Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MODULAR DOME-SHAPED PANEL TO FORM A SHELTER
The invention refers to a self supporting weather proof dome-shaped panel that
can
be easily adapted in various configurations to many plane surfaces or to
similar dome-
shaped panels; in particular to a dome-shaped shelter with plane openings or
plane walls
such as a house extension or as a floating shelter for boats.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many types of building shapes exist today and the vast majority of them are
square-
shaped mainly because it is more convenient to work with plane materials than
curved
materials. In nature, curved and dome-shaped structures are more popular than
square-
shaped structures: Shell fish, insects, animal nest... Alternative
construction methods
have been considered, one example is a monolithic dome shell made of spray on
concrete inside an inflated soft shell. The disadvantage with most existing
dome-shaped
structures is that they don't easily adapt to conventional buildings.
Furthermore, cutting a
dome shell to add windows, door frame and other accessories is a considerable
challenge so this is why a new dome-shaped structure that provide many plane
openings
is preferable; such plane openings can remain totally open, be enclosed by
conventional
materials or be adapted to a already existing plane surface like wall and
floor; the new
rectangular dome-shaped panel become modular when two or more dome-shaped
panels are joined together to form a larger structure.
Accordingly, an improved self supported weather proof dome-shaped structure
combining the advantages of two geometric shapes such as the strength of a
dome-
shape and the convenience of a cube-shape and where the dome-shaped panel
represent either two or three faces of a cube.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel dome-
shaped panel
that is more compatible with conventional building shapes and materials, which
can be
fabricated with a reduce amount of material and be stacked within each other
for
compact transportation.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a desired radius of a dome-shaped panel, there is a specific
rectangular
shaped mold representing a segment of sphere. A molded spherical rectangle
shell
preferably made of a material that maintains the shape of the dome like
reinforced plastic
is surrounded by four arc edges in the form of lips. Rigid arc members can be
secured to
the lips of the spherical rectangle shell with an adhesive or other mechanical
device to
prevent deformation of the edges and to provide a solid edge to manipulate and
to
connect dome-shaped panels together or to plane surfaces. Two opposite edges
are
parallel to each other and the remaining opposite two edges are either
perpendicular
from each other creating a dome-shaped panel providing four plane openings or
aligned
with each other providing three plane openings.
The dome-shaped panel can also be fabricated with two or more molded shells;
in this
case the rectangular mold provides a spherical rectangle shell defined by
three edges
designed to connect with rigid arc members and one edge designed to connect
with
another spherical rectangle shell. This provides shipment advantages since the
dome-
shaped panel can be assembled after transportation.
The edges of the spherical rectangle shell can also connect directly to plane
surfaces
or to rounded contour flat panels without the rigid arc members. The dome-
shaped panel
can also include an insulation system made of a plurality of elongated
insulation boards
fitting side by side against the concave face of the dome-shaped panel.
The present invention provides advantages over the prior art in that the new
dome-
shaped structure naturally adapts to flat surfaces like an existing building;
it can be
stacked for transportation and quickly assembled in various configurations.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a dome-shaped panel 12 offering four plane
openings,
resting on the ground and on a vertical wall.
Figure 2 is a side view of a dome-shaped panel 10 offering three plane
openings,
resting on the ground.
Figure 3a is a side view of a dome-shaped panel 12 made with two spherical
rectangle
shells and equipped with flat panels.
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Figure 3b is a side view of a dome-shaped panel 12 covering a rectangular
building.
Figure 4 is a side view of two dome-shaped panels 12 connected by there
perpendicular edges 22.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of two dome-shaped panels connected by
there
parallel edges 20, and various flat panels.
Figure 6 (a-b) is a side view of a dome-shaped panel 16 connected to a
vertical wall
and design to be used as an awning.
Figure 7 is an elevated perspective view of a two plane openings (360 degree)
dome-
shaped cylinder resting on the ground.
Figure 8 is a side view of a molded spherical rectangle shell 25c with
surrounding
edges equipped with lips, as it come out of the mold.
Figure 9 is a view of the rigid arc members 20-22 before they get assembled
and
secured to the edge lips of the spherical rectangle shell.
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a connection between two dome-shaped
panels
by there parallel arc members 20.
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of rigid arc member 22 connected to the
spherical
rectangle shell.
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the connection between two spherical
rectangle
shells.
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of various edge shapes of the spherical
rectangle
shell.
Figure 14 (a) is a cross-sectional view of a few insulation panels 65 pressed
against
the concave side of the spherical rectangle shell and against each other.
Figure 14 (b) is an inside view of one insulation panel 65 connected by
adapters 64 to
the parallel arc members 20.
Figure 15 (a) is a cross-sectional view of a rigid arc member 20, spherical
rectangle
shell, insulation panel and adapter.
Figure 15 (b) is a cross-sectional view of a flat panel and spherical
rectangle shell,
equipped with insulation panel 65 and adapter 64.
Figure 16 is a view of various rounded contour flat panels equipped with
accessories.
Figure 17(a) is a side view of two dome-shaped panels 12 connected at there
perpendicular edges 22 and equipped with flat panels.
