The present invention relates to the field of connection devices for assembling structural elements. More specifically, the invention relates to connection devices for use with novel structural elements for use in construction applications.
Elements utilized in the construction of foundations, floors, walls, partitions, ceilings, and roofs are typically referred to as structural, or constructive, elements. Typical structural elements may be formed of lumber, concrete, brick, tile, block, metal, plywood, particleboard, flakeboard, insulation board, fiberglass, cellulose, sawdust, natural fibers, mineral fibers, drywall, plaster, stucco, and other similar materials known in the art.
Typical structural elements are static, or non-responsive, to their environment. For example, typical structural elements may allow harmful gases, vapors, bacteria, viruses, and spores to lodge within the structural elements and penetrate the structural elements into an internal environment within a structure. Such penetration may affect the health and well-being of occupants of a structure. This penetration may also damage objects within a structure. Additionally, such penetration may weaken the structure, eventually leading to structural failure.
Another drawback to the use of typical structural elements is their inability to dynamically react to, and compensate for environmental changes which may include, but are not limited to, changes in one or more of temperature, pressure, electromagnetic radiation, visible light, nuclear radiation, gases, vapors, liquids, particulate matter, biological agents, viruses, bacteria, poisons, explosive overpressure, and other changed external conditions.
As a result of the typical structural elements' inability to block or absorb harmful substances from entering an internal environment, or adjust to environmental changes, known structural elements typically do not provide an enhanced layer of security and safety. For example, typical structural elements may be incapable of protecting occupants of a building from a bioweapon attack. Similarly, many homes suffer from mold infestations that manifest themselves slowly until the home must be destroyed and rebuilt.
Such a system constructed of dynamic constructive elements will perform efficiently and as intended if the connections between the dynamic constructive elements provide not only structural integrity but also facilitate the environmental response of the system. Specifically, desirable assemblies for connecting structural elements enable communication of various components among the dynamic constructive elements in response to environmental stimuli. The various components communicated may include a gaseous component, a vapor component, a liquid component, a solid component, a particulate component, a bacterial component, a viral component, an electrical component, a force component, a pressure component, and combinations thereof.
Although it can be appreciated that connection devices or assemblies for construction have been in use for centuries, many connection devices commonly used in the construction of structures are not designed to enable such communication among constructive elements. Common connectors such as screws, nails, bolts, pins, flanges, welds, and the like do not allow for flow of gases, vapors, liquids, particulates, plasma, photons, electromagnetic fields, electric fields, or any other matter or energy among connected constructive components. Even those kinds of connectors that would allow the flow of energy or matter such as plumbing fittings are not designed to also provide structural support, corrosion resistance, fire resistance, and ease of installation in addition to their functional roles.
Further, even if some of the known connectors or fasteners could be adapted to function with dynamic constructive elements, such adaptation would require undue expense and time. As a result, there exists a need for ready-to-use, easily installed connecting elements for use with dynamic constructive elements that provide not only structural support but are also functionally designed to facilitate the dynamic response of such a system.
In one aspect the invention is an assembly for use in connecting or joining responsive construction elements. The assembly includes an engaging member defining a geometric shape, a channel and a coupling member defining a channel. The channels within the engaging member and coupling member facilitate the communication of various components (e.g., energy or matter) among responsive structural elements joined by the assembly.
In another aspect, the invention is a manifold assembly for use in construction including at least one manifold defining an internal cavity and having at least one receiving port and one or more conduits. The manifold assembly may also include one or more engaging members and one or more elongate members for securing responsive constructive elements to the manifold. The conduits within the manifolds and the structural connection elements used facilitate the communication of energy or matter among the responsive structural elements connected to the manifold.
In yet another aspect, the invention is a structural assembly (e.g., a house, hangar, etc.) formed from one or more constructive elements defining a cavity, one or more manifolds connected to the dynamic constructive elements, and one or more controllers for regulating the environment within the cavity of the dynamic constructive elements.
The foregoing, as well as other objectives and advantages of the invention and the manner in which the same are accomplished, is further discussed within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.
The invention relates to the construction of structures and elements used in construction. More specifically, the invention relates to structural connection elements for use with dynamically responsive and interactive structural elements for improving structural performance, providing increased safety, improving comfort, and reducing operating costs.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefits and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
For ease of discussion, the apparatus will be described with reference to housing constructive elements. Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is applicable to constructive elements for structures other than housing structures, such as commercial buildings and other buildings known in the art. Similarly, the method will be described with respect to housing construction for ease of discussion. Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is applicable to construction of other buildings, such as commercial structures, and shall not be so limited.
The concept of a component or element of the invention being “between” two other components does not necessarily imply that the three components are contiguous (i.e., in intimate contact). Rather, as used herein, the concept of one component being between two other components is meant to describe the relative positions of the components within the assembly structure, respectively.
Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the term “adjacent” refers to two or more, for example, components, that have a common border or are in close proximity to one another. Nevertheless, it will be understood that adjacent may or may not imply contact, but always implies the absence of anything of the same kind in between.
In one aspect, the invention is an assembly 10 for use in connecting structural elements. The connection of structural elements is accomplished through a combination of elements in this assembly 10. First is provided an engaging member 11 that serves to engage other structural elements. The engaging member 11 may be constructed in any geometric form or combination of geometric forms as necessary to correspond to the structural element it will engage. These geometric forms may have the shape of a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a circle, a sphere, an oval, a triangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, or any other geometric shape known in the art, including a star shape.
Also provided is a coupling member 12 that serves to connect adjoining engaging members. The assemblies created by the combination of engaging members and coupling members 12 may then be used to join other structural elements. The joined structural elements may be an elongate member 13 having an internal cavity 32 and serving as a support element in a structure. The joined structural elements may also be a manifold 41 having an internal cavity 42 and at least one conduit 44 for further connecting a number of structural elements.
More specifically, one aspect of the invention is an assembly 10 for use in construction. The assembly 10 comprises a first engaging member 11 defining a geometric shape and at least one internal channel 14. In one embodiment, the internal channel 14 may extend longitudinally of the engaging member 11. In other embodiments, the internal channel 14 may extend laterally of the engaging member 11. In another embodiment, a plurality of channels 14 may extend non-planar with respect to one another. The first engaging member 11 includes an internal surface 20 and an external surface 21.
The assembly 10 may also include a second engaging member 11A defining a geometric shape and at least one internal channel 14. The second engaging member 11A likewise includes an internal surface 20 and an external surface 21.
This embodiment of the invention also provides a first coupling member 12 for connecting the first and second engaging members 11, 11A. The coupling member 12 includes an internal surface 22 and an external surface 23 and defines at least one internal channel 15. In one embodiment, the internal channel 15 may extend longitudinally of the coupling member 12. In other embodiments, the internal channel 15 may extend laterally of the coupling member 12. In another embodiment, a plurality of channels 15 may extend non-planar with respect to one another.
As illustrated in
The geometric shape of the first and second engaging members 11, 11A may be in the form of a sphere, a square, a cube, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a circle, a cone, an oval, a triangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, and combinations thereof.
As shown in
In yet another embodiment, the engaging member 11 may include a flange 30 formed about its circumference as illustrated in
As assembled, the internal surfaces 20 of the first and second engaging members 11, 11A correspondingly engage the external surface 23 of the first coupling member 12 to secure the first engaging member 11 to the second engaging member 11A. In one embodiment, at least one internal surface 20 of the engaging member 11 is threaded. In similar fashion, the external surface 23 of the first coupling member 12 may be threaded. It will be understood, however, that corresponding engagement between the internal surfaces 20 of the first and second engaging members 11, 11A and the external surface 23 of the first coupling member 12 may be accomplished by slots, ribs, or similar fasteners.
In another embodiment, a plurality of other coupling members 12 are provided, wherein other coupling members 12 include an internal surface 22 and an external surface 23 and define a plurality of internal channels 15. A plurality of other engaging members may also be provided that likewise define a geometric shape and a plurality of internal channels 14. The other engaging members 11 having an internal surface 20 and an external surface 21. In this assembly 10, the plurality of other coupling members 12 connects the plurality of other engaging members to the first or second engaging members 11, 11A.
The assembly 10 also provides a first elongate member 13 defining an internal cavity 32 and a cross-section, and having an internal surface 34, a first end 35, and a second end 35A. At least one end 35 of the first elongate member 13 is open for receiving the first engaging member 11. The internal surface 34 of the first elongate member 13 correspondingly engages the external surface 21 of the first engaging member 11 when the open end 35 of the elongate member 13 receives the engaging members to secure the first elongate member 13 to the first engaging member 11. Each of the internal channels 14 of the first and second engaging members 11, 11A and the internal channel 15 of the first coupling member 12 are in communication with the internal cavity 32 of said first elongate member 13 to facilitate movement of any components previously described (e.g., vapor components, gaseous components, etc.).
The assembly 10 may further provide a second elongate member 13A defining an internal cavity 32 and a cross-section 33, and having an internal surface 34, a first end 35, and a second end 35. At least one end 35 of the second elongate member 13A is open for receiving the second engaging member 11A.
The cross-section 33 of the first and second elongate members 13, 13A may be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a circle, an oval, a triangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, and combinations thereof.
The first and second elongate members 13, 13A form a variety of constructive elements to include a roofing element, a foundation element, a partition element, a wall element, and combinations thereof.
