WO2012176188A1

WO2012176188A1 - A construction unit having connectors coupled to a non standard elongated element and a method for manufacturing thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2012176188A1
Application number: PCT/IL2012/000243
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emmanuel Goldschmidt; Izhar Halahmi
Original assignee: Emmanuel Goldschmidt; Izhar Halahmi
Priority date: 2011-06-20
Filing date: 2012-06-20
Publication date: 2012-12-27

Abstract

A construction unit for constructing of structures that includes: a non-standard elongated element such as a bamboo stem or any other plant stem and at least one connector irremovably coupled to an edge portion of the elongated element. Each connector is coupled to a respective edge portion of the elongated element by being molded thereover at the molding process of the respective connector, where the connector allows standardizing the connection edge of the construction unit by allowing fastening to another connector suitable for fastening thereto in a removable and standardized manner.

Description

A CONSTRUCTION UNIT HAVING CONNECTORS COUPLED TO

A NON STANDARD ELONGATED ELEMENT AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THEREOF

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional patent application No. 61/498,731 filed on June 20, 201 1, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to connectors for elongated elements used for construction of various structures and methods for attaching or coupling the connector to the respective elongated element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Using stems for constructing of structures is economic, esthetic and beneficial to the environment. Plant culms such as bamboo stems, straw, reed stems and the like are often used for building fences creating low-cost natural appearing fences. These fences are easy to manufacture and grow for mass distribution of fences. Stiff stems such as large bamboo stems can be used for constructing large structures such as large tents, arbors, shacks and the like. To connect the stems they are either simply tied to one another by using wires such as ropes, metal wires, cables and the like or adhered to one another by using adherence materials such as various glues, plaster materials such as gypsum, concrete and the like as the stems are of varying shapes and sizes having various cross-sectional diameters and shapes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a construction unit for constructing of structures that includes: a non-standard elongated element and at least one connector irremovably coupled to an edge portion of the elongated element, wherein the connector is coupled to the edge portion by being molded thereover at the molding thereof, and wherein the connector allows

standardizing the connection edge of the construction unit by allowing fastening to another connector suitable for fastening thereto in a removable and standardized manner.

[0005] Optionally 1 , the elongated element is at least one of: a plant stem, a tree trunk, a branch or a bundle thereof.

[0006] Additionally or alternatively, the connector is irremovably coupled to at least one of: an inner surface of the respective edge portion, an outer surface of the respective edge portion or to both.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the elongated element comprises a bamboo stem having a hollow cavity therein. The bamboo stem elongated element may further comprise at least one internode connecting intermodal sections of the bamboo stem, in which case the construction unit may additionally include at least one reinforcement ring coupled to a respective internode of the elongated element thereof, for reinforcing the respective internode of the bamboo stem elongated element by being irremovably coupled thereto such that the ring is wrapped around the area of the respective internode.

[0008] Optionally, the bamboo stem elongated element comprises at least two openings perforated at the area of the respective internode for allowing the molding material used to form the respective ring thereof to enter the cavity of the elongated element therethrough for enhancing the reinforcement characteristic of the ring.

[0009] According to some embodiments, each connector fastens to another connector for constructing a structure therefrom by having at least one hole thereover for allowing snap fastening to another connector having a protrusion that is configured for interlocking with the connector through the hole.

[0010] Additionally or alternatively, each connector fastens to another connector for constructing a structure therefrom by having a screw thread design threaded thereover.

[0011] Optionally, the elongated element includes a hollow cavity therein and each edge portion of the elongated element comprises at least two openings for allowing the molding material used to form said ring to enter the cavity of the elongated element therethrough for enhancing the coupling of said respective connector to said edge portion thereby.

1 [0012] According to some embodiments, the reinforcement ring is designed as or connects to a connector allowing connecting to other construction units, or to appliances.

