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US 8,998,023 B2Granted
Spherical object formed of several joint parts and method for producing spherical object formed of several joint parts
AssigneeVaasaball Lng Products Oy
InventorPertti Niemi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spherical object formed of several joint parts and a method for producing a spherical object formed of several joint parts, where the spherical object includes at least twenty pieces of hexagonal panel type elements and at least twelve pieces of pentagonal panel type elements. The radius of curvature of each panel type element is shaped in such a way that, when assembled, the elements make up a hollow spherical object with a radius of not less than 1.5 meters. Each panel type element is additionally provided with an attachment and handling cap.
Claims8
A spherical object, comprising:
- at least twenty curved hexagonal panel type elements;
- and
- at least twelve curved pentagonal panel type elements;
- wherein each panel type element includes an attachment and handling cap, each attachment and handling cap including an internal gripper element that is configured to be graspable from within the spherical object, and an external gripper element that is configured to be graspable from outside the spherical object;
- and
- each panel type element is configured such that, when assembled, the elements form a hollow spherical object with a radius of not less than 1.5 meters that can be moved by the external and internal gripper elements.
3 more elements
A spherical object, comprising:
- twenty hexagonal panel type elements;
- and
- twelve pentagonal panel type elements;
- wherein each panel type element has been shaped to define a radius of curvature;
- each panel type element includes an attachment and handling cap having an internal gripper element and an external gripper element;
- at least one panel type element includes an openable and closeable gate inset into an outer surface of the at least one panel type element;
- and
- wherein the panel type elements are arranged in a truncated icosahedron to define the spherical object such that the spherical object has a radius of not less than 1.5 meters and can be moved by the external and internal gripper elements.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.