Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
BUILDING STRUCTURES WITH CURVED CONDUITS AND MALE TO FEMALE FASTENERS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2004/005640
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A hexagon building structure offset layering system uses hexagon structures assembled in an offset layering architecture to construct building walls, floors, roofs, and other structures. Six alignments fastening holes (4) are equidistantly spaced and located on interior panels (1) and (2). The holes (4) provide fastener locations for screwing or bolting through the layers of the hexagon. The holes (4) align with an offset layer of hexagons when assembled in the axial direction. Conduit holes (12) are selectively located depending on the fastening technique selected. Hexagon panels providing curved conduits 1000 and 1002, and 1003 which align when assembled 1004. Radiant fluid heating and cooling tubes applied in flooring, walls, and ceilings for sprinkler systems can not be over curved or they will crack and leak. Hexagon 999 conduits can be curved in a wide range of radius to accommodate any tubing requirement. A layer of radiant infrared coatings are applied to the surfaces to manage heat radiating the heat into the room rather than floor. Since hexagon buildings are built from hexagon building structures (7) without customization, hexagon buildings can be rebuilt, modified, or recycled onto a like building using the same materials.

Inventors:
ZORNES DAVID A (US)
SCHOOF CRAIG C (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2003/012129
Publication Date:
January 15, 2004
Filing Date:
April 17, 2003
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
ZORNES DAVID A (US)
SCHOOF CRAIG C (US)
International Classes:
E04B1/02; E04B1/14; E04B5/02; E04B5/48; E04B9/02; F24D3/14; F24J2/00; F28D7/00; F28F21/02; E04B1/00; E04B1/35; E04B1/61; (IPC1-7): E04B5/04
Foreign References:
US4794024A1988-12-27
Download PDF:
Claims:
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows :
1. A building structure configured to be utilized in an offset layering building technique, the building structure comprising: a first hexagon member having a central point and six corner points; and a second hexagon member having a center point and six corner points, said second hexagon member corresponding in size and shape to the first hexagon member ; wherein the first hexagon member is selectively mountable to the second hexagon member in an offset layering configuration, such that one of the six corner points of the first hexagon member aligns with the center point of the second hexagon member.
2. The building structure of Claim 1, wherein the first and second hexagon members each contain an array of equally spaced locating holes, and at least two of the equally spaced locating holes of the first hexagon member align with at least two of the equally spaced locating holes of the second hexagon member when the first and second hexagon members are selectively mounted in an offset layering configuration.
3. The building structure of Claim 1, wherein the hexagon members each include a first and second panel.
4. The building structure of Claim 1, wherein the hexagon members each include a core that is sandwiched between first and second panels.
5. The building structure of Claim 4, wherein the hexagon member core is a foam core.
6. The building structure of Claim 1, wherein a central aperture is located at the center point of each hexagon member, and wherein a radial cutout is located at each corner point of each hexagon member.
7. The building structure of Claim 6, wherein a peg member is selectively securable to the central aperture of each hexagon member, and wherein the peg member is selectively securable to the radial cutouts located at each corner point of each hexagon member.
8. The building structure of Claim 1, further comprising additional hexagon members that are configured to be selectively mountable to first and second hexagon members in an offset layering configuration.
9. The building structure of Claim 1, wherein each hexagon member contains conduits holes oriented in the plane of each hexagon member.
10. The building structure of Claim 1, wherein the hexagon members contain foam tubes.
11. The building structure of Claim 1, wherein the hexagon members are selectively mountable each other in an offset layering configuration to produce a multi layered wall assembly.
12. The building structure of Claim 1, wherein the hexagon members are selectively mountable to each other in an offset layering configuration to produce housing structures.
13. The building structure of Claim 12, wherein the hexagon members are selectively mountable to each other in an offset layering configuration to produce housing structures using only hexagon members and five hexagon derivative shaped members.
14. The building structure of Claim 12, wherein hexagon members of different sizes are incorporated together to produce housing structures.
15. The building structure of Claim 12, wherein the hexagon members are nondestructively, noncustomizedly secured to each other to produce housing structures, such that the hexagon members are readily recyclable for use in another structure due to the nondestructive, noncustomized securement.
16. The building structure of Claim 1, wherein hexagon members are buoyant, and are selectively mountable to each other to produce buoyant structures.
17. The building structure of Claim 1, wherein hexagon members and two hexagon derivative shaped members are selectively mountable to each other in an offset layering configuration to produce substantially round assemblies.
18. The building structure of Claim 1, wherein the hexagon members comprise nonpaneled hexagon frames.
19. The building structure of Claim 18, wherein the hexagon frames are selectively mountable to each other in an offset layering configuration that allows reinforcement material to be interspersed between the hexagon frames.
20. The building structure of Claim 18, wherein the hexagon frames contain cavities.
21. The building structure of Claim 20, wherein the hexagon frame cavities contain insulative material.
22. The building structure of Claim 20, wherein the hexagon frame cavities contain phase change materials.
23. The building structure of Claim 18, wherein hexagon members having first and second panels are selectively mountable to hexagon frames in an offset layering configuration.
24. A building assembly employing an offset layering architecture, the building assembly comprising: a plurality of hexagon members, each hexagon member including a central protrusion and six corner receptacles; wherein the central protrusion of each hexagon member is configured to align with a corner receptacle of another hexagon member; and wherein each hexagon member includes an array of equally spaced connecting holes in the plane of the hexagon member for selectively securing hexagon members to one another in an offset layering architecture,.
25. The building assembly of Claim 24, wherein at least two of the equally spaced connecting holes of a first hexagon member align with at least two of the equally spaced connecting holes of a second hexagon member when a first and second hexagon member are selectively mounted in an offset layering configuration.
26. The building assembly of Claim 24, wherein the central protrusions are selectively connectable to the hexagon members.
27. The building assembly of Claim 24, wherein each hexagon member contains conduits holes oriented in the plane of each hexagon member.
28. The building assembly of Claim 24, wherein the hexagon members are selectively mountable to each other in an offset layering configuration to produce housing structures.
29. The building assembly of Claim 24, wherein the hexagon members are selectively mountable to each other in an offset layering configuration to produce housing structures using only hexagon members and five hexagon derivative shaped members.
30. The building assembly of Claim 24, wherein the hexagon members are nondestructively, noncustomizedly secured to each other to produce housing structures, such that the hexagon members are readily recyclable for use in another structure due to the nondestructive, noncustomized securement.
31. The building assembly of Claim 24, wherein the hexagon members are a helium filled closed foam.
32. The building assembly of Claim 24, wherein the hexagon members are a reticulated foam that is coated, sealed, and filled with helium.
33. The building assembly of Claim 24, wherein the hexagon members are a compartmentalized helium filled closed foam.
34. The building assembly of Claim 24, wherein the hexagon members are a polymide foam.
35. The building assembly of Claim 24, wherein the hexagon members are a aluminum foam.
36. A building structure configured to be utilized in an offset layering building technique, the building structure comprising: a first tessellation member having a central point and corner points; and a second tessellation member having a center point and corner points, said second tessellation member corresponding in size and shape to the first tessellation member; wherein the first tessellation member is selectively mountable to the second tessellation member in an offset layering configuration, such that one of the corner points of the first tessellation member aligns with the center point of the second tessellation member.
37. A display system configured utilizing an offset layering architecture, the display system comprising: a plurality of hexagon members having central points and corner points; wherein the plurality of hexagon members are selectively securable in a juxapositioned offset layering configuration, such that at least one of the six corner points of each hexagon member aligns with the center point of another hexagon member, thereby constructing the display system.
38. The display system of Claim 37, wherein the hexagon members are selectively securable to each other in an offset layering configuration to produce a readily scaleable display system.
39. The display system of Claim 37, wherein the hexagon members are light emitting polymers.
40. The display system of Claim 37, wherein the hexagon members are selectively securable to each other to produce a cold cathode emitter display systems.
41. The display system of Claim 37, wherein the hexagon members are selectively mountable to each other to produce thin CRT display systems.
42. The display system of Claim 37, wherein the hexagon members are microprism films.
43. The display system of Claim 37, wherein the hexagon members are retroreflective sheeting.
44. A method of converting lowdensity stable polyimide foam into a low density stable carbon foam or fiber composite, the method comprising: heating a polyimide resin at substantially atmospheric pressure; and applying microwave energy to control polyimide density; whereby carbon foam is produced has a density substantially close to the original polyimide foam density.
45. A method of Claim 44, wherein the polyimide is heated within an aluminum mold.
46. A heat exchanger configured utilizing an offset layering architecture, the heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of hexagon members having central points and corner points; wherein the plurality of hexagon members are selectively mountable to each other in an offset layering configuration, such that at least one of the corner points of each hexagon member aligns with the center point of another hexagon member, thereby constructing the heat exchanger.
47. The heat exchanger of Claim 46, wherein the hexagon members contain with tubular members for containing heat exchanging fluids.
48. The heat exchanger of Claim 46, wherein the hexagon members are carbon foam.
49. The heat exchanger of Claim 46, wherein the hexagon members are unidirectional conducting carbon foam.
50. The heat exchanger of Claim 46, wherein the hexagon members contain phase change materials.
51. The heat exchanger of Claim 46, wherein the hexagon members are secured in a spaced apart relationship to facilitate movement of heat exchange fluid between the hexagon members.
52. A heat exchanger configured utilizing voltage generating wafers in an offset layering architecture, the heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of nanotubes on the surface to the heat exchanger; a plurality of hexagon members having layered circuits wired ; wherein the plurality of hexagon members are selectively circuited to each other in an offset layering configuration, such that at least one of the wafers is absorbing heat through surface nanotubes bending the wafer thereby generating voltage.
Description:
BUILDING STRUCTURES WITH CURVED CONDUITS AND MALE TO FEMALE FASTENERS Field of the Invention The present invention is generally directed to building block apparatus, and more specifically to a process of analyzing by superelement formulas the tessellation building block apparatus that can be arrayed as tessellation shapes and their derivatives, into geometric forms that construct various types of structures. This invention is directed to curved and straight radiant heating tube or fire sprinkler conduit formation in building structures.

Background of the Invention Currently, building lumber boards, layered insulated panel structures, and composite materials are engineered products that must be custom manufactured for every job, requiring manual cuts to achieve the geometry's desired in a building. It would be far superior to use a building structure that does not require customization in order to assemble the geometric shapes required to construct a building or other structure with radiant heating tubing inherent in the building structure. Further, many materials are either not easy to cut, or are unhealthy to fashion on the job. It would be highly desirable to have a building structure that can tolerate high stress loads and does not require numerous amounts of customization.

Accordingly, there is a continuing need in the art for a type of building structure that can be used to produce most geometry desired in the construction of a building or other structure. It is also desirable for a building structure to recyclable, allowing building occupants to be able to change a building's geometry in relatively short

time without cutting any panels to achieve the new geometry. This is useful since in the field of building materials, many composite materials are very difficult to cut, and many concrete fiber-type materials produce carcinogens when cut.

It is desirable to have building blocks that provide curved and straight radiant heating tube or fire sprinkler conduit formation in building structures. Radiant heating tubes are flexible, but are composite tubes that can break down, bend, and close the fluid path of the tubes inner diameter when attempts are made to bend the tube in a tight radius. This invention teaches geometric arrays of curved and straight conduit formation in building structure, providing radiant heating or other tubing an array of conduit matched to the radial curves specified by the manufacturers.

This invention teaches tileable building system, tamper resistant fasteners, curved and straight conduit arrays, equilateral male/female fastening, hexsuperelement analysis process of hexagon assemblies. Hexablocks, for the purposes of this invention are ; tileable"common"hexagon shapes with integrated fasteners and based on a hexsuperelement service (a superelement finite element method analysis). Any building material can be sold and easily assembled into thousands of shapes by users in prior art.

This invention teaches how human imagination can be converted directly to"real life" hexsuperelement based structures that are safe, if assembled exactly as the hexsuperelement code suggests would be the most optimized final assembly.

Hexsuperelement Service: Hexagons are the most efficient near round shapes to foam and assemble building geometries from. Hexsuperelements answer how insulated a building is, analysis building stresses and thermal properties, defining how many people can live, work or apply a building. Many materials exist that are difficult and expensive to shape into useful buildings or stages and this invention teaches how to tile these different materials into optimized structures. This invention teaches customers a hexsuperelement service process. The name hexsuperelement was coined from a term used in the field of structural analysis called the Finite Element Method. In the finite element method, superelements are mathematical entities that capture the behavior of complex structural bodies using a relatively small number of equations. Hexagon structures are analyzed most efficiently with superelements, since a single instance of the

hexagonal superelement (i. e. , hexsuperelement) can be replicated to form roughly 90% of the total structure. The remaining portions of the structure consist of additional superelements representing various edge details, all of which fit up together at common connection points. With the structural analysis cast in this format, highly detailed structural calculations are easily and automatically performed on virtually any floor plan, and this is the key ingredient of hexsuperelement service.

A further objective of this invention is to apply a brand new foaming process developed to uniformly add air to most polymers. Hexagons can be foamed from any polymer with air/gas densities from 1% to 97% (percent) with many minerals added.

A new science to foam hexagon building blocks for homes and other structures is taught in this invention. This invention teaches how managing gas pressure around the mold can provide uniform foam with micro-cellular foam. Natural hexagon shapes made from uniform foaming processes enable optimized engineering analysis ; automated design, and building code verification, Internet application processes will allow the customer to design hexablock structures using online libraries of material properties and floor plans, perform appropriate code checks, produce engineering drawings and bill of materials.

Tileable hexagon building block with tamper proof fastener, build and rebuild without damage to hexablocks, fasteners ratchet into place holding the structure together, hexablock wiring conduit is molded in for lighting and sound, any wall thickness or height can be built, floors can be wired for any application, sound proofing is provided by spaced layering of hexablocks, and time is reduced substantially by the ease of rebuilding. Hexagon building structure with curved and straight conduits, array when tiled and tubing can be inserted uniformly.

Hexsuperelement service provides detailed structural analysis quickly providing confidence that the engineering design data is near the real life performance.

Prior art provides engineering information about a buildings first design, without a process to provided for future recycling of the original materials. Hexsuperelement service applied to used hexablocks provides the same state-of-the-art structural analysis tools used to perform the original new material analysis. Hexablock and hexsuperelement teaches a process to apply used or new hexablocks for recycling many materials.

The most sophisticated analysis is useless without accurate structural material properties. Rigorous laboratory tests of the custom high-tech materials insure quality information for each hexablock construction. This is true for the hexablock mechanical compression fasteners as well, which are ratcheted to maintain the original specification throughout the life of the building.

Hexsuperlement building plans represent a"sustainable"building with optimized superelement engineering data that can be rebuilt into any other new design.

Superelement computer analysis of stress in a hexagon building occurs very quickly and uniform predictable foam makes such an analysis a match to real applications.

Summary of the Invention In brief, this invention is directed to a building block that does not need to be cut to assemble geometric shapes required to build a building or other structure. For the purpose of this invention tessellation will mean any shape that can be tiled together along the edges. For the purpose of this invention curved conduit will mean straight and curved conduit that form when hexagons are assembled. Materials can be selected for building blocks automatically by a superelement formula that are not easy to cut or healthy to cut on the job, but are good environmental material like concrete fiber sheeting. The skill level needed to produce or design a building is reduced by allowing the computer to process the common shapes in a superelement formula analysis. Structures are recyclable to other like buildings in the normal course of remodeling and can be retrieved for new buildings, after natural disasters like tornado, hurricane, flooding, earthquakes, and tidal waves randomly scatter building parts. The present invention is recyclable directly to another building using the same dimension of hexagon, or a hexagon twice the size and half the size. Hexagons can be clustered providing construction of smaller hexagons with larger hexagons In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is a hexagon panel assembly, which includes geometric derivatives of hexagons and a header for door and window openings to assemble single or double hexagon panel walls including a pitched roof. A floor base plate is designed to mount to the floor and establish the wall

locations. Steel wire can make the independent hexagon components all one strong assembly. Contractors could pick the building offthe ground as one unit.

In still a further embodiment of the present invention, square-shaped panel assemblies and their derivatives are utilized for the offset layering building structures.

Square shapes, however, do not assemble into 30 degree pitched roofs, circular geometry, or provide the maximum equally spaced fasteners per square foot of buildings. Stresses are lower in hexagons than in squares. Concrete squares layered, provides a high performance foundation floor. Walls made from squares and square derivatives in the shape of rectangles and triangles form walls and 45° pitch roofs. Window and door openings can also be assembled from square tessellations and their derivatives. Square and hexagon tessellation walls and floors, or other structures can be assembled into one structure. Other types of tessellation panel assemblies are also contemplated, and can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In still a further embodiment of the invention a hexagon tessellation frame is provided to replace dimensional lumber for the construction of ceilings, roofs, wall and other structure. These tessellation frames also can be a variety of shapes, but hexagons are a preferred embodiment for offset layering and common fastening points.

In still a further embodiment of the invention, closed cell spheres are cast into foam from aluminum, ceramic, glass, polymers, polyimides, and other materials as spheres or closed cell materials become available. Further these closed cell foam spheres can have the gases or air replaced with fluids like perilites that are phase change materials or gases like helium. Some spheres are coatings providing spheres within spheres.

Utilizing the present invention, a structurally sound building can be assembled in harsh climatic regions. The building can be assembled on snow, ice fields, desert sand, and flood plains. When panels contain foam materials the building will float on water and will rise from the ground during flooding of the grounds around the building.

This building could be used as a houseboat.

Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by

reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of the hexagon and peg; FIGURE 2 illustrates a perspective view of the peg dowel; FIGURE 3 illustrates a perspective view of two hexagons assembled ; FIGURE 4 illustrates a perspective view of three hexagons assembled ; FIGURE 5 illustrates a perspective view of four hexagons assembled; FIGURE 6 illustrates a perspective view of the opposite side of FIGURE 5; FIGURE 7 illustrates a perspective view of the FIGURE 6 showing foam tubes; FIGURE 8 illustrates a sectional view of the center of a hexagon assembly showing the detail of the peg dowel system ; FIGURE 9 illustrates an exploded view of the hexagon panel assembly ; FIGURE 10 illustrates a perspective view of the foam hexagon core; FIGURE 11 illustrates a plan view of the six shapes used to build geometric patterns from hexagons; FIGURE 12 illustrates a perspective view of the hexagon split on points; FIGURE 13 illustrates a perspective view of the hexagon split across flats ; FIGURE 14 illustrates a perspective view of the hexagon cut long across points; FIGURE 15 illustrates a perspective view of FIGURE 14 split left; FIGURE 16 illustrates a perspective view of FIGURE 14 split right; FIGURE 17 illustrates a perspective view of door and window header; FIGURE 18 illustrates a plan view of hexagon wall sections; FIGURE 19 illustrates a plan view of hexagon wall sections assembled into a wall ; FIGURE 19A illustrates a cross-sectional view of the hexagon wall section of FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 20 illustrates a perspective view of building walls, door and window openings, and floor double hexagon panel wall assembly; FIGURE 21 illustrates a sectional view of hexagon assemblies showing how mechanical fasteners penetrate the full layer of hexagons; FIGURE 22 illustrates a perspective top view of a substantially round hexagon assembly; FIGURE 23 illustrates a perspective bottom view of the substantially round hexagon assembly in FIGURE 22; FIGURE 24 illustrates a perspective inside wall view of hexagons partially assembled around a door; FIGURE 25 illustrates a perspective view of a home assembly of one-meter wide hexagons; FIGURE 26 illustrates a plan view of all the shapes in FIGURE 25; FIGURE 27 illustrates a perspective view of the door and window header; FIGURE 27A illustrates a side view of the door and window header; FIGURE 28 illustrates sectional view A-A of FIGURE 27A; FIGURE 29 illustrates sectional view B-B of FIGURE 27A; FIGURE 30 illustrates a perspective view of the top and bottom plate of a wall or floor ; FIGURE 31 illustrates a side view of the top and bottom plate assembly in FIGURE 30; FIGURE 32 illustrates a sectional view A-A of FIGURE 31 ; FIGURE 33 illustrates a perspective view of a hexagon frame; FIGURE 34 illustrates a side view of the hexagon frame of FIGURE 33; FIGURE 35 illustrates an end view of the hexagon frame of FIGURE 33 ; FIGURE 36 illustrates a perspective view of a hexagon frame split on the flats ; FIGURE 37 illustrates a side view of the split hexagon frame of FIGURE 36;

FIGURE 38 illustrates an end view of the split hexagon frame of FIGURE 36; FIGURE 39 illustrates a perspective view of a hexagon frame split on points; FIGURE 40 illustrates a side view of the split hexagon frame of FIGURE 39; FIGURE 41 illustrates an end view of the split hexagon frame of FIGURE 39; FIGURE 42 illustrates a side view of a partial wall assembly of the hexagon frames of FIGURE 33,36, and 39; FIGURE 43 illustrates an end view of hexagon frame assembly of FIGURE 42; FIGURE 44 illustrates a perspective view of the six common fastening holes between four hexagons; FIGURE 45 illustrates the top view of the six common points displayed in FIGURE 44; FIGURE 45A illustrates a sectional view C-C of FIGURE 45; FIGURE 46 illustrates a perspective view of"A"frame building end walls; FIGURE 47 illustrates an end view of the"A"frame building end walls of FIGURE 46 showing the hidden lines of the hexagons offset in the second layer; FIGURE 48 illustrates a perspective view of square layered offset tessellations showing the common fastener locations ; FIGURE 49 illustrates a front perspective view of a layered offset square tessellation-building wall with a 45-degree roof pitch and square derivatives; FIGURE 49A illustrates a rear perspective view of the layered offset square tessellation building wall of FIGURE 49; FIGURE 50 illustrates a front perspective view of a layered offset square tessellation building wall with 45-degree roof pitch and square derivatives forming doors openings ;

FIGURE 50A illustrates a rear perspective view of the layered offset square tessellation-building wall of FIGURE 50; FIGURE 50B illustrates an end view of the building wall of FIGURE 50 showing the hidden lines of offset squares and derivatives of squares point-to-center locations; FIGURE 51 illustrates a perspective view of a square tessellation panel; FIGURE 52 illustrates a perspective view of a rectangle derivative that is one half of the square panel of FIGURE 51 split along flats ; FIGURE 53 illustrates a perspective view of a triangle derivative that is one half of the square panel of FIGURE 51 split along points; FIGURE 54 illustrates a perspective view of a trapezoid derivative of the square panel of FIGURE 51 ; FIGURE 55 illustrates a perspective view of a triangle derivative of the square panel of FIGURE 51 ; FIGURE 56 illustrates a side view of a TV screen; FIGURE 57 illustrates a perspective view of a tessellation TV screen cathode/backplate circuits and faceplates aligned by point-to-center offset layering; FIGURE 58 illustrates a perspective view of an optically transparent multi- color film for TV screen or large optical projectors; FIGURE 59 illustrates a perspective view of a hexagon carbon foam heat exchanger assembly formed from offset hexagons integrated and held together by tubes; FIGURE 60 illustrates a perspective view of a hexagon carbon foam heat exchanger assembly formed from closely tiled hexagons and tubes; FIGURE 61 illustrates a side view of a hexagon bridge assembly; and FIGURE 62 illustrates a top view of the hexagon bridge assembly of FIGURE 61; FIGURE 63 illustrates a hexagonal shaft fastener with a threaded ratchet head; FIGURE 64 illustrates a seat for the assembly of fastener FIGURE 63;

FIGURE 65 illustrates a perspective close exploded view of a hexagon with the hexagonal shaft fastener of FIGURE 63 aligned with the hexagonal molded hole of FIGURE 64; FIGURE 66 illustrates a perspective view of all six hexagonal ratchet fastener seat, FIGURE 67 illustrates an alternate tamper resistant bouquet fastener; FIGURE 68 illustrates a fastener that provides a male press fit fastener; FIGURE 69 illustrates a hexagon the fastener in FIGURE 68 mates to; FIGURE 70 is a side view of a preferred fastening means when walls are spaced and filled with straw bales or cast with concrete; FIGURE 71 is a section view of a fastener head with an insert for wall coverings.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment FIGURE 72 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred hexagon conduit pattern.

FIGURE 73 illustrates a perspective view of an assembly of preferred hexagon conduit pattern in FIGURE 72 and FIGURES 63,64, 66, and 67.

FIGURE 74 illustrates a cross sectional view of fasteners configured for multiple layers.

FIGURE 75 illustrates a set of hexagon panels glued to hexagon assemblies to make a single structurally insulated panel.

FIGURE 76 illustrates the process of analyzing by superelement formulas.

FIGURE 77 illustrates an end view of alternative fastener comprising a rod or conduit insertion into a matching plurality of protrusions up off the plane surface of hexagons illustrated in FIGURE 72 and 73.

FIGURES 78 illustrates a cross sectional side view of an alternative fastener comprising a rod or conduit insertion into the common matching plurality of protrusion up off the plane surface of hexagons illustrated in FIGURE 72 and 73.

FIGURE 79 provides flexible rod extensions out of hexagon assemblies in FIGURE 77 and 78 for roof tarps.

FIGURE 80 is a rotated illustration of hexagon building blocks injection molded with carbon nanotube polymers in an equilateral triangle attachment arrangement.

FIGURE 81 is a rotated illustration of hexagon building blocks in FIGURE 80 injection molded with carbon nanotube polymers in an equilateral triangle attachment arrangement.

FIGURE 82 illustrates hexagon panels providing curved conduits which align for tubing when assembled.

FIGURE 83 illustrates three hexagon panels tiled providing curved conduits which align for tubing when assembled.

FIGURE 84 illustrates two hexagon panels layered providing curved conduits which align for tubing when assembled FIGURE 85 illustrates side view of two hexagon panels in FIGURE 84 providing curved conduits which align for tubing when assembled.

FIGURE 86 illustrates isometric view of three hexagons rotated offset and layered onto three hexagon panels in FIGURE 83 providing curved conduits which align for tubing.

FIGURE 87 illustrates an equilateral triangle molded into a hexagon centrally providing three equally spaced points of six hexagon points, which assemble onto hexagons when rotated.

FIGURE 88 illustrates a side view of a hexagon, triangle, and hexagon stacked.

FIGURE 89 illustrates a single triangle.

FIGURE 90 illustrates an isometric view of a hexagon with male/female pegs, which replace equilateral triangles assembled exactly like FIGURE 80 and 81.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment FIGURE 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment hexagon building structure 7 and peg retainer 5 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, six

alignments fastening holes 4 are equidistantly spaced and located on interior panels 1 and 2. The panels 1 and 2 are adhered to a foam core 3. Preferably, the hexagon building structure 7 includes radial cutouts 6 for assembly to another peg retainer (not shown).

Preferably, the holes 4 are the primary fastener location for screwing or bolting through the layers of the hexagon. The holes 4 align with an offset layer of hexagons when assembled in the axial direction (as shown in the assembly of FIGURE 3). In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the set of six holes 4 are the only fastening technique necessary for joining an offset layering assembly of hexagon building structures 7. Conduit holes 12 are selectively located depending on the fastening technique selected.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a hexagon building structure 7 system for constructing buildings and other structures, including but not limited to, complex geometries such as door openings, window openings, roof pitches, and curved archways. Tessellations are seamless tileable patterns created from a basic geometric grid. Variations of tessellations can be formed from squares, triangles, stars shapes, hexagons, and curved shapes. Hexagons in particular, are easy to produce, and provide the benefits of forming desirable geometric shapes, lowering stresses, and increasing leverage when the hexagons are used in an offset layering configuration. The hexagon building structure 7 is symmetrical and provides seven fastening points (at the six corner points and the center point) when layered and offset equally against three other hexagon-building structures 7 of the same size. When offset equally, the center point of a first six corner points aligns with a corner point three other hexagon building structures 7, in a corner point-to-center alignment. Thus, three hexagon-building structures 7 assemble symmetrically in the same plane and connect centrally to one offset hexagon building structure 7 in another plane.

In order to layer and offset a tessellation into a composite structure that is useful, symmetrical equal fastening points are desirable for calculating and predicting structural stress. An additional structural benefit of hexagon building structures 7 is the alignment of six additional common alignment points (alignments fastening holes 4 in this preferred embodiment) that result when hexagon building structures 7 are stacked or layered in the axial direction at an equal symmetrical offset distance. The six alignments

fastening holes 4 are located between the six flat edges and center. These six alignments fastening holes 4 are found by drawing lines between each corner-point and the two closest non-adjacent, comer-points (forming two equilateral triangles). The intersecting points of these lines define the location of the alignments fastening holes 4, which are equally spaced. This additional set of six fastening points provides the most substantial fastening points for maximum strength. These six alignments fastening holes 4 align in stacked offset layers of hexagons to provide common predictable fastening locations.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thirteen common fastening points (the six alignments fastening holes 4, six corner points, and one center point) align in stacked offset hexagons. Other common fastening points can also be derived without departing from the scope of the present invention. Bolt, wire, or other suitable fasteners penetrate through the panels 1 and 2 to mechanically compress the panels at the fastener points. In some embodiments, the walls at right angles are compressed together for building integrity. This is desirable over panel systems dependent on adhesives.

In another aspect of the present invention, adhesives or caulking sealant are added between the panels during assembly. A void or a full sheet of insulation can also be sandwiched between the hexagon building structures 7 depending upon the particular application. Further, in some embodiments an adhesive closed cell tape seal, similar to automotive weather stripping, is wrapped around the hexagon building structures 7 prior to assembly for additional compression sealing. Preferably, joint fasteners with flat heads fasten hexagon-building structures 7 together. Screws can either partially or fully penetrate through the full set of layered hexagon building structures 7 and are also adaptable.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the peg retainer 5 is replaced with a small bolt (not shown), depending upon the strength of the materials utilized. Fasteners can be inserted through the alignments fastening holes 4 either manually or by CNC automation. The number of fasteners applied is an issue typically specified by the builder. In some embodiments, steel cables (not shown) are threaded through the wiring holes 12. The steel cable can be configured to run in all directions, as

required by the builder. Further, in high wind and/or flood areas, the steel cables and wiring holes 12 can be used as a cabling system in order to anchor a building to the ground.

As further illustrated in FIGURE 2, the peg retainer 5 includes a peg portion 5a and a retainer portion 5b (see also FIGURE 9). The peg portion 5a and the retaining portion 5b fasten the panels 1 and 2, and the core 3, together during the manufacturing of the hexagon building structures 7. Further, the retaining portion 5b provides dowel panel assembly registration during the manufacturing of the hexagon building structures 7. FIGURE 2 shows the peg portion 5a and the retainer portion 5b joined together, while FIGURE 9 shows the peg portion 5a and the retainer portion 5b separated apart. In one preferred embodiment, a polyvinyl chloride adhesive is utilized to adhere the peg portion 5a to the retainer portion 5b.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, two hexagon-building structures 7 can be correspondingly configured to assemble around a peg retainer 5. Similarly, three hexagon-building structures 7,8, and 9 can also be correspondingly configured to assemble around peg retainer 5, as shown in FIGURE 4. The panels of the hexagon building structures 8 and 9 act to conceal the peg retainer 5. This concealment feature is of intrinsic cosmetic value to many builders. The peg retainer can penetrate though the panel and be slanted on its face as well as on the points of the hexagons. The central peg hole can be much larger than the point slants providing a full peg with two slanted ends.

This slanted peg would be easy to install and aid in building a building. However, for other builders, other embodiments of the present invention employ bolts fasteners that penetrate completely through the panels, mechanically compressing and fixing the panels in location.

Standard metal stamped cleats or metal earthquake straps can also be inserted between the hexagon building structures during assembly. These earthquake type straps can be sandwiched between hexagons and fastened to fasteners 4, extending out of the hexagon to be a corner fastener strap or an insertion into a concrete foundation. This has value when using superelement stress analysis, which is designed to use common fastening points and symmetry.

When four hexagon building structures 7, 8,9, and 10, are assembled together, as shown in FIGURE 5, the peg retainer 5 cannot be seen. Alternatively, a joint fastener, barbed press fit plastic fastener, screw or metal cleats is placed in the center of hexagon building structure 7 and the joining points of hexagon building structures 8,9, and 10 (instead of a peg retainer 5). Referring now to FIGURE 6, the alignments fastening holes 4 and 11 of hexagon building structure 7 align with the alignments fastening holes of hexagon building structures 8,9, and 10.

As shown in FIGURE 7, foam tubes align to form wiring and plumbing conduit holes 12. Referring now to FIGURE 19, conduit holes 25,26, and 27 can be seen. Wire cable conduit hole 25 provides a connection path from corner 28 to base plate 19 at location 19a. Conduit holes 26 and 27 provide a steel wire hole to compress the wall together from one end to the other. The steel wire cable 29 and 30 can be extended through the adjoining wall forming corners 31 (shown in FIGURE 20). These steel wire cables or ropes can be used to anchor the building to the ground. Cable can also be connected across the interior of the walls through common hole 4. These cables will be exposed when applied in buildings for food storage of grains, fluids, and other biomass.

These interior cables strength additions can easily be calculated with accuracy, because of the superelement modeling.

Referring again to FIGURE 7, graphite rod 32 and rod flange 33 are inserted into conduit holes 12. The rod 32 is centered and fixed in location by the rod flange 33. Rod 32 can be constructed of tubing, wood or other materials, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, rods are placed in multiple locations between every hexagon building structure 7, in order to connect the hexagon building structure 7 during assembly. Preferably, one side of the rod is attached to a hexagon building structure 7 prior to assembly. In low stress construction designs, rods 32 are sized in length and diameter to replace the need for offset double walls. In some climates and wind conditions, conduit holes 12 are not produced. This is particularly true when higher strength structures are required, or when replacing concrete block buildings where wiring and plumbing is run in an external conduit as a standard practice.

Although conduit holes 12 are convenient, the holes do result in some weakening of the panel. Wiring, water plumbing, toilet pea-traps, alarm systems, fans, sensors, refrigeration components, heat exchangers, heating sources, and air-ducting systems can be packaged into hexagons. In some embodiments, the conduit holes 12 have hoses inserted for radiated liquid heating or liquid circulation for absorption cooling. Any amount of foam can be removed and replaced by thermal storage and/or release materials.

These materials change phase forming liquid when heated and solidifying releasing stored heat when cooled. Hexagon panels provide a building structure for packaging these types of phase change materials and containing them within a building environment for safety.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, a peg retainer 5 is shown in the center of an offset layering hexagon building structure assembly. In one embodiment of the present invention, a peg retainer 5 is constructed from an assembly of PVC pipes adhered together with glue. Injection molding is one suitable technique for this purpose. Conduit holes 12 are formed in the foam core 3.

As shown in FIGURE 9, the peg portion 5a and the retainer portion 5b can be separated. The retainer portion 5b provides the dowel function during glue assembly of exterior panel 7b and interior panel 7a. The peg portion 5a is inserted and glued into the retainer portion 5b. The hexagon foam core 3 and conduit holes 12 are shown in greater detail in FIGURE 10.

Referring now to FIGURE 11, à hexagon building structure 7 and five- hexagon derivative building structures 13,14, 15,16, and 17 are shown. These six structures are assembled into the geometric shapes that make walls, floors, window, and door openings. Hexagon derivative building structure 13 is a hexagon split on points, and is shown in FIGURE 12. Hexagon derivative building structure 14 is a hexagon split on flats, and is shown in FIGURE 13. Hexagon derivative building structure 15 is a hexagon cut long across points, and is shown in FIGURE 14. Hexagon derivative building structure 16 is a hexagon cut long across points and split left, and is shown in FIGURE 15. Hexagon derivative building structure 17 is a hexagon cut long across points and split right 17, and is shown in FIGURE 16. Finally, hexagon derivative building structure 18 is a hexagon door and window header 18, and is shown in FIGURE 17.

Referring now to FIGURE 18, hexagon wall sections door 20, window 21, and the finished ends assemble into corners of a building. Hexagon wall sections can be computer numeric control (CNC) machined out of a single solid panel. All of the above- described hexagon and hexagon derivative building structures are utilized in this embodiment. In this embodiment of the present invention, partial hexagons extend out of the wall sections. Corner sections can also be prefabricated as a single part. Accordingly, corner sections are prefabricated out of a single part or by joining smaller corner sections in order to strengthen the corners of the structures. These prefabricated corner sections can be applied on the interior or exterior of the house to join the main walls to a room wall or partitions wall. Prefabricated hexagons can take the form of a cross with extensions off the front and back of the hexagons for locations where the interior and exterior walls are on the same locations, and a top cross sectional view would form a cross. A corner is also a monolith and can represent a stepped portion of hexagons, where other full hexagons fasten and become a full surface without steps. These corners have the appearance of missing a hexagon when first put up, because they are stepped and integrate to the wall. The preferred corner is a molded corner that can be flipped upside down and fit onto a like corner providing an infinite height potential.