[0013] According to some embodiments, each edge portion of the elongated element is coupled to a connector,

[0014] Optionally, each connector is made by using a mold into which molding materials are poured for forming the respective connector, wherein the edge portion of the elongated element is inserted into the mold and held therein while the molding material is poured therein in its liquid or viscid state until the connector solidifies, thereby allowing the irremovable coupling thereof to the respective edge portion.

[0015] The molding material may include polymer based molding material, metal or glue.

[0016] According to other aspects of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing a construction unit for constructing of structures that comprises: a) providing a non-standard elongated element; b) providing a connector mold for forming a respective connector of the construction unit; c) pouring a molding material into the mold, when the molding material is in a liquid or viscid state; d) placing an edge portion of the elongated element inside the mold while the molding material is still in the liquid or viscid state; e) allowing the molding material to solidify while the edge portion of the elongated element is inside the mold, thereby allowing the molded connector to irremovably couple to the edge portion of the elongated element by solidifying thereover. The connector allows standardizing the connection edge of the construction unit by allowing fastening the respective connector thereof to another connector suitable for fastening thereto in a removable and standardized manner.

[0017] Optionally, the method further comprises cutting a set of elongated elements to substantially same length for allowing coupling a connector to each edge portion of each respective elongated element and thereby standardizing the length of each of the construction units thereby.

[0018] Optionally, the elongated element is a plant stem having at least one internode, where the method further comprises coupling a reinforcement ring over each internode area of the respective plant stem elongated element by molding the ring to the internode area using molding material. [0019] The elongated element may include one of: a plant stem, a tree trunk, a branch.

[0020] Optionally, the mold is configured to couple the molding material to an outer surface of the respective edge portion, an inner surface of the respective edge portion or to both inner and outer surfaces of the respective edge portion.

[0021] Additionally or alternatively, the molding material comprises: a polymer- based molding material, metal or glue.

[0022] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing a construction unit for constructing of structures that includes: a) providing a non-standard elongated element; and b) providing at least one connector part, which comprises a fastening mechanism for fastening with other connector, wherein the connector allows standardizing the connection edge of the construction unit by allowing fastening the respective connector thereof to another connector suitable for fastening thereto in a removable and standardized manner.

[0023] Optionally, the coupling of each respective connector part to a respective edge portion of the elongated element is carried out by using a mold in which the respective connector part is placed when in a solidified state, wherein the mold has a designated space for receiving the connector part and for receiving adhesive material thereto, holding the respective edge portion inside said mold while the adhesive material is poured therein until said adhesive material solidifies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Fig. 1A shows an isometric view of a construction unit of a bamboo stem elongated element having two connectors irremovably coupled thereto, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Fig. IB shows a side view of the construction unit, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Fig. 1C shows a longitudinal cross sectional view of the construction unit, according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Fig. ID shows a horizontal cross sectional view of the construction unit in an edge portion area of the elongated element, according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [0028] Fig. 2A shows an isometric view of a construction unit of a bamboo stem elongated element having two connectors irremovably coupled thereto, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Fig. 2B shows a side view of the construction unit, according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Fig. 2C shows a longitudinal cross sectional view of the construction unit, according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Fig. 2D shows a horizontal cross sectional view of the construction unit in an edge portion area of the elongated element, according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Fig. 2E shows an isometric view of the elongated element having openings perforated thereover, according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Fig. 3A shows an isometric view of a construction unit connected to two separate angular connectors, according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Fig. 3B shows a side view of the construction unit, according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Fig. 3C shows a longitudinal cross sectional view of the construction unit, according to some embodiment of the present invention.

{0036] Fig. 4A shows an isometric view of a construction unit connected to two separate angular connectors, where the construction unit includes a reinforcement ring, according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Fig. 4B shows a side view of the construction unit, according to some embodiment of the present invention,

[0038] Fig. 4C shows a longitudinal cross sectional view of the construction unit, according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Fig. 4D shows a horizontal cross-sectional view of the reinforcement ring area of the construction unit, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0040] Fig. 5 A shows an isometric view of a construction unit connected to two separate angular connectors, where the construction unit includes a reinforcement ring having a crossing beam, according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Fig. 5B shows a side view of the construction unit, according to some embodiment of the present invention. [0042] Fig. 5C shows a longitudinal cross sectional view of the construction unit, according to some embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Fig. 6A is an elevated view showing a connector mold and an elongated element inserted therein to illustrate how a construction unit is manufactured by molding connectors thereof onto a respective elongated element, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0044] Fig. 6B is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the connector mold and elongated element.

[0045] Fig. 7 A is an elevated view showing a connector mold having an additional rim and an elongated element inserted therein to illustrate how a construction unit is manufactured by molding connectors thereof onto a respective elongated element, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0046] Fig. 7B is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the connector mold and elongated element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] In the following detailed description of various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0048] The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, provides a

construction unit including an elongated element having irregular shape and/or size, which is of non-standard structure, and at least one connector coupled to a respective at least one edge portion of the elongated element in an irremovable manner, and methods of coupling each connector to the one or more edge portions of the elongated element, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The connector connects to the edge portion of the respective elongated element for allowing connecting thereof to one other elongated element having a corresponding connector coupled thereto or to other structures through other connectors thereof.

[0049] A non-standard elongated element refers to elongated elements for construction of structures that have a unique irregular cross sectional shape and/or size such as natural elongated elements such as plant stems, tree trunks, branches and the like each having a unique shape, size and length.

[0050] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the connector is coupled to an edge portion of the respective elongated element in an irremovable manner by means of molding thereto. The connector includes a portion that can connect to another connector in a standardized manner having a standardized shape and size to allow, for example, connecting the elongated element (e.g. a bamboo stem) to another elongated element (e.g. another bamboo stem) having a connector that can fasten thereto. In this way the elongated elements having the connectors irremovably coupled thereto may be used as standard units for construction of any one or more structures such as fences, shacks, tents, banisters, lattices, frames, or chassis of other structures such as plaster walls and the like.

[0051] These unique construction units may be a low cost, environmental and structurally stable solution for constructing many constructions using light-weight materials such as plant stems that also have an important flexibility for withstanding various loads and load tilts, which is a crucial feature for constructing structures such as fences, walls, small building units and the like. In this way, for example, pieces of substantially equal length bamboo stems may be used having connectors coupled to each edge portion thereof allowing using these construction units as basic construction units for constructing any desired structure by the user, where all the user needs is the set of these construction units and optionally other separate connectors that can fasten to one or more of each of the bamboo stem construction units' connectors. Each construction unit may include two connectors, one at each edge portion thereof, where each of these connectors has a different design configured to fasten to the other connector type. For example, one connector of a first type includes openings for fastening to protrusions of the other connector, based on snap fastening mechanism. In this way each construction unit can connect to another same construction unit to form structures by connecting one edge portion having a connector of a first fastening design to the connector of the other construction unit with a second fastening design corresponding thereto.

[0052] According to some embodiments of the present invention, each connector is coupled to an edge portion of the elongated element (e.g. plant stem) during the molding process of the connector itself. For example, a mold of the connector is filled with molding material such as various polymer based molding materials, glue, plaster materials, metals/alloy and the like, while the edge portion of the respective elongated element is inserted into the connector mold to be submerged within the molding material therein, which is in a liquid aggregation state. Once the material solidifies it adheres to the inner or outer walls of the edge portion of the respective elongated element forming a non-removable connector coupled thereto.

[0053] Coupling connectors to edge portions of plant stem elongated elements, for instance, may inter alia enhance various mechanical characteristics of the stem making the stem more resistant to various corrosion conditions such as humidity and/or dryness of the stem and the like as well as load applied thereover. The covering of the stem edges may prevent the stem from developing longitudinal cracks that typically appear in stems over time or delay the occurrence of these cracks by providing a material molded to these edges that can tightly hold these edge portions from the circumference thereof thereby applying radial forces that prevent or delay the fibers of the stem from separating.

