Structural connector and structural system

Abstract

A structural connector for assembling a plurality of structural members includes a main shank, a first bolt extending though the main shank, a first plug threadedly engaging a first blot shaft of the first bolt, a second bolt extending through the main shank and the first bolt shaft, and a second plug threadedly engaging a second bolt shaft of the second bolt. Each of two shank ends of the main shank, a first bolt head of the first bolt, a first plug head of the first plug, a second bolt head of the second bolt, and a second plug head of the second plug is configured to threadedly engage a structural connecting end of each of the structural members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A structural connector for assembling a plurality of structural members, said structural connector comprising:
 a main connecting unit extending in a longitudinal direction to terminate at two main connecting end segments each being configured to be connectable to at least one of the structural members, said main connecting unit having a larger-dimension through hole extending in a first direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a first smaller-dimension through hole extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;   a first connecting unit extending in the first direction and through said larger-dimension through hole to terminate at two first connecting end segments each being configured to be connectable to at least one of the structural members, said first connecting unit having a second smaller-dimension through hole which extends in the second direction; and   a second connecting unit extending in the second direction and through said first and second smaller-dimension through holes to terminate at two second connecting end segments each being configured to be connectable to at least one of the structural members.   
     
     
         2 . The structural connector according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said main, first, and second connecting end segments has a threaded plug or a threaded socket. 
     
     
         3 . The structural connector according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the structural members has at least one structural connecting end, and said main connecting unit has a main shank with two shank ends each being configured to threadedly engage the structural connecting end, each of said main end segments having a corresponding one of said two shank ends, said main connecting unit including a terminal segment and a main segment which has said larger-dimension through hole and said first smaller-dimension through hole, and which extends from one of said shank ends to terminate at a first juncture, said terminal segment extending from the other one of said shank ends to terminate at a second juncture configured to permit said terminal segment to be detachably connected to said first juncture of said main segment. 
     
     
         4 . The structural connector according to  claim 3 , wherein said main connecting unit further has a plug-and-socket joint disposed between said first and second junctures. 
     
     
         5 . The structural connector according to  claim 4 , wherein said plug-and socket joint includes a threaded plug and a threaded socket. 
     
     
         6 . The structural connector according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the structural members has at least one structural connecting end, and said first connecting unit includes
 a first bolt having a first bolt head configured to threadedly engage the structural connecting end, and a first bolt shaft which extends from said first bolt head in the first direction through said larger-dimension through hole to terminate at a first shaft end, said first bolt shaft having said second smaller-dimension through hole, and   a first plug having a first plug head configured to threadedly engage the structural connecting end, and a first plug stem which extends from said first plug head in the first direction and which is configured to threadedly engage said first shaft end, wherein   each of said first connecting end segments has a corresponding one of said first bolt head and said first plug head.   
     
     
         7 . The structural connector according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the structural members has at least one structural connecting end, and said second connecting unit includes
 a second bolt having a second bolt head configured to threadedly engage the structural connecting end, and a second bolt shaft which extends from said second bolt head in the second direction through said first and second smaller-dimension through holes to terminate at a second shaft end, and   a second plug having a second plug head configured to threadedly engage the structural connecting end, and a second plug stem which extends from said second plug head in the second direction, and which is configured to threadedly engage said second shaft end, wherein   each of said second connecting end segments has a corresponding one of said second bolt head and said second plug head.   
     
     
         8 . A structural connector for assembling a plurality of structural members each having at least one structural connecting end, said structural connector comprising:
 a main shank extending in a longitudinal direction to terminate at two shank ends each being configured to threadedly engage the structural connecting end, said main shank having a larger-dimension through hole extending in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and a first smaller-dimension through hole extending in a second direction transverse to both the longitudinal direction and the first direction;   a first bolt having a first bolt head configured to threadedly engage the structural connecting end, and a first bolt shaft which extends from said first bolt head in the first direction through said larger-dimension through hole to terminate at a first shaft end, said first bolt shaft having a second smaller-dimension through hole which extends in the second direction and which is configured to be in alignment with said first smaller-dimension through hole;   a first plug having a first plug head configured to threadedly engage the structural connecting end, and a first plug stem which extends from said first plug head in the first direction and which is configured to threadedly engage said first shaft end;   a second bolt having a second bolt head configured to threadedly engage the structural connecting end, and a second bolt shaft which extends from said second bolt head in the second direction through said first and second smaller-dimension through holes to terminate at a second shaft end; and   a second plug having a second plug head configured to threadedly engage the structural connecting end, and a second plug stem which extends from said second plug head in the second direction, and which is configured to threadedly engage said second shaft end.   
     
