U.S. patent application number 11/100952 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-15 for multi-tenant dwelling.
Invention is credited to Walters, John W. JR..
Application Number | 20050198915 11/100952 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34922450 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050198915 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Walters, John W. JR. |
September 15, 2005 |
Multi-tenant dwelling
Abstract
In one aspect of the invention, a multi-tenant dwelling creates
the illusion of a single tenant dwelling when viewed from an
associated thoroughfare. In one embodiment, the dwelling includes a
generally T-shaped structure with three discrete units, each having
a separate exterior walk-through entrance. Preferably, only one of
these entrances is in the front facade and fully exposed to the
thoroughfare (or rather, two of the entrances are obscured), which
thus gives the appearance of a single tenant structure when in fact
the dwelling is adapted for simultaneously housing three different
tenants. In addition to a subdivision comprised of many such
dwellings, plans, instructions, methods, and kits for forming such
a dwelling are also disclosed, as is a dwelling in which two
generally perpendicular upstanding interior walls together separate
three discrete living units.
Inventors: |
Walters, John W. JR.;
(Lexington, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Family ID: |
34922450 |
Appl. No.: |
11/100952 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60560126 |
Apr 7, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/071 |
International
Class: |
E04B 001/346; E04B
007/16 |
Claims
1. A multi-tenant dwelling, comprising: a first unit having a first
exterior walk-through entrance; a second unit having a second
exterior walk-through entrance; a third unit having a third
exterior walk-through entrance; wherein the strategic positioning
of the first, second, and third exterior entrances creates a visual
illusion of a single-tenant dwelling.
2. The dwelling of claim 1, wherein only one entrance is visible
from a vantage point taken along a generally horizontal straight
line touching or intersecting all three units.
3. The dwelling of claim 1, wherein a first generally vertical wall
is common to the first, second, and third units.
4. The dwelling of claim 3, wherein a second generally vertical
wall is common to the second and third units.
5. The dwelling of claim 4, wherein the first and second common
walls are generally perpendicular.
6. The dwelling of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third
units form a T-shaped structure.
7. The dwelling of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, and
third units includes an interior area selected from the group
consisting of a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a garage.
8. The dwelling of claim 1, further including a porch touching the
ground associated with each of the first, second, and third
entrances, wherein each porch is obscured from the other.
9. The dwelling of claim 1, wherein the first unit includes means
for creating the illusion of the single-tenant dwelling.
10. The dwelling of claim 1, wherein the second and third units are
mirror images of each other.
11. A subdivision including a plurality of dwellings of claim
1.
12. A method of providing living quarters for human occupants,
comprising the step of constructing the dwelling of claim 1.
13. A kit including instructions or plans for constructing the
dwelling of claim 1.
14. A multi-tenant dwelling adjacent a thoroughfare, comprising: a
first unit having a first exterior walk-through entrance; a second
unit connected to the first unit and having a second exterior
walk-though entrance; and a third unit connected to either the
first or second unit and having a third exterior walk-through
entrance; wherein only one of the entrances is formed in a front
facade of the dwelling adjacent the thoroughfare.
15. The dwelling of claim 14, wherein only the first entrance is
visible from a vantage point along or between first and second rays
extending toward the thoroughfare, said rays being generally
parallel each other and the ground.
16. The dwelling of claim 15, wherein the first unit includes a
garage at least partially visible from the vantage point, said
garage having a door and an associated driveway connected to the
thoroughfare.
17. A multi-tenant dwelling including two generally perpendicular
upstanding interior walls that together define three separate
living units, each living unit having a corresponding exterior
walk-through entrance formed in an outer wall of the dwelling.
18. The dwelling according to claim 17, wherein each living unit
includes a bathroom.
19. The dwelling of claim 17, wherein only one of the entrances is
formed in a front facade of the dwelling.
20. The dwelling of claim 17, wherein each entrance includes a
hinged door.
21. The dwelling of claim 17, wherein each entrance faces a
different direction.
22. The dwelling of claim 17, wherein a first of the upstanding
interior walls is generally parallel to a front facade of the
dwelling.
23. The dwelling of claim 17, wherein a first upstanding interior
wall contacts first and second outer walls of the dwelling and a
second upstanding interior wall contacts the first interior wall
and a third outer wall of the dwelling.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/560,126, filed Apr. 7, 2004, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
COPYRIGHT STATEMENT
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this document contains
material subject to copyright protection. No objection is made to
the facsimile reproduction of the patent document or the patent
disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent
file or records, but any and all rights in the copyright(s) are
otherwise reserved.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The present invention relates generally to dwellings and, in
particular, the physical arrangement of three residential living
units in a single dwelling or structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A diversity of housing types in a single neighborhood is one
of the key components used by community planners to deal with the
problem of urban sprawl. However, mixing housing types by adding
multi-family structures in close proximity to traditional single
family neighborhoods is often met with strong resistance from
surrounding residents who fear that the ubiquitous design of most
multi-family dwellings will destroy the character of the adjacent
neighborhoods. This has created a widespread problem for urban
planners, builders and land developers seeking to provide
multi-unit dwellings, not only in terms of providing a needed
housing type, but also in using a parcel of land in the most
efficient and desirable manner to maximize the investment yield and
tax consequences of ownership (which may not necessarily be
accomplished with a single tenant dwelling).
[0005] Multi-unit, single building residential structures have
traditionally been developed in two ways. The first is vertically
stacked units--a high rise--as is provided in U.S. Pat. No.
6,405,496 to Stewart et al. The second method of building a
multi-unit structure arranging the units in a side-by-side
configuration to form a row. A common example of this configuration
is a town home or duplex design where pairs of units are attached
by a single common wall aligned approximately perpendicular to the
street at the front of the unit. Examples of this type of structure
are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,706 to Todd et al. and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,469,673 to Raynor et al. Other, more unique "horizontal"
arrangements of units including a U-shaped configuration of six
horizontally connected units, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,345,407 to Fishman and the cruciform dwelling structure disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,692 to Jenn.
[0006] A common feature of the traditional town home arrangement
and of the above disclosed configurations is two or more separate
entrances fully exposed to the curb and adjacent thoroughfare. Even
when of the utmost building quality, dwellings with multiple entry
facades are considered to lack "curbside appeal" and are perceived
by surrounding single family residents to detract from the
character of the area.
[0007] Accordingly, a need is identified for a multi-tenant
dwelling that overcomes the foregoing limitations and others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In one aspect of the invention, this need is at least partly
addressed by a multi-tenant dwelling that creates a visual illusion
of a single tenant dwelling when viewed from an associated or
adjacent thoroughfare. In particular, the dwelling is generally
T-shaped building structure, with one upstanding wall common to
three distinct dwellings or units, each having a separate exterior
walk-through entrance. Only one of these entrances is in the front
facade and fully exposed to the thoroughfare (or rather, two of the
entrances are obscured). Advantageously, this provides the illusion
of a single tenant structure when in fact the dwelling is adapted
for simultaneously housing different tenants.
[0009] In addition to a subdivision comprised of a plurality of
such dwellings, other aspects of the invention include plans,
instructions, methods, and kits for forming one or more of the
dwellings, as well as for forming a multi-tenant dwelling in which
three discrete living units are separated or defined by two
generally perpendicular upstanding interior walls. As a result, all
three units may have access to natural light from three exterior
sides.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a dwelling forming one
aspect of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the dwelling of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of two of the dwellings of FIG. 1
positioned side-by-side with at least one common driveway;
[0013] FIG. 4a illustrates a possible subdivision including one or
more of the dwellings shown in FIG. 1; and
[0014] FIG. 4b illustrates another possible subdivision including
one or more of the dwellings shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3, which illustrate in
detail the multi-tenant dwelling 10 forming one aspect of the
invention. With reference to the front elevational view of FIG. 1,
the dwelling 10 is a single or sole, entirely self-contained
building with a front face or facade F.sub.1 having only a single
exterior walk-through entrance E.sub.1. As can be appreciated, this
advantageously creates an illusion of a single tenant dwelling when
viewed from the adjacent curb of an associated thoroughfare or
street S extending at least partially along the corresponding
facade F.sub.1 of the dwelling 10.
[0016] With reference to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of the
dwelling 10 is illustrated in plan view. In this embodiment, the
dwelling 10 is unitary with three separate and distinct but
physically connected living spaces or units U.sub.1, U.sub.2, and
U.sub.3. Preferably, each space or unit U.sub.1, U.sub.2, and
U.sub.3 is designed for occupation by a different tenant (typically
either an individual, couple, or family). Accordingly, each unit
U.sub.1, U.sub.2, and U.sub.3 may include a plurality of distinct
areas, or rooms, of the type that would normally be found in living
space, such as for example a kitchen, a dining room, at least one
bedroom, a bathroom, and a garage having a door and associated
driveway in communication with the street. The number, particular
types, and configuration of the areas or rooms provided in each
unit is considered unimportant and may be varied as necessary or
desired to suit a particular desire or need (as well as any limits
on the available square footage, which may require limiting the
size or eliminating altogether "luxury" areas, including the
garage).
