Modular building structure

Abstract

A building structure ( 10 ) which, in its assembled form, defines a polyhedral framework having an irregular hexagonal base ( 12 ), a regular hexagonal top ( 14 ) and a number of supports ( 16, 18 ) which are interposed between the top ( 14 ) and the base ( 12 ) and which, in use, support the top ( 14 ) on the base ( 12 ). The building structure ( 10 ) can be assembled from a kit of parts comprising a number of common components and without the need for skilled labour or specialist tools in its construction.

1 . A building structure comprising:
 a polyhedral framework comprising an irregular hexagonal base, a regular hexagonal top and a plurality of supports for connecting the base to the top.   
     
     
         2 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the building structure comprises a a modular building structure. 
     
     
         3 . The building structure of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured so that three sides of the base are a first length and three sides of the base are a second length. 
     
     
         4 . The building structure of  claim 3 , wherein the second length is different from the first length. 
     
     
         5 . The building structure of any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of supports comprises a first support. 
     
     
         6 . The building structure of  claim 5 , wherein the first support is disposed between the base and the top and defines a side of the building structure. 
     
     
         7 . The building structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first support is configured to define a rectangular shaped side of the building structure. 
     
     
         8 . The building structure of  claim 7 , wherein the first support defines the rectangular shaped side of the building structure when coupled to the base. 
     
     
         9 . The building structure of  claim 7 , wherein the first support itself defines the rectangular shaped side of the building structure. 
     
     
         10 . The building structure of any one of  claims 5  to  9 , wherein the building structure comprises a plurality of the first supports. 
     
     
         11 . The building structure of  claim 10 , wherein the building structure comprises three of the first supports. 
     
     
         12 . The building structure of any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of supports comprises a second support. 
     
     
         13 . The building structure of  claim 12 , wherein the second support is disposed between the base and the top and defines a side of the building structure. 
     
     
         14 . The building structure of  claim 13 , wherein the second support is configured to define an irregular hexagonal-shaped side of the building structure. 
     
     
         15 . The building structure of  claim 14 , wherein the second support defines the irregular hexagonal-shaped side of the building structure when coupled to the base. 
     
     
         16 . The building structure of  claim 14 , wherein the second support itself defines the irregular hexagonal-shaped side of the building structure. 
     
     
         17 . The building structure of any one of  claims 12  to  16 , wherein the building structure comprises a plurality of the second supports. 
     
     
         18 . The building structure of  claim 17 , wherein the structure comprises three of the second supports. 
     
     
         19 . The building structure of any preceding claim, wherein the building structure comprises or is constructed from a plurality of elongate members or elements. 
     
     
         20 . The building structure of  claim 19 , wherein the building structure comprises elongate members of different lengths. 
     
     
         21 . The building structure of  claim 19  or  20 , wherein each of the elongate members is a unitary component. 
     
     
         22 . The building structure of  claim 19  or  20 , wherein at least one of the elongate members is constructed from a plurality of other elongate members. 
     
     
         23 . The building structure of any one of  claims 19  to  22 , wherein at least one of the elongate members comprises a tubular member. 
     
     
         24 . The building structure of any one of  claims 19  to  23 , wherein at least one of the elongate members comprises a rod or solid cylindrical member. 
     
     
         25 . The building structure of any one of  claims 19  to  24 , wherein at least one of the elongate members is constructed from a metallic material. 
     
     
         26 . The building structure of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the elongate members is constructed from aluminium. 
     
     
         27 . The building structure of  claim 25  or  26 , wherein at least one of the elongate members is constructed from wood. 
     
     
         28 . The building structure of any one of  claims 19  to  27 , wherein the top comprises or is constructed from elongate members. 
     
     
         29 . The building structure of any one of  claims 19  to  28 , wherein the base comprises or is constructed from elongate members. 
     
     
         30 . The building structure of any one of  claims 19  to  29 , wherein the first support comprises or is constructed from elongate members. 
     
     
         31 . The building structure of any one of  claims 19  to  30 , wherein the second support comprises or is constructed from elongate members. 
     
     
         32 . The building structure of any preceding claim, comprising a coupler. 
     
     
         33 . The building structure of  claim 32 , wherein the coupler comprises at least one joint coupler. 
     
     
         34 . The building structure of  claim 33 , comprising a first joint coupler configured to couple the elongate members of the top. 
     
     
         35 . The building structure of  claim 33 , comprising a plurality of the first joint couplers. 
     
     
         36 . The building structure of  claim 34  or  35 , wherein the first joint coupler defines an elbow joint. 
     
     
         37 . The building structure of  claim 34 ,  35  or  36 , wherein the first joint coupler is configured to define an internal angle of 120 degrees. 
     
     
         38 . The building structure of any one of  claims 33  to  37 , comprising a second joint coupler configured to couple the base to the first support. 
     
     
         39 . The building structure of  claim 38 , comprising a plurality of the second joint couplers. 
     
     
         40 . The building structure of  claim 38  or  39 , wherein the second joint coupler defines an elbow joint. 
     
     
         41 . The building structure of any one of  claims 38  to  40 , wherein the second joint coupler is configured to define an internal angle of 120 degrees. 
     
     
         42 . The building structure of any one of  claims 38  to  41 , wherein the second joint coupler comprise a first tubular portion, a second tubular and a third tubular portion. 
     
     
         43 . The building structure of  claim 42 , wherein the third tubular portion of the second joint coupler is disposed at an angle of 56 degrees relative to a plane of the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion of the second joint coupler. 
     