[0054] Separate angular connectors may be used for constructing various angular structures by connecting to multiple bars through the bars' connectors.

[0055] These construction units allow easy and modular way of constructing various structures using low cost and optionally natural materials, which are also esthetic that may further be light weight as well as durable and strong for allowing creating firm and resistant structures.

[0056] Reference is now made to Figures 1A, IB, 1C and ID schematically illustrating a construction unit 100 including an elongated member 50 of a bamboo stem of two intermodal regions naturally connected through a single bamboo internode 56, a first edge portion 51a and a second edge portion 51b, and two connectors 110a and 110b irremovably coupled to both edge portions 51a and 51b thereof, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Since bamboo stem is a plant stem, its size, stem cross-section diameter and shape are not standard and can be asymmetrical and of changing width. The bamboo stem elongated element 50 can be cut to a desired length and then the connectors 110a and 110b are coupled to its edge portions Slab and 51b in the molding process of the connectors 110a and 110b, as explained above. The connectors 1 lOab and 110b may attach to the edge portions 51a and 51b such that a portion thereof is located inside a hollow cavity 55 of the elongated element 50 and therefore is coupled to an internal side of the elongated element 50, as well as to an external side thereof. This is done by creating a mold for the connector 110a/110b that includes a receiving recess that is larger than a respective diameter or perimeter of the respective edge portion 51a/51b of the respective elongated element 50 for allowing liquidized molding material to be inserted between the external surface of the elongated element's 50 respective edge portion 51a/51b and the mold's inner walls, as will be further illustrated. According to some embodiments of the present invention, a standardized mold can be designed and used for all elongated elements of the same type (e.g. stems of the same plant type that usually have a known external cross- sectional diameter/perimeter range).

[0057] According to some embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1A-1D, each connector 110a and 110b includes two holes 111a and 112a and 111b and 112b, respectively. Each hole llla/112a/lllb/112b is designed to receive a protrusion of a respective other connector whether of another construction unit or of a separate angular or any other connector, through snap connecting mechanism in which the protrusion is configured to be inserted through the respective hole and interlock therewith.

[0058] As illustrated in Fig. ID, in this embodiment, each connector, such as connector 110b attaches both the outer and the inner walls of the edge portion 51b by having the molding material of the connector 110b being inserted into the cavity 55 at the edge portion 51bas well as surrounding thereof in the molding process.

[0059] As illustrated in Fig. 1C, each connector llOa/llOb includes a receiving cavity 115a/115b therein for receiving a protrusion of an external connector to construct a structure thereby.

[0060] Reference is now made to Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E„ schematically illustrating a construction unit 200, according to other embodiments of the present invention. In these embodiments, the construction unit 200 includes an elongated member 60 of a hollow bamboo stem of two intermodal regions naturally connected through a single bamboo internode 66 having a hollow cavity 65, a first edge portion 61 and a second edge portion 61b; and two connectors 210a and 210b irremovably coupled to both edge portions 61a and 61b thereof, in a similar way to the construction unit 100 as illustrated in Figures 1A-1C. [0061] According to some embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 2A-2C, each connector 210a and 210b includes two holes 211a and 212a and 211b and 212b, respectively. Each hole 211a/212a/211b/212b is designed to receive a protrusion of a respective other connector for interlocking therewith, similar to the snap interlocking described above, in respect to Figures 1 A-2D.

[0062] As illustrated in Fig. 2C-2D, this construction unit 200 design includes creating openings 62a, 63a, 62b and 63b at the edge portions 61a and 61b of the elongated element 60. These openings 62a, 63a, 62b and 63b allow molding material to be inserted therethrough for reinforcing the coupling of the respective connector 210a/210b to its respective elongated element's 60 edge portion 61a/61b.

