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[0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/381,757, filed May 16, 2002, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    The invention relates to geometrically shaped buildings, and more particularly, to constructing geodesic domes.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    A geodesic dome is a type of structure constructed with straight elements that form interlocking polygons. The structure is comprised of a complex network of polygons, usually triangles, which form a roughly spherical surface. The more complex the network of polygons, the more closely the dome approximates the shape of a sphere.  
           [0004]    There have been many different techniques studied to construct a geodesic dome, including constructing the geodesic dome with a framework or without a framework. The techniques include using permanent rods and connectors as a framework, using interlocking panels as a framework, and using interlocking panels without a framework. The techniques that use frameworks may further include enclosing the framework. Many of these techniques may involve hard labor and machinery to lift heavy materials. The geodesic domes may take weeks or even months to construct.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    In general, the invention is related to techniques for constructing geodesic dome structures. The techniques may be used, for example, for constructing geodesic domes with relatively small numbers of people and little strenuous labor. As described in detail, a set of temporary spacers and a set of connectors are assembled to form the geometries of a geodesic dome. More particularly, the temporary spacers reference the connectors with respect to one another in space to form the geometries of a geodesic dome structure. For example, the set of temporary spacers may be fastened to the connectors with fasteners such as nails, screws, bolts, or clamps. Alternatively, one or more strands of wire may be attached between the connectors to create a wire mesh. The wire mesh may be erected to form the geometries of the geodesic dome. In this manner, the strands of woven wire act as the temporary spacers.  
           [0006]    Permanent structure members are added to form a permanent geodesic dome structure. For example, the permanent structure members may consist of wood, steel, or the like and may be fastened to the connectors in order to give the geodesic dome structure permanence. Alternatively, a curing material, such as a spray-on cement or epoxy, may be applied to the geodesic dome structure created by the set of temporary spacers and connectors. In some embodiments, the permanent structure members may enclose the geodesic dome structure. However, in the case in which the permanent structure members do not enclose the geodesic dome structure, panels may be fastened to the geodesic dome structure in order to enclose it.  
           [0007]    The temporary spacers may be removed from the geodesic dome structure. For example, the temporary spacers may be removed as permanent structure members are fastened to the connectors. In the case in which the temporary spacers are removed, the temporary spacers may be connected to another set of connectors to form the geometries of another geodesic dome. In this fashion, the construction of geodesic dome structures may be done in an assembly line fashion. However, the temporary spacers may remain fastened to the connectors and become a passive part of geodesic dome.  
           [0008]    In one embodiment, the invention provides a method comprising assembling a set of connectors and set of temporary spacers to form the geometries of a geodesic dome. The method further comprises fastening permanent structure members to the connectors to form a permanent geodesic dome structure.  
           [0009]    In another embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus comprising a set of connectors and a set of temporary spacers that are connected to the connectors to form the geometries of a geodesic dome. The apparatus further includes a set of permanent structure members that fasten to the connectors to form a permanent geodesic structure.  
           [0010]    The invention can provide a number of advantages. In general, the invention provides techniques for constructing geodesic domes with relatively small numbers of people and little strenuous labor. Further, the geodesic domes may be constructed in a relatively short period of time, e.g., hours or days. Constructing geodesic domes with small numbers of people, little strenuous labor, and in a short amount of time may be particularly useful for providing shelter for those who have lost homes from natural disasters, wars, or similar catastrophic event.  
           [0011]    Further, the pieces of the geodesic dome, i.e., the temporary spacers, the connectors, the permanent structure members and the panels may come in a kit. The pieces may be color-coded to allow easy construction of the geodesic dome. For example, an illiterate person may construct the geodesic dome using the color-coded pieces. Also, the pieces of the geodesic dome may be constructed of materials that are cheap to produce in order to reduce the cost of the kit. The temporary spacers and other components may be manufactured to extremely small tolerances, thus assuring the completed domes will approach the theoretical geometries of the desired dome, in turn, increasing the stability of the dome. The fine precision in manufacturing the components of the dome also promotes ease of assembly.  
