Coupling mechanism

Abstract

A mechanism for coupling a strut (30) to a nodal element (32) comprises a female coupling fixture (31) and a male coupling fixture (33). The female coupling fixture (31) includes an elongate cylindrical member (35), a distal end of which is hemicylindrically configured with an inner surface that is contoured to receive a conjugately contoured knob on a distal end of the male coupling fixture (33) in mating engagement. The female coupling fixture (31) also includes a sleeve (36), which is slidable coaxially from an OPEN position around an intermediate portion of the cylindrical member (35) to a LOCKED position around the matingly engaged distal ends of the cylindrical member (35) and the male coupling fixture (33). Spring-biases locking bars (50) and (51) maintain the sleeve (36) in the LOCKED position.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of coupling a first object to a second object, said method comprising the steps of: (a) securing a proximal end of a male member to said first object, said male member being substantially symmetric about an axis of elongation, a distal end of said male member being configured generally as a .[.know.]. .Iadd.knob .Iaddend.that is symmetric about said axis of elongation;   (b) securing a proximal end of .[.an elongate.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.female member to said second object, .Iadd.said female member being generally symmetric about a cylindrical axis, .Iaddend.a distal end of said female member having a contoured surface configured to receive said knob on said distal end of said male member when overlapping side contact of said contoured surface with said knob is made from any direction of approach transverse to said axis of elongation of said male member.Iadd., said female member having a pair of longitudinally extending slots adjacent said contoured surface on said distal end of said female member, said slots being substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to each other on opposite surface portions of said female member, a first passageway being provided through said female member between proximal ends of said slots, a second passageway being provided through said female member between distal ends of said slots, said first and second passageways being substantially perpendicular to said cylindrical axis of said female member, a first spring being positioned in said first passageway and a second spring being positioned in said second passageway, corresponding locking bars being disposed in said slots, said locking bars extending substantially parallel to said cylindrical axis of said female member.Iaddend.;   (c) bringing said contoured surface on said female member into overlapping side contact with said knob on said male member to achieve mating engagement between said female member and said male member; and   (d) moving a sleeve from a first position around .[.an intermediate portion.]. .Iadd.said pair of longitudinally extending slots adjacent said contoured surface on said distal end .Iaddend.of said female member .Iadd.at which said locking bars are maintained by said sleeve radially inward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said female member .Iaddend.to a second position around said distal ends of said male and female members when said knob on said male member and said contoured surface on said .Iadd.distal end of said .Iaddend.female member are in overlapping side contact with each other, .Iadd.said locking bars being urged by spring bias radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said female member when said sleeve is in said second position, end portions of said locking bars adjacent said proximal ends of said slots being moved outwardly by said first spring as said sleeve is being moved from said first position toward said second position, end portions of said locking bars adjacent said distal ends of said slots being moved outwardly by said second spring when said sleeve reaches said second position, said locking bars .Iaddend.thereby locking said .Iadd.sleeve in said second position around said distal ends of said .Iaddend.male and female member .Iadd.to retain said male and female members .Iaddend.in said mating engagement with each other.   
     