[0063] Reference is now made to Figures 3A, 3B and 3C, schematically illustrating the construction unit 200 of Figures 2A-2D removably connected to two separate angular connectors 90 and 90', according to some embodiments of the present invention. Each angular connector 90/90' connects to a respective connector 1 lOb/110a of the construction unit 200 through one of its inlets such as through inlets 91c and 91c', respectively. Each angular connector 90/90' includes three inlets: 91 a/91 a', 91b/91b' and 91c/91c' each inlet is located at an angle to an adjacent inlet such as at an angle of substantially 90° as illustrated in Figures 3A-3C.

[0064] According to some embodiments, as illustrated in Figures 3A-3C, each angular inlet 91a/91b/91c or 91a'/91bV91c' of each respective connector 90/90' includes a hollow tube portion 92a/92b/92c or 92a792b'/92c' and two protrusions 93aa and 93ab / 93ba and 93bb / 93ca and 93cb or 93aa' and 93ab' / 93ba' and 93bb* / 93ca" and 93cb\ respectively. Each tube portion 92a/92b/92c or 92aV92b'/92c' is configured to be inserted into a respective coupled connector of a construction unit, where the protrusions thereof allow fastening the separate connector to the coupled connector such as by interlocking therewith through the protrusions and holes or, as in other embodiments by screwing thereto, for example. The interlocking of the separate connectors with the coupled connectors of the construction unit may be removable allowing disconnecting the separate connectors from construction units they are connected to easily and effectively allowing disassembling a construction that is constructed by using multiple construction units and multiple separate connectors to be easily deconstructed in a manner that allows reusing these construction units and separate connected any number of times. [0065] The angular connectors allow connecting to a multiplicity of construction units for constructing of desired structures, where various angular positions of each construction unit in respect to another may be achieved by using many optional designs of separate connectors and/or coupled connectors of the construction units themselves.

[0066] As illustrated in Fig. 3C, each connector 210a/210b includes a receiving cavity 215a/215b therein for receiving the respective protruding tube portion 92c/92c' of the respective angular connector 90/90'.

[0067] Reference is now made to Figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D, schematically illustrating another type of construction unit 300 having a reinforcement ring 330 coupled thereto in addition to connectors 310a and 310b, for reinforcing an internode 76 of the bamboo stem elongated element 70 by being irremovably coupled thereto such that the ring 330 is wrapped around the area of the respective internode 76. The ring 330 is also irremovably coupled to the elongated element 70 at the molding process thereof by placing the area of the internode 76 of the elongated element 70 into a mold in which the ring is formed.

[0068] According to some embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in Fig. 4C, an opening 74 is perforated through the intermodal area of the elongated element 70 into which the molding material (in the liquid state thereof) permeates when the ring 330 is molded forming a crossing beam 331 integrated with the ring 330.

[0069] According to some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in Figures 4A-4C, the connectors 310a and 310b include holes 311a, 312a, 311b and 312b, respectively and connect to edge portions 71a and 71bof the elongated element 70, which include each two openings 72a, 73a and 72b, 73b for allowing the molding material to permeate therethrough for further strengthening the coupling of the respective connector 310a/310b to the respective edge portion 71a/71b of the elongated element 70. The separate angular connectors 90 and 90' can also removably connect in the same way as explained above to connectors 310b and 310a by interlocking therewith in a removable manner.

[0070] The reinforcement ring of an internode of a particular stem elongated element may include a multiplicity of crossing beams created by perforating a multiplicity of crossing openings in the respective intermodal areas or may have no crossing beams. [0071] Reference is now made to Figures 5A, SB, and 5C, schematically illustrating yet another type of construction unit 400 having a reinforcement ring 430 coupled thereto in addition to connectors 410a and 410b, for reinforcing an internode 86 of the bamboo stem elongated element 80, The ring 430 is also irremovably coupled to the elongated element 80 at the molding process thereof by placing the area of the internode 86 of the elongated element 80 into a mold in which the ring is formed. In these embodiments, as illustrated in Fig. 5C, this ring 430 has no crossing beam.

