Modular functional star-disc system

• US 7,500,422 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Mazur
• Original Assignee: Robert Mazur
• Inventors: Mazur, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): David; Michael D
• Application Number:
  US11/640,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20070137471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 89 3601- 3607, 109/49.5, 428/911
• US Class Current: 89/36.02
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/013 Mounting or securing armour plates
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0414 Layered armour containing ceramic material
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0442 Layered armour containing metal in combination with ceramic layers F41H5/0421; heat treatment of armour plate C21D9/42
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0471 Layered armour containing fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers in combination with ceramic layers F41H5/0428, with metal layers F41H5/0457
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0492 Layered armour containing hard elements, e.g. plates, spheres, rods, separated from each other, the elements being connected to a further flexible layer or being embedded in a plastics or an elastomer matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/02 Land vehicles with enclosing armour, e.g. tanks endless-track vehicles, steering thereof B62D ; vehicles for placing portable or sectional bridges E01D15/127; vehicles carrying floating bridges E01D15/22
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/042 Floors or base plates for increased land mine protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/911 Penetration resistant layer

Abstract

A modular construction system that can be used to construct a variety of structural units including armor shields for vehicles or personnel, energy generating grids, thermal insulating or transmitting structures, acoustic insulating or reflecting structures, electromagnetic shields, etc. The modular construction system uses modular discs which are configured to be coupled or connected together to form or develop any desired structure. The modular discs include substantially circular base portions, star-shaped projections extending from the upper surface of the substantially circular base portion, and cooperating connecting structures that allow for the plurality of modular discs to be connected to one another.

Claims

1. A modular construction system for assembling structural units which comprises a plurality of modular discs, each of said plurality of modular discs comprising:

a substantially circular base portion having an upper surface, a lower surface and a radius;

a star-shaped projection extending from the upper surface of the substantially circular base portion, said star-shaped projection having an upper surface and four inwardly curved side walls wherein the four inwardly curved side walls have a radius of curvature that is substantially equal to the radius of the substantially circular base portion; and

cooperating connecting structures provided on the lower surface of the substantially circular base portion and on the upper surface of the star-shaped projection which cooperating connecting structures allow for the plurality of modular discs to be connected to one another.

2. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of modular discs are made from a material that can absorb and dissipate the kinetic energy of a high velocity projectile.

3. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of modular discs are made from a ceramic material.

4. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of modular discs are made from one of a thermally insulating material and a thermal conducting material.

5. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of modular discs are made from one of an acoustic absorbing material, an acoustic reflecting material and a sound generating material.

6. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of modular discs are made from a material that shields against electromagnetic energy.

7. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 1, wherein the cooperating connecting structures which allow for the plurality of modular discs to be connected to one another comprise keyed locking structures.

8. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 1, wherein the a cooperating connecting structures comprise a locking projection provided on one of the lower surface of the substantially circular base portion and the upper surface of the star-shaped projection and a complimentarily shaped slot of the other of the lower surface of the substantially circular base portion and the upper surface of the star-shaped projection.

9. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 8, wherein the locking projection and the slot are configured so that the locking projection can be inserted into the slot and rotated to lock the plurality of modular discs together.

10. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 9, wherein the locking projection includes a detent mechanism that engages when two of the plurality of modular discs are locked together.

11. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 1, wherein the substantially circular base portion and the star-shaped projection comprise casings that include internal cavities.

12. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 1, further comprising a support base which includes cooperating connecting structures which allow the plurality of discs to be connected to the support base.

13. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 12, wherein in the support base is rigid.

14. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 12, wherein in the support base is flexible or semi-flexible.

15. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 13, wherein in the support base comprises a portion of a vehicle.

16. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 14, wherein in the support base comprises an article of clothing.

17. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of discs include electrical leads and external electrical contact pads.

18. A modular construction system for assembling structural units according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of discs comprise solar cells.

19. A method of assembling a structure which comprises:

a) providing a plurality of modular discs, each of said plurality of modular discs comprising;

i) a substantially circular base portion having an upper surface, a lower surface and a radius;

ii) a star-shaped projection extending from the upper surface of the substantially circular base portion, said star-shaped projection having an upper surface and four inwardly curved side walls wherein the four inwardly curved side walls have a radius of curvature that is substantially equal to the radius of the substantially circular base portion; and

iii) cooperating connecting structures provided on the lower surface of the substantially circular base portion and on the upper surface of the star-shaped projection which cooperating connecting structures allow for the plurality of modular discs to be connected to one another; and

b) connecting the plurality of modular discs together to form a structure.

20. A method of assembling a structure according to claim 19, wherein the assembled structure comprises at least one of an armor shield for vehicles or personnel, an energy generating grid, a thermal insulating or transmitting structure, an acoustic insulating or reflecting structure, and an electromagnetic shield.