Structural fabrics employing icosahedral elements and uses thereof

• US 7,452,578 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lanahan Revocable Living Trust
• Original Assignee: Samuel J. Lanahan
• Inventors: Lanahan, Samuel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shosho; Callie E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kashnikow; Erik
• Application Number:
  US10/932,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 52/81, 52/794, 361/00, 428/36
• US Class Current: 428/36.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/19 Three-dimensional framework structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1996 Tensile-integrity structures, i.e. structures comprising compression struts connected through flexible tension members, e.g. cables
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3223 Theorical polygonal geometry therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16S 3/08 forming frameworks, e.g. gratings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1362 Textile, fabric, cloth, or pile containing [e.g., web, net, woven, knitted, mesh, nonwoven, matted, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/20 Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which is not [a] associated with another preformed layer or fiber layer or, [b] with respect to woven and knit, characterized, respectively, by a particular or differential weave or knit, wherein the coating or impregnation is neither a foamed material nor a free metal or alloy layer

Abstract

A structural fabric comprises a plurality of discrete and spaced apart icosahedral elements and a plurality of interconnecting elements. The icosahedra elements are interconnected at selected edges by the interconnecting elements in tension so as to form a self-supported array of the icosahedral elements. The icosahedral elements may be icosahedrons (20 sides) or truncated icosahedrons (32 sides). Methods of constructing the structural fabric are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A structural fabric, comprising:

a plurality of discrete and spaced apart icosahedral elements;

a plurality of interconnecting elements, said icosohedral elements being interconnected at selected vertices by said interconnecting elements in tension so as to form a free standing array of said icosahedral elements; and

wherein for any one interconnected icosahedral element, said interconnecting elements are attached at two consecutive vertices on the interconnected icosahedral element and along an edge on the icosahedral element extending between the two consecutive vertices.

2. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein a first interconnecting element extends, on average, along a first Cartesian axis, and wherein a second interconnecting element extends, on average, along a second Cartesian axis.

3. The structural fabric of claim 2, wherein a third interconnecting element extends, on average, along a third Cartesian axis.

4. The structural fabric of claim 3, wherein said interconnecting elements are connected to respective sets of said icosahedral elements so that each of the interconnecting elements follows a path that oscillates about one of the respective Cartesian axes.

5. The structural fabric of claim 3, wherein said interconnecting elements are connected to respective sets of said icosahedral elements so that alternate icosahedral elements of said respective sets of icosahedral elements overlap, in opposite directions, respective Cartesian planes in which said respective Cartesian axes lie.

6. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein said icosahedral elements are regular icosahedrons.

7. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein said icosahedral elements are truncated regular icosahedrons.

8. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein said icosahedral elements comprise elongate members connected together so as to form the edges of the icosahedral elements, said elongate members being relatively rigid compared to said interconnecting elements.

9. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein said icosahedral elements are relatively rigid compared to said interconnecting elements.

10. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein at least one interconnecting element is connected to a set of said icosahedral elements so as to follow a path that oscillates about an average linear direction.

11. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein at least one interconnecting element is connected to a set of said icosahedral elements so as to extend, on average, along a plane, and alternate icosahedral elements of said set of icosahedral elements in a direction along said plane overlap said plane in opposite directions.

12. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein said interconnecting elements comprise filaments.

13. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein said interconnecting elements comprise ribbons.

14. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein said array is substantially regular.

15. The structural fabric of claim 14, wherein said icosahedral elements are regular icosahedrons.

16. The structural fabric of claim 14, wherein said icosahedral elements are truncated regular icosahedrons.

17. The structural fabric of claim 14, wherein a first interconnecting element extends, on average, along a first Cartesian axis, a second interconnecting element extends, on average, along a second Cartesian axis, and a third interconnecting element extends, on average, along a third Cartesian axis.

18. The structural fabric of claim 17, wherein said interconnecting elements are connected to respective sets of said icosahedral elements so that each of the interconnecting elements follows a path that oscillates about one of the respective Cartesian axes.