Builders can use these hexagon computer aided design sections to rapidly build wall sections. Super-elements are computer models that the computer processes stress calculations around. Hexagons make desirable super-elements that process as one math node in the computer. This reduces computer time dramatically to optimize building designs. Super-elements are possible from common symmetrical shapes, which is why hexagons, hexagon derivatives, or tessellation shapes are useful in building design. One of the advantages of tessellation symmetrical shapes, and specifically hexagons, is that accurate optimized designs are produced when calculating super-elements computer design assemblies. Prior art buildings structures have proved to be near impossible to use in calculating stress. Current dimensional lumber homes have random fastener locations and random tetrahedral element meshes resulting in billions of nodes to calculate to obtain the same accuracy of several hundred-hexagon nodes. Online World Wide Web Internet services can be provided to builders, because results can be obtained in minutes. Even the

most unskilled builder will have data on the building structure using superelement efficiencies across networks. FIGURE 76 is a drawing of the superelement analysis of tessellating structures that have common fasteners. Customers enter a design environment, process 1, which would appear to the customer as a finished rendered wall or the hexagons patterns would show up on the computer display. After a geometry is selected the x, y, and z coordinates are sent to the superelement process 502, which is the a formula of the superelement providing uniform symmetrical hexagons or other tessellations. The superelement formula in process 502 provides very fast analysis of the design for stress, thermal behavior, and other common structural engineering questions.

Process 502 is very fast because of the symmetrical common shapes and common fasteners. A variety of materials are in the materials library and the superelement formula optimizes the design by selecting various materials and thickness, as well as special composites of shapes to meet engineering requirements. Process 503 is the post results, which can be viewed in the analysis program as"raw"data, only most professional engineers would understand or the customer can view their data in the rendering program they started in. Process 504 is the bill of materials providing the list of parts needed to build a building or other structure. Process 504 includes the different materials that the analysis automatically selects when optimizing the Process 501 image.

Referring now to FIGURE 19, hexagon wall sections are assembled into a wall. Cable locations are provided by conduit holes 25,26, 27,27a. Cables 29,30, and 30a are inserted in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is to be understood that any one of the many conduits holes can be used in the wire cable compression.

In further embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGURE 19A, the hexagon building structures 7 and 37 are spaced apart by beam 35 in a spaced apart, double wall assembly. Location dowel fasteners 38 and 39 are placed along the beam 35 to join the hexagon building structures together. Preferably, the beam 35 is substantial vertical and is arrayed along the building for increased strength. In another embodiment the beam 35 runs horizontally as well, is divided into segments providing a fluid path for concrete or cast in place foams, or at other angles. Hexagon frame building structures 70, 71, and 72 (shown in FIGURE 33,36, and 39, and described in further detail below) are

used between solid panels in order to make the panels on the outside and inside walls symmetrical. These panels can be cut for the wiring, water or plumbing pipes, or other building requirements.

As shown in FIGURE 20, hexagon building structures 7 and their hexagon derivative building structures 13,14, 15,16, and 17 are used to simply and efficiently build walls, door openings, window openings, and a floor double hexagon panel wall assembly. A header 18, hexagon building structures 7 (50-centimeter structures in this preferred embodiment), and hexagon panel derivatives 13,14, 15,16, and 17, assemble into a double wall system. Preferably, a hexagon beam 50 is utilized as a crossbeam, which has a foam core 3, along with air ducts and wiring, integrated into the beam. In one embodiment of the present invention, the wall hexagons are 50-centimeter flat to flat, and the floor hexagons are 1-meter flat to flat.

Hexagon building structures 7 of different sizes can be assembled into a single building. Referring to FIGURE 20, one-meter hexagon building structures 7c, and hexagon derivative building structures 13c, 14c, 15c, 16c, and 17c, assemble into a double floor system. One-meter hexagon building structures 7c exhibit substantial strength, and thus, are preferable for many floor applications. Conduit holes 12 in these floor panels are large enough to use as heating and air-conditioning air ducts. One-meter hexagon building structures 7c are also a good selection for roof cover. Using smaller hexagon building structures 7c (such as 50-centimeter hexagons) allows an increased amount of possibilities for changes. The roofline on the preferred embodiment hexagon building of FIGURE 20 is 30 degrees. In another embodiment,"A"frame steep roof alpine building is produced when the hexagon building structures are rotated 90 degrees and assembled.

The thickness of the hexagon building structures can be adjusted to meet climate conditions. Any size hexagon can be made. Other tessellation made from squares and square derivatives have a 45 degree pitched roofline. These multiple tessellation can be combined for a desired shape.

In some embodiments of the present invention, mechanical fasteners penetrate the full layer of hexagon building structures 7, as shown in FIGURE 21. A larger number of layers of hexagon building structures 7 can also be layered in this

alternating offset layering structure, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The hexagon building structure center hole and alignments fastening holes 4 align with the bolt 63 and holes 60 and 61, respectively. Preferably, T-NUTs are utilized for fastening the bolts.

Substantially round hexagon assemblies 34 are also produced using hexagon building structures 7 and hexagon derivative building structures 13 and 15, as shown in FIGURES 22 and 23. These substantially round hexagon assemblies 34 are assembled without requiring cutting or other customization of hexagon building structures 7. These shapes can form substantially round hexagon assemblies 34, or circular openings for windows, door arches, and other builder-specified needs. For regional specific designs, such as in Japan and China, these round hexagon assemblies 34 can be assembled to poles in multiple floor levels to make religious or cultural buildings similar to those of ancient construction. It is to be understood that hexagons can be stacked as high as necessary in order to make big beams. Tessellation can also be curved on the surfaces and assemble around the circular shape. Hexagons can be uniformly curved on the plain surfaces and assemble into a tube.

Further, in some embodiments, long graphite poles are inserted into high stacks of offset layered hexagon building structures 7. For example, a 20-foot beam could be assembled from 20 hexagons a foot thick and assembled in the substantially round hexagon assembly 34 configuration. The hexagon building structures 7 can be joined together by inserting rods into the set of six alignments fastening holes 4. Alternatively, tubes can be used instead of rods. In another embodiment of the present invention, these type of multiple stack arrangements form complex shapes like boat hauls and airplane fuselage, or wings. Only the exterior hexagon building structures 7 need to be shaped to match a desired design. Preferably, the rods act to fasten the hexagon building structures 7 together. These types of three-dimensional shapes can be fiber-glassed on the surface, including fiber-resin winding of the whole structure. Other surfaces can also be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 24, hexagon-building structures 7,8, 9, and 10 are partially assembled around a door. Specifically, the offset layering of the hexagon

building structures 7,8, 9, and 10 is shown in this house wall assembly. A hexagon building structure home assembly is illustrated in FIGURE 25. This particular embodiment utilizes one-meter wide hexagons. When larger hexagon building structures 7 are utilized, fewer of the hexagons building structures 7 are needed. However, as shown in FIGURE 26, a larger number of hexagon derivative building structures are then required (items 4,5, 7,8, 9, and 10). These additional hexagon derivative building structures are constructed with optional plates 67a, and 68a.

One interesting hexagon derivative building structure is the door and window header 67, as shown in FIGURES 27 and 27A. Optional plates 67a, 67b, and 67c are integrated into the panel 67 for strengthening and providing a platform for bolting the wall to the floor and joining corners, as shown in FIGURES 28 and 29. Another interesting hexagon derivative building structure is the top and bottom plate for a wall or floor, as shown in FIGURES 30 and 31. Similarly, optional plates 68a, 68b, and 68c are integrated to the panel 68 for strengthening and providing a platform for bolting the wall to the floor and joining corners, as shown in FIGURE 32, including any adjustment for the height of the wall, window, or door opening.

A hexagon frame building structure 70 is shown in FIGURES 33,34, and 35. Hexagon frame building structure 70 can be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials, depending upon the particular application. A wide variety of fabrication methods can also be utilized, including but not limited to extruding, molding, casting, etc.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hexagon frame building structures 70 are extruded recycled plastic composites (70 percent oak wood fiber and 30 percent plastic in a more preferred embodiment). Preferably, channels and stamped metal are applied during the fabrication process. Channels are provided to slide and lock the edges of the hexagons together. Further, adhering a solid board to each side of this frame can provide full hollow panels.

The hexagon frame building structures 70 of the present invention also allow reinforced materials and spacers to be inserted between the hexagon frame building structures 70, due to the open configuration of the structures 70. Further, concrete can be poured between the hexagon frame building structure 70 system to form a permanent

structure like a wall, floor, road bed, bridge (see FIGURES 60 and 61) aid other possible structure.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the hexagon frame building structures 70 contain six cavities. A vacuum is pulled in these cavities to provide the capability for insulation cavities. Insulation or other substances with a thermal storage and release function can be added to this cavity. The preferred insulative material to be inserted into the frame cavities is a bladder full of phase change materials (PCM's) (which can be obtained from Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge Tennessee U. S. A.).

Additionally attic insulation materials, called RCR, that absorbs heat during the day and release heat at night, are a preferred insulative material. This phase change material is insulation that consists of perlite embedded with hydrogenated calcium chloride. The phase change material changes from a solid to liquid at 82°F, absorbing heat (from a hot attic for instance) during the day, before the heat can penetrate a home. When attic temperatures cool at night, the phase change material solidifies and releases the heat back into the attic, moderating outdoor temperatures.

A preferred board for use when applying phase change thermal materials is Concrete Hardie Board. If a hexagon frame building structures 70 is glued to a sheet of hexagon building structure panels, half of a panel is produced. In one embodiment, these panels are provided with gypsum board for the finished wall. Other embodiments employ Concrete Hardie Board to finish the floor.

A hexagon frame building structure that is split along flats 71 is shown in FIGURES 36,37, and 38. A hexagon frame building structure that is split along points 72 is shown in FIGURES 39,40, and 41. A partial wall assembly of the hexagon frame building structures 70 and the partial hexagon frame building structures 71 and 72, of FIGURES 33,36, and 39, is shown in FIGURES 42 and 43. The full and partial hexagon frame building structures 70,71, and 72 are assembled into a wall (preferably 3.5 inches in thickness). The six alignments fastening holes 4 of each hexagon frame building structures 70 are equally spaced and are located as described in detail above.

Referring again to hexagon building structures in FIGURES 44,45, and 45A, the alignment of the fastening holes 4 of the hexagon building structure 7 with the

fastening holes 4 of the hexagon building structures 8, 9, and 10, is clearly shown. The hexagon building structures form a central structure 100 for increased load bearing capability. These six alignments fastening holes 4 are found by drawing lines between each corner-point and the two closest non-adjacent, corner-points (forming two equilateral triangles). The intersecting points of these lines define the location of the alignments fastening holes 4, which are equally spaced. The size of the alignments fastening holes 4 can be varied in order to fit a particular fastening system (or in the case of carbon foam heat exchangers, as described below in further detail, the conduit location).

"A"frame building end walls 101 and 102, are shown in FIGURE 46.

When the walls are assembled with hexagon flat ends on the floor, the roof 103 has a pitch of 60 degrees. Depending upon the type of window and door configurations selected, new hexagon derivative building structures 104 may be produced. Alternatively, full hexagon building structures 7 are used, which results in the window size being reduced.

The hidden lines 105 produced by the offset layering of the hexagon building structures 7 and hexagon derivative building structures in the second layer, are shown in FIGURE 47.

Panel materials are selected based upon many different criteria, including but not limited to, climate and bug resistance requirements. In one preferred embodiment, the panels 1, and 2 are manufactured from wood chipboard. Some other suitable materials include foam, aluminum, steel, fiberglass, concrete, aluminum foam, create, plastics, composites, and the natural fibers native to the home can be selected as building material.

The thickness of foam or boards can also be changed to meet the specific builder requirements. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention primarily uses 7/16-inch Weyerhaeuser chipboard and 2-inch foam, however any metal wood, plastic, concrete fiber, or other material can also be combined. Screws, bolts, and other fasteners are selected by the builders to fit their existing tools and engineering needs. Carpets, hardwood floors, tile, gypsum board, finish wood paneling, and any other suitable finishing materials can be pre-assembled on hexagons.

As previously mentioned, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention the offset layered tessellations take the shape of square building structures 106,

as shown in FIGURE 48. In this embodiment, four alignment-fastening holes 107 are utilized to produce the common point-to-center fastener locations. Additional alignments fastening holes can be added for specific applications, however, the holes 107 are the preferred number and are positioned in the preferred locations.

Referring now to FIGURES 49 and 49A, the front 111 and back 112 of two layered offset square building walls are shown. The square building walls have a 45 degree pitched roof 120. Further, the construction of the square building walls preferably also utilizes square derivative rectangle building structures 113 (shown in FIGURE 52), triangle building structures 114 (shown in FIGURE 53), trapezoid building structures 115 (shown in FIGURE 54), and triangle quarter-section building structures 116 (shown in FIGURE 55), in addition to the square building structures 106.

Referring now to FIGURES 50 and 50A, the front 121 and back 122 of another set of two offset layered square building walls are shown. In this embodiment the square building walls also have a 45 degree pitched roof, Once again, the construction of the square building walls preferably also utilizes square derivative rectangle building structures 113, triangle building structures 114, trapezoid building structures 115, and triangle quarter-section building structures 116, in order to form doors openings. The hidden lines 118 produced by the offset layering of the square building structures 106 and square derivative building structures (rectangle building structures 113, triangle building structures 114, trapezoid building structures 115, and triangle quarter-section building structures 116) in the second layer, are shown in FIGURE 50B, as well as corresponding point-to-center locations.

A square tessellation panel 106 is shown in FIGURE 51. Common fastening points 107 are located in the center of each of the four-quarter sections.

Preferably, the insulation foam core 108 has oriented strand boards (OSB) 109 and 110 adhered to the core 108. Due to the difficulty in cutting concrete, square tessellation panel 106 are a preferred configuration when James Hardie concrete fiberboard is utilized as a building material. Further, square tessellation panels 106 make effective floors and roofs, because concrete can easily be cut and applied to a square shape, and floor covering

(i. e. tongue and groove flooring) can come adhered to the concrete fiberboard. Marble, granite, glass, and other difficult to cut materials are better in square form.

Referring now to FIGURES 56-58, in one embodiment of the present invention, the hexagon building structures are fabricated from a glowing layered plastic developed by Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) of Cambridge, England. In accordance with the present invention, computer and television displays are made from these light-emitting polymers (LEP's). Preferably, these computer and television displays are only approximately 2-millimeters thick.

Other miniature display technologies are field emission devices, which essentially rely on miniaturized versions of electron guns used in cathode ray tubes. These new emerging flat technologies are also compatible with the offset layering hexagon building structure technique of the present invention. To make polymer light-emitting diodes (LED), very thin layers of fluorescent polymer are sandwich between two electrodes. The tooling of these displays to all the needed sizes of is very expensive.

Each application requires a new display size. The tessellation offset layering of the present invention is well suited for efficiently constructing flat display technology in order to meet customer's requirements.

Display technologies constructed in accordance with present invention integrate display electrical connections from one offset tessellation layer to one or more other offset tessellation layers, thus, producing a light enhancing screen that projects an even display of light. In light-emitting polymers, this"macro"offset layering can be the poly (p-phenylene vinylene), or PPV layer offset from the CN-PPV layer, including the offset of the protective transparent substrate. These joining lines can be angled to further provide an even display of light where one circuit joins the other. A dramatic advantage of utilizing the present invention for this type of structure, is that to the customer the display appears substantially as one large screen, while to the display manufacturer the screen component sizes are common tessellations and small enough to produce a wide range of sizes, thus reducing costs.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention that incorporates the offset layering of light-emitting polymer tessellations, hexagon tessellations are employed

on one layer, while another layer employs another shaped tessellation, such as square tessellations. (This alternative technique can also be used with the offset layering of hexagon or square building structures). Due to factors such as crystal lattice structure, different materials are prone to effectively produce different types of tessellations. Thus, preferably a material and tessellation matched for optimal configuration parameters.

The offset layering of hexagon building members in accordance with the present invention, is particularly effective when utilized in conjunction with display technologies, because the human eye does not readily distinguish hexagon angles in a scan. Further, the fabrication of display technologies with hexagon building members is complete without the requirement of any hexagon derivative shapes, because the display can be optically turned on or off to make light emit from only half of the hexagon split at the points or flats of the hexagon. Thus, a completely square display can be produced from offset layered hexagon building members. Additionally, uneven edges of the hexagon display assembly can be covered with an opaque frame. In some embodiments of the present invention, more than two layers of tessellations are employed.

The screen technology of a cathode ray tube desktop monitor, or CRT can be combined with a low-power cold cathode to produce a display module less than eight millimeters thick. This technology is known as ThinCRTTM (produced by Candescent Technologies Corporation, 6320 San Ignacio Ave. San Jose, CA 95119) and has been developed with the demands of portable multimedia in mind--to deliver bright true color fidelity, brighter video-rate images with no motion smearing, wider viewing angles and lower power consumption than prior art. The offset layering of hexagon building members in accordance with the present invention is ideally compatible with ThinCRT technology for flat panel displays.

Unlike semiconductor devices, where costs typically decline over time as consumer demands push reducing the size of these devices, the opposite effect is true for displays. Display screens continue to grow larger, and thus, the need for these displays screens to be manufactured with a scaleable technology, such as the hexagon building member offset layering technology of the present invention, continues to increase. By utilizing the present invention, larger sizes of displays screens can be manufactured with

little increase of effort, due to an efficient offset layering tessellation architecture of the present invention. Further, fewer tools and processes are needed than that required by the prior art.

Referring again to FIGURE 56, a preferred embodiment of the present invention incorporates a cathode/backplate 130 is a matrix of row and column traces.

Each crossover lays the foundation for an addressable field of microscopic cathode emitters. Each crossover has up to 5000 emitters, 150 billionths-of-a-meter in diameter.

This emitter density assures a high quality image through manufacturing redundancy, and long-life through low operational stress. Emitters generate electrons when a small voltage is applied to both row (base layer) 131 and column (top layer) 132. This method of emission is known as"cold cathode"and is very power efficient because the devices do not have to be heated. Faceplate picture elements (pixels) are formed by depositing and patterning a black matrix, standard red, green, and blue TV phosphors 134 and a thin aluminum layer 133 to reflect colored light forward to the viewer. A focusing grid is layered on the cathode, collimating electrons to strike the corresponding subpixel, ensuring color purity and power efficiency.

FIGURES 57 and 58 illustrates ThinCRT display utilizing the offset layering hexagonal building member architecture of the present invention. The cathode/backplate circuits 130 and faceplates 137 are aligned by point-to-center offset layering (as described in detail above), and are sealed with the driver electronics attached.

Total display thickness is less than 8 millimeters. Each pixel is illuminated by thousands of tiny electron emitters providing an even display of light through seamless tileable tessellation patterns (preferably hexagons) formed from pixel layers and cathode layers created from a basic geometric hexagon grid. Emmitters produced from carbon nano- tubes need to be circuited and this tessellation offset layering provides a uniform base.

Alternatively, other tessellations can be applied to form the seamless grid, like squares, triangles, or complex shapes.

Beneficially, hexagon grid seams can be at right angles to the surface plane or slightly angled in order to provide an overlapping seam for phosphors application on that angle or a stepped fit ledge. This phosphors placement eliminates the visible seam,

thus, further illustrating the ideal computability of the use of the offset layering hexagonal building member architecture of the present invention with CRT technologies.

Additionally, different CRT technologies can be layered in between different functioning structures of the present invention.

Retroreflective sheeting is based on transparent microprism films (manufactured by Reflexite Corporation 120 Darling Drive Avon, Connecticut 06001).

Microprism retroreflective sheets are produced in a variety of colors and reflect color back to the source of light. These sheets can be cut or cast in hexagon tessellation forms for offset layering in accordance with the present invention, thereby producing images with multiple colors in the same plane. Referring again to FIGURE 8, in a CRT display of the present invention, the red 140, blue 141, and green 142 colored hexagons are selected and joined such that at least one of the six hexagon points 143,144, 145,146, 147, and 148, is touching all three different colors. This allows light projecting through the hexagon from a back light source 149 to be angled such as to allow most desired colors to be produced.

Multiple layers of colors can be applied to achieve the color desired and the color film can be pure transparent colored film or reflective opaque backed film. In one embodiment of the present invention, this type of apparatus is manufactured on a microscopic level. Top electrodes and transparent electrodes are positioned in each of the six hexagon corner locations. Microscopic hexagon sheeting can be manufactured by Frenel Optics 1300 Mount Read Blvd, Rochester New York 14606. Alternatively, grid patterns of other tessellation are utilized in this offset layering architecture of the present invention, since curved tessellations can be easier to shape. However, hexagon is the preferred shape for this optical color grid. In accordance with the present invention, projected or reflective observable colors are also modified by moving a light source large enough to cover several of the colors around the intersecting points of the hexagon- building members. The movement of the light relative to the intersecting points creates the resultant color mix.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the hexagon building structure is constructed from materials that include carbon foam, reticulated aluminum foam, copper foam, sintered metals, cast foams, and molded natural pumice, allowing the

hexagon members to act as heat exchangers (see FIGURES 59 and 60). Fluid heat exchanger tubes fabricated from materials such as copper or graphite are inserted into the alignments fastening holes 4 (shown in FIGURE 1) and stacked in the substantially round hexagon assembly 34 in (shown FIGURES 22 and 23). In another preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger tubes are inserted into the conduit holes 12 located in the plane of the hexagon building structures 7. Hexagon heat exchangers also have tubes positioned axially through the plane. A heat exchanger constructed in accordance with the present invention integrates directly into a building for passive solar heating (or if on the ground, in the floor for ground based cooling). The carbon foam integrates very effectively with a heat exchanger of the present invention since carbon foam has substantially more thermal capability than copper.

Referring again to FIGURE 59, hexagon carbon foam members 200 are clearly shown. The hexagon carbon foam members 200 are the same shape throughout the heat exchanger assembly 201. The heat exchanger assembly 201 is formed from offsetting hexagon carbon foam members 200 in alternating layers (in the same offset layering manner as previously described above with respect to other aspects of the present invention). Heat exchanger tubes 202 are inserted through alignments fastening holes 4 in order to hold the hexagon carbon foam members 2Q0 together, as well as to integrate the thermal conductivity of the carbon foam. Tubes 202 represent the plumbing fluids that are passed during the functioning of a heat exchanger.

Heat exchangers typically require fluid transfer. The assembly of heat exchanger tubes 202 adapt to normal round tubes inherent in heat exchanger design.

Thermalgraph foam (manufactured by Amoco in Atlanta Georgia, U. S. A.) is a sheet of carbon that conducts in the direction of its plane. In one preferred heat exchanger embodiment of the present invention, ThermalgraphQ) foam is integrated as a layer within ORNL carbon foam (which conducts in every direction). Alternatively, Thermalgraph foam is used as a complete replacement for ORNL carbon foam members 200.

Thermagrapht) conducts in the hole where it is cut so it works very well as hexagon 200.

In other preferred embodiments of the present invention solid carbon foam, solid metals, ceramics, carbons, polymers, glasses, or other materials make up heat exchanger

materials. These tubes can be inserted along the plane as shown in the above-mentioned hexagon assembly 201 of FIGURE 59.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a hexagon carbon foam heat exchanger assembly 203 is formed from closely tiled hexagons 200 and tubes 202, as shown in FIGURE 60. The assemblies 203 are close fitting tiled hexagons that are not offset when layered. In this embodiment, the tubes do not hold the hexagons together as in assembly 201. This is an advantageous configuration in an embodiment where the tube bundles need to be pulled apart or spaced for fluid flow. This configuration is also beneficial in an embodiment where a slightly larger offset hexagon assembly 201 is positioned to fix a non-offset hexagon assembly 203 in a controlled space.

In some embodiments, spacers are placed on the hexagons 200 in order to hold the hexagons 200 in a desired space and provide a path for fluid flow between the hexagons 200. (See new drawing with spacers).

FIGURE 63-66 illustrates the preferred hexagonal shaft joint fastener 300 with a threaded ratchet head 302 mating to a hexagon fastener ratchet seat 308 and 309.

FIGURE 64 illustrates a perspective close exploded view of a hexagon 311 with the male hexagonal shaft fastener 300 of FIGURE 63 aligned with the hexagonal molded hole 307 of FIGURE 64. FIGURE 66 illustrates a perspective view of all six hexagonal ratchet fastener seats 308. Male hexagonal shaft joint fasteners 303 are inserted through hexagonal molded holes 307 until head 301 is seated on seat 308. Female threaded head 302 is rotated freely on threads 304, until ratchet 305 contact mating ratchet 309. A spanner wrench is inserted into holes 306 to rotated the head down ratcheting 305 and 309 together, until head 302 seats with 308 on hexagon 311, mechanically compressing layers of two or more hexagons. Ratchet surfaces 305 and 309 prevent the fastener from rotating due to structural vibration, securing the building for the live of building. Ratchet surfaces compress and expand, as they are being forced together or withdrawn by force rotating the head 302. Male fasteners 303 are inserted from the outside, which is the long shaft 303, and cannot rotate out, because of the hexagonal shaft 303 and mating hexagonal hole 307 prevents rotation. Hexagonal shaft 303 has a raised bump 303a to hold the fastener in the hexagon making assembly easier. These raised bumps can be put in

numerous locations to pressure hold the hexagonal shaft in the hexagon during assembly.

This is a tamper proof fastener that cannot be rotated. People can feel secure within the wall side facing head 302 fasteners.

FIGURE 67 is an alternate tamper resistant fastener head 312. The bouquet type fastener 313 flares out on bevel 314 preventing rotation. This is less favorable, because the threads are much smaller to provide the bevel 314. This fastener does not have a need for ratchet 309 in the hexagon, because the bouquet 313 frictions against 314 resists reverse rotation.

FIGURE 68 and 69 is another alternative fastener that provides a male press fit fastener 315 and 1/4-turn fastener 316 that insert into female dowel retainer 317.

Dowel retainer 317 has two female fastener fixtures 318 that are identical and yet provide two separate means of fastener retention press fit flange 319 and 1/4-turin slot 320.

Hexagon dowel plate 321 fits into six hexagon holes 322. Hexagon holes 322 mates to the dowel retainer and fasteners.

In FIGURE 63-69 this invention teaches how a shaped hole can be applied to layer, offset, and layer tessellations like hexagon. Square, triangle, rectangle, polygons, and other infinitely variable curved tileable shapes also have an unmet need to apply a shaped shaft to secure the fastener from one side and compress the building together mechanically in a friction fitting or mechanically locked fastener. These wholes can be slotted so the hexagon pressure is on the side of the hexagons and not on the fastener system. Fastener holes can be rotated as long as all the"shaped fasteners are rotated at the same angle relative to a flat corresponding flat edge. Three holes could be placed around the single fastener to increase strength. Vibration will not rotate the heads off and people outside can not dismantle the building. Shaped fastener shafts will not rotate in a matting hole. The preferred arrangement in this invention is a hexagonal shaft where each of the small hexagon holes are oriented pointing one of the points to each of the six flat sides of the hexagon. This hexagon shaped orientation provides registered holes for offset layering of hexagons. A shaped hexagonal hole is disclosed, but it is understood that other shaft and hole shapes can be applied, if all oriented the same way for symmetrical assembly.

FIGURE 70 is a side view of a preferred fastening means when walls are spaced and filled with straw bales or cast with concrete.

FIGURE 71 is a section view of a fastener head 333 with an insert 334.

These inserts can be cast in or pushed into a barbed molded hole 335. These have mounting value when placing finish sheathing like sheetrock"plasterboard, or decorative paneling. Sheetrock insert 334 would be protruding out past the sheetrock thickness or preferable just below the sheetrock thickness. Sheetrock can be hung on these barbed insets 334 without breaking through the surface of the sheetrock. This does not work on ceiling hung sheetrock and so inset 334 has to penetrate through the sheetrock to locate it and then a washer type fastener is pounded on the barbed insert. Sheetrock is a building code firewall and this building fastener provides the means of hanging sheetrock to the plastic.

FIGURE 72 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred hexagon conduit pattern. A star 400 is formed where the points of the star are located at the mid-point 401 of each flat edge of the hexagon. A rhombus 402 forms at each point 403 of the hexagon.

An inner hexagon 404 forms in the center of the hexagon and is oriented the same as the hexagon perimeter. An equilateral triangle forms between the inner hexagon 404 and mid- point 401. Applying this preferred pattern eliminates conduits that are not matched to others in an assembly. All conduits mate up and form full conduit throughout an assembly. Where hexagons are layers and offset in this invention.

FIGURE 73 illustrates a perspective view of a corner assembly of preferred hexagon conduit pattern in FIGURE 72 and fastener in FIGURES 63,64, 66, and 67.

Applying this pattern is not limited to the fasteners in this invention. FIGURE 73 provides a conduit system 405 that mates and forms full conduit when hexagons 406 are layered in a point to center arrangement with conduit facing the conduit of opposing hexagons 407.

FIGURE 74 illustrates a cross sectional side view of fasteners configured for multiple layers. Fastener 408 can only mechanically lock four other hexagons in this illustration. This invention teaches how any number of layers of hexagons can be fastened together by offsetting the fasteners perpendicular to the face of the hexagons. Each fastener 408 is inserted in the same pair of hexagons 409 and alternately inserted in two

different pairs of hexagons 410 and 411 locking six hexagon layers together. This stepped pattern can continue any number of layers building a locked together wall. Fastener 412 is for the outside or inside wall to finish off the fastener system.

FIGURE 75 illustrates how sheathing panels can be glued to hexagon assemblies to make single structurally insulated panels. Hexagons edges 413 protrude outside the sheathing edge and will assemble into another panel by inserting and overlapping the hexagons in the panel. Glue or fasteners can be inserted through the overlapping hexagons from each full panel locking the panels together.

Curved hexagons can be injected or molded. GE Plastics makes a brand name Norolide and it is the preferred material where users want to meet water fire sprinkler building codes. These GE polymers are ideas to place fill materials in.

Bentonite is a natural mined mineral that has an adsorption of water 100 layers thick on its surface. This mineral is used in paper form and paint form to seal The present invention allows common tessellations to be integrated with tube bundles in order to make heat exchangers in a larger number of geometries, ranging from flat radiator-like devices to flat plane-type heat exchangers. The tubes can be extruded shapes like squares, triangles, hexagons, polygons or other shapes, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Tubes groves can be cut along the plane of these hexagons to make flat plane oriented heat exchangers for floors, walls, working surfaces, and other industrial cooling systems like refrigeration beds. These tube groves in FIGURE 72 and 73 increase structural stability by preventing hexagons from shifting in the plane direction. Some heat exchanger materials like reticulated aluminum foam can be compressed onto the surface of a tube insertions, which may have corrugated surfaces holding the tube and hexagon in rigid location. In another embodiment of the present invention, FIGURE 59 and 60 also illustrate how helium hexagons are assembled to make aircraft fuselages (as will be described in further detail below).

FIGURE 77 and 78 illustrates an alternative fastener comprising a rod or conduit 415 insertion into the common matching plurality of protrusions 431 and 432 up off the plane surface 430 of the hexagons conduits 400 in FIGURES 72 and 73. FIGURE 78 is a cross sectional side view of alternate conduit 400 which provides a plurality of

protrusions 431 and 432 up off the plane surface 430 of the hexagons. These protrusions 431 and 432 have holes 416 and 417, which line up for rod 415 insertion when hexagons are assembled in layers onto each other according to FIGURE 72 and 73. This invention teaches a novel fastener along the conduits, which matches all conduits and fasteners along any conduit formed when two hexagons are assembled as referenced in FIGURES 72 and 73. FIGURE 77 end view 425 of FIGURE 78 425b. FIGURE 78 has a partially assembled cross sectional side view 427 of hexagon 418 and 419 spaced apart by air gap 420, and cross sectional side view 428 with the closure of air gap 420 and insertion of conduit (or rod) 415 into holes 416 and 417 locking hexagon 418 and 419 together. These fasteners provide a long fastener 415 along the length of the hexagon, which can float (relative to the plane of the hexagons), move within holes 416 and 417, due to thermal growth of hexagon or fastener materials. In this preferred embodiment, the hexagon can settle into place and grow and shrink thermally without added stresses to fasteners or materials. Gross movement can occur without the loss of the fastener performance. The weight of the hexagons and the loads placed upon them will compress or pull just hexagons six edges not through fixed fasteners represented in prior art. It is understood that not all hexagons will be a molded plastic ; and alternative materials will be applied where metal plates (or composites) 435 and 436 with holes 416 and 417 could insert in, or replace the protrusions 431 and 432 in the hexagons 418 and 419 conduit 400 receiving insertion of rod 415 (conduit). Optional metal plates 435b and 436b provide a punched tab 437 that snaps and locks the two plates 435b and 436b together eliminating the need for conduit rod 415 insertion.

Figure 79 provides flexible rod extensions 440 out of hexagon assemblies in FIGURE 77 and 78 for roof tarps 441, sports net attachments, wide rain collection, and extensions for cable attachment or insertion into conduits. These roof tarps can be layered for insulation functions and clear for plant green house food growth buildings or sun rooms. Flexible solar voltaic films are also available to attach to rods. Reflective polymers are available in a wide range of plastics, however polyimide materials are preferred clear or reflected polyimide films from SRS Technologies 1800 Quail Street, Suite 101 Newport Beach, California 92660. SRS's films are the only available polyimide thin ins

that are clear/colorless. They also have higher UV resistance, are more transparent, and have greater long-term storage capacities than competing films. Furthermore other potential commercial applications for SRC CP1 and CP2 include integration of electric circuits in a flexible film, inflatable structure for reducing fiom vibration and increasing insulation quality with air or other gases like argon and helium. Inflatable SRC polyimides can also have phase change pyrolytic salts for chemical change brought about by the action of heat. Liquid, gases, and solids can be combines to build inflatable structures that attach to the hexagon structure. SRS's films polyimide thin films that are clear/colorless can enclose adsorbent composites like carbon foam coated with montmorillinites or zeolites to adsorb and desorb adsorbates. Carbon nanotubes can be grown onto a wide range of adsorbents like montmorillinites or zeolites to lower the temperature of desorption of adsorbates like water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds.

Lower temperature passive solar heat can desorb adsorbates from adsorbent composites provided within SRC film envelopes where prior zeolites alone could not desorb.

A super critical fluid MuCell microcellular process is the preferred foam for tessellation building material, because it can be foamed out of virtually any polymer at any density, and filled with a voluminous number of fillers like carbon fibers, glass fibers, ground glass, wood fibers, and other minerals.

A microcellular thermoplastic foam technology was invented at Massachusetts Institute of Technology is being commercialized by Trexel of Wobern, Massachusetts. The innovative new process uses high-cell nucleation rates within the foaming material to create foams with small, evenly distributed and uniformly sized cells (generally 5-50 micron in diameter). Trexel claims have been validated that the foam materials produced by this process, called MuCell), have properties and uniformity superior to conventionally foamed products. MuCell uses Super Critical Fluids (SFCs) of atmospheric gases to create evenly distributed and uniformly sized microscopic cells throughout the polymer. It's suitable for structural-foam molding, as well as other injection-molding applications, blow molding, and extrusion, and does not require chemical blowing agents, hydrocarbon-based physical blowing agents, nucleating agents, or reactive components.

MuCell process enables molders to foam materials that cannot be foamed successfully with conventional technologies, such as high-temperature sulftones, polyertherimides, liquid-crystal polymers, and thermoplastic elastomers such as high- temperature elastomers such as Kraton (g) and SantopreneE3), and realize a 20-50% weight reduction and a reduction in Shore A hardness (M. Some polymers can reduced in weight by 93% and others 9%. There is a wide range of materials that will seal in the small molecule of helium into closed MuCell cells of a polymer.

