Modular, reconfigurable environment isolation structures and related methods
AssigneeCornerstone Research Group, Inc.
InventorsJason P. Rice, Mary T. Parrish, Ben Dietsch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Environment isolation structures may include a frame and flexible panels at least partially covering, and attached to, the frame. The frame may include multidirectional node connectors including multiple locations for attachment. At least some of the locations for attachment may be located on different sides of the multidirectional node connectors. Poles configured to telescope to selectively fixable lengths may include connectors affixed to longitudinal ends of the poles. Each connector may be configured to selectively attach to a respective location for attachment on a given side of a respective multidirectional node connector to form the frame.
Claims22
A kit for assembling an environment isolation structure, comprising:
- a reconfigurable frame, comprising:
- multidirectional node connectors comprising multiple attachment locations, at least some of the attachment locations located on different sides of the multidirectional node connectors;
- poles configured to telescope to selectively fixable lengths;
- and
- connectors affixed to longitudinal ends of the poles, each connector configured to selectively attach to a respective attachment location on a given side of a respective multidirectional node connector;
- and
- flexible panels configured to at least partially cover, and be attached to, the frame;
- wherein the connectors of at least some of the poles are configured to constrain movement relative to a connected multidirectional node connector about all but one axis of rotation and ail but one direction of linear translation, and wherein the connectors of at least some others of the poles are configured to constrain movement relative to another connected multidirectional node connector about all but two or three axes of rotation and ail but one direction of linear translation.
An environment isolation structure, comprising:
- a reconfigurable frame, comprising:
- multidirectional node connectors comprising multiple attachment locations, at least some of the attachment locations located on different sides of the multidirectional node connectors;
- poles configured to telescope to selectively fixable lengths;
- and
- connectors affixed to longitudinal ends of the poles, each connector attached to a respective attachment location on a given side of a respective multidirectional node connector;
- and
- flexible panels at least partially covering, and attached to, the frame;
- wherein the connectors of at least some of the poles are configured to constrain movement relative to a connected multidirectional node connector about all but one axis of rotation and all but one direction of linear translation, and wherein the connectors of at least some others of the poles are configured to constrain movement relative to another connected multidirectional node connector about all but two or three axes of rotation and all but one direction of linear translation.
A method of assembling a reconfigurable environment isolation structure, comprising:
- attaching connectors at longitudinal ends of poles to multidirectional node connectors to form a base polygonal shape;
- attaching additional connectors at longitudinal ends of additional poles to the multidirectional node connectors of the base polygonal shape to form lateral side shapes;
- attaching remaining connectors at the longitudinal ends of the additional poles to additional multidirectional node connectors to form a frame comprising a polyhedron shape;
- adjusting the polyhedron shape by selectively adjusting lengths of at least some of the poles and subsequently fixing the lengths of the at least some of the poles;
- draping flexible panels over the frame and attaching the panels to the frame to form the environment isolation structure;
- constraining movement of at least some of the poles relative to a connected multidirectional node connector about all but one axis of rotation and all but one direction of linear translation utilizing the connectors of the at least some of the poles;
- and
- constraining movement of at least some others of the poles relative to another connected multidirectional node connector about all but two or three axes of rotation and all but one direction of linear translation utilizing the connectors of the at least some others of the poles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.