US 5,611,187 AGranted

Construction system

OwnerRichard H. Jonesinventor

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Abstract

A construction system for making latticework structures comprising connectors and rods. Each connector has a base portion with at least two side portions and opposing faces. A first attaching element is attached to a first side portion of the base portion. Second and third attaching elements are secured in axial alignment at spaced locations to a second side portion of the base portion. Respective connectors can be interconnected to each other by placing the first attaching element of one connector between the second and third axially aligned attaching elements of another connector and passing a rod through aligned receiving openings in each of the first, second and third attaching elements. Many of these connectors and rods may be assembled to form larger structures such as cubes, pyramids and other polyhedrons. The connectors themselves may take various shapes such as triangles, sectors and trapezoids. Several embodiments are described for retaining the rods in the connectors and for attaching a face forming structure to the resulting structures.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A construction system for making latticework structures comprising:

a plurality of connectors, each of said connectors including a base portion, having opposing faces and at least first, second and third side portions, and a plurality of attaching elements, said plurality of attaching elements including a first attaching element mounted on the first side portion of said base portion and a second attaching element mounted on the second side portion of said base portion, said first and second attaching elements respectively including first and second receiving openings each of which has an associated longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of said first receiving opening intersecting the longitudinal axis of said second receiving opening at a predetermined angle;
a plurality of rods, each of said rods including first and second longitudinally spaced end portions, a first group of said plurality of connectors being interconnected by aligning the first receiving opening of a first connector of said first group of connectors with the second receiving opening of another connector of said first group of connectors and inserting the first end portion of a respective one of said plurality of rods within the aligned receiving openings to interconnect the first group of connectors, wherein a plurality of groups of said plurality of connectors are interconnectable, in a manner commensurate with said first group of connectors, at respective longitudinally spaced end portions of respective ones of said plurality of rods so as to collectively form an open latticework structure;
and
means for retaining the first end portion of said respective one of said plurality of rods within said aligned receiving openings, wherein said means for retaining comprises an annular flange of said first attaching element that projects radially inwardly into said first receiving opening and the first end portion of said one of said plurality of rods is formed with an annular groove at a position spaced from a terminal end of said first end portion, said annular flange being receivable within said annular groove.

1 more element

A construction system for making latticework structures comprising:

a plurality of connectors, each of said connectors including a base portion, having opposing faces and at least first, second and third side portions, and a plurality of attaching elements, said plurality of attaching elements including a first attaching element mounted on the first side portion of said base portion and a second attaching element mounted on the second side portion of said base portion, said first and second attaching elements respectively including first and second receiving openings each of which has an associated longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of said first receiving opening intersecting the longitudinal axis of said second receiving opening at a predetermined angle;
a plurality of rods, each of said rods including first and second longitudinally spaced end portions, a first group of said plurality of connectors being interconnected by aligning the first receiving opening of a first connector of said first group of connectors with the second receiving opening of another connector of said first group of connectors and inserting the first end portion of a respective one of said plurality of rods within the aligned receiving openings to interconnect the first group of connectors, wherein a plurality of groups of said plurality of connectors are interconnectable, in a manner commensurate with said first group of connectors, at respective longitudinally spaced end portions of respective ones of said plurality of rods so as to collectively form an open latticework structure;
and
means for readily removably securing said attaching elements to respective ones of said plurality of connectors.

1 more element

A construction system for making latticework structures comprising:

a plurality of connectors, each of said connectors including a base portion, having opposing faces and at least first, second and third side portions, and a plurality of attaching elements, said plurality of attaching elements including a first attaching element mounted on the first side portion of said base portion and a second attaching element mounted on the second side portion of said base portion, said first and second attaching elements respectively including first and second receiving openings each of which has an associated longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of said first receiving opening intersecting the longitudinal axis of said second receiving opening at a predetermined angle;
a plurality of rods, each of said rods including first and second longitudinally spaced end portions, a first group of said plurality of connectors being interconnected by aligning the first receiving opening of a first connector of said first group of connectors with the second receiving opening of another connector of said first group of connectors and inserting the first end portion of a respective one of said plurality of rods within the aligned receiving openings to interconnect the first group of connectors, wherein a plurality of groups of said plurality of connectors are interconnectable, in a manner commensurate with said first group of connectors, at respective longitudinally spaced end portions of respective ones of said plurality of rods so as to collectively form an open latticework structure;
and
a base member interengaged between a set of said plurality of rods, said base member including a rigid body portion formed with a plurality of spaced, upstanding pegs.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/418,429Filed 7 Apr 1995 · continuation in part
Priority: 1 Mar 1994
Granted: 18 Mar 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

E04B 1/1903
Three-dimensional [3D] framework structures: connecting nodes specially adapted therefor
E04B 1/3211
Arched structures; Vaulted structures; Folded structures: structures with a vertical rotation axis or the like, e.g. semi-spherical structures
E04B 2001/1927
Struts specially adapted therefor: of essentially circular cross section
E04B 2001/1933
Struts specially adapted therefor: of polygonal, e.g. square, cross section