The first and second engaging members 11, 11A, the first coupling member 12, and the first and second elongate members 13, 13A are made from a variety of material to include wood, concrete, brick, tile, metal, fiberglass, particleboard, flakeboard, plywood, insulation board, fiberglass, cellulose, sawdust, natural fibers, mineral fibers, drywall, plaster, stucco, and combinations thereof.
A variety of embodiments of a coupling member 12 for the assembly 10 are shown in
In another aspect, the invention is a manifold assembly 40 for construction comprising a manifold 41 defining an internal cavity 42, one or more ports 43, and a geometric shape. The manifold 41 includes one or more conduits 44 extending internally of the manifold 41 and in communication with the ports 43, wherein the ports define a cross-section.
The manifold assembly 40 also provides a first engaging member 11 secured to one of the ports 43 of the manifold 41. The first engaging member 11 defines a geometric shape and at least one internal channel 14, and includes an internal surface 20 and an external surface 21.
A first elongate member 13 is secured to the first engaging member 11. The first elongate member 13 defines an internal cavity 32 and a cross-section 33, and includes an internal surface 34, a first end 35, and a second end 35A. One end 35 of said first elongate member 13 is open for receiving the first engaging member 11.
The internal surface 34 of the first elongate member 13 correspondingly engages the external surface 21 of the first engaging member 11 to secure the first elongate member 13 to the first engaging member 11 and the manifold 41.
The cross-section of the ports 43 may be in the shape of a square, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a circle, an oval, a triangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, and combinations thereof.
A second engaging member 11A may be secured to another port of the manifold 41. The second engaging member 11A defines a geometric shape and at least one internal channel 14, and includes an internal surface 20 and an external surface 21.
A second elongate member 13A may be secured to the second engaging member 11A. The second elongate member 13A defines an internal cavity 32 and a cross section, and includes an internal surface 34, a first end 35, and a second end 35A. One end 35 of the second elongate member 13A is open for receiving the second engaging member 11A.
The internal surface of the second elongate member 13A correspondingly engages the external surface 21 of the second engaging member 11A to secure the second elongate member 13A to the second engaging member 11A and the manifold 41.
The geometric shape of the manifold 41 and the first and second engaging members 11, 11A may be in the form of a sphere, a square, a cube, a rectangle, a trapezoid, a circle, a cone, an oval, a triangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, and combinations thereof.
The internal channels 14 of the first and second engaging members 11, 11A and the internal cavities of the first and second elongate members 13, 13A are in communication with the conduits 44 of the manifold 41.
In another aspect, the invention is a structural assembly 50 for use in construction. The structural assembly 50 provides one or more dynamic constructive elements 51 that define at least one cavity. The dynamic constructive elements 51 are capable of maintaining structural integrity under load bearing conditions. In other words, the dynamic constructive elements 51 are sufficient for use in constructing dwellings, house, hangars, garages, and buildings.
The structural assembly 50 also provides one or more manifolds 41 connected to the dynamic constructive elements 51. The manifolds 41 define at least one conduit 44.
The structural assembly 50 further provides one or more controllers for regulating the environment within the cavity of the dynamic constructive elements 51. The controller incorporates a variety of valves to direct the flow of various components throughout the structural assembly. In particular, a manifold 41 having a variety of controlling mechanisms (e.g., pneumatic valve, butterfly valve, disk valve, ball float valve, etc.) may serve as a controller. Advantageously, the cavities of the dynamic constructive elements 51, the conduits of the manifolds 41, and the controllers are in communication.
The structural assembly 50 also provides one or more connectors (e.g., gasket, adhesive layer, etc.) defining at least one channel, wherein the connectors secure the dynamic constructive elements 51 to the manifolds 41. As constructed, the cavities of the dynamic constructive elements 51, the conduits 44 of the manifolds 41, and the channels of the connectors communicate with one another to facilitate regulation of the environment within the cavity of the dynamic constructive elements 51. It will be understood that the dynamic constructive elements 51 may be comprised of one or more elongate members 13.
The controller regulates the environment within the cavities of the dynamic constructive elements 51 and the conduits of the manifolds 41 by controlling the flow of gases, vapors, liquids, particulates, plasma, photons, electromagnetic fields, electric fields, or any other matter or energy.
In the specification, drawings, and examples, there have been disclosed typical embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms have been employed, they have been used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.
This application hereby claims the benefit of commonly owned pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/725,142, for Connection Device(s) for Dynamic Constructive Elements, filed Oct. 7, 2005.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US2006/039580 | 10/7/2006 | WO | 00 | 2/19/2008 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2007/044733 | 4/19/2007 | WO | A |
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