Modular structural framing system

Modular structural framing system comprising, in combination:

• a slide connector;
• and an attachment panel, with the attachment panel comprising, in combination:
• a plate including at least a first edge;
• and means for removably securing the first edge to an edge of another attachment panel to form a three-dimensional member;
• with the removably securing means comprising, in combination:
• a plurality of latches extending from and equally spaced along the first edge, with each of the latches lying within the same plane;
• at least one detent portion formed in each of the latches, with the detent portions intersecting the plane of the latches at a nonlinear angle and having the same spacing from the first edge;
• with the slide connector having a slot of a shape slideably receiving the latches and the detent portions of the latches.

Modular structural framing system comprising, in combination:

• a clip;
• and a panel having an edge and a rectangular slit spaced from the edge, with the panel having an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the clip comprises, in combination:
• a first portion for abutting with the inside surface of the panel;
• a second portion extending continuously and at a non-linear angle to the first portion;
• a third portion extending continuously and at a non-linear angle to the second portion in a direction away from but parallel to the first portion, with the third portion abutting with the outside surface of the panel;
• and means secured to the third portion for holding accessories to the panel, with at least the first and second portions including rectangular cross sections having a width and thickness for slideable receipt in the rectangular slit, with the second portion spacing the first and third portions a distance generally equal to the thickness of the panel between the inside surface and the outside surface.

Modular structural framing system comprising, in combination:

• a panel including an edge, a rectangular slit spaced from the edge, and a plate having interconnect members along an edge thereof, with a gap formed in the interconnect members, with the panel having an inside surface and an outside surface;
• a slide connector for receipt on the interconnect members, with the slit formed and defined by the gap and the slide connector;
• and a clip comprising, in combination:
• a first portion for abutting with the inside surface of the panel;
• a second portion extending continuously and at a non-linear angle to the first portion;
• a third portion extending continuously and at a non-linear angle to the second portion in a direction away from but parallel to the first portion, with the third portion abutting with the outside surface of the panel;
• and means secured to the third portion for holding accessories to the panel, with at least the first and second portions including rectangular cross sections having a width and thickness for slideable receipt in the rectangular slit, with the second portion spacing the first and second portions a distance generally equal to the thickness of the panel between the inside surface and the outside surface.

Modular structural framing system comprising, in combination:

• first and second structural members each having first and second faces, with the first faces of the first and second structural members having complementary shapes for abutting with each other, with each of the first and second structural members having at least first ports formed therein, with the first ports extending through the first and second faces of the first and second structural members and being of the same size;
• and a clamp comprising, in combination:
• a primary band having a central wall having a length less than the perimeter of the first ports, with the primary band being generally annular but U-shaped and having first and second free ends, with the primary band having a normal shape which is of a size smaller than and for insertion into the ports;
• first and second secondary bands each having first and second ends;
• means for pivotally mounting the first ends of the first and second secondary bands together about a first axis;
• means for pivotally mounting the second end of the first secondary band relative to the first free end of the primary band;
• and means for pivotally mounting the second end of the second secondary band relative to the second free end of the primary band, with pivotal movement of the first and second secondary bands about the first axis causing the primary band to distort from its normal shape to further separate the first and second free ends of the primary band.

Clamp for first and second structural members each having first and second faces, with the first faces of the first and second structural members having complementary shapes for abutting with each other, with each of the first and second structural members having at least first ports formed therein, with the first ports extending through the first and second faces of the first and second structural members and being of the same size, comprising, in combination:

• a primary band having a central wall, with the primary band being generally annular but U-shaped and having first and second free ends, with the primary band comprising a unitary member having a generally channel-shaped transverse cross section with first and second outwardly directed side walls extending from the central wall, with the primary band having a normal shape adapted to be inserted into the ports;
• first and second secondary bands each having first and second ends;
• means for pivotally mounting the first ends of the first and second secondary bands together about a first axis;
• means for pivotally mounting the second end of the first secondary band relative to the first free end of the primary band;
• and means for pivotally mounting the second end of the second secondary band relative to the second free end of the primary band, with pivotal movement of the first and second secondary bands about the first axis causing the primary band to distort from its normal shape to further separate the first and second free ends of the primary band.

