Structural component and structures comprising the same

Claim 2

The structural component of claim 1 in which: i. the folded plate member comprises a pair of spaced plate elements with one plate element forming a concave surface of the member and the other plate element forming a convex surface of the member, j. the plate elements are positioned with their associated triangular portions in parallel relation, and k. the plate elements have corresponding marginal portions along the free sides terminating in the respective associated intersecting reference planes.

Claim 3

The structural component of claim 2 in which: l. a spacing means closes the space between the marginal portions of the plate elements to form part of the plate member, m. the plate member marginal portions are rectangular planar surFaces, and n. the plate member includes at each transverse nodal point a triangular shaped planar surface lying in a plane parallel to the first reference plane, each transverse nodal point on the component''s convex side coinciding with one apex of the corresponding triangular shaped planar surface.

Claim 4

The structural component of claim 2 in which: j. the connecting surface means comprise integral marginal portions of the plate elements.

Claim 5

The structural component of claim 2 in which: j. rigid frame means connect the plate elements together along marginal portions of the plate elements, and k. the connecting surface means of limitation (h) are carried by the rigid frame means.

Claim 6

The structural component of claim 5 but limited to: l. each connecting surface means comprising a surface coplanar with the associated intersecting reference plane.

Claim 7

The structural component means of claim 1 but limited to i. the connecting surface means having a plane of symmetry which is perpendicular to the associated intersecting reference plane.

Claim 8

The structural component of claim 1 in which i. the two connecting surface means associated with free sides which adjoin at a longitudinal nodal point each include fastening element means, each said element means being complementary to the other in shape and positioned relative to the associated connecting surface means so that fastening element means of contiguous structural components in an assembled structure can be fastened together in either identical or reversed fold position.

Claim 9

The structural component of claim 8 in which j. each said fastening element means have a plane of symmetry which is perpendicular to the associated intersecting reference plane.

Claim 10

The structural component of claim 1 in which: i. the triangular portions of the plate member are formed of homogeneous material.

Claim 11

The structural component of claim 10 in which: j. the triangular portions of the plate member are relatively thick, k. the marginal portions along the free sides of each triangular portion are rectangular planar surfaces which are coplanar with the associated intersecting reference planes, and l. each triangular portion includes at the transverse nodal point a triangular shaped planar surface lying in a plane parallel to said plane of symmetry of the component, the transverse nodal point on the component''s convex side coinciding with one apex of the triangular shaped planar surface.

Claim 12

The structural component of claim 10 in which: j. each connecting surface means comprise an integral extension of the plate member having two surfaces lying in planes which are perpendicular to the associated intersecting reference plane.

Claim 13

The structural component of claim 12 in which: k. the two surfaces of a connecting surface means terminate in a free edge, l. a resilient sealing member extends around the free edge and snugly engages at least the marginal portions of the two surfaces.

Claim 14

The structural component of claim 13 in which: m. a resilient enlargement is carried by the sealing member contiguous to and beyond the free edge of the connecting surface means.

Claim 15

The structural component of claim 10 in which: j. the triangular portions of the plate member are relatively thick, and k. the connecting surface means comprise integral marginal portions of the triangular portions.

Claim 16

The structural component of claim 10 in which: j. the triangular portions of the plate member are relatively thin, and k. each connecting surface means project beyond the associated marginal portions of the triangular portions and have a plane of symmetry which is perpendicular to the associated intersecting reference plane.

Claim 17

The structural component of claim 10 in which: j. the triangular portions of the plate member are relatively thick, and k. each connecting surface means comprise a surface coplanar with the associated intersectinG reference plane.

Claim 18

A structural component comprising: a. a symmetrical quadrilateral shaped plate member folded along a diagonal of symmetry to form two similar triangular portions which adjoin each other along the fold line and lie in planes disposed at equal angles to the plane of symmetry of the component which includes the fold line, the plane of symmetry being considered to be vertically disposed for the purposes of this claim, b. each triangular portion having two apices in common with the other triangular portion at the fold line to form longitudinal nodal points of the component, c. the third apex of each triangular portion forming a transverse nodal point on the associated side of the component, d. each triangular portion having a first free side and a second free side joining the transverse nodal point and the longitudinal nodal points, the first free sides of the triangular portions being contiguous and equal in length and the second free sides of the triangular portions being contiguous and equal in length, e. first connecting surface means associated with each of the first free sides of the triangular portions, each of the first connecting surface means either lying in a plane perpendicular to, or having a plane of symmetry coplanar with, a common reference plane which includes both of the first free sides, and f. second connecting surface means associated with each of the second free sides of the triangular portions, each of the second connecting surface means either lying in a plane perpendicular to, or having a plane of symmetry coplanar with, a second common reference plane which includes both of the second free sides, g. the first free side and the second free side of each triangular portion being of unequal length whereby the plate member is symmetrical only in respect to said plane of symmetry of the component.

Claim 19

The structural component of claim 18 but limited to h. each of the connecting surface means having a plane of symmetry which is perpendicular to the associated common reference plane.

Claim 20

A structural component comprising: a. a symmetrical quadrilateral shaped plate member folded along a diagonal of symmetry to form two similar triangular portions which adjoin each other along the Fold line and lie in intersecting planes disposed at equal angles to the plane of symmetry of the component which includes the fold line, b. a marginal portion on each free side of each triangular portion, c. connecting surface means on each marginal portion, each such connecting surface means being structurally complementary to each of the other connecting surface means for connection with contiguous connecting surface means of one of a plurality of contiguous corresponding components in either one of only two positions, one position being with two associated triangular portions of the structural component and a contiguous corresponding structural component lyIng in substantially the same plane, the other position being with two associated triangular portions of the structural component and another contiguous corresponding structural component disposed at an angle to one another such that said plane of symmetry of the structural component and said plane of symmetry of the other contiguous corresponding structural component are both perpendicular to a common reference plane, d. spaced, parallel upper and lower faces on each triangular portion, e. an outwardly projecting elongated peripheral extension member carried by each of the free sides and forming part of the associated marginal portion, f. each peripheral extension member including an enlargement in cross section which is shaped and disposed substantially the same as each of the enlargement on the peripheral extensions carried by the other free sides, g. each enlargement having an outwardly facing surface portion convex in cross section, the convex surface portion of each peripheral extension member being the extreMe peripheral face of the associated free side, the center line of each convex surface portion being in a reference plane parallel to and equally spaced from the upper and lower faces of the associated triangular portion, h. each enlargement having inwardly facing converging surface portions on each side of the reference plane which are arcuate in cross section and symmetrically shaped and disposed relative to one another.

Claim 21

A structural component comprising: a. a symmetrical quadrilateral shaped plate member folded along a diagonal of symmetry to form two similar triangular portions which adjoin each other along the Fold line and lie in intersecting planes disposed at equal angles to the plane of symmetry of the component which includes the fold line, b. a marginal portion on each free side of each triangular portion, c. connecting surface means on each marginal portion, each such connecting surface means being structurally complementary to each of the other connecting surface means for connection with contiguous connecting surface means of one of a plurality of contiguous corresponding components in either one of only two positions, one position being with two associated triangular portions of the structural component and a contiguous corresponding structural component lyIng in substantially the same plane, the other position being with two associated triangular portions of the structural component and another contiguous corresponding structural component disposed at an angle to one another such that said plane of symmetry of the structural component and said plane of symmetry of the other contiguous corresponding structural component are both perpendicular to a common reference plane, d. spaced, parallel upper and lower faces on each triangular portion, e. an outwardly projecting elongated peripheral extension member carried by each of the free sides and forming part of the associated marginal portion, f. each peripheral extension member including an enlargement in cross section which is shaped and disposed substantially the same as each of the enlargement on the peripheral extensions carried by the other free sides, g. each enlargement having an outwardly facing surface portion convex in cross section, the convex surface portion of each peripheral extension member being the extreMe peripheral face of the associated free side, the center line of each convex surface portion being in a reference plane parallel to and equally spaced from the upper and lower faces of the associated triangular portion, h. each enlargement having inwardly facing converging surface portions on each side of the reference plane which are arcuate in cross section and symmetrically shaped and disposed relative to one another.

Claim 22

A releasable watertight structural joint between two contiguous components us claimed in claim 20 in which: i. the two abutting peripheral extension members of the contiguOus components are fastened together by a pair of elongated fastening elements, each pair of fastening elements having a longitudinally extending concavity with the concavities of each pair of fastening elements in opposed relation to one another and In clamping relation with the converging portions of the associated peripheral extension members.

Claim 23

The joint claimed in claim 21 in which: j. one fastening element of each pair has a plurality oF spaced cylindrical bolts each with a threaded end portion, each bolt being permanently secured at its other end in perpendicular relation to the concave side of the fastening element along the center line of the fastening element, the other fastening element having cylindrical holes drilled along the center line thereof, the holes being slightly larger than the bolts, the holes being identically spaced with the bolts, the bolts being receIved in the holes and the projecting threaded ends of the bolts being screw threadedly engaged with threaded nuts, j. one of the fastening elements having an elongated elastomeric gasket permanently secured to the concave side of the one fastening element.