Geodesic structures

• US 3,197,927 A
• Filed: 12/19/1961
• Issued: 08/03/1965
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1961
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Buckminster Fuller Richard
• Original Assignee: Buckminster Fuller Richard
• Inventors: BUCKMINSTER FULLER RICHARD
• Application Number:
  US04/160,450
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• US Class Current: 52/81.4
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/3211 Structures with a vertical rotation axis or the like, e.g. semi-spherical structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3241 Frame connection details
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3264 hardened in situ
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3282 Panels connected together exclusively at their corners
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3288 Panel frame details, e.g. flanges of steel sheet panels
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3294 with a faceted surface
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/10 Shell structures, e.g. of hyperbolic-parabolic shape; Grid-like formations acting as shell structures; Folded structures buildings E04B1/32

Claims

1. A STRUCTURE OF GENERALLY SPHERICAL FROM COMPRISING A FRAMEWORK INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SIX SIDED PANEL MEMBERS, THREE SIDES OF WHICH ARE STRAIGHT AND THREE SIDES CURVED, SAID CURVED SIDES TERMINATING IN UPTURNED FLANGES PROJECTING RADIALLY IN RESPECT OF THE SPHERE ON WHICH THE STRUCTURE IS PREDICATED, THE CURVED SIDES OF ADJACENT MEMBERS FORMING A CIRCULAR OPENING BOUNDED BY SAID UPTURNED FLANGES, SAID PANEL MEMBERS BEING INNCERCONNECTED AND DRAWN TOGETHER BY A TENSION RING DISPOSED AROUND THE CIRCULAR OPENING AND HAVING A CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPTURNED FLANGES.