Modular structural system

A modular structural system for building structural models or for constructing actual structures. The system includes at least one connector hub member comprising a plurality of projections arranged in a plurality of planes each for engaging an end of a strut member, with all projections having cross sectional geometries identical with cross sectional geometries of attached strut members at sites of respective attachment. Second, the system includes at least one strut member having a first end and a second end, with each end having an engageable portion for engagement with a projection of the connector hub member. The strut member has a strut cross-sectional geometry identical to and in alignment with the cross-sectional geometry of a projection and adjacent protuberances of the hub member when the strut member is engaged with the projection. Such cross-sectional geometry can be chosen as desired or required for any particular application, with the singular requirement being that cross-sectional strut geometry and cross sectional hub geometry are the same at the site interface. Retention members are included for securing the respective ends of the strut members with the projections of the connector hub members. The strut members can have along their respective exposed surfaces flanges or the like capable of accepting and retaining panels or other finishing construction material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates in general to modular structural systems, and in
 particular to a modular structural system embodying connector hub members
 having a plurality of projections with adjacent protuberances radiating
 from a common site, with each projection for engaging an end of a strut
 member and arranged in a plurality of planes, and cooperating strut
 members with cross sections identical to those of the respective
 projections with their adjacent protuberances, and engageable end portions
 for engagement with the projections of the connector hub members, whereby
 the structural system can be employed in constructing structural models or
 in building actual structures including those utilized in fluid
 conveyance.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 Many times the design of a structure includes acute and oblique angularity
 coupled with cross sectional uniformity of structurally significant
 portions which consequently require complimentary structural systems to
 maintain stable construction integrity. In particular, a plurality of
 course directions from a single hub site can be desired, with such
 directions exemplified by strut structures, that may or may not function
 as anchor sites for panels or the like, to project from the hub site
 through a number of planes to thereafter terminate at an end site or to
 engage with yet another hub site from which additional strut structures
 project. Not only may a real-life structure require such angularity and
 cross sectional uniformity, but also does any model of a structure that is
 constructed as an aid or guide in studying or otherwise observing or
 displaying this structure. Also, besides construction considerations,
 hollow struts could be employed as fluid conduits for fluid traveling from
 a central hub location to a remote location, with passageways of the hub
 being registrable with complimentary passageways through the struts.
 Additionally, and beyond actual building construction, the design and
 assembly of structural models, whether for subsequent actual building
 design, for researching design feasibilities and appearances, or simply
 for amusement, require flexibility and variety in choices of structural
 presentation.
 Since prior art structural systems lack significant options for structural
 design choices, it is apparent that a need is present for a modular
 structural system wherein a wide variety of representations of designs as
 well as actual designs can be readily provided. Accordingly, a primary
 object of the present invention is to provide a modular structural system
 employing connector hub members having a plurality of strut member
 engagement components arranged in a plurality of planes such that choices
 of strut member assignment and direction can be numerous while cross
 sectional configurations of engagement components and strut members are
 identical at sites of respective interfaces.
 Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular structural
 system wherein such strut members and connector hub members can be weight
 bearing in a building construction or they can function as fluid conduits
 with registrable passageways such that fluids can be conveyed within an
 assembled system.
 Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modular
 structural system wherein the strut members can function as anchor sites
 for panels and the like in finished construction.
 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a modular
 structural system wherein strut members and connector hub members are
 sized to enable the construction of models for experimentation in
 structural as well as aesthetic design.
 These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent
 throughout the description of the invention which now follows.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention is a modular structural system for building
 structural models or for constructing actual structures. The system
 comprises, first of all, at least one connector hub member comprising a
 plurality of projections arranged in a plurality of planes each for
 engaging an end of a strut member, with all projections having cross
 sectional geometries identical with cross sectional geometries of attached
 strut member at sites of respective attachments. Second, the system
 comprises at least one strut member having a first end and a second end,
 with each end comprising an engageable portion for engagement with a
 projection of the connector hub member. The strut member has a strut
 cross-sectional geometry identical to and in alignment with the
 cross-sectional geometry of a projection and adjacent protuberances of the
 hub member when the strut member is engaged with the projection. Such
 cross-sectional geometry can be chosen as desired or required for any
 particular application, with the singular requirement being that
 cross-sectional strut geometry and cross sectional hub geometry are the
 same at the site of interface. Retention members are included for securing
 the respective ends of the strut members with the projections of the
 connector hub members. One preferable securement is that wherein each
 projection of the connector hub member and each slidingly engageable
 portion of the strut member have apertures that register with each other
 upon engagement of the projection and the engageable portion with each
 other, with the retention member being a pin placeable within the
 registered apertures. Of course, other retention means, such as would be
 non-limitedly exemplified through a detente favorably situated along
 respective engagement surfaces of a hub member and a strut member, can
 accomplish such retention. The strut members can have along their
 respective exposed surfaces flanges of the like capable of accepting and
 retaining panels or other finishing construction material.
