Space frame system

Abstract

The construction system of the present invention comprises a plurality of connectors and a plurality or struts, each of the connectors including three discrete flat elements interconnected in three mutually perpendicular planes, each of the three flat elements being composed of a semi-rigid material, each of the three flat elements having a plurality of outwardly directed prongs, and each of the struts being tubes into which the prongs project. The three flat elements are connected by engaging notches and slots. The prongs and the struts are connected by engaging catches and apertures. At least two of the elements have central openings presenting internal profiles and outer peripheries presenting external profiles.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A construction system comprising: (a) a plurality of connections and a plurality of struts;   (b) each of said connectors including three discrete thin flat elements interconnected in three mutually perpendicular planes;   (c) each of said three thin flat elements being composed of semi-rigid material:   (d) each of said three thin fiat elements having a plurality of outwardly directed prongs, with each prong provided with a pair of catches;   (e) each of said struts being tubes, with the ends of said tubes provided with opposed apertures into which said prongs project;   (f) said prongs and said struts being connected by engaging said catches of said prongs within said opposed apertures of said tubes.   
     
     
       2. The construction system of claim 1 wherein said three thin flat elements are connected by engaging notches and slots, and wherein each of at least two of said elements has a central circular opening presently an internal profile and an outer periphery presenting an external profile. 
     
     
       3. The construction system of claim 1 wherein said thin flat elements include an inner circular element, a medial oblate element and a square outer element. 
     
     
       4. The construction system of claim 3 wherein each of said thin flat elements has an open circular center presenting an internal profile and an outer periphery presenting an external profile, said elements being connected by notches in their external profiles and slots in their internal profiles, which notches and slots are engaged. 
     
     
       5. The construction system of claim 4 wherein said inner element has four of said prongs, said medial element has four of said prongs and said outer element has four of said prongs. 
     
     
       6. The construction of claim 1 wherein the diametric distances between the outer extremities of opposed prongs are substantially equal. 
     
     
       7. The construction system of claim 5 wherein the diametric distances between the outer extremities of opposed prongs are substantially equal. 
     
     
       8. The construction of claim 1 wherein said material is a polymer. 
     
     
       9. The construction of claim 1 wherein said material is aluminum. 
     
     
       10. A construction system comprising: (a) a plurality of connectors and a plurality of struts;   (b) each of said connectors including three discrete thin flat elements adapted for interconnection in three mutually perpendicular planes;   (c) each of said three thin flat elements being composed of a semi-rigid material;   (d) each of said three thin flat elements having a plurality of outwardly directed prongs, and   (e) each of said struts being tubes into which said prongs project;   (f) said three thin flat elements being adapted for connection by notches and slots;   (g) said prongs and said struts being adapted for connection by catches of said prongs and opposed openings of said tubes;   (h) each of said elements having a central circular opening presenting an inner profile and an outer periphery presenting an outer profile;   (i) said elements including an internal circular element, a medial oblate element, and a square external element.   
     
     
       11. The construction system of claim 10 wherein said three thin flat elements are connected by engaging notches and slots, and wherein said prongs and said struts are connected by engaging said catches of said prongs within said opposed openings of said tubes. 
     
     
       12. The construction system of claim 10 wherein said internal element has four of said prongs, said medial elements has four of said prongs and said external element has four of said prongs. 
     
     
       13. A construction system comprising: (a) a plurality of connectors and a plurality of struts;   (b) each of said connectors including three discrete thin flat elements adapted for interconnection in three mutually perpendicular planes;   (c) each of said three thin flat elements being composed of a semi-rigid material;   (d) each of said three thin flat elements having a plurality of outwardly directed prongs;   (e) each of said struts being tubes into which said prongs project;   (f) said three thin flat elements being adapted for connection by notches and slots;   (g) said prongs and said struts being adapted for connection by catches of said prongs and opposed openings formed in the respective ends of said tubes;   (h) each of said elements having central circular openings presenting inner profiles, said elements having circular outer peripheries presenting outer profiles;   (i) said elements including an inner element, a medial element, and an outer element;   (j) said inner and outer profiles being developed about a geometric center, said notches and said slots being positioned along radii extending from said geometric center, said notches being in said outer profiles, said slots being in said inner profiles.   
     
     
       14. The construction system of claim 13 wherein said inner element has four of said prongs, said medial element has six of said prongs, and said outer element has eight of said prongs. 
     
     
       15. The construction of claim 13 wherein the diametric distances between the outer extremities of opposed prongs are substantially equal. .Iadd. 
     
     
       16.  A kit comprising: a connector body;   a plurality of outwardly directed prongs coupled to said connector body, each of said outwardly directed prongs including:   an inner stem having a first end coupled to said connector body; and   an outer cap having a base portion coupled to a second end of said inner stem, wherein the base portion of said outer cap extends beyond said inner stem such that said outer cap forms a pair of catches; and   a deformable tube having first and second opposing ends with the first end of said deformable tube having an inner tube diameter, an outer tube diameter and a pair of opposed holes disposed therein, wherein the outer tube diameter of the first end of said deformable tube is less than the distance between the pair of catches of said prongs and the opposed holes in the first end of said deformable tube each have a diameter adapted to accept at least a portion of the catches and wherein the pair of catches of at least one prong are provided having a shape adapted to engage the opposed holes in the first end of said deformable tube and wherein the first end of said tube is sufficiently deformable to permit the pair of catches of said at least one prong to enter the inner diameter of said deformable tube and thereby engage the pair of catches in the opposed holes of the first end of said tube such that at least a portion of each of the pair of catches projects through respective ones of the pair of opposed holes in the first end of said deformable tube. .Iaddend.