Modular structural system

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular structural system obtained from the combination, in sliding engagement form, of generically elongated elements A, B, C, D having sections whose perimeter is provided with protrusions and recesses which, in the spatial development of the elements A, B, C, D, form sliding channels or tracks for mutual sliding of the elements which form the structural system. The structural system may also be provided with node elements C shaped so as to have two parallel opposite surfaces, one of which is provided with sliding channels or tracks for mutual male/female engagement in corresponding sliding channels or tracks and the other surface of which is provided with a permanent or releasable connection with other elements A, B, C, D at a connection angle of 0<a<180 with respect to said opposite surfaces. The structural system may also be provided with nodes A, B, C instead of the node elements C.

Claims

1. A structural system having a plurality of elongated elements in sliding engagement; said structural system comprising: (a) a first element A having an elongated shape and having a substantially quadrangular section whose perimeter is provided with protrusions and recesses which form sliding channels or tracks for mutual sliding of additional elongated elements which form the structural system; (b) a second element B or a plurality of elements B, each element B having a section whose perimeter is provided with protrusions and recesses which form sliding channels or tracks for mutual sliding engagement with the elongated element A or additional elongated elements which form the structural system, wherein the external perimeter of said quadrangular element A being surrounded substantially completely by and slidably engaged with perimeter portions of four consecutive and adjacent elements B; the perimeter of each of the four consecutive and adjacent elements B designed to be inserted in portions of the perimeter of said quadrangular element A with mutual male/female engagement on two consecutive sides of said quadrangular element A, other parts of element A are in contact with perimeter portions of two of said four elements B, while the remaining perimeter of element B either defines perimeter portions of the section of the structural element or constitutes an element for insertion into perimeter portions of further third, or third and fourth, elements by means of slidable mutual male/female engagement.

2. The structural system according to claim 1, wherein the quadrangular element A and the element B or elements B have a substantially square or rectangular shape.

3. The structural system according to claim 1, wherein the element A is central and is structurally and slidably connected to four elements B, and the four elements B are cast together to form a monobloc, and optionally the connections between two adjacent elements B are of the dovetail type.

4. The structural system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one node element C shaped so that it has two opposite surfaces, substantially parallel to each other, having an extended surface area that is bigger than the surface area of the remaining pairs of opposite surfaces, one of the two extended opposite surfaces being provided with protrusions and sliding channels or tracks for mutual male/female engagement with corresponding sliding channels or tracks of second elements B, and the second parallel opposite surface being provided with a permanent or releasable connection with said first element A and second elements B.

5. The structural system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one node element C shaped so that it has two opposite surfaces, substantially parallel to each other, having an extended surface area that is bigger than the surface area of the remaining pairs of opposite surfaces, one of the two extended opposite surfaces being provided with protrusions and sliding channels or tracks for mutual male/female engagement with corresponding sliding channels or tracks of second elements B, and the second parallel opposite surface being provided with a permanent or releasable connection with: said first element A, said second element B, a fourth element D, or additional elements, that form the structural system at a variable connection angle in the range 0 <<180 with respect to said opposite surfaces, and wherein the permanent or releasable connection: comprises fixing means or systems selected from the group consisting of: screws, bolts, glues, welds, pins, clinching, riveting, hemming, sealing, screwing, interlocking engagement or snap-engagement, and magnetic systems; or, is formed integrally between element C and the various other elements A, B, C, D, wherein optionally the elements A, B, C, D, C are solids generated from a flat figure which moves in space and has a barycenter and which remains orthogonal to the trajectories described by its points, the trajectory of the barycenter of the flat figure being said axial line, while the flat figure forms the section of each element A, B, C, D, C.

6. The structural system according to claim 1, wherein the elements that form the structural system are: (a) solid or hollow; or (b) hollow with variable thickness.

