Abstract:
A polymorphic component comprised of a plurality of telescopic beams  110 , each telescopic beam connects between two ends, the first end is a controller end  120 , and the second end is a free end  130 , the controller ends are arranged in a circle around a central point  140 . Said telescopic beams can be rotated horizontally and/or vertically about the controller ends, and can be protracted or retracted to move the free ends to get closer to/further from the central point. Each three of the free ends can be covered with a covering triangle to form an object&#39;s shape. When the telescopic beams are moved the free ends relocate their positions and the covering triangles change their shapes transforming the object&#39;s shape into other various shapes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pending International Application No. PCT/EG2006/000019, filed May 28, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     In our world there are various types of objects that are designed to serve specific needs, for example, the buildings, the machines, the devices, or even virtual objects on the computer display. Each of these objects has its own unique shape that is usually hard to be transformed into other shapes after constructing the object.  
         [0003]     The present invention enables us to essentially design and construct objects that are able to transform, or “morph” into several different shapes to adapt to various circumstances or needs.  
         [0004]     For example, in case of designing and constructing a building, this building needs to adapt to various future conditions that can affect the built environment such as: (1) changes in temperature, sun orientation or wind direction; (2) changes in the needs or desires of the building&#39;s users towards the building&#39;s functionality; (3) changes in the type/class of the building (e.g., residential to commercial, educational to industrial, etc.); (4) changes in the appropriate building area according to changes in the number of users; (5) changes in the building height or number of stories; (6) changes in the shape of the building or part of it.  
         [0005]     In case of designing a chassis for a computer mouse, this chassis needs to change its shape or dimensions to suite the different users&#39; hands, ages, or personal preferences and uses. Also, in case of modeling a 3D object on the computer display, this 3D object needs to change its form/shape to reach and satisfy specific engineering or artistic requirements.  
         [0006]     The present invention introduces a polymorphic component that is able to transform the shape of many objects into other various shapes in an innovative manner, that includes the aforementioned objects or the like as will be described subsequently.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates the present polymorphic component which is comprised of a plurality of telescopic beams  110 , each telescopic beam connects between two points or ends, the first point is a controller end  120 , and the second point is a free end  130 , the controller ends are arranged in a circle around a central point  140 .  
         [0008]     The position of each controller end doesn&#39;t change while the position of each free end can be changed. The telescopic beam can be rotated horizontally and/or vertically about the controller end. It can also be protracted or retracted to change its span moving the free end to get closer to or further from the central point.  
         [0009]     To clarify the mechanism of the present polymorphic component, assume a polymorphic component with 16 telescopic beams is used as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The free ends of the telescopic beams are symbolized in English letters, respectively, as follows: A 1 , B 1 , C 1 , D 1 , A 2 , B 2 , C 2 , D 2 , A 3 , B 3 , C 3 , D 3 , A 4 , B 4 , C 4 , and D 4 . The letter “0” stands for the central point as illustrated in the figure. The 16 free ends are connected respectively with lines to clarify their relative positions to each other as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  illustrates the connection lines and the free ends of this polymorphic component without showing the other details of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0010]     The 16 free ends or points of this telescopic beam can be divided in many ways. For example, they can be divided into 2 groups each one including 8 points, or 4 groups each one including 4 points, or 2 groups where the first group includes 12 points and the second includes 4 points, etc. Assuming the 4 groups where each group including 4 points is utilized. According to this division, the first group includes the points (A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , A 4 ), the second group includes the points (B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , B 4 ), the third group includes the points (C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4 ), and the fourth group includes the points (D 1 , D 2 , D 3 , D 4 ).  
         [0011]     It is possible to select any one of said four groups and move its telescopic beams similar movements. For example, protracting the telescopic beams of the first group will move the points A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , and A 4  away from the central point “O”, transforming the shape of  FIG. 3  into the shape of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0012]     Also retracting the telescopic beams of the second group will move the points B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , and B 4  closer to the central point “O”, transforming the shape of  FIG. 4  into the shape of  FIG. 5 . Rotating the telescopic beams of the third group counter-clockwise will rotate the points C 1 . C 2 . C 3 . and C 4  counter-clockwise about the controller ends, transforming the shape of  FIG. 5  into the shape of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0013]     In general, the telescopic beams of the present polymorphic component can be moved horizontally, either diametrically to move the free ends to be closer to/further from the central point, or be rotated clockwise/counter-clockwise about the controller ends. Using these simple steps, the 16 free ends of the telescopic beams can be moved to different positions generating a plurality of different shapes.  
