United S ta tes Pa tent [ 1 9 1

S k il l m a n
[ 1 1 1 4 , 0 3 3 , 0 6 8
1 4 5 1 . J u l y 5 , 1 9 7 7
[ 5 4 ] S TRUCTURAL MODULE
J a c k J . S k il l m a n, 7 2 7 E. 6 0 th S t. ,
Ch ic a g o , I l l . 6 0 6 3 7
[ 7 6 ] I nv ento r :
[ 2 2 ] F il ed: S ep t. 8 , 1 9 7 5 .
[ 2 1 1 Ap p ] . N o . : 6 1 1 , 3 4 6
[ 5 2 ] U. S . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6 /1 L; 4 2 8 /5 4 2 ;
4 6 /1 5 4
[ 5 1 ] I nt. Cl . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 3 H 3 3 /1 6 ; A4 2 B 1 /1 8
[ 5 8 ] F iel d o f S ea r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 7 3 /1 5 5 ; 4 6 /1 L, 1 5 4 ;
4 2 8 /5 4 2
[ 5 6 ] Ref er enc es Cited
OTHER PU BLl CATl ON S
Al ba m Pu bl ic a tio n, r ec eiv ed F eb. 1 0 , 1 9 6 7 .
Cr ea tiv e Lif e w ith Cr ea tiv e Or g a m i, To k o y , 1 9 6 9 .
Ma th em a tic a l Mo del s , Th e Cl a r endo n Pr es s , r ec eiv ed
1 9 6 8 .
Pa p er F o l ding f o r Beg inner s , r ec eiv ed J u ne 7 , 1 9 6 5 .
Pr im a r y Ex a m iner l ~ l u g h R. Ch a m bl ee
As s is ta nt Ex a m iner Ro ber t F . Cu tting
[ 5 7 ] ABS TRACT
A f o l ded s tr u c tu r a l m o du l e f o r m inc l u des a n o p p o s itel y
dis p o s ed p a ir o f p o ints a nd inter io r p o c k ets w h ic h en
a bl e a dj a c ent m o du l es to be p u t to g eth er to m a k e a
g eo m etr ic a l f o r m by s l ip p ing th e p o ints o f o ne m o du l e
into th e p o c k ets o f a no th er m o du l e. By v a r y ing th e
nu m ber s o f m o du l es u s ed, th e m a nner in w h ic h th ey
a r e ins er ted, a nd by u s e o f o th er a s s em bl y tec h niq u es ,
a g r ea t v a r iety o f dif f er ent s tr u c tu r es m a y be p r o du c ed.
Th e m o du l es a nd th e f o r m s p r o du c ed th er eby a r e u s e
f u l a s edu c a tio na l dev ic es , s c ienti? c m o del s , dec o r a
tio ns , f u r nis h ing s , to y , a nd c o ns tr u c tio n u nits .
1 4 Cl a im s , 2 1 Dr a w ing F ig u r es
US . Pa tent J u l y 5 , 1 9 7 7 S h eet 1 o f 4 4 , 0 3 3 , 0 6 8
_ _ ; MOUN TAI N
5 5 - _ F OLD
3 .
Y ~ - - _ _ _ _ _
_ _ 1 ;: CREAS E LI N E
VALLEY F OLD
F 1 6 2
U. S . Pa tent J u l y 5 , 1 9 7 7 S h eet 2 o f 4 4 , 0 3 3 , 0 6 8
~ L
l /
L2 3 5 /I \ 2 o 8 / /
/ l / /
W 2 0 5 5 1 @ 2 1 1 l r j z o s / 2 0 5
// | /
2 m m /
/ /: //
Z OI / 1 2 0 2
2 0 5 A
US . Pa tent, J u l y 5 , - 1 9 7 7 v S h eet 3 o f 4 4 , 0 3 3 , 0 6 8
3 0 8
US . Pa tent J u l y 5 , 1 9 7 7 s h w 4 o f 4 4 , 0 3 3 , 0 6 8
F I G
F I G. 2 0
4 , 0 3 3 , 0 6 8
1
S TRUCTURAL MODULE
Th is inv entio n r el a tes to s tr u c tu r a l m o du l es m a de
p r im a r il y f r o m f o l ded s h eet m a ter ia l s a nd m o r e p a r tic
u l a r l y to a u s e o f s u c h m o du l es in a ny o f m a ny dif f er ent
w a y s in o r der to m a k e a g r ea t v a r iety o f p o l y h edr a a nd
o th er g eo m etr ic a l s tr u c tu r es .
Pr im a r il y , th e m o du l a r dev ic e a nd th e tec h niq u es ,
m eth o ds , a nd p r o c es s es des c r ibed h er ein r el a te to o r
g a m i, th e J a p a nes e a r t o f p r o c es s o f p a p er f o l ding .
Ho w ev er , it s h o u l d be u nder s to o d th a t th e p r inc ip l es o f
th e inv entio n m a y be p r a c tic ed th r o u g h a u s e o f m a ny
dif f er ent k inds o f m a ter ia l s o th er th a n p a p er , w h ic h
m a y a l s o be f o l ded. F o r ex a m p l e, c er ta in th in s h eets o f
p l a s tic , m eta l , w o v en m a ter ia l , o r th e l ik e, m a y be
f o l ded to f o r m r el a tiv el y s tr o ng m o du l es w h ic h m a y
th en be a s s em bl ed into s tr u c tu r a l f o r m s . Her eina f ter ,
f o r c o nv enienc e o f ex p r es s io n, a l l o f th es e a nd a ny
o th er s u ita bl e m a ter ia l a r e g ener ic a l l y a nd c o l l ec tiv el y
c a l l ed p a p er ; a l th o u g h th e inv entio n is no t l im ited to
p a p er , p er s e.
Lik ew is e, th e o r ig a m i a r ts do r el a te to f o l ding . Ho w
ev er , o nc e th e f o l ded m o du l es a r e p r o du c ed, th ey m a y
be c o p ied in m o l ded p l a s tic , p r es s ed m a ter ia l s , o r th e
l ik e. Henc e, a p l a s tic inj ec tio n m o l ding m a y be m a de to
inc o r p o r a te a l l o f th e p r inc ip l es o f th e m o du l es de
s c r ibed h er ein. Th u s , th e ter m f o l d is h er ein intended
to c o v er no t o nl y th e o r ig ina l c o nc ep t o f f o l ding , p er s e,
bu t a l s o a l l o th er m eth o ds o f f a br ic a tio n o r du p l ic a tio n,
w ith o u t r eg a r d to w h eth er it is do ne by a p u nc h p r es s ,
o r th e l ik e.
Th e f o l l o w ing des c r ip tio n p r es ents a n o r der l y s e
q u enc e o f f o l ding f o r a r r iv ing a t c er ta in c r ea s e l ines
th a t a r r a ng e th e p a p er in a m o du l a r f o r m . Obv io u s l y , a
dif f er ent s eq u enc e c o u l d be f o l l o w ed to a r r iv e a t es s en
tia l l y th e s a m e a r r a ng em ents o f c r ea s e l ines . Th er ef o r e,
th e f a c t th a t I h a v e des c r ibed initia l p a r a l l el f o l ds f o l
l o w ed by tr ia ng u l a r f o l ds do es no t p r ec l u de a n initia l
tr ia ng u l a r f o l d f o l l o w ed by p a r a l l el f o l ding . I n a l ik e
m a nner , a ny o f th e s eq u enc es m a y be inter c h a ng ed in a
s u ita bl e m a nner . .
