# US 10,480,555 B2 · Systems and methods for joining node and tube structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,555 B2 - Document ID: US10480555B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/671,894 - Filed: 2017-08-08 - Published: 2019-02-14 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-08 - Assignees: Divergent Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Divergent Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Kevin Robert Czinger; Broc William TenHouten; John Russell Bucknell; Antonio Bernerd Martinez; Eahab Nagi El Naga; William Bradley Balzer; Zachary Meyer Omohundro; Praveen Varma Penmetsa; Matthew Michael O'Brien; John Franklin Dunham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480555B2 ## CPC - F16B 11/006: {by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48)} - B62D 21/02: comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members - B62D 29/04: predominantly of synthetic material (working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29) - E04B 1/1903: {Connecting nodes specially adapted therefor} - B62D 21/183: {specially adapted for sports vehicles, e.g. race, dune buggies, go-karts (tubular skeleton B62D23/005)} - E04B 2001/1927: {of essentially circular cross section} - E04B 2001/1972: {Welded or glued connection} - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) ## Abstract Connections between nodes and tubes are provided. An apparatus can include additively manufactured first and second nodes, a tube, and an interconnect connecting the tube to the first and second nodes. An apparatus can include a node having an end portion with inner and outer concentric portions forming an annular gap therebetween, and a tube having an end portion extending into the gap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: an additively manufactured first node including a first surface; an additively manufactured second node including a second surface; a tube; an interconnect connecting the tube to the first and the second nodes, wherein the interconnect comprises a base and a shaft extending from the base, and wherein an exposed surface of the base is flush with the first and the second surfaces when the first node, the second node, the tube, and the interconnect are joined; and a spacer structure arranged between and entirely separating three or more of the first node, the second node, the tube, and the interconnect. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and the second nodes are adhered to the base and the tube is adhered to the shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the base comprises a first portion adhered to a complementary portion of the first node and a second portion adhered to a complementary portion of the second node. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shaft extends into the tube and is adhered to the inner surface of the tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the interconnect comprises a first element adhered to the first node and the tube, and a second element adhered to the second node and the tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and the second elements are arranged to form a slot, and wherein the tube extends through the slot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first node comprises a first bracket supporting the first element and the second node comprises a second bracket supporting the second element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: the spacer structure arranged between the first node, the second node, the tube, and the interconnect. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spacer structure includes a seal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spacer structure includes adhesive. ### Claim 11 An apparatus, comprising: an additively manufactured first node; an additively manufactured second node; a tube; an interconnect connecting the tube to the first and the second nodes, wherein the interconnect comprises a base and a shaft extending from the base; and a spacer structure arranged between the first node, the second node, the tube, and the interconnect, wherein the spacer structure is configured to entirely separate one or more of the first node and the second node from one or more of the tube and the interconnect by a first separation distance, and wherein the spacer structure is configured to entirely separate the tube from the interconnect by a second separation distance, the second separation distance being smaller than the first separation distance.