Rod or Wire Having Discontinous Cross Sections, and Implements Made from Such Rod or Wire

Abstract

A rod or wire having discontinuous cross sections and implements made from such rod or wire are disclosed. The perimeters of the cross section of the rod or wire are not circumferences nor rectangles nor squares, and have either at least two curves going in different directions, curves and straight lines, or straight lines going in different directions—but in the latter case not being regular polygons.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component is a flattened, multi-curved metal rod or wire composed in cross section of two curvilinear end portions on opposite sides of a curvilinear central portion, said end portions each having oppositely curved walls connected respectively by one of a pair of opposing, generally curved end walls, said oppositely curved walls and said generally respective curved end wall forming part of an oval, and an intermediate curved section having oppositely-curved sections merging with the respective oppositely curved sections of said end portions, to give the appearance of three merged ovals having linearly spaced axes connected by a major axial line and uniform minor diameters perpendicular to said major axial line, said flattened, multi-curved metal rod having opposing relatively wide surfaces perpendicular to said minor diameters and said opposing respectively curved end walls forming part of relatively narrow surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component is composed in cross section of a closed figure having a first side and an opposing second side, said first side being flat and said second side having two curvilinear end portions on opposite sides of a curvilinear central portion, said end portion having respective curved walls connected respectively to opposite ends of said curvilinear central portion, said end portions respectively forming part of an oval, and an intermediate curved section having opposite ends intersecting with the proximal ends of said end portions, to give the appearance of three merged partial ovals having linearly spaced axes connected by a major axial line and uniform partial minor diameters perpendicular to said first side, said structural component having opposing relatively wide surfaces perpendicular to said minor diameters and said opposing respectively curved end walls forming part of relatively narrow surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component is composed in cross section of identical end portions disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of a central portion and merging with said central portion along gently curved lines, said end portions being partially elliptical cylinders. 
     
     
         5 . A structural component according to  claim 4  wherein each of said end portions and said central portion have longitudinal axes lying in a common plane. 
     
     
         6 . A structural component according to  claim 5  wherein said central portion has in cross section a major axis, and said end portions having respective major axes perpendicular to the major axis of said central portion. 
     
     
         7 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component is composed in cross section of identical enlarged end portions merging in a smooth and continuous curve with a narrow portion in the form of a figure eight (8) wherein the sides of the narrow portion go close to each other but do not intersect. 
     
     
         8 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component is composed in cross section of a first part composed of an end portion forming parts of an oval having end portions merging in a continuous and gradual form with end portions of respective identical, irregular curved lines having opposite identical proximal end portions, and a second part identical to said first part wherein said proximal end portions are connected rendering said end portions symmetrical. 
     
     
         9 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component is composed of a pair of oppositely disposed, curved, equally concave surfaces symmetrical about a pair of perpendicular planes intersecting at the longitudinal axis of said structural component. 
     
     
         10 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component has a central longitudinal axis, opposing flat top and bottom portions opposite sides of said central longitudinal axis, each of said opposing top and bottom portions having curved transitional edges wherein an imaginary first plane perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis divides said structural component into symmetrical halves, and wherein an imaginary second plane including said central longitudinal axis and perpendicular to said imaginary first plane dividing said structural component into symmetrical halves, opposing first flat sides on one side of said second plane and extending from said transitional edges of said top flat portion and being inclined towards each other and extending to said second imaginary plane with said opposing front sides being closer to each other at said imaginary second plane than at said flat top portion, and opposing second flat sides on the other side of said second plane and extending from said transitional edges of said bottom flat portion and being inclined towards each other and extending to said second imaginary plane to meet the respective opposing first sides with said opposing second sides being closer to each other at said second imaginary plane than at said flat bottom portion. 
     
