Patent ID: 8590216

Claim:
A device for limiting movement of a plurality of struts that radiate from a hub of a space frame comprising: a hollow locking collar that surrounds said hub of said space frame; said locking collar comprises an inner surface facing said hub, an outer surface facing away from said hub, a top edge and a bottom edge; said locking collar contains a plurality of openings, each of said openings going through said inner and outer surfaces between the top and bottom edges; each of said struts that radiate from said hub comprises two ends, wherein one of said ends of each of said struts passes through one of said openings in said locking collar to attach to said hub; each of said openings in said locking collar has a diameter, and each of said struts has a diameter, wherein the diameter of each of said openings in said locking collar is greater than the diameter of each of said struts; a ratio of the diameter of each of said openings in said locking collar to the diameter of each of said struts limits angular movement of said struts relative to said outer surface of said locking collar to maintain an assembled shape of said space frame; said locking collar provides leverage for said struts and relieves stress while said struts are connected to the hub; said locking collar is supported by said plurality of struts, and does not contact said hub; said locking collar does not require a cover plate or other connection between said locking collar and said hub for said locking collar to connect the struts to said hub; said hub is capable of moving independently relative to said locking collar; said hub is capable of moving to different positions within said locking collar to relieve applied stress; said struts are not fixed to said locking collar; and said struts are attached to said hub through said openings in said locking collar to relieve applied stress.