US3718295A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Barrel-curved, wreck-resistant cabin
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-29
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Granted: 1973-02-27
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Expires: 1990-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A light-weight, shock-resistant vehicular cabin or other insulated, barrel-curved container, mainly constructed of elongated, stave-like members, each of which comprises: a pair of spaced side pieces (of wood, sheet metal or metallic mesh), having outer edges that curvingly slope from the greatest bulge of the container toward the forward and rearward ends of the cabin; firm, molded filler material (plastic - preferably foamed - or light-weight concrete or the like) between the side pieces; and a hollow element or elements in the filler, containing gaseous material (air or other gas, optionally pressurized, or gas-cell-containing foam plastic). The hollow elements may be: single, sealed, bent tubes, each being nearly the length of the cabin; cans in end-to-end relation; bent bamboo or straight bamboo sections; slender, plastic tubes; or small balloons. The gaseous material in the hollow elements may be: air or non-aerial gas at or above atmospheric pressure; or gas-cell-containing foam plastic, which optionally may be under internal, aboveatmospheric pressure. Bonding material is between adjacent faces of the stave-like members, and preferably the assembled members are tautly encompassed by hoops or equivalent looped means - for example, tautly applied metallic mesh. The outer skin means may comprise rubber sheeting or other rubber coating. In the preferred vehicular form, windowed doors or hatches are provided.
Inventors
- 👤 A Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:45
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D23/00; B62D29/00; B62D39/00; B64; B64C; B64C1/00; B64C1/06; B64C1/061; B64C1/062; B64C2001/0054; B64C2001/0063; B64C2001/0081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
A useful-load-holding container, having upper, lateral and lower wall portions, arcuate exterior surfaces at least the container-end portions of which are barrel-curved, an inclosed load-containing space, and a longitudinal axis, comprising: a plurality of elongated, stave-like construction members, at least the end portions of which have barrel-curved outer surfaces, said members being in assembled, contiguous, side-byside arrangement in said four walls and encompassing said loadcontaining space; each of said members having wedge shape in cross sections normal to its longitudinal center line and comprising: a pair of spaced-apart, container-strengthproviding side pieces, having surfaces that converge toward each other and toward said load-containing space, each of said side pieces having a thickness that is a minor percentage of the maximum width of the stave-like member; hollow, tubular means, comprising at least one hollow element between each inclined pair of the said side pieces; gaseous material in said hollow means; and container-strength-providing filler material, which sets from plastic condition into shape-preserving substance between and in contact with said side pieces, in contact with said hollow means, and having outer surfaces that conform to the exterior periphery of said container; each adjacent pair of the said stave-like members having a said side piece of one of said pair contiguous to a side piece of the other member of the pair, the two side pieces being adjoined substantially along a junction plane that extends thru a center line of transverse curvature of the said arcuate exterior surfaces of the container and having a tendency to resistingly wedge together under major external blows; and and means holding said stave-like members together in assembled arrangement, comprising container-strength-providing looped means, encompassing the said plurality of stave-like members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
A useful-load-holding container, having upper, lateral and lower wall portions, arcuate exterior surfaces at least the container-end portions of which are barrel-curved, an inclosed load-containing space, and a longitudinal axis, comprising: a plurality of elongated, stave-like construction members, at least the end portions of which have barrel-curved outer surfaces, said members being in assembled, contiguous, side-byside arrangement in said four walls and encompassing said loadcontaining space; each of said members having wedge shape in cross sections normal to its longitudinal center line and comprising: a pair of spaced-apart, container-strengthproviding side pieces, having surfaces that converge toward each other and toward said load-containing space, each of said side pieces having a thickness that is a minor percentage of the maximum width of the stave-like member; hollow, tubular means, comprising at least one hollow element between each inclined pair of the said side pieces; gaseous material in said hollow means; and container-strength-providing filler material, which sets from plastic condition into shape-preserving substance between and in contact with said side pieces, in contact with said hollow means, and having outer surfaces that conform to the exterior periphery of said container; each adjacent pair of the said stave-like members having a said side piece of one of said pair contiguous to a side piece of the other member of the pair, the two side pieces being adjoined substantially along a junction plane that extends thru a center line of transverse curvature of the said arcuate exterior surfaces of the container and having a tendency to resistingly wedge together under major external blows; and and means holding said stave-like members together in assembled arrangement, comprising container-strength-providing looped means, encompassing the said plurality of stave-like members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which the said container is a vehicular cabin, and said cabin comprises: door means adapted to permit the passage of a person thru it into or out of the cabin; and windowed means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A cabin as set forth in claim 2, comprising: a curved, endless, cabin-strength-providing band, bracingly positioned inside and connected to interior surfaces of end portions of said construction members; and windowed means inside and connected to the said band.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A cabin as set forth in claim 3, in which: the said band is of metal and has recesses in forward and after portions of its inside surface, all cross sections of the band being relatively thicker in its middle part and thinner in the said forward and after portions, at the said recesses; and the said windowed means comprises transparent panes, inside and connected to the said recesses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cabin as set forth in claim 4, comprising bar-like bracing means connected to and spanning space between separated portions of the said band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cabin as set forth in claim 2, comprising, at each of its end portions, a curved endless, cabin-strength-providing band, bracingly positioned inside and connected to interior surfaces of end portions of said construction members; and windowed means inside and connected to each of said bands.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
A device as set forth in claim 2, in which: the said hollow means comprises tubular walls of metal; the said door means comprises at least one door, in a portion of said wall portions, and having a frame; the said plurality of construction members comprises members extending from one end part of the caBin to the other and further comprises shorter construction members that have end portions that are adjacent to said frame; and each of the said end portions comprises: a metallic element, bridging across a hollow space in said tubular walls; and fastening means fixed to said metallic element and to said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cabin as set forth in claim 2, in which the said hollow element is an elongated tube; and the said filler material is substantially rigid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cabin as set forth in claim 2, in which: each of the said construction members comprises a plurality of hollow elements; and each of said hollow elements is tubular.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which each of the said junction planes intersects at least a middle portion of the said arcuate exterior surfaces in a straight line, parallel to the said longitudinal axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which the said arcuate exterior surfaces are circular in cross sections normal to said longitudinal axis, and the said center line of curvature substantially coincides with said longitudinal axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which: the said arcuate exterior surfaces are noncircular in cross sections normal to the said longitudinal axis; and the said planes extend thru a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel center lines of curvature of said barrel curved surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as set forth in claim 12, in which the said container is a vehicular cabin, having door and window means, at least one of which is a door, adapted to permit passage of a person thru it, into and out of the cabin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as set forth in claim 13, in which part of the said door is a window.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A container member as set forth in claim 1, in which the said filler material comprises elongated tubes of smaller diameter than that of said hollow elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container as set forth in claim 1, in which the said members comprise bamboo elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container as set forth in claim 1, in which said hollow elements have walls of metal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container as set forth in claim 1, in which said gaseous material is gas under above-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which: the middle portion of said exterior surfaces also is barrel-curved, these portions smoothly merging into said barrel-curved container-end portions; the middle portions of said stave-like members also are barrel-curved, smoothly merging into said barrel-curved surfaces of the end portions of these members; and the said junction planes intersect the said exterior surfaces of the container in continuous arcs between the ends of the container.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which: the said container is a vehicular cabin; the middle part of said cabin, between its bow and stern portions, is cylindrical; and said barrel-curved exterior surfaces comprise only said container-end portions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
103 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which: each of a plurality of cross-sectional planes normal to said longitudinal axis intersect said exterior surfaces of the container in at least four outwardly curved arcs of transverse curvature; one of the said last-named arcs being in each of said upper, lateral and lower wall portions and having a center of curvature that is in a said center line at which said junction planes between the side pieces at that arc intersect; the said center lines for said wall portions being at different locations, and spaced from and parallel to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
156 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, comprising a rounded junction between each adjacent pair of ends of said upper, lateral and lower wall portions, in which: cross-sectional planes normal to said longitudinal axis intersect said exterior surfaces in eight outwardly curved arcs of transverse curvature; one of the said eight arcs being at each of said upper, lateral and lower wall portions and having a center of curvature that is in a said center line at which the junction planes between the side pieces at that arc intersect; one of the said eight arcs being at each of the said rounded junctions between adjacent ends of the wall portions and having a center of curvature that is in a center line of transverse curvature at which junction planes between the side pieces at that arc intersect; the said eight center lines being at different locations, and spaced from and parallel to said longitudinal axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
236 words
A light-weight, load-containing, wreck-resistant cabin, having: a middle part and bow and stern parts; a curved periphery, at least the bow and stern portions of which are barrel-curved; a fore-and-aft axis; upper, lateral and lower walls, each of which is outwardly bowed and has arcs in cross sections normal to said axis with centers of arc curvature in a center line, the said center lines of the said walls being at different locations, and spaced from and parallel to said longitudinal axis; the said cabin comprising: skin means having streamlined surfaces forming said periphery; withing said skin means: juxtaposed, fore-and-aft-extending rows of fastened-together cans, each row having a plurality of non-coinciding can-axes arranged to conform to said curved periphery; said rows being in side-by-side arrangement around said longitudinal axis and encompassing a load-containing space; said can-axes at said bow and stern barrel-curved parts in each of said rows being successively nearer to said longitudinal axis from a middle portion of said cabin of greater cross-sectional area to an end portion of the cabin; the centers of said cans of each of said bow and stern parts in each adjacent pair of said juxtaposed rows being successively nearer together, from the said middle portion of greater area to said end portion; gaseous material in said cans; and firm, cabin-strength-providing material, conforming to said curved periphery, between said skin means and said cans, comprising wedge-shaped portions between cans.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
236 words
A light-weight, load-containing, wreck-resistant cabin, having: a middle part and bow and stern parts; a curved periphery, at least the bow and stern portions of which are barrel-curved; a fore-and-aft axis; upper, lateral and lower walls, each of which is outwardly bowed and has arcs in cross sections normal to said axis with centers of arc curvature in a center line, the said center lines of the said walls being at different locations, and spaced from and parallel to said longitudinal axis; the said cabin comprising: skin means having streamlined surfaces forming said periphery; withing said skin means: juxtaposed, fore-and-aft-extending rows of fastened-together cans, each row having a plurality of non-coinciding can-axes arranged to conform to said curved periphery; said rows being in side-by-side arrangement around said longitudinal axis and encompassing a load-containing space; said can-axes at said bow and stern barrel-curved parts in each of said rows being successively nearer to said longitudinal axis from a middle portion of said cabin of greater cross-sectional area to an end portion of the cabin; the centers of said cans of each of said bow and stern parts in each adjacent pair of said juxtaposed rows being successively nearer together, from the said middle portion of greater area to said end portion; gaseous material in said cans; and firm, cabin-strength-providing material, conforming to said curved periphery, between said skin means and said cans, comprising wedge-shaped portions between cans.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
79 words
A cabin as set forth in claim 23, comprising rounded junctions between adjacent pairs of said walls that have, as parts of said curved periphery, arcs of curvature in cross sections normal to said longitudinal axis with radii shorter than those of said arcs in said walls, and with centers of curvature in different center lines; the said junctions comprising fore-and-aft-extending rows of fastened-together cans; portions of said filler material extending between said last-named cans and said skin means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cabin as set forth in claim 23, in which said middle cabin part is cylindrical.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cabin as set forth in claim 23, in which said middle part is barrel-curved, with its exterior smoothly merging with said barrel-curved bow and stern portions of the said curved periphery.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
199 words
A curved container comprising elongated construction members that are wedge-shaped in cross sections, each of said members having barrel-curved exterior surfaces and an opposite elongated surface and comprising: A pair of elongated, spaced-apart, container-strength-providing side pieces, each having a thickness that is a minor percentage of the maximum cross-sectional width of said member, the said side pieces being inclined toward each other from the exterior to the interior of the member, having a pair of elongated edges at the curved outer surface of the container that are farther apart than the distance between the opposite pair of side-piece edges at said opposite elongated surface; container-strength-providing,hollow, tubular means between the said side pieces; gaseous material in the said hollow means; and shape-holding filler material, between said side pieces and in contact with said hollow means; the said container further comprising means strongly fastening together contiguous side pieces of each adjacent pair of said construction members; at least some of the junction planes between contiguous side pieces intersecting at a common line, the said line containing centers of curvature of arcs of the curved exterior of the containEr, the said arcs lying in planes normal to an axis of the container.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
199 words
A curved container comprising elongated construction members that are wedge-shaped in cross sections, each of said members having barrel-curved exterior surfaces and an opposite elongated surface and comprising: A pair of elongated, spaced-apart, container-strength-providing side pieces, each having a thickness that is a minor percentage of the maximum cross-sectional width of said member, the said side pieces being inclined toward each other from the exterior to the interior of the member, having a pair of elongated edges at the curved outer surface of the container that are farther apart than the distance between the opposite pair of side-piece edges at said opposite elongated surface; container-strength-providing,hollow, tubular means between the said side pieces; gaseous material in the said hollow means; and shape-holding filler material, between said side pieces and in contact with said hollow means; the said container further comprising means strongly fastening together contiguous side pieces of each adjacent pair of said construction members; at least some of the junction planes between contiguous side pieces intersecting at a common line, the said line containing centers of curvature of arcs of the curved exterior of the containEr, the said arcs lying in planes normal to an axis of the container.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container as set forth in claim 27, in which said side pieces comprise metallic mesh.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
Structure as set forth in claim 27, in which said hollow means comprises at least one tubular member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
Structure as set forth in claim 29, in which the said gaseous material is gas under above-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
Structure as set forth in claim 27, in which said filler material is concrete.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container element as set forth in claim 27, in which said shape-holding material is foam plastic.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container element as set forth in claim 27, in which the said shape-holding material comprises concrete.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
63 words
A container as set forth in claim 27, having a straight-in-longitudinal-section middle portion and barrel-curved end portions, in which longitudinal sections, thru said members and in median planes containing the container''s axis, intersect said curved outer surface in straight lines in said middle portion, and in curved lines at said barrel-curved end portions that taper inward from said middle portion toward said axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-27 | 1976-08-28 | 1977-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-27 | 1980-08-28 | 1981-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-27 | 1984-08-28 | 1985-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |