US 5,661,942 A · Modular connector system for tubular structural members

Abstract

A modular connector system for tubular structural members includes a variety of connector members, each having a connection wall for connection to a tubular structural member and a mating wall for connection to another connector member. The connection walls include cylindrical mounting collars and segments of cylinders. The mating walls include connector tabs and circular end walls. Each mating wall includes a peg disk relief, a fastener bore, and an array of peg recesses spaced about the bore. The connector members are secured together in sets of two, three, four, five or six by positioning a peg disk between the mating walls of the connector members to be connected together and passing a fastener through the connector members and the peg disk or disks. Each peg disk includes a peg disk plate having a fastener bore and an array of pegs spaced about the bore. The connector members are used to connect the tubular members to form various configurations of temporary shelter structures.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A modular connection assembly for connecting first and second elongated structural members at a selected mutual orientation, said assembly comprising:

(a) a first connector member having a first connection wall and a generally planar first mating wall with a first aperture formed therethrough and a first recess formed thereinto, said first connection wall enabling connection of a first elongated structural member thereto;
(b) a second connector member having a second connection wall and a generally planar second mating wall with a second aperture formed therethrough and a second recess formed thereinto, said second connection wall enabling connection of a second elongated structural member thereto;
(c) a projection plate having a plate aperture formed therethrough, generally planar opposite sides, and first and second projections respectively from said opposite sides;
(d) said first and said second connection members being positioned with said plate therebetween and said first and second projections positioned respectively in said first and second recesses and said first, second, and plate apertures aligned;
and
(e) a fastener extending through said first, second, and plate apertures to secure said first and second connector members and elongated structural members connected thereto in said selected mutual orientation.

3 more elements

A modular connection assembly for connecting a pair of elongated tubular members at a selected angle, said assembly comprising:

(a) a pair of end connector members, each connector member including a cylindrical mounting collar with a cylindrical axis and a connection tab extending axially from the associated mounting collar, each collar being adapted to connect with a respective elongated member;
(b) each connection tab having generally planar opposite surfaces, a fastener aperture formed therethrough, and a projection recess formed into each of said opposite surfaces;
(c) a projection plate having a respective projection extending from generally planar opposite sides thereof and a plate aperture;
(d) said connection tabs being positioned with said projection plate therebetween and said projection positioned in said projection recess of facing surfaces of said tabs, and said fastener and plate apertures aligned;
and
(e) a fastener extending through the aligned fastener and plate apertures to secure said end connector members and tubular members connected thereto at said selected angle.

3 more elements

A temporary shelter structure comprising:

(a) a plurality of elongated structural members;
(b) said elongated structural members being connected by a plurality of joint assemblies to define respective wall frames;
(c) said wall frames being connected by said joint assemblies and additional elongated structural members to define additional wall frames and overall defining a three dimensional shelter skeleton;
and
(d) each joint assembly including at least:
(1) a first connector member having a first connection wall and a generally planar first mating wall with a first aperture formed therethrough and a first recess formed thereinto, said first connection wall enabling connection of a first elongated structural member thereto;
(2) a second connector member having a second connection wall and a generally planar second mating wall with a second aperture formed therethrough and a second recess formed thereinto, said second connection wall enabling connection of a second elongated structural member thereto;
(3) a projection plate having a plate aperture formed therethrough, generally planar opposite sides, and first and second projections respectively from said opposite sides;
(4) said first and said second connection members being positioned with said plate therebetween and said first and second projections positioned respectively in said first and second recesses and said first, second, and plate apertures aligned;
and
(5) a fastener extending through said first, second, and plate apertures to secure said first and second connector members and elongated structural members connected thereto in a selected mutual orientation.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modular connector system for tubular structural members

Life of this patent

Modular connector system for tubular structural members

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims37