Space frame system

Claim 2

A joint connector for a space frame system comprising an upper grid and a lower grid with each grid including a plurality of transverse, support pipes and diagonal chord members connected between said grids, said connector comprising: a first pair of spaced-apart brackets with each bracket comprising: a web having first and second ends; a mounting flange located at each end of said web; a seat in said web for welding a portion of a first pipe of a grid therein; a second pair of spaced-apart brackets with each bracket comprising: a web having first and second ends; a chord mounting flange located at each end of said web, said chord mounting flange having a bracket mounting section and a chord mounting section; a seat in said web for welding a portion of a second pipe of the grid therein, the second pipe transversing the first pipe seated in the first pair of spaced-apart brackets; means for attaching each mounting flange of each bracket of said first pair of brackets to each adjacent bracket mounting section of said second pair of brackets, said attachment presenting a housing with an intersection of said first and second pipes being located therein, the chord mounting section presenting a flange for attachment of a diagonal chord thereto.

Claim 3

The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is generally quadrangular in configuration with a chord mounting section at each corner for attachment of a diagonal chord end thereto.

Claim 4

The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein each chord mounting section is canted relative to said housing.

Claim 5

The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each canted chord mounting section is directed to a central point within the housing.

Claim 6

The device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for connecting one end of a diagonal chord to said chord mounting section, the chord mounting section directing the chord to a desired location away from the connector.

Claim 7

The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said connecting means comprises; a plate; means for attaching said plate to an end of the diagonal chord; fastener means for securing said plate to said chord mounting section.

Claim 8

The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said attaching means comprises: a slot at the end of said diagonal chord for insertion of said plate therein, the plate being welded to the slot.

Claim 9

The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said fastener means comprises: a plurality of apertures in said chord mounting section; a plurality of apertures in said plate; means extending through the aligned apertures in said chord mounting section and said plate for securing one to the other.

Claim 10

The device as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a second joint connector, the connector secured to first and second transverse pipes in the other of said upper and lower grids, the chord mounting sections of each connector extending in a direction towards the other of said upper and lower grids to facilitate the connection of an opposite end of the diagonal chord thereto.

Claim 11

A connector for a space frame system comprising an upper grid of transverse chords and a lower grid of transverse chords with diagonal chords spanning therebetween, the connector comprising: a housing presenting four corners as formed by a first pair of opposed webs and a second pair of opposed webs generally normal to said first pair of webs; a first seat in each first pair of opposed webs for receiving a chord of a grid of the space frame therein; a second seat in each second pair of opposed webs for receiving a transverse chord of the grid of the space frame therein, the chord in said second seat generally intersecting the chord in said first seat in a relative displacement therebetween, the intersection of the chords being positioned within said housing; a chord mounting flange extending from each corner of the housing and extending in a direction towards the other of said upper and lower grids; means for releasably connecting an end of a diagonal chord to one of said chord mounting flanges, the chord mounting flange directing the connected diagonal chord to a connector in the other of said upper and lower grids.

Claim 12

A connector for a space frame system comprising an upper grid of transverse chords and a lower grid of transverse chords with diagonal chords spanning therebetween, the connector comprising: a housing presenting four corners as formed by a first pair of opposed webs and a second pair of opposed webs generally normal to said first pair of webs; a first seat in each first pair of opposed webs for receiving a chord of a grid of the space frame therein; a second seat in each second pair of opposed webs for receiving a transverse chord of the grid of the space frame therein, the chord in said second seat generally intersecting the chord in said first seat in a relative displacement therebetween, the intersection of the chords being positioned within said housing; a chord mounting flange extending from each corner of the housing and extending in a direction towards the other of said upper and lower grids; means for releasably connecting an end of a diagonal chord to one of said chord mounting flanges, the chord mounting flange directing the connected diagonal chord to a connector in the other of said upper and lower grids.

