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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. Modular structural framing system comprising, in combination: first and
second structural members each having first and second faces, with the
first faces of the first and second structural members having
complementary shapes for abutting with each other, with each of the first
and second structural members having at least first ports formed therein,
with the first ports extending through the first and second faces of the
first and second structural members and being of the same size; a clamp
comprising, in combination: a primary band including a central wall having
a length less than the perimeter of the first ports, with the primary band
being generally annular but U-shaped and having first and second free
ends, with the primary band having a normal shape which is of a size
smaller than and for insertion into the ports, first and second secondary
bands each having first and second ends, means for pivotally mounting the
first ends of the first and second secondary bands together about a first
axis, means for pivotally mounting the second end of the first secondary
band relative to the first free end of the primary band, and means for
pivotally mounting the second end of the second secondary band relative to
the second free end of the primary band, with pivotal movement of the
first and second secondary bands about the first axis causing the primary
band to distort from its normal shape to further separate the first and
second free ends of the primary band; wherein at least the first
structural member is three-dimensional and hollow, with the first
structural member being formed by a plurality of attachment panels having
thicknesses and first edges and by means for removably securing the first
edge of one attachment panel to the first edge of another attachment
panel, with the removably securing means comprising, in combination: a
plurality of latches extending from and equally spaced along the first
edge, with each of the latches lying within the same plane, and at least
one detent portion formed in each of the latches, with the detent portions
intersecting the plane of the latches at a nonlinear angle, with the ports
formed in the attachment panels; an accessory comprising, in combination:
an end plate having a periphery of a size larger than the port, a channel
formed in the end plate and extending from a first point of the periphery
to a second point spaced from a third point of the periphery diametrically
opposite the first point a distance less than the size of the port, with
the channel having a width greater than and for slideably receiving the
thickness of the panel, and a support member secured to the end plate,
with the attachment panels having rectangular slits spaced from the first
edges, inside surfaces and outside surfaces; a clip comprising, in
combination: a first portion for abutting with the inside surface of the
attachment panel, a second portion extending continuously and at a
non-linear angle to the first portion, a third portion extending
continuously and at a non-linear angle to the second portion in a
direction away from but parallel to the first portion, with the third
portion abutting with the outside surface of the attachment panel, and
means secured to the third portion for holding accessories to the
attachment panel, with at least the first and second portions including
rectangular cross sections having a width and thickness for slideable
receipt in the rectangular slit, with the second portion spacing the first
and second portions a distance generally equal to the thickness of the
attachment panel between the inside surface and the outside surface, with
the latches and detent portions of the attachment panels being L-shaped,
with the latches and detent portions of first and second attachment panels
having a generally T-shape in a latched condition; and a connector
comprising means for forming a T-shaped slot of a size for slideable
receipt upon the generally T-shape of the latches and detent portions of
the first and second attachment panels in the latched condition.
2. The modular structural framing system of claim 1 further comprising, in
combination: a sleeve, with the sleeve having a first portion having a
generally closed end and having a cross-sectional size smaller than the
port, with the sleeve having a second portion in communication with the
first portion and having a cross-sectional size generally equal to and for
slideable receipt in the port, and with the sleeve having a third portion
in communication with the second portion and on the opposite side of the
second portion than the first portion and having a cross-sectional size
larger than the port.
3. Modular structural framing system comprising, in combination: a slide
connector; and an attachment panel, with the attachment panel comprising,
in combination: a plate including at least a first edge; and means for
removably securing the first edge to an edge of another attachment panel
to form a three-dimensional member; with the removably securing means
comprising, in combination: a plurality of latches extending from and
equally spaced along the first edge, with each of the latches lying within
the same plane; at least one detent portion formed in each of the latches,
with the detent portions intersecting the plane of the latches at a
nonlinear angle and having the same spacing from the first edge; with the
slide connector having a slot of a shape slideably receiving the latches
and the detent portions of the latches.
4. The modular structural framing system of claim 3 wherein the detent
portions are semispherical in shape.
5. The modular structural framing system of claim 3 further comprising, in
combination: a connecting flange extending at an angle relative to the
plate, with the first edge being the free edge of the connecting flange,
with the latches extending from the first edge.
6. The modular structural framing system of claim 3 wherein the plate
further includes first and second faces and at least a first port formed
therein, with the first port extending through the first and second faces
of the plate; and wherein the attachment panel further comprises, in
combination: a primary band including a central wall having a length less
than the perimeter of the first port, with the primary band being
generally annular but U-shaped and having first and second free ends, with
the primary band having a normal shape which is of a size smaller than and
for insertion into the first port; first and second secondary bands each
having first and second ends; means for pivotally mounting the first ends
of the first and second secondary bands together about a first axis; means
for pivotally mounting the second end of the first secondary band relative
to the first free end of the primary band; and means for pivotally
mounting the second end of the second secondary band relative to the
second free end of the primary band, with pivotal movement of the first
and second secondary bands about the first axis causing the primary band
to distort from its normal shape to further separate the first and second
free ends of the primary band.
7. The modular structural framing system of claims 3 wherein the plate
further includes at least one port and a thickness; and wherein the
attachment panel further comprises, in combination: an end plate having a
periphery of a size larger than the port; a channel formed in the end
plate and extending from a first point of the periphery to a second point
spaced from a third point of the periphery diametrically opposite the
first point a distance less than the size of the port, with the channel
having a width greater than and for slideably receiving the thickness of
the plate; and a support member secured to the end plate.
8. The modular structural framing system of claim 3 further comprising, in
combination: a sleeve, with the plate having at least one port, with the
sleeve having a first portion having a generally closed end and having a
cross-sectional size smaller than the port, with the sleeve having a
second portion in communication with the first portion and having a
cross-sectional size generally equal to and for slideable receipt in the
port, and with the sleeve having a third portion in communication with the
second portion and on the opposite side of the second portion than the
first portion and having a cross-sectional size larger than the port.
9. The modular structural framing system of claim 3 wherein the plate
further includes a rectangular slit spaced from the first edge, an inside
surface and an outside surface; and wherein the attachment panel further
comprises, in combination: a clip comprising, in combination: a first
portion for abutting with the inside surface of the plate; a second
portion extending continuously and at a non-linear angle to the first
portion; a third portion extending continuously and at a non-linear angle
to the second portion in a direction away from but parallel to the first
portion, with the third portion abutting with the outside surface of the
plate; and means secured to the third portion for holding accessories to
the plate, with at least the first and second portions including
rectangular cross sections having a width and thickness for slideable
receipt in the rectangular slit, with the second portion spacing the first
and second portions a distance generally equal to the thickness of the
plate between the inside surface and the outside surface.
10. The modular structural framing system of claim 3 wherein the latches
and detent portions are L-shaped, with the slot of the slide connector
being T-shaped of a size for slideable receipt upon the latches and detent
portions.
11. Modular structural framing system comprising, in combination: a clip;
and a panel having an edge and a rectangular slit spaced from the edge,
with the panel having an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein
the clip comprises, in combination: a first portion for abutting with the
inside surface of the panel; a second portion extending continuously and
at a non-linear angle to the first portion; a third portion extending
continuously and at a non-linear angle to the second portion in a
direction away from but parallel to the first portion, with the third
portion abutting with the outside surface of the panel; and means secured
to the third portion for holding accessories to the panel, with at least
the first and second portions including rectangular cross sections having
a width and thickness for slideable receipt in the rectangular slit, with
the second portion spacing the first and third portions a distance
generally equal to the thickness of the panel between the inside surface
and the outside surface.
12. Modular structural framing system comprising, in combination: a panel
including an edge, a rectangular slit spaced from the edge, and a plate
having interconnect members along an edge thereof, with a gap formed in
the interconnect members, with the panel having an inside surface and an
outside surface; a slide connector for receipt on the interconnect
members, with the slit formed and defined by the gap and the slide
connector; and a clip comprising, in combination: a first portion for
abutting with the inside surface of the panel; a second portion extending
continuously and at a non-linear angle to the first portion; a third
portion extending continuously and at a non-linear angle to the second
portion in a direction away from but parallel to the first portion, with
the third portion abutting with the outside surface of the panel; and
means secured to the third portion for holding accessories to the panel,
with at least the first and second portions including rectangular cross
sections having a width and thickness for slideable receipt in the
rectangular slit, with the second portion spacing the first and second
portions a distance generally equal to the thickness of the panel between
the inside surface and the outside surface.
13. Modular structural framing system comprising, in combination: first and
second panels each having interconnect members along an edge thereof, with
the interconnect members of each of the panels being L-shaped and
including a first portion lying in a first plane and a second portion
intersecting with the plane of the first portion, with the interconnect
members of the first and second panels having a generally T-shape in a
latched condition; and a connector for interconnecting the first and
second panels, with the connector including a T-shaped slot slideably
received upon the generally T-shape of the interconnect members of the
first and second panels in the latched condition.
14. The modular structural framing system of claim 13 further comprising,
in combination: a third panel, with the third panel having interconnect
members along an edge thereof, with the connector interconnecting the
third panel to the first and second panels and further including an
L-shaped slot slideably received upon the L-shaped interconnect members of
the third panel, with the L-shaped slot being in a fixed positional
relationship to the T-shaped slot.