         [0014]     FIGS.  7  to  12  illustrate examples of transforming the shape of  FIG. 3  into six different shapes by moving the telescopic beams of the four groups different horizontal movements as previously described. It is possible for two or more free ends to share the same position after the movement as illustrated in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0015]     The previous examples illustrate moving the telescopic beams horizontally; however, it is possible to rotate the telescopic beams vertically about the controller ends to move the free ends vertically away from their original horizontal plane. Accordingly if any group of the free ends is moved vertically then a three-dimensional shape will be formed, for example, FIGS.  13  to  16  illustrate four examples for those three-dimensional shapes resulting from horizontal and vertical movements of the telescopic beams of  FIG. 3 , where each one of these three-dimensional shapes can be transformed to the other.  
         [0016]     Generally, Any three-dimensional shape created by the present polymorphic component can be represented in a numerical table. This is through forming a table divided into a number of groups (G). Each group includes a definite number of free ends or points (P). Each point has three numerical values, the first one is (r) which indicates the total length of the telescopic beam, the second one is (a) which indicates the angle of the horizontal rotation of the telescopic beam about the controller end, and the third one is (h) which indicates the height of the free end from a predetermined plane such as the ground or the zero level. For example,  FIG. 17  illustrates the numerical table that represents the three-dimensional shape of  FIG. 16 .  
         [0017]     To form a numerical table for a simple two-dimensional shape as the one shown in  FIG. 3 , in this case the value of (r) will be the same for each telescopic beam, and the value of (h) will be equal to zero for all the telescopic beams since there is no vertical movement occurred, as illustrated in the table of  FIG. 18 .  
         [0018]     To transform a three-dimensional shape to another using the present polymorphic component, the values of (r, a, h) of the first three-dimensional shape need to be changed to the values of (r, a, h) of the second three-dimensional shape, where in such case the two three-dimensional shapes should have the same number of groups and the same number of points in each group.  
         [0019]     Using the present numerical table enables estimating the movement of the telescopic beams to change their free ends&#39; positions to morph from a three-dimensional shape to another. FIGS.  19  to  21  illustrate three-dimensional shapes that can transform from one to the other employing the numerical tables.  
         [0020]     In general the previous description summarizes the concept of the present polymorphic component to create three-dimensional shapes that are able to transform into several different shapes. The following description provides more technical details and applications for the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a polymorphic component comprised of 16 telescopic beams.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is connecting the 16 free ends of the polymorphic component with lines.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is the free ends and the connection lines of the polymorphic component.  
         [0024]     FIGS.  4  to  12  are examples for transforming the shape of  FIG. 3  into other 2D shapes.  
         [0025]     FIGS.  13  to  16  are examples for transforming the shape of  FIG. 3  into 3D shapes.  
         [0026]      FIGS. 17 and 18  are two numerical tables representing two polymorphic components.  
         [0027]     FIGS.  19  to  21  are 3D shapes that can be transformed to each other.  
         [0028]     FIGS.  22  to  25  are different alternatives for positioning covering triangles.  
         [0029]     FIGS.  26  to  29  are four 3D shapes that are able to transform to each other.  
         [0030]     FIGS.  30  to  33  are a 3D object transforms from a shape to other.  
         [0031]      FIGS. 34 and 35  are L-shape and trapezoid shape transformed to each other.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 36 and 37  are two polymorphic components forming a sloped plane.  
         [0033]     FIGS.  38  to  41  are different views for a 3D object utilizes a polymorphic component.  
         [0034]     FIGS.  42  to  44  are different views for a building utilizing polymorphic components.  
         [0035]     FIGS.  45  to  47  are different views for the former building transforming to other shape.  
         [0036]     FIGS.  48  to  50  are different views for the former building transforming to other shape.  
         [0037]     FIGS.  51  to  53  are three buildings that are able to transform to each other.  
         [0038]     FIGS.  54  to  59  are different alternatives for locating exterior openings of a building.  
         [0039]     FIGS.  60  to  62  are three top views for transforming a virtual polymorphic component.  
         [0040]     FIGS.  63  to  68  are a group of virtual polymorphic components transforming together.  
         [0041]     FIGS.  69  to  74  are a virtual polymorphic component transforming into different shapes.  
         [0042]      FIGS. 75 and 76  are a top view and side view for a polymorphic component.  
         [0043]      FIGS. 77 and 78  are two examples for rotating a plurality of telescopic beams.  
         [0044]      FIG. 79  is a single telescopic beam connected to a spherical joint.  
