Bamboo Pole Connectors for Building Construction
AssigneeStc.Unm
InventorTimothy Jack Ross
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a construction system for connecting bamboo segments or poles together, where the segments or poles have non-uniform diameters. The system includes elbow connectors, sleeve connectors, T-shaped connectors and six cavity connectors. Also, part of the connectors include connector segments including an opening defined by a plurality of opposingly located arms separated by one or more channels, and at least one hoop-compression clamp adapted to be positioned around the arms. The arms and hoop-compression clamp cooperate to compress the arms against the bamboo segment to secure bamboo segment within the connector opening.
Claims22
A construction system for connecting two or more building materials having non-uniform diameters together comprising:
- a connector having a body that connects two opposingly located connector segments;
- and
- said connector segments including an opening adapted to receive and form a friction fit with building materials having non-uniform diameters.
The construction system of claim 11 wherein said six connector segments are located at 90-degrees to one another.
The construction system of claim 12 wherein at least one of said six connector segments has a larger opening that the other segments.
The construction system of claim 14 wherein said panel clamps include a plug sized to fit within a building material segment.
The construction system of claim 15 wherein said plugs are tapered or conical.
The construction system of claim 16 wherein said plugs are made of a deformable material.
A construction system for connecting bamboo segments having non-uniform diameters together comprising:
- a plurality of sleeve connectors, each sleeve connector comprising:
- a body that connects opposingly located connector segments, at least one of said connector segments including an opening defined by a plurality of opposingly located arms separated by one or more channels, at least one hoop-compression clamp adapted to be positioned around said arms, and said arms and said at least one hoop-compression clamp cooperate to compress said arms against the bamboo segment to secure the bamboo segment within said opening;
- a plurality of elbow connectors, each elbow connector comprising:
- a body that connects opposingly located connector segments, at least one of said connector segments including an opening defined by a plurality of opposingly located arms separated by one or more channels, at least one hoop-compression clamp adapted to be positioned around said arms, and said arms and said at least one hoop-compression clamp cooperate to compress said arms against the bamboo segment to secure the bamboo segment within said opening;
- a plurality of T-shaped connectors, each T-shaped connector comprising:
- a body that connects opposingly located connector segments, at least one of said connector segments including an opening defined by a plurality of opposingly located arms separated by one or more channels, at least one hoop-compression clamp adapted to be positioned around said arms, and said arms and said at least one hoop-compression clamp cooperate to compress said arms against the bamboo segment to secure the bamboo segment within said opening;
- a plurality of connectors having a body that connects six opposingly located connector segments at right angles to one another, at least one of said connector segments including an opening defined by a plurality of opposingly located arms separated by one or more channels, at least one hoop-compression clamp adapted to be positioned around said arms, and said arms and said at least one hoop-compression clamp cooperate to compress said arms against the bamboo segment to secure the bamboo segment within said opening;
- a plurality of panel clamps, said panel clamps include a plug sized to fit within a bamboo segment or have connector segments adapted to secure a bamboo segment;
- and
- a plurality of foundation anchors, each of said foundation anchors having a sleeve and an expansion and compression slot defining an opening, said opening adapted to receive a bamboo segment and a clamp for compressing said sleeve against said bamboo segment, and a plurality of anchor holders adapted to receive a reinforcing rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.