Arcuate building block structure

• US 5,732,518 A
• Filed: 09/11/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PolyCeramics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PolyCeramics, Inc.
• Inventors: Roberts, Peter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KENT, CHRISTOPHER T
• Application Number:
  US08/710,004
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 52/245, 52/81.1, 52/604, 52/605, 52/608, 52/609, 52/DIG. 10
• US Class Current: 52/245
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/3205 Structures with a longitudinal horizontal axis, e.g. cylindrical or prismatic structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/3211 Structures with a vertical rotation axis or the like, e.g. semi-spherical structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2/12 using elements having a general shape differing from that of a parallelepiped
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3276 Panel connection details
• 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 2002/0243 Separate connectors or inserts, e.g. pegs, pins or keys
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 52/10 Polyhedron

Abstract

An arcuate building structure containing at least three five-sided building blocks, at least three six-sided building blocks, and said five-sided and six-sided building blocks are independently able to provide means for connecting one of said five-sided building blocks to at least one of said six-sided building blocks. The top side of the six-sided block has a substantially triangular shape, and is substantially parallel to the bottom side of the six-sided block. The front side of the six-sided block has a substantially trapezoidal shape with a top edge, a bottom edge, a right edge, and a left edge. The right edge and the left edge have equal lengths and form equal angles with the bottom edge. The back side of the six-sided block has a substantially triangular shape with at least two sides equal in length to each other. The left and right sides of the six-sided block are congruent with each other, are in the shape of a parallelogram, and contain a recess and projection within their borders, The five-sided block contains a top side with a substantially rectangular shape and a recess and projection disposed within such shape, a left and right side (each of which are congruent with the left and right sides of the six-sided block), and a front and back side (each of which are congruent with each other and with the back side of the six-sided block).

Claims

1. An arcuate building structure comprised of a first five-sided building block adjacent to and abutting a first six-sided building block, wherein:

(a) said first six-sided building block, is comprised of a first top side, a first front side, a first back side, a first left side, a first right side, and a first bottom side, wherein;

1. said first top side has a substantially triangular shape, wherein at least two of the sides of said triangular shape are equal, and said first top side is substantially parallel to said first bottom side,

2. said first front side has a substantially trapezoidal shape comprising a top edge, a bottom edge, a right edge, and a left edge, wherein said right edge and said left edge have equal lengths and form equal angles with said bottom edge,

3. said first back side has a substantially triangular shape with at least two sides equal in length to each other,

4. said first left side and said first right side have shapes which are congruent, and each of said first left side and said first right side are in the shape of a parallelogram comprised of four walls and comprise a substantially triangular-shaped recess and a substantially triangular-shaped projection disposed between the walls of said parallelogram, and

3. The arcuate building structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said arcuate building structure is comprised of at least fifteen of said five-sided building blocks.

5. The arcuate structure as recited in claim 3, where the number of said five-sided building blocks in said structure is equal to the number of said six-sided building blocks in said structure.

7. The building structure as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said building blocks consists essentially of plastic material.

8. The building structure as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said building blocks consists essentially of metal material.

2. said first bottom side has a substantially trapezoidal shape comprised of walls and is comprised of a substantially triangular recess and a substantially triangular-shaped projection disposed between the walls of said trapezoidal shape, andfirst left side and said first right side comprise a substantially triangular-shaped plug disposed between the walls of said parallelogram, andsaid first bottom side is comprised of a substantially triangular plug disposed between the walls of said trapezoidal shape

(d) each of said first five-sided building block, is comprised of a second top side, a second front side, a second back side, a second right side, and second left side, wherein:

1. said second top side has a substantially rectangular shape and comprises a substantially triangularly shaped recess and a triangular-shaped projection disposed within said substantially rectangular shape,

2. said second left side and said second right side are congruent with each other and are also congruent with said first left side and said first right side,

3. said second front side is congruent with both said second back side and said first back side; and

(e) each of said triangular projections has a linear crest which is at a substantially right angle to said front side and said back side.

(f) said projections contain one substantially obtuse angle of about 120 degrees.

(g) said recesses contain one substantially obtuse angle of about 120 degrees.

4. The arcuate building structure as recited in claim 2, wherein said arcuate building structure is comprised of at least fifteen of said six-sided building blocks.

6. A building structure comprised of a plurality of building blocks connected to each other by a plurality of integrally connected blocks, recesses and projections wherein:

(a) each of said building blocks has a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape, wherein said building blocks are comprised of an outside face, an inside face, a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall;

(b) said outside face opposes said inside face and is connected to said inside face by said first wall, said second wall, and said third wall;

(c) said first wall is comprised of a first triangular-shaped recess and a first triangular-shaped projection which are disposed between said outside face and said inside face;

(d) said second wall is comprised of a second triangular-shaped recess and a second triangular-shaped projection which are disposed between said outside face and said inside face;

(e) said third wall is comprised of a third triangular-shaped recess and a triangular-shaped projection which are disposed between said outside face and said inside face.