# US 8,782,965 B2 · Universal hub and strut system for a geodesic enclosure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,782,965 B2 - Document ID: US8782965B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/374,194 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Applicants: Heather Marie Hava - Inventors: Heather Marie Hava - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8782965B2 ## CPC - E04B 1/32: Arched structures; Vaulted structures; Folded structures ({E04B1/345 takes precedence;} vaulted roofs E04B7/08) - E04B 2001/1927: {of essentially circular cross section} - E04B 2001/3247: {Nodes} - E04B 2001/3252: {Covering details} - 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}) ## Abstract An improved universal hub and strut system for a geodesic enclosure framework is disclosed. The universal hub and strut system disclosed herein allows a geodesic structure to be more quickly assembled and with increased integrity. The geodesic structure is assembled by interconnecting a plurality of universal hubs and struts at each vertex of a geodesic spatial framework. To connect a strut to a universal hub of the present system, a strut-tab on a strut end overlaps a hub-tab of the universal hub, which is secured together via a fastening means through the respective ports. Based on the flexibility of the hub-tabs, the geodesic structure design disclosed herein may depart from the geometric designs associated with traditional geodesic structures. The invention may be applied in any geodesic type dome, structure, or enclosure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A universal hub and strut system for assembling a geodesic enclosure, the universal hub and strut system comprising: a universal hub having a center component with an exterior face, an interior face, a perimeter joining the exterior face to the interior face at a plurality of radii, a center port, and a central axis extending through the center port and perpendicular to the exterior face; a strut having a first strut end, a second strut end, and a center shaft extending between the first strut end and the second strut end; a first strut-tab and a second strut-tab, wherein the first strut-tab comprises a generally planar first member extending longitudinally from a first tab end to a second tab end and having a first strut-tab port extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first member and completely through the first member near the first tab end of the first member, and a first alignment notch having a generally rectangular shape and comprising at least one notch in proximity to the second tab end, and the second strut-tab comprises a generally planar second member extending longitudinally from a third tab end to a fourth tab end and having a second strut-tab port extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second member extending completely through the second member near the third tab end of the second member, and a second alignment notch having a generally rectangular shape and comprising at least one notch in proximity to the fourth tab end; wherein the first strut-tab attaches to the first strut end by aligning the first alignment notch within a first slot opening in the first strut end and inserting the first strut-tab into the first strut end, and the second strut-tab attaches to the second strut end by aligning the second alignment notch within a second slot opening in the second strut end and inserting the second strut-tab into the second strut end; a hub-tab affixed along the perimeter of the center component, the hub-tab arrayed at an angle in relation to a plane through the hub and perpendicular to the central axis of the center component, the hub-tab having a hub-tab exterior face that extends from the exterior face of the universal hub, the hub-tab exterior face abutting the exterior face of the universal hub along the perimeter of the universal hub, and wherein the hub-tab has a first hub-tab port extending completely through the hub-tab, and a first hub-tab port axis extending through a center of the first hub-tab port and perpendicular to the hub-tab exterior face; the first strut-tab port overlapping the first hub-tab port and securing the first strut-tab to the first hub-tab via a tab attachment means; the first hub-tab port axis crossing the central axis; and a plurality of hub caps that attach to the universal hub and strut assembly, wherein the plurality of hub caps comprise each a disc-shaped spherical portion that extends to cover the center component, the hub tab, the first strut-tab, and the first strut end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the center component is a generally flat polygonal shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the center component is a generally curved spherical shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the center shaft, the first strut end, and the second strut end are formed together as a single component. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the center port is generally polygonal in shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the center port is generally circular in shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the hub-tab port is generally polygonal in shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the hub-tab port is generally circular in shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the first strut-tab port is generally polygonal in shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the first strut-tab port is generally circular in shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the tab attachment means used to secure the first strut-tab to the hub-tab is selected from the group consisting of a rivet system, nuts, washers, bolts, screws, pins, other mechanical fasteners and adhesives. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the center component further comprises a plurality of sub-ports. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The universal hub and strut system of claim 1, wherein the angle is between and including negative one hundred and eighty degrees and one hundred and eighty degrees. ### Claim 14 A universal hub and strut system for assembling a geodesic enclosure, the universal hub and strut system comprising: a universal hub having a center component with an exterior face, an interior face, a perimeter joining the exterior face to the interior face at a plurality of radii, a center port, and a central axis extending through the center port and perpendicular to the exterior face; a strut having a first strut end, a second strut end, and a center shaft extending between the first strut end and the second strut end; a first strut-tab and a second strut-tab, wherein the first strut-tab comprises a generally planar first member extending longitudinally from a first tab end to a second tab end and having a first strut-tab port extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first member and completely through the first member near the first tab end of the first member, and a first alignment notch having a generally rectangular shape and comprising at least one notch in proximity to the second tab end, and the second strut-tab comprises a generally planar second member extending longitudinally from a third tab end to a fourth tab end and having a second strut-tab port extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second member extending completely through the second member near the third tab end of the second member, and a second alignment notch having a generally rectangular shape and comprising at least one notch in proximity to the fourth tab end; wherein the first strut-tab attaches to the first strut end by aligning the first alignment notch within a first slot opening in the first strut end and inserting the first strut-tab into the first strut end, and the second strut-tab attaches to the second strut end by aligning the second alignment notch within a second slot opening in the second strut end and inserting the second strut-tab into the second strut end; a hub-tab affixed along the perimeter of the center component and the hub-tab and exterior face of the universal hub being adapted to form a portion of a generally spherical shape, the hub-tab having a hub-tab exterior face that extends from the exterior face of the universal hub, the hub-tab exterior face abutting the exterior face of the universal hub along the perimeter of the universal hub, and wherein the hub-tab has a first hub-tab port extending completely through the hub-tab, and a first hub-tab port axis extending through a center of the first hub-tab port and perpendicular to the hub-tab exterior face; the first strut-tab port overlapping the first hub-tab port and securing the first strut-tab to the first hub-tab via a tab attachment means; the first hub-tab port axis crossing the central axis; and a plurality of hub caps that attach to the universal hub and strut assembly, wherein the plurality of hub caps comprise each a disc-shaped spherical portion that extends to cover the center component, the hub tab, the first strut-tab, and the first strut end.