Linkage Unit for Forming Node of Frame Structure of Building, Building Assembling Set Including Said Linkage Unit, and Method for Assembling Building by Using Said Linkage Unit

The present invention relates to a linkage unit for forming a node of a frame structure of a building, a building assembling set including the linkage unit, and a method for assembling a building by using the linkage unit.

PATENT LITERATURE 1 discloses, as a joining structure for constructing a polyhedral building, a joining structure in which: projections of a V-shaped joining component are inserted one by one into hollow portions of frames; and the frames and the projections are fastened and fixed with fixation means (bolts). In addition, FIG. 11 of PATENT LITERATURE 1 shows, as joining structures for frames, a joining structure in which a spherical joining component is used, a joining structure in which a starfish-shaped joining component is used, and a joining structure in which dish-shaped plates are used.

Among the joining structures in PATENT LITERATURE 1, the joining structure in which a starfish-shaped joining component is used and the joining structure in which dish-shaped plates are used necessitate fixation of frames and the joining components to each other by using a tool with fixation means such as bolts or small-diameter external threads. Among the joining structures in PATENT LITERATURE 1, the joining structure in which a spherical joining component is used necessitates rotational insertion, into bolt holes provided in the spherical joining component, of frames having end portions provided with external thread configurations corresponding to the bolt holes. Thus, the above joining structures lead to complication of work for joining the frames and the joining components to each other.

An object of the present invention is to provide: a linkage unit that makes it possible to easily link sides of a frame structure of a building; a building assembling set including the linkage unit; and a method for assembling a building by using the linkage unit.

The present invention is directed to a linkage unit configured to form a node of a frame structure of a building, the linkage unit including: a node member having a plurality of to-be-linked portions having linkage directions which are directions of respective sides of the frame structure; link members configured to be detachably linked to the plurality of respective to-be-linked portions; and a lock mechanism configured to enter states including, as manually switchable states, a locked state where a linkage between any of the to-be-linked portions and the corresponding link member is retained and an unlocked state where the link member is allowed to be detached from the to-be-linked portion. The present invention is further directed to a building assembling set including the linkage unit. The present invention is further directed to a method for assembling a building by using the linkage unit.

The linkage unit of the present invention makes it possible to easily link sides of a frame structure of a building. In addition, the building assembling set of the present invention includes the above linkage unit of the present invention, and thus makes it possible to easily link the sides of the frame structure. Furthermore, the building assembling method of the present invention is a method in which the above linkage unit of the present invention is used, and thus makes it possible to easily assemble the frame structure of the building.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with appropriate reference to the drawings.

(1) An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a linkage unit configured to form a node of a frame structure of a building, the linkage unit including:

The linkage unit according to the above (1) makes it possible to easily link the sides of the frame structure of the building.

(2) In the linkage unit according to the above (1),

(3) In the linkage unit according to the above (2),

The linkage unit according to the above (2) and (3) leads to simplification of the configuration of the lock mechanisms. Therefore, manufacturing cost for the linkage unit is decreased. In addition, in the linkage unit according to the above (3), each of the link members includes the lock mechanism, and thus the lock mechanism is easily replaced when sustaining a malfunction.

(4) In the linkage unit according to the above (3), the controller is a lever portion configured to be rotated such that: a leading end thereof faces an inner side of the building in the locked state; and the leading end faces an outer side of the building in the unlocked state.

The linkage unit according to the above (4) makes it possible to easily perform switching between the locked state and the unlocked state through a manual operation of the lever portion. In addition, the linkage unit according to the above (4) makes it easy to notice that the lever portion is in the unlocked state. Consequently, the lock mechanism is inhibited from being forgotten to be locked. Therefore, the safety of the building assembled by using the linkage unit is improved.

(5) In the linkage unit according to the above (4), the link member has a first lever stopper configured to restrict movement of the lever portion with the leading end facing the inner side of the building.

The linkage unit according to the above (5) makes it possible to, through a manual operation, easily dispose the lever portion at an appropriate position corresponding to the locked state.

(6) In the linkage unit according to the above (4) or (5), the link member has a second lever stopper configured to restrict movement of the lever portion with the leading end facing the outer side of the building.

The linkage unit according to the above (6) makes it possible to, through a manual operation, easily dispose the lever portion at an appropriate position corresponding to the unlocked state.

(7) In the linkage unit according to the above (3), the controller is a knob portion provided on at least one end out of both ends of the pin portion.

The linkage unit according to the above (7) makes it possible to easily perform switching between the locked state and the unlocked state through a manual operation of the knob portion.

(8) In the linkage unit according to the above (7),

The linkage unit according to the above (8) makes it possible to easily switch, through a manual operation, the position of the knob portion to an appropriate position corresponding to either of the locked state and the unlocked state.

(9) In the linkage unit according to any of the above (3) to (8),

The linkage unit according to the above (9) can restrict rotation of the pin portion in the locked state by the fastening bar member. Therefore, the safety of the building assembled by using the linkage unit is improved.

