Method of connecting rigid bodies and rigid body

Abstract

A method for constructing a rigid structure, such as a bullet-resistant structure, includes the provision of a first panel having an opening. A second panel is provided and has a tab extending therefrom. The tab of the second panel is inserted into the opening of the first panel. The first panel is fixed to the second panel only in an area of the opening. In this manner the mechanical properties of the first and second panels are not considerably effected by the fixing process.

1 . A construction method, which comprises the steps of: 
 providing a first panel having an opening formed therein;    providing a second panel having a tab extending therefrom;    inserting the tab of the second panel into the opening of the first panel; and    fixing the first panel to the second panel only in an area of the opening.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises forming the first and second panels as bullet-resistant panels.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises performing the fixing step by one of welding, gluing, melting and fusing the first and second panels together.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 2 , which further comprises providing and connecting additional first and second panels for forming a self-contained bullet-resistant structure.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises forming the opening to have a shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular shapes, square shapes, slot shapes, oval shapes, circular shapes and triangular shapes.  
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 3 , which further comprises performing the fixing step only on one side of the first and second panels.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 3 , which further comprises performing the fixing step on both sides of the first and second panels.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , which further comprises shaping edges of the first and second panels such that the panels form a form-locking connection when the edges overlap each other.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 8 , which further comprises: 
 providing a third panel having edges shaped for forming a form-locking connection;    placing the third panel adjacent the first panel such that the edges of the first and third panel interlock;    fusing an edge area between the first and third panels defining the form-locking connection.    
   
   
       10 . A bullet-resistant structure, comprising: 
 a first bullet-resistant panel having an opening formed therein; and    a second bullet-resistant panel having a tab received and disposed in said opening of said first panel, said first panel being further fixed to said second panel only in an area of said opening.    
   
   
       11 . The bullet-resistant structure according to  claim 10 , wherein said first and second panels are fused to each other only in the area of said slot, the first and second panels being fused to each other by a method selected from the group consisting of welding, gluing, and melting.  
   
   
       12 . The bullet-resistant structure according to  claim 10 , wherein said first and second panels are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of metals, plastics, glass, composites and acrylic resins.  
   
   
       13 . The bullet-resistant structure according to  claim 10 , wherein said opening has a shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular shapes, square shapes, slot shapes, oval shapes, circular shapes and triangular shapes.  
   
   
       14 . The bullet-resistant structure according to  claim 11 , wherein said first and second panels are fused to each other only on one side of said first and second panels.  
   
   
       15 . The bullet-resistant structure according to  claim 11 , wherein said first and second panels are fused to each other on both sides of said first and second panels.  
   
   
       16 . The bullet-resistant structure according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said first panel is one of a plurality of first panels; and    said second panel is one of a plurality of second panels, said first and second panels are interconnected to each other for forming a self-sustaining structure.    
   
   
       17 . The bullet-resistant structure according to  claim 11 , wherein said first and second panels have edges shaped such that said edges form a form-locking connection when said edges overlap each other.  
   
   
       18 . The bullet-resistant structure according to  claim 17 , further comprising a third panel having edges shaped such that said edges form a form-locking connection with said edges of said first and second panels, said third panel forming the form-locking connection with one of said first and second panels.  
   
   
       19 . The bullet-resistant structure according to  claim 18 , wherein said edges are fused to each other by a process selected from the group of welding, gluing, and melting.  
   
   
       20 . The bullet-resistant structure according to  claim 18 , wherein said edges have a shape selected from the groups consisting of a square wave, a dove-tail, and tongue and groove.