15. Modular structural framing system comprising, in combination: first and
second structural members each having first and second faces, with the
first faces of the first and second structural members having
complementary shapes for abutting with each other, with each of the first
and second structural members having at least first ports formed therein,
with the first ports extending through the first and second faces of the
first and second structural members and being of the same size; and a
clamp comprising, in combination: a primary band having a central wall
having a length less than the perimeter of the first ports, with the
primary band being generally annular but U-shaped and having first and
second free ends, with the primary band having a normal shape which is of
a size smaller than and for insertion into the ports; first and second
secondary bands each having first and second ends; means for pivotally
mounting the first ends of the first and second secondary bands together
about a first axis; means for pivotally mounting the second end of the
first secondary band relative to the first free end of the primary band;
and means for pivotally mounting the second end of the second secondary
band relative to the second free end of the primary band, with pivotal
movement of the first and second secondary bands about the first axis
causing the primary band to distort from its normal shape to further
separate the first and second free ends of the primary band.
16. The modular structural framing system of claim 15 wherein the first
ports have a generally cylindrical shape; and wherein the clamp further
comprises, in combination: means for preventing rotation of the first and
second structural members relative to each other.
17. Modular structural framing system comprising, in combination: a panel
with at least one port; and an accessory comprising, in combination: a
sleeve, with the sleeve having a first portion having a generally closed
end and having a cross-sectional size smaller than the port, with the
sleeve having a second portion in communication with the first portion and
having a cross-sectional size generally equal to and for slideable receipt
in the port, and with the sleeve having a third portion in communication
with the second portion and on the opposite side of the second portion
than the first portion and having a cross-sectional size larger than the
port.
18. Clamp for first and second structural members each having first and
second faces, with the first faces of the first and second structural
members having complementary shapes for abutting with each other, with
each of the first and second structural members having at least first
ports formed therein, with the first ports extending through the first and
second faces of the first and second structural members and being of the
same size, comprising, in combination: a primary band having a central
wall, with the primary band being generally annular but U-shaped and
having first and second free ends, with the primary band comprising a
unitary member having a generally channel-shaped transverse cross section
with first and second outwardly directed side walls extending from the
central wall, with the primary band having a normal shape adapted to be
inserted into the ports; first and second secondary bands each having
first and second ends; means for pivotally mounting the first ends of the
first and second secondary bands together about a first axis; means for
pivotally mounting the second end of the first secondary band relative to
the first free end of the primary band; and means for pivotally mounting
the second end of the second secondary band relative to the second free
end of the primary band, with pivotal movement of the first and second
secondary bands about the first axis causing the primary band to distort
from its normal shape to further separate the first and second free ends
of the primary band.
19. The clamp of claim 18 for the first and second structural members
wherein the first ports have a generally cylindrical shape; and wherein
the clamp further comprises, in combination: means formed in the primary
band for preventing rotation of the first and second structural members
relative to each other.
20. The clamp of claim 19 wherein the rotation preventing means comprises
one of circumferentially spaced notches and detents formed in the primary
band and adapted to slideably fit in the other of the circumferentially
spaced notches and detents formed in the first and second structural
members.
21. The clamp of claim 20 wherein the first and second side walls of the
primary band includes flex notches allowing the distortion of the primary
band.
22. Clamp for first and second structural members each having first and
second faces, with the first faces of the first and second structural
members having complementary shapes for abutting with each other, with
each of the first and second structural members having at least first
ports formed therein, with the first ports extending through the first and
second faces of the first and second structural members and being of the
same size, comprising, in combination: a primary band having a central
wall, with the primary band being generally annular but U-shaped and
having first and second free ends, with the primary band having a normal
shape adapted to be inserted into the ports; first and second secondary
bands each having first and second ends; means for pivotally mounting the
first ends of the first and second secondary bands together about a first
axis; means for pivotally mounting the second end of the first secondary
band relative to the first free end of the primary band; and means for
pivotally mounting the second end of the second secondary band relative to
the second free end of the primary band, with pivotal movement of the
first and second secondary bands about the first axis causing the primary
band to distort from its normal shape to further separate the first and
second free ends of the primary band, wherein the first and second
secondary bands are in a center position when the first and second free
ends of the primary band have a maximum spacing and are in an overcenter
relation when the clamp is in a clamping condition adapted to clamp the
first ports of the first and second structural members together, with the
first axis being movable radially outward from the normal shape to the
center position and then to the overcenter position.
23. Attachment panel comprising, in combination: a plate including at least
a first edge; and means for removably securing the first edge to an edge
of another attachment panel to form a three-dimensional member; with the
removably securing means comprising, in combination: a plurality of
latches extending from and equally spaced in a direction along the first
edge, with each of the latches lying within the same plane; at least one
detent portion formed in each of the latches, with the detent portions
intersecting the plane of the latches at a nonlinear angle; a plurality of
lugs extending from and equally spaced in the direction along the first
edge intermediate the plurality of latches, with each of the lugs having a
free edge spaced from the first edge and extending parallel to the
direction, with each of the latches having a latching edge complementary
to and for receipt of the free edges of the lugs of the other att | | |
