Articulated dome

A frameless self-supporting articulated hemispherical dome comprising:

• two pivot assemblies which are spaced and rotatably aligned along a common horizontal pivot axis;
• two opposing dome halves each comprising a plurality of flat and flexible fins which are sized in progression, bent along a hemispherical arc and rotatably pinned at respective opposing ends to said pivot assemblies, each of said dome halves being movable between an open position wherein said respective fins are stacked in substantially overlying relation on a respective side of said horizontal pivot axis, and a closed position wherein trailing edge portions of each of said fins overlap adjacent portions of adjacent fins to form a continuous dome surface, said opposing dome halves overlapping at a meridian of said dome when said dome halves are in said closed position to form a continuous sealed hemispherical closure;
• and
• means for maintaining a relative spacing of the trailing edges of said fins when said dome halves are moved from said open position to said closed position.