Patent Summary:
A building structure composed of column-like discontinuous compression members held by a plurality of tension elements, the column-like compression members being held in spaced relation by tension elements attached adjacent the ends of the column-like compression members. in the form shown, there are what can be termed two substructures, one at the top and one at the bottom, each substructure having pentagonal configurations of parallel lesser circles formed by column-like members and tension elements at its base, said pentagonal configurations being twisted relative to each other so as to provide rectangular openings there between. There are column-like compression members between the substructures held in spaced relation to each other and to the substructures by tension members. The entire combination produces a generally spherical-like building structure.
Claims:
1. In a generally spherical-like building structure, the combination including a like pair of substructures, each being comprised of a plurality of column-like compression members and plurality of tension elements, the column-like members being held in axially spaced relationship to one another by the tension elements being attached adjacent the ends of spaced column-like members, pentagon lesser circle configurations at the base of each substructure, and a plurality of column-like members between said substructures and extending directly there between and holding said substructures in spaced relation, said column-like members being held in axially spaced relation there to by tension elements so that pentagon lesser circle configurations are displaced relative to each other.
2. In a building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a top and bottom substructure, each substructure having a pentagonal-like configuration of column-like compression members located outside of said lesser circle configurations, said pentagonal-like configuration being reversed in the top substructure in relation to the bottom substructure.
3. In a building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are rectangular-like apertures between said substructures.
4. In a building structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are rectangular-like facets between the substructures.
5. In a building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of the column-like members between the substructures has tension elements connecting one of the ends thereof to pentagon lesser circle configurations at the base of a first substructure and the other end thereof connected to a pentagonal-like configuration of column-like members outside of said lesser circle of the substructure other than said first substructure.
6. In a building structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pentagonal-like compression members located outside of said lesser circle configurations are reversed relative to each other.
7. In a building structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tension elements are prefabricated and the column-like elements inserted therein after.
R. Buckminster Fuller, “ Non-Symmetrical, Tension-Integrity Structures”, “Patent No. 3,866,366”, United States Patent Office, February 18, 1975, p.1-4