     
         11 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component comprises identical middle opposing portions ( 761 ,  762 ) integrally attached at an imaginary central plane at their area of attachment, said structural component having a central longitudinal axis ( 769 ) disposed in said imaginary central plane, said middle opposing portions being inclined inwardly from said imaginary central plane to opposing curved surfaces ( 781 ,  781 ′;  786 ,  786 ′), opposing flat end surfaces ( 777 ,  778 ) parallel to said imaginary central plane, said end surfaces each being bordered by longitudinal curved surfaces, and pairs of flat side surfaces ( 782 ,  782 ′;  787 ,  787 ′) on opposite sides of said imaginary central plane extending from said respective curved surfaces ( 78 ′,  781 ′;  786 ,  786 ′) to the proximal curved surfaces of said respective flat end surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component has a central longitudinal axis and comprises identical, integrally attached, opposed portions on opposite sides of an imaginary central plane, said opposed portions having gently merging first curved surfaces ( 820 ,  820 ′) at said imaginary central plane and opposing pairs of flat surfaces ( 818 ,  818 ′;  822 ,  822 ′) extending inwardly from said first surfaces to opposing pairs of second curved surfaces ( 816 ,  816 ′;  824 ,  824 ′), and being closer to each other than said respective pairs of first curved surfaces, the distance of each of said respective flat surfaces from said imaginary central plane to said second curved surfaces being equal, opposing flat end surfaces ( 808 ,  810 ) equidistantly spaced form said imaginary plane, each of said flat end surfaces being bordered by longitudinally extending, opposing pairs of third curved surfaces ( 814 ,  814 ′), said respective pairs of third curved surfaces being further apart from each other than said second curved surfaces, and opposing pairs of flat surfaces extending between said respective opposing pairs of second curved surfaces and said respective opposing pairs of third curved surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component has a pair of opposing surfaces in crenellated form, each of said opposing surfaces includes a series of merlons which are separated by a set of crenels. 
     
     
         14 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component has opposing sides, each of said sides has a wavy configuration corresponding to the wavy configuration of said opposing side, and flat opposing first and second surfaces connecting said opposing sides. 
     
     
         15 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component comprises at least three generally parallel cylinders merged together, each of said parallel cylinders having longitudinal axes lying in a common imaginary plane, adjacent cylinders of said at least three cylinders being connected together by connecting regions. 
     
     
         16 . A structural component according to  claim 1  wherein said structural component comprises in cross section a rod or wire having a Y profile having three equiangular legs of equal length and thickness. 
     
     
         17 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component is a flattened, multi-curved metal rod or wire composed in cross section of two curvilinear end portions on opposite sides of a curvilinear central portion, said end portions each having oppositely curved walls connected respectively by one of a pair of opposing, generally curved end walls, said oppositely curved walls and said generally respective curved end wall forming part of an oval, and an intermediate curved section having oppositely-curved sections merging with the respective oppositely curved sections of said end portions, to give the appearance of three merged ovals having linearly spaced axes connected by a major axial line and uniform minor diameters perpendicular to said major axial line, said flattened, multi-curved metal rod having opposing relatively wide surfaces perpendicular to said minor diameters and said opposing respectively curved end walls forming part of relatively narrow surfaces. 
 
   
     
     
         19 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component is composed in cross section of a closed figure having a first side and an opposing second side, said first side being flat and said second side having two curvilinear end portions on opposite sides of a curvilinear central portion, said end portion having respective curved walls connected respectively to opposite ends of said curvilinear central portion, said end portions respectively forming part of an oval, and an intermediate curved section having opposite ends intersecting with the proximal ends of said end portions, to give the appearance of three merged partial ovals having linearly spaced axes connected by a major axial line and uniform partial minor diameters perpendicular to said first side, said structural component having opposing relatively wide surfaces perpendicular to said minor diameters and said opposing respectively curved end walls forming part of relatively narrow surfaces. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component is composed in cross section of identical end portions disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of a central portion and merging with said central portion along gently curved lines, said end portions being partially elliptical cylinders. 
 
