US3665882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Buoyant structure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-16
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A buoyant structure suitable for use as a floating island of very large dimensions, e.g. an airport, and constructed of polyhedral modules fastened one to another. Some of these modules can be hollow to form a base having compartments suitable for housing mechanical systems, offices or the like. A particularly advantageous structure is formed of adjoined octahedral and tetrahedral modules with one side of each of these modules defining a lower plane, and one face of each octahedron defining the upper plane to which a platform is integrally fastened.
Inventors
- 👤 Tancho D Georgiev
- 👤 Robert M Scanzani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:55
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/34; B63B35/44; B63B2035/4426; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A structure suitable for use as a floating platform and formed of: A. a buoyant base of mating higher and lower polyhedrons 1. defining upper and lower generally horizontal planes; 2. having mating faces between upper and lower polyhedrons canted with respect to the horizontal planes and to planes orthogonal with respect to each other and to the horizontal planes; and B. a platform fastened to, and extending along at least one of, said horizontal planes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A structure suitable for use as a floating platform and formed of: A. a buoyant base of mating higher and lower polyhedrons 1. defining upper and lower generally horizontal planes; 2. having mating faces between upper and lower polyhedrons canted with respect to the horizontal planes and to planes orthogonal with respect to each other and to the horizontal planes; and B. a platform fastened to, and extending along at least one of, said horizontal planes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
having mating faces between upper and lower polyhedrons canted with respect to the horizontal planes and to planes orthogonal with respect to each other and to the horizontal planes; and B. a platform fastened to, and extending along at least one of, said horizontal planes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
having mating faces between upper and lower polyhedrons canted with respect to the horizontal planes and to planes orthogonal with respect to each other and to the horizontal planes; and B. a platform fastened to, and extending along at least one of, said horizontal planes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said lower polyhedron is a tetrahedron.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
having upper faces defining a generally planar load-bearing surface when so assembled,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
having upper faces defining a generally planar load-bearing surface when so assembled,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
each polyhedron having one of said upper faces also having at least three faces adjoining said upper face and canted with respect to each other and said upper face; and B. Integrally fastening a deck to the top of said load-bearing surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
each polyhedron having one of said upper faces also having at least three faces adjoining said upper face and canted with respect to each other and said upper face; and B. Integrally fastening a deck to the top of said load-bearing surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said higher polyhedron is an octahedron.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A structure as defined in claim 1 A. wherein at least some of said polyhedrons form hollow compartments, and B. including passage means providing access to said compartments from said platform through integrated cover plates containing manholes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A structure as defined in claim 1 A. wherein at least some of said polyhedrons form hollow compartments, and B. including passage means providing interconnecting access between said compartments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said higher polyhedron has twelve side faces extending between two parallel hexagonal surfaces of different perimeter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A structure as defined in claim 2 in which further faces of the higher polyhedrons are perpendicular to said planes, said further faces providing mating surfaces at which higher polyhedrons are fastened to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
Buoyant structural modules in the shape of higher and loWer order polyhedra nestable to form a platform having bottom and side surfaces and a horizontal top surface, each polyhedron having a plurality of faces with fastening means thereon positioned to join mating faces of pairs of higher and lower order polyhedra in face to face contact with the faces of the mating higher order polyhedra forming an obtuse angle with said top surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
Buoyant structural modules in the shape of higher and loWer order polyhedra nestable to form a platform having bottom and side surfaces and a horizontal top surface, each polyhedron having a plurality of faces with fastening means thereon positioned to join mating faces of pairs of higher and lower order polyhedra in face to face contact with the faces of the mating higher order polyhedra forming an obtuse angle with said top surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The buoyant structural module as defined in claim 8 wherein each face comprises a rigid shell formed of concrete reinforced with steel-reinforcing members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A buoyant structural unit as defined in claim 8 wherein a groove in the outer surface of said shell encircles said fastening means, said groove forming means to hold and protect a gasket.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A buoyant structural module as defined in claim 8 wherein said core is hollow and the fastening means in said module are accessible from the interior of the module.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A buoyant structure having a platform integral with, and supported by, a plurality of polyhedral modules, having canted faces in supporting contact with said platform to providing means for dissipating stresses exerted on said platform in a plurality of directions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A buoyant structure having a platform integral with, and supported by, a plurality of polyhedral modules, having canted faces in supporting contact with said platform to providing means for dissipating stresses exerted on said platform in a plurality of directions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
A structure as defined in claim 12 wherein said polyhedrons are octahedrons.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A structure as defined in claim 12 wherein said deck mates with and is integrally fastened to said polyhedrons.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process for forming a buoyant structure, said process comprising the steps of: A. Assembling polyhedrons
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process for forming a buoyant structure, said process comprising the steps of: A. Assembling polyhedrons
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as defined in claim 15 wherein said integral fastening is accomplished by placing an array of downwardly-canted polyhedron faces against matching upwardly-canted faces.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as defined in claim 16 wherein said polyhedrons are tetrahedrons and octahedrons.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as defined in claim 17 wherein upwardly canted surfaces of said tetrahedrons and the downwardly canted surfaces of said octahedrons are fastened to one another.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process as defined in claim 15 wherein said structure is formed of concrete, reinforced with steel members, and wherein said deck is integrally connected to steel-reinforcing members protruding from the tops of higher order polyhedrons.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as defined in claim 16 wherein said polyhedrons are relatively weighted, prior to fastening one to another, to float in proper position for said fastening step.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
A buoyant structure comprising mating tetrahedra and octrahedra joined together face-to-face to form at least one generally planar load-bearing surface, the faces of selected ones of the tetrahedra and octahedra forming a generally continuous outer surface for buoyantly supporting said structure in a fluid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
A buoyant structure comprising mating tetrahedra and octrahedra joined together face-to-face to form at least one generally planar load-bearing surface, the faces of selected ones of the tetrahedra and octahedra forming a generally continuous outer surface for buoyantly supporting said structure in a fluid.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A buoyant structure according to claim 21 in which the faces at which the octahedra are joined to the tetrahedra are canted with respect to the load bearing surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |