IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,869,246

Granted Patent B2

US 6,869,246 · App. 09/729,743 · Granted Mar 22, 2005

Internodal connector architecture system

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 6,869,246
App. No.: 09/729,743
Granted: Mar 22, 2005
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A universally compliant and restorative internodal connector architecture system wherein a plurality of nodal members are interconnected by a spring and strut assembly in a manner that permits manual or actuated relocation of the nodal spacial definition using standard modules.

Claims (131)

1. A connector module comprising:

a body, at least a portion of said body having a solid exterior surface;

a resilient member having a first end connected to a location on said solid exterior surface and a second end, said resilient member accommodating rotational and translation motion in more than one plane from said location;

a strut, said strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end for connection to another structural element, said strut comprising a telescoping member; and

an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

2. A connector module as recited in claim 1 , comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

3. A connector module comprising:

a body;

a resilient member accommodating translational and rotational motion in more than one plane, said resilient member having a first end connected to said body and a second end;

a strut, said strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end for connection to another structural element, said body comprising a counter bore, said resilient member being inserted into said counter bore,

said strut comprising a telescoping member.

4. A connector module as recited in claim 3 , comprising an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

5. A connector module as recited in claim 3 , comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

6. A connector module comprising:

a body, at least a portion of said body having a solid exterior surface;

an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

7. A connector module comprising:

a body;

a resilient member accommodating translational and rotational motion in more than one plane, said resilient member having a first end connected to said body and a second end;

a strut comprising a telescoping member, said strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end for connection to another structural element; and

an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

8. A connector module as recited in claim 7 , comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

9. A connector module comprising:

a body;

a resilient member accommodating translational and rotational motion in more than one plane, said resilient member having a first end connected to said body and a second end, said resilient member further accommodating axial motion;

a strut comprising a telescoping member, said strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end for connection to another structural element; and

an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

10. A connector module as recited in claim 9 comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

11. A connector module comprising:

a body;

a strut, said strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end for connection to another structural element;

said body comprising a counter bore, said resilient member being inserted into said counter bore,

said strut comprising a telescoping member.

12. A connector module as recited in claim 11 , comprising an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

13. A connector module as recited in claim 12 comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

14. A connector module as recited in claim 11 comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

15. A connector module comprising:

a body;

a resilient member accommodating translational and rotational motion in more than one plane, said resilient member having a first end connected to said body and a second end;

a strut comprising a telescoping member, said strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end for connection to another structural element;

said resilient member further accommodating axial motion and providing a degree of motion permitting said strut to move between a position in a first plane and a position in a second plane; and

an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

16. A connector module comprising:

a body;

a strut comprising a telescoping member, said strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end for connection to another structural element; and,

an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

17. A structure comprising a plurality of connector modules, each said connector module comprising;

a body;

a resilient member accommodating translational and rotational motion in more than one plane, said resilient member having a first end connected to said body and a second end;

an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

18. A structure as recited in claim 17 , comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

19. A structure as recited in claim 18 , said resilient member accommodating axial motion.

20. A structure as recited in claim 17 , said resilient member accommodating axial motion.

21. A structure as recited in claim 17 , comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

22. A structure as recited in claim 21 , said structure having an adjustable shape defined by connections between said second end of said strut and said another structural element and a position of said resilient member of at least one of said plurality of said connector modules.

23. A structure as recited in claim 21 , said structure being collapsible.

24. A structure as recited in claim 21 , said strut of at least one of said plurality of connector modules comprising a telescoping member.

25. A structure comprising a plurality of connector modules, each said connector module comprising;

a body;

a resilient member accommodating translational and rotational motion in more than one plane, said resilient member having a first end connected to said body and a second end;

a strut, said strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end for connection to another structural element said strut comprising a telescoping member; and

an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

26. A structure as recited in claim 25 , said resilient member accommodating axial motion.

27. A structure comprising a plurality of connector modules, each said connector module comprising;

a body;

a resilient member accommodating translational and rotational motion in more than one plane, said resilient member having a first end connected to said body and a second end;

a strut, said strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end for connection to another structural element, said structure having an adjustable shape defined by connections between said second end of said strut and said another structural element and a position of said resilient member of at least one of said plurality of said connector modules, said structure being collapsible, said strut of at least one of said plurality of connector modules comprising a telescoping member; and

an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

28. A structure as recited in claim 27 , comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member of at least one of said connector modules.

29. A structure comprising a plurality of connector modules, each said connector module comprising;

a body;

a strut comprising a telescoping member, said strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end for connection to another structural element; and

an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

30. A structure as recited in claim 29 , comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

31. A connector module comprising:

a body, at least a portion of said body having a solid exterior surface;

a resilient member having a first end connected to a location on said solid exterior surface and a second end, said resilient member accommodating axial, translational and rotational motion from said location; and

a telescoping strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end, said second end being connectable to another structural element; and

an actuator to extent and contract said telescoping strut.

32. A connector module as recited in claim 31 , comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

33. A connector module comprising:

a body;

a resilient member accommodating translational and rotational motion in more than one plane, said resilient member having a first end connected to said body and a second end;

said resilient member providing a degree of motion permitting said strut to move between a position in a first plane and a position in a second plane,

said strut comprising a telescoping member.

34. A connector module as recited in claim 33 , comprising an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

35. A connector module comprising:

a body;

a resilient member accommodating translational and rotational motion in more than one plane, said resilient member having a first end connected to said body and a second end;

said resilient member further accommodating axial motion,

said strut comprising a telescoping member.

36. A connector module as recited in claim 35 , comprising an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

37. A connector module comprising:

a body;

a resilient member accommodating translational and rotational motion in more than one plane, said resilient member having a first end connected to said body and a second end;

said resilient member further accommodating axial motion,

said resilient member providing a degree of motion permitting said strut to move between a position in a first plane and a position in a second plane,

said strut comprising a telescoping member.

38. A connector module as recited in claim 37 comprising an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

39. A structure comprising a plurality of connector modules, each said connector module comprising:

a body;

a resilient member accommodating translational and rotational motion in more than one plane, said resilient member having a first end connected to said body and a second end;

said strut comprising a telescoping member.

40. A structure as recited in claim 39 comprising an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping member.

41. A connector module comprising:

a body;

a resilient member accommodating axial, translational and rotational motion said resilient member having a first end and a second end;

said body comprising a counterbore, said resilient member being inserted into said counterbore;

a telescoping strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end, said second end being connectable to another structural element.

42. A connector module as recited in claim 41 , further comprising an actuator to extend and contract said telescoping strut.

43. A connector module as recited in claim 41 , comprising an actuator to adjust a position of said resilient member.

44. A structure comprising a plurality of connector modules, each of said connector modules comprising:

a body;

a resilient member accommodating axial, translational and rotational motion, said body having a first end and a second end;

said body comprising a counterbore, said resilient member being inserted into said counterbore, and

a telescoping strut having a first end connected to said second end of said resilient member and a second end, said second end being connectable to another structural element.

45. A structure as recited in claim 44 , said structure assuming a plurality of shapes determined by relative positions of said resilient member and said telescoping strut of each of said connector modules.

46. A structure as recited in claim 44 , said structure assuming a first shape in two dimensions and a second shape in three dimensions.

47. A structure as recited in claim 44 , said structure assuming a first shape in two dimensions and a second shape in three dimensions.

48. A structure as recited in claim 44 , said resilient member of each of said connector modules being biased to cause said structure to assume a shape absent an external force.

49. A structure as recited in claim 44 , said resilient member of each of said connector modules being biased to cause said structure to assume a shape absent an external force.

Continuity (3)

Continuation In Part 0890302300 · Jul 30, 1997

Provisional Application 6003288500 · Dec 13, 1996

Related Publication 20010000717A1 · May 3, 2001