Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Compound curve structure – Geodesic shape
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-30
2001-01-16
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Compound curve structure
Geodesic shape
C052S081100, C052S081300, C052S079400, C052S284000, C052S590100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173538
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the fields of residential or commercial structures, and models, toys, and play equipment. More specifically, it relates to the modular construction of dodecahedral-based structures having panels with ordered edge connections.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The building industry of today is dominated by conventional designs and construction practices. Conventional building techniques are very time-consuming, generally requiring a substantial amount of field labor. Moreover, mobilizing fabrication resources to the field is expensive, while it is also difficult to ensure a consistent level of quality. Conventional construction is also dominated by volumetric spaces bounded by rectangular or mixed rectangular-trapezoidal shapes.
The most notable successful departures from conventional designs and construction practices have been for large-scale enclosures for assemblies or other special purposes where domes, tent structures, and inflatable structures are becoming part of the accepted vocabulary. Success for alternative designs and construction practices has been more elusive for large enclosures through the aggregation of smaller structures for uses such as housing, condominium blocks, or office buildings. “Habitat” at the 1967 Montreal Expo is the only famous non-traditional project of this genre, built of concrete in rectangular modularity, but it was notable for its high cost and has not been duplicated.
Prefabrication of building components, such as trusses and walls, is well known in the art and reduces some of the disadvantages (noted above) inherent in conventional field construction. Construction using these standardized, prefabricated components, however, continues to suffer from substantial limitations. Achieving complex or distinctive geometries using prefabricated components requires a large number of different components, which elevates their cost of supply. And, only a relatively small range of different overall structure geometries may be economically achieved using known standardized and prefabricated components. Moreover, many standardized and prefabricated components are not designed or cannot be designed to be interchangeably fastened to the gamut of other prefabricated components produced by the same manufacturer.
Using geodesic space fillers of varieties other than rectangular modularity for building construction represents a departure from conventional design. With such space fillers, smaller parts can create modules which can then be used to construct buildings of large sizes and unusual forms.
One known space filling geometry is the rhombic dodecahedron. An unmodified, closed module of this type has 12 sides, with each side consisting of a 4-edged rhombus. Being more complex for filling space than conventional square or rectangular cubic (6-sided) units, the rhombic dodecahedron represents a balance between allowing the construction of unusual forms while keeping the overall number of sides down to an economical number. The rhombic dodecahedron is characterized by having eight 3-point vertices, and six 4-point vertices.
The basic rhombic dodecahedral module may also be modified, for instance, by ‘stretching’ selected side shapes from rhombic forms into hexagons or ‘twisting’ selected side shapes into trapezoids. Such modified forms may have twelve 3- point vertices and two 4-point vertices. Myriad variations of these modified forms are possible, depending on the acuteness of the angles embodied in the side shapes.
Though the rhombic dodecahedral form is known as a space filling geometry (Peter Pearce, Structure in Nature is a Strategy for Design), this geometry is not presently applied to the construction of economical modular structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel structural assembly for fabricating structures based on variations of the rhombic dodecahedral (12- sided) module. This assembly uses a very simplified ordered edge connection system incorporated with planar panels to minimize the number of different panels required, while significantly reducing construction cost. The peripheral edges of these panels comprise alternating connectors and receptors, such that the panel edges with connectors may be interconnected with the panel edges with receptors. Preferred embodiments of the assembly according to the present invention utilize pre-manufactured panels to allow for more rapid assembly in less developed areas with a consistent and predetermined level of quality.
A preferred embodiment of an assembly according to the present invention utilizes hexagonal and rhombic shaped panels for portions of the structure not joined to a building surface underlying the assembly. For portions of the structure which are joined to an underlying building surface, a preferred embodiment of an assembly according to the present invention further uses base panels, pentagonal in shape, with one surface connector edge (for connecting with the underlying building surface). Thus, an entire structure may be built using only the three aforementioned kinds of panels (hexagonal, rhombic, and pentagonal). The small number of different types of panels required can reduce production and storage costs, resulting in a reduced cost to the consumer.
Alternative embodiments of an assembly according to the present invention may utilize trapezoidal and rhombic shaped panels for the portions of the structure not joined to a building surface underlying the assembly. Such alternative embodiments may further incorporate trapezoidal base panels, each with one surface connector edge for connecting the structure to an the underlying building surface or foundation.
A preferred embodiment of the panels used to construct an assembly according to the present invention each comprise a peripheral frame and at least one panel layer attached to the frame.
While the preceding embodiments relate to the modular construction of structures for habitable or commercial use, a further alternative embodiment relates to structures that may be used as play equipment, models, or toys. This alternative embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention utilizes planar panels of the basic shapes described previously (hexagonal, rhombic, trapezoidal, and/or pentagonal), but with simplified panel connector and receptor edges. These simplified connectors contain one or more protruding tabs, and the simplified receptor edges contain one or more slots for receiving the one or more protruding tabs.
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Friedman Carl D.
Lyon & Lyon LLP
Yip Winnie S.
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