HOLLOW SPHERE AND STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTING SAME

• US 3,691,704 A
• Filed: 05/19/1970
• Issued: 09/19/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Phillip J. Novak
• Original Assignee: Phillip J. Novak
• Inventors: Novak, Phillip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abbott, Frank L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raduazo, Henry E.
• Application Number:
  US05/038,744
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 52/81,80,591,589 35/46A 273/157R,157A
• US Class Current: 52/81.4
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1094 non-planar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1216 using locking or binding pins
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/124 with a final configuration being a sphere
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/12 Three-dimensional jig-saw puzzles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/062 with clip or snap mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/04 spherical B65D88/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/3211 Structures with a vertical rotation axis or the like, e.g. semi-spherical structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3276 Panel connection details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 52/10 Polyhedron

Abstract

A plurality of structural elements, having dished bodies presenting convex outer and concave inner surfaces and corresponding in shape to that of a geometrical subsection of an even fractional portion of a spherical shell, are closely associated and preferably interfitted by means of broad and flat tongues and corresponding recesses, that are spaced below such convex outer surfaces and preferably lie substantially wholly between the convex and concave surfaces, to form a hollow sphere. Both the tongues and recesses have mating nubs for interlocking the individual elements together when interfitted to form a sphere. The structural elements can either be positively secured to each other or left free for easy disassembly. The convex outer surfaces of various of these structural elements may be colored or otherwise treated differently to provide a patterned exterior surface for the sphere, and the mated contiguous edges of such structural elements may be joined, adhesively or otherwise.

Claims

1. A structural element adapted to fit with like structural elements to form a hollow sphere, comprising a body having broad outer and inner surfaces and shape corresponding to that of a geometrical subsection of an even fractional portion of a spherical shell, so that an assembly of a sufficient number of similar structural elements will form a spherical shell;

a series of individual broad tongues and alternating corresponding recesses disposed about the peripheral edge margins of said body as substantially planar parts thereof, said tongues and said recesses being spaced from the outer surface of said body and having mating nubs on outer broad surfaces of said tongues and on inner body surfaces defining said recesses, respectively, said nubs being arranged to interlock as structural means for holding interfitted structural elements together in the construction of a sphere which has no visible tongue and recess joinders.

2. A structural element in accordance with claim 1, molded to shape from a plastic material.

3. A plurality of the elements of claim 1 closely fitted together in the form of a hollow sphere.

4. The hollow sphere of claim 3, wherein various of the individual elements have their respective outer convex surfaces differently finished to provide a patterned exterior surface for the sphere.