     
         44 . The building structure of any one of  claims 38  to  43 , wherein the second joint coupler defines a left handed joint coupler for use in the building structure. 
     
     
         45 . The building structure of any one of  claims 33  to  44 , comprising a third joint coupler configured to couple the base to the first support. 
     
     
         46 . The building structure of  claim 45 , comprising a plurality of the third joint couplers. 
     
     
         47 . The building structure of  claim 45  or  46 , wherein the third joint coupler defines an elbow joint. 
     
     
         48 . The building structure of  claim 45 ,  46  or  47 , wherein the third joint coupler is configured to define an internal angle of 120 degrees. 
     
     
         49 . The building structure of any one of  claims 45  to  48 , wherein the third joint coupler comprises a first tubular portion, a second tubular portion and a third tubular portion. 
     
     
         50 . The building structure of  claim 49 , wherein the third tubular portion of the third joint coupler is disposed at an angle of 56 degrees relative to a plane of the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion of the third joint coupler. 
     
     
         51 . The building structure of any of  claims 45  to  50 , wherein the third joint coupler comprises a right handed joint coupler for use in the building structure. 
     
     
         52 . The building structure of any one of  claims 33  to  51 , comprising a fourth joint coupler configured to couple the elongate members of the first support. 
     
     
         53 . The building structure of  claim 52 , comprising a plurality of the fourth joint couplers. 
     
     
         54 . The building structure of  claim 52  or  53 , wherein the fourth joint coupler defines an elbow joint. 
     
     
         55 . The building structure of  claim 52 ,  53  or  54 , wherein the fourth joint coupler is configured to define an internal angle of 90 degrees. 
     
     
         56 . The building structure of any one of  claims 33  to  55 , comprising a fifth joint coupler configured to couple the elongate members of the second support. 
     
     
         57 . The building structure of  claim 56 , wherein the building structure comprises a plurality of the fifth joint couplers. 
     
     
         58 . The building structure of  claim 56  or  57 , wherein the fifth joint coupler defines an elbow joint. 
     
     
         59 . The building structure of  claim 56 ,  57  or  58 , wherein the fifth joint coupler is configured to define an internal angle of 150 degrees. 
     
     
         60 . The building structure of any one of  claims 33  to  59 , comprising a sixth joint coupler configured to couple the elongate members of the first support. 
     
     
         61 . The building structure of  claim 60 , wherein the building structure comprises a plurality of the sixth joint couplers. 
     
     
         62 . The building structure of  claim 60  or  61 , wherein the sixth joint coupler defines an elbow joint. 
     
     
         63 . The building structure of  claim 60 ,  61  or  62 , wherein the sixth joint coupler is configured to define an internal angle of 130 degrees. 
     
     
         64 . The building structure of any one of  claims 32  to  63 , wherein the coupler comprises at least one edge coupler. 
     
     
         65 . The building structure of  claim 64 , comprising a plurality of edge couplers. 
     
     
         66 . The building structure of  claim 64  or  65 , comprising a first edge coupler configured to couple a support to the top. 
     
     
         67 . The building structure of  claim 66 , comprising a plurality of first edge couplers. 
     
     
         68 . The building structure of  claim 66  or  67 , wherein the first edge coupler comprises a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion. 
     
     
         69 . The building structure of any one of  claims 64  to  68 , comprising a second edge coupler configured to couple a first support to a second support. 
     
     
         70 . The building structure of  claim 69 , comprising a plurality of second edge couplers. 
     
     
         71 . The building structure of  claim 69  or  70 , wherein the second edge coupler comprises a first, tubular, portion and a second, semi-cylindrical, portion. 
     
     
         72 . The building structure of any one of  claims 64  to  71 , comprising a third edge coupler configured to couple a second support to the base. 
     
     
         73 . The building structure of  claim 72 , comprising a plurality of third edge couplers. 
     
     
         74 . The building structure of  claim 72  or  73 , wherein the third edge coupler comprises a first, tubular, portion and a second, semi-cylindrical, portion. 
     
     
         75 . The building structure of  claim 72 ,  73  or  74 , wherein the third edge coupler defines a 90-degree tee-connector. 
     
     
         76 . The building structure of any one of  claims 33  to  75 , wherein at least one of the couplers is constructed or formed from a metallic material. 
     
     
         77 . The building structure of any one of  claims 33  to  76 , wherein at least one of the couplers is constructed or formed from wood. 
     
     
         78 . The building structure of any one of  claims 33  to  77 , wherein at least one of the couplers is constructed or formed from a plastic material. 
     
     
         79 . The building structure of any preceding claim, comprising a cover. 
     
     
         80 . A method of constructing a building structure, comprising:
 providing an irregular hexagonal base;   providing a regular hexagonal top;   coupling a plurality of supports between the base and the top to form a polyhedral framework.   
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , comprising assembling the top from a plurality of elongate members. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 80  or  81 , comprising assembling the base from a plurality of elongate members. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 80 ,  81  or  82 , comprising providing a first support. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , comprising assembling the first support from a plurality of elongate members. 
     
     
         85 . The method of any one of  claims 80  to  84 , comprising providing a second support. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , comprising assembling the second support from a plurality of elongate members. 
     
     
         87 . A building assembly comprising at least one building structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  79 . 
     
     
         88 . The assembly of  claim 87 , comprising coupling a plurality of the building structures together to form the assembly. 
     
     
         89 . A building structure substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
         90 . A method substantially as described herein. 
     
     
         91 . A building assembly substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.