Modular Building System

Abstract

A modular construction member and kit including panels having sides, each side defining a matrix of holes. The matrices of holes are complementary to one another so that when connected to one another by connectors, any one of the connected sides may be coplanar with a side of the other panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular construction comprising:
 a first unitary, rigid panel having a plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides comprising a matrix of holes;   a connector for fitting within one of the holes of the first panel; and   a second panel having a plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides comprising a matrix of holes, each of the matrices of holes of the second panel adapted to be complementary to each of the other matrices of holes of the first panel such that any one of the sides of the first panel may be coplanar with any one of the sides of the second panel when the complementary holes are connected by the connector.   
     
     
         2 . The modular construction of  claim 1  wherein the coplanar side of the second panel is identical to the coplanar side of the first panel when connected by the connector. 
     
     
         3 . The modular construction of  claim 1  wherein the coplanar side of the second panel is different from the coplanar side of the first panel when connected by the connector. 
     
     
         4 . The modular construction of  claim 3  wherein one of the other sides of the first panel is also coplanar with another side of the second panel creating a 90 degree corner. 
     
     
         5 . The modular construction system of  claim 1 , wherein the holes of at least two of the sides are arranged in a plurality of intersecting rows and columns of holes. 
     
     
         6 . The modular construction system of  claim 5 , wherein the holes of each of the rows and the columns of holes are equally spaced. 
     
     
         7 . The modular construction system of  claim 1 , wherein the holes of at least two sides meet to form a plurality of through holes. 
     
     
         8 . The modular construction of  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a dowel. 
     
     
         9 . The modular construction of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of braces connectable to the panels. 
     
     
         10 . The modular construction system of claim I wherein the panel comprises precast masonry. 
     
     
         11 . The modular construction system of  claim 1  wherein the first panel and the second panel are identical. 
     
     
         12 . A modular building kit, comprising:
 a set of rigid, unitary panels, each of the panels having a plurality of sides, each of the sides comprising a matrix of holes having a spacing length between holes and an edge length between a hole which is closest to an edge of its side and the side; and   a means for connecting the panels to one another comprising one of the group of dowel rods, screws, nuts and bolts, pins, and expandable members, wherein at least a portion of the matrix of holes of one of the panels is capable of being connected with holes of another one of the panels and in such a way as to form a composite load bearing structure;   wherein the spacing length of the matrix of holes on one of the panels is identical to the spacing length of at least a portion of the matrix of holes of each of the other panels and wherein the edge length of the matrix of holes on one of the panels is identical to the edge length of the other panels.   
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein each of the panels comprise six sides. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13  wherein the matrix of holes of at least two of the sides of each of the panels are arranged in a plurality of intersecting columns and rows. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 14  wherein the holes of each of the rows and the columns of holes are equally spaced. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15  wherein the holes of at least two sides meet to form a plurality of through holes. 
     
     
         17 . The kid of  claim 16  wherein the panels comprise precast masonry. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17  further comprising a plurality of braces connectable to the panels. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18  wherein the panels are arranged to form an outdoor kitchen. 
     
     
         20 . A method for constructing an object comprising:
 providing a first rigid, unitary panel having six sides, each of the six sides comprising a matrix of holes;   providing a second rigid, unitary panel having six sides, each of the six sides comprising a matrix of holes;   connecting the first panel to the second panel by placing a connector into a plurality of the holes of the first panel and a corresponding plurality of holes of the second panel to form a composite structure;   wherein each of the matrices of holes of the second panel is adapted to be complementary to each of the other matrices of holes of the first panel such that any one of the six sides of the first panel may be coplanar with one of the six sides of the second panel when the appropriate corresponding plurality of holes are connected by the connector.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of connecting additional unitary panels to the composite structure to form a load-bearing structure.