Th e p r inc ip l es o f th e inv entio n l ea d to m a ny dif f er ent
s tr u c tu r a l f o r m s w h ic h m a y be a s s em bl ed f r o m th e
2 0
2
w h ic h c a n be p r e- f a br ic a ted a nd s h ip p ed in a c o m p a c t
f o r m , to be a s s em bl ed o n s ite into a r el a tiv el y l a r g e a nd
no n- c o m p a c t f o r m . Her e, a n o bj ec t is to p r o v ide a
m o du l e w h ic h m a y be u s ed by des ig ner s a s a to o l o r a n
a id f o r f o r m ing a ny o f a p l u r a l ity o f dif f er ent s tr u c tu r a l
dev ic es .
S til l a no th er o bj ec t is to p r o v ide u s ef u l to o l s in s u c h
div er s e f iel ds a s edu c a tio na l a ids , to y s , c o ns tr u c tio n,
p a c k a g ing , a nd th e l ik e.
I n k eep ing w ith a n a s p ec t o f th e inv entio n, th es e a nd
o th er o bj ec ts a r e a c c o m p l is h ed by p r o v iding a s tr u c
tu r a l m o du l e th a t c o ns titu tes a s et o f f o u r tr ia ng l es
m a de f r o m a f o l ded s h eet f o r m . A p l u r a l ity o f p o ints
a nd p o c k ets a r e f o r m ed o n th e m o du l e s o th a t th ey m a y
be s l ip p ed into ea c h o th er to f o r m o ne o r m o r e s eq u en
tia l a nd u nif o r m s eg m ents o f a l a r g e p o l y h edr o n. De
p ending u p o n w h eth er th e s h eet f o r m is f o l ded into a
s et o f f o u r r ig h t tr ia ng u l a r ta p er ed s ec tio ns o r a n a r r a y
o f f o u r eq u il a ter a l tr ia ng u l a r s ec tio ns , th e p o l y h edr o n
m a y be eith er s tel l a ted o r p ier c ed. Henc e, th e inv entiv e
m o du l e p r o v ides m ea ns f o r m a k ing a v a r iety o f dev ic es ,
' h a v ing g ener a l u til ity f o r a g r ea t v a r iety o f p u r p o s es .
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
s a m e m o du l es a nd u s ed f o r a ny o f a g r ea t v a r iety o f 4 5
p u r p o s es . F o r ex a m p l e, th e m o du l e m a y f o r m th e ba s is
o f c h il dr en s c o ns tr u c tio n to y s ( s im il a r to Tink er
To y s ) , er ec tio n s ets , o r c l u s ter to y s . Th e m o du l e m ig h t
s er v e a s a n intel l ec tu a l o r m a nip u l a tiv e c h a l l eng e,
s o m ew h a t s im il a r to th e u s e o f a j ig s a w p u z z l e. Th e
inv entiv e m o du l e is a l s o u s ef u l a s a n edu c a tio na l dev ic e
o r to o l in tea c h ing g eo m etr ic a l f o r m s , \ c h em ic a l m o d
el s , o r a r ith m etic m o del s a nd f r a c tio na l u nits . Th e in
v entiv e m o du l es m a y a l s o be u s ed to m a k e dec o r a tio n,
s p a c e s c u l p tu r e, o r na m ents o r th e l ik e. Th ey m ig h t a l s o
be a s s em bl ed into a ba s ic bu il ding bl o c k f o r m f o r c o n
s tr u c ting a g eo des ic do m e, o r th e l ik e. Henc e, th er e a r e
m a ny . u s es f o r th e inv entiv e s tr u c tu r a l m o du l e. One
a dv a nta g e o f th e inv entio n is th a t m o du l es m a y be
a s s em bl ed a t a l o c a tio n o f u s a g e, th er eby s a v ing bo th
ex c es s c h a r g es a nd l o s s es f r o m da m a g e in h a ndl ing .
Th ey m a y a l s o be s ta c k ed, s to r ed o r s h ip p ed in a ta s
s el a ted o r m o s a ic ed a r r a y .
Ac c o r ding l y , a n o bj ec t o f th e inv entio n is to p r o v ide
a new a nd im p r o v ed m o du l e o f th e des c r ibed ty p e,
h a v ing g ener a l u til ity f o r f a br ic a ting a ny o f a g r ea t
v a r ity o f s tr u c tu r es . I n th is c o nnec tio n, a n o bj ec t o f th e
inv entio n is to p r o v ide r el a tiv el y s m a l l m o du l a r dev ic es
5 0
5 5
6 5
Th e na tu r e o f th e inv entio n w il l bec o m e m o r e a p p a r
ent f r o m a s tu dy o f th e a tta c h ed dr a w ing s w h er ein:
F I G. 1 is a g r a p h ic a l r ep r es enta tio n o f h o w a s h eet o f
p a p er , o r th e l ik e, is l a id o u t to f o r m a ba s ic m o du l e
w h ic h p r o v ides f o r th e c o ns tr u c tio n o f a s tel l a ted p o l y
h edr o n;
F I G. 2 is a s im p l e s k etc h w h ic h ex p l a ins th e m ea ning
o f th e ter m v a l l ey f o l d ;
F I G. 3 is a s im p l e s k etc h w h ic h ex p l a ins th e m ea ning
o f th e ter m m o u nta in f o l d ;
F I GS . 4 - 8 a r e a s er ies o f s k etc h es s h o w ing h o w th e
s h eet o f F I G. 1 is f o l ded to f o r m th e inv entiv e m o du l e
f o r s tel l a ted p o l y h edr a ;
F I G. 9 s c h em a tic a l l y il l u s tr a tes h o w a nu m ber o f th e
m o du l es o f F I GS . 1 - 8 m a y be f itted to g eth er to f o r m a
s tel l a ted s o l id;
F I G. 1 0 is a g r a p h ic a l r ep r es enta tio n o f h o w a s h eet
o f p a p er , o r th e l ik e, is l a id o u t to f o r m a ba s ic m o du l e
w h ic h p r o v ides f o r th e c o ns tr u c tio n o f a p ier c ed p o l y
h edr o n;
F I GS . 1 1 - 1 5 a r e a s er ies o f s k etc h es s h o w ing h o w th e
s h eet o f F I G. 1 0 is f o l ded to f o r m th e ba s ic m o du l e f o r
p ier c ed p o l y h edr a ;
F I G. 1 6 s c h em a tic a l l y il l u s tr a tes h o w a nu m ber o f th e
m o du l es o f F I GS . 1 0 - 1 5 m a y be a s s em bl ed to f o r m a
p ier c ed s o l id;
F I G. 1 7 s h o w s h o w th r ee m o du l es o f th e F I GS . 1 0 - 1 5
em bo dim ent a r e m o u nta in f o l ded a nd s l ip p ed to g eth er ;
F I G. 1 8 is a bir d s - ey e p er s p ec tiv e v iew o f a p ier c ed,
s o l id, s tr u c tu r a l f o r m w h ic h is a s s em bl ed f r o m th e m o d
u l es o f F I GS . 1 0 - 1 5 ;
F I G. 1 9 is a p l a n v iew o f th e m o du l e, w h ic h is s im il a r
to th e p l a n v iew o f F I G. 6 , s h o w ing h o w tw o a dditio na l
c r ea s es m a y be m a de to tr a ns f o r m th e s tel l a ted p o l y h e
dr a into p ier c ed p o l y h edr a ;
F I G. 2 0 is a p er s p ec tiv e v iew o f th e m o du l e o f F I G.