     
         9 . The structural connector according to  claim 8 , wherein the structural connecting end is in the form of a threaded plug, and each of said shank ends, said first and second bolt heads, and said first and second plug heads has a threaded socket configured to threadedly receive the threaded plug of the structural connecting end. 
     
     
         10 . The structural connector according to  claim 8 , wherein each of said first and second plug stems is in the form of a threaded plug, and each of said first and second shaft ends has a threaded socket configured to threadedly receive the threaded plug of a corresponding one of said first and second plug stems. 
     
     
         11 . The structural connector according to  claim 8 , wherein said main shank has a terminal segment and a main segment which has said larger-dimension through hole and said first smaller-dimension through hole, and which extends from one of said shank ends to terminate at a first juncture, said terminal segment extending from the other one of said shank ends to terminate at a second juncture configured to permit said terminal segment to be detachably connected to said first juncture of said main segment. 
     
     
         12 . The structural connector according to  claim 11 , further comprising a plug-and-socket joint which is disposed between said first and second junctures. 
     
     
         13 . The structural connector according to  claim 12 , wherein said plug-and socket joint includes a threaded plug and a threaded socket. 
     
     
         14 . A structural system comprising:
 a plurality of structural members;   a plurality of main connecting units each extending in a longitudinal direction to terminate at two main connecting end segments, each of said main connecting end segments being configured to be connectable to at least one of said structural members, each of said main connecting units having a larger-dimension through hole extending in a first direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a first smaller-dimension through hole extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;   a plurality of first connecting units each extending in the first direction and though said larger-dimension through hole of a corresponding one of said main connecting units to terminate at two first connecting end segments, each of said first connecting end segments being configured to be connectable to at least one of said structural members, each of said first connecting units having a second smaller-dimension through hole which extends in the second direction; and   a plurality of second connecting units each extending in the second direction and through said first smaller-dimension through hole of the corresponding one of said main connecting units and said second smaller-dimension through hole of a corresponding one of said first connecting units to terminate at two second connecting end segments, each of said second connecting end segments being configured to be connectable to at least one of the structural members.   
     
     
         15 . The structural system according to  claim 14 , wherein each of said main, first, and second connecting end segments has a threaded plug or a threaded socket. 
     
     
         16 . The structural system according to  claim 14 , wherein each of said structural members has at least one structural connecting end, and each of said main connecting units has a main shank with two shank ends each being configured to threadedly engage said structural connecting end, each of said main end segments of each of said main connecting units having a corresponding one of said two shank ends, each of said main connecting units including a terminal segment and a main segment which has said larger-dimension through hole and said first smaller-dimension through hole, and which extends from one of said shank ends to terminate at a first juncture, said terminal segment extending from the other one of said shank ends to terminate at a second juncture configured to permit said terminal segment to be detachably connected to said first juncture of said main segment. 
     
     
         17 . The structural system according to  claim 14 , wherein each of said structural members has at least one structural connecting end, and each of said first connecting units includes
 a first bolt having a first bolt head configured to threadedly engage said structural connecting end, and a first bolt shaft which extends from said first bolt head in the first direction through said larger-dimension through hole of the corresponding one of said main connecting units to terminate at a first shaft end, said first bolt shaft having said second smaller-dimension through hole, and   a first plug having a first plug head configured to threadedly engage said structural connecting end, and a first plug stem which extends from said first plug head in the first direction and which is configured to threadedly engage said first shaft end, wherein   each of said first connecting end segments of each of said first connecting units has a corresponding one of said first bolt head and said first plug head.   
     
     
         18 . The structural system according to  claim 14 , wherein each of said structural members has at least one structural connecting end, and each of said second connecting units includes
 a second bolt having a second bolt head configured to threadedly engage said structural connecting end, and a second bolt shaft which extends from said second bolt head in the second direction through said first smaller-dimension through hole of the corresponding one of said main connecting units and said second smaller-dimension through hole of the corresponding one of said first connecting units to terminate at a second shaft end, and   a second plug having a second plug head configured to threadedly engage said structural connecting end, and a second plug stem which extends from said second plug head in the second direction, and which is configured to threadedly engage said second shaft end, wherein   each of said second connecting end segments of each of said second connecting units has a corresponding one of said second bolt head and said second plug head.