Structural module with stop, collapsible structure, and method of erecting a collapsible structure

Abstract

A structural module includes a first strut pair including a first strut and a second strut pivotably connected to each other at a first strut pair pivotable connection point, a second strut pair including a third strut and a fourth strut pivotably connected to each other at a second strut pair pivotable connection point, a first hub, a first end of the first strut and a first end of the third strut being pivotably connected to the first hub, a second huh, a first end of the second strut and a first end of the fourth strut being pivotably connected to the second hub, and a stop arrangement attached to at least one of the first hub, the first strut, and the third strut, the stop arrangement including an abutment end. The structural module is movable between a closed position in which longitudinal axes of struts of the first strut pair and the second strut pair are substantially parallel to one another. A collapsible structure and a method of erecting i collapsible structure are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A structural module, comprising:
 a first strut pair comprising a first strut and a second strut pivotably connected to each other at a first strut pair pivotable connection point disposed in a middle half of each of the first strut and the second strut;   a second strut pair comprising a third strut and a fourth strut pivotably connected to each other at a second strut pair pivotable connection point disposed in a middle half of each of the third strut and the fourth strut;   a first hub, a first end of the first strut and a first end of the third strut being pivotably connected to the first hub;   a second hub, a first end of the second strut and a first end of the fourth strut being pivotably connected to the second hub; and   a stop having a first end that at least partially defines an abutment end of the stop, and a second end pivotably connected to the first strut and to the third strut,   wherein the structural module is movable between a closed position in which the abutment end of the stop is spaced from the second hub and there is nothing connecting the first and second hub except the first and second strut pair and an open position in which the abutment end of the stop contacts the second hub.   
     
     
         2 . The structural module as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising means for limiting movement of the first and second strut pair pivotable connection points relative to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The structural module as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the movement limiting means comprises at least one of stakes for pinning distal ends of a string of strut pairs comprising the first and second strut pair in fixed positions relative to each other and tension members arranged between distal ends of the string of strut pairs to prevent the distal ends from moving away from each other. 
     
     
         4 . The structural module as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a first and a second pivot axis extends through the first and the second strut pair pivotable connection points, respectively, and a first and a second plane perpendicular to the first and the second pivot axis, respectively, are parallel. 
     
     
         5 . A collapsible structure, comprising:
 a plurality of strut pairs, each strut pair comprising a front strut and a rear strut pivotably connected to each other at a strut pair pivotable connection point disposed in a middle half of each of the from strut and the rear strut;   a plurality of hub pairs, each hub pair comprising an outer hub and an inner hub;   at least one first hub pair of the plurality of hub pairs being connected to at least a first and a second strut pair of the plurality of strut pairs so that an outer hub of the at least one first hub pair is pivotably connected to front struts of the first and second strut pair and an inner hub of the at least one first hub pair is pivotally connected to rear struts of the first and second strut pair; and   a stop associated with at the at least one first hub pair, the stop comprising a first end pivotally connected to one of either the front struts of the first and second strut pair or to the rear struts of the first and second strut pair, and a second end at least partially defining an abutment end of the stop, the collapsible structure being movable to a closed position in which the abutment end of the stop is spaced from the second hub and there is nothing connecting the first and second hub except struts of the plurality of strut pairs and to an open position in which the abutment end of the stop contacts one of the inner and outer hub of the at least one first hub pair.   
     
     
         6 . The collapsible structure as set forth in  claim 5 , comprising at least two second hub pairs of the plurality of hub pairs each connected to a respective one of the first and the second strut pair at opposite ends of the first and second strut pair from the first hub pair, an inner hub of each of the at least two second hub pairs being pivotably connected to a rear strut of the respective one of the first and second strut pair and an outer hub of each of the at least two second hub pairs being pivotably connected to a respective front strut of the respective one of the first and second strut pair. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible structure as set forth in  claim 6 , comprising a stop associated with a respective one of each of the first and second hub pairs. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible structure as set forth in  claim 5 , comprising means for limiting movement of strut pair pivotable connection points relative to each other. 
     
     
         9 . A structural module, comprising:
 a first strut pair comprising a first strut and a second strut pivotably connected to each other at a first strut pair pivotable connection point disposed in a middle half of each of the first strut and the second strut;   a second strut pair comprising a third strut and a fourth strut pivotably connected to each other at a second strut pair pivotable connection point disposed in a middle half of each of the first strut and the second strut;   a first hub, a first end of the first strut and a first end of the third strut being pivotably connected to the first hub;   a second hub, a first end of the second strut and a first end of the fourth strut being pivotably connected to the second hub; and   a stop arrangement attached to at least one of the first hub, the first strut, and the third strut, the stop arrangement including an abutment end,   wherein the structural module is movable between a closed position in which longitudinal axes of struts of the first strut pair and the second strut pair are substantially parallel to one another and there is nothing connecting the first and second hub except the first and second strut pair and an open position in which the abutment end of the stop contacts the second hub.   
     
     
         10 . A method of erecting a collapsible structure, the collapsible structure comprising a plurality of strut pairs, each strut pair comprising a front strut and a rear strut pivotably connected to each other at a strut pair pivotable connection point disposed in a middle half of each of the first strut and the second strut, a plurality of hub pairs, each hub pair comprising an outer hub and an inner hub, at least one first hub pair of the plurality of hub pairs being connected to at least a first and a second strut pair of the plurality of strut pairs to form a series of strut pairs so that an outer hub of the at least one first hub pair is pivotably connected to front struts of the first and second strut pair and an inner hub of the at least one first hub pair is pivotally connected to rear struts of the first and second strut pair, and a stop associated with at the at least one first hub pair, the stop comprising a first end pivotably connected to one of either the front struts of the first and second strut pair or to the rear struts of the first and second strut pair and a second end at least partially defining an abutment end of the stop, the collapsible structure being movable to a closed position in which the abutment end of the stop is spaced from the second hub and there is nothing connecting the first and second hub except struts of the plurality of strut pairs and to an open position in which the abutment end of the stop contacts one of the inner and outer hub of the at least one first hub pair, the method comprising:
 moving each strut pair from the closed position in which the front and rear strut of each strut pair are substantially parallel to each other and hubs of the first hub pair are at a greatest possible distance from each other to an open position in which the stop prevents hubs of the first hub pair from moving closer to each other; and   after each strut pair is in an open position, restraining relative movement of the strut pairs of the series of strut pairs without locking inner and outer hubs to each other.