7. The structural system according to claim 1, wherein the materials from which the single structural elements A, B, C, D, C or portions thereof are made are chosen from: cementitious or cement-like materials, glass, polymeric materials, metals and alloys, wood, composite materials, wherein optionally the composite materials comprise metallic and non-metallic laminates, stratified materials, cellular or honeycomb materials with open and/or closed cells, and combinations thereof, wherein optionally the internal shape of the section of elements A, B, C, D, C is solid to produce a solid element or is hollow to produce a boxed or a hollow element, and optionally the boxed elements and the hollow elements in the structural elements A, B, C, D, C are formed independently of each other, and optionally the boxed elements and/or the hollow element in the structural elements are filled with materials selected from the group consisting of: cementitious or cement-like materials, glass, polymeric materials, metals and alloys, wood, composite materials, metallic laminates, non-metallic laminates, stratified materials, cellular or honeycomb materials with open and closed cells, cellular or honeycomb materials with open or closed cells, and combinations thereof, and optionally the internal volume of boxed elements are filled with liquids or gases, or liquids and gases, or is filled with solid, liquid and gaseous material, and optionally the internal volume of the hollows in the structural elements is filled with liquids or gases, or is filled with liquids and gases, or is filled with combinations of solid, liquid and gaseous materials, and optionally the structural system further comprises nodes selected from the group consisting of: nodes A, B and C.

8. The structural system according to claim 1, wherein elements A and B are arranged for making linear structures, wherein optionally the linear structures are curved, vertical or horizontal structures, wheren optionally the structures are pillars or beams, or the structures are for making modular games and construction games, or the structures are to be used in different application sectors selected from the group consisting of: construction, mechanical engineering, transportation, furnishing and ornamental objects.

9. A Node A comprising a combination of three, four, five or six or more elements A as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elements A are combined or cast together as a monobloc, optionally cast together at their origin, optionally originally cast together.

10. A node B comprising a combination of three, four, five or six or more groups of elements B as set forth in claim 1, wherein the groups of elements B comprise single elements or are cast as a monobloc, and optionally the elements A are combined or cast together as a monobloc, optionally cast together at their origin, optionally originally cast together.

11. A node comprising a plurality of node elements C, wherein each node element C comprises two opposite surfaces substantially parallel to each other and having an extended surface area that is bigger than the surface area of the remaining pairs of opposite surfaces, one of the two extended opposite surfaces comprising protrusions and sliding channels or tracks for mutual male/female engagement with corresponding sliding channels or tracks of an element B, and the second parallel opposite surface being provided with a permanent or releasable connection with: (i) element A, (ii) element B, or (iii) element A and B, and optionally also with other elements that form the structural system of claim 1, at a variable connection angle in the range 0 <<180 with respect to said opposite surfaces, wherein optionally the node elements C are identical to each other, and optionally the structural system comprises up to four nodes.

12. A manufactured object comprising the structural system of claim 1.

13. The structural system of claim 1, further comprising: one element C or a plurality of third elements C; wherein the element C or elements C comprise a section whose perimeter is designed to be inserted in portions of the perimeter of an element B, and where more than one elements C are present, in perimeter portions of other adjacent elements C with mutual male/female engagement, and optionally the remaining perimeter portions of elements C define external perimeter portions of the overall final section of the structural system.

14. The structural system according to claim 13, wherein the quadrangular element A is central and is structurally and slidably connected to four elements B which are in turn are structurally and slidably connected to four elements C, and optionally the four elements C are structurally and slidably connected to four elements D, wherein optionally the four elements C are cast together to form a monobloc.

15. The structural system of claim 1, further comprising: one element C or a plurality of third elements C, and one fourth element D or a plurality of fourth elements D; wherein the element C or elements C comprise a section whose perimeter is designed to be inserted in portions of the perimeter of an element B and in perimeter portions of other adjacent elements C and an additional element D or elements D with mutual male/female engagement, and optionally the remaining perimeter portions of element C define external perimeter portions of the overall final section of the structural system; and perimeter portions of said elements C and elements D surrounding in a substantially complete manner the perimeter portions of the elements B which are not engaged during mutual sliding with the element A.

16. The structural system according to claim 15, wherein the element D or elements D have a section whose perimeter is able to partially slidably engage with perimeter portions of an element C and with mutual male/female engagement, and optionally the remaining perimeter portions of the element D or elements D define external perimeter portions of the overall final section of the structural system.

17. A node comprising a plurality of elements A and B, and at least one node element C, wherein each at least one node element C comprises two opposite surfaces substantially parallel to each other and having an extended surface area that is bigger than the surface area of the remaining pairs of opposite surfaces, wherein one of the two extended opposite surfaces comprises protrusions and sliding channels or tracks for mutual male/female slidable engagement with corresponding sliding channels or tracks of the element B, and the second parallel opposite surface being provided with a permanent or releasable connection with the element A and the element B, and optionally further comprising other elements that form a structural system according to claim 2, at a variable connection angle in the range 0 <<180 with respect to said opposite surfaces, wherein optionally the node further comprises at least one element C, and optionally further comprises elements D and C, and the node is obtained by a sliding combination of the male female type with elements C and optional elements D and node elements C.

18. A node C comprising a combination of three, four, five or six groups or more of elements C as set forth in claim 15, and optionally the elements C are combined or cast together as a monobloc, optionally cast together at their origin, optionally originally merged together.

19. The structural system of claim 1, wherein the sliding channels or tracks are of the square type with surfaces which are parallel or realized rounded with beveled surfaces.

20. The structural system of claim 1, wherein the structural system has an overall section with an external perimeter substantially shaped as a circle, ellipse or a regular polygon, or a square or rectangle.

21. The structural system of claim 1, wherein the structural system has a predefined length which is obtained by assembling elements A and B having lengths different from each other until the predefined length is reached.

22. The structural system of claim 21, wherein the structural system has a predefined length which is obtained by assembling elements A and B and additional structural elements having lengths different from each other until the predefined length is reached.

23. The structural system of claim 1, further comprising: (a) a node selected from the group consisting of nodes A, B and C, wherein: node A comprises a plurality of elements A, and optionally comprising three, four five or six or more elements A, and optionally said elements A being combined together or cast together as a monobloc; or node B comprises a plurality of elements, optionally a combination of four elements B, wherein the elements B are combined in a group, and optionally comprising three, four, five or six or more group elements B, optionally said elements B are combined or cast together as a monobloc; or (b) a node selected from among nodes A, B, C, wherein: node A comprises a plurality of elements A, and optionally comprising three, four five or six or more elements A, and optionally said elements A being combined together or cast together as a monobloc; node B comprises a plurality of elements, optionally a combination of four elements B, wherein the elements B are combined in a group, and optionally comprising three, four, five or six or more group elements B, optionally said elements B being combined or cast together as a monobloc; or node C comprises a plurality of elements, optionally a combination of four elements C, wherein the elements C are combined in a group, and optionally comprising three, four, five or six or more group elements C, optionally said elements C being combined or cast together as a monobloc.

24. The structural system of claim 1, further comprising: additional elements C at a variable connection angle in the range 0 <<180 with respect to said opposite surfaces, wherein optionally the additional elements C are a third element C or a fourth element C.

25. A structural assembly comprising: two or more structural systems according to claim 1, wherein the two or more structural systems are connected to each other by at least one node element C shaped so that it has two opposite surfaces, substantially parallel to each other, having an extended surface area that is bigger than the surface area of the remaining pairs of opposite surfaces, one of the two extended opposite surfaces being provided with protrusions and sliding channels or tracks for mutual male/female engagement with corresponding sliding channels or tracks of second elements B, and the second parallel opposite surface being provided with a permanent or releasable connection with: (i) said first element A, (ii) said second element B, (iii) said first element A and second element B, or (iv) any of (i), (ii) or (iii) and additional elements, that form the structural system, wherein the elements have a connection angle in the range of between about 0 <<180 with respect to said opposite surfaces; or with a node selected from among the nodes A, B, C, wherein node A comprises a plurality of elements A, and optionally comprising or more three, four five or six or more elements A, and optionally said elements A being combined together or cast together as a monobloc; node B comprises a plurality of elements, optionally a combination of four elements B, wherein the elements B are combined in a group, and optionally comprising three, four, five or six or more group elements B, optionally said elements B being combined or cast together as a monobloc.