19. The structural fabric of claim 18, wherein said icosahedral elements comprise elongate members connected so as to form the edges of said icosahedral elements, said elongate members being relatively rigid compared to said interconnecting elements.

20. The structural fabric of claim 18, wherein said icosahedral elements are relatively rigid compared to said interconnecting elements.

21. The structural fabric of claim 18, wherein said interconnecting elements comprise filaments.

22. The structural fabric of claim 18, wherein said interconnecting elements comprise ribbons.

23. The structural fabric of claim 17, wherein said interconnecting elements are connected to respective sets of said icosahedral elements so that alternate icosahedral elements of said respective sets of icosahedral elements overlap, in opposite directions, respective Cartesian planes in which said respective Cartesian axes lie.

24. The structural fabric of claim 23, wherein said icosahedral elements comprise elongate members connected so as to form- the edges of said icosahedral elements, said elongate members being relatively rigid compared to said interconnecting elements.

25. The structural fabric of claim 23, wherein said icosahedral elements are relatively rigid compared to said interconnecting elements.

26. The structural fabric of claim 23, wherein said interconnecting elements comprise filaments.

27. The structural fabric of claim 23, wherein said interconnecting elements comprise ribbons.

28. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein the interconnecting elements alone at least two opposite edges of said structural fabric are attached to respective anchoring members.

29. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein said icosahedral elements comprise fullerenes.

30. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein a first interconnecting element extends, on average, along a first Cartesian axis, a second interconnecting element extends, on average, along a second Cartesian axis, and a third interconnecting element extends, on average, along a third Cartesian axis, the extent of the fabric along one of said Cartesian axes being less than along the other two Cartesian axes so that the fabric forms a sheet.

31. The structural fabric of claim 1, wherein the lengths of sections of said interconnecting members between icosahedral elements are varied so that said fabric curves in a predetermined manner.

32. The structural fabric of claim 31, wherein the fabric forms a cylindrical body.

33. The structural fabric of claim 31, wherein the fabric form a barrel-shaped body.

34. A method for constructing a structural fabric, comprising:

providing a plurality of discrete and spaced apart icosahedral elements; and

interconnecting said icosohedral elements at selected vertices by a plurality of interconnecting elements in tension so as to form a free standing array of said icosahedral elements, wherein for any one interconnected icosahedral element, said interconnecting further comprises interconnecting said interconnecting elements at two consecutive vertices on the interconnected icosahedral element and along an edge extending between the two consecutive vertices.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said interconnecting comprises interconnecting a first interconnecting element so that it extends, on average, along a first Cartesian axis, and interconnecting a second interconnecting element so that it extends, on average, along a second Cartesian axis.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said interconnecting further comprises interconnecting a third interconnecting element so that it extends, on average, along a third Cartesian axis.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said interconnecting further comprises interconnecting said interconnecting elements to respective sets of said icosahedral elements so as to follow a path that oscillates about their respective Cartesian axes.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein said interconnecting further comprises interconnecting said interconnecting elements to respective sets of said icosahedral elements so that alternate icosahedral elements of said respective sets of icosahedral elements overlap, in opposite directions, respective Cartesian planes in which said respective Cartesian axes lie.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein said providing icosahedral elements comprises providing regular icosahedrons.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein said providing icosahedral elements comprises providing truncated regular icosahedrons.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein said providing icosahedral elements comprises providing icosahedral elements that are relatively rigid compared to said interconnecting elements.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein said interconnecting further comprises interconnecting at least one interconnecting element to a set of said icosahedral elements so as to follow a path that oscillates about an average linear direction.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein said interconnecting further comprises interconnecting at least one interconnecting element to a set of said icosahedral elements so as to extend, on average, along a plane, and alternate icosahedral elements of said set of icosahedral elements in a direction along said plane overlap said plane in opposite directions.

44. The method of claim 34, wherein said interconnecting comprises interconnecting said icosahedral elements with filaments.

45. The method of claim 34, wherein said interconnecting further comprises interconnecting said icosahedral elements with ribbons.