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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. Interconnect apparatus comprising, in combination: first and second structural members having first and second faces, with the first faces of the first and second
structural members having complementary shapes abutting with each other; at least first ports formed in each of the first and second structural members, with the first ports extending through the first and second faces of the first and second structural
members and being of the same size; means located in the first ports of the first and second structural members and abutting with the first ports and the second faces of the first and second structural members for clamping the first and second
structural members together while allowing communication through the first ports of the first and second structural members, with the clamping means including means for removably locating the clamping means in the first ports of the first and second
structural members, with the first and second structural members being rotatable relative to each other to multiple rotational positions; and means for preventing rotation of the first and second structural members relative to each other at one of the
rotational positions of the first and second structural members.
2. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first ports have a generally cylindrical shape.
3. The interconnect apparatus of claim 2 wherein the rotation preventing means comprises circumferentially spaced notches formed in one of the clamping means and the first and second structural members; and detents formed in the other of the
clamping means and the first and second structural members for slideable receipt in the notches.
4. The interconnect apparatus of claim 3 wherein the clamping means comprises a unitary member having a generally channel-shaped transverse cross section with first and second outwardly directed side walls extending from a central wall, with the
central wall having a shape and size corresponding to the first ports.
5. The interconnect apparatus of claim 4 wherein the clamping means includes the removably locating means.
6. The interconnect apparatus of claim 5 wherein the removably locating means comprises, in combination: means for distorting the clamping means from a first clamping shape of a size corresponding to the first ports to a second insertion shape
of a size smaller than and for insertion into the first ports, with the clamping means being biased from the second insertion shape to the first clamping shape.
7. The interconnect apparatus of claim 6 wherein the distorting means comprises a transverse cut in the clamping means to define first and second free ends, wherein the first and second free ends are in a generally abutting relation in the first
clamping shape and are in a spaced relation in the second insertion shape.
8. The interconnect apparatus of claim 7 wherein the insertion shape is a helix.
9. The interconnect apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first and second side walls of the clamping means includes circumferentially spaced flex notches, with the flex notches of the first side wall being circumferentially offset from the flex
notches of the second side wall.
10. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamping means includes the removably locating means.
11. The interconnect apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least the first structural member is three-dimensional and is formed by an attachment panel, with the attachment panel comprising, in combination: a plate having the first face and an
interior face defining a thickness, with the plate being planar, with the first interconnect port formed in the plate and extending through the first and interior faces, with the port having a shape; and a tube having a cross section corresponding to
the shape of the port and integrally extending from the plate beyond the second face and concentric to the port, with the tube providing structural stability to the plate to allow minimizing the thickness of the plate and having a free end defining the
second face generally parallel to and spaced from the first and interior faces.
12. The interconnect apparatus of claim 10 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 first edges and 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 lugs extending from and equally spaced along the first edge in a first direction,
with each of the lugs having beveled free edges extending in the first direction; and a plurality of latches extending from and equally spaced along the first edge in the first direction intermediate the plurality of lugs, with each of the latches
having a latching edge extending in the first direction and beveled at an angle complementary to and receiving the beveled free edges of the lugs of the other attachment panel in a hooked relation.
13. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamping means comprises a unitary member having a generally channel-shaped transverse cross section with first and second outwardly directed side walls extending from a central wall, with
the central wall having a shape and size corresponding to the first ports.
14. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1 wherein the removably locating means comprises, in combination: means for distorting the clamping means from a first clamping shape of a size corresponding to the first ports to a second insertion shape
of a size smaller than and for insertion into the first ports, with the clamping means being biased from the second insertion shape to the first clamping shape.
15. The interconnect apparatus of claim 1 wherein the complementary abutting shapes of the first and second structural members are of an identical, contiguous abutting configuration.
16. Unitary clamping band including a central wall having first and second edges; first and second outwardly directed side walls extending from the first and second edges of the central wall respectively, with the walls having a generally
channel-shaped transverse cross section; first, circumferentially spaced flex notches formed in the first side wall; and second, circumferentially spaced flex notches formed in the second side wall, characterized in that the first and second flex
notches are circumferentially spaced complementary to each other but being circumferentially offset to allow the central wall to flex to form the walls into a helix shape.
17. The unitary clamping band of claim 16 further comprising, in combination: circumferentially spaced positioning detents formed in the central wall, with the detents being circumferentially spaced and offset from the first and second flex
notches.
18. 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 lugs extending from and equally spaced along the first edge in a first direction, with each of the lugs having a free edge extending in the first direction; and a plurality of latches extending from and
equally spaced along the first edge in the first direction intermediate the plurality of lugs, with each of the latches having a latching edge extending in the first direction and at an angle complementary to and receiving the free edges of the lugs of
the other attachment panel in a hooked relation.
19. The attachment panel of claim 18 wherein each of the latches comprises, in combination: at least a first leg having a first end connected to the first edge and a second end connected to a head, with the head including the latching edge
spaced from the first edge.
20. The attachment panel of claim 19 wherein the first legs of the latches and the lugs lie within the same plane; and wherein the head includes an angled portion extending in a plane which intersects at a nonlinear angle to the plane of the
first legs and the lugs.
21. The attachment panel of claim 20 wherein the plate is planar; and wherein the removably securing means further comprises, in combination: a slide connector having a slot slideably receiving the lugs and the legs, the heads, and the angled
portions of the latches.
22. The attachment panel of claim 19 further comprising, in combination: a connecting flange extending at an acute angle relative to an interior face of the plate and having a free edge, with the first edge being the free edge of the connecting
flange, with the lugs and the first legs lying within the same plane and extending generally perpendicularly from the first edge.
23. Interconnect apparatus comprising, in combination: first and second structural members having first and second faces, with the first faces of the first and second structural members having complementary shapes abutting with each other; at
least first ports formed in each of the first and second structural members, with the first ports extending through the first and second faces of the first and second structural members and being of the same size; means located in the first ports of the
first and second structural members and abutting with the first ports and the second faces of the first and second structural members for clamping the first and second structural members together while allowing communication through the first ports of
the first and second structural members; and means for removably locating the clamping means in the first ports of the first and second structural members, with at least the first structural member being three-dimensional and formed by an attachment
panel, with the attachment panel comprising, in combination: a plate having the first face and an interior face defining a thickness, with the plate being planar, with the first interconnect port formed in the plate and extending through the first and
interior faces, with the port having a shape; and a tube having a cross section corresponding to the shape of the port and integrally extending from the plate beyond the interior face and concentric to the port, with the tube providing structural
stability to the plate to allow minimizing the thickness of the plate and having a free end defining the second face generally parallel to and spaced from the first and interior faces.
24. The interconnect apparatus of claim 23 wherein the attachment panel further comprises, in combination: circumferentially spaced notches formed in the free end of the tube.
25. The interconnect apparatus of claim 24 wherein the tube is frusto-shaped and extends at an obtuse angle to the second face, with the frusto-shape allowing nesting of the attachment panel.
26. The interconnect apparatus of claim 24 wherein the clamping means includes the removably locating means.
27. The interconnect apparatus of claim 26 further comprising, in combination: circumferentially spaced positioning detents formed in the clamping means for slideable receipt in the notches of the attachment panel for preventing rotation of the
first and second structural members relative to each other.