         [0045]      FIG. 80  is a telescopic beam protracting and retracting to change its span.  
         [0046]     FIGS.  81  to  82  are illustrations for the main parts of the telescopic beam.  
         [0047]      FIGS. 84 and 85  are the housing base of the spherical joints.  
         [0048]      FIG. 86  is a column supports three housing bases near its top.  
         [0049]      FIG. 87  is a collective cylinder connecting the wires of telescopic beams.  
         [0050]      FIG. 88  is a telescopic beam connected to a vertical and horizontal joint.  
         [0051]      FIG. 89  is controlling a free end&#39;s position using three wires connected to columns.  
         [0052]      FIG. 90  is controlling the positions of free ends by wires to change a building&#39;s shape. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0053]      FIG. 13  illustrates one of the created three-dimensional shapes using the present polymorphic component. However, in such three-dimensional shapes; any three ends of the telescopic beams can form a triangle, where this triangle can be covered with a surface. For example, FIGS.  22  to  25  illustrate four alternatives for covering some triangles of the three-dimensional shape of  FIG. 13 , where as illustrated in these figures the number and locations of the triangles vary from alternative to other.  
         [0054]     Moving the telescopic beams relocates the free ends to different positions, and accordingly some covering triangles change their shapes or dimensions. For example,  FIG. 26  illustrates a three-dimensional shape with some covering triangles, where FIGS.  27  to  29  illustrate the same three-dimensional shape with the same covering triangles after moving its telescopic beams to transform into other shapes.  
         [0055]      FIG. 30  illustrates an example for an object with four sides utilizing the present polymorphic component and the covering triangles. FIGS.  31  to  33  illustrate transforming this object into other shapes. As shown in these figures the original shape transformed into other shapes that have five sides instead of four whereas the top side is different from shape to other.  
         [0056]     All the previous examples illustrate a plurality of symmetrical shapes that are transformed into other symmetrical shapes using the present polymorphic component. However, it is possible to utilize the present polymorphic component to transform asymmetrical shapes. For example,  FIGS. 34 and 35  illustrate, respectively, an L-shape and a trapezoid shape that can be transformed to each other using the present polymorphic component. In this case the present polymorphic component utilizes six telescopic beams where two of them can be moved to join the positions of other two while transforming from the L-shape into the trapezoid shape.  
         [0057]     The previous examples illustrate positioning free ends of the telescopic beams on the same height or level; however it is possible to make the free ends located on different heights that form one sloped plane. For example,  FIGS. 36 and 37  illustrate a plurality of free ends of telescopic beams that form a sloped plane that are elevated from the ground level using a column. These types of positioning enable forming a sloped top side for different objects.  
         [0058]      FIG. 38  illustrates an isometric projection for an object utilizing the present polymorphic component,  FIG. 39  illustrates a side view,  FIG. 40  illustrates a top view, and  FIG. 41  illustrates a cross-section for this object where telescopic beams  150  supported on a column  160  appears inside. In such case as illustrated in the cross-section there is no need for the telescopic beams to join the ground level since some covering triangles  170  are connected to the ground using fastening joints at the triangles corners.  
         [0059]     As previously mentioned the present invention can be utilized for different applications or objects. For example, in the buildings applications;  FIG. 42  illustrates a floor plan for a building design in a shape of octagon. The building consists of nine spaces, eight of them are trapezoidal and the ninth is octagonal, where each space has one polymorphic component inside supported on a column  180 .  FIG. 43  illustrates an isometric projection for this building, and  FIG. 44  illustrates the main elevation of the building.  
         [0060]      FIG. 45  illustrates a floor plan for the same building after moving the telescopic beams of the polymorphic components to change the shapes of the original spaces into rectangles or L-shapes.  FIG. 46  illustrates an isometric projection for the transformed building, while  FIG. 47  illustrates the elevation of this building. It is noticed that the ceiling height of the space which is in the center of the building is raised, while the heights of the other spaces remained the same. Also some covering triangles of some spaces are moved to touch the columns of these spaces after retracting their telescopic beams to the zero value.  
         [0061]     FIGS.  48  to  50  illustrate, respectively, the floor plane, the isometric projection, and the elevation of the same building after moving the telescopic members of the polymorphic components to again change the design/shape of the building.  FIGS. 49 and 50  illustrate the change of the height and declination of the building roof comparing to the original building design.  
         [0062]     FIGS.  51  to  53  illustrate three exteriors for other three buildings that can be transformed to each other using the present polymorphic components as described previously. However, using the polymorphic components and the covering triangles enables us to dismantle and transfer the building to another site, or even store the complete building after disassembly for future user.  