1 9 a f ter it is c r ea s ed; a nd
F I G. 2 1 is a bir d s - ey e v iew o f o ne p ier c ed p o int o f a
p o l y h edr o n m a de f r o m th e m o du l e o f F I G. 2 0 .
Th e s h eets o f p a p er , o r th e l ik e, f o r tw o em bo dim ents
o f th e inv entiv e m o du l e ( F I GS . 1 , 1 0 ) a r e es s entia l l y
th e s a m e, ex c ep t th a t w ith th e des c r ibed f o l ds , o ne
( F I G. 7 1 ) p r o du c es a s tel l a ted p o l y h edr o n a nd th e o th er
( F I G. 1 0 ) p r o du c es a p ier c ed p o l y h edr o n. Th e s h eet o f
F I G. 1 is ba s ed u p o n eq u il a ter a l tr ia ng l es a nd th e s h eet -
o f F I G. 1 0 is ba s ed u p o n s q u a r es .
4 , 0 3 3 , 0 6 8
3
I n g r ea ter deta il , th e s h eet o f F I G. 1 is a p a r a l l el o
g r a m 5 0 c o m p r is ing f o u r r a nk s _ _ 5 l 5 4 o f eq u il a ter a l
tr ia ng l es a r r a ng ed in a s ide- by - s ide r el a tio ns h ip . Th e
tr ia ng l es in ea c h a l ter na te r a nk a r e inv er ted a s c o m
p a r ed to th e tr ia ng l es in_ th e a dj a c ent r a nk s . Th e tw o
r a nk s 5 1 , 5 2 o n o ne s ide o f a c enter l ine 5 5 , inc l u de s ix
s u c h eq u il a ter a l tr ia ng l es , w h ic h a r e indiv idu a l l y identi
? ed by Ar a bic nu m er a l s in th e dr a w ing .
F o r th is des c r ip tio n, a nd c o nv entio na l l y , a p a p er is
des c r ibed a s being v a l l ey f o l ded ( F I G. 2 ) w h en th e
f o l d p r o du c es a c o nc a v ity a nd th e c r ea s e l ine is c o inc i
dent w ith l o w es t p o ints a nd th e edg es p o int u p w a r dl y .
Th e p a p er is des c r ibed a s being m o u nta in f o l ded
( F I G. 3 ) w h en th e c r ea s e p r o du c es a c o nv ex s u r f a c e
a nd th e c r ea s e l ine is c o inc ident w ith th e p o ints th a t
c a p th e r idg e o r a r c h s o f o r m ed.
, Th e m a nner o f f o r m ing th e s tr u c tu r a l m o du l e is a p
p a r ent f r o m a s tu dy o f F I GS . 4 - 8 . F ir s t, a s h eet o f p a p er
6 0 ( F I G. 4 ) is c u t to th e s iz e, a c c o r ding to th e g r a p h ic a l
tea c h ing s o f F I G. 1 . Th en a c enter l ine 5 5 is es ta bl is h ed
in a ny c o nv enient m a nner , s u c h a s by v a l l ey f o l ding th e
p a p er by br ing ing to g eth er its tw o l o ng p a r a l l el o g r a m
ba s e edg es 6 2 , 6 3 a nd c r ea s ing th e p a p er in h a l f by
v a l l ey f o l ding a l o ng th e c enter l ine 5 5 in F I G. 1 .
S inc e th e ba s ic p a p er ( F I G. 1 ) is no t a r ig h t- a ng l ed
p a r a l l el o g r a m , th e ends 6 6 , 6 7 p r o j ec t o u t bey o nd th e
ends o f th e c enter l ine 5 5 , o n th e r ig h t a nd l ef t, r es p ec
tiv el y .
. Th en th e s h eet o f p a p er is o p ened a nd th e p a r a l l el o
g r a m edg es 6 2 , 6 3 a r e m a de to c o inc ide w ith th e c en
ter l ine 5 5 by c r ea s ing th e p a p er a l o ng l ines 6 4 , 6 5 . N ex t
( F I G. 5 ) th e p a p er is o p ened a nd th e u p p er th r ee- q u a r
ter s o f p a r a l l el o g r a m ba s e 7 0 o f p a r a l l el o g r a m 6 0 is
br o u g h t do w n to l ie a l o ng th e c r ea s e l ine 6 5 , ( v a l l ey
f o l ded) a nd c r ea s ed a l o ng th e r es u l ting l ine 7 1 , th er eby
f o r m ing eq u il a ter a l tr ia ng l e 7 2 . Th en, th e p a r a l l el o
g r a m ba s e edg e 6 3 is br o u g h t u p by f o l ding a l o ng
c r ea s e l ine 6 5 s o th a t th e ba s e o f eq u il a ter a l tr ia ng l e 7 2
m a y l ie a l o ng c r ea s e l ine 6 5 a nd be p o s itio ned beh ind
th e edg e 6 3 . Wh a t is no w th e h o r iz o nta l p o r tio n o f l ine
6 2 ( F I G. 1 6 ) is r etu r ned to th e l ine 5 5 a t w h ic h tim e th e
a p ex tr ia ng l e 7 3 o f th e tr ia ng l e 7 2 f o l ds do w n beh ind
th e l a y er o f p a p er f o r m ed by th e bo dy o f tr ia ng l e 7 2 .
Th e f o l ding p r o c es s o f F I G. 5 is r ep ea ted ( a s s h o w n
in F I G. 6 ) f o r th e o th er end, w h er e th e l o w er th r ee
q u a r ter s o f th e p a r a l l el o g r a m ba s e 7 1 a is br o u g h t u p to
th e c r ea s e l ine 6 4 , v a l l ey f o l ded, c r ea s ed a l o ng l ine 7 6 ,
a nd tu c k ed in u nder th e l o ng ba s e edg e 6 2 . Th is f o r m s
a s ec o nd eq u il a ter a l tr ia ng l e 7 7 w h ic h is inv er ted w ith
r es p ec t to tr ia ng l e 7 2 . Th e a p ex o f th e tr ia ng l e is
tu c k ed in, in th e s a m e w a y th a t a p ex 7 3 w a s tu c k ed in.
At th is tim e, th e s iz e o f th e m o du l e is r edu c ed to a p
p r o x im a tel y o ne- h a l f its o r ig ina l s iz e a nd is th r ee- p l y in
th ic k nes s . Th e f ir s t p l y is th e o r ig ina l ba c k o f th e p a p er ,
w h ic h h a s th e c enter l ine 5 5 ( F I G. 4 ) th er eo n. Th e
s ec o nd p l y is th e tw o ? a p s def ined by th e c r ea s e l ine
6 4 , edg e 6 2 a nd by th e c r ea s e l ine 6 5 , edg e 6 3 . A th ir d
p l y is f o r m ed by th e p a r tia l l y ex p o s ed tr ia ng u l a r ends
7 2 , 7 7 .
