Bamboo Framework System

Abstract

A bamboo framework used to transfer load and attach face panels for a building. The framework consists of spaced bamboo culms, flexible inner rings that wrap around the bamboo culms, middle connectors to attach face panels, end connectors to attach face panels and transfer load from framework to support structures, and three types of additional metal connectors to strengthen the framework.

1 . A method for forming bamboo framework, comprising the steps of:
 forming bamboo culms of equal length and close dimension;   wrapping each of said bamboo culms with a flexible ring at two ends of the culm and in the middle of the culm at selected locations;   joining the bamboo culms perpendicularly to a support member at spaced locations with a plurality of end connectors so as to be able to support forces acting on the culms;   placing a plurality of middle connectors around said flexible rings to support face panels;   joining said end connectors and middle connectors with a plurality of metal straps, diagonal connectors, and channel connectors at selected locations.   
   
   
       2 . A bamboo framework comprising: a plurality of bamboo culms of equal length, flexible inner rings wrapped around the two ends of said bamboo culms and in the middle of the culms at selected locations, a plurality of end connectors placed on the ends of each of the culms, a plurality of middle connectors placed around said inner rings at selected locations, a plurality of metal straps, metal diagonal connectors, and metal channel connectors at selected locations. 
   
   
       3 . The flexible inner ring of  claim 2  wherein said is elastic and wraps tightly around the bamboo culm of  claim 2  wherein said. 
   
   
       4 . The end connector of  claim 2  wherein said comprises two metal pieces having a semicircular ring at the length of the flexible inner ring of  claim 2  wherein said, two webs perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of said semicircular ring, two flanges perpendicular to said webs, an additional semicircular ring perpendicular to said semicircular ring to join support members. The lengths of the webs and the flanges are shorter than the length of the longitudinal dimension of the connector to provide spaces for end connection. The webs, the flanges and said semicircular ring to join support members have holes at selected locations. 
   
   
       5 . The middle connector  claim 2  wherein said comprises two metal pieces having a semicircular ring at the length of the flexible inner ring of  claim 2  wherein said, two webs perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of said semicircular ring, two flanges perpendicular to said webs. The webs and the flanges have holes at selected locations. 
   
   
       6 . The metal strap  claim 2  wherein said comprises a plate metal with two holes at each end of said metal strap. Said holes are sized and spaced the same with holes in the webs  claim 4  and  claim 5  wherein said. The width of the metal strap is smaller than the width of the webs  claim 4  and  claim 5  wherein said. 
   
   
       7 . The diagonal metal connector  claim 2  wherein said comprises a plate metal, two flanges at the end of said plate metal at the opposite direction forming an angle with the plate metal less than 90 degrees. Each of said flanges has two holes sized and spaced the same with holes in the webs  claim 4  and  claim 5  wherein said. The width of the diagonal metal connector is smaller than the width of the webs  claim 4  and  claim 5  wherein said. 
   
   
       8 . The channel metal connector  claim 2  wherein said comprises a plate metal, two flanges at the end of said plate metal at the same direction forming an angle with the plate metal equal to 90 degrees. Each of said flanges has two holes sized and spaced the same with holes in the webs  claim 4  and  claim 5  wherein said. The width of the connector is smaller than the width of the webs  claim 4  and  claim 5  wherein said.