# US 8,739,493 B2 · Interlocking joint system for emergency structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,493 B2 - Document ID: US8739493B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/586,837 - Filed: 2012-08-15 - Published: 2014-02-20 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-15 - Assignees: Todd Carnes - Applicants: Todd Jackson Carnes - Inventors: Todd Jackson Carnes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739493B2 ## CPC - E04C 3/28: of materials not covered by groups E04C3/04 - E04C3/20 - E04C 3/04: of metal (E04C3/29 takes precedence; as reinforcing elements E04C5/06; manufacture B21) - E04B 1/34321: {mainly constituted by panels} - E04B 1/585: {with separate connection devices} - E04C 2003/0413: {being built up from several parts} - F16B 7/042: {with a locking element, e.g. pin, ball or pushbutton, engaging in a hole in the wall of at least one tube} - Y10T 403/553: Laterally inserted section - E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S) - 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}) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An interlocking joint system can be used to build emergency shelters. The system provides emergency structures that can be assembled by anyone but still handle heavy weather. The system also provides an armorable air droppable structure for military. Shelters built with the system require no tools or special training and such shelters typically become stronger as more force is applied to the joints. The shelter design laterally redirects how wind load and weight load affects the structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An interlocking joint system for building a structure, comprising: a plurality of wall joint members having flat parallel plate members sandwiching a plurality of tubular members therebetween, wherein each flat parallel plate member has a depression; a slug connecting one of the plurality of wall joint members to another one of the plurality of wall joint members; a locking groove circumferentially disposed about each end of the slug; a plurality of retention tabs, each of the plurality of retention tabs comprising a plate, a rectangular tongue protruding from the plate, and two alignment protrusions protruding from the plate; and wherein the rectangular tongue of one of the plurality of retention tabs is inserted into the locking groove of the slug in order to retain the slug within one of the plurality of tubular members, and wherein the plate of the one of the plurality of retention tabs is received within the depression of one of the flat parallel plate members to create a flat, flush surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The interlocking joint system of claim 1, further comprising wall structural members extending between the plurality of wall joint members, the wall structural members forming a support for a wall of the structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The interlocking joint system of claim 1, wherein the structure is an emergency structure that is assembled without tools. ### Claim 4 An interlocking joint system for building a structure, comprising: a plurality of wall joint members having flat parallel plate members sandwiching a plurality of tubular members therebetween, wherein each flat parallel plate member has a depression; a slug connecting one of the plurality of wall joint members to another one of the plurality of wall joint members; a locking groove circumferentially disposed about each end of the slug; a plurality of retention tabs, each of the plurality of retention tabs comprising a plate, a rectangular tongue protruding from the plate, and two alignment protrusions protruding from the plate; wherein the rectangular tongue of one of the plurality of retention tabs is inserted into the locking groove of the slug in order to retain the slug within one of the plurality of tubular members, and wherein the plate of the one of the plurality of retention tabs is received within the depression of one of the flat parallel plate members to create a flat, flush surface; wall structural members extending between the plurality of wall joint members, the wall structural members forming a support for a wall of the structure, wherein tools are not required to assemble the structure. ### Claim 5 A method for building a structure, comprising: joining together adjacent wall joint members with one or more slugs, each of the adjacent wall joint members having flat parallel plate members sandwiching a plurality of tubular members therebetween, the one or more slugs having locking grooves circumferentially disposed about each end thereof, the one or more slugs being disposed in one of the plurality of tubular member of each of the adjacent wall joint members such that none of the one or more slug is exposed; inserting retention tabs on each of the adjacent wall joint members, the retention tabs each extending into one of the locking grooves of the one or more slugs to retain the one or more slug within one of the plurality of tubular members of the adjacent wall joint members, wherein each of the retention tabs comprises a flat plate, a rectangular tongue protruding from the flat plate, and two alignment protrusions protruding from the flat plate, and wherein the flat plate is placed within a depression of one of the adjacent wall joint members to form a flat, flush surface; and running wall structural members between additional wall joint members and one of the adjacent wall joint members, the wall structural members operable to support a wall of the structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein no tools are used to assemble the structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising redirecting sheer forces into pull forces on the one or more slugs.