Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A geodesic dome-like structure comprising: a plurality of triangular panels having sides of substantially equal length extending between vertices thereof so as to form generally equilateral triangular shapes; each of said triangular panels including a plurality of elongated rods extending along each side thereof in spaced relationship to each other; the rods associated with each side of each panel having opposite ends secured to the rod ends of the rods extending along the other sides of the associated panel; a plurality of generally planar hinge plates fixed to the rods in a longitudinally spaced relationship along each side of each panel with the planes of the plates oriented perpendicular to the elongated direction of the rods; pintles pivotally interconnecting the hinge plates of the triangular panels with the hinge plates of adjacent triangular panels; and said pintles being located intermediate the spaced rods of the panel sides pivotally connected thereby so that the panels pivot relative to each other about axes located outwardly from the panel sides.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A geodesic dome-like structure comprising: a plurality of triangular panels having sides of substantially equal length extending between vertices thereof so as to form generally equilateral triangular shapes; each of said triangular panels including a plurality of elongated rods extending along each side thereof in spaced relationship to each other; the rods associated with each side of each panel having opposite ends secured to the rod ends of the rods extending along the other sides of the associated panel; a plurality of generally planar hinge plates fixed to the rods in a longitudinally spaced relationship along each side of each panel with the planes of the plates oriented perpendicular to the elongated direction of the rods; pintles pivotally interconnecting the hinge plates of the triangular panels with the hinge plates of adjacent triangular panels; and said pintles being located intermediate the spaced rods of the panel sides pivotally connected thereby so that the panels pivot relative to each other about axes located outwardly from the panel sides.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A structure as in claim 1 wherein the pintles comprise elongated pintle rods that interconnect pivotally connected sets of the hinge plates spaced along the sides of the panels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A structure as in claim 2 wherein there are two elongated rods associated with each triangular panel side, said rods associated with the panel sides being spaced radially from each other with respect to the dome structure, and the elongated pintle rods being located radially intermediate the rods associated with the adjacent panel sides to provide a high strength pivotal interconnection of the panels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A structure as in claim 2 wherein there are two elongated rods associated with each triangular panel side, the hinge plates having triangular shapes, and the hinge plates including vertices defining openings for receiving the elongated panel side rods and the pintle rods.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A structure as in claim 1 wherein the hinge plates have washer shapes, the hinge plates of adjacent panel sides overlapping to define generally figure 8 configurations when viewed along the elongated direction of the rods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A structure as in claim 1 wherein the pintles comprise headed pins that pivotally interconnect the hinge plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A structure as in claim 1 wherein the hinge plates define enclosed openings through which the elongated rods and the pintles are inserted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A structure as in claim 1 wherein the hinge plates define slots that open so the elongated rods can be received therein upon relative movement between each hinge plate and each rod in a direction transverse to the elongated direction of the rod, and the hinge plates defining enclosed openings through which the pintles are inserted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A structure as in claim 1 wherein the elongated rods have round cross sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A structure as in claim 1 wherein the elongated rods, the hinge plates, and the pintles are all metallic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A structure as in claim 10 including welds securing the hinge plates to the elongated 10 and welds securing the ends of the rods to each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
A structure as in claim 1 wherein each pair of pivotally interconnected panel sides includes pairs of hinge plates spaced along one of the panel sides, with the hinge plates of each pair of hinge plates spaced from each other by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a single hinge plate, and each other panel side including hinge plates spaced therealong and received between the hinge plates of associated pairs of the hinge plates on the other panel sides to provide sets of the hinge plates along the pivotally connected panel sides.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A structure as in claim 1 and also including reinforcing members for pivotally fixing the angle between the panels after interconnection thereof by the pintles.