Patent ID: 8084117
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: B31D,B32B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. 3-dimensional curved surface structures from expanded sheet material, wherein said sheet material has a finite surface with a boundary, wherein said surface comprises a plurality of slits, polygonal regions and vertex regions distributed over said surface, wherein each said slit has two opposing ends, two opposing sides of finite length joined at said ends and width, wherein each said slit is surrounded by four said vertex regions alternating with four said polygonal regions, wherein one said vertex region each lies at each said end of said slit and another vertex region each lies at each said side of said slit, wherein two said polygonal regions and two said slits meet at each said vertex region in an alternating manner, wherein first said slit meets said vertex region at one of its said ends and second said slit meets said vertex region at one of its said side, wherein expansion of said sheet material is enabled by rotation of each said polygonal region around said vertex region to create an expansion of said slits into four-sided openings, wherein said rotation is enabled by a deformation of said sheet material at said vertex regions without producing a fold in the said vertex region, wherein said shape of said polygonal region remains the same after said expansion, and wherein said expansion is produced by applying an external force to form said sheet material into said curved surface structures.