1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a set of structural elements for the erection of three-dimensional structures with a view to installing exhibition areas, residential areas, office areas or areas having any other functions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There already exist a number of different structural assembly systems which are designed for such purposes as those mentioned above and make it possible in particular to erect partition-walls, intermediate floors, separate cells, and so on. These assemblies are so arranged as to permit considerable flexibility of use as well as a possibility of either disassembly or modification of the structures erected by means of the corresponding structural elements.
Thus German patent Application No. DE 1,775,597 describes a system for the assembly of shaped sectional members by means of a nodal junction element consisting of a hollow block in which an opening is formed in each of its different faces. Each shaped sectional member is attached to said nodal junction element by means of the curved ends of a blade spring placed within the end portion of each sectional member. It is thus only necessary to insert the ends of said blade spring within one of the openings of a nodal junction element in order to secure the corresponding sectional member. However, this attachment is effected simply by interengagement and fails to provide a sufficient degree of strength and rigidity to permit the use of a system of this type for the assembly of building members.
In regard to German patent Application No. DE 2,633,147, this document describes a system of assembly in which provision is again made for junction elements each formed by a hollow block having openings which are oriented in different directions. In the case of this system, the end portion of each sectional member carries a fastening end-piece terminating in a head which is capable of rotational engagement within one of the openings of a nodal junction element. Said fastening end-piece is screwed into a nut carried by the end of the corresponding sectional member, and it is possible to tighten the end-piece head after engagement of this latter. However, in this case also, the tightening action achieved is not sufficiently effective to permit adoption of the system for the assembly of construction elements since accidental unscrewing is liable to occur under the action of impacts or vibrations.
In another German patent Application No. DE 2,100,874, this specification describes a truss, or trelliswork beam structure in which the corresponding beams are attached to sectional members placed at the point corresponding to their junction lines. These sectional members are provided with channels which have a constriction at the entrance and are intended to receive the bulged ends of assembly elements carried by the corresponding beams. These assembly elements are slidably mounted within the ends of said beams, which are stationarily fixed in position as a result of the clamping action of coupling screws. However, this system is not sufficiently effective to permit of its adoption for building elements. Furthermore, the system is designed for the assembly of beams against structural junction members but could not be transposed to the case of connection of the ends of different beams to a common junction element.
In the case of French patent Application No. 2,268,970, this specification describes elements which are designed to form a structural framework and consist of sectional members provided with grooves having a throttled portion at the groove inlets. These grooves are intended to receive the locking lug of a fastening end-piece for the purpose of fixing another structural member placed at right angles. These grooves can also receive assembly components for fixing other elements such as, for example, partition-wall panels or the like. However, these different assembly components entail the need to engage the locking lug of each component within the corresponding groove starting from one end of a sectional member, then to bring said component into the desired position by displacement in sliding motion. Furthermore, the framework members thus provided do not comprise any means for connecting the sectional members in different directions around common nodal junction elements for the purpose of erecting a three-dimensional structure.