Unitary hubs for domes or spheres
OwnerJon Dietzinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unitary hub includes a central body and two or more tubular cylindrical prongs that can be used in conjunction with two or more struts to construct a dome or a sphere, such as a geodesic dome. The prongs have a first segment and a second segment that are disposed at an angle. The first segment has a first inner diameter and the second segment has a second inner diameter thereby creating a recess for the struts to be positioned easily and accurately within the prongs. The central body is formed from joining the two or more prongs disposed around an axial axis through a center of the central body. The central body has a top and bottom side with a spherically concaved section having a curvature. The struts may be tubular and cylindrical and can be inserted into the prongs or over the prongs.
Claims20
A unitary hub for a dome, comprising:
- (a) two or more tubular circular cylindrical prongs each comprising a first straight segment and a second straight segment;
- wherein the first straight segment is tilted with respect to the second straight segment thereby making a segment angle;
- wherein the first straight segment has a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter and the second straight segment has a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter;
- (b) a central body formed from joining the two or more tubular circular cylindrical prongs disposed around an axial axis through a center of the central body;
- wherein the hub comprises a top side and a bottom side;
- and
- wherein the surface of the bottom side comprises a spherically concaved section having a curvature.
A method of constructing a unitary hub for a dome, comprising:
- (a) providing two or more tubular circular cylindrical prongs each comprising a first straight segment and a second straight segment;
- wherein the first straight segment is tilted with respect to the second straight segment thereby making a segment angle;
- wherein the first straight segment has a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter and the second straight segment has a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter;
- and
- (b) joining the two or more tubular circular cylindrical prongs to form a central body, said two or more tubular circular cylindrical prongs disposed around an axial axis through a center of the central body:
- wherein the hub comprises a top side and a bottom side;
- and
- wherein the surface of the bottom side comprises a spherically concaved section having a curvature.
A method of assembling a dome, comprising:
- (a) providing a plurality of unitary hubs, each unitary hub comprising:
- (i) two or more tubular circular cylindrical prongs each comprising a first straight segment and a second straight segment;
- wherein the first straight segment is tilted with respect to the second straight segment thereby making a segment angle;
- wherein the first straight segment has a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter and the second straight segment has a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter;
- and
- (ii) a central body formed from joining the two or more tubular circular cylindrical prongs disposed around an axial axis through a center of the central body;
- wherein the hub comprises a top side and a bottom side;
- and
- wherein the surface of the bottom side comprises a spherically concaved section having a curvature;
- (b) providing a plurality of struts coupled with the two or more prongs of each of the unitary hubs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.