Structural framework and connector therefor

• US 3,921,360 A
• Filed: 11/12/1973
• Issued: 11/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philip M. Baldwin
• Original Assignee: Philip M. Baldwin
• Inventors: Baldwin, Philip M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sutherland, Henry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raduazo, Henry
• Application Number:
  US05/414,906
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 52/648,655,2 46/29 403/176,171,172
• US Class Current: 52/655.2
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/1906 with central spherical, semispherical or polyhedral connecting element
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1927 of essentially circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1957 Details of connections between nodes and struts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/342 Polyhedral
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/347 Polyhedral

Abstract

A connector having a shape defining an irregular polyhedron having twelve surface portions of a regular hexagonal configuration and six surface portions of square configuration coupled elongated struts of equal length to provide a structurally stable framework or lattice type support structure. The connector and coupled struts provide for fluid and/or electrical distribution throughout the framework.

Claims

1. A structurally stable framework comprising, in combination, a plurality of elongated struts of equal length joined to one another adjacent their ends, and a plurality of connectors for so joining said struts;

each of said connectors comprising a three dimensional irregular polyhedron having a first plurality of discrete surface portions and a second plurality of discrete surface portions adjacent said first plurality, said first plurality of discrete surface portions being regular hexagons formed by adjacently disposed trapezoids inclined toward one another along a common intersection, said second plurality of discrete surface portions being squares;

respective means at said first plurality of discrete surface portions for retaining the said struts in a manner which disposes the elongated axes thereof normal to the center of said first plurality of discrete surface portions;

first axes respectively normal to the center of adjacent ones of said first plurality of discrete surface portions being disposed at 60* with respect to one another and second axes respectively normal to the center of said second plurality of discrete surface portions being disposed at 45* with respect to the immediately adjacent first axes.

2. The framework as defined by claim 1 wherein each square surface portion is bounded on all sides thereof by four of said hexagoNal surface portions.

3. The framework as defined by claim 2 wherein there are twelve of said regular hexagonal surface portions and six of said square surface portions.

4. A supporting framework for a building structure or the like comprising:

a. a plurality of identical length elongated struts, and b. connector body means coupling said struts to provide said framework, said connector body means comprising an irregular polyhedron having a first plurality of discrete nonplanar surface portions and a second plurality of discrete surface portions adjacent said first plurality, said first plurality of discrete nonplanar surface portions being hexagons formed by adjacently disposed trapezoids inclined toward one another along a common intersection;

c. strut receiving openings axially extending into said body at the center of said nonplanar surface portions, the angle between adjacent axes of said openings being 60* and the angle between an axis passing through one of said openings and an axis normal to the center of an immediately adjacent one of said second plurality of discrete surface portions being 45*.

5. The framework as defined by claim 4 wherein said respective openings intersect an electrically conductive juncture means, and electrically conductive means are disposed within said elongated struts whereby the insertion of said struts into said respective openings electrically interconnect said electrically conductive means with one another by way of said electrically conductive juncture means.

6. The supporting framework as defined by claim 4 wherein said respective openings are in fluid communication with one another.

7. The framework as defined by claim 5 wherein means are provided at at least one of said second plurality of discrete surface portions for electrically communicating with said electrically conductive juncture means.