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A Tubular Framing System and Method. The system and method enables users to create structures from tube stock, such as carbon fiber or other composites without the need for a specialized workspace or customized tooling. The system allows the user to create joints, attachment points and mounting poin

A Tubular Framing System and Method. The system and method enables users to create structures from tube stock, such as carbon fiber or other composites without the need for a specialized workspace or customized tooling. The system allows the user to create joints, attachment points and mounting points for tubular and sheet composite material. When assembled, the joints between tubular segments and the attached termination fittings provide unparalleled tensile strength without the need for adhesives or special testing for verification. The system includes base assemblies, mid-span bracket and mounting assemblies and a wide range of versatile connectors that can provide the user with the flexibility to easily and rapidly create a wide variety of structures from strong and lightweight composite tube stock and aircraft-grade aluminum connectors.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A structural assembly, comprising: a first hollow tubular segment defined by a proximal end and a distal end; a second hollow tubular segment; andan end assembly interconnecting said first and second hollow tubular segments, said end assembly comprising:a first sleeve adapter inserted into a holl

1. A structural assembly, comprising: a first hollow tubular segment defined by a proximal end and a distal end; a second hollow tubular segment; andan end assembly interconnecting said first and second hollow tubular segments, said end assembly comprising:a first sleeve adapter inserted into a hollow interior of said first hollow tubular segment at said proximal end and detachably attached thereto;a second sleeve adapter inserted into a hollow interior of said second hollow tubular segment and detachably attached thereto;a block element defined by a plurality of adapter mounting bores formed therein, wherein said block element comprises:a rectangular block-shaped base defined by six faces arranged in three sets of pairs of parallel faces;a central bore formed through each of said six faces and interconnecting two said faces forming each of said three pairs of parallel faces, said central bore defining a center, a central bore vertical axis and a central bore horizontal axis;adapter mounting bores formed through each of said six faces and defining a mounting bore pattern further defining a mounting bore pattern vertical axis and a mounting bore pattern horizontal axis, whereby said mounting bore pattern vertical axis is rotationally offset from said central bore vertical axis and said mounting bore pattern horizontal axis is offset from said central bore horizontal axis by an angle theta, wherein said angle theta is less than forty five degrees; and a plurality of mounting bolts interconnecting said first and second sleeve adapters to said block element by passing through longitudinal bores formed in said sleeve adapters and threadedly engaging said adapter mounting bores. 2. The structural assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a second said end assembly connecting to said distal end of said first hollow tubular segment, said second end assembly comprising:a third sleeve adapter inserted into a hollow interior of said first hollow tubular segment and detachably attached thereto;a block element defined by a plurality of adapter mounting bores formed therein, wherein said block element comprises:a rectangular block-shaped base defined by six faces arranged in three sets of pairs of parallel faces;a central bore formed through each of said six faces and interconnecting two said faces forming each of said three pairs of parallel faces, said central bore defining a center, a central bore vertical axis and a central bore horizontal axis;adapter mounting bores formed through each of said six faces and defining a mounting bore pattern further defining a mounting bore pattern vertical axis and a mounting bore pattern horizontal axis, whereby said mounting bore pattern vertical axis is rotationally offset from said central bore vertical axis and said mounting bore pattern horizontal axis is offset from said central bore horizontal axis by an angle theta, wherein said angle theta is less than forty five degrees; anda plurality of mounting bolts interconnecting said third sleeve adapter to said block element by passing through longitudinal bores formed in said sleeve adapter and threadedly engaging said adapter mounting bores. 3. The structural assembly of claim 1, comprising: a sidewall bracket assembly attached to one of said first or second hollow tubular segments, said sidewall bracket assembly, comprising:an inner base ring defined by a peripheral outer face having bracket mounting bores formed therethrough inserted into the hollow interior of said one of said first or second tubular segments whereby said outer face is in contact with a wall of said one of said first or second tubular segments; anda corner bracket element attached to an outer surface of said one of said first or second tubular segments by a plurality of mounting bolts passing through apertures formed in said corner bracket element and said one of said first or second hollow tubular segments and threadedly engaging said bracket mounting bores. 4. The structural assembly of claim 3, comprising a flat panel attached to said corner bracket element by at least one panel mounting bolt threadedly engaging a threaded bore formed in said corner bracket element after passing through an aperture formed in said flat panel. 5. The structural assembly of claim 1, comprising: a midspan bracket assembly attached to one of said first or second hollow tubular segments, said midspan bracket assembly, comprising:an inner base ring defined by a peripheral outer face having bracket mounting bores formed therethrough inserted into said hollow interior of said one of said first or second tubular segments whereby said outer face is in contact with a wall of said one of said first or second tubular segments; anda straight bracket element attached to an outer surface of said one of said first or second tubular segments by a plurality of mounting bolts passing through apertures formed in said straight bracket element and said one of said first or second tubular segments and threadedly engaging said bracket mounting bores. 6. The structural assembly of claim 1, comprising: a midspan base assembly attached to one of said first or second hollow tubular segments, said midspan base assembly, comprising:an intermediate sleeve adapter defined by a peripheral outer face having bracket mounting bores formed therethrough inserted into the hollow interior of said one of said first or second tubular segments whereby said outer face is in contact with a wall of said one of said first or second tubular segments; anda midspan base element attached to an outer surface of said one of said first or second tubular segments by a plurality of mounting bolts passing through apertures formed in said midspan base element and said one of said first or second tubular segments and threadedly engaging said bracket mounting bores. 7. The structural assembly of claim 6, comprising a third sleeve adapter attached to said midspan base element by mounting bolts passing through bores formed in said third sleeve adapter and threadedly engaging bores formed in said midspan base element. 8. The structural assembly of claim 1, comprising: an end bracket attached to one end of one of said first or second hollow tubular segments opposing said first or second sleeve adapter, said end bracket defined by a cylindrical inner portion from which a tab portion extends, said end bracket attached to said one of said first or second tubular segments such that said cylindrical inner portion is located within said one of said first or second tubular segments and said tab portion extends out through the end thereof. 9. The structural assembly of claim 1, comprising: a double midspan bracket assembly attached to one of said first or second hollow tubular segments, said double midspan bracket assembly, comprising:an intermediate sleeve adapter defined by a peripheral outer face having bracket mounting bores formed therethrough inserted into the hollow interior of said one of said first or second tubular segments whereby said outer face is in contact with a wall of said one of said first or second tubular segments; anda pair of straight bracket elements attached to an outer surface of said one of said first or second tubular segments by a plurality of mounting bolts passing through apertures formed in said straight bracket elements and said one of said first or second tubular segments and threadedly engaging said bracket mounting bores. 10. The structural assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a third sleeve adapter attached to one of said first or second hollow tubular segments at an end opposite said end assembly;a first corner element attached to said third sleeve adapter; anda second corner element attached to said first corner element byan adjustable joint assembly interconnecting said first and second corner assemblies to one another to allow adjustable angular rotation therebetween, said adjustable joint assembly comprising:a first axle element inserted within said first corner element;a second axle element inserted within said second corner element;a spacer element inserted between said first and second corner elements; andan assembly bolt interconnecting said first axle element, said spacer element and said second axle element. 11. The structural assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a foot base assembly attached to one of said first or second hollow tubular segments, said foot base assembly, comprising:a third sleeve adapter defined by a peripheral outer face having bracket mounting bores formed therethrough inserted into the hollow interior of said one of said first or second hollow tubular segments whereby said peripheral outer face is in contact with a wall of said one of said first or second hollow tubular segments;a plurality of tube mounting bolts interconnecting said one of said first or second hollow tubular segments to said third sleeve adapter; anda foot element attached to said third sleeve adapter by a plurality of said mounting bolts passing through said foot element and threadedly engaging said third sleeve adapter. 12. The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein said angle theta is 22.5 degrees. 13. A structural assembly, comprising: a first hollow tubular segment;a second hollow tubular segment; andan end assembly interconnecting said first and second hollow tubular segments, said end assembly comprising:a first sleeve adapter inserted into a hollow interior of said first hollow tubular segment and detachably attached thereto;a second sleeve adapter inserted into a hollow interior of said second hollow tubular segment and detachably attached thereto;a block element defined by a plurality of adapter mounting bores formed therein;a plurality of mounting bolts interconnecting said first and second sleeve adapters to said block element by passing through longitudinal bores formed in said sleeve adapters and threadedly engaging said adapter mounting bores;a third sleeve adapter attached to one of said first or second hollow tubular segments at an end opposite said end assembly;a first corner element attached to said third sleeve adapter; anda second corner element attached to said first corner element byan adjustable joint assembly interconnecting said first and second corner assemblies to one another to allow adjustable angular rotation therebetween, said adjustable joint assembly comprising: a first axle element inserted within said first corner element; a second axle element inserted within said second corner element; a spacer element inserted between said first and second corner elements; and an assembly bolt interconnecting said first axle element, said spacer element and said second axle element. 14. A structural assembly, comprising: a first hollow tubular segment;a second hollow tubular segment; andan end assembly interconnecting said first and second hollow tubular segments, said end assembly comprising:a first sleeve adapter inserted into a hollow interior of said first hollow tubular segment and detachably attached thereto;a second sleeve adapter inserted into a hollow interior of said second hollow tubular segment and detachably attached thereto;a block element defined by a plurality of adapter mounting bores formed therein, wherein said block element comprises:a rectangular block-shaped base defined by six faces arranged in three sets of pairs of parallel faces;a central bore formed through each of said six faces and interconnecting two said parallel faces forming each pair of said three sets of pairs of parallel faces, said central bore defining a center, a central bore vertical axis and a central bore horizontal axis;adapter mounting bores formed through at least two of said six faces and defining a mounting bore pattern further defining a mounting bore pattern vertical axis and a mounting bore pattern horizontal axis, whereby said mounting bore pattern vertical axis is rotationally offset from said central bore vertical axis and said mounting bore pattern horizontal axis is offset from said central bore horizontal axis by an angle theta, wherein said angle theta is less than forty five degrees; anda plurality of mounting bolts interconnecting said first and second sleeve adapters to said block element by passing through longitudinal bores formed in said sleeve adapters and threadedly engaging said adapter mounting bores.