Connector and modules for structural assemblies

Claim 2

An article, comprising a plurality of connected together discarded cans, and a plurality of separate, resilient connecting members connected to adjacent ends of adjacent cans securing the cans together in desired relationship, said connecting members including an angle coupler, said angle coupler comprising a first, circular, disc-shaped web, an annular, peripheral flange integral with the web on at least one side thereof and projecting axially therefrom and engaging and holding the end of a can positioned within said flange, and at least one other circular, disc-shaped web integrally joined to said flange at one edge of said first web in right angular relationship thereto, an annular, peripheral flange integral with said other web and projecting axially therefrom and engaging and holding an end of another can positioned within said flange.

Claim 3

An article as in claim 1, wherein an inturned lip is on the edge of each flange engaging and holding the end of an associated can behind said flange means.

Claim 4

An article as in claim 1, wherein at least another of said connecting means comprises a reducing coupler joining together a pair of cans of different diameter, said reducing coupler including a circular, disc-shaped web increasing in thickness toward the periphery thereof, an annular peripheral flange extending axially from one side of said web, a radially inturned lip on the edge of said flange engaging and holding the end of an associated large can received behind said flange, and a second, diametrically smaller, annular flange projecting axially from the other side of said web and having a radially inturned lip on the edge thereof engaging and holding the end of an associated smaller can therein.

Claim 5

An article as in claim 1, wherein there are three substantially identically formed connecting members each integrally joined adjacent one edge thereof with the flange of said first web at equally spaced points about the circumference thereof, said three connecting members each comprising a disc-shaped web and an annular, peripheral flange projecting axially from one side thereof, said webs lying in planes parallel to the axis of said first web and with the flanges thereof extending outwardly away from said first web.

Claim 6

An article as in claim 4, wherein a central projection is on the web of each of said connecting members integrally joined to the flange of said first web, said projections each in engagement with an end of an associated can.

Claim 7

An article as in claim 1, wherein said angle coupler comprises a first pair of axially aligned connecting members lying in spaced, parallel planes, a second pair of axially aligned connecting members lying in spaced parallel planes on opposite sides of said first pair of connecting members in perpendicular relationship thereto and integrally joined to said first pair of connecting members at adjacent edges thereof, a third pair of axially aligned connecting members lying in spaced, parallel planes above and below said first and second pair of connecting members in perpendicular relationship thereto and integrally joined thereto at the adjacent edges thereof, each of said connecting members having a disc-shaped web with an axially projecting annular peripheral flange extending outwardly therefrom receiving and holding the end of an associated can therein, and a central projection extending axially from each web on the same side thereof as the flange, engaginG the end of an associated can to space the web from the end of the can.

Claim 8

An article as in claim 1, wherein an annular peripheral flange projects axially from each of the opposite sides of said first web, and three connecting members each having a disc-shaped web are integrally joined at the mid-portion of one side of their webs to the flange on said first web at three equally spaced points about the circumference thereof, said connecting members each having an annular peripheral flange projecting axially from the other side of said web and each lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said coupler member.

Claim 9

An article as in claim 7, wherein a central projection is on the web of each of said connecting members integrally joined to the flange of said first web, said projections each in engagement with an end of an associated can.

Claim 10

An article as in claim 1, wherein an annular peripheral flange projects axially from each of the opposite sides of said first web, the outer marginal surface of said flanges being rectangular and having opposite, straight sides, and three connecting members each having a disc-shaped web integrally joined across the middle thereof to a respective opposite, straight side of said flange on said first web, said connecting members each having an annular peripheral flange projecting axially from one side of the web and each lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said first web.

Claim 11

An article as in claim 9, wherein a central projection is on the web of each of said connecting members integrally joined to the flange of said first web, said projections each in engagement with an end of an associated can.

Claim 12

A connecting means as in claim 1, wherein each of said flanges is elongate in an axial direction and has a rectangular outer configuration and a circular or cylindrical inner configuration.

Claim 13

An article as in claim 11, wherein a flange projects axially from each of the opposite sides of said first web.

Claim 14

An article as in claim 1, wherein a flange projects axially from each of the opposite sides of said first web.

Claim 15

An article as in claim 1, wherein a central projection is on said first web on the same side thereof as said flange, said projection in engagement with the end of the can received in said flange.

Claim 16

An article, comprising a plurality of connected together discarded cans, a plurality of resilient connecting means connected to adjacent ends of adjacent cans securing the cans together in desired relationship, at least one of the connecting means including a circular disc-shaped web, an annular, peripheral flange integral with the web on each of the opposite sides thereof and projecting axially from the opposite sides of the web, each flange receiving and holding the end of an associated can therein, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending grooves in the circumferential outer surface of the said one connecting means, said grooves extending completely across the axial extent of said flanges, and at least one panel means received and held at an edge portion thereof in one of said grooves, with the plane of said panel means parallel to the axis of said one connecting means and said associated cans.

Claim 17

An article, comprising a plurality of connected together discarded cans, a plurality of resilient connecting means connected to adjacent ends of adjacent cans securing the cans together in desired relationship, at least one of the connecting means including a circular disc-shaped web, an annular, peripheral flange integral with the web on each of the opposite sides thereof and projecting axially from the opposite sides of the web, each flange receiving and holding the end of an associated can therein, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending grooves in the circumferential outer surface of the said one connecting means, said grooves extending completely across the axial extent of said flanges, and at least one panel means received and held at an edge portion thereof in one of said grooves, with the plane of said panel means parallel to the axis of said one connecting means and said associated cans.

Claim 18

An article, comprising a plurality of connected together discarded cans, a plurality of resilient connecting means connected to adjacent ends of adjacent cans securing the cans together in desired relationship, said connecting means including an angle coupler, said angle coupler comprising a pair of hollow, cylindrical connectors integrally joined together at one end thereof in right angular relationship to one another, one end of a can received and held in each of said cylindrical connectors, a pair of radially projecting, closely spaced lugs on the outer surface of the other end of each of said cylindrical connectors, said pair of lugs lying in substantially the same plane, and a panel means having a pair of mutually perpendicular edges, said edges received and Held between the respective pairs of lugs.

Claim 19

An article, comprising a plurality of connected together discarded cans, a plurality of resilient connecting means connected to adjacent ends of adjacent cans securing the cans together in desired relationship, said connecting means including an angle coupler, said angle coupler comprising a pair of hollow, cylindrical connectors integrally joined together at one end thereof in right angular relationship to one another, one end of a can received and held in each of said cylindrical connectors, a pair of radially projecting, closely spaced lugs on the outer surface of the other end of each of said cylindrical connectors, said pair of lugs lying in substantially the same plane, and a panel means having a pair of mutually perpendicular edges, said edges received and Held between the respective pairs of lugs.

Claim 20

An article as in claim 12, wherein a central projection is on the web of said end cap on the same side thereof as said flange, said projection being in engagement with the end of the end most can to space the web from the end of the can and maintain it in substantially flat, planar relationship.