Patent ID: 7318303
Filing Date: 2008-01-15
Classification: E04B,E04H

Abstract:
1. A node-and-strut structure comprising: a set of at least six vertebrae each including one left-hand strut having a proximal portion and a distal portion, one right-hand strut having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and one primary node rigidly engaging the left-hand strut's proximal portion and the right-hand strut's proximal portion, a primary axis passing through each of the primary nodes, the primary nodes each including at least 1% metal by weight, the left-hand struts all being nominally mutually parallel, the right-hand struts all being nominally mutually parallel also; several left-hand nodes each bearing against a respective one of said left-hand struts' distal portions such that a left-hand axis lying in a baseplane with the primary axis passes through each of the left-hand nodes, the left-hand axis forming with each of the left-hand struts an acute angle about equal to j×20.9°+k×31.7°+m×36°+n×37.4°, where j, k, m, and n are each an integer ≧0; and several right-hand nodes each bearing against a respective one of said right-hand struts' distal portions such that a right-hand axis parallel to the baseplane passes through each of the right-hand nodes, the right-hand axis forming with each of the right-hand struts an acute angle about equal to p×20.9°+q×31.7°+r×36°+s×37.4°, where p, q, r, and s are each an integer ≧0.