CA1280573C - Vertical-walled edge-connected panelized connectable rhombic triacontahedral buildings - Google Patents

Abstract

VERTICAL-WALLED EDGE-CONNECTED PANELIZED
CONNECTABLE RHOMBIC TRIACONTAHEDRAL BUILDINGS

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A building system or combination of building structures which comprise panelized edge connected elongated rhombic tria-contahedral structures for the roofs and walls, the walls being elongated vertical panels. The structures include hollow extruded connectors for joining the panels together and in some instances for joining the building structures together as a single unit. Externally the connectors are relieved to provide a flush surface appearance with the panels. The hollow connec-tors create strong lightweight structures with integral conduits for utilities. Tie downs to retain the structures in place can be threaded through the hollow connectors.
One important optional feature is a foundation pro-vided by vertical panels partially buried in the ground. This option provides a substantial improvement in the control of heat loss from the structures at minimum cost. Another feature comprises optional alcoves creating a roof treatment minimizing the dome like appearance of the structures and substantially increasing the open interior floor space. The alcoves and roof treatments utilize inverted connectors to form concave sections of the roof and exterior walls of the structures.

Description

i, l i~80s7~ 1 lV~l~rl'lCAL-W~Ll.~D EDG~-CONNECl'~ PANELIZI`D
jCONNh VABl,E R~IOMBIC l`RIACONTAllEDRAL BUII.I~TNGS

BAC~GROUND OF THE INVENTION

Il FI~LD OF TIIE INV~NTION:

! The invention relates to self-supporting, insulated ¦l single story enclosures used for housing, emergency shelter, work camps, rapidly deployable military structures, utility buildings, vacatioll homes and primary housing. More specifically, the , invention pertairls to panelized, edge-connected structural ¦~ building systems that are rapidly and easily erectable with a ¦~ minimum of labor and without electricity or special tools.

PRIOR ~RT: !
The goal of designing strong yet light weight struc-tural ¢nclosure~ that are easy to assemble and disassemble, , insulated, weatherproof, easy to manufacture and economical has been the goal of many inventors. The optimum design should be , a totally integrated system with an absolute minimum o~ differing~
parts which are sil~ple, if not foolproof, to assemble together I in a short period of time by a few inexperienced persons with ¦ no special tools or electricity. Thus, the aim has been to sim-pliy the structural enclosures in every way, from manufacture of the components through erection of the enclosure.
U.S. Pat. 4,263,758 to Seaich discloses geodesic dome ¦¦structures comprising 44 separate plywood panels arran~ed at I ~ 15 different angles to each other and mounted on a framwork of beams each beveled at one of the 5 different angles. Similarly, U.S. Pat. 4,048,770 illustrates a structure comprised o~ fifteen ~ ~ l ',",,j, , ll ll ~ 2-~, ~

Il 1280S73 jii~entical equilateral triangular panels forming f ift~en twen-¦Itieths of an icosahedron. The panels are bolted onto a wooden ¦Iframe~ the frame being bevel-cut and bolted together.
jj U.S. Pat. 3,640,034 to Shotwell, Jr. discloses panels ¦of rigid sheets arranged in a 15 sided polyhedron, the panels being connected along the panel edges with tape. Similarly, I i U.S. Pat. 3,445,970 illustrates structures constructeai of right triangular rigid sheets taped together. Another exarnple of a tape connected structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 2,982,290 whcr~in a hemi~phcre of thirty curved triancJular s~ym~ t~ ~rc ¦ .
connected by a tape described as a "flexible" material. J
U.S. Pat. 4,009,543 to Smrt discloses a geodesic dome i ;~l¦comprised of a plurality of triangles formed by hollow struts. ¦
I~ The triangles thus formed are joined together at the hubs by I ~
¦~ sheet metal flanges bolted together. The structure is covered ¦ $
¦Iby triangular sheet secured to the struts.
¦1 In the foreign art, Danish Pat. 82614 discloses a sloping sided dome formed with transparent panels on a frame. A
jmore complex design is demonstrated by French Pat. No. 2,225,586 ¦
¦disclosing a multitude of polyhedra created by an intricate l Isystem of many separate parts in an arrangement of hubs, struts ; ¦and panels.
I I None of the above noted patents discloses a fully ~, .
integrated panel and connector system that is easy to assemble in- .
1~ ¦to a finished structural enclosure, inexpensive to manufacture - I ; ~but nevertheless weatherproof, insulated, lightweight and suffi- ¦
¦ciently strong to be considered as permanent or semi-permanent.
U.S. Pat. 3,292,316 to ~einetz discloses a domed self-supporting ¦panelized roof system including a hollow connector, however, no eans for ntegrating a wall s-ruoture or additional domes ~280573 thereto i9 disclosed. In general the prior art di~closes ~ either excessively complicated structure of sometimes questiona-I ble weather-tightness or relatively weak and fragile structures of panels joined by adhesive tape. Chronic water and air leaks Il have been a major drawback to many otherwise structurally sound , ¦~ building sys~ems. - 1, j Synapse, Inc. of Lander, Wyoming discloses on page 104 of Domebuilders Handbook II a vertical walled rhombic tria-, contahedral structure available as a prefabricated kit. The ¦ structural system is apparently bevel-edged plywood exterior panels bolted to a 2 x 4 wooden frame. Similarly, Steve Baer P ~lbcqu~rque, New Mexico has reportedly built rhombic tria-I contahedral structures called Zomes. Zomes do not utilize j an integrated panel and connector system, or concave nesting modules.
I .~ !
The prior art known to applicant fails to disclose a completely integrated panel and edge connector system incorporate~
into an efficiently designed structure complete with foundation. ¦
Such a structure should be weatherproof, insulated, easy to manuPacture and to erect, interconnectable with similarly shaped structures and alcoves, and adaptable to the full range of uses from temporary storage buildings to permanent housing.
~ ' SUMMARY OF TtlE INVENTION

The invention comprises a building system or combina-tion of building structures of panelized edge-connected elongated¦
i~ 1 rhombic triacontahedral structures for the roofs and walls, the walls being elongated vertical panels. The structures include hollow extruded conne~ctors for joining the panels together and for joining the building structures together as a single unit.

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v ~ I -4-Externally the connectors are relieved to provide a flush sur-face appearance with the panels. The structures are derived from the geometric solid defined as a rhombic triacontahedron.
he hollow connectors and the panels create strong li0~1t~eight structures with integral conduits for utilities. I
ie dow~s to prevent storm damage and retain -the structures in ¦
place can be threaded through the hollow connectors. I
One important optional feature is a foundation provided¦
by vertical panels partially buried in the ground. This option provides a substantial improvement in the control of heat loss from the structures at minimum cost. Another feature comprises optional alcoves creating a roof treatment that minimizes the dome like appearance of the structures.
It is an object of the building system to provide structural components, weatherproofing, insulatian, foundation, Erame and interior walls in two basic components: rigid panels and hollow substantially rigid edge connectors.
It is a further object to provide structures using applicant's panel and connector system which can be assembled ` ¦
and disassembled in a minimum of time with a small crew and no special tools or power tool~.
It is another object to provide structures with a multiplicity o~ uses including but not limited to backyard storage sheds, disaster relief shelters, military'field struc-ture~, work camp facllities, vacation homes and primary housing.
The building system creates interconnectable room-sized units which can be connected in a multiplicity of configurations with a minimum totaI quantity of materials required for the complete structure.

$-lZ805~73 , Another object of the building system is to provide ~i not only waterproof well insulated structures but also excep-tionally wind resistant and earthquake resistant structures, this being accomplished by light weight components combined with the great strength inherent in the completed geometry of the structures.
I The components can be manufactured very economically ¦ because both the panels and the connectors can be extruded ¦ continuously and simply cut to length and shape with nominal waste. Alternatively, the panels can be separate extrusions laminated together to form solid surface foam filled panels.
The completed structures lend themselves to potential solar gain benefits. The integrated insulated foundation and a concrete or tile interior floor can be advantageously com-bined with transparent panels to create a very effective passive solar effect.
A very important object of the building system is to provide a structure with vertical walls so as to allow the use l of standard doors and windows and to create a more comfortable i and useful interior than is created by domed structures with ,~; curved or sloping side walls. The vertical walls also permit the use of concave wall sections to provide the nesting of dome module~ togeth despite di8similar wall height~. i ~:
~,'' ~s -6-lZ80S73 ¦ DESCRIPTION OF THE DR~WINGS

- F;IG. 1 is a perspective view of a cluster or combi- I .
nation of buildillg structures taken from the directi.on of arrow 1, in I~IG. ~;
E`IG. 2 is a floor plan of the complete building shown I in FIG. l;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspectiv~ view of a typical 1~ section of panel and connector at the juncture therebetween;
! FIG. 4 is an exploded plan view of adj~cent structure~;
!I FIG. 5 is an exploded elevation of the adjacent struc-ures showll in FIC. 4; .
!~ FIG. 6 is a partial vertical section of a vertical pane~
, at yround level taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an cxploded partial sec-tion of panels joined ~ y a 144 connector;
~ ¦, FIG. 8 is a partial section of panels joined by a i 144 connector taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 5;
- li FIG. 9 is a partial section of panels ~oined by a ' 108 connector takcn along the line 9-9 in FIG. 5;
¦i PIG. 10 is a partial section of panels joined by a ¦. 90 connector taken along the line 10-10 in FIG. 5;
FIG.ll illustrates a 180 panel connector and panels in exploded partial section taken along the line 11-11 in FIG. 14;
FIG. 12 illustrates a panel extender combined with a connector and panels in exploded partial section;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of an alcove extended structure;
.: I FIG. 14 is an elevation of the structure shown in FIG, 13;
~Jf ¦ ' FIG. 15 schematically illustrates substantially wastage free manufacture of the panels;

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2805'73 1 FIGS. 16 through 20 illustrate a variety of vertex joints among the connectors and panels; and, FIG. 21 is a partial cutaway view of a ground anchor ¦ and cable through a connector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMEiNTS

j FIGS. 1 and2 illustrate a typical example of the almost infinite variety of floor plans and elevational appear-ances that can be created with vertical walled elongated tria-contahedral structures or modules clustered together to form a 'I
building. In this example four dome modules are clustered about ¦
an atrium or courtyard with domes of smaller diameter attached about the periphery to provide two bathrooms, an entranceway and garage. This example is selected to illustrate a structure combining panels of six foot, five foot, four oot and three foot widths to provide rooms of appropriate size for their purposes.
In FIGS. 3, 7 and 8 the basic panel and 144~ connector configuration is illustrated. A single complete dome with vertical walls can be constructed with only these two basic panels and connectors cut to size and length. The panel 30 preferably comprises a plastic foam core 32 with hard surface ; layers on both sides 34 and 36 to protect the core. The connec-tor 38 is hollow to permit utilities 40 to be strung through the connectors upon completion of the structure. The connectors 38 are relieved at 42 to form a cap 44 such that the relief is equal to the thickness of the hard surfaces 34 of the panels.
The foam 32 is also relieved to provide a channel 46 into which the connector can be inserted.

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~ ~; ll ~ j -8- 1 ',~., ll ,~, ,; ,,i 1, ` ~280S~73 , A variety of means to retain the connectors 38 in the , panel channels 46 can be used depending upon the intended perma-, nence of the building, water and windtightness of the building and the skill of the assembly crew. Illustrated is a snap , together configuration suitable for both temporary and permanent II assembly. An integral longitudinal locking ridge 48 is provided ' ¦1 in the relieved portion 42 of the connector and a secon~ ridge 501 ¦~i on the opposite side of the connector 38. The ridyes 48 and 50 are adapted to engage the grooves 52 and 54 formed in the ex-tended hard surfaces 34 and 36 of the panel. The panels and connectors can thereby be easily snapped together and easily pried apart for disassembly.
More permanent assembly can be provided with compa-tible adhesives or glues applied as the COIIneCtOrS and panels I are snapped together. Also, the ridges and grooves can be ¦ deleted as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and the panels and connectors affixed with the adhesives only. Where electric power is available, the panels and connectors can be joined with hot melt glues or by electronic or ultrasonic welding methods.
~ The particular means of joining the panels to the 1~ connectors depends upon the particular plastic materials used I to construct the panels. Other choices for the panels can include honeycomb or corrugated forms in substitution for the ,~ foam 32. Plywood and other materials may also be substituted for the foam interior, however, the extended hard plastic surfaces 34 and 36 are required for joining to the connectors as illus-trated and are suitable as exterior surface treatments without additional covering if suitable plastics are selected.
~: The foam core and hard plastic surface layers provide the preferred combination for a variety of reasons. The foam ,.,~ 1, ~ 9_ .,' ~
~, 1 ~280s73 .
core providcs a lightweight combination of compressive strcngth ` and insulat,ion. The hard plastic surface sh~eting or layer on the exterior and interior of the panels provides weather- ' proofing, te~nsile and lateral compressive stren~3th to ~he panels. This is in addition to the channel edges for joining i; to the connectors, The connectors are best made as plastic extrusions of the same or a plastic compatible with the panel surface sheeting. The cap 44 provides a flush surface with the surface 1 sheeting for a finished appearance without additional treatment.
¦' 'I'he left most dome module 56 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 with the exception of the gutters can be completely l! constructed merely with the panels and 144~ connectors above.
¦I Witll ~-hc panels and connectors manufactured to si~e and lcngth, ~' unskilled workers can quickly assemble the do~e module with a Il minimum of direction. I
'~ 1 This basic structure comprises twenty panels con- I
nected by thirty-five 144 edge connectors. All panels may be ~ !' formed from the same wid~h extrusion as dcscribed below. l'wo : .
,; i types of panels for the basic structwre or module 56 are required 'i~' ' ten identical rhombic roof panels and ten identical wall panels ! square cut at the bottom. The wall panels are assembled with appropriate length connectors into a ten-sided ring by joining , long vertical edges together and short vertical edges together.
The roof comprises two concentric rows of five panels each as best shown in F'IG. 4. The outer or roof base panels mount atop the wall ring filling the valleys created by the short panel edges of the wall ring. The five roo~ peak panel3 ' extend from the peak Oe the dome to peaks formed by the long .
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i ~280S73 parlel ~dges o~ t:he wall rin~ to compl~te the ~om~ incc all the dihcdral an(31es of the module are 144, all the connectors for the basic structure are-144.
To construc~ the basic s~ructure, the roof p~ak panel~
are assemble~ first and then the roof base pan~ls added to thc I peak assembly. ~l~his assembly can then be placed atop the ver-¦ tical wall ring because all exposed edge connectors attached to ¦l the roof assembly are oriented vertically.
~ lternatively, a portion of the peak of the dome may Il be cut-away at 57 for a ventilating cupola 59 as shown in FIGS.
1 1 and 5. Such a cut-away permits assembly of the rool- upwardly ¦' from the Wa1 L ring by adding the roof base panels and then the I peak panels. ~rhe final two connectors for the peak panels are ¦ slideably inserted after the final panel is in place.
I' The complete structure of FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a l; second dome module 58 and square alcove 60. To provide a !i concavc portion ~2 of the vertical side wall of dome 58, a 108 conncctor 84 as shown in FIG. 9 is required at the juncturcsj ¦l of tho "concave" ~anels 64 and 66 with the roof panels 68 and 70 and the wall panels 72 and 74. As further explained below panels 64 and ~6 will be slightly smaller in width than the other panels dependin~3 upon panel thickness. As is apparent ~ jl from F'IG. 5 the modules need not be of identical height or even -; i size ag illus~rated in FIG. 2. Gaskets 76 to flexibly weather-proof the interface between the modules are provided as an option. Openings for doors such as illustrated in FIG. 2 at 78, 80 and 82 may be provided through the facing common panels ~ !i f each dome.
The 108 connector 84 can be formed hollow or par-tially foam illed 86 with a small conduit 88 tberewithin. Such ::

1 1~805~73 a conn~ctor 84 adds additional structural streng th and insula-tion to the ~uilding. The foam can also be added by foaming in place after ~he structure is complete with the utilities in place in the connectors.
~ small alcove or closet 60 can be constructed usin~J
the panels and a '~0~ connector 90 as illustrated in FIG. 10.
The alcove 60 is fitted against a single con~on panel of dome 58 with an expansion gasket 92. This sinyle common wall con-nection also allows the dome modules to be connected to conven-tional vertical walled buildings. FIG. 10 illustrates the use of self s]cinning structural foam plastic for both the panels and thc conn~ctor.
~ IGS. 4, 5 and 6 also illustrate the very simple com-bined foundation and wall structure. Because the modules are of lightweight materials, a very effective foundation for both supporting the structure and preventing movement thereof can be created by using vertical wall panels that are long enough to extend below grade as indicated at Y3. Before the wall rlng is assembled, a circular or peripheral trench of su~ficient depth is dug. The wall ring is then assembled therein. The roof is completed to bring the module to full strength and rigidity be- ¦
fore the trench is backfilled.
A floor 94 of concrete, tile or other material can be placed inside the module as shown in FIG. 6. A low peri-~pheral gutter 96 is installed to carry water to a common drain(not shown) away from the walls of the structure. The gutters 96 are simple plastic extrusions adhesively or otherwise affixed to the panels subsequent to assembly. ~ completely tight insulated peripheral foundation for each module is thereby created to provide excellent energy control and effectiveness.
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l280~3- !
Combillcd with the ~lasonry or concrete floor 9~ and ap~ropria~ely gla~ed panels in ~he wall and roof, ~xcellent pas~ive solar heatill~ and heat retention is built into the structure at nominal extra cost. ~s shown in FIG. S concr~te footin~s anc] a ~ masonry foundation are unnecessary because the very light foaM
' panel and connector construction produces ground loads only a small fraction of the ground loads of conventional construction.
Under conditions of exceptionally loose soil or sand, footings can be placed in the trench to support the structure.
j In FIGS. 11 and 12 additional connectors are illus- I
trated. Their use in an extended or multiple alcove dome module ¦
is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. The module of FIGS. 13 ~ and 14 is substantially twice the diameter of the same module , without the extended alcoves. As explained below slightly ¦¦ largc7r panels providcd by the channel extension 98 illustrated j in PIG. 12 are required for the convex portions of the alcove dome module. The extensions 98 are preferably of the samc materlal as the connectors and are relieved at 100 to form a cap 102 that fits over the relieved portion 42 of the con- ¦
j nector. The extensions are required for the roof 104 and wall j 106 panels forming the convex portions of the alcoves that I extend about the periphery of the structure.
, ~IGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a novel "concave" roof I; trcatment of the alcove extended dome. Roof panels 110, that ! are joined with an inverted 144 connector 38 above a vertical connector 112 betwaen alcoves, are depressed although suffi-l clently tilted radially to prevent the collection of rain , water. This roof treatment breaks up the dome like appearance ! f the basic structure. ~ior a given size of panel the structure of FIGS. 13 and 1~ creates an enclosure with a clear span ~
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~280S~3 diametcr subc;tantially twice that of the basic dome module 56 shown in ~IGS. 4 and 5. ~rhe depressed roof panels 110 are slightly smallcr relative to the remaining roof panels 104 over , the alcoves and 107 of the innermost roof ring. Panels 110 are I therefore asscrnblcd wi~hout the extensions 98. q'he complete structurc of lI~S. 13 and 14 can be assenlbled with pan~ls of a single width, the extcnders 98 being used for those pancls that cover convex portions of the roof and alcoves. Alternatively, smaller panels for the concave roof panels 110 and alcov~ panels , 11] can bc manufactured as explained below with respect to FIG.
l' 15. The smaller panels eliminate the need for the cllannel con-I nectors 9~.
I $'he 144 connectors 38 about the inner dome periphery 1 108 are inserted to accommodate the depressed panels 110 but I otherwise idclltical. Thus, the extended dome module can be constructed with three basic parts, panels, 144 connectors 38 ~, and extensions 98. 'rhe easiest mode of assembly for the roof is again to beyin at the peak and assemble outwardly to the i wall ring. q'he module of FIGS. 13 and 14 can be nested with the modules of E'ICS. 4 and 5 in the same manner as described above because o the basic 144 dihedral angle between the wall panols of th~ alcoves.
$'ho differences in sizes of the roof panels and wall panel4 of the alcove extended dome arise from the thickness of the panels and the inversion of the connectors in the concave , roof and wall portions. Thus ~ thL channel depth of the connec-tors 98 is determinec~ by the thickness of the panels. 'rhicker anels require deeper challnels or a greater difference in panel ~ize between those panels usod ~or convex portions of thc struc- ¦
twre and those panels used for concave portions of the structure.

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~ 2805~73 ¦~ Although all of the alcoves may be identical, FIGS.
13 an~ 14 illustrate a smaller alcove 114 as an option. This oution utilizes the straight (180) connector 116 of FIG. 11 for -the connection of vertical panels 118 and 120 and the 108 connectors a4 at -the roof line or eave. The straigllt connector 116 has a second optional use, that being to extend the v~rtical ', hcicJht of the vertical panels where a separate l~aneliæed ¦! foundatiol ring lZ2 is utilized. Thus, at or slightly above ¦I ground level the straight connectors 116 can be used to connect ¦ a foundation rin~ 122 to the vertical wall panels thereabove.
FIG. 15 illustrates schematically the extrusion of panels either as a co-extrusion or laminated composite produced as a continuous sheet form with the panel width desired. The I edges 124 o~ the continuous form are relieved between the top ¦' and bottoln surfaces to provide thc channels 46 as illustratcd ' in liIG. 7. ~I~he continuous form is merely sliced on the ~ias -~as at 126 to form the rhombic roof panels or perpendicular 128 at the appropriate lengths to form the vertical wall panels.
'rhe slicing i~ preferably done by a shaped rotary cutter to I simultaneously form the channels 46 in the sliced edges. The l perpendicular bottom edges of wall panels, however, can be traight cut if no 180 connector 116 is to be thereattached.
i For panels 130 of slightly narrower width such as required for ~ i the alcove extended dome, the sheet form can be trimmed and f'` ~channelled as indicated by the dashed line 132 in FIG. 15.
! Because of the raised cap 44 on the connector only a ¦' thin seam is visible where connector and panel join. Care ¦' must be taken during assembly to properly trim and join the ¦ i connectors at the vertices. Although the strength of the structure is not dependent upon the vertex joints, the wind and ¦

~ 15-.~`', ~Z80573 '~ wat~r tightn~ of th~ structure are depen~ent on proper ¦ trimming and seallng of the vertices.
Il In FIGS. 16 through 20 the flow of water on the structure is ~3enerally toward the bottonl of the figure. In ; FIG. 16 one roof panel 134 joins two wall panels 136 in the simplest vcrtex configuration. The intended permanence and , weatherti-Jhtness of ~he structure generally dictate the confi-guration of the vertex joint. The abutting connectors 138 Il and 140 ar~ solvent welded or otherwise sealed at lA2. The li ve~tical connector 144 is mitered at 146 to accommodate t~le jl conn~ctors 138 and 140, however the cap 148 of connector 144 !1 is extended to ~it into a slot at 150 cut into connectors 138 and ; ¦! 140. ~rhe p1astic material for such conneCtors is typically suf~icicntly flexibl~ to allow tucking under the caps of the o~he~r connectors. 'l'he vertex joint shown in FIG. 16, is j intermediate in weathertightness and permanence.
, , A less complicated vertex is illustrated in FIC. 17 wherein three 144 connectors 152 join one 108 connector 154 in a purely mitered configuration. No undercutting or slotting required, the joints 156 merely being solverlt welded, caulked, !
heat welded, covered with tape or left exposed. Such a construc-~
¦. tlon is least permanent and weathertight, however, it is suffi-cient and least expensive in labor cost for temporary and emer-¦¦ gency shelter. The simplest method to miter the ends of the edg~
¦' connectors, if not done prior to assembly during manufacture of , the components, is to utilize printed paper templates or patternssupplied with the instructions for assembly of the structures.
Paper templates can also be utilized to trim the connectors for ' the vextices illustrated in FICS. 16 and 18 through 20.
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6- 1 ' 80~;73 . i rlIG. 18 i~lustrates a more complicated vertex joint wherein three roof panels 158 and two wall panels 160 join with 144 connectors. The upper connectors 162 between the roof panels 158 are mitered at 164 and 165 and slotted at lG6 to accept the extended caps 168 of the connectors 170 in turn be-tween the roof parlels 158 and wall panels 160. The connector 172, between the wall panels 16~, is trimmed to fIt the extended cap 174 thereof into slots at 176 in the connectors 170.
Printed templates included with the assembly instructions again may be advantageously utilized to field trim the ends of the lndividual connectors. During assembly the connectors at the vertex may be solvent welded or joined and sealed as notedi above~
FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate other common vertices encountercd with the dome modules disclosed above, that include concave wall sections or roof sections. In FIC. 19 two roof panels 178 are joined by a 144 connector 180 and two wall panels 182 by a 144 connector 184 hidden therebehind because the wall panels 182 form a concave portion of the exterior wall. In FIG. 19 a third option for treating the juncture of connectors at a vertex is illu3trated. The 144 connectors 180 and 184 are trimmed along the lines 186 and 188 to permit the 108 connectors 190 to it thorebetween with the 108 connector caps exte~nded at 192 and tucked under the extended cap 193 of connoctor 180. The extended cap 193 is softcnod and bent down ovcr the extended caps at 192.
FIG. 20 illustrates a vertex for the extended module of FIGS. 13 and 14 where six roof panels are joined together by 144 connectors, two of which 194 are hidden by the pairs of depressed roof panels 196 forminq concave roof sections. The upper connectors 198 are mitered at 200 as above and slotted 2805~73 j, to E erlnit the extend~d c;~s 202 of the lower conn~ctors 20q ¦l to be f i-tte(l under the caps of the upper connectors .
~l Irl F~G. 21 a screw auger 206 attached to a cable 208 l ¦ is shown as a means of fasteninq a dome to the ground in situa- ¦
¦I tions where the foundation disclosed above is not included.
¦I The cable is ~assed through the suhstantial] y v~r~ical hollow ¦i connectors 2l0 of the walls 212 and through the vc~rtices and ' roof connectors as the dome is assembled. For very light clomes I; or domos as5c~mbled from the top down, the au~Jcrs cdn l~e scrcw~d i, into thc soil as the complote dome is lowered into ~lacc. Or, alternatively, a portion of the connector cap can be removed to I exposc a turnbuckle inside the connector and attachecl t~o the ¦, cable . Tl~e por t ion of the cap removed can be solvent welded ¦¦ into p'.ace after ~he turnbuckle is adjusted to tighten the dome !~ to the ground. The cables pass over the dome through the ¦ll hollow connectors and vertices to create a hidden tension means i retaining the dome to the ground despite hig~l wind loads or jj earthquakes. As another alternative, the cables can }~e clipped to the tops of ~he vertical wall connectors 210 before the roof is asselllbled thereon.
ypically, panel thickness will vary with the applica-$'~ ! tion and sizc of thc structur~3s., One-half to on~ inch thick panels are preferable for small disaster relief structures in modcrate climates. Four and one-half inch thick panels are preferable for primary housing in cold climates and also allow use of standard window and door frames.
As may be noted from the following table the panel I !' widths determ:ine the module f loor space. The various widths j ¦, L,rovide coovenient rOOM size units as bcst illustrated in PIC. 2.

~., l: lZ80~73 l. ~

i; Parlel ~x. I Min. Peak Approx. j l~nbus Width l~all Ht.l~all Ht. Ht. Dia. Floor Area Edge Length 2 ft. 8 ft. 7 ft. 10 ft. 6.5 30 sq. ft. 2.236 ft.
, 3 ft. 8 ft. 6.5 ft. 11 ft. 9.7 70 sq. ft. , 3.354 ft.
4 ft. 8 ft. 6 ft. 12 ft. 1~.9 125 sq. ft. I, 4.472 ft.
5 ft. 8 ft. S.S ft. 13 ft. 16.2 200 sq. ft. 5.590 ft.
6 ft. 8 ft. i S ft I 14 ft. 19.4 ! 285 s~. ft. 6.708 ft.

The incorporation of the permanent peripheral founda-tion adcls 42-48 inches to the vertical wall panels to meet the ~, typical bui1din~ co~

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;~ 19-~ ~i ~` ~ I

Claims (20)

1. An integrated panel and connector system for modified elongated triacontahedral dome structures comprising in combination foam core rigid plastic faced panels, the cores of the panels recessed along the edges of the panels to form channelled panel edges with the extended panel facings, 144° dihedral angle edge connectors adapted to join two panels together along adjacent panel edges, the sides of said edge connectors spaced apart at 144° relative to each other and sized to engage said channelled panel edges between said extended panel facings, and, wherein at least two of said panels are rhombic roof panels, at least two of said panels are modified rhombic roof panels with two parallel edges slightly elongated relative to the other two edges and at least two of said panels are wall panels with two parallel edges more than twice the length of the edge joining the parallel edges together.

2. The integrated panel and connector system of claim 1 including 108°
dihedral angle edge connectors adapted to join two panels together along adjacent panel edges.

3. The integrated panel and connector system of claim 1 including 180°
dihedral angle edge connectors adapted to join two panels together along adjacent panel edges.

4. The integrated panel and connector system of claim 1 including means on said edge connectors in combination with said extended panel facings to retain assembled panels and connectors together.

5. The integrated panel and connector system of claim 1 wherein the edge connectors are relieved to provide exposed connector surfaces flush with said panel facings.

6. Nestable modified elongated triacontahedral dome structures with vertical wall panels comprising at least two modified triacontahedral domes, at least one of said domes having at least two adjacent wall panels forming a concave portion of the exterior wall of said one dome, said two adjacent wall panels forming a dihedral angle of 144°
therebetween, and, wherein at least two panels are rhombic roof panels, at least two panels are modified rhombic roof panels with two parallel edges slightly elongated relative to the other two edges and at least two panels are wall panels with two parallel edges more than twice the length of the edge joining the parallel edges together.

7. The nestable modified elongated triacontahedral dome structures of claim 6 wherein the two adjacent wall panels forming the exterior concavity each form a 108°
dihedral angle with the wall panels next adjacent to each.

8. The nestable modified elongated triacontahedral dome structures of claim 6 wherein at least some of the above ground vertical wall panels extend below grade to form an integrated foundation wall for the dome structures.

9. The nestable modified elongated triacontahedral dome structures of claim 6 wherein the two exterior wall panels forming the concavity of one dome nest against two exterior wall panels of a second modified triacontahedral dome.

10. The nestable modified elongated triacontahedral dome structures of claim 6 wherein the panels, roof and wall of the structures are hard surfaced, said hard surfaces extended at the panel edges to form channels with the panel cores and including edge connectors adapted to engage the panel edge channels.

11. The nestable modified elongated triacontahedral dome structures of claim 10 wherein the majority of the edge connectors join the panels at dihedral angles of 144°.

12. The nestable modified elongated triacontahedral dome structures of claim 11 wherein at least some of said edge connectors join panels at dihedral angles of 108°.

13. A modified elongated triacontahedral dome structure comprising two inner concentric rings of five rhombic panels each and all of equal size, said rhombic panels edge connected together to form a convex roof about the central peak of the dome, a third concentric ring of rhombic roof panels about the two inner rings and edge connected to the outer ring of the two inner rings, at least two of the rhombic panels of the third ring depressed to form a concave roof segment having a 144° dihedral angle between the two depressed rhombic roof panels of the third ring, said two depressed rhombic roof panels extended along two parallel edges to meet the edge connections to adjacent roof panels.

14. The triacontahedral dome structure of claim 13 including a fourth ring of rhombic roof panels edge connected to the third ring and edge connected to a plurality of vertical wall panels forming the side walls of the dome.

15. The triacontahedral dome structure of claim 14 wherein the edge connectors join the depressed rhombic roof panels to other roof panels at 144° dihedral angles.

16. The triacontahedral dome structure of claim 14 including at least two vertical wall panels joined at a 144° dihedral angle to form a concavity in the exterior wall of the dome structure.

17. The triacontahedral dome structure of claim 13 including panel edge extensions adapted to join at least some of the panels to edge connectors.

18. The triacontahedral dome structure of claim 13 wherein said panels are hard surfaced, said hard surfaces extended at the panel edges to form channels with the panel cores, and edge connectors adapted to engage the panel edge channels, said edge connectors including caps to provide flush surfaces at the panel and connector junctures.

19. The triacontahedral dome structure of claim 18 wherein the majority of the edge connectors join the panels at dihedral angles of 144°.

20. The triacontahedral dome structure of claim 19 wherein at least some of said edge connectors join panels at dihedral angles of 108°.