JPH11325395A - Bar-shaped member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a member capable of constructing various kinds of three- dimensional structures including a tensegrity structure and make the member very useful for the construction of buildings, models, toys and ornaments by providing the member with two string parts connecting both end parts and a structure in which the string parts of the same shaped members can be held at both the end parts. SOLUTION: Grooves (about 0.5 mm in width) 3 are made at both the ends of a bamboo strip (about 2.7 mm in diameter, about 3 mm in depth) 1 and rubber bands (No. 16, about 40 mm in diameter of a band, about 3 mm in thickness) 2 are fitted into the grooves 3. The groove 3 has a structure in which a coupling part of a string part (rubber band 2) and a bar shaped part (bamboo strip 1) is used also as a connecting part. The connection is performed by fitting string parts of the same-shaped members into the grooves 3. In order to confirm string parts holding capability of the connecting part, three pieces of the members are manufactured and a three-cornered shape in which the string parts are inserted into the grooves 3 is constructed. As a result, these members have sufficient strength and string part holding capability to construct a structure and are very easily attached or detached.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a member for constructing a three-dimensional structure such as a building, a model, a toy, a decoration and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A structure called a tensegrity structure in which a bar-shaped pressure-resistant member and a string-shaped tension-resistant member are combined,
Since the tension applied to one structural member is transmitted to the entire structure, the structure is self-stabilized and has a beautiful geometrical structure (see Nikkei Science, April 1998, pp. 22-34). ). Further, a frame structure such as a geodesic dome devised by Fuller also belongs to the tensegrity structure (Nikkei Science, April 1998, 22-
See page 34). These tensegrity structures are useful for constructing three-dimensional structures such as buildings, models, toys, and ornaments, and various construction methods have been devised (JP-A-58-11239, JP-A-58-11239). 9-166286), when constructing by a conventional method, using a plurality of members,
The assembly is very complicated, and it is difficult to dismantle the assembled structure immediately to construct another structure. No single component is known that can easily construct a tensegrity structure.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a member for constructing a tensegrity structure which is easy to assemble and disassemble.

[0004]

As a result of intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, two strings (2) connecting both ends and members having the same shape at both ends as shown in FIG. The present invention has led to the invention of a rod-shaped member having a structure (3) capable of holding the cord-shaped portion of the present invention.

That is, the present invention provides a member for constructing a tensegrity structure which is easy to assemble and disassemble.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A member according to the present invention comprises a rod-shaped portion (1), a string-shaped portion (2) and a connecting portion (3) as shown in FIG.

The shape of the rod-shaped portion, which is a part of the member of the present invention, is not particularly limited as long as the rod-shaped portion has a coupling portion with the cord-shaped portion and a connecting portion capable of holding the cord-shaped portion of the same-shaped member. It is desirable that the maximum diameter of the rod-shaped portion be one third or less of the length of the long axis.
The shape of the cross section of the rod portion may be any of a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon. The diameter of the rod portion may be uniform, and may have a partial structure such as a protrusion, a dent, or a hole. The shape of the rod portion may be a hollow pipe shape.

[0008] The material of the rod-shaped portion, which is a part of the member of the present invention, is not particularly limited. For example, wood, bamboo, stone, metal, glass, carbon, ceramics, resin, synthetic resin, rubber, synthetic rubber, cardboard, ball Paper or the like, or a material obtained by combining them can be used. Further, the material of the bar portion may not be uniform in the entire structure, for example, the center portion of the bar portion may be made of wood and the end portion may be made of metal, and the metal of the center portion may be covered with a synthetic resin. May be a simple structure.

[0009] The string-like portion, which is a part of the member of the present invention,
A material and shape with some flexibility and elasticity are desirable, but if it can be attached to and detached from the connection part of the same shape, it may be a material with almost no flexibility and elasticity like a hard wooden stick,
Such a thing which is not generally expressed as a string shape can also constitute a string portion which is a part of the member of the present invention.

The shape of the string-like portion, which is a part of the member of the present invention, is not particularly limited as long as it is connected to both ends of the rod-like portion at both ends of the string-like portion and can be held at the connecting portion of the same-shaped member. The length of the string-like portion is desirably twice or less the length of the rod-like portion. The shape of the cross section of the cord-like portion may be any of a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, and the like. The diameter of the string portion may be uniform, for example, a protrusion,
It may have a partial structure such as a dent or a hole. Further, the string-shaped portion may be a single wire, or may have a structure such as a twisted yarn, a knitting yarn, a chain, a spring, a hollow pipe, or the like.