[0017] As can be appreciated from FIG. 2, one of the units, such as
the first unit U.sub.1, is closer to the adjacent thoroughfare or
street S than the others in this embodiment. This first unit
U.sub.1 also includes the facade F.sub.1 and associated exterior
entrance E.sub.1, which preferably is at ground level L (see FIG.
1) and faces or is otherwise fully exposed to the street S (and is
thus considered the "front" entrance). This front entrance E.sub.1
may comprise the typical single entry, framed doorway having one or
more hinged doors (not shown). "Ground level" in context is used to
mean that the entrance is accessible from the surface of the earth
and is contrasted from an entrance associated with a self-contained
elevated patio, porch, or the like structure accessible from only
within a building.
[0018] The other two units U.sub.2, U.sub.3 of the dwelling 10 also
include separate, exterior, walk-through entrances E.sub.2, E.sub.3
on different facades F.sub.2, F.sub.3 and preferably at or near
ground level. These entrances E.sub.2, E.sub.3may be similar or
identical in design to the first entrance E.sub.1, but of course
are for primary use by the different tenants or occupants
simultaneously living in the dwelling 10. These entrances E.sub.2,
E.sub.3 are thus discrete from the entrance E.sub.1 of the first
unit U.sub.1 and, despite being generally "behind" the front facade
F.sub.1 of the first unit U.sub.1, may either face in the same
direction as the associated entrance (FIG. 2) or in a different
direction (not shown).
[0019] In either case, only the single front entrance E.sub.1 of
the first unit U.sub.1 is generally exposed to the view of a
passerby on the adjacent thoroughfare or street S, including from a
vantage point V situated along or between imaginary parallel rays
extending from the outermost upstanding or vertical sidewalls
O.sub.1, O.sub.2of the first unit and oriented generally parallel
to the ground or a corresponding horizontal plane (note lines
R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 representing rays, which are also generally
perpendicular to a direction of travel D on the adjacent
thoroughfare S, as well as a longitudinal dimension M of the
sidewalls O.sub.1, O.sub.2). Since the other entrances E.sub.2,
E.sub.3 are also substantially shielded from this vantage point V,
the illusion of a single tenant dwelling results, even though
multiple tenants can simultaneously occupy the structure and live
entirely independent of each other. The arrangement or positioning
of entrances E.sub.1, E.sub.2, and E.sub.3 thus qualifies as a
means for creating the desired illusion of a single-tenant
dwelling.
[0020] While the multi-tenant dwelling 10 of the invention may be
arranged in different ways to achieve the foregoing result, a
particularly efficient configuration is the one shown in FIG. 2 in
which all three units U.sub.1, U.sub.2, and U.sub.3 share or are
otherwise associated with a common interior wall W.sub.1. A second
interior wall W.sub.2 extends generally perpendicular to this
"first" common wall W.sub.1 to form a "T". The second wall W.sub.2
is thus common to two of the units U.sub.2 and U.sub.3. The
interior walls W.sub.1, W.sub.2 thus divide the interior living
space created by the outer walls of the dwelling 10 into the three
discrete units U.sub.1, U.sub.2, and U.sub.3, and thus are
considered to "define" or separate them from one another.
[0021] As an example, the resulting dwelling 10 may be generally
T-shaped in plan view, with the first unit U.sub.1 again situated
nearer the street S than the other two units U.sub.2, and U.sub.3
(which are thus behind the first unit, and as shown may be mirror
images of one another or otherwise symmetrical about an axis of
symmetry A aligned with the second wall W.sub.2). This axis A may
also be considered a generally horizontal straight line that
intersects or touches all three units and the vantage point V from
which only one of the entrances E.sub.1, E.sub.2, or E.sub.3 is
visible (as does axis A.sub.2 with alternate vantage point
V.sub.2). An added advantage of this T-shaped configuration of
interior walls W.sub.1, W.sub.2 is that all three units U.sub.1,
U.sub.2, and U.sub.3 may have access to natural light from three
exterior sides when arranged in this fashion.