     
       2. A method of erecting a truss structure, said method comprising the steps of: (a) bringing a contoured surface on a distal end of a first female fixture attached to one end of a first strut into overlapping side contact with a distal end of a first male fixture protruding from a first nodal element, .Iadd.said first female fixture being generally cylindrical about a cylindrical axis, .Iaddend.said first male fixture being substantially symmetric about an axis of elongation, said distal end of said first male fixture being configured generally as a knob that is symmetric about said axis of elongation, said contoured surface on said distal end of said first female fixture being configured to receive said knob on said distal end of said first male fixture when said contoured surface on said distal end of said first female fixture is brought into overlapping side contact with said knob on said distal end of said first male fixture from any direction of approach transverse to said axis of elongation of said first male fixture;   (b) moving a first sleeve from a first position around an intermediate portion of said first female fixture .Iadd.adjacent said contoured surface on said distal end of said first female fixture .Iaddend.to a second position on said first female fixture.Iadd., said intermediate portion of said first female fixture having a pair of longitudinally extending slots disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to each other on opposite surface portions of said first female fixture, a first passageway being provided through said first female fixture between proximal ends of said slots, a second passageway being provided through said first female fixture between distal ends of said slots, said first and second passageways being substantially perpendicular to said cylindrical axis of said first female fixture, a first spring being positioned in said first passageway and a second spring being positioned in said second passageway, corresponding locking bars being disposed in said slots, said locking bars extending substantially parallel to said cylindrical axis of said first female fixture, said locking bars being retained in a radially inward disposition with respect to said cylindrical axis of said first female fixture when said first sleeve is in said first position, said locking bars being urged by spring bias radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said first female fixture, end portions of said locking bars adjacent said proximal ends of said slots being moved outwardly by said first spring as said first sleeve is being moved from said first position toward said second position, end portions of said locking bars adjacent said distal ends of said slots being moved outwardly by said second spring when said first sleeve is in said second position, said first sleeve in said second position thereby .Iaddend.surrounding said distal end of said first male fixture and said distal end of said first female fixture when said knob on said distal end of said first male fixture has been received by said contoured surface on said distal end of said first female fixture.Iadd., said locking bars thereby locking said first sleeve in said second position to retain said first male fixture and said first female fixture in mating engagement with each other.Iaddend.;   (c) bringing a contoured surface on a distal end of a second female fixture attached to an opposite end of said first strut into overlapping side contact with a distal end of a second male fixture protruding from a second nodal element, said second male fixture being of substantially identical configuration as said first male fixture, said distal end of said second male fixture being configured generally as a knob that is symmetric about an axis of elongation of said second male fixture, said second female fixture being of substantially identical configuration as said first female fixture, said contoured surface on said distal end of said second female fixture being configured to receive said .[.know.]. .Iadd.knob .Iaddend.on said distal end of said second male fixture when said contoured surface on said distal end of said second female fixture is brought into overlapping side contact with said knob on said distal end of said second male fixture from any direction of approach transverse to said axis of elongation of said second male fixture;   (d) moving a second sleeve from a first position around an intermediate portion of said second female fixture .Iadd.adjacent said contoured surface on said distal end of said second female fixture .Iaddend.to a second position on said second female fixture.Iadd., said intermediate portion of said second female fixture having a pair of longitudinally extending slots disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to each other on opposite surface portions of said second female fixture, a first passageway being provided through said second female fixture between proximal ends of said slots, a second passageway being provided through said second female fixture between distal ends of said slots, said first and second passageways being substantially perpendicular to said cylindrical axis of said second female fixture, a fist spring being positioned in said first passageway, and a second spring being positioned in said second passageway, corresponding locking bars being disposed in said slots, said locking bars extending substantially parallel to a cylindrical axis of said second female fixture, said locking bars being retained in a radially inward disposition with respect to said cylindrical axis of said second female fixture when said second sleeve is in said first position, said locking bars being urged by spring bias radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said second female fixture, end portions of said locking bars adjacent said proximal ends of said slots being moved outwardly by said first spring as said second sleeve is being moved from said first position toward said second position, end portions of said locking bars adjacent said distal ends of said slots being moved outwardly by said second spring when said second sleeve is in said second position, said second sleeve in said second position thereby .Iaddend.surrounding said distal end of said second male fixture and said distal end of said second female fixture when said knob on said distal end of said second male fixture has been received by said contoured surface on said distal end of said second female fixture.Iadd., said locking bars thereby locking said second sleeve in said second position to retain said second male fixture and said second female fixture in mating engagement with each other.Iaddend.;   (e) bringing a contoured surface on a distal end of a third female fixture attached to one end of a second strut into overlapping side contact with a distal end of a third male fixture, said third male fixture protruding from said first nodal element, said third male fixture being of substantially identical configuration as said first male fixture, said distal end of said third male fixture being configured generally as a knob that is symmetric about an axis of elongation of said third male fixture, said third female fixture being of substantially identical configuration as said first female fixture, said contoured surface on said distal end of said third female fixture being configured to receive said .[.know.]. .Iadd.knob .Iaddend.on said distal end of said third male fixture when said contoured surface on said distal end of said third female fixture is brought into overlapping side contact with said knob on said distal end of said third male fixture from any direction of approach transverse to said axis of elongation of said third male fixture; and   (f) moving a third sleeve from a first position around an intermediate portion of said third female fixture .Iadd.adjacent said contoured surface on said distal end of said third female fixture .Iaddend.to a second position on said third female fixture.Iadd., said intermediate portion of said third female fixture having a pair of longitudinally extending slots disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to each other on opposite surface portions of said third female fixture, a first passageway being provided through said third female fixture between proximal ends of said slots, a second passageway being provided through said third female fixture between distal ends of said slots, said first and second passageways being substantially perpendicular to said cylindrical axis of said third female fixture, a first spring being positioned in said first passageway and a second spring being positioned in said second passageway, corresponding locking bars being disposed in said slots, said locking bars extending substantially parallel to a cylindrical axis of said third female fixture, said locking bars being retained in a radially inward disposition with respect to said cylindrical axis of said third female fixture when said third sleeve is in said first position, said locking bars being urged by spring bias radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said third female fixture, end portions of said locking bars adjacent said proximal ends of said slots being moved outwardly by said first spring as said third sleeve is being moved from said first position toward said second position, end portions of said locking bars adjacent said distal ends of said slots being moved outwardly by said second spring when said third sleeve is in said second position, said third sleeve in said second position thereby .Iaddend.surrounding said distal end of said third male fixture and said distal end of said third female fixture when said knob on said distal end of said third male fixture has been received by said contoured surface on said distal end of said third female fixture.Iadd., said locking bars thereby locking said third sleeve in said second position to retain said third male fixture and said third female fixture in mating engagement with each other.Iaddend..   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 comprising the further steps of: (a) bringing contoured surfaces on distal ends of additional female fixtures attached to corresponding ends of other struts into overlapping side contact with distal ends of corresponding other male fixtures protruding from other nodal elements, each of said other male fixtures being of substantially identical configuration as said first male fixture, and each of said additional female fixtures being of substantially identical configuration as said first female fixture; and   (b) moving corresponding other sleeves from first positions around intermediate portions of respective ones of said additional female fixtures to second positions on said respective ones of said additional female fixtures, .[.around.]. .Iadd.the intermediate portion of each particular one of said additional female fixtures having a pair of longitudinally extending slots disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to each other on opposite surface portions of the particular one of said additional female fixtures, a first passageway being provided through the particular one of said additional female fixtures between proximal ends of said slots, a second passageway being provided through the particular one of said additional female fixtures between distal ends of said slots, said first and second passageways being substantially perpendicular to said cylindrical axis of the particular one of said additional female fixtures, a first spring being positioned in said first passageway and a second spring being positioned in said second passageway, corresponding locking bars being disposed in said slots, said locking bars extending substantially parallel to said cylindrical axis of the particular one of said additional female fixtures, said locking bars being retained in a radially inward disposition with respect to said cylindrical axis of the particular one of said additional female fixtures when the corresponding other one of said sleeves is in said first position, said locking bars being urged by spring bias radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of the particular one of said additional female fixtures when the corresponding other one of said sleeves is in said second position, all of said corresponding other sleeves thereby surrounding .Iaddend.said distal ends of said .Iadd.corresponding .Iaddend.other male fixtures and said distal ends of .Iadd.corresponding particular ones of .Iaddend.said additional female fixtures when the knobs on the distal ends of said .Iadd.corresponding .Iaddend.other male fixtures have been received by the contoured surfaces on the distal ends of the corresponding .Iadd.particular ones of said .Iaddend.additional female fixtures; said other struts and said other nodal elements thereby being integrated with said first and second struts and with said first and second nodal elements to form said truss structure.     
     