[0072] According to some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in Figures 5A-5C, the connectors 410a and 410b include holes 411a, 412a, 411b and 412b, respectively and connect to edge portions 81a and 81bof the elongated element 80, which include each two openings 82a, 83a and 82b, 83b for allowing the molding material to permeate therethrough for further strengthening the coupling of the respective connector 410a 410b to the respective edge portion 81a/81b of the elongated element 80. The separate angular connectors 90 and 90' can also removably connect in the same way as explained above to connectors 410b and 410a by interlocking therewith in a removable manner.

[0073] Reference is now made to Figures 6A and 6B, schematically showing how a connector 500 is molded onto a bamboo stem elongated element 20 to irremovably couple thereto, according to some embodiments of the present invention. To form the connector 500 while also irremovably coupling it to the respective bamboo stem elongated element 20, a mold 10 is used. The mold 10 is filled up to a predefined level with a molding material 30 in its liquid state such as with polymer based molding material, metal, glue and the like. An edge portion 21a of the elongated element 20 is inserted into the mold 10 before or after the pouring of the molding material 30 as long as the molding material 30 is still in its liquid state or in a viscid state and held therein until the molding material 30 completely solidifies. In this example, the diameter "D" of the mold 10 is significantly larger than the diameter "d" of the elongated element 20 and the elongated element 20 includes a hollow cavity 25 therein and therefore the molding material 30 can surround the elongated element 20 as well as being inserted into its cavity 25 in the area of the edge portion 21a thereof. A protruding section 11 of the mold 10 allows forming a receiving portion 503 of the connector 500, which is configured to receive a protruding portion of another connector. The mold 10 is also configured for filling cavities therein for creating a coating layer 501 externally covering the edge portion 21a of the elongated element 20 and an inner fill 502 permeating the cavity 25 of the elongated element 20 adhering to its inner walls.

[0074] Reference is now made to Figures 7 A and 7B, schematically showing how a connector 500' is molded onto a bamboo stem elongated element 20' to irremovably couple thereto, according to some embodiments of the present invention. To form the connector 500' while also irremovably coupling it to the respective bamboo stem elongated element 20', a mold 10' is used having an additional outer ring 17'. The mold 10' is filled up to a predefined level with a molding material 30' in its liquid state such as with polymer based molding material, metal, glue and the like. An edge portion 21a' of the elongated element 20' is inserted into the mold 10 before or after the pouring of the molding material 30' as long as the molding material 30' is still in its liquid state or in a viscid state and held therein until the molding material 30' completely solidifies. In this example, the diameter "D^T" of the mold 10' is significantly larger than the diameter "d"' of the elongated element 20' and the elongated element 20' includes a hollow cavity 25' therein and therefore the molding material 30' can surround the elongated element 20' as well as being inserted into its cavity 25' in the area of the edge portion 21a thereof. A protruding section 11 ' of the mold 10' allows forming a receiving portion 503' of the connector 500', which is configured to receive a protruding portion of another connector. The mold 10' is also configured for filling cavities therein for creating a coating layer 501' externally covering the edge portion 21a' of the elongated element 20' and an inner fill 502' permeating the cavity 25' of the elongated element 20' adhering to its inner walls.

[0075] The molding material can adhere to the inner and outer walls of the edge portion of the elongated element due to the characteristics of the molding materials and also due to the inner and outer surfaces of the elongated element. For natural elongated elements such as plant stems or plant stems bundles the inner and/or outer surface are not completely smooth having various abrasions, protrusions, indents and the like allowing the molding material to penetrate thereto, thereby causing and/or

strengthening the adherence of the molding material to the elongated element.