           [0012]    The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings and from the claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a set of connectors referenced with respect to one another in space to form the geometries of a geodesic dome structure.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating exemplary spacers used to construct the geometries of a geodesic dome structure.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary connector used to construct the geometries of a geodesic dome structure.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a plan view of spacers arranged on a flat surface to illustrate the relation between the spacers before the spacers are collectively joined to create the geometries of a geodesic dome in space.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross section of a geodesic dome structure.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the construction of a geodesic dome structure.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a spacer, which also serves as a panel structure member that provides the permanent support structure of a geodesic dome, while concurrently enclosing the geodesic dome.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an erected wire mesh that references a plurality of connectors with respect to one another in space to form the geometries of a geodesic dome.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal view of the wire mesh of FIG. 8.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating the construction of a geodesic dome using wire mesh.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross section view of a geodesic dome constructed using a curing material.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating the construction of geodesic dome of FIG. 11.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a spacer that includes variable spacer arms that may be used to generate domes of various diameters. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a set of connectors  14  referenced with respect to one another in space to form the geometries of a geodesic dome structure  10 . A set of temporary spacers  12  is fastened to a set of connectors  14  to reference connectors  14  with respect to one another in space, forming the geometries of geodesic dome  10 . Temporary spacers  12  may be fastened to connectors  14  with fasteners such as screws, bolts, nails, clamps, or the like.  
         [0027]    Temporary spacers  12  may be constructed of a rigid, yet lightweight material such as plastic, Styrofoam, or the like. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, temporary spacers  12  are formed in the shape of triangles. However, temporary spacers  12  may be formed in the shape of any polygon or other shape that will define and hold the geometries in space until the desired geometries are fixed permanently in space. All temporary spacers  12  of geodesic dome structure  10  need not be the same size. For example, temporary spacers  12 A may take the shape of isosceles triangles, whereas temporary spacers  12 B may take the shape of equilateral triangles.  
         [0028]    Connectors  14  are constructed from materials such as steel, plastic, or the like. Connectors  14  may be constructed to fasten to any number of temporary spacers  12 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there are two types of connectors  14 , each with a different shape. Connector  14 A is a connector taking a shape similar to a hexagon, in that it fastens to six of temporary spacers  12 , whereas connector  14 B takes a shape similar to a pentagon. Connectors  14  may take the shape of numerous polygons depending on the number of temporary spacers  12  that fasten to connector  14 . Alternatively, connectors  14  may take the shape of circles or other curved shapes. For example, connector  14  may be a circular piece, much like a link of a chain. The vertex of temporary spacers  12  may attach to one of circular connectors  14 . Spacers  12  may rotate around the connector to seek an appropriate angle between spacer  12  and connector  14 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating exemplary temporary spacers  12  used to construct the geometries of a geodesic dome structure  10 . FIG. 2(A) shows a spacer  12 A′, which takes the shape of an isosceles triangle. The material of spacer  12 A′ may form an outline of a triangle, that is, the sides of spacer  12 A′ may form a border that creates a triangular shaped hole  20  in the center of spacer  12 A′. FIG. 2(B) shows a spacer  12 A″, which also takes the shape of an isosceles triangle. Spacer  12 A″, unlike spacer  12 A′, does not form a hole  20 . Instead, spacer  12 A″ resembles a solid sheet of material shaped like a triangle. As mentioned previously, temporary spacers  12  may take the shape of any number of polygons. Furthermore, temporary spacers  12  may be a straight piece of material, such as a temporary strut.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary connector  14 A used to construct the geometries of a geodesic dome structure  10 . FIG. 3(A) shows a top view of connector  14 A. The top view of connector  14 A shows that connector  14 A takes the shape of a hexagon. Connector  14 A may be formed of one solid piece of material. Alternatively, connector  14 A may be formed of multiple pieces of material that fit together to form connector  14 A. For example, six triangular type pieces may be fastened together at appropriate angles to form connector  14 A. Connector  14 A may take the shape of any polygon. For example, connector  14 B of FIG. 1 takes the shape of a pentagon.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3(B) shows a side view of connector  14 A. The side view of connector  14 A shows an outer shell  26  of connector  14 A, which has an angle of inclination, as opposed to being flat. The angle of inclination allows straight structures to be attached to connector  14 A to form the structure of dome  10 . Alternatively, connector  14 A may be flat and the attaching structures may have an angle of inclination. The angle of inclination may be different depending on the shape of connector  14 A. Furthermore, the angle of inclination may be different depending on the type of dome  10  that is to be constructed. For example, a dome  10  with a larger radius may have a smaller angle of inclination.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3(C) shows a section view of connector  14 A. Connector  14 A includes an outer shell  26  and an inner shell  28 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3(C), outer shell  26  is separated from inner shell  28  by the material from which connector  14 A is constructed. However, a chamber of air may separate the shells  26 ,  28  in order to make connector  14 A lighter. Inner shell  28  of connector  14 A consists of a set of triangular shaped walls  30 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3(C), inner shell  28  is constructed with six triangular shaped walls  30 , three of which are shown. Each of walls  30  may have a fastening member  32  extending inward. Fastening member  32  may be a clamp, a bolt, a screw, or the like. Alternatively, each of walls  30  may have a receiving member (not shown in FIG. 3(C)). The receiving member would accept fastening members that may be adhered to a spacer  12 , a permanent strut, a panel, or the like.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a plan view of temporary spacers  12  arranged on a flat surface to illustrate the relation between the spacers before the spacers are collectively joined to create the geometries of a geodesic dome  10  in space. The plan view illustrates the relation of temporary spacers  12  with respect to one another. The structure of geodesic dome  10  is created using a set of connectors  14 A,  14 B, a plurality of temporary spacers  12 A and a plurality of temporary spacers  12 B. Spacers  12 A take the shape of isosceles triangles. Spacers  12 A may have holes  20  as spacer  12 A′ of FIG. 2, or be a solid sheet of material as spacer  12 A″ of FIG. 2. Spacers  12 B take the shape of equilateral triangles and, like spacers  12 A, may have holes  20  or be a solid sheet of material. It should be noted that FIG. 4 is not drawn to scale. For example, all of spacers  12 A are of the same size and shape, as are spacers  12 B.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross section of a geodesic dome structure  10 . Geodesic dome structure  10  comprises a plurality of temporary spacers  12  that fasten to a plurality of connectors  14  to form the geometries of geodesic dome structure  10 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the geometries of dome  10  are constructed with three tiers of temporary spacers  12 . Any number of tiers of temporary spacers  12  may be used depending on the size of dome  10  that is to be constructed. Each of temporary spacers  12  connects to at least one of connectors  14  via fastener  36 . Fastener  36  may extend from connector  14  and be received by spacer  12 . Alternatively, fastener  36  may extend from spacer  12  and be received by connector  14 . Fastener  36  may not extend from either spacer  12  or connector  14 , but instead may be a separate entity that fastens spacer  12  to connector  14  such as a bolt, screw, clamp, nail or the like.  
         [0035]    Geodesic dome  10  further comprises a set of permanent structure members  38  that may be fastened to connectors  14 . Permanent structure members  38  may be formed to have a receiving member (not shown in FIG. 5) to receive a fastener  32  that may extend from connector  14 . Alternatively, fastener  32  may extend from permanent structure member  38  and be received by connector  14 . Fastener  32  may not extend from either structure member  38  or connector  14 , but instead may be a separate entity that fastens connector  14  to structure member  38 , such as a bolt, screw, clamp, nail or the like. Permanent structure member  38  may be fastened to connector  14  on the outside of spacer  12 . Alternatively, structure member  38  may be fastened to connector  14  on the inside of spacer  12 . Permanent structure member  38  may be constructed from materials such as wood, plastic, steel, cable, or the like.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the construction of a geodesic dome structure. A set of temporary spacers  12  is fastened to a set of connectors  14  to reference connectors  14  in space relative to one another ( 40 ). Connectors  14  and temporary spacers  12  form the geometries of geodesic dome structure  10 . Temporary spacers  12  may be fastened to connectors  14  using bolts, screws, nails, clamps or the like. Temporary spacers  12  may be fastened to connectors  14  beginning from a tier nearest the ground and building upwards. Alternatively, temporary spacers  12  may be fastened to connectors  14  beginning with a top tier and building downwards. Geodesic dome structure  10  formed by connectors  14  and temporary spacers  12  may be sturdy enough to stand freely.  
