Apparatus for making a geodesic shape and methods of using the same

An apparatus for making a polygonal shape (14),

• comprising:
• first through fifth or sixth struts (22, 38, 82, 94, 116, and 120), or first through fifth or sixth complete struts, comprising pairs of ten or twelve partial struts (226, 228, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256, 258), each pair of partial struts operably coupled by a fixed interface (236), each strut or complete strut operably coupled by a strut-panel interface (146), with a first face operably coupled to a first hinge(s) and a second face operably coupled to a second hinge(s),
• each complete strut with a first face (232) operably coupled to a first hinge(s) (234), thus allowing a free range of motion of each strut-panel interface (146) of each pre-made form along its axis;
• first through fifth or sixth pre-made forms, each first through fifth or sixth pre-made forms, comprising:
• a triangular shape;
• a first and a second inner edges (8, 10);
• an inner face and an outer face (11, 13);
• and
• an outer edge (12);
• the first pre-made form (16);
• wherein the first pre-made form (16) is operably coupled along the first inner edge (8, 18) of the first pre-made form (16) to the first face (20) of the first strut (22) by the first hinge(s) (24) of the first strut (22);
• the second pre-made form (26),
• wherein the second pre-made form (26) is operably coupled along the second inner edge (28) of the second pre-made form (26) to the second face (30) of the first strut (22), by the second hinge(s) (32) of the first strut (22);
• the second strut (38),
• wherein the second pre-made form (26) is operably coupled along the first inner edge (34) of the second pre-made form (26) to a first face (36) of the second strut (38), by the first hinge(s) (40) of the second strut (38);
• the third pre-made form (70),
• wherein the third pre-made form (70) is operably coupled along the second inner edge (72) of the third pre-made form (70) to a second face (74) of the second strut (38), by the second hinge(s) (76) of the second strut (38);
• the third strut (82);
• wherein the third pre-made form (70) is operably coupled along the first inner edge (78) of the third pre-made form (70) to a first face (80) of the third strut (82), by the first hinge(s) (84) of the third strut (82);
• the fourth pre-made form (86),
• wherein the fourth pre-made form (86) is operably coupled along the second inner edge (88) of the fourth pre-made form (86) to a second face (90) of the third strut (82), by the second hinge(s) (92) of the third strut (82);
• the fourth strut (94),
• wherein the fourth pre-made form (86) is operably coupled along the first inner edge (96) of the fourth pre-made form (86) to a first face (98) of the fourth strut (94), by the first hinge(s) (100) of the fourth strut (94);
• the fifth pre-made form (102),
• wherein the fifth pre-made form (102) is operably coupled along its second inner edge (104) to second face 106) of the fourth strut (94), by the second hinge(s) (108) of the fourth strut (94);
• the fifth strut (116),
• wherein the fifth pre-made form (102) is operably coupled along the first inner edge (112) to a first face (114) of the fifth strut (116), by the first hinge(s) (118) of the fifth strut (116),
• wherein either a polygonal shape comprising 5 pre-made forms is formed by operably coupling a face of the fifth strut opposite the first face (114) of the fifth strut (116) to the second inner edge (19) of the first premade form (16), or an optional sixth pre-made form (110),
• wherein the polygonal shape comprising the optional sixth pre-made form (110) is formed by operably coupling the face of the fifth strut opposite the first face (114) of the fifth strut (116) to the second inner edge (112) of the sixth premade form (110), by the second hinge(s) of the fifth strut (116), and
• by operably coupling a first face (120) of the optional sixth strut (120) to the first inner edge (43) of the optional sixth pre-made form (110), by respective first hinge(s) of the optional sixth strut (120), and
• by operably coupling the face of the optional sixth strut (120) opposite the first face (120) of the optional sixth strut (120), by respective second hinge(s) of the optional sixth strut (120) and the second inner edge (19) of the first pre-made form (16),
• wherein no first through fifth or sixth struts (22, 38, 82, 94, 116, or 120) are operably coupled to other struts, or no complete struts are operably coupled to other complete struts,
• wherein a free range of motion of each strut-panel interface (146) of each pre-made form along its axis aligns the axial and dihedral angles for a polygonal shape (14) comprising first through fifth or sixth struts (22, 38, 82, 94, 116, or 120), or polygonal shape (14) comprising first through fifth or sixth complete struts having been formed by pairs of ten or twelve partial struts (226, 228, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, and 256, 258), each pair of partial struts operably coupled by a strut-panel interface (146) to form complete struts spontaneously as the assembly progresses, and
• wherein the polygonal shape(s) do not require modification or reshaping of the struts or the complete struts or pre-made forms for full assembly.