Claim 13

The device as claimed in claim 10 further comprising: a mounting flange extending from first and second ends of each web of said first pair of opposed webs; said chord mounting flange extending from first and second ends of each web of said second pair of opposed webs; means for attaching each mounting flange to each adjacent chord mounting flange in a manner to present said housing.

Claim 14

The device as claimed in claim 11 wherein said attaching means comprises: releasable fastener means extending through said mounting flange and adjacent chord mounting flange for securing one to the other.

Claim 15

The device as claimed in claim 10 wherein each chord mounting flange includes a section canted relative to said housing in a direction towards the other of said grids upon said attachment.

Claim 16

The device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said connecting means comprises: a plate: means for fixing said plate to an end of one of the diagonal chords; fastener means for securing said plate to said chord mounting section.

Claim 17

The device as claimed in claim 10 wherein each seat in each pair of webs comprises a notch for receiving the respective chord therein.

Claim 18

The device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the notch in said first pair of webs is in a direction opposite the notch in said second pair of webs to facilitate the respective seating of the transverse chords therein.

Claim 19

A joint connector for a space frame system comprising an upper grid and a lower grid with each grid including a plurality of transverse, support pipes and diagonal chord members connected between said grids, said connector comprising: a first pair of spaced-apart brackets with each bracket comprising: a web having first and second ends; a mounting flange located at each end of said web; a seat in said web for welding a portion of a first pipe of a grid therein; a second pair of spaced-apart brackets with each bracket comprising: a web having first and second ends; a mounting flange located at each end of said web; a seat in said web for welding a portion of a second pipe of the grid therein, the second pipe transversing the first pipe seated in the first pair of spaced-apart brackets; a brake plate positioned between each mounting flange; means for attaching each mounting flange of each bracket of said first pair of brackets to each adjacent bracket mounting flange of said second pair of brackets with said brake plate positioned therebetween, said plate displacing said mounting flanges one from the other for extension of a portion of a diagonal chord end therebetween, said brake plate precluding extension of the diagonal chord beyond a desired angular extension relative to said mounting flanges.

Claim 20

A joint connector for a space frame system comprising an upper grid and a lower grid with each grid including a plurality of transverse, support pipes and diagonal chord members connected between said grids, said connector comprising: a first pair of spaced-apart brackets with each bracket comprising: a web having first and second ends; a mounting flange located at each end of said web; a seat in said web for welding a portion of a first pipe of a grid therein; a second pair of spaced-apart brackets with each bracket comprising: a web having first and second ends; a mounting flange located at each end of said web; a seat in said web for welding a portion of a second pipe of the grid therein, the second pipe transversing the first pipe seated in the first pair of spaced-apart brackets; a brake plate positioned between each mounting flange; means for attaching each mounting flange of each bracket of said first pair of brackets to each adjacent bracket mounting flange of said second pair of brackets with said brake plate positioned therebetween, said plate displacing said mounting flanges one from the other for extension of a portion of a diagonal chord end therebetween, said brake plate precluding extension of the diagonal chord beyond a desired angular extension relative to said mounting flanges.

Claim 21

The device as claimed in claim 17 wherein said attached mounting flanges present a housing generally quadrangular in configuration with said attached mounting flanges extending from each corner for attachment of a diagonal chord end thereto.

Claim 22

The device as claimed in claim 17 further comprising means for connecting one end of a diagonal chord between said mounting flanges, the chord mounting flanges directing the chord to a desired location away from the connector.

Claim 23

The device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said connecting means comprises; an end plate; means for attaching said plate to an end of the diagonal chord; said attaching means releasably securing said end plate to said mounting flange.

Claim 24

The device as claimed in claim 20 wherein said end plate at the end of said diagonal chord contacts said brake plate positioned between said mounting flanges upon said diagonal chord reaching a desired location, said plate chord delimiting movement of said chord away from said desired location.

Claim 25

The device as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a second joint connector, the connector secured to first and second transverse pipes in the other of said upper and lower grids, the chord mounting flanges of each connector extending in a direction towards the other grid to facilitate the connection of an opposite end of the diagonal chord thereto.