US4059932A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-supporting structural unit having a three-dimensional surface
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-21
•
Granted: 1977-11-29
•
Expires: 1996-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A self-supporting structural unit having a three-dimensional surface comprising: a first plurality of identical polygons, such as, for example, equilateral triangles, having predefined, fixed areas and equal sides of a predetermined constant length: and a second plurality of polygons, such as, for example, hexagons, having various areas but with equal sides of a predetermined constant length, the sides of the first plurality of polygons being equal in length to the sides of the second plurality of polygons and being secured thereto and in coextensive alignment therewith, the vertices of the first plurality of identical polygons and the second plurality of polygons lying substantially in the three-dimensional surface of the self-supporting structural unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Dale Resch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:51
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/32; E04B2001/327; E04B2001/3294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions approximating a smooth, predefined, non-planar, analytical surface in three dimensions, said polygonal, non-planar surface comprising: a first plurality of identical, individually fabricated and constructed planar polygons having predefined and fixed areas and equal sides of a predetermined fixed length; and a second plurality of individually fabricated and constructed substantially planar polygons having various areas with respect to themselves and equal sides of a predetermined length, the sides of said first plurality of identical, individually fabricated and constructed planar polygons being equal in length to the sides of said second plurality of individually fabricated and constructed substantially planar polygons and being secured together with their sides in coextensive alignment, all the vertices of said first and said second pluralities of individually fabricated and constructed polygons lying substantially in the smooth, predefined, non-planar, analytical surface in three dimensions and with the surface areas of said first and said second pluralities of individually fabricated and constructed polygons forming the polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions of said self-supporting structural unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions approximating a smooth, predefined, non-planar, analytical surface in three dimensions, said polygonal, non-planar surface comprising: a first plurality of identical, individually fabricated and constructed planar polygons having predefined and fixed areas and equal sides of a predetermined fixed length; and a second plurality of individually fabricated and constructed substantially planar polygons having various areas with respect to themselves and equal sides of a predetermined length, the sides of said first plurality of identical, individually fabricated and constructed planar polygons being equal in length to the sides of said second plurality of individually fabricated and constructed substantially planar polygons and being secured together with their sides in coextensive alignment, all the vertices of said first and said second pluralities of individually fabricated and constructed polygons lying substantially in the smooth, predefined, non-planar, analytical surface in three dimensions and with the surface areas of said first and said second pluralities of individually fabricated and constructed polygons forming the polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions of said self-supporting structural unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as defined in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of identical, individually fabricated and constructed planar polygons comprises equilateral triangles and said second plurality of individually fabricated and constructed substantially planar polygons comprises equilateral hexagons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as defined in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of identical, individually fabricated and constructed planar polygons comprises quadrilaterals and said second plurality of individually fabricated and constructed substantially planar polygons comprises quadrilaterals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as defined in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of identical, individually fabricated and constructed planar polygons comprises squares and said second plurality of individually fabricated and constructed substantially planar polygons comprises rhombuses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as defined in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of identical, individually fabricated and constructed planar polygons comprises rhombuses and said second plurality of individually fabricated and constructed substantially planar polygons comprises rhombuses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as defined in claim 1, wherein said first plurality of identical, individually fabricated and constructed planar polygons comprises equilateral, equiangular hexagons and said second plurality of individually fabricated and constructed substantially planar polygons comprises equilateral, equiangular hexagons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as defined in claim 1, wherein said smooth, predefined, non-planar, analytical surface in three dimensions is a non-developable surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as defined in claim 1, wherein said smooth, predefined, non-planar, analytical surface in three dimensions is a hyperbolic paraboloidal surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as defined in claim 1, wherein said smooth, predefined, non-planar, analytical surface in three dimensions is the surface of a closed, solid geometric figure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as defined in claim 1, wherein said smooth, predefined, non-planar, analytical surface in three dimensions is an ovoidal solid figure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as defined in claim 1, wherein said smooth, predefined, non-planar, analytical surface in three dimensions is the surface of an egg.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as defined in claim 1, wherein said pluralities of polygons are made of aluminum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A self-supporting structural unit having a polygonal, non-planar surface in three dimensions as deined in claim 1, wherein said smooth, predefined, non-planar, analytical surface in three dimensions is the hull of a ship.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR789499A
Cited
US2905113A
Cited
US3063521A
Cited
US3133133A
Cited
US3184094A
Cited
US3201894A
Cited
US3325958A
Cited
FR1454527A
Cited
US3407558A
Cited
US3501367A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-11-28 | 1981-05-30 | 1981-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-28 | 1985-05-30 | 1985-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-28 | 1989-05-30 | 1989-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |