Building structured material using cell geometry

摘要

An improved cellular building block including a middle beam and two legs. The cellular building block having the first leg coupled to the middle beam such that the leg is perpendicular to the middle beam and a second leg coupled to the middle beam such that the leg is perpendicular to the middle beam and spaced apart from the first leg, the first leg and the second leg having an inside edge and an outside edge. Having at least one barb located on the inside edge of the first leg and on the inside edge of the second leg and further configured to lock into a recess. The cellular building blocks connect in a two dimensional or three dimensional pattern and a produce a structured material that holds itself together and exhibits beneficial characteristics.

主权项

1. A unitary cellular building block comprising:
a beam having a top surface and a bottom surface; a first leg extending substantially perpendicular from the top and bottom surfaces of the beam, the first leg having an inner edge defining a first leg dimension at the intersection of the inner edge and the top surface of the beam; a second leg extending substantially perpendicular from the top and bottom surfaces of the beam, the second leg having an inner edge defining a second leg dimension at the intersection of the inner edge and the top surface of the beam; wherein the distance between the first and second leg dimensions is within a threshold amount of one half the length of the beam; wherein the inner edge of the first leg extending from the top surface of the beam is shaped complementary to the inner edge of the second leg extending from the bottom surface of the beam; and wherein each of the first and second legs defines a fastener on an inner edge of a first end portion and a receptacle complementary to the fastener on a second end portion located on an opposite side of the beam from the first portion; wherein first and second outer surfaces of the beam are positioned opposite one another and having the first and second legs positioned between the first and second outer surfaces having the first leg closer to the first outer surface and the second leg closer to the second outer surface, the first and second outer surfaces being perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces and being planar across entire extents thereof between the top and bottom surfaces.