# US 8,464,476 B2 · Modular construction elements

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- Number: US 8,464,476 B2
- Document ID: US8464476B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/450,413
- Filed: 2008-03-27
- Published: 2010-03-11
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2007-03-27
- Applicants: Matthew William Lewis Roberts
- Inventors: Matthew William Lewis Roberts
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464476B2

## CPC

- E02B 3/04: Structures or apparatus for, or methods of, protecting banks, coasts, or harbours ({E02B1/003 takes precedence;} sealing or joints E02B3/16 )
- E04B 1/3211: {Structures with a vertical rotation axis or the like, e.g. semi-spherical structures}
- E04B 2001/3276: {Panel connection details}
- E04B 2001/3288: {Panel frame details, e.g. flanges of steel sheet panels}
- Y10S 52/10: Polyhedron
- Y10T 403/7123: Traversed by connector
- E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F)
- 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})
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Various modular construction systems exist and these all have limitations of cost, adaptability and strength. Some were also complex and time consuming to assemble. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing a simple modular construction element (10), which can be assembled with one another to form a strong structure. The invention comprises sheet-like materials, has a V-shaped cross section and is adapted to receive a connector so that elements in use are connected, one to another. The element may be rhomboid shaped, hexagonal shaped or triangular shaped.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A modular construction element comprising:
a single sheet of sheet-like material in the form of a rhomboid which lies in two planes formed by a crease along a bisector of said rhomboid so as to define a V-shaped cross section and which includes an aperture on either respective side of said crease which penetrates through a face of the sheet, said modular construction element adapted to receive connectors at each said aperture, whereby modular construction elements with faces of their sheets separated by contiguous washers with compressed concave and convex surfaces are connected in use face to face by a threaded bolt inserted through the washers and one of the apertures in each modular construction element thereby forming a joint that allows relative movement between the connected planes of connected modular construction elements in two degrees of freedom with each modular construction element wholly bracing the other.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A modular construction element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the angle subtended by the V-shaped or chevron is between approximately 1° and 179°.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A modular construction element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the angle subtended by the V-shaped or chevron is between approximately 145° and 165°.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A modular construction element as claimed in claim 1 wherein said joint comprises a pair of adjacent washers, one with a substantially hemispherical concave surface and the other with a substantially hemispherical convex surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A modular construction element as claimed in claim 1 wherein the joint comprises a threaded bolt-type member, which is threaded with said washers and which is inserted into appropriate holes in said connected modular construction elements.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A modular construction element as claimed in claim 5 including a wedge located between said connected modular construction elements and co-located with and by said threaded bolt-type member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A wall comprising at least two modular construction elements defined according to claim 1 including bracing units, said bracing units being identical to said modular construction elements.