| BE903264A | 1986-01-16 | |||
| FR2066848A1 | 1971-08-13 | |||
| FR1498473A | 1967-10-20 | |||
| BE905491A | 1987-01-16 |
| 1. | R construction system consisting of at least one rigid or expendible construction element and one expandible jointing element whom are jointed together through a pressure link between their complementary resecces and/or parts. |
| 2. | Construction system of claim 1 wherein the construction element has at least one insert opening, slidein opening or pushin/on recess, into or onto which the insert part, slidein part or fiton part of the jointing element in its non expanded form can and will be fitted. |
| 3. | R construction method wherein the jointing element is inserted into the aperture of the construction element or is appropriate connected with the complementary parts of the construction element, and then is filled with a liquid, a gas, or a particulate material so that a joint is made. |
| 4. | Construction system of claim 1 wherein the insert opening, slidein opening or pushin/on recess, together with an insert part, slidein part or fiton part, haue a maximum surface contact during the stage of maximum expansion. |
| 5. | Maximum eκpansion achieued by ϊntroducting air, gas or another gaseous substance, a liquid, a solid, an expansion material or other materials able to be subject to pressure ,into the expandible construction element or jointing element. |
| 6. | Maximum expansion which forms a pressure joint between construction and jointing elements, and which unites these elements as long as the internal pressure is maintained. |
| 7. | Insert opening or slidein opening which either goes right through the construction element or which forms an internal space next to the entrance opening in the construction element; or a push in/on recess in the form of a C, V, T, I , U ,H , UJ, S, U, H, Z, E, F, G, K or M or which is crossshaped or which has some other slidein form. |
| 8. | Insert part, slidein part or fiton part which is located on the outside or partly on the inside of the jointing element or which euen forms the jointing element itself, and which is pushed into the insert recess, into the slidein recess or onto a part of the construction element. |
| 9. | Jointing elements according to claim 1. made of fabric or film of rubber, PUC, elastomer , PP, PE, or other synthetic or natural expandible materials. |
| 10. | Use of the pressure link in accordance with claim 1 in toys and games. |
| 11. | Use of the pressure link in accordance with claim 1 in hydraulic engineering, transport, artwork, storage, house¬ building, military applications, sports. |
Description
The inuention is for a construction system which can be used for toys, buildings, infrastructure work, transport, hydraulic engineering, storage, flying objects, military force, art, promotional gifts, safety systems, and so on..
Basis of the inuention is the pressure link which is obtained by introducting an eHpanding material in an ewpandible link element in such a way this exerts a strong pressure on the construction element(s).
People haue long sought construction system which are both simple and reliable to set up. in most all construction systems irreuersible, physical joints are made in which at least one of the elements and usually both are damaged. In such systems, the joint is most of the time made using an intermediate material, such as nails, adhesiυes , or screws, riuets,...
R system which dispenses with such an intermediate material has a number of aduaπtages including speed of construction,
ease of handling, simplicity, reuerslbility, recuperation of material, and minimum requirement for accessory equipment.
In the system forming the object of the inuention, a distinction is made between construction elements (CE), jointing elements (JE) , and injection material (I ).
R Construction element (CE) can be made of any existing material The form of a CE is of no importance, and can be flat or in the form of a beam, cylinder, etc , but it must haue at least one opening or recess in the matrix material itself or in some other material joined to the CE. The opening or recess may form an integral part of the CE, and giue possibility to put the not expanded Jointing element in it or onto. The CE may haue seueral such openings or recesses, depending on the intended use.The CE may consist of any solid material, or of a flexible material ( same materials as a JE ) which reaches its intended maximum expanded form during the construction stage.
Each jointing element (JE) has at least one insert, slide-in or fit-on shape. There may be a straight body ( beam, cylinder etc ) for ease of handling. The material of a JE itself must be flexible, strong, non-compressible and mouable membrane ; it may be synthetic ( Eg. PUC) or natural (Eg. rubber) or can be laminated. The material can be film or fabric. The jointing elements are constructed so that in their final position they fit tightly with or into the openings or recess in the construction elements or fit round a CE . in such a way the membrane reaches its intended maximum expansion.
Through a ualue or a special injection-aperture Injection material ( IM ) such as air, helium, water, oil, sand, PU or other expansional material that has analogous effect such as powder or finely-diuided material will be introduced. Rny of the yet existing pumping-, pressing-, or injection-machines can prouoke this introduction . The introduction of IM continues until the internal pressure in the JE so that it attains its maximum expanded form, with the result that one of its contact shapes (or the straight section if it has one) exerts a strong pressure on the CE or the JE, thus forming a joint. The final pressure will be in correspondence with the external material of the membrane.
The construction method is first preparing the CE ; secondly inserting the JE or putting in, connecting with the CE ; thirdly introduction of IM in the JE so raising his internal pressure; fourthly introduction IM as long as the internal pressure in the membrane material of the JE attains a leuel that the membrane pushes or fits tightly into, onto or with the CE. Thus, the result is a rigid joint - called pressure link - between construction elements or between a CE and a JE. The pressure link stays as long as the internal pressure exists in the elements.
In uery specific cases ( Eg. float ), and ,if the CE is also made of the flexible membrane ,it is possible that this CE will be used as a JE in an other construction or during the
construction . Thus the same element can be used as CE or as JE depending of the building up of that special construction.
95
Depending on the material of the JE, the pressure in this "pressure joint" may exceed 4 atmospheres ( using uery heauy rubbers) but will generally exceed just 1 atmosphere.
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The pressure link can be made on different ways or locations in, on or through the JE. Rs figure HHI. indicates the JE ( white lean fit in the body of the CE ( shaded ) . Figure HHI I.shows how the JE can fit on profiles or stickϊng-outs of 105 the CE. Figure HHll l.and HH1U. indicates how the JE goes through the CE.
The apertures used to create the pressure links can be closed or open (see fig. HHU. and HHUI.)
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The CE can be filled with: sands, water, air, gas, liquids, PU, composites, powders, ....
The fabric or film membrane is made of PUC, Elastomer, PP, 1 15 PE, Rubber, or other materials.
Changing some design aspects ( section of apertures/ length of elements/diameter) can influence the pressure effect and the time to reach it.
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There are numerous practical applications as ;
- toys : swimring with switchable heads. (fig. HHUI) floats, balloons ( fig. HHUI 11.), flyers 125 injection with:air .
- hydraulic engineering: reinforcement of dikes! injection with:air , water, sand, concrete.) ; pontoons( injection with:air ); Fire-walls( injection with: water with an 130 anti-fire addition.); water-reseruoirs ( filled with air or water) swimming-pool, pollution wails, riuer guidance.
- artwork: connection-stones for sculpture-work in the air 135 ( injection with: helium or other gas.)
- house building: lost or reusable shuttering, isolation, uibro-absorptions walls.
- military.decoy air construction against missiles flying float with higher lifting capacity 140 inserting additional elements with helium.
- transport on water or in the air.
Rn example of a beach game is as follows:
Uarious colored CE and JE are made of strong PUC. In this case the CE and JE are identical in form', ie, with C-eyes at 145 the end and a cylindrical section in between with a diameter of approx. 15 cm.( fig. I).
Fiue CE are blown up with air through a pump or the mouth. Then a flat JE is placed in the fiue apertures on the right side and than blown up the air, and then the second flat JE
150 is inserted in the fiue apertures on the left side and than blown up. This makes a sort of float. The elements can also be used to make a windbreak, beach hut, headrest, toy club, etc. This model is fundamental different than models with round eyes because this model giues the possibility to moue
155 and replace a CE during the construction .