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Figure 17(b) is an elevated perspective view of a three plane openings dome-
shaped
panel 10 equipped with flat panels and resting on the ground.
Figure 18 is an elevated view of figure 1, showing how dome-shaped panel 12
naturally adapt to a conventional building; it is also an over view of figures
3 and 12
where the parting line between the two molded spherical rectangle shells 25c
and 26 is
slightly visible.
Figure 19 is showing how several dome-shaped panels 12 naturally stack into
each
other for transportation.
Figure 20 shows the assembly process of four dome-shaped panels 12 together,
the
connecting plates 30 are somewhat visible and ready to receive the last dome-
shaped
panel.
Figure 21 is a view of four joined dome-shaped panels 12 being used as a car
shelter.
Figure 22 is a perspective view of figure 4 with two joined dome-shaped panels
12
sustaining a heavy snow load; the wall thickness supporting that load is only
0.065inch
and is made of fiber-glass.
Figure 23 is a view of six dome-shaped panels 12 connected together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Starting with two related simple figures; a square that fits into a circle,
where the
hypotenuse of that square equals the diameter of that circle, and the exact
ratio between
the length of a side of that square and the diameter of that circle equals
0,7071.
Referring now to FIG.1, a dome-shaped panel is shown resting on a wall 2 and
on a floor
1; it represents a rectangular portion of a spherical shell able to replace
and enclose two
adjacent sides of a cube shell (not showed), where the diameter of the sphere
shell is
similar to the hypotenuse of a face of the cube shell; this dome-shaped panel
12
provides four plane openings that can remain open or be enclosed by
conventional
materials FIGS.16-17, adapt to existing planar surface like walls 2 and floor
1 or connect
to similar dome-shaped panels FIGS. 4-23. A dome-shaped panel 12 is composed
of a
spherical rectangle shell 25a and rigid arc members 20-22 FIG.9.
The molded spherical rectangle shell 25a is preferably made of a material that
maintains the shape of the dome like reinforced plastic or fiber-glass with a
gel coat
finish, ideally the material includes U.V. rays protection and a fire
retardant agent. The
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spherical rectangle shell 25a is surrounded by four arc edges in the form of
lips 32-34
FIGS.10-11, designed to connect with rigid arc members 20-22 or flat panels 70-
72
FIG.16.
The rigid arc members 20-22 FIG. 9a can be made of various materials such as
tubular aluminum or steel; the rigid arc members 20 have the shape, the radius
and the
length that match the opposite and parallel lips 32 of the spherical rectangle
shell 25a,
this radius corresponds to a ring located at about 72% of the radius of the
sphere from
the center, like slicing the sphere and making rings perpendicular to the
center, also the
exact ratio between the length of a side of a square that fit into a circle
equal 70.71% of
the diameter of that circle. The rigid arc members 22 have the shape, the
radius and the
length that match the opposite and perpendicular lips 34 of spherical
rectangle shell 25a,
this radius correspond to a ring located at about 28% of the radius of the
sphere from the
center and is set mainly for convenience purposes and to take maximum
advantage of
each figure portions. This percentage is obtained when the geometrical center
of each
figure portions are separated by about 30% of the diameter of the sphere, in a
direction
where the two figure portions (which are; the cube shell missing two adjacent
sides and
the rectangular portion of sphere shell), are compressed into each other. The
mold
shape will dictate the location of the lips 32-34 in relation with the center
of the sphere.
Referring now to FIGS. 10-11, the rigid arc members 20-22 are secured to the
spherical rectangle shell lips 32-34 by mean of thick adhesive 48; for a
better hold, the
rigid arc members 20-22 are pierced at distanced intervals before the assembly
to let the
thick adhesive 48 invade the inside of arc members 20-22 to create a retaining
expansion or mushroom 49. As it is shown in FIGS 15b-16, the spherical
rectangle shell
lips 32-34 can also be connected directly to flat panels with rounded contour
70-72. An
alternative spherical rectangle shell lips shape 33a FIG.13 can be secured
directly to an
existing flat surface 1-2 and alternative spherical rectangle shell lips 33b
provides an
edge without a gutter.
As we can see in FIGS. 10-14-20 connecting plates 30 fixed with screws 78 at
distanced intervals to rigid arc members 20 are holding two dome-shaped panels
together and a compressible foam spacer 31 is fitted in between to seal the
joint against
the elements. Other means such as clamps can be used instead of connecting
plates 30
to join rigid arc members together.
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The dome-shaped panel 12 can be connected by it's rigid arc members 20 or 22
to
many similar segments FIGS.4-5-23 forming a tunnel structure which can be used
as a
entrance for malls and other public buildings or as a aerodynamic boat shelter
where
fishing boats and other water craft like jet-ski can be driven in and out of;
also dome-
shaped panels 12 can be used as a self supporting roof over a structure or
building FIG.
3b or be used as a winter car shelter FIG. 21, ice fishing hut, spa and pool
cover, show
booth, shelter for special out-doors event, smoking shelter for bars and night
club,
publicity sign, bridge frame...
Referring now to FIG.2 and 17b, another embodiment is shown resting on the
ground
1, this dome-shaped panel 10 provides three plane openings instead of four
like dome-
shaped panel 12; it represents a rectangular portion of a spherical shell able
to replace
and enclose three aligned sides of a cube shell (not showed), where the
diameter of the
sphere shell is similar to the hypotenuse of a face of the cube shell. For
convenience
purpose the geometrical center of each figure are separated by about 21% of
the
diameter of the sphere, in a direction where the two figure portions (which
are; the cube
shell missing three aligned sides and the rectangular portion of sphere
shell), are
compressed into each other. In this new embodiment, the opposite lips 34 of
large
spherical rectangle shell 25b FIG. 17b have the radius that corresponds to a
ring located
at about 28% of the radius of the sphere from the center; the opposite lips 34
are aligned
in the same plane and are able to connect to the same plane surface instead of
being
perpendicular like in dome-shaped panel 12. The large spherical rectangle
shell 25b can
be fabricated in a split-able mold or with more than one spherical rectangle
shell like in
FIG.2 (see below).
FIG.14b illustrates a global view of a foam insulation panel 65 made of an
elongated
plane foam board designed to bend lengthwise and where the extremities connect
with
adapters 64 fixed with screws 78 to the parallel arc members 20 FIG.15a. ;
FIG.14a
illustrates how each foam panels 65 are pressed against the concave side of a
dome-
shaped panel and than pressed against each other to match there cooperative
edge
formations 62-63. Insulation panel 65 can also be coated 66 on the exposed
side for
esthetic purpose. The foam isolation panels 65 are optional, not only they act
as a
temperature regulator, they also add strength to the dome-shaped panel since
they
support the concave side of the spherical rectangle shell 25.
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FIGS 2-3a and 8 demonstrate how to mold dome-shaped panel 12 or 10 in various
sections that can be easily shipped than assembled after transportation. This
method
also allows a wider range of shapes possibility out of a smaller size mold.
FIG.8 shows
the rectangular molded spherical rectangle shell 25c defined by two opposite
and parallel
edge lips 32, one edge lip 34 and one recess edge 50 designed to connect to
other
spherical shell 26-27; this last edge 50 has the same radius as the concave
side of the
spherical rectangle shell 25c. A spherical rectangle shell 26 FIG.3a is a
shell 25c which
has been removed of its recess edge 50 and offer instead a straight edge 38.
FIG.12
show how the two edges 50 and 38 overlap and are secure to each other with an
adhesive 48. A spherical rectangle shell 27 FIG.2 is a shell 25c which have
been
removed of its recess edge 50 and edge lip 34 to offer two opposite straight
edges 38
designed to overlap and be secured to the recess edge 50 of two molded shells
25c
during the final assembly.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a spherical shaped
cylinder 14 is
shown in FIG.7 offering two plane openings; this spherical shaped cylinder is
designed to
be used as a tank or as a circular publicity sign. This spherical shaped
cylinder 14 is
composed of approximately five spherical shells 28 and two parallel rigid
rings 20; a
spherical rectangle shell 28 is a shell 25c which has been removed of its lip
34 to offer
straight edges 38 designed to overlap and be secured to the recess edge 50 of
other
shells 28 during the assembly. It is to be understood that spherical rectangle
shells 26-
27-28 are described as a alteration of spherical rectangle shell 25c but each
of them can
be molded in their own respective mold so they don't need to be altered.
FIGS. 9c-15a shows how the opposite and parallel arc members 20 can be made in
sections that correspond to lip 32 of spherical rectangle shells 25c-26-27,
these sections
can be connected together during the final assembly by a inner tube 17 fitting
inside the
tubular arc members 20. Also each of the parallel arc members 20 can be made
in one
section FIGS. 9a-b; in this case each spherical rectangle shell 25c- 26-27 can
be
secured to the arc members 20 during the final assembly.
In FIG.16 different types of prefabricated flat panels with rounded contour 70-
72 are
shown, they can be made of conventional materials and some flat panels can be
equipped with a door 75 and windows 80; their rounded contour can either be
secured to
the rigid arc members 20-22 FIG.15a, or directly secured to shell lips 32-34
FIG.15b, this
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last figure is also showing optional ways of securing with a combination of
thick adhesive
48 and large head screw 79.
Another embodiment illustrated in FIG.6a represents a dome-shaped panel 16
designed to be used as an awning; using a spherical rectangle shell 26, the
rigid arc
member 22 of dome-shaped panel 16 can be secured to a vertical wall 2 on a
desired
location and the edge 38 can be prevented from deforming by a rigid arc member
23 with
a radius equivalent to the spherical rectangle shell secured to the edge 38;
or by a rigid
arc member 24 with a smaller radius FIG.6b. A mold providing four lips
designed to
accommodate four rigid arc members can be made specifically for awnings.
Suspending
cables or supporting post (not showed) connected to the distal end of rigid
arc members
20 or to rigid arc members 23-24 can be added for more support.