(10) In the linkage unit according to the above (9), a relationship between the fastening bar member and the fastening bar hole is equivalent to a relationship between an external thread and an internal thread.

The linkage unit according to the above (10) can more assuredly restrict rotation of the pin portion in the locked state since the fastening bar member can be squeezed into the fastening bar hole by a screw configuration. Therefore, the safety of the building assembled by using the linkage unit is further improved.

(11) In the linkage unit according to any of the above (3) to (10), the pin portion has a groove configured to allow avoidance of contact between the pin portion and the projection when the pin portion having the second angle is inserted into or removed from the insertion hole.

The linkage unit according to the above (11) leads to simplification of machining to be performed on the pin portion. Therefore, manufacturing cost for the linkage unit is decreased.

(12) In the linkage unit according to any of the above (3) to (11),

In the above joining structure in which a spherical joining component is used, frames having end portions provided with external thread configurations corresponding to bolt holes provided in the joining component are rotationally inserted into the bolt holes manually, whereby the frames and the joining component can be joined to each other. However, if rectangular bar frames are joined by this joining component, surfaces of the rectangular bar frames having been rotationally inserted do not face the same direction, and work for causing the surfaces of the rectangular bar frames to face the same direction is complicated.

Meanwhile, the linkage unit according to the above (12) makes it possible to link the rectangular bar frames by inserting the link members, to which the rectangular bar frames have been fixed, into the to-be-linked portions of the node member. That is, the linkage unit according to the above (12) does not necessitate, at the time of linking the rectangular bar frames, rotational insertion of the rectangular bar frames into the to-be-linked portions as in the above spherical joining component. Therefore, the linkage unit according to the above (12) eliminates the need for work for causing the surfaces of the rectangular bar frames to face the same direction.

(13) In the linkage unit according to any of the above (3) to (12),

The linkage unit according to the above (13) can retain the frame at an appropriate position on the link member. Consequently, an operation failure of the controller is inhibited from occurring owing to contact of the frame with the pin portion.

(14) In the frame linkage unit according to the above (13), the retaining member has a frame stopper configured to restrict the position of the frame such that the frame does not come into contact with the pin portion.

The linkage unit according to the above (14) can retain the frame at a more appropriate position on the link member. Consequently, an operation failure of the controller is further inhibited from occurring owing to contact of the frame with the pin portion.

(15) In the linkage unit according to the above (13) or (14),

The linkage unit according to the above (15) can retain the frame at a more appropriate position on the link member. Consequently, an operation failure of the controller is further inhibited from occurring owing to contact of the frame with the pin portion. In addition, the linkage unit according to the above (15) guides the link members and the node member to appropriate linkage positions. Therefore, the frames can be more easily linked.

(16) In the linkage unit according to any of the above (1) to (15),

In the linkage unit according to the above (16), the node member is composed of separate components which are the shoulder members and the trunk member. Therefore, the versatility of the linkage unit is improved, and manufacturing cost is decreased.

(17) Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a building assembling set including the linkage unit according to any of the above (1) to (16), the building assembling set including:

The building assembling set according to the above (17) includes the linkage unit according to any of the above (1) to (16), and thus makes it possible to easily assemble the frame structure.

(18) In the building assembling set according to the above (17), the plurality of linkage frames have lengths equal to one another.

The building assembling set according to the above (18) makes it possible to, in provision of a building assembling set for a regular polyhedral building, use the linkage frames included in the building assembling set as common components. Consequently, the number of the types of components included in the building assembling set is decreased. Therefore, the building is easily assembled, and manufacturing cost is decreased.

(19) Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for assembling a building by using the linkage unit according to any of the above (1) to (16), the method including:

The assembling method according to the above (19) makes it possible to easily assemble a building.

is a schematic diagram of a buildingassembled by using linkage unitsaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.is a schematic diagram of any of the linkage unitsaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.is a schematic diagram of a building assembling setfor assembling the building.

The buildingshown inis a regular octahedral building including six linkage units, twelve frames, and four shades. The framesare joined to each other via the linkage units. Each of the shadesis configured to cover one face enclosed by corresponding ones of the framesof the building. In the building, the shadesare provided to a ceiling face of the buildingand three side faces which are in contact with the respective sides of the ceiling face. Each of the shadesis disposed on the buildingby tying, to eye nuts(described later) of corresponding ones of the linkage units, ropes provided on the respective vertices of the shade. Although the shadein the present embodiment is configured to have ropes on the respective vertices thereof, the shademay be configured to have hooks, belts, or the like instead of the ropes. Alternatively, the shadein the present embodiment may also be configured to be disposed on the framesby means of ropes, hooks, belts, and the like.

The linkage unitshown inincludes a link memberfixed to the corresponding frameand a node memberto which the link memberis linked. The link memberincludes a retaining member, a positioning member, and a lock mechanism. The node memberhas a trunk memberand shoulder members.

The frameis retained by the retaining member. The frameretained by the retaining memberis fixed to the retaining memberby fixation means such as small-diameter external threads or screws. Consequently, the frameis fixed to the link member.