System for constructing spatial structures

Claim 1

In a spatial structure including a plurality of hollow hubs or nuclei joined by a plurality of struts or tubes attached at the opposite ends thereof to adjacent of said nuclei, the improvement comprising: each of said nuclei being substantially sperically shaped; each of said nuclei being formed of a first hollow partial spherical piece having an opening and a second hollow partial spherical piece having an opening, said first piece having a height different from that of said second piece, each of said pieces having annular fins extending outwardly from said respective openings in a radial direction from the center of said nucleus; said pieces being aligned with said respective fins abutted together to form the respective substantially spherical nucleus having a completely hollow and empty interior, said abutted fins being rigidly fixed together by screw means, said thus abutted and fixed fins forming flange means for stiffening said nucleus against deformation stresses; each of said pieces of each of said nuclei having therein a plurality of fastening holes, said nuclei each having on the exterior thereof, around each of said fastening holes, a flat annular surface formed in said nuclei; bolt fastening means for rigidly attaching each of said tubes at both said ends thereof to said nuclei at said fastening holes in said pieces thereof, each said bolt fastening means having an integral head and threaded stem formed of a single element, said head having a planar surface abutting against and contacting the inner surface of the respective said nucleus at positions surrounding the respective said fastening hole, said threaded stem extending through said respective fastening hole and rigidly fastening to an end of the respective said tube; and said tubes each extending radially from the centers of each of the nuclei attached thereto.