When was the geodesic dome patented

In all cases it is contemplated that the openings may be closed to form a continuous roof or wall as by the means which will be described herein. Whether assembled initially from sheets or plates on the one hand or as an open framework on the other, the construction comprises tension rings of either circular or polygonal form, and in certain of my preferred constructions these tension rings will be interconnected with one another to form a comprehensive geodesic network of tension elements conforming to the geodesic pattern of the building blocks.

In general my invention consists of a structure of generally spherical form comprising a plurality of members joined together in a geodesic pattern of hexagons and pentagons and which includes tension elements disposed around the perimeters of areas Within the geodesic pattern, these being areas whose borders are defined by edges of adjoining members.

The tension elements are arranged to transmit forces from member to member throughout the geodesic pattern of hexagons and pentagons.

This general statement will be easier to understand after study of the accompanying drawings and detailed description illustrative of the best mode contemplated by me for carrying out my invention.

Patented Aug. It may be considered as showing either the top plan view of a hemispheric dome or simply as a side view of a spherical structure. Referring to FIGS. The dot and dash lines represent the sides of the pentagons DDD, etc. The full lines represent the sides of the diamonds ADAD of the spherical tricontahedron, of which there are thirty diamonds per sphere.

Upon one of the diamond faces of the tricontahedron is shown a typical layout for a 3-way grid of the type known in the art as a triacon breakdown ABCD. This 3-way grid may equally be considered as being based upon any of the three geodesic forms shown in FIGS. For simplicity the sufiix hedron will be omitted from the descriptive names of the polyhedrons. In the one which appears at the left center, there has been superimposed a heavy black line illustrating a sheet or plate-like member 1 of generally hexagonal form which constitutes one of the components, or members, of the construction illustrated in FIG.

Upon the 3-way grid shown at the bottom of FIG. In the case of members 1, three of the edges, those designated 4, are aligned with the construction lines of the 3-way grid pattern, i. The circular sides 5 of member 1 may be considered as being related to grid lines 6 and, if desired, could be made to coincide with such grid lines, in which case the sides 5 would be straight instead of curved. In the case of members 2 and 3, it is the centerlines of the members which coincide approximately with the grid lines.

Thus, as in the case of the differing embodiments described in my prior Patent 2,, aforesaid, the alignment of the structural members may be :such that the longitudinal center lines thereof are arranged along geodesic lines or such that their edges or selected ones of their edges are arranged along geodesic lines.

The members 1 may be of any of the several forms shown in FIGS. The FIG. Member 1a may be made of any suitable construction material such as concrete, plastic resin, light-weight insulating concrete, etc. As shown, these metal strips are formed with upwardly extending lugs 11 for a purpose which will be explained later.

In the 1b form, the construction is essentially the same except for the fact that the surface 12 is of pyramidal form instead of being spherical.

The further embodiment shown in FIG. Similar reinforcement may be used in the case of members la and 1b. Thus any of the members 1a, 1b, 1c may consist of preor post-tensioned bodies comprising tensioned elements arranged in a 3-way grid pattern complementing the geodesic pattern formed by such members. By this means each of the basic components of the structure may be locally stressed as distinguished from comprehensive stressing of the structure as a whole in a manner which remains to be described.

The form of component 1d shown in FIG. In this member the upwardly extending arcuate flanges 8 and downwardly extending flanges 9' can be formed in a drawing press. In this construction the flanges 9' take the place of flanges 9 of the components of FIGS.

The relationship of the several forms of basic components shown in FIGS. The theoretical relationship is the same also in the case of the component of FIG. Nevertheless the 3-way stress pattern remains both as to the basic component itself and as to the preor post-tensioned rods 14 in the cases where such rods are used.

It will be understood that each of the faces of the spherical tricontahedron of the structure may be laid out on the same 3-way grid shown on three of such faces in FIG.

The basic components are then assembled according to the pattern thus produced. In my preferred construction according to this embodiment of the invention, the basic components are held together by tension rings 15 made of a material of good tensile strength. These rings also preferably are constructed with suitable tightening or clamping means such as pro. Another way of holding the basic components together is by means of flanged manhole covers 18 which can be made of any suitable material and may be either transparent, translucent or opaque according to the intended use to which the structure is to be put.

The flanges of the covers 18 may be arranged to engage the outer surfaces of the collar formed by the several arcuate segments 8 of the basic components or the flanges of the covers may be engaged over the tension ring From the foregoing description it will be discerned that I have provided a structure of generally spherical form comprising a plurality of members 1 which may be of one or more of the several forms 1a, 1b, 1c and 1a, such members being joined together in a geodesic pattern comprising hexagons and pentagons the pentagons always coinciding with one of the openings in the structure , and tension elements such as 15 disposed around the perimeters of areas within the geodesic pattern whose borders are defined by edges 8, 8 etc.

The three legged clamping member is actually one half of a six legged clamping member. The bolt ends which are to be welded together are first pointed and arranged with these pointed ends adjacent to each other so that the bolts extend from a common center at which they are welded together.

Thus, the six bolts 70 to 75, inclusive, shown in FIG. A similar five legged configuration is shown in FIG. The clamping device shown in FIG. A panel joint employing a six legged clamping member is shown in FIG. The six panels 87 to 92, inclusive, which are similar to the panels of triangular shape shown in FIG. These frames may be made of any suitable material such as wood, metal or the like.

Suitable blocks 99 to , inclusive, are provided in the adjacent apexes of frames 93 to 98, inclusive, respectively. These blocks may be attached to these frames by suitable attaching means such as glue, nails or the like. Suitable slots are provided in blocks 99 to , inclusive, for receiving the legs to , inclusive respectively, of the six legged clamping member.

The end portions of the bolts to , inclusive, are threaded for receiving threaded nuts which are employed to clamp washers against the outer surfaces of the blocks 99 to , inclusive respectively, as shown in "FIG. The interior view of a portion of a geodesic dome constructed in accordance with this invention is shown in FIG. While I have shown and described a certain preferred embodiment of the invention, it is apparent that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that the scope thereof should be limited only to the proper scope of the claims appended hereto.

In building structures of the geodesic dome type, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that each of said members fastened in a frame apex is wedge shaped and said clamping means presses each said wedge shaped member toward a corresponding apex to hold the frames of adjacent panels abutting each other. In building structures of the geodesic dome type, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said members in the adjacent apexes of each panel are provided with slots receiving legs of said clamping members, said legs having adjustable means pressing said last mentioned adjacent apxes of the corresponding ones of said frame members toward a common center.

In building structures of the geodesic dome type, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that each leg of said clamping means comprises a threaded bolt and said threaded bolts are arranged to extend radially from a common center at which they are welded together with the threaded parts thereof being adjacent to the free ends thereof so that nuts may be threaded thereto for pressuring said members of said frames and urging the adjacent apexes thereof toward a common center.

His claim to fame is, no doubt, the geodesic dome, a spherical structure Fuller patented with an omnitriangulated surface that gave it superstrength. The first was rendered in aluminum aircraft tubing with a plastic skin, but they became more impressive from there, climaxing in what might be his best-known dome: one created as the U.

Beyond the domes—which he imagined would be infinitely useful for their light weight and easy assembly—Fuller was also interested in the concept of prefab housing, devising but never producing the Dymaxion House, which was meant to arrive in a few pieces that could be easily assembled.

Fuller collaborated with architect Shoji Sadao on a geodesic dome that served as the U.