Patent ID: 7299531

Claim:
An apparatus for defining or measuring an arbitrary three-dimensional volume, comprising: a plurality of telescopic units comprising: a first telescopic rod which is substantially hollow and having an exterior surface dimension and an interior surface dimension, a second telescopic rod which is substantially hollow and having an exterior surface dimension smaller than said interior surface dimension of said first telescopic rod and an interior surface dimension, a locking mechanism which detachably connects said first telescopic rod with said second telescopic rod along a length of said second telescopic rod, allowing said telescopic unit to be adjustably lengthened or shortened to an arbitrary dimension, wherein said first and second telescopic rods each include an attachment feature along the length of each rod exterior surface located substantially toward an end of the length of each said rod; and a plurality of connection units having at least three hollow cylindrical portions having an interior dimension greater than said exterior dimension of said first telescopic rod, wherein said attachment feature at said first end area interacts with an aperture of said connection unit detachably connecting said first telescopic rod to said connection unit, wherein said connection units connect a plurality of said telescopic units at prespecified angles.