         [0063]     In such buildings applications; the covering triangles are needed to be made of elastic sheets to enable changing their shapes or dimensions during the movement of the telescopic beams. It is also possible to use triangles that can easily be disassembled before the movement and reassembled afterwards. However, there are some types of movements that do not change the dimensions of the covering triangles, where in such cases, there is no need to use elastic sheets, or to disassemble and reassemble the covering triangles as mentioned previously.  
         [0064]     The triangular formations of the free ends of the telescopic beams provide great flexibility to choose the locations of the exterior openings or windows. FIGS.  54  to  59  illustrate a building exterior with different alternatives for locating the windows or the skylights, where such triangular windows or skylights can be made of a transparent material that allows the natural daylight.  
         [0065]     In general it is possible to use more than one polymorphic component for a single space, when this space is too wide or long, this is to enable reducing the dimensions of the telescopic beams. It is also possible to use the present polymorphic components to morph a certain part of a building such as the ceiling or the façade; thus, the other parts of the building remain without movement. In cases such as these, the present polymorphic components are integrated with the other fixed parts of the building.  
         [0066]     The previous examples describe using the present polymorphic component for the buildings, however, the polymorphic components can be employed for other different objects such as machines body, devices body, or the like. The main difference in these cases will be the dimensions of the polymorphic components that need to match the size or the dimensions of the different objects  
         [0067]     Another application for the present polymorphic components is in the field of 3D computer modeling. FIGS.  60  to  62  illustrate a top view for a virtual polymorphic component with a plurality of free ends and colored covering triangles presenting on a computer display. When the free ends are moved on the computer display the virtual polymorphic component changes its shape with each movement. To enable the computer user to control changing the positions of the free ends s/he will drag any point of any group of the free ends and move it on the computer display where the other points of the same group will be moved similarly relative to the central point of the virtual polymorphic component.  
         [0068]     FIGS.  63  to  68  illustrate another example, where a virtual polymorphic component is repeated on the computer display. In this case when the user moves any point of the free ends of a virtual polymorphic component all the points of the same group of all the repeated virtual polymorphic components will be moved similarly relative to their central points on the computer display. Each little movement of a point will create a new pattern, thus the user can create a great number of different patterns with just moving one point or more. As illustrated in these figures; the shape of each virtual polymorphic component is illustrated beside its pattern.  
         [0069]     FIGS.  69  to  74  illustrate another example for utilizing a virtual polymorphic component to create a plurality of 3D objects on the computer display, where these objects can be transformed to each other. In this example the user can drag any point of the free ends where each dragging of a point creates a different 3D object. In this case the points dragging can be horizontally parallel to the xy-plane of vertically perpendicular to the xy-plane.  
         [0070]     In such 3D computer modeling applications there is no need for the telescopic beams to appear on the computer display since the appearance of the points of the free ends is enough for the user to create different 2D or 3D objects. One of the advantages of these 3D computer modeling applications is the covering triangles which can intersect with each other on the computer display generating unique intersected shapes.  
         [0071]     Generally, the innovative concept of the present polymorphic components is simple and straightforward, and can utilize a number of existing technologies to easily and inexpensively achieve the different applications. However there are some alternatives for carrying out the polymorphic components where each alternative suites a specific application.  
         [0072]     In the 3D computer modeling applications, to enable the user to initiate creating a virtual polymorphic component; s/he will need to specify the number of the groups of the free ends, and the number of the free ends in each group. The user can connect between any three points of the free ends on the computer display to indicate the existing of a covering triangle; s/he can also choose the color of each covering triangle. After that; when the user drags any point of the free ends on the computer display the points of the same group will be moved similarly relative to the central point, as previously described, creating a new object shape with each horizontal or vertical dragging of a point.  
         [0073]     In the buildings applications,  FIGS. 75 and 76  illustrate schematically a top view and a side view for a polymorphic component that can be used for the buildings. It is comprised of a number of telescopic structural beams  190  and a column  200 . Each telescopic beam is supported at one end on the column using a spherical joint  210  where the other end is free.  
         [0074]     The spherical joints enables the telescopic structural beams to be rotated horizontally and/or vertically.  FIGS. 77 and 78  illustrate two examples for rotating the telescopic structural beams about the spherical joints to relocate the positions of their free ends.  