     
       4. An apparatus for coupling a first object to a second object, said apparatus comprising: (a) a male fixture, said male fixture being substantially symmetric about an axis of elongation, a proximal end of said male fixture being securable to said first object, a distal end of said male fixture having a knob-like extremity that is symmetric about said axis of elongation;   (b) a female fixture, said female fixture including: (i) an elongate cylindrical member, a proximal end of said cylindrical member being securable to said second object, a distal end of said cylindrical member being of partially cylindrical configuration with an inner surface having a recessed portion that is contoured and dimensioned to receive said knob-like extremity on said distal end of said male fixture when overlapping side contact is made between said distal end of said male fixture and said inner surface on said distal end of said cylindrical member of said female fixture from any direction of approach transverse to said axis of elongation of said male fixture.Iadd., said cylindrical member having a pair of longitudinally extending slots adjacent said recessed portion of said inner surface thereof that is contoured and dimensioned to receive said knob-like extremity on said distal end of said male fixture, said slots being substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to each other on opposite surface portions of said cylindrical member of said female fixture, a first passageway being provided through said cylindrical member between proximal ends of said slots, a second passageway being provided through said cylindrical member between distal ends of said slots, said first and second passageways being substantially perpendicular to a cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member, a first spring being positioned in said first passageway and a second spring being positioned in said second passageway, corresponding locking bars being disposed in said slots, said locking bars extending substantially parallel to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member.Iaddend.; and   (ii) a sleeve member, said sleeve member being positioned coaxially with respect to said cylindrical member, said sleeve member being slidable longitudinally over said cylindrical member from an OPEN position at which said distal end of said cylindrical member is exposed to permit overlapping side contact between said distal end of said male fixture and said inner surface on said distal end of said cylindrical member of said female fixture to a LOCKED position at which said inner surface on said distal end of said cylindrical member of said female fixture and said knob-like extremity on said distal end of said male member are surrounded by said sleeve member.Iadd., said locking bars being maintained by said sleeve member radially inward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member when said sleeve member is in said OPEN position, end portions of said locking bars adjacent proximal ends of said slots being moved by said first spring radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member when said sleeve member is being slid toward said LOCKED position, end portions of said locking bars adjacent distal ends of said slots being moved by said second spring radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member when said sleeve member has been slid to said LOCKED position, said locking bars thereby maintaining said sleeve member in said LOCKED position when said locking bars are radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member.Iaddend.; said sleeve member thereby coupling said male fixture to said cylindrical member of said female fixture when said knob-like extremity on said distal end of said male fixture has been received in said recessed portion of said inner surface of said cylindrical member of said female fixture and said sleeve member has been .[.slide.]. .Iadd.slid .Iaddend.to said LOCKED position. .[.5. The coupling apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cylindrical member has a slotted portion in which a spring-biased locking bar is disposed, said locking bar being maintained by said sleeve member in a radially inward position with respect to said cylindrical member when said sleeve member is in said OPEN position, said locking bar moving to a radially outward position with respect to said cylindrical member when said sleeve member has been slid to said LOCKED position, said locking bar maintaining said sleeve member in said LOCKED position when said locking       
     
