A system for providing an angled construction or bent beam construction. Such system may include a first beam comprising a first elongated beam segment having a first interlocking joint portion at one end, and a second beam comprising a second elongated beam segment having a second interlocking joint at one end, wherein the first interlocking joint portion is configured to rotatably couple to the second interlocking joint to form a rotatable joint such that the angle between the first beam and the second beam is adjustable.

In a joint (100) for a structure that includes at least one rod (104) and a plurality of cables (102), each cable (102) having an outside diameter, a rod end (160) is affixable to the rod (104) so that the rod has a rod (104) centerline that passes through the rod end (160). The rod end (160) includes a mechanism (166) that allows the rod end (160) to pivot about a center point that is on the rod centerline. A cable attachment device (150) is couplable to each cable (102) and to the rod end (160). The cable attachment device (150) holds each cable (102) coupled thereto in a relationship to the rod end (160) so that each cable (102) has a cable centerline that intersects the center point so as to minimize any moments from the rod (104) or the cables (102) on the joint (100).

A system for providing an angled construction or bent beam construction. Such system may include a first beam comprising a first elongated beam segment having a first interlocking joint portion at one end, and a second beam comprising a second elongated beam segment having a second interlocking joint at one end, wherein the first interlocking joint portion is configured to rotatably couple to the second interlocking joint to form a rotatable joint such that the angle between the first beam and the second beam is adjustable.

Disclosed is a system of spherical joints and tubular beams that interconnect to make a spatial reticulate construction based on geometries composed of basic tetrahedral and semi-tetrahedral modules. The joint includes two equal semispherical caps symmetrically organized around a central plate with four or more square fissure sections, joined by a single central screw allowing simultaneous clamping of eight or more hammer terminals at the beam ends. These extremities have a prismatic hammer shape with hexadecagonal base and a multifaceted hemisphere. The frames have a prismatic square section, allowing rotation only in the plane of the board of the joint. The design has a prismatic shape with a square section of multifaceted pole hammer terminals present both on the hammer head and within the caps which eliminates the structural instability that arises in the reticular structure due to the rotation of the beams around the several crux after clamping.

A system of cross-shaped units and nodes used to construct strong, lightweight, inexpensive space frames with alternately rigid and flexible components, in which each cross-shaped unit which fits together with five like units to form a spherical node which can be connected to other nodes to form frames for the production of structures including toys, playground structures, lattices, pergolas, statues, roofs, furniture, fixtures, mattresses, kites, lamps, artistic structures and fixtures, floating platforms, flexible joints for machines or robots, buildings, bridges and space stations.

A method for producing three-dimensional space frames or truss structures from simpler components and space frames or truss structures produced by the associated method. The various components, which may be made from virtually any material, are shaped in such a way so that they may be fitted together to create a space frame or truss structure. The components may be held together by any available attachment means, or by the interaction of the components themselves. The method and associated components allows for the assembly of three-dimensional space frames or truss structures from planar materials, significantly reducing cost and manufacturing time. These space frames or trusses can then be used as structural members, as the interior load-bearing portions of sandwich panels, or in any situation where high-strength and light weight are desirable.

A system of cross-shaped units and nodes used to construct strong, lightweight, inexpensive space frames with alternately rigid and flexible components, in which each cross-shaped unit which fits together with five like units to form a spherical node which can be connected to other nodes to form frames for the production of structures including toys, playground structures, lattices, pergolas, statues, roofs, furniture, fixtures, mattresses, kites, lamps, artistic structures and fixtures, floating platforms, flexible joints for machines or robots, buildings, bridges and space stations.

A connector is provided for connecting an elongate support member to a mount. The connector includes a collet assembly including a collet having an opening configured to receive the elongate support member therein. The collet includes a tapered outer profile. The collet assembly includes a collet sleeve extending around the collet. The collet sleeve is configured to move along a length of the collet such that engagement between the collet sleeve and the tapered outer profile of the collet compresses the collet radially inward. The collet sleeve includes a mounting provision configured to be releasably joined to the mount using a mechanical fastener.

A method for providing a configurable virtual reality environment comprises receiving virtual reality world implementation data that describes locations of structures within a virtual reality world from a customer at an input interface. The virtual reality world implementation data is mapped to a physical plan describing a physical implementation of the structures within the virtual reality world using a mapping controller. The physical plan provides indexing and reference points with respect to the physical implementation of the structures in the virtual reality word enabling the physical plan to define the structures in the real world using the mapping controller. Configurable hardware components necessary to build the physical implementation of the structures in the virtual reality world are determined responsive to the physical plan and a listing of available configurable hardware using a parts list controller. A parts list of the configurable hardware components necessary to build the physical implementation of the structures of the virtual reality world is generated using the parts list controller responsive to the determination. The customer is provided with the physical plan describing the physical implementation of the structures within the virtual reality world, the parts list and the configurable hardware components needed to build the physical plan.

A system for generating a virtual reality environment includes a mocap suit having a plurality of sensors for generating at least one mocap suit output responsive to movement of an individual within the mocap suit within the virtual reality environment. At least one virtual reality player headset generates at least one virtual reality headset output responsive to actions of a player within the virtual reality environment. A virtual reality controller receives the at least one mocap suit output and the at least one virtual reality headset output and generates the virtual reality environment for display in the at least one virtual reality player headset. The virtual reality controller selectively generates an avatar associated with the mocap suit responsive to the at least one mocap suit output. The avatar being selectively inserted into the virtual reality world responsive to a first input and selectively removed from the virtual reality environment responsive to a second input.