26. A manufactured object comprising the structural system of claim 25.

27. A structural assembly comprising: two or more structural systems according to claim 1, wherein the at least two or more structural systems are connected to each other by a node element C shaped so that it has two opposite surfaces, substantially parallel to each other, having an extended surface area that is bigger than the surface area of the remaining pairs of opposite surfaces, one of the two extended opposite surfaces being provided with protrusions and sliding channels or tracks for mutual maleifemale engagement with corresponding sliding channels or tracks of second elements B, and the second parallel opposite surface being provided with a permanent or releasable connection comprising: (i) said first element A, (ii) said second element B, (iii) said first element A and second element B, or (iv) any of (i), (ii) or (iii) and additional elements, that form the structural system at a variable connection angle in the range 0 <<180 with respect to said opposite surfaces; or with a node selected from among the nodes A, B, C, wherein node A comprises a plurality of elements A, and optionally comprising three, four five or six or more elements A, and optionally said elements A being combined together or cast together as a monobloc; node B comprises a plurality of elements, optionally a combination of four elements B, wherein the elements B are combined in a group, and optionally comprising three, four, five or six or more group elements B, optionally said elements B being combined or cast together as a monobloc; or node C comprises a plurality of elements, optionally a combination of four elements C, wherein the elements C are combined in a group, and optionally comprising three, four, five or six or more group elements C, optionally said elements C being combined or cast together as a monobloc.

28. A manufactured object comprising the structural system of claim 27.

29. A structural system having a set section obtained from a combination in sliding engagement form of elongated elements; said system comprising: an element A, and an element B and optionally an element C or C, wherein optionally the structural system comprises: a plurality of elements B, or four elements B; a plurality of elements C, or four elements C; or, a node element C or a plurality of node elements C, wherein the element A has a substantially square section in which sliding grooves or longitudinal tracks (1) are provided symmetrically, being distributed on the four sides of the section and defining the protruding parts (2) which can slidingly engage inside corresponding complementary grooves in the element B; and the element B has a substantially square section in which the sliding grooves or longitudinal tracks (3), (4) and (5) are provided on three of the four corners of the section, said grooves or tracks (4) and (5) being mirror-image of each other and different from the groove or track (3), which is shaped so that it can be coupled with and can accommodate the protruding parts (2) of element A; wherein the external perimeter of said element A being surrounded substantially completely by perimeter portions of four consecutive and adjacent elements B; wherein the perimeter of said element B or elements B are inserted in portions of the perimeter of A with mutual slidable male/female engagement on two consecutive sides of said element A, other parts of element A are in contact with perimeter portions of two of said four elements B, and the remaining perimeter of element or elements B either define perimeter portions of the section of the structural element or constitutes an element for slidable insertion into perimeter portions of: (i) one or more elements B; (ii) one or more elements C; or (iii) one or more elements B and C; by means of mutual slidable male/female engagement; and wherein optionally the grooves or tracks (4) and (5) further being shaped so that they can slidingly engage with corresponding complementary protrusions of the element C or the node element C; wherein the element C is substantially shaped so that it has two opposite extended surfaces (6) and (7) substantially parallel to each other and having a surface area that is bigger than the surface area of the remaining pairs of parallel and opposite surfaces (8), (9) and (10), the pairs of surfaces 10 being identical to each other; the opposite extended surface (7) being provided with a protrusion (11) forming two sliding channels or tracks (12) which are parallel and opposite to each other and a protrusion (13) parallel to the channels or tracks (12) on the side where the lateral surface (9) is located; the lateral surface (8), which is parallel and opposite to the lateral surface (9), having a sliding groove or track (14) parallel to the channels or tracks (12).

30. The structural system according to claim 29, wherein: the node element C has the same protrusions and sliding channels or tracks as the element C, and is different from the element C in that on the opposite extended surface (6), which is parallel and opposite to the opposite extended surface (7), and further comprises a permanent or releasable connection with said first element A and second elements B and optional other elements C at a connection angle in the range 0 <<180 , or at =90 , with respect to the opposite extended surface (6).

31. The structural system according to claim 29, wherein: the channels or tracks (12) and the protrusion (11) are able to engage slidingly with corresponding complementary protrusions or tracks of generic elements B; the protrusions (13) and the grooves or tracks (14) are able to slidingly engage with corresponding complementary tracks or protrusions of other elements C, wherein optionally the node element C has connected to it elements A, B, C arranged to form a structural assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will now be described, only by way of an illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows an axonometric view of the element A which forms part of the structural system according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-section of the element A of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 schematically shows an axonometric view of the element B which forms part of the structural system according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 schematically shows a cross-section of the element B of FIG. 3;

(6) FIGS. 5a and 5b schematically show an axonometric front view (FIG. 5a) and rear view (FIG. 5b) of the element C which forms part of the structural system according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 schematically shows a cross-section of the element C of FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 schematically shows an axonometric view of a first embodiment of the node element C, which forms part of the structural system according to the invention;

(9) FIG. 8 schematically shows an axonometric view of a second embodiment of the node element C, which forms part of the structural system according to the invention;

(10) FIG. 9 schematically shows an axonometric view of a third embodiment of the node element C, which forms part of the structural system according to the invention;

(11) FIG. 10 schematically shows an axonometric view of the node A, which forms part of the structural system according to the invention;

(12) FIG. 11 schematically shows an axonometric view of the node B, which forms part of the structural system according to the invention;

(13) FIG. 12 schematically shows an axonometric view of the node C, which forms part of the structural system according to the invention;

(14) FIG. 13 schematically shows an axonometric view of a combination of the elements A, B and C of varying lengths;

(15) FIG. 14 schematically shows the cross-section along x-x indicated in the view of FIG. 13;

(16) FIG. 15 schematically shows the cross-section along y-y indicated in the view of FIG. 13;

(17) FIG. 16 schematically shows an axonometric right-hand view of the structural system according to FIG. 13 combined, by means of a node element C, with another structural system positioned orthogonally with respect to the first system;

(18) FIG. 17 schematically shows the same view as that of FIG. 16, in an axonometric view from the left;

(19) FIG. 18 schematically shows the same view as that of FIGS. 16 and 17, in an axonometric view from the rear;

(20) FIG. 19 schematically shows the same view as that of FIG. 16 with the orthogonal structural system lowered;

(21) FIG. 20 schematically shows an axonometric view of a structural system combined with other four orthogonal structural systems by means of a corresponding number of node elements C, one of the four elements being at the top, during assembly/disassembly with respect to the other three elements;

(22) FIG. 21 schematically shows the same view as in FIG. 20, while the combination of four elements C is being inserted/removed;

(23) FIG. 22 schematically is an axonometric view of a structural system comprising four nodes, completely assembled, showing in particular male and female parts prepared for subsequent connections in order to obtain a structural assembly according to the present invention.

(24) FIGS. 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23e, 23f, 23g, 23h, 23i, 23j, 23k schematically show in cross-section the possible embodiments of the detail W encircled in FIG. 15;

(25) FIG. 24 schematically shows in cross-section the combination of the element A with four elements B;

(26) FIGS. 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, 25g schematically show in cross-section different embodiments of the elements A, B, C with different sections, relative dimensional ratios and external shapes;

(27) FIGS. 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d schematically show in cross-section different embodiments of the elements A, B, C, D with different relative dimensional ratios and external shapes;

(28) FIG. 27 schematically shows an axonometric view of a combination of the elements A, B and C of different lengths cut at an angle different from 90;

(29) FIG. 28 schematically shows an axonometric view of a combination of the elements A, B and C of different lengths formed with a curved shape;

(30) FIG. 29 shows the same view as that in FIG. 13, but horizontally, where an element G is applied onto the elements C;

(31) FIG. 30 schematically shows the cross-section along z-z in the view of FIG. 29, showing the element G cross-sectioned;

(32) FIG. 31 schematically shows an axonometric view of an element A placed on a base E;

(33) FIG. 32 schematically shows an axonometric view of four elements B cast together and placed on a base E;

(34) FIG. 33 schematically shows an axonometric view of four elements C cast together and placed on a base E;

(35) FIG. 34 schematically shows the cross-section of FIG. 14 in which the various elements A, B, C are made up in different ways and with different materials.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(36) The attached figures show a preferred embodiment of a structural system according to the invention obtained by combining various embodiments of the elements A, B, C; D, the node elements C and the nodes A, B, C, which allow interconnection with other four structural systems positioned orthogonally with respect to the first system in order to obtain a structural assembly according to the invention.

(37) With particular reference to the attached FIGS. 1 to 6, these show a preferred embodiment of the elements A, B and C, which make up the modular structural system according to the invention.

(38) The element A, shown in the axonometric view of FIG. 1 and in the cross-section of FIG. 2 has a generically square section, as shown in particular in FIG. 2, or rectangular section, as shown in FIGS. 25b and 26c. In said element A sliding grooves or longitudinal tracks 1 are formed, symmetrically distributed on the four sides of the section. In FIGS. 1 and 2 and in FIGS. 24, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25f, 26a 26c, 26d, the guides shown are of the square type with parallel surfaces, but may be formed in any known manner suitable for allowing sliding of complementary parts, for example rounded or bevelled as shown in FIGS. 25a, 25e, 25g and 26b. The grooves or tracks 1 define projecting parts 2, which may also be shaped square or rounded or bevelled so as to be able to engage slidingly inside corresponding complementary grooves of a generic element B.

(39) The element B, shown in the axonometric view of FIG. 3 and in the cross-section of FIG. 4, has a generically quadrangular section, as shown in particular in FIG. 4, which shows the sliding grooves or longitudinal tracks 3, and optional sliding grooves or longitudinal tracks 4 and 5 formed on one or three of the four corners of the section and also optional sliding grooves or longitudinal tracks 15 formed on the fourth of the four corners of the section, as shown in cross-section of FIG. 26b. Also the element B may have a generically rectangular section, as shown in particular in FIGS. 25b e 26c. In FIGS. 3, 4 and in FIGS. 24, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25f, 26a, 26c e 26d the grooves or tracks 3, 4, 15 are of the square type with parallel surfaces, but such tracks may be formed in any known manner suitable for allowing sliding of complementary parts, for example rounded or bevelled, as shown in FIGS. 25a, 25e, 25g and 26b. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the grooves or tracks 4 and 5 are an identical mirror-image of each other and different from the track 3 which is shaped so that it can be coupled with and accommodate the projecting parts 2 of the element A. The grooves or tracks 4 and 5 are designed to engage slidingly with corresponding complementary protrusions of a generic element C or C. In the embodiment of FIG. 24, the grooves or tracks 4 and 5 are replaced by grooves 16 and protrusions 17 and a structural system according to the invention may be formed only with the central element A, in this case having a generically square section, (or rectangular section, not shown), surrounded by four elements B. The section of a structural system realized with only elements A and B may be, other than square, as shown in FIG. 24, also polygonal, or rounded or generically with any design (embodiments not shown).

(40) The embodiment shown in FIG. 26b has the additional groove or track 15 which is able to slidingly engage with corresponding complementary protrusion of a generic element D, whose section can have various shapes, as for example shown in FIGS. 26a to 20d. In this embodiment the structural system of the invention will be formed not only with the central element A (having a generically square or rectangular section), surrounded by four elements B, but also with additional four elements C and D.

(41) With particular reference to FIG. 25c, this shows an embodiment in cross-section in which the four elements B are cast together as a monolithic element or monobloc which completely surrounds A.

(42) The element C, shown in the axonometric of FIGS. 5a, 5b and in cross-section in FIG. 6 is generically shaped so as to have two opposite surfaces 6, 7, substantially parallel to each other, having a surface area bigger than the surface area of the remaining pairs of parallel and opposite surfaces 8, 9 and 10, 10, the pairs of surfaces 10, 10 being identical to each other.

(43) The surface 10 of the element C has a generically rectangular section, as shown in FIG. 6.

(44) The extended surface 7 is provided with a protrusion 11 for forming two parallel and opposite sliding channels 12 and a protrusion 13 parallel to the channels 12 on the side where the lateral surface 9 is located. The lateral surface 8, parallel and opposite to the lateral surface 9, has a longitudinal groove or track 14 parallel to the channels 12.