     
        bar is in said radially outward position..]. 6. The coupling apparatus of claim 4 wherein said proximal end of said cylindrical member comprises a turnbuckle mechanism for adjusting separation between said first object 
     
     
        and said second object. 7. A .[.trust.]. .Iadd.truss .Iaddend.structure comprising a plurality of node assemblies and a plurality of strut assemblies, each node assembly comprising: (a) a nodal element; and   (b) a plurality of male fixtures secured to said nodal element, each of said male fixtures being substantially symmetric about an axis of elongation, a distal end of each male fixture having a knob-like extremity that is symmetric about said axis of elongation; each .[.stut.]. .Iadd.strut .Iaddend.assembly comprising:     (a) a strut; and   (b) a pair of female fixtures, each female fixture being secured to a corresponding end of said strut, each female fixture comprising: (i) an elongate cylindrical member, a proximal end of said cylindrical member being affixed to said strut, a distal end of said cylindrical member being of partially cylindrical configuration with an inner surface having a recessed portion that is contoured and dimensioned to receive said knob-like extremity on said distal end of one of said male fixtures when overlapping side contact is made between said knob-like extremity on said distal end of said one of said male fixtures and said recessed portion of said inner surface of said distal end of said cylindrical member of said female fixture from any direction of approach transverse to the axis of elongation of said one of said male fixtures.Iadd., said cylindrical member having a pair of longitudinally extending slots adjacent said recessed portion of said inner surface thereof that is contoured and dimensioned to receive said knob-like extremity on said distal end of said male fixture, said slots being substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to each other on opposite surface portions of said cylindrical member of said female fixture, a first passageway being provided through said cylindrical member between proximal ends of said slots, a second passageway being provided through said cylindrical member between distal ends of said slots, said first and second passageways being substantially perpendicular to a cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member, a first spring being positioned in said first passageway and a second spring being positioned in said second passageway, corresponding locking bars being disposed in said slots, said locking bars extending substantially parallel to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member.Iaddend.; and   (ii) a sleeve member, said sleeve member being positioned coaxially with respect to said cylindrical member, said sleeve member being slidable longitudinally over said cylindrical member from an OPEN position at which said distal end of said cylindrical member is exposed to permit overlapping side contact between said knob-like extremity on said distal end of said one of said male fixtures and said recessed portion of said inner surface of said distal end of said cylindrical member of said female fixture to a LOCKED position at which said distal end of said cylindrical member is surrounded by said sleeve member.Iadd., said locking bars being maintained by said sleeve member radially inward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member when said sleeve member is in said OPEN position, end portions of said locking bars adjacent proximal ends of said slots being moved by said first spring radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member when said sleeve member is being slid toward said LOCKED position, end portions of said locking bars adjacent distal ends of said slots being moved by said second spring radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member when said sleeve member has been slid to said LOCKED position, said locking bars thereby maintaining said sleeve member in said LOCKED position when said locking bars are radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member.Iaddend.; distal ends of the male fixtures of each of said node assemblies being in overlapping side contact with the inner surfaces of the distal ends of the cylindrical members of corresponding female fixtures of particular ones of said strut assemblies, the sleeve members of said female fixtures being in LOCKED position to secure said strut assemblies to said node assemblies.       
     
