CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM WITH EXPANDIBLE LINK ELEMENTS

Abstract: Construction system consisting of construction elements made out of either expandible or rigid material, with at least one jointing eye, into which a pinch/jointing element is inserted. The jointing element has a) an eye at each end; after being inserted in the construction element it is expanded either by introducing air, gas, fluid or other expansion material, or b) either i) eyes which are screwed on, or ii) pivot, screw, pinch, hinge or slide joints which enable a solid ''pressure'' joint to be obtained between the construction elements.

Description: Construction system with expandible link elements Description 1 The invention is for a construction system which can be used for building, infrastructure work or toys. People have long sought construction systems which are 5 both simple and reliable to set up. In nearly all con¬ struction systems an irreversible, physical joint is make in which at least one of the elements and usually both are damaged. In such systems, the joint is made using an intermediate material, such as screws, rivets, nails or 10 adhesive. A system which dispenses with such an intermediate material has a number of advantages including speed of construction, ease of handling, simplicity, reversibility and minium require- 15 ment for accessory equipment. In the system forming the object of the invention, a distinction is made between construction elements (CE) and jointing elements (JE). In the most simple appli- 20 cation these can have the same form (see illustrations). In principle, the construction elements can be made of any existing material. The shape of the CE is of no importance, and can be in the form of a sheet, beam, cy- liner etc., but it must have at least one jointing eye in 25 the matrix material itself or in some other material joined to the CE.. The eye may form an integral part of the CE. The CE may have several such eyes, depending on the intended use. 30 The CE may consist of any solid material, or of a flexible, material which reaches its intended maximum expanded form during the construction stage. Each jointing element has at least two eyes, round or other- 35 wise (one at each end) there may also be a straight section between the two eyes (beam, rod etc.) (see illustration). The jointing elements are constructed so that in their final position they fit tightly into the eyes in the construction 40 elements or fit onto a CE. The material of the JE can either be of some flexible but solid and non-compressible natural or synthetic material such as rubber of PVC, or it can consist of wood, metal or some other regid material . ft) The JE fits into the eye connections in the CE. If the JE is made of flexible material, it can be made to expand by introducing air, gas, liquid or some expanding 50 material such as PU to raise the internal pressure in the JE so that attains its maximum expanded form, with the result that one of this eyes (or the straight section if it has one) exerts a strong pressure on the CE, thus forming a joint. 55 Depending on the material of the JE, pressure in this "pres¬ sure joint" may exceed 5 athmospheres. If the JE is made of rigid material it does not expand, but 60 instead fits into the eye of the CE as tightly as possible, and inward pressure is exerted on the CE either by eyes which are screwed onto the ends or by pivot, screw, pinch, hinge or slide joints which cause expansion at that point (see drawing 64 17). 3 . Whether the JE is made of flexible or rigid material, the result is a rigid joint between construction elements. There are numerous pratical applications, eg. for hydraylic constructions, pontoons, suspension bridge, shuttering, con¬ struction games etc. An example of a beach game is as follows : Various colored CEs and JEs are made of light PVC . In this case the CEs and JEs are identical in form, ie, with eyes at each end and a cilindrical section in between with a diameter of approx. 10 cm (fig. 1). Four CEs are blown up, then two JEs are placed in the eyes and than also blown up to make a sort of float. The elements can also be used to make a windbreak, beach hut, headrest, toy club, etc. Additional Description This invention is because of its great simplicity applicable in the most different economic fields. The outstanding point is the perfect correspondence between basic material (f.ex: PVC, thermoplast) and the focused use/ apllication, this means: more or less impenetrable material de¬ pendant on the desirable internal pressure. This construction system is serviceable for: 1- γdraγl ^enginee ing^ -filled with wet sand: reinforcement of dikes or by bursting In urgent cases even pumping the elements with water can help. To intercept the high draw forces on the eye connect- ions it can be necessary to strengthen the film/foil/fabric with the most advanced yarns or wires. -inflated with air, gas or poly-urethane: pontoons, markat- ions, sav ' ety-systems, fishnet-driver for fish-ground separ¬ ation units, oil-separation units. -filled with water: double use as water-reservoir/tank. First the four wall elements themself, secondly the internal con¬ tent (after fasten a plastic film to the wall elements. 2. Toγs_ -inflated with air: Beach construction play that can be en¬ larged - in different dimensions - by puting new elements in the four untapped eye connections. Swimingsavety, headrest, floats. 3. Ir nsggrt^ -solid workmanship inflated with air: Usuable as an under- frame, reinforced with an fabric bandage, for transport of people and goods on rivers. The adaption possibilities are important, also the easy transport of the empty elements to the upper reaches. 4. Domestic use: -inflated with air: Isulation of the house against wind and cold. -inflated with water and additional film: Swimingpool for childeren. -filled with concrete: lost shuttering for difficult work, -filled with water: reusuable shuttering. 6. Milita y -filled with sand: Trenchs 7. Sgace^ -filled with expanding material, resisting high differences in temperature. The outside-material must be an high-tech. , laminated, fabric. Advantage: low weight, and extreme expansion through vacuum. Design aspects: By changing the section of the eye-connections, in correspond¬ ence to the diameter of the construction elements, or inverse , a more or less strong pressure will be obtained. Also the distance between the two eyes of the jointing elements can be made smaller or greater so the rapidity for reaching the pressure-link shall be influenced.

Claims: Patent claims. 1. A construction system with construction elements and jointing elements which can be either rigid or expandible. 2. Construction elements which have at least one jointing eye. 3. Jointing elements which have at least two expand¬ ible eyes ( one at each end) or which have screw-in eyes or pivot, screw, hinge or slide joints. 4. Jointing elements which are inserted into the con¬ struction element and then either blown up or secured so that a pressure joint is obtained. 5. Joints by means of which the construction elements are joined to each other.

Inventors: BEKAERT PHILIPPE, LAUREYSSENS DIRK, BEKAERT, PHILIPPE, LAUREYSSENS, DIRK
Applicants: LAUREYSSENS DIRK, LAUREYSSENS, DIRK
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A63H33
IPC codes: A63H33, E04B2, F16B2