United States patent 268503

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES V. LAFFERTY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Buildings, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which&mdash;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the building embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof in line x x, Fig. 1. Fig 3 is a horizontal section in y y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of a building in the form of an animal, the body of which is floored and divided into rooms, closets, &c., and the legs contain the stairs which lead to the body, said legs being hollow, so as to be of increased strength for properly supporting the body, and the elevation of the body permitting the circulation of air below the same, the entiredevice presenting a unique appearance and producing a building which is well ventilated and lighted.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a building which is in the form of an animal&mdash;in the present case that of an elephant&mdash;the body B and the legs C of which are hollow, the body being essentially supported on said legs, and, if desired, by means of suitable tresses within the same, and otherwise strengthened. The body is properly floored, as shown by the dotted lines a, Fog. 1, furnished with windows, doors &c., and divided into apartments or rooms, closets, &c., and in the legs C and stairs D, which lead to the floor a, so that access is had to the body B from the ground, the legs having doors E for evident purposes, each leg, if desired, containing a flight of stairs, although for ordinary purposes the hind legs only are provided with stairs.

F represents a chute, which communicates with the front of the body A and extends to the ground, where it may be connected with a sewer or other conduit for conveying slops, asges &c., to the sewer or conduit, said chute being of the form of the trunk of the elephant and containing trussing b (shown in dotted lines) for supporting the front of the body, said trussing being concealed by the coering or wall of the trunk. The lower end of the chute enters or is connected with a box, G, around which is a seat, H, said box resting on the ground, or proper supports thereon, and concealing said lower end of the chute and its connection with the conduit, and in the present case presenting the appearance of a trough from which the animal is feeding or drinking.

An upper story, J, may be supported on the body B, access whereto is had from the floor a by means of stairs c, which are properly located in the walls of the body B and sustained in position, said story J being in the form of a howdah, which, completing the semblance of a bedecked elephant, acts as the observatory of the building. It will be seen that the structure is novel and unique. The body is supported on hollow legs, which are strong and enabled to endure the great weight superimposed upon them. The elevation of the body permits the circulation of air beneath it and removes it from the dampness and moisture of the ground, the advantages whereof are evident. Furthermore, the body is exposed to light and air on both sides, wherefore it provides a healthy and suitable place of occupancy for invalids and others.

The building may be of the form of any other animal than an elephant, as that of a fish, fowl, &c.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is&mdash;

1. A building of the form of an animal, the body of which is constructed with floors divided into apartments, provided with windows and stairs, and supported on hollow legs, which afford access to the body, substantially as set forth.

2. A building of the form of an animal, having a body which is supported on hollow legs, one or all of which contain stairs which lead to the body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 3. A building of human occupancy, having the form of an animal and having a chute whicch extends down through a member of said animal and communicates with the interior of the body, substantially as set forth.

4. The chute F, in combination with the trussing b and the body B, substantially as set forth.

5. The body B and chute F, in combination with the box G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES V. LAFFERTY

Witnesses:
 * JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM
 * A.P. GRANT.