CONSTRUCTION ASSEMBLY FOR SPATIAL STRUCTURE WITH MOVABLE SCREW

• US 20130101342A1
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asinvent Limited
• Original Assignee: Asinvent Limited
• Inventors: Bernardin, Didier
• Granted Patent: US 9,222,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/292
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 47/0008 Three-dimensional corner connectors, the legs thereof being received within hollow, elongated frame members corner joints in general F16B12/44
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 12/2063 with engaging screw threads as tightening means
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/18 using screw-thread elements F16B7/025 takes precedence; for turnbuckles F16B7/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/185 with a node element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/55 Member ends joined by inserted section

Abstract

Construction assembly (1) for spatial structure intended to be releasably fastened to an element, said construction assembly (1) comprises a support (10) and a screw (50). The support (10) has a threaded hole (22), a front surface (24) and an abutting surface (26). The screw (50) is movable with respect to the support (10) in coupled translation and rotation between a retracted position and a protruding position. In a fixing position, the screw (50) protrudes from the front surface (24) of the support (10), the screw (50) abuts against the abutting surface (26) of the support (10), and the screw (50) is able to rotate with respect to the support (10) around the longitudinal axis (X) without translating along the longitudinal axis (X).

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A construction assembly for spatial structure intended to be releasably fastened to an element, said construction assembly comprising:

a support having a threaded hole, a front surface and an abutting surface, and

a screw having a shank and an abutting flange, said shank extending along a longitudinal axis and including a threaded portion,

wherein;

the screw is movable with respect to the support between a refracted position and a fixing position,

the screw is movable with respect to the support in coupled translation and rotation between the refracted position and a protruding position intermediate between the retracted position and the fixing position, the threaded portion of the screw engaging the threaded hole between the refracted position and the protruding position, and the shank protruding from the front surface of the support in the protruding position, and

in the fixing position, the threaded portion of the screw protrudes from the front surface of the support, the abutting flange of the screw abuts against the abutting surface of the support, and the screw is able to rotate with respect to the support around the longitudinal axis without translating along the longitudinal axis.

21. The construction assembly according to claim 20 wherein in the refracted position the shank does not protrude from the treaded hole.

22. The construction assembly according to claim 20 wherein coupled translation and rotation of the screw with respect to the support from the protruding position to the retracted position is prevented beyond the retracted position and the screw still engages the threaded hole in the retracted position.

23. The construction assembly according to claim 20 wherein the shank comprises an annular groove disposed between the threaded portion and the abutting flange.

24. The construction assembly according to claim 23 wherein in the protruding position the abutting flange of the screw is distant from the abutting surface of the support of a distance less than 3 millimetres, preferably less than 1 millimetre.

25. The construction assembly according to claim 20 wherein:

the support comprises a housing having a cavity,

the construction assembly further comprises a guide member disposed in the cavity and connected in rotation around the longitudinal axis to the screw.

26. The construction assembly according to claim 25 wherein the guide member is integral with the screw.

27. Construction assembly according to claim 25 wherein:

the guide member is pivotally mounted along the longitudinal on the support, and

the screw is free to slide with respect to the guide member along the longitudinal axis.

28. The construction assembly according to claim 26 wherein:

the guide member comprises an annular gripping portion, and

the support comprises at least one aperture facing the gripping portion.

29. The construction assembly according to claim 28 wherein the aperture is surrounded by a peripheral edge which is flush with the gripping portion.

30. The construction assembly according to claim 28 wherein the gripping portion has a knurled surface.

31. The construction assembly according to claim 28 wherein the gripping portion further comprises driving holes extending radially to the longitudinal axis.

32. The construction assembly according to claim 25 wherein the housing comprising a cylindrical surface of circular cross section which forms a bearing surface against which rotates the guide member.

33. The construction assembly according to claim 20 wherein the support includes a rod extending along the longitudinal axis, said rod having:

four flat lateral surfaces extending along the longitudinal axis, adjacent two by two,

four ribs extending along the longitudinal axis, and

each rib joins two adjacent lateral surfaces from which it protrudes.

34. The construction assembly according to claim 20 wherein

the support further has a peripheral surface extending along the longitudinal direction and an end along the longitudinal axis, said support comprising a side hole extending through said peripheral surface, and

the construction assembly further comprises a drive shaft pivotally mounted with respect to the support along the cross axis, said cross axis being not parallel to the longitudinal direction and extending through the side hole of the support, rotation of the drive shaft around the cross axis being mechanically linked to rotation of the screw around the longitudinal axis,

the support defines a casing in which are retained the screw, the guide member and the drive shaft, so that the insert, the screw, the guide member) and the drive shaft are part of a module.

35. The construction assembly according to claim 34 wherein:

the insert comprises a body divided in two parts along a plan of symmetry extending along the longitudinal axis and the cross axis fixed together, and

the screw, the guide member and the drive shaft are retained between said two parts.

36. A device comprising a construction assembly according to claim 20 and an element comprising a threaded fixing hole, wherein:

said abutting surface is an internal abutting surface and the construction assembly further comprises an external abutting surface,

the screw is screwed in the fixing hole of the element, and

in the fixing position the external abutting surface of the construction assembly exerts a pressure along the longitudinal axis against an abutting surface of the element increasing with the screwing of the screw in the fixing hole,

the construction assembly comprises a crank having a non circular cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and

the element comprises a crank opposite and complementary to the crank of the construction assembly, so that the construction assembly and the element fit into each other,

the crank of the construction assembly and the crank of the element have a polygonal cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

37. The device according to claim 36 wherein one of the cranks of the construction assembly and the crank of the element has a regular octagonal cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

38. The device according to claim 36 wherein:

one of the cranks of the construction assembly and the crank of the element has a regular octagonal cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,

the other of the cranks of the construction assembly and the crank of the element has a square cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and

the crank having a regular octagonal cross section is adapted to be inserted in the crank having a square cross section.