         [0037]    Once temporary spacers  12  and connectors  14  form the geometries of geodesic dome structure  10 , permanent structure members  38  may be fastened to connectors  14  to make geodesic dome structure  10  permanent ( 42 ). Permanent structure members  38  may be fastened to connectors using bolts, screws, nails, clamps or the like. As mentioned above, structure members  38  may be fastened either outside or inside of spacer  12 . As with temporary spacers  12 , structure members  38  may be fastened to connectors  14  beginning from a tier nearest the ground and building upward or from a top tier and building downward.  
         [0038]    Temporary spacers  12  may be removed as permanent structure members  38  are fastened to connectors  14  ( 44 ). For example, after fastening one of permanent structure members  38  to connectors  14  along each of the three sides of one of spacers  12 , spacer  12  may be removed. However, temporary spacers  12  may remain in place until all of permanent structure members  38  are fastened to connectors  14  and then temporary spacers  12  may be removed. Temporary spacers  12 , once removed, may be discarded. Alternatively, the removed temporary spacers  12  may be used to reference another set of connectors  14  to form the geometries of another geodesic dome  10 . In this fashion, the construction of geodesic dome structures may be done in an assembly line fashion. However, spacers  12  may remain fastened to connectors  14  and become a passive part of geodesic dome  10 .  
         [0039]    Panels may be attached to permanent structure members  38  and connectors  14  to enclose geodesic dome structure  10  ( 46 ). The panels may be attached to connectors  14 , to permanent structure members  38 , or both. The panels may be attached to connectors  14  in the same fashion as attaching structure members  38  to connectors  14 . The panels may be attached to permanent structure members  38  using fasteners such as bolts, screws, nails, clamps or the like. Instead, panels may be constructed with grooves, which receive structure members  38 . The panels may be made of weatherproof material such as plastic, fiberglass, or the like. Permanent structure members  38  may, instead, be constructed in the form of a panel. In this manner, permanent structure members  38  may provide the permanence of the geodesic dome structure as well as enclose the geodesic dome structure.  
         [0040]    Temporary spacers  12 , connectors  14 , permanent structure members  38 , and the panels may come in a kit. The kit may come with spacers  12 , connectors  14 , permanent structure members  38 , and the panels color-coded in order to aid in the construction. The kit and construction method provide a way of constructing livable geodesic structures in a matter of hours, and with little manual labor. It may be useful for providing shelter for those who have lost homes from natural disasters, wars, or the like. However, the geodesic dome structures may have alternative uses such as an advertising billboard or decoration.  
         [0041]    Temporary spacers  12  and other components may also be manufactured to extremely small tolerances, thus assuring the completed domes will approach the theoretical geometries of the desired dome, in turn, increasing the stability of the dome. The fine precision in manufacturing the components of the dome also promotes ease of assembly.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram illustrating spacer  50 , which also serves as a panel structure member that references the connectors with respect to one another in space as well as provides the permanent support structure of geodesic dome  10  and concurrently encloses geodesic dome  10 . Spacer  50  comprises a panel  52 , which has an embedded permanent structure member. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, panel  52  has an embedded cable  54  that provides spacer  50  with the capacity to serve as a permanent structure member, as well as an enclosing member. Other permanent structure members, such as wood, steel, plastic or the like, may be embedded in panel  52  to provide the necessary support. Embedded cable  54  forms a loop  56  at each vertex of spacer  50 . The loop  56  of embedded cable  54  creates an opening  58 . Opening  58  may be used to attach spacer  50  to connector  14 . Spacer  50  may be shaped like an isosceles triangle, equilateral triangle, or any other polygon. Panel  52  may be constructed of a material that is not strong enough to provide the permanence of geodesic dome  10  such as a synthetic material, a thin plastic or the like.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross section view of spacer  50  of FIG. 7A from D to D′. Loop  56  of embedded cable  54  creates opening  58 . Opening  58  may fasten to connector  14 . Cable  54  may be embedded near the edge of panel  52 . Furthermore, cable  54  may be embedded elsewhere throughout panel  52 .  
         [0044]    Spacer  50  may fasten to connector  14 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, opening  58  created by loop  56  of embedded cable  54  receives fastening member  32  of connector  14 . Loop  56  of panel structure member  50  may be held firmly in place by the tension in the cable after each of loops  56  has been attached to corresponding connectors  14 . Alternatively, an epoxy, glue, bolt, nail, or the like may aid in keeping loop  56  fastened firmly to connector  14 . Furthermore, a cap may be placed on the end of fastening member  32 . The cap may prevent loop  56  from sliding off the end of fastening member  32 .  
         [0045]    Using spacer  50 , referencing connectors  14  in space with respect to one another, providing permanence to geodesic dome  10  and enclosing geodesic dome  10  may be done in the same step. For instance, instead of placing permanent structure members  38 , removing temporary spacers  12  and attaching panels to enclose dome  10 , spacer  50  may be fastened to connectors  14 . Spacer  50  may reduce the number of steps in the construction process of geodesic dome  10 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an erected wire mesh  55  that references a plurality of connectors  14  with respect to one another in space to form the geometries of a geodesic dome  10 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, temporary spacers  12  were used to reference connectors  14 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of strands of woven wire  57  is attached between each of connectors  14  to create a wire mesh  55 . In this manner, the strands of woven wire act as temporary spacers. Wire mesh  55  may be used to reference connectors  14 . Strands of wire  57  may be pre-cut to the proper lengths. Alternatively, strands of wire  57  may need to be cut to proper lengths during the construction process. Strands of wire  57  attached to connectors  14  form wire mesh  55 . In order to reference connectors  14  with respect to one another in space, wire mesh  55  may be erected. Temporary support platforms, a crane or the like may be used to erect wire mesh  55 . The wire strands may be constructed of flexible material such as nylon.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal view of the wire mesh  55  of FIG. 8 being erected using a temporary support platform  60 . Temporary support platform  60  has a plurality of temporary beams  62  that extend from platform  60  to connectors  14 . Each connector  14  of the mesh  55  is erected by one of beams  62 . Instead of all of beams  62  being collected at platform  60 , each of beams  62  may extend from corresponding connector  14  straight to the ground. Beams  62  may be constructed of wood, steel, plastic or the like.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating the construction of geodesic dome  10  using wire mesh  55 . A strand of woven wire  57  is attached between each of connectors  14  and its neighboring connectors  14  to create a wire mesh  55  ( 66 ). In this manner, the strands of woven wire act as the temporary spacers. Strands of wire  57  may be pre-cut to the proper lengths. Alternatively, strands of wire  57  may need to be cut to appropriate lengths during the construction process. Furthermore, a single strand of wire  57  may be attached between two or more connectors  14 . In fact, one strand of wire may attach to all of connectors  14 . Wire mesh  55  may be erected to form the geometries of geodesic dome  10  ( 68 ). Once erected, wire mesh  55  references connectors  14  with respect to one another to form the geometries of geodesic dome  10 . Wire mesh  55  may be erected in numerous fashions, including using temporary support platform  60 , using a crane or the like.  