 The hub member can be of one piece molded construction, for example, or, as
 in one preferred embodiment, the hub member is constructed from a
 plurality of geometrically identical units bonded to each other to form
 the plurality of identical projections and protuberances. Specifically,
 each such geometrical unit of the connector hub member comprises a
 plurality of identical geometrical components bonded to each other wherein
 two such units form a cross section of the projection and adjacent
 protuberances, wherein the projection engages the end of one strut member.
 Because each geometrical unit has at least one surface area, preferably a
 generally planar surface area, that is complimentary to at least one
 surface area of another geometrical unit, a bonding site is thereby
 provided for bonding respective units together and forming the particular
 cross section. Various units can be chosen to construct various cross
 sectional geometries as desired to thereby be identical at respective
 sites of engagement with cross sectional geometries of chosen strut
 members engageable with the connector hub members as described above.
 As is apparent, the present invention provides a modular structural system
 employing connector hub members having a plurality of strut member
 engagement projections arranged in a plurality of planes that provide a
 plurality of cooperating identical cross sectional geometries at sites of
 engagement, thereby affording a myriad of choices of strut member
 assignment and direction, whether for construction, fluid transmission,
 model making, or amusement. The external geometries of the strut members
 smoothly blend into the matching geometries of the connector hub members
 to thereby eliminate any interference with each other as a construction is
 being formed. When such external geometry of the strut members includes
 flanges that blend into an identical geometry of a connector hub member at
 sites of engagement, these flanges can readily be employed as anchor sites
 for accepting panels or the like in providing construction designs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Referring to FIGS. 1-3, three identical geometrical components 10a, 10b,
 10c, each having planar surface areas 12, are assembled as illustrated in
 FIG. 2 by being permanently bonded as with adhesive to each other along
 adjacent planar surface areas 12 to form a geometrical unit 14 shown in
 FIG. 3. While individual components are joined to each other to form the
 unit 14, it is to be understood that such a unit can also be of one-piece
 molded construction. Near the outer edge 15 of each component 10a, 10b,
 10c is a flange 16 and an aperture 18 disposed interiorly from the flange
 16 while symmetrically positioned opposing protuberances 17 project
 upwardly and outwardly.
 In order to construct a non-molded connector hub member, a plurality of
 units 14 are joined to each other to thereby form a plurality of identical
 projections in a plurality of planes for engaging respective ends of strut
 members. The units 14 are joined such that two flanges 16 are in
 back-to-back alignment and project outwardly to create a flange 16 on each
 side of two joined units 14 thereby forming a projection 19 while
 respective apertures 18 are in registration with each other. FIG. 4 shows
 eight units 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 14f, 14g, 14h bonded with adhesive to
 each other along generally planar complimentary surface areas 20 to form a
 connector hub member 22. Specifically, unit 14a has bonded thereto and
 immediately behind it identical unit 14b. Likewise, units 14c and 14d,
 units 14e and 14f, and units 14g and 14h are respectively bonded to each
 other, as are all laterally adjacent units bonded to each other (e.g.
 units 14a and 14c; units 14b and 14d). Once again, while units are bonded
 to each other to form a hub member, it is to be understood that hub
 members can also be of one-piece molded construction. Twelve projections
 19 thus are formed by 12 respective pairs of back-to-back aligned flanges
 16 as earlier described.
 FIGS. 5 and 7a show a strut member 24 having strut flanges 25 along its
 exterior surface and having at each end thereof an open jaw structure 26
 forming a channel 28 and having aligned apertures 30, 32. The channel 28
 can slidingly engage a projection 19 and be retained in place with a pin
 34 disposed within the apertures, 30, 18, 32. FIG. 6 shows such
 securement, with aligned flanges 16 of units 14a and 14b of connector hub
 member 22 forming a projection 19 disposed within the channel 28 and there
 retained with the pin 34 in place through the apertures 30, 18, 32.