   
     
     
         21 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component is composed in cross section of identical enlarged end portions merging in a smooth and continuous curve with a narrow portion in the form of a figure eight (8) wherein the sides of the narrow portion go close to each other but do not intersect. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component is composed in cross section of a first part composed of an end portion forming parts of an oval having end portions merging in a continuous and gradual form with end portions of respective identical, irregular curved lines having opposite identical proximal end portions, and a second part identical to said first part wherein said proximal end portions are connected rendering said end portions symmetrical. 
 
   
     
     
         23 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component is composed of a pair of oppositely disposed, curved, equally concave surfaces symmetrical about a pair of perpendicular planes intersecting at the longitudinal axis of said structural component. 
 
   
     
     
         24 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component has a central longitudinal axis, opposing flat top and bottom portions opposite sides of said central longitudinal axis, each of said opposing top and bottom portions having curved transitional edges wherein an imaginary first plane perpendicular to said central longitudinal axis divides said structural component into symmetrical halves, and wherein an imaginary second plane including said central longitudinal axis and perpendicular to said imaginary first plane dividing said structural component into symmetrical halves, opposing first flat sides on one side of said second plane and extending from said transitional edges of said top flat portion and being inclined towards each other and extending to said second imaginary plane with said opposing front sides being closer to each other at said imaginary second plane than at said flat top portion, and opposing second flat sides on the other side of said second plane and extending from said transitional edges of said bottom flat portion and being inclined towards each other and extending to said second imaginary plane to meet the respective opposing first sides with said opposing second sides being closer to each other at said second imaginary plane than at said flat bottom portion. 
 
 
   
     
     
         25 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component comprises identical middle opposing portions integrally attached at an imaginary central plane at their area of attachment, said structural component having a central longitudinal axis disposed in said imaginary central plane, said middle opposing portions being inclined inwardly from said imaginary central plane to opposing curved surfaces, opposing flat end surfaces parallel to said imaginary central plane, said end surfaces each being bordered by longitudinal curved surfaces, and pairs of flat side surfaces on opposite sides of said imaginary central plane extending from said respective curved surfaces to the proximal curved surfaces of said respective flat end surfaces. 
 
   
     
     
         26 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component has a central longitudinal axis and comprises identical, integrally attached, opposed portions on opposite sides of an imaginary central plane, said opposed portions having gently merging first curved surfaces at said imaginary central plane and opposing pairs of flat surfaces extending inwardly from said first surfaces to opposing pairs of second curved surfaces, and being closer to each other than said respective pairs of first curved surfaces, the distance of each of said respective flat surfaces from said imaginary central plane to said second curved surfaces being equal, opposing flat end surfaces equidistantly spaced form said imaginary plane, each of said flat end surfaces being bordered by longitudinally extending, opposing pairs of third curved surfaces, said respective pairs of third curved surfaces being further apart from each other than said second curved surfaces, and opposing pairs of flat surfaces extending between said respective opposing pairs of second curved surfaces and said respective opposing pairs of third curved surfaces. 
 
   
     
     
         27 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves, which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component has a pair of opposing surfaces in crenellated form, each of said opposing surfaces includes a series of merlons which are separated by a set of crenels. 
 
   
     
     
         28 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component has opposing sides, each of said sides has a wavy configuration corresponding to the wavy configuration of said opposing side, and flat opposing first and second surfaces connecting said opposing sides. 
 
   
     
     
         29 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component comprises at least three generally parallel cylinders merged together, each of said parallel cylinders having longitudinal axes lying in a common imaginary plane, adjacent cylinders of said at least three cylinders being connected together by connecting regions. 
 
   
     
     
         30 . A utilitarian product made at least in part of a structural component for constructing household products, said structural member comprising:
 an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a discontinuous cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said discontinuous cross section comprising:
 a perimeter along the external outline of the discontinuous cross section, said perimeter being composed of at least one of the following sets of lines:
 a combination of at least one curve and at least one straight line; 
 a combination of straight lines which do not form a regular polygon; 
 a combination of curves with at least one of the curves curving in a different direction from at least one of the other curve or curves; and 
 a combination of at least two curves which intersect at at least one corner, wherein said structural component comprises in cross section a rod or wire having a Y profile having three equiangular legs of equal length and thickness.