At th is tim e, th e th r ee- p l y f o r m h a s a l eng th eq u a l to
f o u r s ide- by - s ide, a l ter na tel y inv er ted, eq u il a ter a l tr ia n
g l es ( F I G. 6 ) . Henc e, th e edg e 7 6 m a y be c r ea s ed ba c k
w a r d to edg e 6 5 a nd a m o u nta in f o l d m a y be c r ea s ed
a l o ng l ine7 8 . Lik ew is e, th e edg e 7 1 m a y be bent ba c k
w a r d to edg e 6 4 a nd a m o u nta in f o l d m a y be c r ea s ed
a l o ng l ine 8 0 . Th e r es u l ting s tr u c tu r e h a s tw o m o u nta in
f o l ds a l o ng l ines 7 8 , 8 0 a s s h o w n in F I G. 7 a nd th is
s tr u c tu r e is v a l l ey f o l ded, in h a l f , a l o ng a c r ea s e l ine 8 1 ,
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
4
a s s h o w n in F I G. 8 . By ins p ec tio n, F I G. 8 s h o w s a p a r a l
l el o g r a m o f f o u r tr ia ng l es in s er ies w ith m o u nta in f o l d
l ines 7 8 , 8 0 betw een th e tw o o u tbo a r d p a ir s o f tr ia ng l es
a nd a v a l l ey f o l d l ine 8 1 betw een th e tw o c enter tr ia n
g l es . -
Th e m o du l e is no w in th e f o r m ' o f f o u r ' s ide- by - s ide
eq u il a ter a l tr ia ng l es , ea c h m o du l e h a v ing tw o p o c k ets
f o r r ec eiv ing th e p o int o f a n a dj a c ent m o du l e. Th u s , f o r
ex a m p l e, th e p o int 8 2 o f o ne m o du l e m a y be tu c k ed
into a p o c k et 8 3 o f a no th er m o du l e. Th is is do ne by
s l ip p ing ' p o int 8 2 u nder edg e 6 3 in th e a r ea 8 3 .
F iv e m o du l es 9 0 - 9 4 a r e s h o w n in F I G. 9 to il l u s tr a te
th e ba s ic m eth o d o f a s s em bl y . Ea c h o f th e m o du l es is
s h o w n by a n enc o ded do t- da s h ed l ine. Th u s , a ? r s t
m o du l e 9 0 is s h o w n by c h a in l ines h a v ing da s h es ' a n' d
o ne do t. Mo du l e 9 1 is s h o w n by da s h es a nd tw o do ts .
Mo du l e 9 2 is s h o w n by da s h es a nd th r ee do ts . Mo du l e
9 3 is s h o w n by da s h es a nd f o u r do ts . A f r a g m ent o f
m o du l e 9 4 is s h o w n by da s h es a nd ? v e do ts .
I f it is a s s u m ed th a t m o du l e 9 0 is th e m o du l e s h o w n
in F I G. 8 , th en, th e p o int 9 5 o f m o du l e 9 1 is ins er ted
into p o c k et 8 3 de? ned by th e p a r t 8 7 o f edg e 6 3 . Th e
p o int 9 6 o f th e m o du l e 9 2 is ins er ted into a s im il a r
p o c k et 9 7 o f m o du l e 9 1 . Lik ew is e, p o int 9 8 o f m o du l e
9 3 is ins er ted into p o c k et 9 9 o f m o du l e 9 2 . Th e nex t
s tep w il l be to f o l d th e a s s em bl ed m o du l es a l o ng l ines
1 0 2 - 1 0 6 a nd to tu c k p o int 1 0 0 o f m o du l e 9 0 into th e
p o c k et 1 0 1 o f m o du l e 9 3 . Wh en th is h a p p ens , th e a r ea
c enter ed a bo u t p o int 1 0 7 r a is es to bec o m e th e a p ex o f
a p y r a m id, o r o ne p o int o f a s tel l a ted p o l y h edr o n. '
Th er ea f ter , a no th er a nd s im il a r a s s em bl y is beg u n
w h en p o int 1 1 0 o f m o du l e 9 4 is ins er ted into p o c k et 8 6
o n m o du l e 9 0 . Th en, th e a s s em bl y p r o c es s o f F I G. 9 is
r ep ea ted u ntil a c o m p l ete p o l y h edr o n is f o r m ed w ith
ev er y p o int o f a m o du l e ins er ted into a p o c k et o f a n
o th er m o du l e. - '
Th e f o r eg o ing des c r ip tio n r ef er s to a n ex em p l a r y
p o l y h edr o n w h ic h ' c a n be m a de w ith th e inv entiv e m o d
u l e. Ho w ev er , th e' p o l y h edr o n m a y a l s o be m a de
s m a l l er o r l a r g er . F o r ex a m p l e, p er h a p s o nl y th r ee o f
th e m o du l es a r e u s ed to f o r m a n a p ex . Obv io u s l y , th is
w o u l d a l l o w th e c o ns tr u c tio n o f s ev er a l p o l y h edr a w ith
tr ia ng u l a r f a c es .
I n ea c h o f th e tw o a bo v e c a s es ( i. e. , th r ee o r f o u r
u nits a bo u t ea c h a p ex ) a r eg u l a r p o l y h edr o n m a y be
p r o du c ed if ev er y s u b- a s s em bl y o f m o du l es is ex a c tl y
th e s a m e a s ev er y o th er s u b- a s s em bl y o f m o du l es . Ho w
ev er , it do es no t nec es s a r il y f o l l o w th a t s u c h s y m m etr y
is a l w a y s r eq u ir ed. With in r ea s o n , v a r io u s c o m bina
tio ns m a y be m a de w h er eby , s a y , th r ee m o du l es a r e
, u s ed o n s o m e a p ic es a nd f o u r m o du l es a r e u s ed o n
o th er s , o r th e f a c es o f a p o l y h edr o n c o u l d m ix th es e
f o r m s . Th is m a y l ea d to s o m e s tr es s es a nd p er h a p s
m ino r a s y m m etr y o r def o r m a tio n in th e r es u l ting p o l y
h edr a . Ho w ev er , ' th e c o ns tr u c tio n h a s eno u g h g iv e to
a c c ep t th e r es u l ting a s y m m etr ic a l s tr es s es .
An a dv a nta g e o f th is ty p e o f a s s em bl y is th a t th e
s tr es s es inh er entl y bec o m e a p p a r ent to a p er s o n m a k
ing th e a s s em bl y . Th u s , f o r ex a m p l e, a n a r c h itec tu r a l
s tu dent m a y o bs er v e th e s tr es s es a c ting u p o n, s a y , a
tr u s s s tr u c tu r e. Or , a c h em ic a l s tu dent m a y o bs er v e th e
na tu r e o f eq u il ibr iu m s tr es s es w ith in a m o l ec u l e w h en
th e bo nding c h a r g es v a r y in dif f er ent w a y s . Lik ew is e, a
s tu dent o f g eo m etr y is a bl e to o bs er v e th e v a r ia tio ns in
s tr u c tu r e betw een m a ny dif f er ent f o r m s o f p o l y h edr a .
A m o m ent o f r ef l ec tio n s h o u l d m a k e it c l ea r h o w th e
p r inc ip l es o f th e inv entio n h a v e a p p l ic a tio n to m a ny
dif f er ent u s es . ' '
4 , 0 3 3 , 0 6 8
5
Th e m o du l e o f F I GS . 4 - 9 m a k es a s tel l a ted p o l y h e
dr o n ( i. e. , o ne w ith p y r a m ida l - l ik e p o ints ) . I t is a l s o
des ir a bl e to p r o du c e s im il a r p o l y h edr a w ith p ier c ed
s u r f a c es . F o r ea s e o f u nder s ta nding th e p ier c ed p o l y h e
dr o n c o u l d be th o u g h t o f a s a s tel l a ted p o l y h edr o n w ith
th e to p s o f th e p o ints c u t o f f .