The material of the string-like portion which is a part of the member of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, natural fibers such as cotton and silk, wood, bamboo, stone, metal, glass, carbon, ceramic, resin, and synthetic resin , Rubber, synthetic rubber, cardboard, cardboard, and the like, or a material combining them. Further, the material of the cord-like portion may not be uniform in the entire structure, and may be, for example, a structure in which a synthetic resin wire and a metal wire are twisted, or a structure in which a metal wire is covered with a synthetic resin. Further, for example, a structure in which an end portion is made of rubber and a central portion is made of a synthetic resin, or a chain-like structure in which a metal ring and a rubber ring are combined may be used. It is desirable that the two cord portions have the same material, shape, and the like, but they may be intentionally constituted by cord portions having different materials and shapes.

The connecting portion between the rod-shaped portion and the string-shaped portion, which is a part of the member of the present invention, is not particularly limited as long as it does not break down when a structure is constructed using a plurality of members of the present invention. The rod-shaped part and the string-shaped part may be integrally formed, or a completely fixed structure such as adhesion, embedding, ligating, screwing, tacking, welding, etc. may be used. For example, a structure in which the string-shaped portion has mobility, such as mounting a sex ring and fixing to the ring, or a detachable structure, such as digging a groove in a rod-shaped portion and fitting the string-shaped portion, may be used. In addition, a spring is
A structure in which rubber or the like is built in and a string-like portion is connected to the rubber-like portion so that the string-like portion can expand and contract may be used.

[0013] The connecting position of the rod-shaped portion and the string-shaped portion, which is a part of the member of the present invention, is not particularly limited. It is desirable to do. It is desirable that the coupling positions at both ends are generally symmetrical, but they may be intentionally shifted.
The two cords may be joined to the rod at approximately the same location, and at distant locations, for example, when the rod cross section is circular,
The connection may be made at the opposite side of the circumference (position shifted by 180 degrees), at a position shifted by 120 degrees, or the like, or the shift angle may be variable by a movable ring attached to the rod-shaped portion. Further, it is desirable that the two cord-like portions are joined at a position substantially at the same distance from the end of the rod-like portion, but they may be intentionally shifted.

[0014] The connecting portion, which is a part of the member of the present invention, comprises:
The structure is not particularly limited as long as it can hold the string-shaped portion of the same shape member, but it is desirable that the structure is located within the range of one-third of the entire length of the rod-shaped portion from the end of the rod-shaped portion. The connecting portion is desirably connectable to an arbitrary position of the string-shaped portion of the same-shaped member. However, a structure in which the connecting portion is connected to a specific position of the string-shaped portion of the same-shaped member, for example, only to a central portion of the string-shaped portion may be used. The strength of the holding of the string-like portion by the connecting portion only needs to have a holding capacity that does not deviate when a structure is constructed using a plurality of members of the present invention. Even if it is firmly fixed to the position, the connecting portion may be loose enough to be freely shifted to an arbitrary position along the string-like portion. The connection of the string-shaped part of the same shape as the connection part is desirably easy to attach and detach, but after the connection, it may be fixed by gluing, welding, screwing, tacking, etc. May be provided on the connecting portion and the string-shaped portion. The structure of the connecting portion, which is a part of the member of the present invention, is not particularly limited as long as it can hold the string-like portion of the same shape member, but may be a structure in which a groove is dug at the end of the rod-like portion. The holding ability may be enhanced by adding irregularities to the surface. Further, the structure of the connecting portion may be a structure using a spring or the like like a clip or a clothespin, a structure in which a metal ball or the like is fitted to increase the holding ability, or a connection using magnetism. Further, a structure in which a projection is attached to the rod-shaped portion and fitted into the hole of the string-shaped portion, or a structure in which a projection is attached to the string-shaped portion and fitted into the hole of the rod-shaped portion may be used. The connecting part may be a part of a rod-shaped part or a string-shaped part processed, and the connecting part is screwed into the rod-shaped part or the string-shaped part, fitted, adhered,
A structure attached by welding, screwing, tacking, or the like may be used. The connecting portion may have mobility with respect to the rod-shaped portion or the string-shaped portion as long as the string-shaped portion of the same-shaped member can be held at the end of the rod-shaped portion. It is desirable that the two connecting portions have the same structure. However, the connecting portions may have different structures as long as they can hold the string-shaped portions of the same shape.

The material of the connecting portion which is a part of the member of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, natural fibers such as cotton and silk, wood, bamboo, stone, metal, glass, carbon, ceramic, resin, synthetic resin, Rubber, synthetic rubber, cardboard, cardboard, or the like, or a material combining them can be used.

[0016]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following Examples, which should not be construed as limiting the invention thereto.

