Modular structure

Abstract

A structure includes a hub and a plurality of elongated substantially rigid support members, each rigid support member having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end configured to contact an outer surface of the hub. The structure further includes a plurality of elongated substantially flexible support members, each flexible support member configured to couple at least the distal ends of two of the rigid support members. The flexible support members are in tension and the rigid support members are in compression to maintain the structure at equilibrium. A plurality of structures can be assembled and joined to form various modular structures.

1 . A structure comprising: 
 a hub;    a plurality of elongated substantially rigid support members, each rigid support member having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end configured to contact an outer surface of the hub;    a plurality of elongated substantially flexible support members, each flexible support member configured to couple at least the distal ends of two of the rigid support members; and    wherein the flexible support members are in tension and the rigid support members are in compression to maintain the structure at equilibrium.    
   
   
       2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein a length of at least one of the rigid support members is adjustable to maintain the structure at equilibrium.  
   
   
       3 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein lengths of the flexible support members are adjustable to maintain the structure at equilibrium.  
   
   
       4 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein a size of the hub is adjustable to maintain the structure at equilibrium.  
   
   
       5 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid support members are any one of rods and tubes.  
   
   
       6 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible support members are any one of wired, cables and stamped sheet metal.  
   
   
       7 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible support members in a plane are defined by a fabric covering the plane and being coupled to the corresponding rigid support members.  
   
   
       8 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the hub is a sphere.  
   
   
       9 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein the hub, the rigid support members and the flexible support members define a furniture support structure.  
   
   
       10 . A modular structure comprising: 
 a plurality of modules, each module comprising: 
 a hub;  
 a plurality of elongated substantially rigid support members, each rigid support member having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end configured to contact an outer surface of the hub; and  
 a plurality of elongated substantially flexible support members, each flexible support member configured to couple at least the distal ends of two of the rigid support members;  
   wherein the flexible support members of each module are in tension and the rigid support members of each module are in compression to maintain the modules at equilibrium; and    wherein each module is coupled to an adjacent module.    
   
   
       11 . The modular structure of  claim 9 , wherein the hubs of adjacent modules contact a shared one of the substantially rigid support members.  
   
   
       12 . The modular structure of  claim 9 , wherein the distal end of one of the rigid support members of each module is connected to one of the flexible support members of the adjacent module.  
   
   
       13 . The modular structure of  claim 9 , wherein a length of at least one of the rigid support members of each module is adjustable to maintain the modules at equilibrium.  
   
   
       14 . The modular structure of  claim 9 , wherein lengths of the flexible support members of each module are adjustable to maintain the modules at equilibrium.  
   
   
       15 . The modular structure of  claim 9 , wherein a size of each hub of each module is adjustable to maintain the modules at equilibrium.  
   
   
       16 . The modular structure of  claim 9 , wherein the rigid support members are any one of rods and tubes.  
   
   
       17 . The modular structure of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible support members are any one of wires, cables and stamped sheet metal.  
   
   
       18 . The modular structure of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible support members in a plane are defined by a fabric covering the plane and being coupled to the corresponding rigid support members  
   
   
       19 . The modular structure of  claim 9 , wherein each hub is a sphere.  
   
   
       20 . The modular structure of  claim 9 , further comprising a planar upper support surface, wherein the planar upper support surface is placed on the plurality of modules and supported by the plurality of modules.  
   
   
       21 . The modular structure of  claim 20 , further comprising a planar lower support surface, wherein the planar lower support surface is placed under the plurality of modules to define to support the plurality of modules, and wherein the upper support surface, the plurality of modules and the lower support surface define a sandwich support structure.  
   
   
       22 . The modular structure of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of modules define a furniture support structure.  
   
   
       23 . A modular structure comprising: 
 a plurality of modules, each module comprising: 
 a spherical hub;  
 a plurality of rigid tubes, each tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being in contact with an outer surface of the hub; and  
 a plurality of cables, each cable connected to the proximal ends of two adjacent tubes;  
   wherein adjacent modules share a tube to define a shared tube between each of the adjacent modules, wherein the proximal end of the shared tube is in contact with the hub of one of the adjacent modules and the distal end of the shared tube is in contact with the hub of the other adjacent module; and    wherein the cables of each module are in tension to maintain the proximal ends of the tubes in contact with the outer surface of the corresponding hubs; and    wherein the proximal end of each shared tube is connected by a cable to the distal ends of the tubes of the adjacent module.    
   
   
       24 . The modular structure of  claim 23 , wherein a length of at least one of the tubes of each module is adjustable to maintain the tension in the cables of each module.  
   
   
       25 . The modular structure of  claim 23 , wherein lengths of the cables of each module are adjustable to maintain the tension in the cables.  
   
   
       26 . The modular structure of  claim 23 , wherein a size of each hub of each module is adjustable to maintain the tension in the cables.  
   
   
       27 . The modular structure of  claim 23 , further comprising planar support surface, wherein the planar support surface is placed on the plurality of modules and supported by the plurality of modules to provide a table top, wherein the plurality of modules and the planar support surface define a table.  
   
   
       28 . The modular structure of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of modules define a furniture support structure.