Modular, faceted, block-and-shell node system for connecting elongate frame elements

Abstract

A modular, faceted-component node system for uniting adjacent ends of elongate frame elements at selectively different types of frame-element-junction nodes in a frame structure including (a) a first type faceted node component adapted for attachments to it of ends of plural, elongate frame elements, operable as a singularity to form in a frame structure a first-type frame-element-junction node, and a second type faceted node component for joining, and cooperating with, different pluralities of the first-type node component to form, selectively with such component pluralities, in a frame structure a plurality of different, second-type frame-element-junction nodes—the first and second type node components including, respectively, concave and convex, angularly faceted surface regions that are complementary to one another, and that accommodate facet-to-facet, matching-facet-coextensive, selective joinder of the two component types.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A modular, faceted-component node system for uniting adjacent ends of elongate frame elements at selectively different types of frame-element-junction nodes in a frame structure, comprising,
 a first faceted node component configured for attachment to ends of plural, elongate frame elements, operable as a singularity to form in a frame structure a first frame element junction node, including a block having a faceted concave surface, and a node shell having an outer concave surface formed by adjoining planar facets corresponding to the faceted concave surface of the node block.   
     
     
         2 . The node system of  claim 1 , wherein the node shell is a quarter globe. 
     
     
         3 . The node system of  claim 1 , wherein the node shell is a half globe. 
     
     
         4 . The node system of  claim 1 , wherein the node shell is a full globe. 
     
     
         5 . The node system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the node block and the node shell has only four facets. 
     
     
         6 . The node system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the node block and the node shell has only eight facets. 
     
     
         7 . The node system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the node block and the node shell has only sixteen facets. 
     
     
         8 . The node system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the node block and the node shell has only thirty two facets.