US4068421A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Frameless shelter for sunlit enclosures such as greenhouses, solariums and pool shelters
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-10-01
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Granted: 1978-01-17
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Expires: 1996-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A frameless shelter is disclosed constructed of a plurality of spherically shaped panel sections having the same radius of curvature and fabricated from a sunlight transmitting plastic adapted to be assembled together to form a dome structure. The panel sections are formed with U-shaped channel edges adapted to nest together with the contiguous edges of adjacent panels so as to provide vertically extending stiffener ribs so that a separate frame is not required, and at the same time act as locating means for the panels so that the dome may be readily assembled. The edges of the lowermost tier of panels rest in a channel support extending about the periphery thereof and resting on footings at ground level or on a wall structure extending above the ground. A center pole reinforcement is also included which also provides an electrical conduit for an electrically operated exhaust fan which may be included. An access door is formed by a spherically shaped door panel mounted within a frame lining a complementarily shaped opening in one of the lower tier panel sections, with the door being disclosed as of two piece or "dutch door" construction to allow ventilation by opening of the top half. Variations disclosed are a half dome construction adapted for installations against existing buildings and an elongated or extended version in which half dome sections are connected with a semi-cylindrical middle section. Also disclosed is a floating pool shelter in which the dome structure is mounted on a flotation ring providing sufficient buoyancy to support the dome so as to allow the dome to be floated on a pool surface.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Marovich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:19
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G9/00; A01G9/14; A01G9/1407; E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/32; E04B1/3211; E04H; E04H3/00; E04H3/10; E04H3/14; E04H3/16; E04B2001/327; E04B2001/3276; E04B2001/3288; E06; E06B; E06B3/00; E06B3/70; E06B3/7007; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A frameless hemispherical structure of rigid translucent plastic material comprising: a lower tier consisting of a first plurality of adjacent congruent truncated segments of a sphere, each segment having substantially U-shaped integral concave lateral edge channels which overlap and nest within the opposite edge channel of the adjacent panel to form a first series of depressions which extend throughout the vertical length of the lower tier and are uniformly spaced therearound; an upper tier consisting of a second plurality of congruent hemispheroidal segments having substantially U-shaped integral concave lateral edge channels which overlap and nest within the edge channels of adjacent panels to form a second series of depressions which extend the vertical length of the upper tier and are uniformly spaced therearound; all of said panels in said first and second pluralities having a common uniform compound radius of curvature; the upper edge of the lower tier panels and the lower edge of the upper tier panels also having substantially U-shaped integral concave channels which overlap and nest within one another to form a continuous horizontal depression which encircles the structure and is contiguous to both the first and second series of spaced depressions; the number of panels in the lower tier being greater than the number of panels in the upper tier; and fastener means sealingly disposed through the panels in the depressions to secure the structure together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A frameless hemispherical structure of rigid translucent plastic material comprising: a lower tier consisting of a first plurality of adjacent congruent truncated segments of a sphere, each segment having substantially U-shaped integral concave lateral edge channels which overlap and nest within the opposite edge channel of the adjacent panel to form a first series of depressions which extend throughout the vertical length of the lower tier and are uniformly spaced therearound; an upper tier consisting of a second plurality of congruent hemispheroidal segments having substantially U-shaped integral concave lateral edge channels which overlap and nest within the edge channels of adjacent panels to form a second series of depressions which extend the vertical length of the upper tier and are uniformly spaced therearound; all of said panels in said first and second pluralities having a common uniform compound radius of curvature; the upper edge of the lower tier panels and the lower edge of the upper tier panels also having substantially U-shaped integral concave channels which overlap and nest within one another to form a continuous horizontal depression which encircles the structure and is contiguous to both the first and second series of spaced depressions; the number of panels in the lower tier being greater than the number of panels in the upper tier; and fastener means sealingly disposed through the panels in the depressions to secure the structure together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
