Collapsible building structure

Claim 2

A structure comprising: (a) first and second membranes disposed in spaced relation and having lines of tension defining corresponding rectilinear grid patterns in each of said membranes; (b) a plurality of node members attached to each of the two membranes such that each node member on said first membrane is paired with a corresponding one of said node members on said second membrane, said node members on each of said membranes being arranged along each line of tension such that each node member is located at an intersection of lines of tension in said membranes and is separated by intersecting lines of tension in said membranes from adjacent node members lying along the same lines of tension; (c) a plurality of tensile members, each said tensile members extending in tension from attachment to one of said node members on said first membrane to attachment to the node member on said second membrane that is paired with said one node member on said first membrane; and (d) a plurality of compression struts, said struts being arranged such that, at each node member on said first membrane, struts extend in compression from attachment to said node member on said first membrane to attachment to each of said node members on said second membrane which are most closely adjacent to and substantially equidistant from the node member on said second membrane which is paired with said one node member on said first membrane, whereby said struts will lie substantially along the diagonals of the rectilinear lines of tension which extend between adjacent node members.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said node members in the interior of the structure includes four strut connectors which are adapted to receive the ends of the appropriate compression struts therein, said strut connectors being secured to said node members so as to be pivotable relative thereto.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 2 wherein each of said compression struts extending from each of said node members extends directly radially outward therefrom.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 2 wherein two of the four compression struts attached to each of said node members in the interior of the structure crosses over the respective node member to which it is attached while the two other of said compression struts attached to each of said node members extends directly radially outward therefrom.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 2 wherein each of said strut connectors includes a strut receiving hole therein to receive and hold one end of a compression strut therein.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 1 wherein the distances between node members on said second membrane are selected to be less than the distances between node members on said first membrane such that said membranes describe a curved configuration.

Claim 8

The structure of claim 6 wherein the curved configuration is a barrel vault and said first and second membranes are composed of a fabric with said node members being firmly attached to the fabric, whereby the structure can be used as a tent.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 1 wherein the length of the tension members in said second rectilinear grid between the node members thereon are selected to be less than the length of tension members on said first grid between the node members thereof such that the erected collapsible structure describes a curved configuration.

Claim 10

A columnar structure comprising: (a) first and second membranes disposed in spaced relation and having lines of tension defining a rectilinear ladder grid pattern in said membrane with the outer lines of tension lying adjacent to the outer edges of said first and second membranes; (b) a plurality of node members attached to each of the two membranes at the intersections of the lines of tension in said membranes, each said node member on said first membrane being paired with a corresponding one of the node members on said second membrane; (c) A plurality of tensile members, each of said tensile members extending in tension from attachment to one of said node members on said first membrane to attachment to the node member on said second membrane that is paired with said one node member on said first membrane; and (d) a plurality of compression struts, said struts being arranged such that, at each node member on said first membrane, struts extend in compression from attachment to said node member on said first membrane to attachment to each of said node members on said second membrane which are most closely adjacent to the said node member on said second membrane paired with said node member on said first membrane and not lying along the same lines of tension in said second membrane as said paired node member, whereby said struts will lie substantially along the diagonals of the rectilinear lines of tension.

Claim 11

A columnar structure comprising: (a) first and second membranes disposed in spaced relation and having lines of tension defining a rectilinear ladder grid pattern in said membrane with the outer lines of tension lying adjacent to the outer edges of said first and second membranes; (b) a plurality of node members attached to each of the two membranes at the intersections of the lines of tension in said membranes, each said node member on said first membrane being paired with a corresponding one of the node members on said second membrane; (c) A plurality of tensile members, each of said tensile members extending in tension from attachment to one of said node members on said first membrane to attachment to the node member on said second membrane that is paired with said one node member on said first membrane; and (d) a plurality of compression struts, said struts being arranged such that, at each node member on said first membrane, struts extend in compression from attachment to said node member on said first membrane to attachment to each of said node members on said second membrane which are most closely adjacent to the said node member on said second membrane paired with said node member on said first membrane and not lying along the same lines of tension in said second membrane as said paired node member, whereby said struts will lie substantially along the diagonals of the rectilinear lines of tension.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 1 or 9 wherein said tensile members extend through their respective node members on said first membrane, and further including means for selectively securing said tensile members to said node members to hold said tensile members in tension.

Claim 13

The structure of claim 10 wherein said tensile members are pliantly flexible and wherein said means for securing said tensile members comprises a clasp formed of two flat members resiliently held together which are mounted to one each of said node members and adapted to engage and releasably hold said flexible tensile members.

Claim 14

A structure comprising: (a) a plurality of flexible tension members arranged to form a first rectilinear grid pattern; (b) a second plurality of flexible tension members arranged to form a second rectilinear grid pattern substantially corresponding to that of said first rectilinear grid pattern of flexible tension members and disposed in spaced relation thereto; (c) a plurality of node members attached to each of the two rectilinear grids of tension members such that each node member on the first rectilinear grid is paired with a corresponding one of the node members on the second rectilinear grid, said node members being attached to said tension members at intersection points of the tension members, said node members on each of said rectilinear grids being arranged along each of said tension members such that each node member is separated by crossed-over tension members from adjacent node members lying along the same tension members; (d) a plurality of tensile members, each of said tensile members extending in tension from attachment to one of said node members on said first rectilinear grid to attachment to the node member on said second rectilinear grid which is paired with said one node member on said first rectilinear grid; and (e) a plurality of compression struts, said struts being arranged such that, at each node member on said first rectilinear grid, struts extend in compression from attachment to said node member on said first rectilinear grid to attachment to each of said node members on said second rectilinear grid which are most closely adjacent to and substantially equidistant from the node member on said second rectilinear grid which is paired with said one node member on said first rectilinear grid, whereby said struts will lie substantially along the diagonals of the rectilinear grids which extend between adjacent node members.

Claim 15

A structure comprising: (a) a plurality of flexible tension members arranged to form a first rectilinear grid pattern; (b) a second plurality of flexible tension members arranged to form a second rectilinear grid pattern substantially corresponding to that of said first rectilinear grid pattern of flexible tension members and disposed in spaced relation thereto; (c) a plurality of node members attached to each of the two rectilinear grids of tension members such that each node member on the first rectilinear grid is paired with a corresponding one of the node members on the second rectilinear grid, said node members being attached to said tension members at intersection points of the tension members, said node members on each of said rectilinear grids being arranged along each of said tension members such that each node member is separated by crossed-over tension members from adjacent node members lying along the same tension members; (d) a plurality of tensile members, each of said tensile members extending in tension from attachment to one of said node members on said first rectilinear grid to attachment to the node member on said second rectilinear grid which is paired with said one node member on said first rectilinear grid; and (e) a plurality of compression struts, said struts being arranged such that, at each node member on said first rectilinear grid, struts extend in compression from attachment to said node member on said first rectilinear grid to attachment to each of said node members on said second rectilinear grid which are most closely adjacent to and substantially equidistant from the node member on said second rectilinear grid which is paired with said one node member on said first rectilinear grid, whereby said struts will lie substantially along the diagonals of the rectilinear grids which extend between adjacent node members.

Claim 16

The structure of claim 12 wherein said tensile members extend through their respective node members on said first rectilinear grid and including means for selectively securing said tensile members to said node members to hold said tensile members in tension.

Claim 17

The structure of claim 12 wherein said tensile members are pliantly flexible and wherein said means for securing comprises a clasp formed of two flat members resiliently held together mounted to each of said node members on said first rectilinear grid and adapted to engage and releasably hold said flexible tensile members.

Claim 18

The structure of claim 12 wherein each of said node members in the interior of the structure includes four strut connectors which are adapted to receive and hold the ends of the appropriate compression struts therein, said strut connectors being secured to said node members so as to be pivotable relative thereto.

Claim 19

The structure of claim 15 wherein each of said compression struts extending from each of said node members extends directly radially outward therefrom.

Claim 20

The structure of claim 15 wherein two of the four compression struts attached to each of said node members in the interior of the structure crosses over the respective node member to which it is attached while the other two of said compression struts attached to each of said node members extends directly radially outward therefrom.

Claim 21

The structure of claim 15 wherein each of said strut connectors includes a strut receiving hole therein to receive and hold one end of a compression strut therein.