Improvements in Joints and Connections for Extensible Structures.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Joints and Connections for Extensible Structures.
I, HERMANN FIEDELER, of Dohren, near Hannover, in the Empire of Germany,
Land Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what man-
ner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to means for building up portable and other structures in
such a manner that the frame works produced are capable of extension in any
horizontal, vertical or lateral direction.
According to the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, such
structural framings are made up of a series of two different interchangeable com-
ponent elements or members. One of such members or elementary part of the
lattice work consist of rods which are slit crosswise and for a distance downwards
at both ends and may have any section and suitable shape.
Figures 1 to 4 illustrate in elevation and end view different kinds of elementary
rods of this kind, marked respectively P, C, K and K. The rods may also be of
oblong instead of square transverse section. The other constituent of the lattice
work is a key or connecting plate S, which may be square, round or oblong. These
plates are used to tie together the rod members, as shewn in Figures 5 and 6,
have a slit s in order that a pair of such plates S, may be fitted together to form
a cruciform piece S, S', as shewn in Figures 7 and 8. The thickness s of the
plate S, conforms or corresponds to the width of the slits in the rods so that, when
the former are fitted into the latter, the resulting friction holds both together.
From the rods P and the single plates S, as also from the cruciform pieces S, S,
constructed from these, different structures, capable of extension in all three
directions, (i.e. vertically, longitudinally and laterally) may be built up. Figure 13
shows an elevation of such built-up construction showing the slit ends of the rods
engaging onto the edges of the cruciform connections formed by fitting together
a pair of slit plates. The material for the rods P, slit crosswise on both ends as
well as for the slit plate S may be wood, papier-mache or metal. Wood is how-
ever, preferable for the rods, as it is light in itself and can be easily worked up
and also has sufficient elasticity to hold the plates firmly in the slits. If the
plates S are made of wood or papier-mache they must be of such a thickness as
to allow of slitting and fitting together to form the cruciform piece. When plates
of sheet metal are used they are by being pressed provided with corrugations,
whereby there results the advantage of greater friction between the plates S and
the slits p. Figures 11 and 12 shew a plate S of this kind with corrugations o
and slits. The projections so can also be made to assume any other suitable shape.
The metal plates S, may also have stamped tongues s, as shewn in Figures 9 and 10,
which tongues are opposite the rod ends and also serve for the mutual support of
the plates in the cruciform piece.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is:
Building up structures or framings by means of a series of rods slit crosswise at
their ends, adapted to be used in connection with a series of plates fitting into the
slits of the said rods and to be connected together in pairs to form cruciform shaped
kev plate or connection pieces which said slit rods and ker nieces are
sambla.1

page_text: Fiedeler's Improvements in Joints and Connections for Extensible Structures.
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together to form atırıntures or fromings which are nanoble of extension in either
of extension in either of
à capable of
together to form atmintuvas or framings which ar
three directions, substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 4th day of March 19.
HERMANN FIEDELER,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.