Example 1 (Example of manufacturing members) As shown in FIG. 2, a bamboo tree (diameter: about 2.7 mm, length: about 1 mm)
40mm) groove (width about 0.5mm, depth about 3m) at both ends
m), and a rubber band (made by Kyowa Co., Ltd., O-Band, No. 16, the diameter of the ring is about 40 mm and the thickness is about 3 m)
m). This groove has a structure that also serves as a connecting portion between the string-like portion and the rod-like portion and a connecting portion. The connection is performed by fitting a string-like portion of the same shape member into this groove. In order to confirm the ability to hold the string-like portion of the connecting portion, three members were manufactured, and FIG.
The structure as shown in FIG. As a result, it was confirmed that this member had sufficient strength and string-like portion holding ability for constructing a structure, and was extremely easy to attach and detach.

Example 2 (Example of use of members) Using six members having the same shape as those manufactured in Example 1,
R. Tensegrity model developed by Buckminster Fuller (Nikkei Science, April 1998, 22-3
(See page 4). Although the six members are members of the same shape, in order to explain the construction method, each member is referred to as members 1 to 6, the two cord portions of each member are attached to the cord portions 1 and 2, and the two The connecting procedure is described below with the connecting portions as connecting portions 1 and 2. In the connection specified below, when there are two combinations of a connectable portion and a string-like portion that can be connected, the shorter one of the distance between the connection portion and the center portion of the string-like portion is selected. First, member 1 connecting portion 1 and member 2 string-like portion 1
Connect to the center. Subsequently, the member 2 connecting portion 1 is connected to the central portion of the member 3 string portion 1, the member 3 connecting portion 1 is connected to the central portion of the member 1 string portion 1, and the member 1 connecting portion 2 and the member 4 string portion 1 are connected. Connecting the central part, connecting the member 2 connecting part 2 and the central part of the member 5 string part 1, connecting the member 3 connecting part 2 and the central part of the member 6 string part 1, and connecting the member 4 connecting part 1 and the member 3 Connecting the central part of the string-like part 2 and connecting the central part of the member 5 connecting part 1 with the central part of the string-like part 2;
The member 6 connecting part 1 and the member 2 string part 2 central part are connected, the member 4 connecting part 2 and the member 5 string part 2 central part are connected, the member 5 connecting part 2 and the member 6 string part 2 central part. And the member 6 connecting part 2 and the member 4 cord-like part 2 central part are connected. As a result of the above assembling operation, it was confirmed that the three-dimensional structure shown in FIG. 4 can be easily constructed. Further, in the same procedure as the connection operation described above, the connection portion is connected not at the center of the cord portion but at one-third of the entire length or at the end portion, so that a unique three-dimensional structure as shown in FIG. The frame structure type tensegrity structure shown in FIG. 6 (Nikkei Science, April 1998
(See Monthly Pages 22-34). By changing the connection position in this way,
Various three-dimensional structures could be easily constructed. Since the member manufactured in Example 1 can be easily attached and detached and can be shifted while the connecting position is connected, for example, the three-dimensional structure shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. It is also easy to convert to

As described above, the member of the present invention can very easily construct a three-dimensional structure having a complicated structure such as a tensegrity model. Further, the connection position is changed, the connection procedure is changed (for example, the procedure of the second embodiment is based on a triangle, but any combination of triangles or more is arbitrarily combined), and the number of used polygons is increased. The three-dimensional structure constructed with the members of the present invention has an infinite variety. Further, it is also possible to construct a structure other than the tensegrity model by a method such as connecting a large number of members to one string-like portion. In this way, assembly,
There has never been any member that can be easily disassembled and used for constructing a wide variety of three-dimensional structures, and the present invention provides a member with a completely new structure having a completely new function.

[0020]

According to the present invention, a member capable of easily constructing various three-dimensional structures including a tensegrity structure is provided. The member of the present invention is used for constructing a building, a model, a toy, a decorative article and the like. Very useful.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows the structure (schematic diagram) of a member according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: rod-shaped part, 2: string-shaped part, 3: connecting part

FIG. 2 is an example of manufacturing a member of the present invention (overall view and partially enlarged view).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: bamboo string, 2: rubber band, 3: connecting part

FIG. 3 is an example of a combination test of members.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: bamboo string, 2: rubber band, 3: connecting part

FIG. 4 is an example 1 of assembling a member manufactured in Example 1.

FIG. 5 is an assembling example 2 of the member manufactured in Example 1.

FIG. 6 is an example of assembling a member manufactured in Example 1 A rubber band is omitted because it is along a bamboo tree.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rod-shaped member having a structure capable of holding two string-shaped portions connecting both ends and a string-shaped portion of the same shape at both ends.