Lattice comprising rods and joints and the manufacture thereof

• US 5,393,163 A
• Filed: 10/15/1991
• Issued: 02/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elmar Wolf
• Original Assignee: Elmar Wolf
• Inventors: Wolf, Elmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/780,436
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 403/171, 403/170, 403/176, 403/217, 403/405, 446/120, 446/106, 446/116, 446/126
• US Class Current: 403/171
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/19 Three-dimensional framework structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/1912 with central cubical connecting element
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/34326 mainly constituted by longitudinal elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/34384 Assembling details for foldable, separable, collapsible or retractable structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1915 with strut engaging means at the edges of the cube
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1927 of essentially circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1966 Formlocking connections other than screw connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/341 Three or more radiating members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/342 Polyhedral
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/44 Three or more members connected at single locus

Abstract

A lattice is disclosed which is made of a multiplicity of rods that are connected to one another by a series of joints. Each rod has a connecting member which serves to connect with the joint. The connecting member may be designed as a fork, the axis of which extends vertically to that of the rod. The lattice may be locked together by either a cam or by a spring clip. The resulting hollow body may be either a two- or three-dimensional object.

Claims

1. A lattice, comprising:

a plurality of joints having a polygonal shape, said joints being a hollow body with rounded edges and forming a portion of a plurality of corners of said lattice;

a plurality of rods with each of said rods having at, at least, one end thereof a connecting member for connecting said rod with said joint, said connecting member of said rod having a fork, said fork being capable of gripping at least one of said rounded edges of said joints with a longitudinal axis of said fork extending perpendicularly to the axis of said rod; and

,

means for locking said connecting member to secure said rod with said joint wherein said means for locking includes a spring clip at the end of said rod.

2. A lattice, comprising:

a plurality of rods which are connectable to one another with each rod of said plurality of rods having at, at least, one end a connecting member shaped as a fork, said fork-shaped connecting member for each of said rods having a symmetric axis extending to the rod on which said connecting member is disposed;

a plurality of joints with each of said joints shaped as a multi-dimensional hollow body and having rounded edges with each of said joints being capable of connecting together two of said rods, said plurality of joints forming a portion of a plurality of corners of said lattice; and

,

means for locking said connecting member to secure one of said rods with one of said joints, wherein said means for locking includes a spring clip at the end of said rod, whereby each of said fork-shaped connecting members encloses and grasps one of said rounded edges of one of said joints, said fork-shaped connecting member being laterally flanked by a corner of said plurality of joints.

3. A lattice, comprising:

a plurality of rods which are connectable to one another with each rod of said plurality of rods having at, at least, one end a connecting member shaped as a fork, said fork-shaped connecting member for each of said rods having a symmetric axis extending to the rod on which said connecting member is disposed;

a plurality of joints with each of said joints shaped as a cubic hollow body and having twelve rounded edges with each of said joints being capable of connecting together two of said rods, said plurality of joints forming a portion of a plurality of corners of said lattice; and

,

means for locking said connecting member to secure one of said rods with one of said joints, said means for locking including a spring clip at an end of said rod, whereby each of said fork-shaped connecting members encloses and grasps one of said rounded edges of said joints, said fork-shaped connecting member being laterally flanked by a corner of said plurality of joints.