Readily assemblable structural components

Claim 2

An integral structural bar for use as part of an easily assembled structural set comprising a longitudinally extending profiled bar having a generally rectangular cross section and defining a centrally located, longitudinally extending rectangular channel portion and an outer generally rectangular peripheral portion, said channel portion being formed by a planar web portion and a pair of legs extending normally from one side of said web, one leg from along each longitudinal web edge; a pair of flanges spaced from said web and extending toward each other, one from each of the opposed faces of said legs, in spaced, coplanar and parallel relation, thereby forming an opening between their opposed edges, the flanges, legs and web defining a first T-shaped slot therebetween, the generally rectangular peripheral portion of said bar being formed by two pairs of arms extending substantially radially outwardly from the corners of the central channel, each arm having a V-shaped member at its outer end, the V-shaped members defining the corners of a rectangle, the edges of adjacent flanges of the V-shaped members being spaced apart and parallel and forming an opening therebetween; each pair of adjacent arms, flanges and that portion of the central channel intercepted by the inner ends of the arms defining a second T-shaped slot spaced radially outwardly of said first T-shaped slot whereby a group of slots is formed around said central sloT defined by said channel portion, the proportions and arrangement of the various parts of the bar being such that both the first and at least three of the second group of T-shaped slots may be used simultaneously at the same longitudinal point on the profiled bar.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 in which the branches forming the said second T-shaped slot means extend from the channel portion at angles of 90* to each other.

Claim 4

A structural unit as in claim 1 including a first and a second structural bar, a T-bar connecting member having a flat leg portion of cross-sectional dimensions similar to but slightly smaller than the said first T-shaped slot fitted in said channel portion of the first bar and a crossbar portion fitted in the said second T-shaped slot of the second bar, and interengaging means for coupling the said leg portion of the connecting member to the said first bar.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 3 in which a rib of ductile material extends inwardly from each of the flanges of said V-shaped members toward the channel portion whereby the said ductile ribs may be deformed by portions of the connecting member.

Claim 6

A structural unit as in claim 3 in which the crossbar portion of the connecting member is formed of a pin secured to a flat leg portion.

Claim 7

A structural unit as in claim 1 in which there are a plurality of said structural bars, and a connecting member formed of two flat members, pivot means for connecting the flat members for pivotal movement relative to each other, one of the flat members being mounted in the channel portion of one bar and the other flat member being mounted in the channel portion of the other bar and interengaging means for coupling the said flat members to the webs of the associated groove means.

Claim 8

The structural unit as defined in claim 3, wherein said interengaging means comprises a threaded member having a tapered end, said leg portion of the connecting member having a threaded opening receiving said threaded member and said web portion of said second bar having an opening eccentric to said threaded opening and engaged on one side by said tapered end of said threaded member, said first T-shaped slot of said second bar holding said leg portion of the connecting member captive adjacent said web portion of the second bar.

Claim 9

The structural unit as defined in claim 7, wherein said connector member is formed of substantially flat stock, said crossbar portion comprising lateral projections at either side of said body at one end thereof.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 8 including friction increasing means on the under side of the crossbar portion of the connecting member.

Claim 11

An integral structural bar for use as part of an easily assembled structural set comprising a longitudinally extending profiled bar having a generally rectangular cross section and defining a pair of centrally located, longitudinally extending rectangular channel portions and an outer generally rectangular peripheral portion, said channel portion being formed by a planar web portion and a pair of legs extending normally from one side of said web and a separate pair of legs extending normally from the other side of said web, one leg from along each longitudinal web edge; a pair of flanges spaced from said web and extending toward each other, one from each of the opposed faces of said legs, in spaced coplanar and parallel relation, thereby forming an opening between their opposed edges, the flanges, legs and web defining a pair of first T-shaped slots therebetween, the generally rectangular peripheral portion of said bar being formed by two pairs of arms extending substantially radially outwardly from the corners of the central channels, each arm having a V-shaped member at its outer end, the V-shaped members defining the corners of a rectangle, the edges of adjacent flanges of the V-shaped members being spaced apart and parallel and forming an opening therebetween; each pair of adjacent arms, flanges and that portion of tHe central channels intercepted by the inner ends of the arms defining a second T-shaped slot spaced radially outwardly of said first T-shaped slots whereby a group of slots is formed around said central slots defined by said channel portions, the proportions and arrangement of the various parts of the bar being such that both the first and at least three of the second group of T-shaped slots may be used simultaneously at the same longitudinal point on the profiled bar.

Claim 12

An integral structural bar for use as part of an easily assembled structural set comprising a longitudinally extending profiled bar having a generally rectangular cross section and defining a pair of centrally located, longitudinally extending rectangular channel portions and an outer generally rectangular peripheral portion, said channel portion being formed by a planar web portion and a pair of legs extending normally from one side of said web and a separate pair of legs extending normally from the other side of said web, one leg from along each longitudinal web edge; a pair of flanges spaced from said web and extending toward each other, one from each of the opposed faces of said legs, in spaced coplanar and parallel relation, thereby forming an opening between their opposed edges, the flanges, legs and web defining a pair of first T-shaped slots therebetween, the generally rectangular peripheral portion of said bar being formed by two pairs of arms extending substantially radially outwardly from the corners of the central channels, each arm having a V-shaped member at its outer end, the V-shaped members defining the corners of a rectangle, the edges of adjacent flanges of the V-shaped members being spaced apart and parallel and forming an opening therebetween; each pair of adjacent arms, flanges and that portion of tHe central channels intercepted by the inner ends of the arms defining a second T-shaped slot spaced radially outwardly of said first T-shaped slots whereby a group of slots is formed around said central slots defined by said channel portions, the proportions and arrangement of the various parts of the bar being such that both the first and at least three of the second group of T-shaped slots may be used simultaneously at the same longitudinal point on the profiled bar.