Wall and pillar system for building modular structures

Abstract

An example system for building a modular wall structure includes at least one wall unit and at least one pillar. Each wall unit has top and bottom surfaces, opposed first and second side surfaces, first and second ends, and a projection disposed on each end extending outwardly from the first and second side surfaces. Each pillar has a top and bottom surface configured to be vertically stackable, and at least one vertical groove comprising, in section, a wall unit accepting opening open to an outer vertical surface of the pillar and continuous with a wider projection accepting opening disposed inwardly of the wall unit accepting opening When the projection is inserted into the vertical groove, the projection can rotate within the projection accepting opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for building a modular wall structure comprising:
 at least one wall unit having top and bottom surfaces, opposed first and second side surfaces, first and second ends, and a projection disposed on each end extending outwardly from the first and second side surfaces; and   at least one pillar, the pillars having a top and bottom surface configured to be vertically stackable;   each pillar including at least one vertical groove, the vertical groove comprising, in section, a wall unit accepting opening open to an outer vertical surface of the pillar and continuous with a wider projection accepting opening disposed inwardly of the wall unit accepting opening, the wall unit accepting opening having a width that is greater than a width of the wall unit between the first and second side surfaces and smaller than a width of the wall unit at the projection, the width of the projection accepting opening being greater than the width of the wall unit at the projection;   wherein, when the projection is inserted into the vertical groove, the projection can rotate within the projection accepting opening to angle the wall unit vertically and horizontally;   wherein each wall unit is configured to be vertically stacked with another wall unit so that the vertically stacked wall units move together when rotated.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said pillar further comprises:
 a vertical cavity disposed on the bottom surface and extending into the bottom surface; and   a vertically extending connector disposed at and extending at least partially from the top surface, said connector being configured to fit at least partially within the vertical cavity to connect vertically stacked pillars.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said connector is centrally disposed along the top surface; and
 wherein said vertical cavity is centrally disposed along the bottom surface.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom surface of said pillar are substantially flat. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the wall unit is configured to nest with the bottom surface of a like wall unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the top surface of the wall unit defines a first connecting shape, and the bottom surface of the wall unit defines a second connecting shape that is complementary to the first connecting shape. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first connecting shape comprises a positive V-shape, and wherein the second connecting shape comprises a negative V-shape. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each pillar comprises a plurality of vertical grooves, each vertical groove disposed at a respective vertical outer surface of the pillar. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical groove extends from the top surface of the pillar to the bottom surface of the pillar. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical groove further comprises an outer opening continuous with the wall unit accepting opening and disposed at the outer surface of the pillar;
 wherein the outer opening has a width greater than a width of the wall unit accepting opening.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of wall units; and 
 a plurality of pillars. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of wall units has a substantially identical configuration, and wherein each of the plurality of pillars has a substantially identical configuration. 
     
     
         13 . A modular structure comprising:
 a plurality of wall units, each wall unit comprising:
 top and bottom surfaces, opposed first and second side surfaces, first and second ends, and a projection disposed on each end extending outwardly from the first and second side surfaces; and 
   a plurality of pillars, each pillar comprising:
 a top and bottom surface configured to be vertically stackable; and 
 at least one vertical groove, the vertical groove comprising, in section, a wall unit accepting opening open to an outer vertical surface of the pillar and continuous with a wider projection accepting opening disposed inwardly of the wall unit accepting opening, the wall unit accepting opening having a width that is greater than a width of the wall unit between the first and second side surfaces and smaller than a width of the wall unit at the projection, the width of the projection accepting opening being greater than the width of the wall unit at the projection; 
   wherein at least one wall unit is inserted into the vertical groove of one of the pillars such that the projection is disposed within the projection accepting opening and wherein a portion of the length of the wall unit extends through the wall unit accepting opening.   
     
     
         14 . The modular structure of  claim 13 , wherein the projection can rotate horizontally and vertically within the projection accepting opening to angle the wall unit horizontally and vertically. 
     
     
         15 . The modular structure of  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of stacked wall units are inserted into the vertical groove of one of the pillars such that the projection of each of the plurality of stacked wall units is disposed within the projection accepting opening and wherein a portion of the length of each wall unit extends through the wall unit accepting opening. 
     
     
         16 . The modular structure of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of stacked wall units vertically interlock with one another so that they move together when horizontally or vertically rotated. 
     
     
         17 . The modular structure of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of stacked wall units slide horizontally with respect to one another when vertically rotated. 
     
     
         18 . The modular structure of  claim 13 , wherein the modular structure comprises one or more of a fire retainer wall, a sound barrier wall, a dividing wall, a retaining wall, a dam, an onsite reusable portable molding forms, a partition for farms or ranches, a building structure, or an enclosure. 
     
     
         19 . A method for constructing a modular structure comprising:
 providing a plurality of wall units, each wall unit comprising:
 top and bottom surfaces, opposed first and second side surfaces, first and second ends, and a projection disposed on each end extending outwardly from the first and second side surfaces; 
   providing a plurality of pillars, each pillar comprising:
 a top and bottom surface configured to be vertically stackable; and
 at least one vertical groove, the vertical groove comprising, in section, a wall unit accepting opening open to an outer vertical surface of the pillar and continuous with a wider projection accepting opening disposed inwardly of the wall unit accepting opening, the wall unit accepting opening having a width that is greater than a width of the wall unit between the first and second side surfaces and smaller than a width of the wall unit at the projection, the width of the projection accepting opening being greater than the width of the wall unit at the projection; 
 
   arranging the plurality of pillars on a surface; and   vertically loading at least one wall unit into the vertical groove of at least one of the pillars such that the projection of the at least one wall unit is disposed within the projection accepting opening, wherein a portion of the length of the wall unit extends through the wall unit accepting opening.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 positioning the loaded at least one wall unit by rotating the wall unit horizontally or vertically while the wall unit is inserted into the vertical groove.