Modular shear panel system
OwnerJoseph Obegiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to construction and building toys, blocks and the like for children and structurally similar construction and building materials and components for building retaining walls, support structures and lattices, trellises, and enclosed structures and other self supported units comprised of a plurality of individual, modular, high-shear panels, and more particularly, to a plurality of cross members having discrete and individual openings at various and specific locations within the cross members and a plurality of tubular or cylindrical or other cross-sectional shaped lateral members, the lateral members being set into the openings within the cross members such that, upon assembly, modular, high shear strength panels are created.
Claims19
A modular shear panel system for use as children's toys, construction blocks, modeling systems, geometric structures and landscaping accessories including ornamental plant supports, multi dimensional and self supporting structures, said modular shear panel system comprising:
- a plurality of hollow cross members, each of said cross members having a predetermined length and a plurality of ends, each of said cross members having an external surface divided into a plurality of external faces, each of said hollow cross members having an internal chamber defined by an interior surface, each of said cross members having a predetermined cross section size and shape, each of said cross members having a plurality of openings located on said plurality of external faces extending between said external surface and said internal chamber, each of said plurality of openings having a predetermined size and shape, each of said openings corresponding with a particular region of said hollow cross members immediately adjacent to said openings;
- and
- a plurality of lateral members, each of said lateral members having an elongated shape and a predetermined length, each of said lateral members having a plurality of ends, each of said lateral members having a cross section size and shape essentially similar to said size and shape of said plurality of openings, each of said ends of said plurality of lateral members being disposed within said plurality of openings located on said plurality of cross members such that said ends of said lateral members bear against the internal surface of said plurality of hollow cross members and produce a stress within said particular regions of said hollow cross members immediately adjacent to said openings in said hollow cross members, said stress produced within said hollow cross members sufficient to bias the plurality of lateral members in certain oblique, opposing directions such that an internal tension is created within the modular shear panel system thereby maintaining said plurality of lateral members and said plurality of cross members in a fixed orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.