F I G. 1 0 s h o w s th e ba s ic s h eet o f p a p er 2 0 0 u s ed to
m a k e a p ier c ed p o l y h edr o n. I n g r ea ter deta il , th e s h eet
2 0 0 is a r ec ta ng l e w h ic h is tw ic e a s l o ng L a s it is w ide
W. Henc e, th e m o du l e s h eet h a s tw o s ide- by - s ide
s q u a r es 2 0 1 , 2 0 2 , div ided by a c enter l ine 2 0 3 , w h ic h is
f o r m ed by v a l l ey f o l ding th e p a p er 2 0 0 .
N ex t th e s ide edg e 2 0 5 o f th e s h eet 2 0 0 is br o u g h t u p
to edg e 2 0 6 , w ith c o r ner 2 0 7 to u c h ing th e inter s ec tio n
2 0 8 o f c enter l ine 2 0 3 a nd th e to p edg e 2 0 6 . Th en, th e
s h eet is v a l l ey f o l ded a nd c r ea s ed to f o r m a dia g o na l
c r ea s e l ine 2 1 0 f o r th e s q u a r e 2 0 2 . Th er ea f ter , s q u a r e
2 0 1 is v a l l ey f o l ded in a s im il a r m a nner to es ta bl is h a
s ec o nd dia g o na l c r ea s e l ine 2 1 1 a c r o s s s q u a r e 2 0 1 ,
w ith c r ea s e l ines 2 1 0 , 2 1 1 being p a r a l l el to ea c h o th er .
With th es e f o l ds , th e s h eet o f p a p er 2 0 0 is f o r m ed into
a p a r a l l el o g r a m 2 1 2 a s s h o w n in F I G. 1 1 . Th e r es u l ting
p a r a l l el o g r a m 2 1 2 is v a l l ey f o l ded to ? nd a h o r iz o nta l
c enter l ine 2 1 3 . Th e p a r a l l el o g r a m 2 1 2 is o p ened a nd
r etu r ned to th e c o n? g u r a tio n o f F I GS . 1 1 , 1 2 .
Th e c o n? g u r a tio n o f F I G. 1 2 is f o l ded s o th a t a n
o btu s e p a r a l l el o g r a m a ng l e a t p o int 2 0 8 a t th e to p o f
th e v er tic a l c enter l ine 2 0 3 to u c h es th e h o r iz o nta l c en
ter l ine 2 1 3 , w h il e th e a c u te p a r a l l el o g r a m a ng l e a t
p o int 2 2 1 is m o r e o r l es s bis ec ted by a v a l l ey f o l d. Th e
r es u l ting v a l l ey f o l d c r ea s e l ine 2 2 0 p a s s es th r o u g h th e
tip 2 2 1 o f th e p a r a l l el o g r a m . Th en, th e o p p o s ite end o f
th e v er tic a l l ine 2 0 8 ( i. e. , p o int 2 1 4 ) o f th e p a r a l l el o
g r a m is br o u g h t u p to h o r iz o nta l c enter l ine 2 1 3 w h il e
th e a c u te p a r a l l el o g r a m a ng l e a t p o int 2 2 4 is m o r e o r
l es s bis ec ted by a v a l l ey f o l d. Th e r es u l ting v a l l ey f o l d
c r ea s e l ine 2 2 3 p a s s es th r o u g h tip 2 2 4 o f th e p a r a l l el o
g r a m 2 1 2 o f F I G. 1 1 .
Th e p a r a l l el o g r a m h a s no w bec o m e m u c h m o r e
a c u te a s is a p p a r ent f r o m a c o m p a r is o n o f th e f o r m 2 1 2
( F I G. . 1 2 ) a nd 2 2 5 ( F I G. 1 3 ) . Th e p a r a l l el o g r a m is
o p ened f r o m f o r m 2 2 5 to r etu r n to f o r m 2 1 2 a nd a
c o m er 2 2 6 ( c r o s s h a tc h ed) is f o l ded u nder ( F I G. 1 4 )
betw een edg e 2 0 5 a nd th e inter s ec tio n o f v er tic a l a nd
h o r iz o nta l c enter l ines 2 0 3 , 2 1 3 , to p r ev ent s na g g ing
du r ing a s s em bl y . A s im il a r c o m er 2 2 7 is f o l ded u nder
a t th e bo tto m p o int 2 1 4 . Th e a r ea s o f s ec tio ns 2 2 6 , 2 2 7
a nd th e a ng l es o f f o l d l ines 2 2 8 , 2 2 9 a r e no t c r itic a l .
Th e r es u l ting m o u nta in f o l d c r ea s e l ines 2 2 8 , 2 2 9 m a y
h a v e a ny c o nv enient a ng l e w ith r es p ec t to c enter l ine
2 1 3 .
Th e m o du l e is u nf o l ded s o th a t it a g a in a p p ea r s a s
s een in F I GS . 1 2 a nd 1 4 , w h er ein it is ba s ic a l l y in th e
? r s t o r l es s a c u te p a r a l l el o g r a m c o n? g u r a tio n 2 1 2 w ith
th e v er tic a l c o r ner s f o l ded u nder , a l o ng c r ea s e l ines
2 2 8 , 2 2 9 . Th e o btu s e p a r a l l el o g r a m c o r ner 2 3 0 is o n
th e edg e 2 0 6 o f th e tr ia ng u l a r p a nel w h ic h w a s f o l ded
a l o ng l ine 2 2 0 o f F I G. 1 2 . Th er ef o r e, edg e 2 0 5 m a y be
l if ted, th er eby tending to u nf o l d th e tr ia ng u l a r p a nel
a nd r etu r n to w a r d th e c o n? g u r a tio n o f F I G. 1 0 . At th is
tim e, th e p o int 2 0 8 a t th e to p o f th e v er tic a l c enter l ine
is br o u g h t do w n to r e- es ta bl is h th e c r ea s e l ine 2 2 0 a nd
to m o v e a n o btu s e c o r ner to p o s itio n 2 3 0 . Th en, th e
tr ia ng u l a r p a nel , h a v ing edg e 2 0 5 , is f o l ded ba c k to th e
c o n? g u r a tio n o f F I G. 1 3 . Th er ea f ter , th e c o r ner o f th is
tr ia ng u l a r p a nel is f o l ded o v er th e ba c k o f th e m o du l e
w ith a c r ea s e f o r m ing a l o ng a nd o v er th e c r ea s e l ine
2 2 0 . Th e s a m e p r o c es s is r ep ea ted a t th e bo tto m o f th e
0
2 0
6
v er tic a l l ine 2 0 3 s o th a t th e l o w er m o s t p o int 2 1 4 is
p o s itio ned u nder th e tr ia ng u l a r p a nel 2 3 1 , w h il e th e
l o w er m o s t p o int o f tr ia ng l e 2 3 1 f o l ds o v er th e ba c k o f
th e m o du l e.
Th es e f o l ds ' w il l bec o m e m o r e a p p a r ent by c o m p a r i
s o n o f r ef er enc e nu m er a l s o n th e f r o nt v iew ( F I G. 1 3 )
a nd th e o th er v iew s ( F I GS . 1 1 , 1 2 , 1 4 ) .
Th e m o du l e is c o m p l eted by m o u nta in f o l ding a l o ng
l ines 2 4 5 , 2 4 6 . Line 2 4 5 is es ta bl is h ed by m o u nta in
f o l ding f r o m th e u p p er p a r a l l el o g r a m a ng l e 2 4 7 , w ith
edg e 2 2 3 being in r eg is tr y a l o ng th e f o l d- ba c k r eg io n.
Lik ew is e, th e l ine 2 4 6 is m o u nta in f o l ded f r o m th e
l o w er p a r a l l el o g r a m a ng l e 2 4 8 w ith th e edg e 2 2 0 f o l d
ing ba c k u p o n its el f , in r eg is tr y . Th en, th e v a l l ey f o l d
l ine 2 5 0 is f o r m ed a l o ng a dia g o na l o f a r ec ta ng l e de
? ned o n its ends by th e m o u nta in f o l d l ines 2 4 5 , 2 4 6
a nd th e p a r a l l el o g r a m a ng l es 2 4 7 , 2 4 8 . Th e m o du l e
no w h a s a n a p p ea r a nc e s een in F I G. 1 5 . By ins p ec tio n
o f F I G. 1 5 , th e a c u te p a r a l l el o g r a m 2 2 5 c o m p r is es a
s er ies o f f o u r tr ia ng l es w ith m o u nta in f o l ds a l o ng l ines
2 4 5 , 2 4 6 betw een th e tw o p a ir s o f o u tbo a r d tr ia ng l es
a nd a v a l l ey f o l d a l o ng th e l ine 2 5 0 betw een th e tw o
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 5
c enter tr ia ng l es .
F I G. 1 6 is s im il a r to F I G. 9 in- th a t it s h o w s f o u r s ep a
r a te m o du l es r es p ec tiv el y identi? ed by c h a ined o r do t
da s h ed l ines , w ith th e indiv idu a l m o du l es des ig na ted by
th e nu m ber o f do ts . Her e th e a s s em bl y beg ins w ith th e
? r s t ( o ne do t) m o du l e 2 6 0 h a v ing a p o c k et 2 6 2 into
w h ic h a p o int o f a s ec o nd ( do u bl e do t) m o du l e 2 6 1 is
s l ip p ed. Th e p o int o f a th ir d ( th r ee do t) m o du l e 2 6 3 is
s l ip p ed into p o c k et 2 6 5 o n m o du l e 2 6 0 . Th e p o int o f a
f o u r th ( f o u r do t) m o du l e 2 6 6 is s l ip p ed into p o c k et 2 6 7
o n th e th ir d m o du l e 2 6 1 .
Th e m o du l es a r e f o l ded a l o ng th e v a l l ey f o l d l ines
2 5 0 a nd th e m o u nta in f o l d l ines 2 4 5 , 2 4 6 ( F I G. 1 5 ) ,
a nd end p o int 2 7 0 o n ? r s t m o du l e 2 6 0 is s l ip p ed into
p o c k et 2 7 1 o n f o u r th m o du l e 2 6 6 . As th is a s s em bl y
s tep is c o m p l eted, th e m o du l es bend a l o ng m o u nta in
f o l ds 2 4 5 , 2 4 6 a nd v a l l ey c r ea s es 2 5 0 s o th a t a n u p
s ta nding , th r ee- s ided, tr u nc a ted p y r a m id is f o r m ed. A
tr ia ng u l a r o p ening is th u s f o r m ed a l o ng th e edg es 2 7 3 ,
2 7 4 , 2 7 5 , a nd th e r es u l ting p o l y h edr o n is p r o p er l y
des c r ibed a s being p ier c ed .
Ag a in, th e p o l y h edr o n m a y bem a de l a r g er o r s m a l l er
by a dding o r s u btr a c ting m o du l es . As l o ng a s th e r es u l t
ing s tr u c tu r e inc l u des a u nif o r m nu m ber o f m o du l es ,
th e v a r io u s s tr es s es a r e a l s o u nif o r m . Ho w ev er , if a f ew
m o du l es a r e del eted, th e v a r io u s s tr es s es a r e no t u ni
f o r m a nd th e bu il der l ea r ns m u c h a bo u t th e p o l y h edr o n
w h ic h h e is bu il ding .
Th e m o du l e o f F I GS . 1 0 - 1 5 o f f er s a n inter es ting
p o s s ibil ity f o r m a k ing s tr u c tu r es s u c h a s g eo des ic
do m es . I n g r ea ter deta il , th e f o r m o f th e m o du l e de
s c r ibed in c o nnec tio n w ith F I G. 1 5 l ea ds to a s o m ew h a t
Z - s h a p ed c r o s s s ec tio n bec a u s e l ines 2 4 5 , 2 4 6 a r e
m o u nta in f o l ds a nd l ine 2 5 0 is v a l l ey f o l ded. Ho w ev er ,
if th e m o du l e is v a l l ey f o l ded a l o ng l ine 2 4 6 , th e c r o s s
s ec tio n bec o m es s o m ew h a t U- s h a p ed, a s s een in F I G.
1 7 . Th en, th r ee o f th es e U- s h a p ed m o du l es 3 0 0 , 3 0 1 ,
3 0 2 m a y be s l ip p ed to g eth er to f o r m a th r ee- s ided
tr u nc a ted p y r a m id, w h ic h m ig h t be th o u g h t o f a s a
r o s ette o f m o du l es . Th e r es u l ting s tr u c tu r e m a y be u s ed
to f o r m o ne ba s ic m o du l e o f a g eo des ic do m e, o r th e
l ik e, in m eta l o r o th er m a ter ia l s .
Th e v a r io u s l ines in F I G. 1 7 m a y be identi? ed by
c o m p a r ing th e r ef er enc e nu m er a l s w ith th o s e in F I GS .
1 0 - 1 6 . Po int 3 0 5 o n m o du l e 3 0 0 ? ts into th e v a l l ey o f
th e f o l d 2 5 0 , a nd into p o c k et 2 2 9 o f m o du l e 3 0 1 . Po int
4 , 0 3 3 , 0 6 8
7
3 0 6 ? ts into th e v a l l ey o f f o l d 2 5 0 , a nd into p o c k et 2 2 9
o f m o du l e 3 0 2 . Po int 3 0 7 ? ts into th e v a l l ey o f f o l d
2 5 0 , a nd into p o c k et 2 2 9 o f m o du l e 3 0 0 . Po int 3 0 8 ? ts
into v a l l ey f o l d 2 5 0 a nd into p o c k et 2 2 8 o f m o du l e 3 0 2 .
Po int 3 1 0 ? ts into th e v a l l ey o f f o l d 2 5 0 , a nd into
p o c k et 2 2 8 o f m o du l e 3 0 1 . Po int 3 0 9 ? ts into th e v a l l ey
o f f o l d 2 5 0 , a nd into p o c k et 2 2 8 o f m o du l e 3 0 0 .
Wh en th e f o r eg o ing ins er tio ns a r e m a de, ev er y v a l l ey
f o l d 2 5 0 enc a p tu r es tw o o f th e p o ints , w h ic h a r e f u r
th er c o n? ned w ith in eith er a p o c k et 2 2 8 o r 2 2 9 . Th is
w a y , th e v a r io u s p a nel s c a n m o v e into p o s itio n w ith o u t
dis to r ting th e m eta l , o r o th er m a ter ia l , c o n? ning it. Th e
end r es u l t is th a t ex tr em el y th in s h eet m a ter ia l bec o m es
ex tr em el y s tr o ng , a nd th e r o s ette o f m o du l es o f F I G. 1 8
c a n a bs o r b a nd w ith s ta nd ex tr em el y h ea v y l o a ds w ith
o u t def o r m a tio n. Mo r eo v er , th e r o s ette o f m o du l es is
ex tr em el y inter es ting a nd a ttr a c tiv e to th e v iew . Ac
c o r ding l y , s tr u c tu r es ( s u c h a s g eo des ic do m es ) m a de o f
th es e r o s ettes o f m o du l es w o u l d be bo th a ttr a c tiv e a nd
s tr o ng , a nd th ey m a y be m a de o f ex tr em el y th in m a te
r ia l .
Wh en th e r o s ette o f m o du l es is m a de o f a ny m a ter ia l ,
s ec u r ing a s ing l e s p o t in ea c h u nit is ea s il y ef f ec ted ( a s
w h er e th e l ea d l ines 3 0 0 3 0 2 end) . Th es e s p o ts w il l
h o l d th e m o du l es s ec u r el y to g eth er w ith o u t des tr o y ing
th e a ttr a c tiv e a p p ea r a nc e o f th e r o s ette.
Th e a dv a nta g es o f th e inv entio n s h o u l d no w be c l ea r .
Al m o s t a ny c o nv enient nu m ber o f m o du l es m a y be p u t
to g eth er to m a k e a l m o s t a ny c o nv enient a nd a m a z ing
a r r a y o f f o r m s . Mo r e s p ec i? c a l l y , th e a s s em bl ed c o n? g
u r a tio ns o f F I GS . 9 a nd 1 6 a r e s o m ew h a t r em inis c ent
o f a p in w h eel , w h ic h m ea ns th a t th er e is r o o m to ins er t
f ew er o r m o r e m o du l es . S ta ted a no th er w a y , th e a s s em
bl y o f m o du l es do es no t inh er entl y c l o s e u p o n its el f a s
a n inh er entl y s m a l l p o l y h edr o n, s u c h a s a f o u r - s ided
s o l id, f o r ex a m p l e. I f th e c o n? g u r a tio n s h o u l d be m u tu
a l l y p er p endic u l a r , in th e f o r m o f a c r o s s , it w o u l d no t
be p o s s ibl e to enl a r g e th e p o l y h edr o n bec a u s e th e a s
s em bl y w o u l d inh er entl y bec o m e a ? a t m a t. Or , if in
s o m e m a nner , m o du l a r p a r ts a r e f o r c ed to g eth er , th e
p o l y h edr o n w o u l d q u ic k l y c l o s e u p o n its el f s o th a t o nl y
a v er y s m a l l p o l y h edr o n c o u l d be m a de.
Th e g r ea t v er s a til ity a nd ? ex ibil ity o f th e m o du l es
ena bl es a c o ns tr u c tio n o f a g r ea t v a r iety o f dif f er ent
p o l y h edr o ns , a f ew o f w h ic h a r e, a s f o l l o w s :
. Tetr a h edr o n
. Hex a h edr o n
. Oc ta h edr o n
. l c o s o h edr o n
. Ar c h im edia n Pr is m
. Cu bo c to h edr o n
. S m a l l Rh o m bic u bo c ta h edr o n
. S nu b Cu be _
. Bic u bic Do dec a h edr o n
l 0 . Tr ig o na l Do dec a h edr o n
1 1 . Rig h t Tr ig o na l Pr is m
1 2 . Al l 8 ( a nd p r o ba bl y a 9 th ) Co nv ex Del ta h edr o n
Mo s t bo o k s o n th e c o ns tr u c tio n o f p o l y h edr a s a y th a t
o nl y eig h t c o nv ex del ta h edr a m a y be c o ns tr u c ted
s ee S h a p es , S p a c e a nd S y m m etr y , by Al a n Ho l den, Co
l u m bia Univ er s ity Pr es s , N ew Yo r k & Lo ndo n, 1 9 7 l .
N ev er th el es s , I a m c o nv inc ed th a t th e inv entiv e m o d
u l es m a y be a s s em bl ed to ex c eed th es e l im its .
F I GS . 1 9 - 2 1 s h o w h o w a s tel l a ted p o l y h edr o n m a y
be c o nv er ted into a p ier c ed p o l y der o n. F o r th is c o nv er
s io n, th e ba s ic m o du l e o f F I G. 6 is f u r th er c r ea s ed o n
o p p o s ite o btu s e c o r ner s 4 0 0 , 4 0 1 . A ? r s t c r ea s e l ine
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
8
4 0 2 is m o u nta in f o l ded ( o ne da s h a nd tw o do ts ) p a r a l
l el to edg e 6 3 . A s ec o nd c r ea s e l ine 4 0 3 is m o u nta in
f o l ded s im u l ta neo u s l y a l o ng th e inbo a r d s ide o f th e
a p ex tr ia ng l e 7 3 . Al s o s im u l ta neo u s l y , w ith th es e tw o
m o u nta in f o l ds , a c enter c r ea s e l ine 4 0 5 is v a l l ey f o l ded
( o ne da s h a nd o ne do t) betw een c o r ner 4 0 0 a nd th e
inter s ec tio n o f m o u nta in f o l d l ines 4 0 3 , 4 0 2 . Th es e
f o l ds m a y be m a de q u ic k l y a nd ea s il y by br ing ing th e
c o r ner s 4 1 0 , 4 1 1 to g eth er , p u s h ing in a l o ng l ine 4 0 5 ,
a nd c r ea s ing , th er eby f o r m ing c o nc a v e p o c k ets .
Af ter th es e c o r ner f o l ds a r e m a de, th e m o u nta in a nd
v a l l ey f o l ds a r e m a de a l o ng l ines 7 8 , 8 0 , 8 1 , a s de
s c r ibed a bo v e in c o nnec tio n w ith F I G. 8 . At th is tim e,
th e m o du l e a p p ea r a nc e is , a s s h o w n in F I G. 2 0 . Th en,
a p l u r a l ity o f th es e m o du l es m a y be j o ined to g eth er , a s
dis c l o s ed in F I G. 9 . Th er ef o r e, ins tea d o f c o r ner s 4 0 0 ,
4 0 1 f o r m ing u p s ta nding s tel l a tio ns , th ey f o l d inw a r dl y
to f o r m p ier c ed r eg io ns , a s s een in F I G. 2 1 .
Th es e a r e ex em p l a r y o f m a ny o th er m o di? c a tio ns
w h ic h w il l r ea dil y o c c u r to th o s e s k il l ed in th e a r t.
Th er ef o r e, th e a p p ended c l a im s a r e to be c o ns tr u ed to
c o v er a l l eq u iv a l ent s tr u c tu r es f a l l ing w ith in th e tr u e
s c o p e a nd s p ir it o f th e inv entio n.
I c l a im : _
1 . A m o du l a r f o r m m a de f r o m m a ter ia l inc l u ding a
p a ir o f o p p o s itel y dir ec ted p o ints a nd a p l u r a l ity o f
inter io r p o c k ets , th e p o ints a nd p o c k ets h a v ing c o m p l e
m enta r y a nd . no n- p er p endic u l a r c o n? g u r a tio ns ,
w h er eby a p o int o n o ne m o du l e ? ts into a p o c k et o n
a no th er m o du l e w ith s a id m o du l es ? tting to g eth er in a
no n- p er p endic u l a r c o n? g u r a tio n, s a id m o du l a r f o r m
? tting to g eth er in a n o p en a s s em bl ed c o n? g u r a tio n
w h ic h do es no t inh er entl y c l o s e u p o n its el f in p o l y h e
dr a w ith s ix o r l es s f a c es .
2 . Th e m o du l a r f o r m o f c l a im 1 w h er ein s a id m o du l e
is f o l ded to p r o du c e a s tel l a ted p o l y h edr o n w h en a
p l u r a l ity o f m o du l es a r e a s s em bl ed to g eth er .
3 . Th e m o du l a r f o r m o f c l a im 1 w h er ein s a id m o du l e
is f o l ded to p r o du c e a p ier c ed p o l y h edr o n w h en a p l u
r a l ity o f m o du l es a r e a s s em bl ed to g eth er .
4 . Th e m o du l e o f c l a im 1 w h er ein s a id m a ter ia l is a
s h eet f o l ded into a ba s ic p a r a l l el o g r a m de? ned by a t
l ea s t f o u r tr ia ng l es in s er ies , w ith m o u nta in f o l ds be
tw een tw o o u tbo a r d p a ir s o f tr ia ng l es a nd a v a l l ey f o l d
betw een tw o c enter tr ia ng l es .
5 . Th e m o du l e o f c l a im 1 w h er ein s a id m a ter ia l is a
s h eet w h ic h beg ins a s a n u nf o l ded p a r a l l el o g r a m c o m
p r is ing f o u r s ide- by - s ide r a nk s o f eq u il a ter a l tr ia ng l es ,
w ith tr ia ng l es o f a dj a c ent r a nk s being inv er ted w ith
r es p ec t to ea c h o th er .
6 . Th e m o du l e o f c l a im 5 w h er ein s a id p a r a l l el o g r a m
h a s u p p er a nd l o w er l o ng ba s es w ith s h o r t ba s es a t th e
ends o f s a id l o ng ba s es a nd is v a l l ey f o l ded to br ing
to g eth er th e u p p er a nd l o w er l o ng ba s es a t th e h o r iz o n
ta l c enter l ine o f th e p a r a l l el o g r a m .
7 . Th e m o du l e o f c l a im 6 w h er ein ea c h o f s a id s h o r t
ba s es is f o l ded a dj a c ent a n indiv idu a l l y a s s o c ia ted o ne
o f th e v a l l ey f o l d l ines to f o r m o p p o s itel y dir ec ted eq u i
l a ter a l tr ia ng l es , w ith th e eq u il a ter tr ia ng l e ba s e tu c k ed
u nder th e l o ng ba s e edg e f o r m ing th e a s s o c ia ted o ne o f
th e v a l l ey f o l d l ines , w h er eby f o u r a l ter na tel y o p p o s ite
p o c k ets a r e f o r m ed f o r r ec eiv ing th e f o u r p o ints o n s a id
m o du l es .
8 . Th e m o du l e o f c l a im 1 w h er ein s a id s h eet o f m a te
r ia l is f o l ded into a ba s ic p a r a l l el o g r a m de? ned by a t
l ea s t f o u r tr ia ng l es in s er ies , w ith m o u nta in f o l ds be
tw een tw o o u tbo a r d tr ia ng l es a nd a v a l l ey f o l d betw een
tw o c enter tr ia ng l es .
4 , 0 3 3 , 0 6 8
9
9 . Th e m o du l e o f c l a im 1 w h er ein s a id s h eet o f m a te
r ia l beg ins a s a n u nf o l ded r ec ta ng l e w h ic h is a p p r o x i
m a tel y tw ic e a s l o ng a s it is w ide, w h ic h is initia l l y
f o l ded in tw o s p a c ed p a r a l l el a ng u l a r f o l ds , o ne o f s a id
a ng u l a r f o l ds beg inning a t th e c enter o f o ne l o ng edg e
o f s a id r ec ta ng l e a nd ex tending to o ne c o r ner a t th e
o p p o s ite l o ng edg e o f th e r ec ta ng l e, a nd th e o th er o f
s a id a ng u l a r f o l ds beg inning a t th e c enter o f th e o p p o
s ite l o ng edg e a nd ex tending to th e c o r ner o f s a id r ec t
a ng l e w h ic h is dia m etr ic a l l y o p p o s ed to s a id o ne c o r
ner .
1 0 . Th e m o du l e o f c l a im 9 w h er ein s a id s p a c ed p a r a l
l el f o l ds f o r m s a id s h eet o f m a ter ia l into a ? r s t p a r a l l el
o g r a m , a nd m ea ns f o r f u r th er f o l ding s a id ? r s t p a r a l l el
o g r a m into a s m a l l er , m o r e a c u te p a r a l l el o g r a m ,
w h er ein a f ir s t o btu s e a ng l e o f s a id ? r s t p a r a l l el o g r a m is
v a l l ey f o l ded do w n to th e h o r iz o nta l c enter l ine o f s a id
p a r a l l el o g r a m to f o r m a c r ea s e l ine w h ic h m o r e o r l es s
bis ec ts a ? r s t a c u te a ng l e o f s a id ? r s t p a r a l l el o g r a m , th e
s ec o nd o btu s e a ng l e o f s a id ? r s t p a r a l l el o g r a m is v a l l ey
f o l ded u p to th e h o r iz o nta l c enter l ine o f s a id p a r a l l el o
g r a m to f o r m a c r ea s e l ine w h ic h m o r e o r l es s bis ec ts
th e a c u te p a r a l l el o g r a m a ng l e dia m etr ic a l l y o p p o s ed to
s a id ? r s t a c u te a ng l e.
2 0
1 0 -
1 1 . Th e m o du l e o f c l a im 1 0 w h er ein s a id s h eet 0
m a ter ia l is f o l ded into a ba s ic p a r a l l el o g r a m de? ned by
a t l ea s t f o u r tr ia ng l es in s er ies , w ith m o u nta in f o l ds
betw een tw o o u tbo a r d p a ir s o f tr ia ng l es a nd a v a l l ey
f o l d betw een tw o c enter tr ia ng l es .
1 2 . Th e m o du l e o f c l a im 1 0 w h er ein s a id s h eet o f
m a ter ia l is f o l ded into a ba s ic p a r a l l el o g r a m de? ning a t
l ea s t f o u r tr ia ng l es in s er ies , w ith a m o u nta in f o l d be
tw een tw o o u tbo a r d p a ir s o f tr ia ng l es a nd v a l l ey f o l ds
betw een th e o th er tw o o u tbo a r d tr ia ng l es a nd th e tw o
c enter tr ia ng l es .
1 3 . Th e m o du l e o f c l a im 1 2 a nd a r o s ette o f s a id
m o du l es being f o r m ed by p l a c ing th e p o ints o f ea c h
m o du l e in a n a dj a c ent m o du l e, s a id p o ints being p u t
into th e a dj a c ent m o du l e v a l l ey o f th e f o l d, betw een th e
tw o c enter tr ia ng l es a nd into a p o c k et f o r m ed o n s a id
a dj a c ent m o du l e, th er e being a t l ea s t th r ee m o du l es s o
th a t s a id r o s ette bec o m es a c o m p l etel y s o l id g eo m etr ic
f o r m . '
1 4 . Th e m o du l e o f c l a im 1 w h er ein s a id m o du l e is a
p a r a l l el o g r a m f o r m h a ing o p p o s ite o btu s e a ng l es , ea c h
' o f w h ic h is f o l ded inw a r dl y to f o r m c o nc a v e p o c k ets ,
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 0
6 5
w h er eby a s tel l a ted p o l y h edr o n is c o nv er ted into a
p ier c ed p o l y h edr o n.
* * * * *