Kit including self-supporting panels for assembling a modular structure

A kit (10) for building a structural shape comprising:

• at least a first, a second and a third planar panel (12a, 12b, 12c), each planar panel having at least three sides, including a first side (14) having a straight edge with a first end (16) and a second end (18), a second side (20) connected to the first end (16) and extending from the first side (14) at a first predetermined angle (22), and a third side (24) connected to the second end (18) and extending from the first side (14) at a second predetermined angle (26);
• a first connector (28) integrally formed with the first side (14) and defining a first slot (30) between the first side (14) and the first connector (28) having a first blind end (32) substantially located at a midpoint of the first side (14);
• a second connector (34) integrally formed with the second side (20) defining a second slot (36) adjacent to the first end and having a second blind end (38) between the second side (20) and the second connector (34);
• and
• a third connector (40) integrally formed with the third side (24) defining a third slot (42) adjacent the second end and having a third blind end (44) between the third side (24) and the third connector (40) defining the third slot (42) between the third side (24) and the third connector (40), wherein the first connector (28), the second connector (34), and the third connector (40) mechanically engage with respect to one another to define a first joint formed with the second slot (36) of each of the first, second, and third planar panels (12a, 12b, 12c) operatively engaging with the third slot (42) of another one of the first, second and third planar panels (12a, 12b, 12c) to define at least one substantially tetrahedron-shaped (62) assembled modular sub-structure.

A kit (10) for building a structural shape comprising:

• at least a first, a second and a third planar panel (12a, 12b, 12c), each planar panel having at least three sides, including a first side (14) having a straight edge with a first end (16) and a second end (18), a second side (20) connected to the first end (16) and extending from the first side (14) at a first predetermined angle (22), and a third side (24) connected to the second end (18) and extending from the first side (14) at a second predetermined angle (26), wherein the first and second predetermined angles (22, 26) range from between 10 degrees to 160 degrees, inclusive;
• a first connector (28) integrally formed with the first side (14) and defining a first slot (30) between the first side (14) and the first connector (28) having a first blind end (32) substantially located at a midpoint of the first side (14);
• a second connector (34) integrally formed with the second side (20) defining a second slot (36) adjacent the first end and having a second blind end (38) between the second side (20) and the second connector (34);
• a third connector (40) integrally formed with the third side (24) defining a third slot (42) adjacent the second end and having a third blind end (44) between the third side (24) and the third connector (40) defining the third slot (42) between the third side (24) and the third connector (40), wherein the second connector (34) and the third connector (40) of each of the first, second, and third planar panels (12a, 12b, 12c) can mechanically engage with respect to one another to define a first joint and the first connectors (28) of each of the first, second, and third planar panels (12a, 12b, 12c) can mechanically engage with respect to one another to define a second joint, wherein the first joint is formed with the second slot (36) of one of the first, second, and third planar panels (12a, 12b, 12c) operatively engaging with the third slot (42) of another of the first, second and third planar panels (12a, 12b, 12c), and wherein the second joint is formed with the first slot (30) of one of the first, second, and third planar panels (12a, 12b, 12c) operably engaging with the first slot (30) of another one of the first, second, and third planar panels (12a, 12b, 12c), such that the first blind end (32) of the first slot (30) abuts the first blind end (32) of the first slot (30) of another one of the first, second, and third planar panels (12a, 12b, 12c), such that the first planar panel (12a), the second planar panel (12b), and the third planar panel (12c) are connectable with respect to one another through three first joints to form at least one module structure (62);
• wherein the at least one module structure (62) further comprises five module structures (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e), wherein the first slot (28) defined by the first connector (30) of one of the module structures (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e) operably engages the first slot (30) defined by the first connector (28) of another one of the module structures (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e) to mechanically interconnect the five module structures (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e) with respect to one another through five second joints to form at least one substantially pentagonal shaped structure (74);
• and
• wherein the at least one substantially pentagonal shaped structure (74) further comprises a plurality of substantially pentagonal shaped structures (74a, 74b), wherein the first slot (30) defined by the first connector (28) of one of the plurality of pentagonal shaped structures (74a) operably engages the first slot (30) defined by the first connector (28) of another one of the plurality pentagonal shaped structure (74b) to mechanically interconnect at least six adjacent substantially pentagonal shaped structures (74a, 74b) to one another through ten second joints in order to form at least one assembled modular superstructure (80) defining a cavity.