Reference Numerals In Drawings

[0025] 1

DESCRIPTION —FIGS. 1 to 7

[0026] The description presented herein describes an improved and simplified means of building a geodesic dome structure through the use of one piece flanged triangular panels and rigid insulation system. A typical embodiment of a geodesic dome construction system of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. Geodesic domes can be built in varying configurations and percentages of a sphere and can also utilize an almost unlimited number of different geometric designs. Therefore, this invention relates closely to the panel design which can be utilized for the varying configurations of geodesic domes. The panel can be made from a single piece of any rigid material which can be formed or bent with the preferred material being a sheet-metal such as galvanized steel. Other metals such as aluminum or stainless steel, etc. will also work. Before a panel's flanges 34 are bent or formed it will have a shape consistent with FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of a panel after the flanges 34 have been formed. Take note of the fact that flanges 34 will be formed at acute angles in relation to the interior face of the panel (as shown in FIG. 7) with each angle determined by the mathematical geometric formula of the dome constructed. The flanges 34 can be easily formed with a press-brake which is a tool common to most all sheet-metal fabrication shops.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the panel from the side with holes 28 in the flange 34 to accept fasteners 26 (shown in FIG. 7). The holes 28 can be preformed with a punch which is also a common sheet-metal tool. It should be noted that the panels will work without the holes 28 preformed as they are shown. It is preferred that they be preformed with similar flanges having similar hole patterns to facilitate proper and speedy alignment during the assembly process. However, with the use of fasteners 26 such as self-drilling screws the panels can be erected without holes 28 preformed in the flanges 34. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a typical panel with flanges 34 formed and holes 28 preformed.

[0028] During the assembly process the flanges 34 are coated with sealant 24 and the panels are attached to one another at their flanges 34 and fastened with fasteners 26 as shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 6 shows two panels so attached. The sealant 24 seals the seam between the flanges 34 to form a water-tight seam. In the preferred embodiment the sealant is a flexible neoprene sealant. However, the sealant can be any material which will form a permanent seal between the joined flanges 34. This process of fastening panels together will start at the base of the structure and continue in a spiral fashion until the top panels are assembled. After the structure is erected, the insulation material 20 can be attached to the interior of the structure with adhesive 32 as shown in FIG. 7. The insulation 20 can be made from any rigid insulative material with expanded polystyrene foam being the preferred material. The thickness of the insulation can be selected depending upon the use of the structure, but 4 to 9 inches would be average. It is preferred that the insulation be cut or formed into triangular shapes in accordance with the shape of the flanged triangular panel that it is to be attached to. This rigid insulation material is attached to the interior face of the panels with an acrylic latex adhesive contact cement available from DAP Inc., Dayton, Ohio. There are other adhesives available that will also work.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 7, there is a space or void left between the pieces of rigid insulation material 20 where they meet along the seam of two flanges 34. This space can be filled with a urathane foam such as Froth-Pak manufactured by Insta-Foam Products Inc., Joliet, Ill. This foam can fill the entire void but should at least fill the void to the extent that the edges of the attached flanges 34 are completely covered. This will act as a secondary seal for the flanges 34. The interior face of the rigid insulation material may be finished with an interior coating 30 such as plaster.

[0030] Summary, Ramifications, and Scope

[0031] My geodesic dome invention consists of triangular panels that are formed from single sheets of rigid material and that have flanges formed along their edges at acute angles in reference to the interior face of the panels. The panels are fastened together flange to flange with screws, bolts or other suitable fasteners. The panels can be made of sheet-metal or any other rigid material which can be formed by bending or other means. The seams where the panel flanges meet are sealed with a permanent flexible sealant against water leakage. Insulation can be provided by rigid insulation material which can be attached to the interior face of the of the flanged triangular panels with adhesive. Any gap or void between the rigid insulation along the panel seams can be filled with a foam sealer or foam insulation which will furthermore seal the interior seam of the connected flanges. The interior face of the insulation panel can be coated with a fire-resistant coating to provide an interior finish.

[0032] Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.