Patent ID: 8782965
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: E04B

Abstract:
1. A universal hub and strut system for assembling a geodesic enclosure, the universal hub and strut system comprising: a universal hub having a center component with an exterior face, an interior face, a perimeter joining the exterior face to the interior face at a plurality of radii, a center port, and a central axis extending through the center port and perpendicular to the exterior face; a strut having a first strut end, a second strut end, and a center shaft extending between the first strut end and the second strut end; a first strut-tab and a second strut-tab, wherein the first strut-tab comprises a generally planar first member extending longitudinally from a first tab end to a second tab end and having a first strut-tab port extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first member and completely through the first member near the first tab end of the first member, and a first alignment notch having a generally rectangular shape and comprising at least one notch in proximity to the second tab end, and the second strut-tab comprises a generally planar second member extending longitudinally from a third tab end to a fourth tab end and having a second strut-tab port extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second member extending completely through the second member near the third tab end of the second member, and a second alignment notch having a generally rectangular shape and comprising at least one notch in proximity to the fourth tab end; wherein the first strut-tab attaches to the first strut end by aligning the first alignment notch within a first slot opening in the first strut end and inserting the first strut-tab into the first strut end, and the second strut-tab attaches to the second strut end by aligning the second alignment notch within a second slot opening in the second strut end and inserting the second strut-tab into the second strut end; a hub-tab affixed along the perimeter of the center component, the hub-tab arrayed at an angle in relation to a plane through the hub and perpendicular to the central axis of the center component, the hub-tab having a hub-tab exterior face that extends from the exterior face of the universal hub, the hub-tab exterior face abutting the exterior face of the universal hub along the perimeter of the universal hub, and wherein the hub-tab has a first hub-tab port extending completely through the hub-tab, and a first hub-tab port axis extending through a center of the first hub-tab port and perpendicular to the hub-tab exterior face; the first strut-tab port overlapping the first hub-tab port and securing the first strut-tab to the first hub-tab via a tab attachment means; the first hub-tab port axis crossing the central axis; and a plurality of hub caps that attach to the universal hub and strut assembly, wherein the plurality of hub caps comprise each a disc-shaped spherical portion that extends to cover the center component, the hub tab, the first strut-tab, and the first strut end.