A frameless hemispherical structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the number of panels in the upper and lower tiers is selected such that the first series of spaced depressions ae coextensive and coplanar with the second series of spaced depressions only along a single circumferential great circle, the remaining first and second series of depressions being non-coextensive and non-aligned, whereby the structure may be disassembled into a pair of half-dome structures along said great circle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A frameless structure as defined in claim 1 wherein a door opening is formed in one of the panels of the lower tier; said structure further comprising a rigid metal door frame channel disposed within and sandwiching the door edge opening of said lower panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A structure as defined in claim 3 further including a door disposed in said opening and comprising independently hinged upper and lower panel portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A structure as defined in claim 1 further including a rigid metal base channel extending substantially continuously around the bottom edge of the structure and having a continuous circular depression for receiving the bottom edge of the panels of the lower tier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A structure as defined in claim 1 further including means associated with said upper tier panels for ventilating the structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A structure as defined in claim 1 further including a circular body of buoyant material having a diameter substantially equal to that of the hemispherical structure and secured to the bottom edge of the structure and of sufficient buoyancy and volume to float the structure on a body of water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A structure as defined in claim 1 further including a rigid central vertical support member vertically disposed within said structure in supporting relation with at least a portion thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A frameless structure as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising at least a pair of non-spheroidal extender panels having only a single radius of curvature and adapted to be interposed between the opposite halves of the hemispherical structure for the purpose of elongating said structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the edge channels exhibit a partially flat section to accommodate said fasteners.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
255 words
A frameless structure of rigid translucent material comprising: a lower tier consisting of a odd number of adjacent congruent truncated segments of a sphere, each segment having substantially U-shaped integral concave lateral edge channels which overlap and nest within channels of adjacently positioned panels to form a first series of spaced depressions which run the vertical length of the lower tier; an upper tier consisting of an even number of congruent hemispheroidal segments having substantially U-shaped integral concave lateral edge channels which overlap and nest within one another to form a second series of spaced depressions which run the vertical length of the upper tier; all of the panels having a uniform constant compound radius of curvature whereby in the assembled condition the panels from a one quater sphere dome of uniform compound radius of curvature having a semi-circular base and a semi-circular vertical edge; the upper edge of the lower tier panels and the lower edge of the upper tier panels having substantially U-shaped integral concave channels which overlap and nest within one another to form a continuous depression which lies in a horizontal plane and which encircles the one quarter sphere dome and is contiguous to both the first and second series of spaced depressions; and fasteners means sealingly disposed through the panels in the depressions to secure the structure together, said structure further comprising a semi-circular metal base channel encircling and supporting the lower horizontal edge of the structure and a second semi-circular edge channel encircling the vertical edge of the structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
255 words
A frameless structure of rigid translucent material comprising: a lower tier consisting of a odd number of adjacent congruent truncated segments of a sphere, each segment having substantially U-shaped integral concave lateral edge channels which overlap and nest within channels of adjacently positioned panels to form a first series of spaced depressions which run the vertical length of the lower tier; an upper tier consisting of an even number of congruent hemispheroidal segments having substantially U-shaped integral concave lateral edge channels which overlap and nest within one another to form a second series of spaced depressions which run the vertical length of the upper tier; all of the panels having a uniform constant compound radius of curvature whereby in the assembled condition the panels from a one quater sphere dome of uniform compound radius of curvature having a semi-circular base and a semi-circular vertical edge; the upper edge of the lower tier panels and the lower edge of the upper tier panels having substantially U-shaped integral concave channels which overlap and nest within one another to form a continuous depression which lies in a horizontal plane and which encircles the one quarter sphere dome and is contiguous to both the first and second series of spaced depressions; and fasteners means sealingly disposed through the panels in the depressions to secure the structure together, said structure further comprising a semi-circular metal base channel encircling and supporting the lower horizontal edge of the structure and a second semi-circular edge channel encircling the vertical edge of the structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-16 | 1981-07-18 | 1982-01-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-16 | 1985-07-18 | 1986-01-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-16 | 1989-07-18 | 1990-01-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |