Interconnectable hinged structural elements

Abstract

A hinged structural building element and collapsible system of building elements is disclosed. The core element is a relatively flat structural piece having a hinge section extending from one edge of the element to an opposite edge of the element. The hinge section allows the building element or structural piece to be essentially folded upon itself A preferred embodiment of the hinge section extending the length of each of the building elements is a living hinge. The living hinge may be fabricated from any of a large variety of materials including a flexible or pliable material, such as plastic or rubber, tape, string, wire, rubberized O-rings, and/or any of a wide variety of textile materials. The system of building elements may be easily interconnected to construct and build various structures, in various scales and sizes, including box shapes, cube shapes, or structures as complex as towers, bridges, and geo-domes.

1 . A system of structural elements, comprising:
 a plurality of structural elements each said structural element having a front side and back side, a first pair of substantially parallel and opposing edges, a second pair of substantially parallel and opposing edges, and a flexible hinge section located between said first pair of opposing edges, said flexible hinge extending between said second pair of opposing edges; and   interconnecting means formed along each of said two pair of opposing edges, whereby the structural elements may be interconnected with other structural elements to construct three dimensional forms and structures.   
     
     
         2 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 1 , wherein the hinge section is a living hinge. 
     
     
         3 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 1 , wherein the hinge section is tape. 
     
     
         4 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 1 , wherein the hinge section is a plurality of rubberized O-rings. 
     
     
         5 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 1 , wherein the hinge section is a textile material. 
     
     
         6 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 1 , wherein the interconnecting means at least one male connecting element and female connecting element along each of the two pair of opposing edges. 
     
     
         7 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 1 , wherein the interconnecting means comprise at least one slot along each of the first pair of opposing edges, and at least one male connecting element and female connecting element along each of the second pair of opposing edges. 
     
     
         8 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 1 , wherein the interconnecting means comprise more than three slots formed along each of the first pair of opposing edges, and one male connecting element and one female connecting element formed along each of the second pair of opposing edges. 
     
     
         9 . A collapsible system of structural elements, comprising:
 a plurality of structural elements each said structural element having two sides and four edges;   a flexible, living hinge means along one of the four edges of each of the plurality of structural elements whereby said living hinge means connects one of a plurality of structural elements to another one of a plurality of structural elements; and   interconnecting means formed along each of the three other edges of each of the plurality of structural elements, whereby the structural elements may be interconnected with other structural elements to construct three dimensional forms and structures.   
     
     
         10 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 9 , wherein the living hinge means is a pliable plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 9 , wherein the living hinge means is a textile material. 
     
     
         12 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 9 , wherein the living hinge means is tape. 
     
     
         13 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 9 , wherein the interconnecting means at least one male connecting element and female connecting element along each of the two pair of opposing edges. 
     
     
         14 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 9 , wherein the interconnecting means comprise at least one slot along each of the first pair of opposing edges, and at least one male connecting element and female connecting element along each of the second pair of opposing edges. 
     
     
         15 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 9 , wherein the interconnecting means comprise more than three slots formed along each of the first pair of opposing edges, and one male connecting element and one female connecting element formed along each of the second pair of opposing edges. 
     
     
         16 . A system of structural elements, comprising a plurality of structural elements having four edges, and further having a flexible, living hinge means that allows each structural element to fold, and further having interconnecting means along each of the four edges of each of the plurality of structural elements, whereby the structural elements may be interconnected with other structural elements to construct three dimensional forms and structures. 
     
     
         17 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 16 , wherein the living hinge means is a pliable plastic material. 
     
     
         18 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 16 , wherein the living hinge means is a textile material. 
     
     
         19 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 16 , wherein the living hinge means is tape. 
     
     
         20 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 16 , wherein the interconnecting means at least one male connecting element and female connecting element along each of the two pair of opposing edges. 
     
     
         21 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 16 , wherein the interconnecting means comprise at least one slot along each of the first pair of opposing edges, and at least one male connecting element and female connecting element along each of the second pair of opposing edges. 
     
     
         22 . The system of structural elements, as provided in  claim 16 , wherein the interconnecting means comprise more than three slots formed along each of the first pair of opposing edges, and one male connecting element and one female connecting element formed along each of the second pair of opposing edges. 
     
     
         23 . A collapsible system of structural elements, comprising:
 a plurality of structural elements having at least three edges;   a plurality of hinge elements connecting one of the at least three edges of each plurality of structural elements to another one of the at least three edges of another structural element; and   at least two connecting sections along each of the remaining at least three edges of the plurality of structural elements, wherein each of said plurality of structural elements may be connected to another of said plurality of structural elements, and further wherein the collapsible system of connected plurality of structural elements is collapsible to an approximate flat configuration when collapsed, and the collapsible system of connected plurality of structural elements forms a three-dimensional geometric structure when fully unfolded.   
     
     
         24 . The collapsible system, as provided in  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of hinge elements are living hinges. 
     
     
         25 . The collapsible system, as provided in  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of hinge elements are tape. 
     
     
         26 . The collapsible system, as provided in  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of hinge elements are rubberized O-rings. 
     
     
         27 . The collapsible system, as provided in  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of hinge elements are a textile material.