Ellipse domed structure

[57] ABSTRACT

A domed structure of elliptical configuration constructed from a plurality of modules constructed from glass fiber reinforced plastic material with each module including integral edge flanges adapted to be connected together to form a hollow, elliptical domed structure.

Claims, 19 Drawing Figures

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3,881,284

ELLIPSE DOMED STRUCTURE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to dome structures and more specifically an ellipse domed structure constructed of a plurality of modules each having edge flanges connected together and each being hexagonal or pentagonal in configuration or a portion of either shape to provide a hollow elliptical domed structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various structures have been formed by connecting panels or modules with some structures incorporating skeletonized frames and others employing rigidity of the panels for support. Examples of previous efforts in this field are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,918,992; 3,043,054; 3,400,401; 3,284,969; 2,944,370; 3.114,176; 3,392,495; 3,061,977; 2,736,072; 3,063,519; and 3,696,566.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a domed structure constructed of a plurality of hexagonal and pentagonal flat panels with each panel or module having a straight and flat edge flange along each side edge thereof with the edge flanges being secured together by suitable fastening devices for forming a rigid, hollow, domed structure which is substantially semi-elliptical in configuration.

A further object of the invention is to provide a domed structure in which the pattern of panels or modules includes a hexagonal panel secured to each of the five sides of a pentagonal panel or module with this pattern being repeated six times in the building with all of the pentagonal panels except one being of the same size and the single pentagonal panel being slightly larger.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a domed structure incorporating a plurality of panels or modules each of which is of one piece construction and constructed of a glass fiber reinforced resinous plastic material with the panels or modules being assembled in a predetermined sequence and pattern to facilitate rapid and efficient assembly of the domed structure and to provide a hollow enclosure that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and maintain.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the domed structure.

FIG. 2 is a detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along section line 2—2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the association of and manner of connecting the edge flanges on the panels.

FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view of one of the panels illustrating the included angle between the flat panel and flat edge flange.

FIGS. 4-8 are plan views of a pentagonal and hexagonal panels illustrating the corner angles of the panels.

FIG. 9 is a plan layout of a group of panels prior to assembly.

FIG. 10 is a group layout of panels illustrating a segment of a dome which has been lengthened by incorporating differently shaped hexagons in each segment of the dome.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a domed structure incorporating the assembly of panels illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 12-16 illustrate plan views of additional panels of larger configuration.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along section line 17—17 of FIG. 15 illustrating the flange on the lowermost panels.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view illustrating an assembly with an inner wall being connected to the panels and illustrating a fastening assembly therefor.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of one of the inner wall panels illustrating the attaching flange thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The domed structure of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 and is constructed from a plurality of panels in which the number of the panel illustrated in FIG. 1 corresponds with the panels illustrated in FIGS. 4-8 inclusive with the corresponding identifying numeral being employed in FIGS. 4-8 of the drawings. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the panels includes a flat plate-like member 12 having an integral edge flange 14 which is also flat and straight along each side edge thereof with each flange including apertures 16 for receiving fasteners 18 such as conventional bolt assemblies including a headed bolt having a washer thereon and a nut having a washer thereon so that the flanges 14 on adjacent panels are secured in flat face-to-face and abutting engagement. Each of the panels is constructed of one piece of material and may be molded or otherwise formed from various materials with the preferred material being glass fiber reinforced resinous plastic material. The included angle between the flat plate 12 and the flat flange 14 is 83° as illustrated in FIG. 3 and this angular orientation is continuous throughout all of the panels except for the bottom flange on the bottommost panels which define the lower edge of the domed structure.

FIG. 4 illustrates the pentagonal panel having equal angles and equal sides with six of these being employed with the single panel at the apex being larger than the other five but still being a regular pentagon. FIGS. 5-8 illustrate hexagons with FIG. 7 being a regular hexagon and the others having variation in the included angles and side dimensions as illustrated.

The panels are assembled in which the hexagons are arranged in the patterns illustrated and the pentagon arranged where five hexagons intersect. In alternate vertical portions of the domed structure at the bottom edge thereof, panels duplicating one half of the hexagon of FIG. 6 are used with these panels being designated by numeral 16. Also, as indicated by the dotted line 22 in FIG. 1, the dome may be considered from the standpoint that the dotted line delineates one-fifth of the dome with it being pointed out that the pattern repeats peripherally of the dome so that there are actually five pentagonal panels oriented generally in the same relation as the pentagonal panel in the portion of the dome delineated by the dotted line 22. The sixth pentagonal panel is at the apex of the dome. Due to the

3,881,284 specific angle of the flanges and the shape and configuration of the panels, when the panels are assembled, the bottom edge of the dome is straight and flat for mounting on a suitable supporting structure or the like.

FIG. 9 illustrates a plan layout of the panels prior to assembly with the broken line 22 in FIG. 9 indicating the same segment of the dome structure that is, onefifth of the dome, as delineated in FIG. 1 by the dotted lines or broken lines 22.

FIG. 11 illustrates another domed structure which is basically the same as FIG. 1 except that it has been lengthened by the inclusion of long hexagons and long partial hexagons as illustrated in FIGS. 12-16. The broken line 24 in FIG. 11 indicates one-fifth of the dome and this same one-fifth segment of the dome is illustrated in FIG 10 of the drawings by the same broken lines 24, The hexagons have the same angles in FIGS. 12-14 as have the hexagons in FIGS. 5-7 with the hexagon being lengthened to provide for additional length when the hexagons 12-14 replace hexagons 5-7 in the row of panels through which the respective broken lines 22 and 24 pass with the hexagons 12 connected with all five edges of apical pentagon 4.

FIG. 10 illustrates the layout of the panels illustrating the increase in length by using the panels 12-14 in lieu of the panels 5-7 along the broken lines 24.

FIG. 17 illustrates the bottom panels and the orientation of the bottom flange 14 on the bottom panels as being perpendicular to the flat plate portion 12 thereof. FIGS. 18 and 19 disclose the manner of supporting an inner wall formed by panels 26 of any suitable material in which each of the panels 26 is provided with an angular member 28 defining a flange for bridging and receiving therebetween the flanges 14 on the outer plates 12 with bolts 30 securing these panels in position. The space between the inner and outer walls may be employed for electrical wiring, plumbing or the like and, if desired, insulation may be incorporated into this area.

In a building having a 50 foot diameter, the base and top of the hexagons will be approximately 3 feet in length. In order to increase the diameter, the hexagons can be lengthened to 4, 5, 6 or 12 to 20 feet. When using elongated hexagons, diagonal or zig-zag reinforcing ribs may be formed on either surface of the panels by utilizing semi-cylindrical tubing having the free edges engaging the panel and provided with an overlying coating of glass fiber reinforced resin.

Where desired or required, door openings may be formed with the openings conveniently extending to the base line of the building. Also, transparent panels may be employed wherever desired for use as windows or windows may be incorporated into any of the panels at desired locations so that window modules or door forming modules may be incorporated into the structure when forming the completed assembly.

The external surface and also the internal surface if desired of the panels or modules may be provided with any suitable coating or coloring such as a gel coat that may be formed on the panels when the panels themselves are formed in a conventional and well known manner. The thickness of the panels and the dimensional characteristics thereof may be varied depending upon the dimensional characteristics of the domed structure in its completed form.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to. falling within the scope of the invention.