Patent ID: 8082938
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: E04B,E04H

Abstract:
1. A collapsible portable self-supporting structure comprising: a plurality of inter-connected struts connected to a plurality of exterior and interior articulating hub assemblies, said hub assemblies serving as pivotal means allowing said struts, which are secured in said hub assemblies to rotate 180° about a vertical axis on said hub assembly, said struts and said hub assemblies interconnected together forming a square quad, said structure being formed from at least two quads, comprising a first quad designated an A quad and a second quad designated a B quad sharing common exterior and interior hubs joining said first A quad and said second B quad, said “B” quad having a base side, a top side, a first side and a second side, each said side connecting said base side with said top side; said base side comprising: a pair of first and second exterior base side hubs aligned evenly in a vertical plane with respect to each other and a pair of first and second interior base side hubs aligned evenly in a vertical plane with respect to each other, said first exterior base side hubs and said first interior base side hubs being in substantial in-line alignment with respect to each other and said second exterior base side hubs and said second interior base side hubs being in substantial in-line alignment with respect to each other; and a first tubular strut connecting said first exterior base side hub with said second interior base side hub; a second tubular strut connecting said second exterior base side hub with said first interior base side hub; said first and second tubular struts being adjacent to each other and extending diagonally at said base between said exterior side hubs and said interior side hubs and being joined at a scissor point substantially in the center of the length of each said first and second tubular strut; said “B” quad having a top side comprising a pair of first and second exterior top side hubs aligned evenly in a vertical plane with respect to each other and a pair of first and second interior top side hubs aligned evenly in a vertical plane with respect to each other, said first exterior top side hubs and said first interior top side hubs being in substantial in-line alignment with each other; and said second exterior top hubs and said second interior top hubs being in substantial in-line alignment with each other; and a third tubular strut connecting said first exterior top side hub with said second interior top side hub; a fourth tubular strut connecting said second exterior top hub with said first interior top side hub; said third and fourth tubular struts being adjacent to each other and extending diagonally at said top side between said exterior top side hubs and said interior top side hubs and being joined at a scissor point substantially in the center of the length of each said third and fourth tubular strut; said first side of said said second side of said B quad comprising a pair of tubular struts adjacent to each other, a first second-side strut extending diagonally between said second exterior base side hub and said second interior top side hub, and a second side strut extending diagonally between said second interior base side hub and said second exterior top side hub, said second side struts being joined at a scissor point substantially off-center of the length of each said first second side strut and said second side strut; said “B” quad further having a subassembly contained within the area defined by said top, base and sides, said subassembly having a pair of center hubs comprising an exterior center hub and an interior center hub positioned substantially in-line substantially in the center of said a) a first center strut connecting said first exterior base hub to said interior center hub and a second center strut connecting said first interior base hub to said exterior center hub, said first and second tubular struts being adjacent to each other and extending diagonally and being joined at a scissor point substantially off-center of the length of said first and said second struts; b) a third center strut connecting said second exterior base hub to said interior central hub and a fourth center strut connecting said second interior base hub to said exterior central hub, said third and fourth tubular struts being adjacent to each other and extending diagonally and being joined at a scissor point substantially off-center the center of the length of said third and said fourth struts; c) a fifth center strut connecting said first exterior top side hub to said interior center hub and a sixth center strut connecting said first interior top side hub to said exterior center hub, said fifth and sixth tubular struts being adjacent to each other and extending diagonally and being joined at a scissor point substantially off-center of the length of said fifth and said sixth struts; d) a seventh center strut connecting said second exterior top side hub to said interior central hub and an eighth center strut connecting said second interior top side hub to said exterior central hub, said seventh and eighth tubular struts being adjacent to each other and extending diagonally and being joined at a scissor point substantially off-center of the length of said seventh and eighth struts; and, said articulating hub assembly having a body selected from the group consisting of: i.) rigid octagonally-shaped mating top and bottom components, said octagonal shape of said hub body defined by a periphery having eight straight edges at said periphery of said hub body and eight slits, each said slit extending radially inwardly from said periphery through said top and said bottom components from and normal to each said straight edges at said periphery of said hub body, each said slit is located at a vertex formed at intersections of each of said edges around said periphery of said hub body, and consistent with the octagonal configuration of said periphery of said hub body, adjacent slits emanating from each succeeding and preceding slit relative to said slit which is normal to said edge are aligned 45° with respect thereto; and said hub top-component defined by a periphery, an exterior and an interior surface, a central boss receiving opening, a plurality of said radial slits extending through said hub top, and a plurality of openings disposed radially toward the periphery of said hub top component, said openings being arranged to provide a single opening positioned in each of the areas defined in-between two adjacent said slits and arranged to conform to the position of said openings through said hub bottom when the hub top and hub bottom are joined; and said hub bottom-component wherein each of said edges of said periphery is in alignment with said edges of said top component, having an exterior and an interior surface, a boss extending upwardly from said interior surface of said bottom component, a central opening within a said boss and a plurality openings disposed radially toward the periphery of said component, said openings being arranged to provide a single opening positioned in each of the areas defined in-between two adjacent said slits and arranged to conform to the position of said openings through said hub top when said hub top and said hub bottom are joined; and each said slit in said hub bottom component having a discontinuous groove located perpendicular thereto and extending across said slit into each of said areas defined in-between two adjacent said slits; said hub top component and said hub bottom component being assembled contiguously so that said central openings, said radial slits and said openings extending through said hub top component and said hub bottom component, and into said hub top component and said hub bottom component, are in registry; and a removable fastening means extending through said openings in said hub top component and being secured in said openings in registry therewith in said hub bottom component; and an integrally formed keeper element having a top and a shaft extending downwardly therefrom, wherein said shaft is capable of being inserted into and withdrawn from said central openings through said hub body and said hub cover, and said integrally formed keeper element, has means to secure said hub top component to said hub bottom component; and a plurality of tangs, each tang having a first side and a second side, a tail, and a head section with a roll pin extending from each side, said head section of said tang positioned in one of said radial slits in said hub bottom component and said hub top component in registry therewith, said tang being held in place by said roll pin nested in said discontinuous groove; and a cylindrical plug and a structural element secured to said tang; and ii) a central hub body having a periphery, a central opening therethrough and a plurality of radial slots extending inwardly from said periphery of said hub body, each of said radial slots in said hub body having a discontinuous groove located perpendicular thereto, said hub body also having a series of openings extending through said hub body, said openings being positioned radially between each of said radial slots and between said periphery and said central opening of said hub body; a hub cover having a periphery, a central opening therethrough, a plurality of radial slots and a series of openings extending through said hub cover, said hub body and said hub cover being assembled contiguously so that said central opening, said radial slots and said openings of said hub cover are in registry with said central opening, said radial slots and said openings of said hub body; removable fastening means, said removable fastening means extending through said openings in said hub cover and being secured in said openings in said hub body; an integrally formed keeper element having a top and a shaft extending downwardly therefrom, wherein said shaft is capable of being inserted and withdrawn from said central openings of said hub body and said hub cover, said shaft having means for securing said hub cover to said hub body; a plurality of tangs, each of said tangs having a first and second sides, said each tang comprising a head section with a roll pin extending from each of said sides, said head section of said tang being positioned in one of said radial slots of said hub body and said hub cover in registry therewith, said tang being held in place by said roll pin nested in said discontinuous groove; and a cylindrical plug having a crown and a structural element secured to said tang.