Load-bearing three-dimensional structure
AssigneeIndustrial Origami, Inc.
InventorMax W. DURNEY
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A load-bearing three-dimensional structure including a skeletal structure formed by a sheet of material having a plurality of bend lines, each bend line including a plurality of folding displacements, wherein the sheet of material is bent along the bend lines into a box-section; and a reinforcing member configured for substantially surrounding a portion of the skeletal structure when bent into a box-section to reinforce the structural integrity of the skeletal structure. A method of manufacturing the three-dimensional structure is also disclosed.
Claims26
A load-bearing three-dimensional structure comprising:
- a skeletal structure formed by a sheet of material having a plurality of bend lines, each bend line including a plurality of folding displacements, wherein the sheet of material is bent along the bend lines into a box-section;
- and
- a reinforcing member configured for substantially surrounding a portion of the skeletal structure when bent into a box-section to reinforce the structural integrity of the skeletal structure.
A load-bearing three-dimensional structure comprising:
- a skeletal structure formed by a sheet of material having a plurality of slit portions defining bend lines, each slit portion including a plurality of slits, each slit having a central portion substantially parallel to and offset laterally from a desired bend line and with at least one end portion extending away from the bend line, the sheet of material being bent along the bend lines into a box-section, wherein the skeletal structure has at least one flange section, the flange section has a non-linear edge configured for dispersion of stresses along multiple axes or directions in a plane formed by engagement of the flange section with the skeletal structure.
A method for fabricating a load-bearing three-dimensional structure, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a skeletal structure formed by a sheet of material having a plurality of bend lines, each bend line including a plurality of folding displacements;
- folding the skeletal structure into a three-dimensional structure along the bend lines;
- fastening a free end of the skeletal structure;
- providing a reinforcing member having bend lines corresponding to the skeletal structure;
- folding the reinforcing member around the skeletal structure;
- and
- fastening a free end of the reinforcing member.
A three-dimensional structure according to claim 26 wherein the three-dimensional structure is one of a linkage arm as part of a digging arm assembly, loading beam, or enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.