Abstract: Structures including buildings, furniture items or room partitions are formed by assembling panels and releasably connecting the panels together with a support system comprising collars on the corners of the panels and elastic members interconnecting these collars so as to hold the structure together into a predetermined form by virtue of the tension of the stretched elastic members. Structures formed by this system include building structures such as small outdoor shelters, furniture items such as display cases, bookshelves, tables and containers and room partitions of virtually any arrangement, and toys.

Abstract: In a container comprising a plurality of panels held together by a support system having stiff collars at the corners of the panels and connecting members connecting together groups of said collars. At least some of the connecting members are elastic members, as a result of which the support system holds the panels together into a container of a desired polyhedral configuration under the tension of the elastic members. The collars and the connecting members of the support system may be preassembled or kept separate from each other. In either case they can be compacted to a small size for storage, packing or shipping in such state together with a stacked pack of the panels to be used therewith, permitting final assembly of the panels to the support system by the ultimate consumer in a very short time without the need for tools. There results a decrease in space and fragility during storage, shipping and handling, with attendant cost savings.

Abstract: In a lamp shade of the type comprising a plurality of panels, preferably glass panels, held together by a support system having stiff collars at the corners of the panels and connecting members connecting together groups of said collars, some of the connecting members are formed as elastic members, as a result of which the support system holds the panels together into a lamp shade of a desired polyhedral configuration under the tension of the elastic members. The support system may be preassembled and compacted to a small size for storage, packing or shipping in such state together with a stacked pack of the panels to be used therewith, permitting final assembly of the panels to the support system by the ultimate consumer in a very short time without the need for tools. There results a decrease in space and fragility during storage, shipping and handling, with attendant cost savings.