Variable and Fixed Joints-Nodes for the interconnection of tubes or rods or beams of any cross section, length or material, for the formation of mesh constructions of any shape size or strength.

This invention refers to a variety of variable or fixed angle mechanical joints- nodes which are used to interconnect between them tubes or rods or beams of any cross section or size or material, in order to form in an easy economical and fast way mesh constructions of any shape size or strength, for use mainly in the building and construction industry, in architectural designs and in decorative structures, but also in many other cases like modular assemblies of educational games, modular bridges and roofing constructions of any shape or size for immediate covering of special needs in disaster areas, greenhouses, scaffolding, sheds, towers, etc.   

      Mesh constructions with any kind of materials and any size of tubes or rods or beams of any cross section, have ALWAYS been used by humans in all kinds of applications. In ALL cases the PRIMARY question and concern has always been HOW to interconnect the tubes or rods or beams, i.e. the straight parts of the   mesh construction, between them. The usual up to now practice has been to    simply study each mesh construction separately case by case and find a solution according to the material used, the cross section of each straight part and the   size and strength requirements of the mesh.

The object of the present invention is the design of series-varieties of standard components for the assembly of joints-nodes with variable-self adjusting angles which can be used for the construction of meshes of any shape size or strength, as well as the design of series-varieties of standard joints-nodes with fixed angles which can be used for the construction of meshes of fixed shape and any size or strength according to the fixed nodes used. The above standardised nodes those of variable angles assembled from standard components or those of fixed angles, can be produced with standardized series production industrial methods in any size and from any material, according to the requirements of any specific application and in large quantities for significant reduction of cost of products.     

      The interconnection of the straight parts with the variable or fixed nodes can be effected with various methods according to the application, the material of the nodes and of the straight parts and the strength requirements of the mesh.

      In the case of tubes used as of straight parts, there can be opposite threading at the two ends with respective threading at the holes of the nodes and the straight parts can be screwed-in at both ends by turning in one direction and screwed-out by turning in the opposite direction.

      Another method for interconnection of straight parts of any cross section with the nodes, is to fit tight the straight part in the respective position of the node and to secure it with a through bolt-plug and/or welding.

      The advantages of this invention are the following:

• Significant reductions of production costs of the nodes and the straight parts and for the final mesh constructions, due to the standardization of the components and the methods of construction-assembly of the meshes, by production of a variety of standard nodes for any kind of applications, with standardized series production industrial methods.
• Significant reduction of construction time for the meshes by simplifying and standardizing the construction procedures.
• Extensive possibilities for fast designing of mesh constructions of any shape and size and strength.
• Possibilities of assembly of mesh constructions at the sites of installations with non specialized workforce with minimal needs for lifting equipment.
• Possibilities of use of standard tubes rods beams from the general trade as straight parts for the meshes at the site of erection, with parallel use of simple portable equipment for the cutting of the straight parts at the required lengths followed by the drilling or opening the threading at the ends of the parts and/or the welding, according to the chosen method of interconnection.