[0076] The non-standard elongated elements used may be of any type and kind of elements having shapes and/or sizes that cannot be standardized such as, as mentioned, plant stems, plant stems bundles, tree branches or trunks and the like, while the molds may be configured to fit to one or more types of plants/plants bundles or species thereof. For example the one mold set may be designed to fit a certain type of bamboo plant having a first known typical perimeter size (circumference lengths) range, while another mold may be designed to fit a certain type (and optionally age range) of palm tree stumps, straw bundles of a certain bundle circumference lengths range, etc.

[0077] The connectors may be coupled to the outer surface of the respective elongated element's edge portion, the inner surface thereof (in case of an elongated element having hollow cavity at least in its edge portion), or to both inner and outer surfaces of the edge portion of the elongated element. For example, in case the elongated element is a tree branch having to hollow cavity therein, the connector is only coupled to the outer surface of its respective edge portion at the molding process thereof by using a mold having an inner perimeter dimensions that circumscribe the branch for adhering to an outer surface of its edge portion.

[0078] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the reinforcement ring may also be designed as or fasten to a connector allowing connecting to other construction units, or to appliances such as hanger hooks, shelf supports, and/or any other desired appliance or construction member.

[0079] According to other embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing of a construction unit that includes first preparing one or more parts of connectors having the fastening mechanism therein and then coupling each respective connector to an edge portion of a non-standard elongated element such as a bamboo stem by using adhesives such as glue, polymer-based molding material and the like. The connector parts may be manufactured using molding by pouring a molding material in its liquid or viscid state into a connector part mold and then allowing the material to solidify therein. The adhesives may be reaction-based adhesives that chemically react with the surfaces of the respective edge portion and connector part to solidify and/or or adhere to these surfaces upon solidifying.

[0080] The coupling of the respective connector part to the respective edge portion of the elongated element may be carried out by placing the solidified connector part inside a designated mold that includes a mold portion that is configured for receiving molding material in a liquid or viscid state therein wherein the respective edge portion is held dipped therein until the adhesive solidifies or dries.

[0081] The adhesive material may include glue, polymeric molding materials, metal or alloy and the like. According to some embodiments, the adhesive material used for coupling of the connector part to the edge portion of the elongated element is the same as the molding material used for molding of the respective connector part. Alternatively, the adhesive material used for coupling the connector part is different than the molding material used for molding thereof.

[0082] The elongated element may be held coupled to the connector part when the adhesive material is put either inside a mold or simply by clipping these two parts for holding them in proximity or couple to one another until the adhesive dries and solidifies.

[0083] Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following invention and its various embodiments and/or by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations, A teaching that two elements are combined in a claimed combination is further to be understood as also allowing for a claimed combination in which the two elements are not combined with each other, but may be used alone or combined in other combinations. The excision of any disclosed element of the invention is explicitly contemplated as within the scope of the invention.

[0084] The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.

[0085] The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a subcombination.

[0086] Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

[0087] The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

[0088] Although the invention has been described in detail, nevertheless changes and modifications, which do not depart from the teachings of the present invention, will be evident to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are deemed to come within the purview of the present invention and the appended claims.

Claims

is claimed is:

A construction unit for constructing of structures comprising:

a) a non-standard elongated element; and

b) at least one connector irremovably coupled to an edge portion of said elongated element,

wherein said connector is coupled to said edge portion by being molded thereover at the molding thereof, and

wherein said connector allows standardizing the connection edge of said construction unit by allowing fastening to another connector suitable for fastening thereto in a removable and standardized manner.

The construction unit according to claim 1, wherein said elongated element is at least one of: a plant stem, a tree trunk, a branch or a bundle thereof.

The construction unit according to claim 1 , wherein said connector is irremovably coupled to at least one of: an inner surface of the respective edge portion, an outer surface of the respective edge portion or to both.

The construction unit according to claim 1 , wherein said elongated element comprises a bamboo stem having a hollow cavity therein.