MuCell microcellular foam process follows four basic steps: 1. GAS DISSOLUTION: A supercritical fluid (SCF) of an atmospheric gas is injected into the polymer through the barrel to form a single-phase solution. The super critical fluid delivery system, screw, and injectors design for the MuCell process allow for the rapid dissolution rate required. This invention teaches a helium gas to produce a buoyant material. 2. NUCLEATION : A large number of nucleation sites are formed (orders of magnitude more than with conventional foaming processes) where controlled cell growth occurs. A large and rapid pressure drop is necessary to create the large number of uniform sites. 3. CELL GROWTH: Cells are expanded by diffusion of gas into bubbles. This invention teaches helium gas diffusion. Processing conditions provide the pressure and temperature necessary to control cell growth 4. SHAPING : Any shaped mold design controls part shape. This invention teaches using polymers that will trap helium permanently. For example, a choice is polycarbonate and combinations of the above-mentioned polymers as well as others. Hydrogen gas can be injected into the foam, but will ignite and this has function where it is desirable to destroy high altitude weather balloons for example. Phosphors can also be introduces into the cells in a controlled manor to provide extruded flat panels TV's or monitors. Mineral fills can be applied to this invention. Minerals like bentonite can be used as fill in this material. This invention teaches a bentonite component montmorillonite, where the mineral is modified to integrate to the polymer and later adsorb moisture in some application as well as just act as a very uniform filler. This invention teaches montmorillinite is the preferred material because it naturally forms a"T"bond from its high negative and positive charge, cat ion sites. The very flat mineral is a best"modified"custom mineral, because it has such a high exposed

surface area to modify to bond to the polymer in a very uniform or surface coating. This invention teaches a modification of montmorillinite where the montmorillinite forms on the wall of the mold in one case and uniformly integrated within MuCell in the other case. Minerals and other metals will combine with montmorillinite. Moisture is the biggest layer on montmorillinite and when injecting polymers with water-saturated montmorillinite (bentonite family of minerals) under the MuCell process the water steams through the polymer structurally reticulating the foam. This produces reticulated foam. Montmorillinite can be viewed as the carrier mineral of a range of other"agents"into the MuCell process. This invention teaches that polymer binders of zeolite molecular sieves can be produced under MuCell's process providing foamed zeolites with increased surface area multiples more than current pellets provide much larger monoliths can be"foamed" with the same effective surface area as thousands of pellets. This type of foam can be cst into hexagons and used for"transpiration"cooling of a building, where the moisture draws the heated molecules out of the building keeping the building cool or frozen, which is dependent on the rate. MuCell's process is ideal for hexagons injected centrally, because a very high energy release occurs during MuCell injection, which naturally wants to form a circle. Hexagons only have six points to fill in not far from the edges of the circular force being stopped by the flat edges of the hexagon.

After hexagons are formed a coating of infrared paint is applied to the hexagon surface reflecting heat away from the hexagons and retaining heat within the hexagon. This paint is similar to Army tank coating used to reduce infrared signature of men within the tanks.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, the foam 3 can be manufactured from many different substances, including but not limited to neoprene, hypalon, vinyl nitrile, nitrile, (NBR), epichlorohydrin, or urethane foam. Closed cell foam is manufactured in several densities. The more air or gas pressure applied during the foaming process, the more or less dense the foam becomes as a final product. Nitrogen gas is typically applied to the gas to make closed cell foam, because trapping nitrogen in the closed cell foam rather than air reduces oxidation. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nitrogen is

replaced with helium, producing a new neoprene closed cell helium material. In the present invention helium gas (or another suitable lightweight gas or gas mixture) is used to form closed cell foam, trapping the lightweight gas in the closed cells.

The present invention advantageously traps helium in the closed cells to produce foam that will float in the air. The foam density is determined by the pressure of gas volume applied to the foaming process and can be very dense or of very low density (to the point of being extremely fragile). The mole weight of helium is 0.004. In one atmosphere, one-cubic foot of helium will lift approximately 0.0646 pounds off the ground. Each engineering project utilizing this invention will determine the requisite helium foam density based on strength and lift requirements. Applications designed to encounter only low levels of stress (such as telecommunications or high atmospheric satellite broadcast and transmission systems) use very low-density fragile foam, because the equipment is installed only once, and with very minimal handling or need of impact resistance. In contrast, a personal airplane will be higher density foam for strength, because of landing impact and frequent human handling.

Helium closed cell foam can be shaped into a hexagon building structures 7, as shown in FIGURE 1. The closed multi-cell material can form many small shapes, including but not limited to tubes, squares, triangle polygons, hexagons, honeycombs, and other shapes, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, loose beads filled with helium are packed in the cavities (like existing aircraft voids) or in hexagon building structures that are specifically engineered to have cavities to hold these beads or relatively small bladders. Multiple balloons are contemplated as well.

Referring now to FIGURE 9, in one embodiment of the present invention, carbon fiber composite sheathings 7a and 7b are applied to the hexagon building structures 7 making them substantial structural panels by adding strength to the helium hexagon foam panel. Long rods, preferable graphite carbon fiber rods (or tubes) are inserted in the alignments fastening holes 4 (shown in FIGURE 1) or another desired location. In yet another embodiment, substantially round hexagon assemblies 34 (shown in FIGURES 22 and 23) are stacked forming the fuselage of a plane or a boat haul. In the

embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURE 44, alignments fastening holes 4 are sized and configured for rod fastener insertion to connect hexagon building structure 7 to hexagon building structures 8,9, 10, as well as any number of other layers and shapes.

In still other embodiments of the present invention, flat wings and shaped wings are derived using the assembly methodology of present invention. Graphite rods, cable, rope, plastic, carbon fiber, tapes, adhesives, or any other fastener can also be used to build desired shapes. Once a shape is constructed, skin can be wrapped around it. The skin is applied using a variety of methods, including but not limited to fiber glassing, carbon fiber spinning, painting, plastic vinyl wrapping, dipping, and shrink-wrapping. Any cavities in the hexagons can be filled with a foaming agent or other material. Hexagons can be built into personal aircraft or industrial aircraft, toys or any other floating application where floating is desired.

Any shape helium foam parts can be tooled by molding, machining, extruding, hot knife, wire cutting, saw, and water jet cutting techniques. Future shaping by extrusion, ultrasonic, dielectric, microwave, and lithography, chemical or laser is also possible. Some embodiments of the present invention utilize helium closed cell foams for buoyant aircraft. Many base materials will foam other than neoprene and are applied in alternate embodiments of the present invention. Aluminum foam is a good candidate for aircraft. Indeed, many metals can be foam manufactured in accordance with the present invention, such as titanium. Flexible foams are also available and are considered good species of foam for helium.

Honeycomb cores are used in the fabrication of lightweight structures typically used in the aerospace and commercial markets and are employed as the material for hexagon building structure 7 in some embodiments of the present invention. The core material is typically"sandwiched"between skins of aluminum or other high strength composite material. A bonding adhesive is used to attach the"skin"material to the honeycomb core while the in the presents of a helium gas trapping the helium in the honeycomb. The resultant honeycomb panel offers one of the highest strength to weight constructions available. Aircraft engine nacelles, flaps, overhead bins, floor panels, and galleys all are constructed from honeycomb core. Honeycombs can be cut into hexagon

shapes, or other tessellations, with fasteners referenced for use in embodiments of the present invention.

Helium gas can be used as the fill gas for the bubbles packaging (such as SealedAir Bubble packaging manufactured by Sealed Air, Park 80 East, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663) making the packaging float in air. This bubble helium packaging can be engineered geometrically to match and be sealed into the honeycomb materials referenced above, by sealing the bubbles packaging in additional skin for strength. The plastic can be selected for adhesive bonding, dielectric, or ultrasonic sealing. This sealed helium packaging is used as filler in many parts of aircraft or other structures in accordance with the present invention.

Applications of this technology range from air floating to water floating structures or devices. Space structures are also possible and would aid earth-launching weight. Toys, signs, planes, bridges, boats, trains, barges, cargo, underwater systems, air or watercraft, manned or unmanned systems are possible. Homes and furniture could be built to float in air. An untrained aviator farmer could apply agriculture chemical or biological agents from air. Any air, water, land, space transport, or fixed floating type device could be assembled from this invention. Extremely lightweight planes can be produced that have an actual weight (without helium) that is substantially larger. Carbon foam and other heat adsorbent material can be employed to heat the helium obtaining extra lift. These materials are covered and uncovered to control heat. Phase change heat storage systems are also applied to the present invention to keep the system in high elevation at night by heat recovery.

Prior art in helium systems consist of bladder or balloon type containment.

None of this prior art could be accelerated in the air without distorting the shape or destruction. A hole in the bladder type configuration generally loses all the gas in that section. A hole of the same size in the present invention does not significantly impact this helium foam because the present invention teaches a closed cell helium foam that compartmentalizes the gas in millions of individual chambers (in the case of large systems). Thus, this structure can float in the air, be cut without dramatically reducing buoyancy, and has structural strength so building structures can be shaped, coated, and

assembled into a variety of configurations. Reticulated foams are open cell, and can still be used as a helium vessel of the present invention, if a coating is placed completely around the foam to seal the helium in the foam.

In still another aspect of the present invention, aircraft related systems are being directed through the air by thin layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver "wafer" (U. S. Patent No. 5,632, 841 Hellbaum et al. ). Motion occurs when high frequency voltage is applied to the wafer driver directing airflow to move the whole aircraft related systems. Hexagon wafers can effectively morph the whole surface of a craft. This technique can be applied to water equipment as well.

Polyimide foam can be foamed in place for installation and repair, resulting in dramatic labor and material cost savings. This low-density foam can be processed into neat or syntactic foams, foam-filled honeycomb or other shapes, and micro spheres. Small glass micro sphere have iron tunnels that cause them to leak helium gas. These same iron tunnels allow glass spheres to be filled with helium, which can then be sealed shut by polyimide thin films or metalizing the iron tunnels shut. These products offer excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, and high-performance structural support, as well as other benefits. Polyimide foam meets aerospace industry demands for high-performance structural foam with increased stiffness but without large weight increases.

The process for this foam begins with a monomeric solution with salt-like properties to yield a homogeneous polyimide precursor solid residuum. The resulting precursor can be processed into polyimide neat or syntactic foams, foam-filled honeycomb or other shapes, and microspheres, all of which produce useful articles through normal foaming techniques. These spheres can be opened vacuumed clean of gas and moisture filled with helium and reclosed. These helium filled foam spheres are ideal for containing the helium, which is a very small molecule that escapes most polymer or latex bladders.

These polyimide foams can be coated around other helium filled foam structures like urethane foam structures or reticulated foam filled with helium to form gas tight monolith helium filled foam. Any composite, such as carbon graphite materials, carbon foams, metal aluminum foam, paper, paper fiber products, cloth, and fiberglass can be coated

with these foams to seal in helium. Very low-density materials can also be coated with polyimide foam to seal in helium.

This process can produce foam and microsphere materials by reacting a derivative of a dianhydride (e. g. , ODPA, BTDA, PMDA) with a diamine (e. g. , ODA, PDA, DDS). A mixture of two or more polyimides can be combined or used separately to make a variety of polyimide foams with varying properties. Foams and microspheres can be fabricated to specific densities from approximately 0.5 to over 20 pounds per cubic foot.

A preferred method of the present invention converts the above-mentioned low-density stable polyimide foam into a low-density stable carbon foam or fiber composite by applying microwave energy. In some methodologies of the present invention, pressure is applied during heating the polyimide resin as an added control of density. The resultant carbon foam is very thermally conductive. Aluminum molds are preferred for this process because they do not require a mold release agent. In some alternate embodiments, other molds are selected because they will bond to the carbon end product and become the final integrated net shape products. Carbon foam, carbon fiber, and graphite composites, are all products that can be produced by microwaving a cast or molded shape of polyimide foam. The foam can be cast, molded, and formed on a variety of materials. This foam is transparent and can be backlit illuminating a building. This foam can me easily molded into curved shapes and dome tessellation components.

The unique quality this stable foam has is its integration to other materials and then conversion to carbon materials by microwave or other heat energy. A preferred embodiment of the present invention microwaves polyimide foams to achieve control of polyimide density. This invention teaches converting carbon materials and controlling density to produce reticulated carbon foam having near original polyimide foam density.

By controlling the density and form of the foam prior to carbonizing the foam, new levels of material density and material integration can occur.

Microwaving is a radiant energy source so when converting polyimide foam to carbon materials only a portion of the foam needs to be converted based on the power and direction the microwaves are directed. Metals like magnetic materials can be

added to the foam prior to microwaving the materials into carbon materials. These metals can be positioned to reflect the microwaves into a pattern that localizes the carbon conversion of the polyimide. Insulators and conductive carbons result from this process.

