Abstract:
A hinged structural building element and collapsible system of building elements is disclosed. The core element is a relatively flat structural piece having a hinge section extending from one edge of the element to an opposite edge of the element. The hinge section allows the building element or structural piece to be essentially folded upon itself A preferred embodiment of the hinge section extending the length of each of the building elements is a living hinge. The living hinge may be fabricated from any of a large variety of materials including a flexible or pliable material, such as plastic or rubber, tape, string, wire, rubberized O-rings, and/or any of a wide variety of textile materials. The system of building elements may be easily interconnected to construct and build various structures, in various scales and sizes, including box shapes, cube shapes, or structures as complex as towers, bridges, and geo-domes.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/988,503, filed on Nov. 16, 2007, the text and figures of which are incorporated into this application by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to structural building elements. More particularly, the disclosed invention relates to a type of interconnectable structural building element, and a plurality of those building elements which may be interconnected into a system of building elements that, in a collapsed and disassembled state, are very compact for ease of storage and transport, and which can be easily combined to form a variety of different, and varied complexity, three-dimensional structures. In one preferred embodiment, the system of building elements can be a toy or play-object used to create different shapes and structures. In another preferred embodiment, the system of building elements, using larger sized building elements, can be used to form the core or frame sections of models, buildings, bridges or other larger structures. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The ability to quickly and easily construct a variety of three-dimensional structures using a series of elemental substructures is known in the prior art. Some examples include simple wooden blocks, or K&#39;NEX® for toys, and prefabricated walls or platforms for housing construction. In the toy or play set area, the ability to provide a creative base from which to build and construct different structures is a valued learning tool. For larger structure construction, the ability to have a compact storage, and ease of transportation for building elements that can then be easily assembled into a variety of structures would be a highly valued feature for use in temporary housing, disaster recovery, or even camping and sporting events. 
         [0004]    While there are examples of using building elements to construct larger and more complex structures, each have various deficiencies or problems associated with their usage. What is needed is a building element that has features such that it may be sized and fabricated to be used as a toy or play construction set, and which, by making the element pieces larger, can also be used as a means to construct larger structures. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The above noted problems, which are inadequately or incompletely resolved by the prior art are completely addressed and resolved by the present invention. 
         [0006]    A preferred aspect of the present invention is a system of structural elements, comprising a plurality of structural elements, with each structural element having a front side and back side, a first pair of substantially parallel and opposing edges, a second pair of substantially parallel and opposing edges, and a flexible hinge section located between said first pair of opposing edges, said flexible hinge extending between said second pair of opposing edges; and interconnecting means formed along each of said two pair of opposing edges, whereby the structural elements may be interconnected with other structural elements to construct three dimensional forms and structures. 
         [0007]    Another preferred aspect of the present invention is a collapsible system of structural elements, comprising a plurality of structural elements each said structural element having two sides and four edges; a flexible, living hinge means along one of the four edges of each of the plurality of structural elements whereby said living hinge means connects one of a plurality of structural elements to another one of a plurality of structural elements; and interconnecting means formed along each of the three other edges of each of the plurality of structural elements, whereby the structural elements may be interconnected with other structural elements to construct three dimensional forms and structures. 
         [0008]    Still another preferred aspect of the present invention is a system of structural elements, comprising a plurality of structural elements having four edges, and further having a flexible, living hinge means that allows each structural element to fold, and further having interconnecting means along each of the four edges of each of the plurality of structural elements, whereby the structural elements may be interconnected with other structural elements to construct three dimensional forms and structures. 
         [0009]    The invention will be best understood by reading the following detailed description of the several disclosed embodiments in conjunction with the attached drawings that briefly described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the several drawings are not to scale, and the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement as may be shown in the accompanying drawings. On the contrary, the dimensions and locations of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity, unless specifically noted in the attached claims. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1 : is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a building element in a fully open configuration; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2 : is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a building element in a fully open, partially folded, and fully folded configuration; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A : is an isometric view of two building elements about to be connected; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is an isometric view of two building elements partially connected; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3C : is an isometric view of two building elements fully connected; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4 : is an isometric view of a triangular prism constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5 : is an isometric view of two triangular prisms constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element and interconnected; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6 : is an isometric view of one version of a cube structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7 : is an isometric view of a dodecagon structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8 : is an isometric view of a spherical shaped structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9 : is an isometric view of another version of a spherical shaped structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10 : is a top view of another preferred embodiment of an inventive building element having slot interconnecting elements; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11 : is an isometric view of two building elements about to be connected; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12A : is another isometric view of two building elements about to be connected; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12B  is an isometric view of two building elements partially connected; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12C : is an isometric view of two building elements fully connected; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13 : is an isometric view of three building elements about to be interconnected; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14 : is an isometric view of four building elements about to be interconnected; 
           [0029]      FIG. 15 : is an isometric view of five building elements about to be interconnected; 
           [0030]      FIG. 16 : is an isometric view of two building elements being interconnected using the side slot sections; 
           [0031]      FIG. 17 : is an isometric view of two building elements interconnected using the end slot sections; 
           [0032]      FIG. 18 : is an isometric view of a triangular shape constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0033]      FIG. 19 : is an isometric view of a building structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element, from a cube and triangular prism shape; 
           [0034]      FIG. 20 : is an isometric view of a tower building structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0035]      FIG. 21 : is an isometric view of a dome type building structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0036]      FIG. 22 : is an isometric view of a geo-dome building structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0037]      FIG. 23 : is a photograph of a model double helix constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0038]      FIG. 24 : is a photograph of a version of a spherical shaped structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0039]      FIG. 25 : is a photograph of a second version of a spherical shaped structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0040]      FIG. 26 : is a photograph of a third version of a spherical shaped structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0041]      FIG. 27 : is a photograph of a fourth version of a spherical shaped structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element using a plurality of triangular shapes for the surface pieces; 
           [0042]      FIG. 28 : is a photograph of a fifth version of a spherical shape constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element; 
           [0043]      FIG. 29 : is a photograph of a version of a cubic shaped structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element using a plurality of triangular shapes for the surface pieces; 
           [0044]      FIG. 30 : is a photograph of a version of a lattice structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element using a plurality of triangular shapes for the surface pieces; 
           [0045]      FIG. 31 : is an isometric view of a cube structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element, in a fully folded configuration; 
           [0046]      FIG. 32 : is an isometric view of a cube structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element, in a first partially unfolded configuration; 
           [0047]      FIG. 33 : is an isometric view of a cube structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element, in a second partially unfolded configuration; 
           [0048]      FIG. 34 : is an isometric view of a cube structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element, in a third partially unfolded configuration; 
           [0049]      FIG. 35 : is an isometric view of a cube structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element, in a fourth partially unfolded configuration; 
           [0050]      FIG. 36 : is an isometric view of a cube structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element, in a first partially opened configuration; 
           [0051]      FIG. 37 : is an isometric view of a cube structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element, in a second partially opened configuration; 
           [0052]      FIG. 38 : is an isometric view of a cube structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element, in another view of a third partially opened configuration; and 
           [0053]      FIG. 39 : is an isometric view of a cube structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element, in a fully open and unfolded configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0054]    The present invention is a type of basic building or structural element and a plurality of these structural elements that can be easily interconnected to create a system of structural elements and more complex structure. The interconnected structural elements can be connected and configured to make a wide variety of three-dimensional structures, including from a simple triangle, or cube, to a much more complex lattice/bridge structure, or geodome structure. 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , each structural element may be, in a preferred embodiment, a relatively flat piece. The structural element  10  has two pair of substantially parallel opposing sides. Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , each structural element  10  has a flexible hinge section  3  such that each structural element  10  has two sections  2   a  and  2   b,  and may be folded onto itself into an essentially flat element. The three sequential drawings of  FIG. 2  show an end view of the structural element in a fully open configuration, a partially closed configuration, and lastly, a fully closed, or folded configuration. 
         [0056]    A preferred embodiment of the hinge section  3  has the section configured with high flexibility, often called a “living hinge.” A living hinge  3  can be opened and then closed so that side by side surfaces  2   a,    2   b  in an open position can be folded to be adjacent to each other and touching in both directions. 
         [0057]    The structural elements  10  can be manufactured from a wide variety of materials. Examples include, without limitation, paper, card board, plastic, wood, concrete, masonry, metal, paneling, drywall, ceramics. The hinge sections can similarly be manufactured from many different materials, including paper, tape, plastic, vinyl, metal, wire, rebar, chain, string, rope, or cable. 
         [0058]    Each structural element  10  also has connecting means along each of the sides of the elements  10 . In a preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , interconnecting male  7  and female  8  sections may be formed along opposing sides. Similarly, as also shown in  FIG. 1 , alternative male or T-shaped sections  4 , may be configured to connect with female end sections  5  and  6 . The ability to interconnect the structural elements  10 , end to end is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C, showing the connection of T-shaped section  4  into female end sections  5 ,  6 . 
         [0059]    By interconnecting a plurality of structural elements  10 , along both the sides using interconnecting male  7  and female  8  sections, and end to end using male  4  and female  5 ,  6  sections, a wide variety of three dimensional shapes  100  may be quickly configured.  FIG. 4  shows an example of a triangular prism configuration. A more complex shape, such as interconnecting two triangular prisms is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0060]    Another basic example of a structure created from a system of the core building elements is a cube shape formed by connecting of twelve rectangular or quadrilateral elements. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the building element are partially folded, to an approximate right angle and then each of the building elements are connected to two other building elements at a respective edge. 
         [0061]    By adding further structural elements, more complex shapes can be easily constructed. More particularly, and as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , spherical shaped structures easily assembled. In each of the structures shown in  FIGS. 5 through 9 , the core elements of the hinged building structure system are a plurality of substantially flat and substantially rigid structural elements  10 , and a plurality of flexible hinge sections  3  that are connected to each other through the male and female interconnecting sections. As noted, the hinge sections should be sufficiently pliable to permit the structural elements to fold upon each other in the fully-collapsed configuration. 
         [0062]    Another preferred embodiment of a structural element  10  is shown in  FIG. 10 . In this preferred embodiment, each structural element is also a relatively flat piece, with a flexible hinge section  3  such that each structural element  10  may be folded onto itself into an essentially flat element. The structural element  10  shown in  FIG. 10  has a series of notches  20  that can be used to connect structural elements side to side in an essentially perpendicular configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0063]    As also shown in  FIG. 10 , the end interconnecting elements have a different shape and configuration. The male section is formed of two pieces  15  with a slot  21  between the two pieces  15 . The female section is also formed of two wider spaced pieces  11  with an opening and a slot  22  located between the two pieces  11 .  FIGS. 11 and 12A ,  12 B, and  12 C show how this embodiment of structural elements  10  may be easily interconnected end to end by linking the two male pieces  15  in between the two female pieces  11 . 
         [0064]    By partially folding the structural elements  10 , and connecting the end sections of the structural elements together, various frame structures can be easily assembled.  FIG. 13  shows three structural elements about to be interconnected end to end to form an apex of structure. Similarly,  FIGS. 14 and 15  show respectively four and five structural elements being interconnected to form alternative corner sections of three-dimensional structures. However, the structural elements need not be folded to interconnect and form three dimensional structures. As shown in  FIG. 18 , the end pieces  11  and  15  can be interconnected to form a triangle shape, or by adding another structural element, a square shape can be assembled (not shown). 
         [0065]    Using the  FIG. 10  embodiment, the structural elements  10  can be connected to form longer elements, as shown in  FIG. 17  by using slots  21  and  22  located between end pieces  11  and  15 . 
         [0066]    As described above, the collapsible building structure system, using larger size structural elements, could be used to create more utilitarian structures. For example,  FIGS. 19 ,  20 ,  21 , and  22  show a variety of frames which could be base structures for a house or shed. In  FIG. 19 , cube form with a prism form on top which could be the simple frame for a house. In this configuration, the structural support members for a house, tent or shed could be quickly assembled. Such structures could be used for temporary housing for victims of natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes or fires. Such temporary housing or safe structures can be easily transported in the compact folded configuration, and then quickly put into place and finished once the support structure is un-folded and assembled. Roofing and siding materials similarly can be quickly installed to created a sealed and protective structure. 
         [0067]    More complex structures and shapes can be easily created by adding more structural elements.  FIGS. 23 through 30  show a series photographs of various three dimensional structures formed from the inventive structural elements  10 .  FIG. 23  shows a double helix model formed from a preferred embodiment of the structural elements. In this model and structure, the structural elements are not folded, but are interconnected using the side notches  20 .  FIG. 24  is a relatively complex example of an icosahedron/dodecahedron form using sixty structural elements.  FIG. 25  shows a more intricate example of a dodecahedron form from triangular sections using ninety structural elements. A type of a “bucky ball” is shown in  FIG. 26  by connecting nine structural elements end to end to from triangular shapes, and then interconnecting the ends of the triangular shapes to form the “ball” shape. 
         [0068]    Another spherical shape is shown in  FIG. 27  formed from twenty tetrahedron configurations and then interconnected to form another dodecahedron. The  FIG. 27  structure was formed from one hundred twenty structural elements  10 .  FIG. 28  shows another example of a dodecahedron formed from  240  structural elements  10 . Different building shapes can be interconnected as shown in  FIG. 29  where six octahedrons are interconnected to eight tetrahedrons. As another example of a complex building structure,  FIG. 30  shows a lattice design formed from octahedrons and tetrahedrons. In this configuration, the three dimensional structure can be used as a frame for a bridge or ladder. As such, the hinged structural elements  10  can be used to assemble the frame system for many products, buildings and other constructs such as dams, bridges, towers, space stations and other possible built environments. 
         [0069]    The series of drawings shown in  FIGS. 31 through 39  show an example of a cube structure starting in the fully folded state,  FIG. 31 , then sequentially being unfolded into the completely open cube,  FIG. 39 . The cube shape may thus be easily collapsed without disassembly of the system of elements, such that in the completely collapsed condition, the system of elements is relatively flat, allowing for ease of storage and portability. Accordingly, the structural elements provide a means of creating a collapsible building structure system that can be, in different embodiments, used as a toy-type object for children or adults, or can be used, in larger configurations, as building elements for full-sized buildings, sheds, tents, bridges, or other similar structures. Particular features of the structural element system is that in a fully-collapsed configuration, the system can be substantially flat, while in a fully un-folded configuration, the system is a three-dimensional structure that can be as simple as a triangle, to as complex as, for example, a dodecahedron. One advantage of such a collapsible structure building system is easy of storage and transporting of building elements when the structures are in a fully-collapsed or disassembled configuration. 
         [0070]    As described, the inventive collapsible hinged building structural system provides a system for disassembling and collapsing a system of elements into a substantially flat structure, and then, in an un-folded and assembled configuration, having a full three-dimensional structure that can be a toy object, a decorative piece, or a full structure which can be used for buildings, housing, or bridge sections. 
         [0071]    The above detailed description teaches certain preferred embodiments of the present inventive building element device and system of interconnectable building elements. The building element device, including the hinge section and interconnecting elements, allows for the construction of various three-dimensional structures using a plurality of the element devices. The building element devices can be easily transported in their flat and compact configuration. Once constructed into a variety of structures, the system of element devices can be easily collapsed into a relatively flat and compact configuration, again for ease of transportation or storage. While preferred embodiments of the building elements have been described and disclosed, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that modifications and/or substitutions are possible and such modifications and substitutions are within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. It is likewise understood that the attached claims are intended to cover all such modifications and/or substitutions.