 Cross-section geometry of the strut 24 as shown in FIG. 7a is identical to
 cross-section geometry of the projection 19 along with interfacing
 protuberances 17 shown in FIG. 7b of the connector hub member 22 as it
 would be in alignment with a strut 24 connected thereto. Specifically, the
 connector hub member 22 shown in FIG. 4 is a 12-way connector member
 capable of engaging twelve strut members 24, with direction possibilities
 defined in a Cartesian coordinate system where positive X is to the right,
 positive Y is toward the top of the drawing sheet, and positive Z comes
 from the sheet toward the viewer. The twelve possibilities, where the
 first number is an angle in the XY plane and the second number is an angle
 from the XY plane in Z, are as follows: (1) 0.degree., 0.degree.; (2)
 90.degree., 0.degree.; (3) 180.degree., 0.degree.; (4) 270.degree.,
 0.degree.; (5) 45.degree., 45.degree.; (6) 135.degree., 45.degree.; (7)
 225.degree., 45.degree.; (8) 315.degree., 45.degree.; (9) 45.degree.,
 -45.degree.; (10) 135.degree., -45.degree.; (11) 225.degree., -45.degree.;
 and (12) 315.degree., -45.degree..
 FIG. 7c illustrates the spatial relationship of the flanges 25 of the
 preferred embodiment as well as the spatial relationship of a hub member
 projection 19 and adjacent protuberances 17, and takes into account
 specific cross sectional and size relationships depending upon
 construction requirements. Specifically, the preferred embodiment is
 formed uniformly along respective axes as described below. Thus, axis S
 includes points a, b and c, with points b and c equidistant from point a.
 The distance between points b and c is Z where Z is greater than zero.
 Axis T is defined by points a, d and f, where point d has a horizontal
 distance of Z/4 from point a and a vertical distance Z/22 from point a.
 Point f has a vertical distance Z/2 from point d and a horizontal distance
 Z/2 from point d. Mirrored about axis S are points d and f that have
 counterparts point g and point e respectively, with axis V defined by
 points g and e.
 As shown in phantom in FIG. 7c, polygon K is thus formed by points b, e, d,
 c, g, and f, with an overall horizontal dimension of Z. Each of the outer
 portions of the six flanges of the preferred embodiment are defined by
 polygon I formed uniformly about points b, e, d, c, g, and f similarly as
 polygon K is formed about point a. Polygon I has an overall horizontal
 dimension of Z/N where N is equal to or greater than one. Similarly, the
 exposed sides of the central core of the preferred embodiment are defined
 by polygon H formed uniformly about point a. Polygon H has an overall
 horizontal dimension of Z+(Z/N)/R, where R is equal to or greater than
 one. As is thus apparent, polygons I and H define actual external
 configurations that are spatially completed in accord with dimensioning as
 shown in the phantom lines of FIG. 7c.
 Because both the strut flanges 25 and hub member projections 19 with
 respective adjacent protuberances 17 cross sectionally follow the above
 mathematical pattern, both strut and connector geometries are identical
 for both structural integrity and utility of strut member and connector
 hub member in indoor and outdoor building construction, model making, and
 the like. Cross sectional geometries can be chosen as desired as long as
 strut and connector geometries are alike to thereby eliminate any
 interference with each other as a construction is being formed utilizing
 smooth transitions from strut members to connector hubs. Thus, while the
 preferred embodiment shows a connector hub member 22 capable of accepting
 12 struts members 24, other hub members of differing geometries can be
 constructed to accept fewer strut members having complimentary cross
 sectional geometries. The modular structure 38 of FIG. 8 is included to
 exemplify diversity of construction while providing identical cross
 sectional geometries of strut members and connector member projections
 with adjacent protuberances that are in-line with each other. For a
 fluid-transmission embodiment of the modular structural system, as
 non-limitedly exemplified in the delivery of utility products such as gas,
 water, etc., the connector hub members and the strut members can be
 provided with passageways therethrough registrable with each other to
 thereby permit such fluid passage and its delivery to a remote site.
 While an illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention
 has been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the
 inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and
 that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such
 variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.