     
           A kit for use in erecting a truss structure, said kit comprising items for making a plurality of node assemblies and items for making a plurality of strut assemblies, each node assembly comprising the following items: (a) a nodal element; and   (b) a plurality of male fixtures securable to said nodal element, each of said male fixtures being substantially symmetric about an axis of elongation, one of each male fixture having a knob-like extremity that is symmetric about said axis of elongation; each strut assembly comprising the following items:     (a) a strut; and   (b) a pair of female fixtures, each female fixture being securable to a corresponding end of said strut, each female fixture comprising: (i) an elongate cylindrical member, one end of said cylindrical member being affixable to said strut, another end of said cylindrical member being of partially cylindrical configuration with an inner surface having a recessed portion that is contoured and dimensioned to receive said knob-like extremity on said one end of said male fixture when overlapping side contact is made between said knob-like extremity on said one end of said male fixture and said recessed portion of said inner surface on said partially cylindrical end of said cylindrical member of said female fixture from any direction of approach transverse to said axis of elongation of said male fixture.Iadd., said cylindrical member having a pair of longitudinally extending slots adjacent said recessed portion of said inner surface on said partially cylindrical end thereof that is contoured and dimensioned to receive said knob-like extremity on said one end of said male fixture, said slots being substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to each other on opposite surface portions of said cylindrical member of said female fixture, a first passageway being provided through said cylindrical member between proximal ends of said slots, a second passageway being provided through said cylindrical member between distal ends of said slots, said first and second passageways being substantially perpendicular to a cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member, a first spring being positioned in said first passageway and a second spring being positioned in said second passageway, corresponding locking bars being disposed in said slots, said locking bars extending substantially parallel to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member.Iaddend.; and   (ii) a sleeve member, said sleeve member being positioned coaxially with respect to said cylindrical member, said sleeve member being slidable longitudinally over said cylindrical member from an OPEN position at which said partially cylindrical end of said cylindrical member is exposed to permit overlapping side contact between said knob-like extremity on said one end of said male fixture and said recessed .[.Portion.]. .Iadd.portion .Iaddend.of said inner surface on said partially cylindrical end of said cylindrical member of said female fixture to a LOCKED position at which said partially cylindrical end of said cylindrical member is surrounded by said sleeve member.Iadd., said locking bars being maintained by said sleeve member radially inward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member when said sleeve member is in said OPEN position, end portions of said locking bars adjacent proximal ends of said slots being moved by said first spring radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member when said sleeve member is being slid toward said LOCKED position, end portions of said locking bars adjacent distal ends of said slots being moved by said second spring radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member when said sleeve member has been slid to said LOCKED position, said locking bars thereby maintaining said sleeve member in said LOCKED position when said locking bars are radially outward with respect to said cylindrical axis of said cylindrical member.Iaddend.; the sleeve member of each female fixture functioning to secure said female fixture to a corresponding one of said male fixtures on the nodal element of one of said node assemblies when the knob-like extremity on said male fixture has been received in the recessed portion of the inner surface of the partially cylindrical end of the cylindrical member of said female fixture     
     
     
        and said sleeve member has been slid to said LOCKED position. .[.9.  The kit of claim 8 wherein said cylindrical member of each of said female fixtures has a slotted portion in which a spring-biased locking bar is disposed, said locking bar being maintained by said sleeve member in a radially inward position with respect to said cylindrical member when said sleeve member is in said OPEN position, said locking bar moving to a radially outward position with respect to said cylindrical member when said sleeve member has been slid to said LOCKED position, said locking bar maintaining said sleeve member in said LOCKED position when said locking 
     
     
        bar is in said radially outward position..]. 10. The kit of claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.8 .Iaddend.wherein one of the female fixtures of at least one of said strut assemblies further comprises a turnbuckle mechanism for adjusting strut assembly length.