From: Ernie (genesis_at_gtwn.net)
Date: 08/29/02
Message-ID: <001b01c24f82$b9106f40$1ca4ecd8@pavilion> From: "Ernie" <genesis_at_gtwn.net> Subject: Re: Deployable tensegrities Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2002 10:36:44 -0700
The thing with the satellite antenna, is that it needs to be deployed only
once and after that is permanently fixed in place in space. For larger
structures such as the large tent mentioned that takes several men several
hours to erect, - have not seen any rubber bands that large yet. Whether it
is patentable, it will have to have unique novel features and not obvious to
those practicing the art. Your description and photos posted would seem to
qualify as prior art that the patent examiner would have to take into
consideration if he/she knew about it.
Lockheed already has a quicky up tent system for army field hospitals.
Referring to the "Star Nodes", my page you mentioned is now at:
http://www.gardendome.com/sn1.JPG
I have made a few of these domes last 2 years.
Here's the first and only 3v edge zenith dome we have done -
http://www.gardendome.com/dome22.jpg
details at http://www.gardendome.com/gd3_EZ.html
The fly eye dome gallery is great - "Honey, what is that in our neighbor's
yard?" http://www.bfi.org/gallery/FlysEyeDome
Ernie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Spencer W Hunter" <shunter_at_U.Arizona.EDU>
To: <domesteading_at_sculptors.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2002 4:38 PM
Subject: Deployable tensegrities
> On 8/14/2000, I posted an idea to this list on a type of deployable
> tensegrity, that can be seen on my web page here:
>
> http://www.u.arizona.edu/~shunter/zigzag.html
>
> Well, not to my surprize, some University of Florida mechanical engineers
> have applied for a patent on something very similar to what I was thinking
> of:
>
> http://www.napa.ufl.edu/99news/structur.htm
>
> "FOR 21st-CENTURY CAMPERS AND SOLDIERS, A TENT THAT SETS ITSELF UP
>
> "Think of it as the Jetsons meet the Boy Scouts.
>
> "Two University of Florida professors have designed the structure for a
> tent that has no easy-to-forget poles, no instructions and no need for set
> up. Owners would simply remove the tent from a bag, untie it...and the
> tent "self-deploys" in seconds.
>
> "'It will be especially convenient during the rain or cold weather,' said
> Joseph Duffy, a UF mechanical engineering professor who has applied for a
> patent on the tent structure and other so-called 'self-deployable
> tensegrity structures' with colleague Carl Crane, also a UF mechanical
> engineering professor."
>
> Maybe I could get them on prior art.... Popular Mechanics has a very
> brief paragraph about this structure in the current issue.
>
> Spencer Hunter, Library Specialist
> gopher://www.u.arizona.edu:80/hGET%20/%7Eshunter
>
>
>
