# US 2018/0023284 A1 · Spatial structure

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- Number: US 2018/0023284 A1
- Document ID: US20180023284A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/551,694
- Filed: 2016-02-17
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-18
- Inventors: Eduardo HERREZUELO DE LA SIERRA; Juan Pablo MOLINA VALDERRAMA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023284A1

## CPC

- E04B 1/1906: {with central spherical, semispherical or polyhedral connecting element}
- E04B 2001/1927: {of essentially circular cross section}
- E04B 2001/196: {Screw connections with axis parallel to the main axis of the strut}
- E04B 2001/1966: {Formlocking connections other than screw connections}
- 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

A spatial structure that enables the assembly and disassembly of architectural elements quickly and easily, ensuring the necessary structural robustness and which basically comprises a node (1) with a plurality of sockets (2), a bar (3) intended for insertion at either of the two ends thereof in said sockets (2), a perforated screw (5) whose inner surface (6) allows the insertion of the end of the bar (3) and whose outer surface is coupled to the sockets (2), and a portion of flexible washer (8) suitable for insertion into the socket (2) of the node (1) and closing by compression as a result of the thrust exerted by the perforated screw (5) to adopt the shape of a substantially closed washer such that said bar (3) is locked inside the perforated screw (5), preventing the disassembly of the structure but not the rotation of the bar (3) inside the socket (2).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A spatial structure comprising at least:
one node (1) with a plurality of sockets (2), wherein each socket has coupling means (7),
one bar (3) which is to be inserted at either of the two ends thereof into the sockets (2) of the nodes (1) and wherein said ends each comprise at least one retaining element (4),
one perforated screw (5) whose inner surface (6) allows the insertion of the end of the bar (3) and whose outer surface has coupling means (7′) formed by a male threaded portion complementary to a similar female thread that forms the coupling means (7) of the sockets (2) and
a portion of flexible washer (8 8′) that covers a circular arc of circumference suitable for insertion into the socket (2) of the node (1) and being closed by means of compression as a result of the thrust of the perforated screw (5) in order to adopt the shape of a substantially closed washer which cooperates with the retaining element (4) of the end of the bar (3), such that said bar (3) is locked inside the perforated screw (5), thus preventing disassembly of the assembly but not the rotation of the bar (3) within the socket (2);
where in order to close the portion of flexible washer (8) by compression as a result of a thrust by means of a perforated screw (5), the perforated screw (5) has an inclined plane (14) with an angle α intended for coupling at an inclined plane (14′) with the same angle a as the portion of flexible washer (8),
characterized in that the portion of flexible washer (8) comprises:
a thin strip (10) that corresponds to the outer diameter thereof, and
on the inner diameter of said strip (10), a plurality of teeth (11) greater in thickness than the strip (10), which project inwards and wherein said teeth (11) alternate with empty areas where only the strip (10) is found, forming a portion of ring gear;
and in that
the retaining element (4) of the bar (3) for retaining the portion of flexible washer (8) is formed by a perimeter step.

### Claim 2

(canceled)

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The spatial structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the bars (3) comprise:
a first section, which corresponds to the free end thereof, having an outer diameter such that it enables them to pass through the inside of the perforated screw (5);
a second section, further away from the free end, which is smaller in diameter than the first section, forming the perimeter step that constitutes the retaining element (4) of the portion of flexible washer (8), and
a third conical section reaching up to the maximum outer diameter of the central area of the bar (1),
wherein said second section, having a constant diameter, extends over a greater length than twice the width of the portion of flexible washer (8).

### Claim 4

(canceled)

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The spatial structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the inclined planes (14) of the perforated screw (5) and the inclined sections (14′) of the portion of flexible washer (8) are comprised between 30° and 45°.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The spatial structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the portion of flexible washer (8) has a double inclined section (14′), one on each side, such that it does not matter how the operator positions it within the socket (2) of the node (1).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The spatial structure according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two portions of flexible washer (8′) joined together by their inner faces by a joint system (16) such that the same has inclined sections (14′) on both sides.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The spatial structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the portion of flexible washer (8,8′) covers a circular arc with a circumference of 313°.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The spatial structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the node (1) has a through hole (12) that defines its vertical orientation and in that the poles in which the through hole (12) is located have a flattened configuration forming flat faces having a plurality of holes (13) distributed at equal angles around the through hole (12).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The spatial structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the perforated screw (5) has grooves (9) distributed at equal angles which are suitable for coupling therein a part or tool for the assembly and/or disassembly.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The spatial structure according to claim 7, characterized in that the holes (13) and the grooves (9) are distributed at equal angles every 45°, such that they are complementary to each other.