US3785098A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite panel structure
Assignee: HE Schweitzer AG
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Filing: 1970-06-04
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1990-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A frame of individual square elements, of which only diagonally opposite elements meet at their corners to form openings in which are held bolts having at their heads spring members that enter, and releasably lock in, recesses provided in the corners of square panels that register with the square elements.
Inventors
- 👤 H Schweitzer
- 👤 E Huber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:42
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02B; H02B15/00; H02B15/02; H02B15/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
In a modular panel structure, a combination comprising a lattice-like frame including a plurality of similar polygonal frame elements each located in a general plane and each having a plurality of corner portions, the frame being so constructed that each corner portion of each of said frame elements adjoins a similar corner portion of at most one neighboring frame element, and each corner portion being so configurated that pairs of adjoining corner portions together define passages; and connecting means for preventing relative motion between neighboring ones of said frame elements in direction transverse to the general plane of such neighboring elements and including a plurality of discrete elongated coupling members each extending through a respective one of said passages in cirection transverse to the general plane of the respective neighboring elements; and further including a plurality of polygonal panels adjacent to one side of said frame and having corner portions that register with pairs of adjoining corner portions, the corner portions of said panels being provided with recesses extending substantially diagonally inwardly from the respective panel corner portions and each having a wider portion and a narrower portion disposed between the respective wider portion and said one side of said frame, said connecting means including substantially annular elastic retaining members mounted at the adjoining corner portions of said frame elements and received in the wider portions of the adjacent recesses of said panels, said panels being separable from the frame in response to deformation of said retaining members during passage through the narrower portions of the respective recesses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
In a modular panel structure, a combination comprising a lattice-like frame including a plurality of similar polygonal frame elements each located in a general plane and each having a plurality of corner portions, the frame being so constructed that each corner portion of each of said frame elements adjoins a similar corner portion of at most one neighboring frame element, and each corner portion being so configurated that pairs of adjoining corner portions together define passages; and connecting means for preventing relative motion between neighboring ones of said frame elements in direction transverse to the general plane of such neighboring elements and including a plurality of discrete elongated coupling members each extending through a respective one of said passages in cirection transverse to the general plane of the respective neighboring elements; and further including a plurality of polygonal panels adjacent to one side of said frame and having corner portions that register with pairs of adjoining corner portions, the corner portions of said panels being provided with recesses extending substantially diagonally inwardly from the respective panel corner portions and each having a wider portion and a narrower portion disposed between the respective wider portion and said one side of said frame, said connecting means including substantially annular elastic retaining members mounted at the adjoining corner portions of said frame elements and received in the wider portions of the adjacent recesses of said panels, said panels being separable from the frame in response to deformation of said retaining members during passage through the narrower portions of the respective recesses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, said connecting means further includes guide means mounted between each of said elastic retaining members and the adjoining corner portions of said frame, said guide means having four side walls that respectively engage along their lengths the narrow portion of a respective one of said recesses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein each said retaining member comprises a dish-shaped body consisting of spring steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each said retaining member comprises a solid, resilient, dish-shaped body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said retaining members are annular springs, and said guide means has a continuous peripheral groove in said side walls thereof to hold a respective one of said annular springs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said annular springs defines in cross section a single round body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a modular panel structure, a combination comprising a lattice-like frame including a plurality of similar polygonal frame elements each located in a general plane and each having a plurality of corner portions, the frame being so constructed that each corner portion of each of said frame elements adjoins a similar corner portion of at most one neighboring frame element, and each corner portion comprising a claw-shaped extension, with the claw-shaped extensions of pairs of adjoining corner portions together defining passages; and connecting means for preventing relative motion between neighboring ones of said frame elements in direction transverse to the general planes of such neighboring elements and including a plurality of discrete elongated coupling members each extending through a respective one of said passages in direction transverse to the general planes of the respective neighboring elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a modular panel structure, a combination comprising a lattice-like frame including a plurality of similar polygonal frame elements each located in a general plane and each having a plurality of corner portions, the frame being so constructed that each corner portion of each of said frame elements adjoins a similar corner portion of at most one neighboring frame element, and each corner portion comprising a claw-shaped extension, with the claw-shaped extensions of pairs of adjoining corner portions together defining passages; and connecting means for preventing relative motion between neighboring ones of said frame elements in direction transverse to the general planes of such neighboring elements and including a plurality of discrete elongated coupling members each extending through a respective one of said passages in direction transverse to the general planes of the respective neighboring elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said frame elements is rectangular and has a geometric center and has diagonally opposite claw-shaped extensions which are symmetrical with respect to said center.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said passages has an axis and wherein the interlocking claw-shaped extensions of adjoining corner portions each surround the respective axis by more than 90*.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said interlocking claw-shaped extensions of adjoining corner portions each surround the axis of the respective passage by approximately 270*.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination as defined in claim 7, wherein each of said elongated coupling members has at least one sharp edge portion for engaging the two respective adjoining corner portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said elongated coupling members are threaded bolts and wherein said connecting means further includes threaded nuts for said bolts, and wherein each of said threaded bolts has a head provided with a knife edge extending from said head in direction towards the leading end of the bolt.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a modular panel structure, a combination comprising a lattice-like frame including a plurality of similar polygonal frame elements each located in a general plane and each having a plurality of corner portions, the frame being so constructed that each corner portion of each of said frame elements adjoins a similar corner portion of at most one neighboring frame element, and each corner portion being so configurated that pairs of adjoining corner portions together define passages; and connecting means for preventing relative motion between neighboring ones of said frame elements in direction transverse to the general planes of such neighboring elements and including a plurality of discrete elongated coupling members in the form of threaded screws having heads and each extending through a respective one of said passages in direction transverse to the general planes of the respective neighboring elements, and said connecting means further comprising a plurality of threaded nuts for said threaded screws, the adjoining corner portions of neighboring frame elements being tightly held between the head of the respective threaded screw and the respective nut.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a modular panel structure, a combination comprising a lattice-like frame including a plurality of similar polygonal frame elements each located in a general plane and each having a plurality of corner portions, the frame being so constructed that each corner portion of each of said frame elements adjoins a similar corner portion of at most one neighboring frame element, and each corner portion being so configurated that pairs of adjoining corner portions together define passages; and connecting means for preventing relative motion between neighboring ones of said frame elements in direction transverse to the general planes of such neighboring elements and including a plurality of discrete elongated coupling members in the form of threaded screws having heads and each extending through a respective one of said passages in direction transverse to the general planes of the respective neighboring elements, and said connecting means further comprising a plurality of threaded nuts for said threaded screws, the adjoining corner portions of neighboring frame elements being tightly held between the head of the respective threaded screw and the respective nut.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
A combination as defined in claim 13, wherein said heads each have two substantially diametrically opposed legs, and each of two meeting corner portions has a respective wall partly surrounding the respective bolt on diametrically opposite sides thereof and located between the respective bolt and a respective leg by which it is engaged.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
A combination as defined in claim 13, wherein each said connecting means includes an annular disc located between each nut and the respective meeting corner portions, said disc having two substantially diametrically opposed legs that engage respective ones of said meeting corner portion walls on the same surface thereof as the legs of said head.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
A combination as defined in claim 13, wherein said frame elements are located in a predetermined plane, and two meeting corner portions define a passage normal to said plane, and the head of said bolt has an annular knife edge substantially centered on the axis of passage, and said connecting means includes an annular discs each substantially centered on said axis and having a knife edge, the knife edge of saId bolt head and the knife edge of said disc each engaging both of the two meeting corner portions on respective sides thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a modular panel structure, a combination comprising a lattice-like frame including a plurality of similar polygonal frame elements each located in a general plane and each having a plurality of corner portions, the frame being so constructed that each corner portion of each of said frame elements adjoins a similar corner portion of at most one neighboring frame element, and each corner portion being so configurated that pairs of adjoining corner portions together define passages; and connecting means for preventing relative motion between neighboring ones of said frame elements in direction transverse to the general planes of such neighboring elements and including a plurality of discrete elongated coupling members each extending through a respective one of said passages in direction transverse to the general planes of the respective neighboring elements, and further including a plurality of circular members having knife edges engaging the adjoining corner portions of respective neighboring frame elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a modular panel structure, a combination comprising a lattice-like frame including a plurality of similar polygonal frame elements each located in a general plane and each having a plurality of corner portions, the frame being so constructed that each corner portion of each of said frame elements adjoins a similar corner portion of at most one neighboring frame element, and each corner portion being so configurated that pairs of adjoining corner portions together define passages; and connecting means for preventing relative motion between neighboring ones of said frame elements in direction transverse to the general planes of such neighboring elements and including a plurality of discrete elongated coupling members each extending through a respective one of said passages in direction transverse to the general planes of the respective neighboring elements, and further including a plurality of circular members having knife edges engaging the adjoining corner portions of respective neighboring frame elements.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |