Light Transmitting Building Blocks
AssigneesBowling Green State University, The Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsAllison Hoag, Cathlyn Newell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Building blocks, wall structures made therefrom, building systems made therefrom, structures made therefrom, and methods of constructing a structure therewith, are described.
Claims21
1-2. (canceled)
A three-dimensional geometric light transmitting building block comprising:
- a ten-sided polygon comprising a first half and a second half, wherein the first half meets the second half at a plane defined by top and bottom centerlines, the first half including a first top face, a first bottom face, a first side face, and a third side face and the second half including a second top face, a second bottom face, a second side face, and a fourth side face, wherein the first side face meets the second side face at the plane, wherein the third side face meets the fourth side face at the plane;
- wherein a divergence in slope is defined along the top centerline due to the meeting of the first top face and the second top face;
- wherein a divergence in slope is defined along the bottom centerline due to the meeting of the first bottom face and the second bottom face;
- wherein a divergence in slope is defined along the plane due to the meeting of the first side face and the second side face;
- wherein a divergence in slope is defined along the plane due to the meeting of the third side face and the fourth side face;
- and
- wherein said building block comprises a light transmitting material.
A method of constructing a structure using three-dimensional geometric light transmitting building blocks, the method comprising arranging a plurality of three-dimensional geometric light transmitting building blocks in an aggregation to form a structure, where one or more of the building blocks includes an adhesive with a colored dye along a glue joint so as to produce a thin veil of color configured to fade in and out of view depending on an orientation of a viewer relative to the building block;
- and
- wherein each three-dimensional geometric light transmitting building block of the plurality of three-dimensional geometric light transmitting building blocks comprises a polygon comprising a first half and a second half, wherein the first half meets the second half at a plane defined by top and bottom centerlines, the first half including a first top face, a first bottom face, a first side face, and a third side face and the second half including a second top face, a second bottom face, a second side face, and a fourth side face, wherein the first side face meets the second side face at the plane, wherein the third side face meets the fourth side face at the plane;
- wherein a divergence in slope is defined along the top centerline due to the meeting of the first top face and the second top face;
- wherein a divergence in slope is defined along the bottom centerline due to the meeting of the first bottom face and the second bottom face;
- wherein a divergence in slope is defined along the plane due to the meeting of the first side face and the second side face;
- and
- wherein a divergence in slope is defined along the plane due to the meeting of the third side face and the fourth side face.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.