These processes can be stopped at any point during conversion to get carbon, graphite, or other composites of the polyimide foam. No other process provides the localization of producing insulation and conductive materials as an integrated product. Carbon fibers (chopped, or long fibers), fiberglass, metals, or other fibers can me molded into this composite system. Paper molds can be cast onto and then removed to form complex shapes.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, aluminum foam material is utilized to construct foam panels, hexagon building structures 7, and other tessellation shapes. Additionally, aluminum foam can be applied to obtain a final net shape on the outer structure of a hexagon assembly. Hard aluminum foam cores can have complex exact shapes on the outside. The final outer skin hexagonal composite can also be a unimorph ferroelectric driver"wafer"that provides electronic control of the surface shape. These wafers can be seeded with materials carbon nanotubes (referenced in this invention) can be grown on under a vapor deposition process. High or low density carbon nanotubes will grow on the surface based on the density of the seeded materials. This invention teaches that growing carbon nanotubes on these wafers will enhance the thermal absorption into the wafer. These wafers are made in a variety of shapes and sizes providing a wide range of density requirements to optimize thermal absorption needed to increase the thermal absorption into the wafer and to radiate heat back to the surrounding environment. Carbon nanotubes can be deposited in a straight, curved, zigzaged, and combinations of each shape. Each carbon nanotube is"individually, bonded to the wafer substantially perpindicular to the wafers surface, providing the wafer a wide vibration bending range with no stress to the nanotube. Fluid flow across the carbon nanotubes connected to the wafer can be dipped in fluid7 exposed to air or gas, and integrated into other materials the wafer might be mounted to. Adhesives could be applied to nanotube ends. Zigzagged carbon nanotubes would provide the wafer a predictable spring surface to lay the wafer onto during its operation. Wafers will generate voltage when a thermal

absorption process is applied across the wafers surface; carbon nanotubes increase the efficiency of this process by substantially increasing the surface area. More nanotubes can be provided to one side of the wafer absorbing heat unevenly relative to each wafer surface driving the wafer frequency generating more voltage. Different types of nanotubes can be provided to each wafer side and mixtures of carbon nanotubes types and lengths can be grown on the surfaces to match the thermal source. These wafers can be the hexablock in this invention, where hexsuperelements service processes are applied to optimize the placement of carbon nanotubes to generate the greatest voltage from the selected heat-source. Heat sources can be solar, gas fires, waste heat, or other sources like ice sources. These voltage generating wafers can be mounted between a hot (heat rejection side) and cold side (heat absorption side) of a heat pump system. This invention teaches that the most optimized application of this wafer/carbon nanotube wafer is in the heat pump thermal battery system described in PCT/US01/12369, U. S. Patent Application No. 09/898,758, and United States Patent number 5,813, 248, where a temperature difference is generated and the potential to store the energy is an unlimited time. These wafers are ceramic layers of materials bonded by co-polyimide providing high temperature surfaces for carbon nanotube applications.

Silica carbonate aluminum foam exhibits a combination of qualities not found in other low-density materials including sufficient strength to serve as structural members, good thermal qualities for insulation, resistance to fire and immunity to electromagnetic fields. Aluminum foam is strong enough to build panels without sheathing bonded to each side of the panel, just aluminum foam is needed. Sheathing panels can be bonded into a sandwich arrangement if extra strength is desired in application where thickness and strength need to be at the highest density. Aluminum foam can be heated in shaping the hexagon building structures 7 into curved shapes in order to form a macro-sphere, large tube, aerospace component, boat hull, auto body, or frame components. Final net shape surfaces can be polyimide foams as described above.

During the gas injection stage of aluminum foam production, helium gas can be substituted for air. (Other gases and/or liquids can also be substituted for air and combined with the aluminum foam. ) The combination of low aluminum alloy weight and

helium gas is ideal for making strong air buoyant structures. Heat should be applied along with any other coating to seal the helium into the aluminum foam. Copolymides polyimides, or other suitable materials can be added to the aluminum foam to form a gas tight seal for helium gas. Carbon fiber, carbon foam, ceramic spheres, copper foam, glass, and other structural material can be cast while the foam is in the liquid state. Paper and burnable cores can also be cast forming complex shapes.

Aluminum foam can be cast around a carbon foam or carbon fiber monolith to produce gas tubes. In the case of the carbon fiber, an insulated structural vessel will form around the carbon fiber. A copolymide coating can be applied to the outside of the carbon fiber to form a gas tight seal between the carbon fiber and aluminum foam, The closed cell foam of the aluminum has small fractures that require closure to produce a gas tight seal. This aluminum foam can produce simple structural insulated foam around a pressure vessel. Carbon fiber reduces gas pressure by adsorbing the gas. Natural gas stores at 3000 pounds per square inch (psi) in a typical pressure vessel, but when stored on carbon fiber gas pressure is reduced to 500 psi. The aluminum foam as a structural and insulating material further reduces the possible rupture of a gas pressure or vacuum vessel.

Thus, fuel vessels can be inserted into hexagon building structures to store fuels. ORNL carbon foam referred to above is porous foam and aluminum does not stick to it when it is molded to its surface shape. The porous carbon foam can have air passed through it to foam the silica carbonate aluminum foam materials. The crucible containing the aluminum just prior to foaming would be totally or partially made from carbon foam. This carbon foam will not provide an opening for aluminum to flow through, but does provide an air path for blowing air into the aluminum foam replacing mechanical stirring and air insertion rods that do not make uniform aluminum.

Reticulated aluminum foam can be manufactured by placing the silica carbonate aluminum in a carbon foam closed tube. In one embodiment the mold can be a hexagon mold with the walls of the hexagon a graphite closed surface and two of the opposing flat ends of the hexagon would be porous carbon foam, one to rest the molten aluminum materials on and the other to pull a vacuum. When a vacuum is pulled, the aluminum will foam into a reticulated porous aluminum in the form of a hexagon.

Hexagon molds are used in this example, but any shape will work where there is a carbon foam surface to rest the molten aluminum on and a vacuum surface to pull gas through the aluminum reticulating it.

FIGURE 80 is a rotated illustration of hexagon building blocks injection molded with carbon nanotube polymers in an equilateral triangle attachment arrangement.

FIGURE 81 is a rotated illustration of hexagon building blocks in FIGURE 80 injection molded with carbon nanotube polymers in an equilateral triangle attachment arrangement.

FIGURE 81 is an illustration of hexagon building blocks 1000 injection molded with equilateral triangle male patterns 1001 and female equilateral triangle pattern 1002. Hexagons measure 1-meter (m) flat-to-flat and when two hexagons are assembled the thickness is 150-millimeters (mm). It is understood that any size can be made with any material. Every other equilateral triangle pattern on hexagon 1000 has pattern 1001 and pattern 1002, three each for each hexagon. 50-centimeter (cm) diameter tube 1003 is inserted into hole 1004 after hexagons are assembled onto each other. In FIGURE 80 triangle pattern 1001 and 1002 are assembled onto each other male to female patterns providing an aligned hole 1004 for tube 1003 insertion. Alignment hole 1004 is also an equilateral triangle formed by the three triangle coordinate points aligned on the midpoints of each flat edge of the hexagon. Two triangles are formed and rotated; offset one flat edge forming six tubes all in the same plane and coordinate points relative to rotating the hexagon around six equal times. These holes 1004 align to assembled hexagons and form straight hexagon conduit throughout a wall hexagon assembly. Hexagons can be molded (or cut) along the points or flat edges dividing the hexagon in half that when assembled form flat wall edges. These hexagons can have thermal materials, water maker adsorbents, inserted in-between the wall or in the conduits. The polymers of the hexagon can be made of zeolites or other adsorbents, including any fill materials. NASA/Langley polyimides can be foamed and when burned convert to CO2 and H2O meeting any fire code. These same polyimides can provide the base material for a wide range of fill materials, PZT Pezos- electric (magnetic field shielding), microscopic reflective particles suspended in an infrared transparent matrix binder, and a wide range of gases can be inserted into the foam, like

argon, helium, nitrogen. NASA invented RP46 and 50 polyimides make aluminum foaming possible and provide the base material to substitute the air used to foam with pyrolytic phase change salts to fill the closed cells with a thermal management material.

The heat pump in FIGURE 9 and FIGURE 28 are tooled to insert into these hexagon for climate control.

Water makers are formed from these hexagon assemblies when the optional adsorbent materials are applied in the hexagon wall. Nighttime air moisture is adsorbed by the adsorbents and the daytime heat desorbs the adsorbent (water) from the wall.

FIGURE 81 is a rotated illustration of hexagon building blocks in FIGURE 80 injection molded with carbon nanotube polymers in an equilateral triangle attachment arrangement. Optional double sided hexagon patterns can be provided on hexagons so any number of wall layers can be assembled. It is preferred that he last hexagon be a flat surface in the case where a finish wall is provided. Conduit hole 1004 can also be assembled around a frame structure of tubing connected. Tubing 1003 is connected to tubing to form corners, roofs, floors, and wall structure. The tubing frame alone would provide the outline of the final wall assemble. Liquids can be passed from the grounds to through this tubing to cool or heat the assemble of tubes and hexagons. Magnetic material insertions can be placed into the hexagons to make a magnetic levitation train track invented by Magna Force of Port Angeles Washington. Magna Force proprietary magnetic field can be inserted into hexagon tubes 1004 or mounted onto the hexagon for a ready made track surface. Sensors, electric switching and general wiring can be inserted into the hole 1004. Flexible cables can be inserted into hole 1004 to make suspended walls, floors, roof, bridges, and climbing walls for athletic facilities. FIGURE 80 is an illustration of hexagon building blocks injection molded with carbon nanotube polymers in an equilateral triangle attachment arrangement.

FIGURE 82 illustrates hexagon panels providing curved conduits 1000 and 1002, and 1003 which align when assembled 1004. Radiant fluid heating and cooling tubes applied in flooring, walls, and ceilings for sprinkler systems can not be over curved or they will crack and leak. Hexagon 999 conduits can be curved in a wide range of radius to

Curved hexagons can be injected or molded. GE Plastics makes a brand name Norolide (trademarked Noryl@) and it is the preferred material where users want to meet water fire sprinkler building codes. These GE polymers are ideas to place fill materials in.

FIGURE 82 illustrates hexagon panels providing curved conduits which align for tubing 1101 when assembled.

FIGURE 83 illustrates three hexagon panels 1100 tiled providing curved conduits which align for tubing 1101 when assembled. This illustrates how FIGURE 84 illustrates two hexagon panels layered providing curved conduits 1100 which align for tubing when assembled FIGURE 85 illustrates side view of two hexagon panels in FIGURE 84 providing curved conduits which align for tubing when assembled.

FIGURE 86 illustrates isometric view of three hexagons rotated offset and layered onto three hexagon panels in FIGURE 83 providing curved conduits which align for tubing.

FIGURE 87 illustrates an equilateral triangle molded into a hexagon centrally providing three equally spaced points of six hexagon points, which assemble onto hexagons when rotated.

FIGURE 88 illustrates a side view of a hexagon 1200, trianglel201, and hexagon 1200 stacked into hexagon-triangle-hexagon assembly 1202. an isosceles slot is formed This assembly can be molded into one part. In this invention the parts are bonded with adhesive. Triangle 1201 inserts between the hexagon stack and is also loose as an optional method of assembly.

FIGURE 89 illustrates a single loose triangle 1206 for insertion into hexagon-triangle-hexagon assembly 1202. Assembly 1202 has three triangle voids 1205, which loose triangle 1206 inserts into when assembling a wall or structure. This method of assembly is not offset layering, because the hexagon has three voids 1205 that receive triangle 1206. Holes 1207 are provided for added security when required. The change in the structure relates directly to materials used to make hexablocks. Many materials in the

polymer family creep and thermally grow, while other metal materials or composites of carbon exhibit little growth.

FIGURE 90 illustrates an isometric view of a hexagon with male/female pegs, which replace equilateral triangles assembled exactly like FIGURE 80 and 81. The male peg 1210 and female hole 1211 for receiving male peg 1210 lxs advantages over equilateral triangles, when materials require thermal expansion clearance. Male peg in hole 1210 carries the weight of an assembly, while the hexagon edges provide clearance for said thermal material expansion.

Hexagons can be applied as truck canopy, truck transportation containers, homes, floors for computer wiring, desks, furniture, water makers, ballistic shelters, water ditch walls, aerospace fuselage, auto body, climbing wall, hot-tub cover, and many other applications where sheathing of other types is applied.

The present invention has been described in relation to a preferred embodiment and several alternate preferred embodiments. One of ordinary skill, after reading the foregoing specification, may be able to affect various other changes, alterations, and substitutions or equivalents thereof without departing from the concepts disclosed. It is therefore intended that the scope of the Letters Patent granted hereon be limited only by the definitions contained in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.