28. Modular structural framing system (10) comprising, in combination: first and second attachment panels (16) each having a plate including at least a first edge; means (48) for removably securing the first edge of the first attachment panel
to the first edge of the second attachment panel (16) to form a first three-dimensional, structural member (12), with the removably securing means (48) comprising, in combination: a plurality of lugs (52) extending from and equally spaced along the first
edge, with each of the lugs (52) having a free edge (54), and a plurality of latches (56) extending from and equally spaced along the first edge intermediate the plurality of lugs (52), with each of the latches (56) having a latching edge (64) at an
angle complementary to and for receipt of the free edges (54) of the lugs (52) of the other attachment panel (16) in a hooked relation; a second structural member (14), with the first and second structural members (12, 14) having first and second faces
(18, 25), with the first faces (18) of the first and second structural members (12, 14) having complementary shapes for abutting with each other; at least first ports (22) formed in each of the first and second structural members (12, 14), with the
first ports (22) extending through the first and second faces (18, 25) of the first and second structural members (12, 14) and being of the same size; a unitary clamping band (28) including a central wall (30) having first and second edges, first and
second outwardly directed side walls (32, 34) extending from the first and second edges of the central wall (30) respectively, with the walls (30, 32, 34) having a generally channel-shaped transverse cross section, first, circumferentially spaced flex
notches (40) formed in the first side wall (32), and second, circumferentially spaced flex notches (42) formed in the second side wall (34), with the first and second flex notches (40, 42) being circumferentially spaced complementary to each other but
being circumferentially offset to allow the central wall (30) to flex to form the walls (30, 32, 34) into a helix shape, with the clamping band (28) located in the first ports (22) of the first and second structural members (12, 14) for abutting with the
first ports (22) and the second faces (25) of the first and second structural members (12, 14) for clamping the first and second structural members (12, 14) together while allowing communication through the first ports (22) of the first and second
structural members (12, 14), with the first and second structural members (12, 14) having changeable rotational positions relative to each other; and means (26, 44) for preventing rotation of the first and second structural members (12, 14) relative to
each other at one of the rotational positions of the first and second structural members.
29. Attachment panel comprising, in combination: a plate having a first face and a second face defining a thickness, with the plate being planar, at least a first interconnect port formed in the plate and extending through the first and second
faces, with the first port having a shape, and a tube having a cross section corresponding to the shape of the first port and extending beyond the second face and concentric to the first port characterized in that the tube is integral and extends from
the plate allowing the first face of the plate including the integral tube to be separated from or abutted with the first face of the plate of another attachment panel, with the tube providing structural stability to the plate to allow minimizing the
thickness of the plate; wherein the tube has a free end defining a third face generally parallel to and spaced from the first and second faces and located on the opposite side of the second face than the first face; wherein the attachment panel further
comprises, in combination: circumferentially spaced notches formed in the free end of the tube; and wherein the tube is frusto-shaped and extends at an obtuse angle to the second face, with the frusto-shape allowing nesting of the attachment panel.
30. The attachment panel of claim 29 wherein the tube extends exclusively beyond the second face; and wherein the first face of the plate is planar and has a contiguous abutting configuration.
31. The attachment panel of claim 29 wherein the tube is frusto-conical shaped.
32. Attachment panel comprising, in combination: a plate having a first face and a second face defining a thickness, with the plate being planar, at least a first interconnect port formed in the plate and extending through the first and second
faces, with the first port having a shape, and a tube having a cross section corresponding to the shape of the first port and extending beyond the second face and concentric to the first port characterized in that the tube is integral and extends from
the plate allowing the first face of the plate including the integral tube to be separated from or abutted with the first face of the plate of another attachment panel, with the tube providing structural stability to the plate to allow minimizing the
thickness of the plate; wherein the plate includes at least a first edge; and wherein the attachment panel further comprises, in combination: 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 lugs extending from and equally spaced along the first edge in a first direction, with each of the lugs having a free edge extending in the first direction; and a
plurality of latches extending from and equally spaced along the first edge in the first direction intermediate the plurality of lugs, with each of the latches having a latching edge extending in the first direction and at an angle complementary to and
for receipt of the free edges of the lugs of the other attachment panel in a hooked relation.
33. The attachment panel of claim 32 wherein the tube extends exclusively beyond the second face; and wherein the first face of the plate is planar and has a contiguous abutting configuration. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND
The present invention generally relates to modular structural framing systems, and particularly to attachment panels, unitary clamping bands, and interconnect apparatus therefor.
The craft of building structures is well known. Typical wood framing utilizing 2 inch by 4 inch (5 cm by 10 cm) studs has been used for construction for many years, with metal studs being used more recently. Further, steel, aluminum, wood,
plastic, and other materials have been used for fabricating tubing, channel, "T" or "I" beams, and like structural members. Typically, studs and other structural members are joined together with nails, barbed plates, bolts, rivets, and the like. Other
structures utilized columns and beams connected by other methods of fastening including rope lashing, special notch cutting, mitering and nesting techniques, and the like to obtain strong and simple connections to build a variety of structures. As time
progressed, building materials such as stone, wood, steel, and more recently composites have become standardized in size, weight, and strength. The introduction of truss or space frames allowed building materials to have reduced structural mass and
increased span resulting in higher strength to weight ratios. However, most construction practice used in fastening building structural components of a structure together still rely upon common devices such as nails, rivets, bolts, and like fasteners.
Also, building materials are generally of a solid mass or unitized truss member requiring the maximum space for storage or transport. Further, quick connect/disconnect fastening mechanisms for structural members so that they can be rapidly assembled and
disassembled without compromising structural strength are known such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,721. However, such fastening mechanisms utilized clamping mechanisms extending around the periphery of portions of the structural members thus
restricting the configuration thereof and/or location of the attachment of one structural member to another, i.e. an in-line end tube connection will not attach to the side wall of another tube, etc., and often would not allow communication through the
fastening mechanism. Also, prior quick connect/disconnect fastening mechanisms may only join together respective male/female structural members by a change in orientation and by radial translation and/or displacement of one or more members to interfit
the male/female interface.
Thus, a need exists for modular structural framing systems including components which overcome the disadvantages of prior fastening mechanisms.
SUMMARY
The present invention solves these needs and other problems in the field of framing systems by providing, in the preferred form, an interconnect apparatus including a clamping member which is removably locatable in ports of abutting first and
second structural members for abutting with the ports and the opposite faces of the first and second structural members and clamping the first and second structural members together.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the clamping member is in the form of a split band having a generally channel-shaped transverse cross section and includes circumferentially spaced flex notches in the side walls to allow the
central wall to flex to form the band into a helix shape.
In other preferred aspects of the present invention, the structural members are formed from attachment panels secured together by their edges. In a preferred form, the interconnect port includes a tube integrally extending from the plate beyond
the interior face to allow minimizing the thickness of the plate.
Also in a preferred form, the edges of the attachment panels are removably secured together by the receipt of beveled free edges of a plurality of spaced lugs extending from the edges of the panels in the beveled latching edges of a plurality of
complementary spaced latches.
It is then an object of the present invention to provide a novel modular structural framing system.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel framing system providing an optimum of design flexibility with concurrent engineering analysis for safe, trouble-free building.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel framing system having a high strength-to-weight ratio for structural support.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel framing system which is quick and easy to assemble without the use of tools thereby reducing labor costs and with a connection strength for safety and durability.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel framing system reducing the time for structural component assembly as well as the construction of the resulting structures from the assembled components, which is especially
important when time is a constraint in the assembly and construction of the structures being built.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel framing system having modular interlocking components interconnectable at multiple locations on all sides and at the ends.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel framing system requiring fewer components to save in unnecessary inventory build-up and cost.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel framing system allowing all sizes of beams, columns, intersections for different loads, spans, and working heights to be made from the same components and specifically does
not require different size trusses or space frames for different loads and spans.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel framing system which can be stored and transported knocked-down.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel framing system utilizing structural members (and particularly cubes) formed from a common, locking panel which can be formed by a manufacturing process utilizing a single
tool, die, or the like.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide such a novel framing system providing hollow structural members connected together with passage therebetween.
These and further objects and advantages of the present invention
will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The illustrative embodiment may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:
FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of a modular structural framing system according to the preferred teachings of the present invention, with portions being shown | | |
