Structural component and structures comprising the same

Claim 2

A structural component comprising a. a first triangular portion having a long straight side extending between two apices and two shorter sides meeting at a third apex, b. a second triangular portion similar to the first triangular portion having a long straight side extending between a first apex and a second apex and two shorter sides meeting at a third apex, c. means connecting the long side of the first triangular portion to the long side of the second triangular portion to hold the connected sides in coinciding relation, d. hinge means included in means (c) whereby the connected triangular portions form a folded plate component in which the fold angle is adjustable, e. restraining means connected to the first triangular portion in the neighborhood of the third apex, of the first triangular portion and f. means associated with the second triangular portion in the neighborhood of the third apex of the second triangular portion for coaction with restraining means (e) to hold the first and second triangular portions at a given fold angle to one another against at least some forces tending to alter the angle.

Claim 3

The structural component of claim 1 in which g. means (e) comprises a nonextensible, flexible connection member.

Claim 4

The structural component of claim 1 in which g. means (e) comprises a rigid connection member to hold the first and second triangular portions at a given fold angle to one another against forces tending to increase or decrease the angle.

Claim 5

The structural component of claim 1 in which g. triangular portions (a) and (b) are integrally formed from homogeneous sheet material, and h. hinge means (d) are bendable portions of the homogeneous sheet material integral with the triangular portions (a) and (b) along the length of the long side of each triangular portion.

Claim 6

The structural component of claim 1 in which g. hinge means (d) comprise hollow members disposed along the long side of each triangular portion and pintle means extending through the hollow members.

Claim 7

The structural component of claim 1 in which g. means (e) include adjustable means for adjustable coaction with means (f) to hold the first and second triangular portions at any one of a plurality of given angles to one another.

Claim 8

The structural component of claim 1 in which g. means (e) and (f) comprise an elongated, rigid structural member having one end portion connected to the first triangular portion in the neighborhood of the third apex and having adjustable means for connection to the second triangular portion in the neighborhood of the third apex.

Claim 9

The structural component of claim 7 in which h. the adjustable means comprise a plurality of fastening elements, and i. the second triangular portion includes complementary fastening element means for registering with any one of the fastening elements of the adjustable means.

Claim 10

A structural component as claimed in claim 1 in which: g. each free side of each triangular portion has connecting surface means associated therewith, h. each connecting surface means being structurally complementary to each of the other connecting surface means for connection of contiguous connection surface means of one of a plurality of contiguous corresponding components with a third apex of said structural component contiguous either to a third apex or a first apex of said contiguous corresponding component and with the fold angle of said structural component in either the same or in reversed relation to the fold angle of said contiguous corresponding structural component.

Claim 11

A structure comprising a plurality of structural components, each structural component comprising a. a first triangular portion having a long straight side extending between two apices and two shorter sides meeting at a third apex, b. a second triangular portion similar to the first triangular portion having a long straight side extending between a first apex and a second apex and two shorter sides meeting at a third apex, c. means connecting the long side of the first triangular portion to the long side of the second triangular portion to hold the connected sides in coinciding relation, d. hinge means included in means (c) whereby the connected triangular portions form a folded plate component in which the fold angle is adjustable, e. restraining means connected to the first triangular portion in the neighborhood of the third apex of the first triangular portion, f. means associated with the second triangular portion in the neighborhood of the third apex of the second triangular portion for coaction with restraining means (e) to hold the first and second triangular portions at a given fold angle to one another against at least some forces tending to alter the angle, g. connecting surface means associated with each free side of each triangular portion, h. each connecting surface means of each structural component of the structure being structurally complementary to each connecting surface means of each other structural component of the structure for connection of contiguous connection surface means of contiguous structural components of the structure with a third apex of each structural component contiguous either to a third apex or a first apex of a contiguous structural component and with the fold angle of each structural component in either the same or in reversed relation to the fold angle of a contiguous corresponding structural component, and i. connection means coacting with contiguous connecting surface means (g) of contiguous structural components of the structure to hold all the structural components together.

Claim 12

A structure comprising a plurality of structural components, each structural component comprising a. a first triangular portion having a long straight side extending between two apices and two shorter sides meeting at a third apex, b. a second triangular portion similar to the first triangular portion having a long straight side extending between a first apex and a second apex and two shorter sides meeting at a third apex, c. means connecting the long side of the first triangular portion to the long side of the second triangular portion to hold the connected sides in coinciding relation, d. hinge means included in means (c) whereby the connected triangular portions form a folded plate component in which the fold angle is adjustable, e. restraining means connected to the first triangular portion in the neighborhood of the third apex of the first triangular portion, f. means associated with the second triangular portion in the neighborhood of the third apex of the second triangular portion for coaction with restraining means (e) to hold the first and second triangular portions at a given fold angle to one another against at least some forces tending to alter the angle, g. connecting surface means associated with each free side of each triangular portion, h. each connecting surface means of each structural component of the structure being structurally complementary to each connecting surface means of each other structural component of the structure for connection of contiguous connection surface means of contiguous structural components of the structure with a third apex of each structural component contiguous either to a third apex or a first apex of a contiguous structural component and with the fold angle of each structural component in either the same or in reversed relation to the fold angle of a contiguous corresponding structural component, and i. connection means coacting with contiguous connecting surface means (g) of contiguous structural components of the structure to hold all the structural components together.

Claim 13

A structure as described in claim 10 in which j. connection means hold at least some contiguous structural components with third apices of triangular portions contiguous.

Claim 14

A structure as described in claim 10 in which j. connection means hold at least some contiguous structural components with the third apex of one triangular portion of one structural component contiguous to the first apex of one triangular portion of another structural component.

Claim 15

A structure as described in claim 10 in which j. connection means coact with contiguous connecting surface means (g) of adjacent components of the structure to hold all the components together with the folds of all components facing in the same direction.

Claim 16

A structure as claimed in claim 13 in which k. connection means hold at least some contiguous structural components with third apices of triangular portions contiguous.

Claim 17

A structure as claimed in claim 13 in which k. connection means hold at least some contiguous structural components with the third apex of one triangular portion of one structural component contiguous to the first apex of one triangular portion of another structural component.

Claim 18

A structure as described in claim 10 in which j. connection means coact with contiguous connecting surface means (g) of adjacent components of the structure to hold all the components together with the folds of a plurality of the components in reversed fold position relative to tHe fold position of the other components.

Claim 19

A structure as claimed in claim 16 in which k. connection means hold at least some contiguous structural components with third apices of triangular portions contiguous.

Claim 20

A structure as claimed in claim 16 in which k. connection means hold at least some contiguous structural components with the third apex of one triangular portion of one structural component contiguous to the first apex of one triangular portion of another structural component.