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Modular structures and connector assembly apparatus

  • US 7,007,903 B2
  • Filed: 03/31/2003
  • Issued: 03/07/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A connector assembly for connecting a first structural part to a second structural part;

  • said connector assembly comprising a first male connector component and a second female connector component, each comprising substantially rigid material,a first male connecter component rigidly mounted on said first structural part, and a second female connecter component rigidly mounted on said second structural part,the male connector component comprising a base plate having, a male front face, a male back face, a male top edge, a male bottom edge, two male side edges, and two longitudinal male connector vanes,the female connector component comprising a base plate having, a female front face, a back face, a top edge, a bottom edge, two side edges, and two longitudinal female connector vanes,the male connector vanes separated along their length such that the inner surfaces at the ends of the vanes nearest the top edge of their base plate extend farther apart than the inner surfaces at the ends of the vanes nearest the bottom edge of their base plate, boundaries of the male vanes defining a trapezoidal shape, essentially comprising two sides and the four corner points of a trapezoid,the female connector vanes separated along their length such that the inner surfaces at the ends of the vanes nearest the top of their base plate extend farther apart than the inner surfaces at the ends of the vanes nearest the bottom of their base plate, the inner surfaces of the vanes defining a trapezoidal shape essentially comprising two sides and the four corner points of the trapezoid,each male vane comprising a male sill and male ledge,each female vane comprising a female sill and a female ledge,each male sill including a load bearing outer face,each female sill including a front edge, and a load bearing inner surface,each male ledge including a load bearing outer edge and a load bearing inner face,each female ledge comprising an inner edge and a load bearing inner face,each male sill extending forward from the face of the male base plate to the male ledge, rigidly connecting the two and supporting the male ledge,each female sill extending from the face of the female base plate to the female ledge, rigidly connecting the two and supporting the female ledge,each male ledge extending outwardly from the male sill in a plane essentially parallel to the plane of the front face of the male base plate,the female ledge extending inwardly from the front edge of the female sill in a plane essentially parallel to the plane of front face of the female base plate,the load bearing outer edges of the male ledges, and the associated load bearing outer surfaces of the male sills, dimensioned and angled in such a way as to precisely conform to the interior essentially trapezoidal dimensions and angles of the female connector component,the load bearing inner edges of the female ledges, and the associated load bearing inner surfaces of the female sills, dimensioned and angled in such a way as to precisely conform to the exterior essentially trapezoidal dimensions and angles of the male connector component,dimension control radii being employed at the corners of the joints where the female or male ledges join the male or female sills, wherein the curvature radius of this joint is essentially equal to the thickness of the material from which the male or female connector components are fabricated and by which the mated male and female ledges are held rigidly and precisely in position,the female connector component vanes being shorter than the male connector component vanes, such that when the male connecter component is fully inserted into the female connecter component, the top ends of the male vanes extend beyond the top ends of the female vanes, to rest, thereby, on the face of the female base plate.

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