         [0075]      FIG. 79  illustrates one of the telescopic structural beams  220  and a spherical joint  230  with the x, y, and z-axis.  FIG. 80  illustrates a spherical joint  240  and a telescopic structural beam that is comprised of a plurality of telescopically-interconnected members  250  that can tangentially protract and retract to change the span of the telescopic structural beam. According to the ability of the telescopic structural beam to rotate about the spherical joint horizontally and/or vertically and to change its span, the free ends of the telescopic beams can be moved to relocate their positions in three dimensions.  
         [0076]     FIGS.  81  to  83  are, respectively, a top view, a side view, and an isometric projection for a telescopic structural beam illustrating its main components. It is comprised of; (a) plurality of interconnected cylindrical members  250  that slide inside each other telescopically to change the span of the telescopic structural beam, (b) an interior wire  260  running along the insides of the interconnected cylindrical members to connect between the free end of the outer cylindrical member and a pulley which controls the retraction of the telescopic structural beam by dragging the wire to a specific limit. (c) a spring  270  inside each interconnected cylindrical member except the outer one to control the protraction of the telescopic structural beam, when the wire is relieved. (d) a spherical joint  280  to allow the telescopic structural beam to rotate horizontally or vertically. (e) two vertical wires  290  connecting the top outer surface of the innermost cylindrical member to two pulleys, so that when the two wires are pulled, the telescopic beam rotates vertically anti-clockwise, and when the two wires are relieved gradually, the telescopic structural beam rotates vertically clockwise. (f) two horizontal wires  300  connecting the outer side surface of the innermost cylindrical member to two other pulleys, so that the two pulleys control the horizontal rotation of the telescopic structural beam, when one of the wires is pulled and the other is relieved; the telescopic beam rotates in the direction of the pulled wire.  
         [0077]      FIG. 84  illustrates a housing base for spherical joints which includes a number of sockets  310  to house the spheres of the spherical joints.  FIG. 85  illustrates dividing the housing base into two symmetrical parts  320  to ease opening it to fit or remove the telescopic structural beams in case of replacement.  
         [0078]      FIG. 86  illustrates a column  330  supports three housing bases  340  that are fixed near the top of the column. Allocating one housing base for each group of the telescopic structural beams is important when each group is needed to be moved separately.  
         [0079]      FIG. 87  illustrates a method of connecting a plurality of wires  350  of a group of telescopic structural beams  360  to a collective cylinder  370  to be fixed near the top of a column. This technique helps reducing the bending moment on the spherical joints and gives more stability to the structure of the polymorphic component.  
         [0080]     There are some advantages of using the collective cylinder, for example when it moves or slides vertically on the column this movement will make all the telescopic structural beams rotate vertically. Also, when the collective cylinder is rotated horizontally about the column the entire group of telescopic beams rotate horizontally. Moving or rotating the collective cylinder is a simple way to move a group of telescopic structural beams together.  
         [0081]      FIG. 88  illustrates another alternative for the telescopic structural beams that utilizes a horizontal joint  380  and a vertical joint  390  with the interconnected cylindrical members  400 , where a U-connection  410  connects between the horizontal joint and the vertical joint as shown in the figure. The horizontal joint and vertical joint replace the spherical joint, where the horizontal joint enables the telescopic structural beam to rotate horizontally, and the vertical joint enables the telescopic structural beam to rotate vertically.  
         [0082]     It is possible to control the movements of the telescopic structural beams and accordingly control the movement of the object that utilizes the present polymorphic components by some types of sensors. For example, in the buildings applications; the sensors can detect specific data from the surrounding environment; though some program; the suitable movement is calculated to make the building respond toward the detected data. Such sensors are excellent to detect the change of temperature, sun orientation or wind directions.  
         [0083]     Another alternative for carrying out the polymorphic components in the buildings applications, is to utilize three wires where each one of these wires is pulled to have a specific length where the three specific lengths of the three wires determine the position of the free end.  FIG. 89  illustrates a free end point  420 , three columns  430  surround the free end, where three wires  440  connecting between the free end and each column. Each position of the free end can be determined by three specific lengths of the three wires, and accordingly when the three wires are pulled to reach these specific lengths the free end is moved to the determined position. In such application the three columns should be higher than any position the free end will be moved to.  
         [0084]      FIG. 90  illustrates an example for a polymorphic component utilizes wires as previously described. In this figure, there are four free ends  450  forming a building, a single column  460  inside the building, and other four columns  470  surround the building. Each free end is connected by three wires  480 ; one wire to the single column  460  and other two wires to two of the other four columns  470 . Changing the lengths of three wires that are connected to a free end changes the position of this free end as previously explained. The main advantage of using the wires technique is simplifying the use of the present polymorphic components.