The construction unit according to claim 4, wherein said bamboo stem elongated element further comprises at least one internode connecting intermodal sections of the bamboo stem.

The construction unit according to claim 5 further comprising at least one reinforcement ring coupled to a respective internode of said elongated element thereof, for reinforcing said respective internode of the bamboo stem elongated element by being irremovably coupled thereto such that the ring is wrapped around the area of the respective internode.

The construction unit according to claim 6, wherein said bamboo stem elongated element comprises at least two openings perforated at the area of the respective internode for allowing the molding material used to form said ring to enter the cavity of the elongated element therethrough for enhancing the reinforcement characteristic of said ring.

The construction unit according to claim 1 , wherein each connector fastens to another connector for constructing a structure therefrom by having at least one hole thereover for allowing snap fastening to another connector having a protrusion that is configured for interlocking with said connector through said hole.

9. The construction unit according to claim 1, wherein each connector fastens to another connector for constructing a structure therefrom by having a screw thread design threaded thereover.

10. The construction unit according to claim 1 , wherein said elongated element includes a hollow cavity therein and each edge portion of said elongated element comprises at least two openings for allowing the molding material used to form said ring to enter the cavity of the elongated element therethrough for enhancing the coupling of said respective connector to said edge portion thereby.

1 1. The construction unit according to claim 1, wherein each edge portion of said elongated element is coupled to a connector.

12. The construction unit according to claim 1 , wherein each connector is made by using a mold into which molding materials are poured for forming the respective connector, wherein the edge portion of said elongated element is inserted into the mold and held therein while said molding material is poured therein in its liquid or viscid state until said connector solidifies, thereby allowing the irremovable coupling thereof to said edge portion.

13. The construction unit according to claim 12, wherein said molding material comprises: polymer based molding material, metal or glue.

14. The construction unit according to claims 6 and 7, wherein said

reinforcement ring is designed as or connects to a connector allowing connecting to other construction units, or to appliances.

15. A method of producing a construction unit for constructing of structures, said method comprising:

a) providing a non-standard elongated element;

b) providing a connector mold for forming a respective connector of the construction unit;

c) pouring a molding material into the mold, when said molding material is in a liquid or viscid state; d) placing an edge portion of said elongated element inside said mold while said molding material is still in the liquid or viscid state;

e) allowing said molding material to solidify while said edge portion of said elongated element is inside said mold, thereby allowing said molded connector to irremovably couple to said edge portion of the elongated element by solidifying thereover,

wherein said connector allows standardizing the connection edge of said construction unit by allowing fastening the respective connector thereof to another connector suitable for fastening thereto in a removable and standardized manner.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising cutting a set of

elongated elements to substantially same length for allowing coupling a connector to each edge portion of each respective elongated element and thereby standardizing the length of each of the construction units thereby, 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said elongated element is a plant stem having at least one internode, said method further comprising coupling a reinforcement ring over each internode area of said plant stem elongated element by molding said ring to said internode area using molding material.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said elongated element comprises one of: a plant stem, a tree trunk, a branch.

19. He method according to claim 15, wherein said mold is configured to couple said molding material to an outer surface of the respective edge portion, an inner surface of the respective edge portion or to both inner and outer surfaces of the respective edge portion.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein said molding material comprises: a polymer-based molding material, metal or glue.

21. A method of producing a construction unit for constructing of structures, said method comprising:

f) providing a non-standard elongated element;

g) providing at least one connector part, which comprises a fastening

mechanism for fastening with other connectors;

The method according to claim 21 , wherein said coupling of each respective said connector part to a respective said edge portion of the elongated element is carried out by using a mold in which the respective connector part is placed when in a solidified state, said mold having a designated space for receiving said connector part and for receiving adhesive material thereto, holding the respective edge portion inside said mold while the adhesive material is poured therein until said adhesive material solidifies.