Folding modular building structure

Claim 2

A folding modular building structure comprised of four flexibly interconnected structural modules: (A) each of said modules comprised of a plurality of hinged rigid structural elements defining twelve equal sized right isosceles triangular components, (B) each of said modules, if laid flat, defining a trapezoid, the hypotenuses of the triangles forming the trapezoid being parallel, and (C) said interconnected modules being disposed in repeating right and left-handed mirror-image form, each right-handed module being adjacent to a left-handed module.

Claim 3

A building structure according to claim 1 wherein said rigid structural elements are composed of linear strut-like elements flexibly connected at their ends point-to-point to like linear elements.

Claim 4

A building structure according to claim 1 wherein said rigid structural elements are composed of planar triangular panel-like elements flexibly connected point-to-point and edge-to-edge to like planar elements.

Claim 5

A building structure according to claim 1 wherein: (A) said rigid structural elements are a combination of linear strut-like elements and planar triangular panel-like elements, (B) adjacent strut-like elements are flexibly connected in point-to-point end connections, (C) adjacent panel-like members are flexibly connected in edge-to-edge connection, and (D) adjacent strut-like and panel-like elements are flexibly connected in point-to-point end connections.

Claim 6

A building structure according to claim 2 wherein the triangular spaces defined by the rigid strut-like elements are spanned by flexible sheet material supported by said strut-like elememts.

Claim 7

A building structure according to claim 5 wherein said sheet material comprises two like layers of flexible fabric or film, the area of each of said layers corresponding to that of two trapezoidal modules laid flat and connected along their long bases, said layers of sheet material being seamed along the edge corresponding to the short base and sides of a trapezoidal module.

Claim 8

A building structure according to claim 6 wherein said sheet material overlies said rigid structural elements.

Claim 9

A building structure according to claim 6 further characterized in that said sheet material is suspended within the structure from vertices of intersecting structural elements.

Claim 10

A building structure according to claim 1 wherein: (A) said structure includes three intersecting boundary limit planes, one between each adjacent pair of modules, and a pair of intersecting base planes at the endmost edges of the two endmost modules, (B) each plane is equally displaced from the next, (C) the hypotenuses of the triangular components defining the long bases of the trapezoidal modules lie in the first and third limit planes, (D) the hypotenuses of the triangular components defining the short bases and sides of the trapezoidal modules lie in the second limit plane and in the base planes, (E) the parts of said triangular components lying in said planes approximate a curve, (F) joining parts lying in said planes are serially connected, and (G) means are provided for constraining the parts of said components lying in said planes from moving outside the planes.

Claim 11

A building structure according to claim 9 wherein said means for constraining the parts of said components lying in said planes from moving outside the planes comprise means for anchoring in the base planes the hypotenuses side of the triangular components defining the shorter bases and sides of the outermost pair of trapezoidal modules.