(45) In an embodiment shown only in cross-section (FIG. 25c) two alternate and opposite elements C have parallel sliding channels 14 able to slidingly engage with corresponding protrusions 13 formed on the other two alternate and parallel elements C.

(46) In an embodiment shown only in cross-section (FIGS. 26a to 26d) the four alternate and opposite elements C have on their surfaces 8/9 protrusions/sliding channels 14 able to slidingly engage with corresponding channels/protrusions of additional elements D.

(47) In an embodiments shown only in cross-section (FIGS. 25f and 25g) the elements C have double parallel sliding channels 14 able to slidingly engage with corresponding double protrusions 13 formed on other two adjacent elements C.

(48) As shown in FIGS. 25a to 26d, the element C, optionally in combination with the element D, with its external perimeter portion which may have various shapes with different designs, helps form the external part of the structural system of the invention.

(49) FIGS. 23a to 23k show different embodiments of the protrusion/channel joint which can be obtained on the lateral surfaces 8/9 of two elements C adjacent to each other. Some of the various embodiments are also shown in FIGS. 25a to 26d.

(50) The node element C (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) has the same sliding channels or tracks and protrusions as the element C, while it differs from the latter in that on the extended surface 6, which is parallel and opposite to the extended surface 7, it is further provided with a permanent or releasable connection with the element A (FIG. 7) or with elements B, which in FIG. 8 are shown cast together to form a monobloc, or with elements C, which in FIG. 9 are shown cast together to form a monobloc. The elements A, B, C are connected to the surface 6 at an angle which in this embodiment forms an angle of 90 with respect to the extended surface 6.

(51) In an embodiment, not shown, the connection on the surface 6 of said elements A, B, C may be performed at angles 90.

(52) The grooves or tracks 12 and the protrusion 11 are designed to engage slidingly with corresponding complementary protrusions or tracks of generic elements B. The protrusions 13 and the grooves or tracks 14 are designed to engage slidingly with corresponding complementary tracks or protrusions of other generic elements C.

(53) Again with reference to FIGS. 7-9, these show preferred embodiments of the node element C, which allow two or more structural systems to be interconnected with each other.

(54) FIGS. 10, 11e 12 are further embodiments of nodes which are an alternative to those obtainable with the elements C. These further embodiments are obtained by means of the spatial arrangement of at least two elements at 90 with respect to each other. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 the node A is obtained by the combination of six elements A originally cast together. In further embodiments (not shown) the node A may be obtained by combining at least three elements originally cast together. The node B is composed by at least three groups of four elements B originally cast together and FIG. 11 shows the node B composed of six of these groups of four elements B, which in this figure are cast together to form a monobloc, the monoblocs being originally cast together. The node C is composed of at least three groups of four elements C originally cast together and FIG. 12 shows the node C composed of six of these groups of four elements C, which in this figure are cast together to form a monobloc, the monoblocs being originally cast together.

(55) The connection between the vertical structural systems and the horizontal systems in order to obtain a structural assembly is performed by means of assembly using elements of type C, or node elements, or by means of the nodes A, B, C which form a connection between the elements A, B, C and optional elements D of a first structural system for example arranged vertically, with a second structural system for example arranged horizontally with respect to the first system.

(56) When the node is realized with elements C, the node is obtained by means of a sliding combination of the male/female type with other elements C and optional elements D and C. In the case where the section of the vertical structural system is square or rectangular, each node will be formed by four elements C identical to each other and the structural system may have up to four nodes. Each node element C is positioned along the direction of extension of the following structural system which is to be connected to the preceding one, for example to obtain a structural complex formed by two or more structural systems at 90 relative to each other.

(57) Further embodiments of the nodes A, B, C are shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 12.

(58) FIG. 13 and FIGS. 14 and 15 show, respectively, an axonometric view of a combination of the elements A, B and C and corresponding cross-sections x-x and y-y.

(59) With particular reference to FIG. 13, this shows a structural system according to the invention, obtained by means of the sliding assembly of the central element A having, positioned around it, four elements B from which four elements C extend. FIG. 13 shows how the various elements A, B, C may have lengths which are different from each other.

(60) FIG. 14 shows, along the cross-section x-x, the assembled arrangement of the element A and four elements B.

(61) FIG. 15 shows, along the cross-section y-y, the assembled arrangement of the element A, four elements B and further four elements C. The detail in the circle W shows a way of connecting together two adjacent elements C. Other types of connection are shown in FIGS. 23a to 23k.

(62) With particular reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, these show a structural system according to the invention with a vertical extension, similar to that of FIG. 13. This vertical structural system may also be developed horizontally by using a node element C which in the figure is positioned at the top and may slide longitudinally downwards until it reaches an element C which forms an abutment therewith, as shown in FIG. 19.

(63) Still with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, these show the element C which has, connected to it, other elements A, B, C arranged according to the invention to form a second structural system, orthogonal to the first system. In FIG. 18 it is also possible to see the sliding action of the node element C with the protrusion 11 which engages slidingly inside the corresponding splines 4 and 5 created by two adjacent elements B.

(64) FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 show the structural system composed of a central element A, four elements B and four elements C which are all interconnected slidingly, a second element C being positioned on one of the elements C.

(65) FIG. 19 shows the vertical structural system which is connected to a corresponding orthogonal structural system by means of the node element C and where the element A of the orthogonal structural system is partly extracted from its seat or has a greater length than the corresponding elements B and C to which it is structurally connected, so as to form a male element for the horizontal development of the structure as a whole.

(66) FIGS. 20, 21 and 22 show the embodiment consisting of four nodes each obtained by the combination of an element C with respective elements A, B, C. As can be seen from the figures, the various elements A, B, C have different lengths so as to create sliding and extractable male/female connections for a three-dimensional development of the structural system according to the invention. In these figures one of the nodes is formed as a monobloc as shown in FIG. 9.

(67) FIGS. 16 to 22 show how the elements A, B, C, C of a structural system according to the invention, spatially organized in form of pillars and beams, can be extracted and are mutually slidable.

(68) FIG. 27 illustrates a structural system according to the invention with an oblique cut.

(69) FIG. 28 illustrates a structural system according to the invention having a curved shape.

(70) FIG. 29 illustrates a structural system according to the invention which contains a particular element G obtained by the casting together of four elements C adjacent to each other.

(71) FIGS. 31, 32, 33 illustrate the embodiment of a structural system according to the invention, obtained by positioning the element A on a base E in a permanent or releasable manner (FIG. 31). FIG. 32 shows a further embodiment obtained by positioning in a permanent or releasable manner on a base E four elements B which in this embodiment are cast together as a single element H which can completely surround the element A. FIG. 33 shows a further embodiment obtained by positioning in a permanent or releasable manner on a base E four elements C which in this embodiment are cast together as a single element G.

(72) FIG. 34 shows an illustrative cross-section of different ways of forming the single elements A, B, C (D and C not shown) in which: a. one or more or all the elements (namely A or B or C) is/are formed as a hollow article of a given thickness, different thicknesses being possible depending on the requirements for the structural element as a whole; b. one or more or all the elements (namely A or B or C) is/are formed as a solid or hollow article filled with particulate materials of a different nature (metals/glass/plastics/inert materials), different piece/particle sizes being possible depending on the requirements for the structural element as a whole; c. one or more or all the elements (namely A or B or C) is/are formed as an article divided up into sub-assemblies which, when assembled together, recompose the element as a whole, an unlimited plurality of sub-assemblies being possible depending on the requirements for the structural element as a whole; d. all the combinations a/b/c are possible.

(73) In FIG. 34: 341 indicates an element C consisting of hollow portions with a regular geometric shape of varying thickness made with different materials; 342 indicates an element C composed of solid portions with a regular geometrical shape, made of various materials; 343 indicates a solid element C made of wood; 344 indicates a hollow element C of given thickness made of metal; 345 indicates an element B consisting of solid portions with a regular geometric shape, made of different materials; 346 indicates a solid element B made of cement; 347 indicates a hollow element B of given thickness made of a cellular material; 348 indicates a solid element B made of plastic material; 349 indicates a hollow element A of given thickness made of metal.

(74) The particular embodiments described here must not be regarded as limiting the scope of the present invention, which embraces all the variants defined by the claims.