[0022] In this exemplary configuration, the second exterior
entrance E.sub.2 is thus substantially obscured from the adjacent
thoroughfare or street S by an extension or wing T.sub.1 of the
first unit U.sub.1. The third entrance E.sub.3 is similarly
substantially obscured by a second extension of wing T.sub.2.
Together, these wings T.sub.1, T.sub.2 help to shield the occupants
of the "rear" units U.sub.2 and U.sub.3 from any concomitant
traffic and commotion associated with the thoroughfare S, and
qualify as another means for creating the illusion of a single
tenant dwelling.
[0023] Each separate exterior entrance E.sub.1, E.sub.2, and
E.sub.3 may also include a separate patio or porch P.sub.1,
P.sub.2, and P.sub.3, preferably at or near ground-level L (see
FIG. 1) or otherwise touching the ground. An advantage of the
T-shaped dwelling 10 described above is that a person occupying any
one of the porches P.sub.1, P.sub.2, and P.sub.3 is unable to see
another porch associated with the same dwelling. This creates a
level of privacy not typically found in the usual multi-tenant
dwelling with side-by-side units having entrances with porches
fully or even partially exposed to each other as well as the
adjacent thoroughfare. However, such could also be achieved using a
different shape of structure (e.g., an H-shaped or I-shaped
building with a T-shaped common wall).
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which two adjacent
dwellings 10a, 10b could be positioned relative to an adjacent
thoroughfare or street S. Each dwelling 10a, 10b shown is generally
T-shaped as described above, and includes a forward first unit
U.sub.1 and two rear or remote units U.sub.2 and U.sub.3. In this
embodiment, at least two of the garages G.sub.1 and G.sub.2 share a
common driveway Y.sub.1. The other two garages (commonly labeled G
for the sake of convenience) associated each other unit may also
share a common driveway Y.sub.2 and Y.sub.3 associated with each
dwelling 10a, 10b. The door of at least one of the garages (such as
the one associated with the first unit U.sub.1) may face the
adjacent thoroughfare or be visible from the vantage point V
without in any way destroying the illusion of a single-tenant
dwelling, since such a dwelling often has a front-facing
garage.
[0025] With reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b, two different
neighborhood subdivisions 100 including a plurality of the
multi-tenant dwellings 10, all preferably of the type described
above, are shown. Each dwelling 10 may be associated with a single
plot of land, or "lot," in the subdivision, or alternatively may
occupy multiple lots depending on the particular layout utilized.
As should be appreciated, an observer standing on or traveling
along the thoroughfare or street S in the subdivision 100 shown in
FIG. 4a would see a plurality of illusory single tenant dwellings,
even though each is actually a multi-tenant dwelling 10 with two of
the exterior entrances simply obscured from view.
[0026] Consequently, the appearance of multi-tenant dwellings with
multiple exterior entrances along the same facade fully exposed to
the adjacent thoroughfare or street would thus be avoided, which
makes this type of subdivision 100 more apt to include single
tenant dwellings. Even if not all multi-tenant dwellings 10 present
comply with the preferred orientation on the lot such that a
vertical plane parallel to the front facade F.sub.1 is generally
parallel to the direction of travel D on the adjacent street S
(such as in the zone Z identified at the lower right hand side of
the FIG. 4b), it is also the case that the preferred T-shaped
dwelling still provides a highly efficient building structure
better able to accommodate three separate tenants than those
previously known.
[0027] FIGS. 1-4 are also considered to serve as instructions or
plans for constructing the various dwellings 10 described herein,
as well as to create a subdivision 100 comprised of a plurality of
these dwellings (either identical or not).
[0028] The foregoing descriptions of various embodiments of the
invention are provided for purposes of illustration, and are not
intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Modifications or variations
are also possible in light of the above teachings. For example,
instead of a T-shape, the dwelling could be arranged with three
separate, in-line units, with only one having an exterior entrance
exposed to view from an adjacent street or thoroughfare. The
entrances of the other two units could face the same direction or
different directions, but only one is preferably in the front
facade of the dwelling 10 and visible from the vantage point V
(including along a line intersecting this vantage point and all
three units). Likewise, the T-shaped "triplex" illustrated shown
clearly has enhanced efficiency, even if the entrance E.sub.1 of
the first or forward unit U.sub.1 is not the only one exposed to an
adjacent street S or thoroughfare. Although a single story dwelling
10 is shown, it may of course have any number of stories without
departing from the inventions disclosed herein. The embodiments
described above were chosen to provide the best application to
thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the
disclosed inventions in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All
such modifications and variations are within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *