground
2 ~levels 82, 84 are attained by selective grading of the land prior
3 ¦to beginning construction on the dwelling structure. As in the
4 first preferred embodiment, the second preferred embodiment ~
incorporates the second ground level 84 at a level at least, and ¦
6 preferably approximately, one-half story higher than the first I
7 ground level 82, in order to minimize the vertical distance I
8 between the ground level of the garage for the uppPr unit and the
9 living area of the upper unit to no more than one and one-half
stories. I
11 The interconnecting stairways of the second pre~erred
12 embodiment structure are slightly different from those of the j
13 first preferred embodiment. Considering first the ground level
14 garage unit 72 (see FIGS. 5A and 6A), a staircase 86 leads up ,
from the first ground level 82 to an optional doorway 88. This ,
16 staircase 86 is enclosed by an outer wall 90 and main entranceway
17 92. The staircase 86 leads up to a lower unit double twister 94 ~
18 which then is connected to a second stairway 96 (See FIG. 5B~ i
19 connecting the twister with the ~ower unit living area 98.---- As in
the first preferred embodiment, the staircase 86 leadin~ from the i
21 lower garage area 78 -to the lower--~welling--un-it 74, the double
22 Itwister 94 and the staircase 96 ]eading from the double twister
23 Ito the living area 98, define a separate, unique passageway
24 !interconnecting the garage area and the living space of the lower I
¦dwelling unit, which-passageway is not in common wit-h, or shared I
26 with, the passageway (stairway or walkway~ connecting the garage
27 area and living space of the upper dwelling unit 76
28 The lower unit living area 98 (See FIGS. 5B, 6B) is
29 positioned directly above the lower garage area 78 at a first
occupied level above the garage area which is approximately
31 one~half story or less higher than the lower unit double twister
32 94. In this manner, from the level at the optional doorway 88,
33 it is approximately one-half story down ~o the ground level of
34 the garage area 78 and approximately one-half stoly or less up to
the first occupied level of the living area 98. This concept is
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1 ¦best shown in FIG. 7. Also, as best shown in FIG. 8, an addi-
2 Itional feature of the present dwelling structure is that it
3 lincorporates a multi-level floor plan for the dwelling unit 74.
4 Therefore, the risP is incremental, rather than continuous,
between the living area 98 and the bedroom area 100.
6 Returning again to FIGS. 5A and 6A, the upper ga.rage
7 area 80 associated with the upper dwelling unit 76 is shown in
8 essentially end--to-end relationship with the lower garage unit
9 78. As in the first preferred embodiment, a wall or partition
102 separates the garage areas 78, 80, th~ difference in the
11 second preferred embodiment heing that the garage areas are in
12 abutting, although vertically offset, relation with each other,
13 while in the first preferred embodiment the garage areas are
14 laterally spaced apart, the structure of the first embodiment
thus defining a space in between the garage areas which is
16 ¦capable of being utilized, for example, for housing heaters,
17 !laundry facilities, etc. The overall length of the multiple_
18 Idwelling unit shown by the second preferred embodiment is conse-
19 .¦quently somewhat shorter than the overall length of the unit of
Ithe first prefer~ed embodiment.-
21 I As in the lower garage area 78, the upper-garage area
22 l80 includes a staircase 104 connecting a garage door 106 with the
23 jupper unit main entranceway 108. ~See FIG. 7) The upper unit
24 ¦main entranceway 108 is approximately one-hal~ story above the
jsecond ground level 84, therefore approximately one story or less
26 below the floor of the upper unit living area 110. The upper
27 unit main entranceway 108 is positioned on a landing 120 which,
28 as stated hereinabove, is approximately one story (or less~ below
29 ¦the upper unit living area 110. A second staircase 115 leads up
from the landing 120, through a twister 112, a staircase 115, and
31 on up to the main living area 110~ This staircase 115 is identi-
32 cal to and directly above the corresponding lower unit staircase
33 96 connecting the plaza area and living area.
34 ¦ As in the lower dwelling unit 74, the uppPr dwelling
~unit 76 incorporates a multi-level floor plan ~to provide an
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1 lincremental rise between the upper unit living area 110 and the
2 ¦bedroom area 116 (FIGo 8). Additionally, as in the corresponding
3 lower unit 74, the bedroom area 116 is approximately one-half
4 story above the level of the living area 110.
The stairway 104 leading from the garage area to the
6 upper unit main entranceway 108 is located physically outside of
7 the garage area 80. Although the stairway 104 depicted in the
8 drawings is shown as an exterior stairway leading up to a main
9 entranceway 108 of the upper unit, it should be understood that
alternatively, the external wall 90 may be extended in order to
11 enclose the stairway 104 and the main entranceway 108 positioned
12 ¦at the bottom thereof to the right of the doorway 106 leading
13 jinto the garage area, in order to to~ally enclose the garage area
14 Idoorway within the main entranceway into the upper unit.
¦ The upper unit staircase 104, 114, 115 from the ground
16 ¦level to the living area 110 includes a landing 120-approximately
17 lone-third of the way up. In the embodiment shown, the upper unit
18 main entranceway 108 is positioned upon this landing 120. In
19 this manner, the maximum distance from the -main entranceway 108
to the living area 110 is one-story or less. ~See FIG. 7~ I*
21 !should be-understood that the main entranceway 108 could be moved
22 Idown to the ground level 84-of the-garage, with the efIect that
23 Ithe maximum distance from the main entranceway 108 to the living
24 !area~-110 would-be -approximately one and one-half stories; and
¦such variation is to be contemplated---within-the scope of the
26 jpresent invention. In this embodiment as shown (i.e., with the
27 ~main entranceway 108 positione~ upon the landing 1?0~), the
28 !residents of the upper unit (ef~ectively, the second story unit~
2g ¦travel up only approximately one story from the main e~tranceway
108 to the living area 110, as opposed tc traveling up two
31 stories in the instance of those residen~s living in typical
32 second story units having parking areas below the first story
33 units.
34 In this second preferred embodiment, t:he land could be
contoured in the particular area of the stairway 104 to define
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1 ¦sloping sidewalks to replace all or part of the staircase 104.
2 This wculd not alter the effect of the upper dwelling unit having
3 a maximum vertical distance between the main entranceway 108 and
4 the living area 110 to be one and one-half stories.
The int~rrelationship of the various interconnecting
6 stairways in this second preferred embodiment are best shown in
7 FIG. B. As in FIG. 4, FIG. 8 is not complete in terms of struc-
8 ture, but rather shows only the individual stairways connecting
9 the respective garage areas and lower and upper dwelling units,
and those portions of the 100rs necessary to enable one skilled
11 in the art to easily understand these relationships. The stair-
12 way 86 leading up from the lower unit garage area 78 and main ¦
13 entranceway 92 connects the garage area and the lower unit double
14 twister 94. This connection is shown by phantom lines 122. From I
the double twister 94, the stairway 96 leads up to the lower unit ¦
16 living area 98.
17 Regarding the upper unit, the-exterior stairway 104
18 connects the upper unit garage area- 80 with the upper unit I
19 twister 112, via the landing 120. This connection is shown ~y i
phantom lines 12~. From there, the--stairway 115 connects the
21 twister 112 to the upper -unit living area 110. As shown, this I
2~ upper unit twister 112, interconnecting staircase 114 and living I
23 ¦area 110 is directly above the corresponding double twister 94, 1
24 ¦interconnPcting stairway 96-a~d-living area 98 of the lower-unit.-L
¦Those skilled in the art will-appreciate that-because of the
26 facts that (1~ the stairway 104 is exterior to the living unit,
27 and (2~ the twisters 94, 112 are in vertical alignment with each I
~8 other and separated by one story, no usable space in the lower 1-
29 unit is taken up by the stairway from the upper unit garage -area '
to its respective living area. ,
31 ~hose skilled in the art will also recldily appreciate j
32 that the multiple-dwelling structure herein achieves all of the ¦
33 ends and objectives herein set forth. Specifically, the
34 multiple~dwelling structure of the present invention provides a
high density of units for a given area, each separate unit of the
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1 ¦building (i.e., the upper or lower unit) having an individual
2 ¦garage area and a separate, unique stairway interc~nnecting the
3 individual garage area to the individual living area, which
4 stairway is totally separate from the interconnecting stairway of
the other dwelling unit ~i.e., the lower or upper unit), rather
6 than sharing a number of common garage areas, stairways,
7 ¦hallways, or other passageways. Those skilled in the art will
8 also readily appreciate that even thou~h the indi~idual dwelling
9 units of the preferred embodiments of the multiple-dwelling
lG structure of the present invention are constructed one on top of
11 the o~her, with the garage areas being below both of the units,
12 Ithe distance between the level of the ground level entranceway to
13 the living area of the upper dwelling unit is a maximum of one
14 and one-half stories, and in the lower dwelling unit, this
maximum distance is one story. In this manner, the
16 multiple-dwelling structure of the present invention complies
17 with typical city zoning and building regulations, while simul-
18 ¦taneously therewith -prQviding maximum individual security and
19 ¦privacy for the occupants of each individual dwelling unit. I
20 ~ As an additional feature of-the-multiple-dwelling unit ¦
21 of the present invention, each unit-li.e., both the lower unit
22 and the upper unit) can be view oriented. Specifically, because
23 if the design of the invention, facilitated by the fact that the
24 ¦stairways of each unit enter the respective units at correspond-
25 ~ing locations of-each unit, corre~ponding rooms ~for ~xample, the I
26 living rooms) of the units -may be in direct vertical alignm~nt,
27 thus enabling ~the- same exterior view from these coxresponding
28 rooms. This is possible even though, as described with respect
2~ to the first preferred embodimenty the` stairway from the garage l
area to the living area of the upper unit passes "through" the j
31 lower unit.
32 Although preferred embodiments of the present invention
33 have been disclosed in detail herein, it will be understood that
34 various substitutions and modifications may })e made to the
preferred embodimPnts without departing from the scope and spirit
oE the present invention as recited in the appended claims.