Clamp for first and second structural members each having first and second faces, with the first faces of the first and second structural members having complementary shapes for abutting with each other, with each of the first and second structural members having at least first ports formed therein, with the first ports extending through the first and second faces of the first and second structural members and being of the same size, comprising, in combination:

• a primary band having a central wall, with the primary band being generally annular but U-shaped and having first and second free ends, with the primary band having a normal shape adapted to be inserted into the ports;
• first and second secondary bands each having first and second ends;
• means for pivotally mounting the first ends of the first and second secondary bands together about a first axis;
• means for pivotally mounting the second end of the first secondary band relative to the first free end of the primary band;
• and means for pivotally mounting the second end of the second secondary band relative to the second free end of the primary band, with pivotal movement of the first and second secondary bands about the first axis causing the primary band to distort from its normal shape to further separate the first and second free ends of the primary band, wherein the first and second secondary bands are in a center position when the first and second free ends of the primary band have a maximum spacing and are in an overcenter relation when the clamp is in a clamping condition adapted to clamp the first ports of the first and second structural members together, with the first axis being movable radially outward from the normal shape to the center position and then to the overcenter position.

Attachment panel comprising, in combination:

• a plate including at least a first edge;
• and means for removably securing the first edge to an edge of another attachment panel to form a three-dimensional member;
• with the removably securing means comprising, in combination:
• a plurality of latches extending from and equally spaced in a direction along the first edge, with each of the latches lying within the same plane;
• at least one detent portion formed in each of the latches, with the detent portions intersecting the plane of the latches at a nonlinear angle;
• a plurality of lugs extending from and equally spaced in the direction along the first edge intermediate the plurality of latches, with each of the lugs having a free edge spaced from the first edge and extending parallel to the direction, with each of the latches having a latching edge complementary to and for receipt of the free edges of the lugs of the other attachment panel, with each of the lugs lying within the plane of the latches.

Connector for interconnecting first and second panels each having interconnect members along an edge thereof, with the interconnect members of each of the panels being L-shaped and including a first portion lying in a first plane and a second portion intersecting with the plane of the first portion, with the interconnect members of the first and second panels having a generally T-shape in a latched condition, comprising, in combination:

• at least a first extended plate having an inside face;
• a first tube having a hollow interior and secured to the inside face of the first extended plate;
• a first cut extending through the first tube, with the first cut and the hollow interior of the first tube forming a T-shaped slot of a size adapted to slideably receive the generally T-shape of the interconnect members of the first and second panels in the latched condition;
• and a second extended plate having an inside face and interconnected to the first extended plate at a nonlinear angle, with the first tube being secured to the inside face of the second extended tube.

Connector for interconnecting first, second and third panels each having interconnect members along an edge thereof, with the interconnect members of each of the panels being L-shaped and including a first portion lying in a first plane and a second portion intersecting with the plane of the first portion, with the interconnect members of the first and second panels having a generally T-shape in a latched condition, comprising, in combination:

• at least a first extended plate having an inside face;
• a first tube having a hollow interior and secured to the inside face of the first extended plate;
• a first cut extending through the first tube, with the first cut and the hollow interior of the first tube forming a T-shaped slot of a size adapted to slideably receive the generally T-shape of the interconnect members of the first and second panels in the latched condition;
• a second tube having a hollow interior and secured to the inside face of the first extended plate;
• and a second cut extending through the second tube, with the second cut and the hollow interior of the second tube forming an L-shaped slot of a size adapted to slideably receive the L-shaped interconnect members of the third panel, with the L-shaped slot being in a fixed positional relationship to the T-shaped slot.