         [0049]    Permanent structure members  38  may be fastened to connectors  14  of wire mesh  55  to form the permanent structure of geodesic dome  10  ( 70 ). Permanent structure members  38  may be placed on top of or under each strand of wire  57 . As permanent structure members are being placed, wires  57  may be removed ( 71 ). Alternatively, the entire wire mesh  55  may be removed at the same time. However, wires  57  may remain as a passive component of geodesic dome  10 . Beams  62  of temporary support platform  60  may also be removed as permanent structure members  38  are being fastened to connectors  14  ( 72 ). Alternatively, temporary beams  62  may be kept in place until all permanent structure members  38  are in place.  
         [0050]    Panels may be attached to permanent structure members  38  and connectors  14  to enclose geodesic dome structure  10  ( 74 ). The panels may be attached to connectors  14 , to permanent structure members  38 , or both. The panels may be attached to connectors  14  in the same fashion as structure members  38  are attached to connectors  14 . The panels may be attached to permanent structure members  38  using fasteners such as bolts, screws, nails, clamps or the like. Instead, panels may be constructed with grooves, which receive structure members  38 . The panels may be made of weatherproof material such as plastic, fiberglass, or the like.  
         [0051]    The materials used to construct geodesic dome  10  may come as a kit. The kit may include connectors  14  with wires  57  already attached. However, the kit may come with no pre-assembly of materials. The materials may be color-coded to aid in construction.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross section view of a geodesic dome  66  constructed using a curing material  68 . Geodesic dome structure  10  includes an outer layer that is constructed of temporary spacers  12  and connectors  14 . An inner layer of geodesic dome  66  comprises curing material  68  that sets, in turn making geodesic dome  66  permanent. In this manner, curing material  68  acts as the permanent structure members. Curing material  68  may be spray-on cement, fiberglass, epoxy, or the like. The layers of geodesic dome  66  may be reversed. For example, the layer comprising spacers  12  and connectors  14  may be the inner layer, while the layer of curing material  68  may be the outer layer.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating the construction of geodesic dome  66  of FIG. 11. A set of temporary spacers  12 B (FIG. 2) is fastened to a set of connectors  14  to reference connectors  14  in space relative to one another ( 72 ). Connectors  14  and temporary spacers  12 B form the geometries of geodesic dome structure  10 . Spacers  12 B may be fastened to connectors  14  using bolts, screws, nails, clamps or the like. Spacers  12 B may be fastened to connectors  14  beginning from a tier at ground level and building upwards. Alternatively, spacers  12 B may be fastened to connectors  14  beginning with a top level tier and building downwards.  
         [0054]    A curing material  68  may be applied to the geodesic dome structure  10  to provide the permanence of geodesic dome  66  ( 74 ). In this manner, curing material  68  acts as the permanent structure members. Curing material  68  may be applied to the inside of spacers  12 B and connectors  14 . Alternatively, curing material  68  may be applied to the outside of spacers  12 B and connectors  14 . In time, curing material  68  sets forming geodesic dome structure  66 .  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating another exemplary temporary spacer used to construct the geometries of a geodesic dome. FIG. 13A illustrates a variable spacer  76  constructed of variable spacer arms  78 A- 78 C (“variable spacer arms  78 ”) and hinges  80 A- 80 C (“hinges  80 ”). More particularly, variable spacer arms  78  are adjusted to a particular length and then coupled to hinges  80  to form variable spacer  76 . Variable spacer arms  78  may, for example, be adjusted depending on a diameter or radius of a desired geodesic dome.  
         [0056]    Variable spacer  76  and variable spacer arms  78  may be constructed of a rigid, yet lightweight material such as plastic. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13A, variable spacer  76  is formed in the shape of a triangle. However, variable spacer  76  may be formed in the shape of any polygon or other shape that will define and hold the geometries in space until the desired geometries are fixed permanently in space.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 13B illustrates one of variable spacer arms  78  in further detail. Variable spacer arm  78  includes a calibrated portion  82  to allow variable spacer arm  78  to be adjusted to different lengths and a housing portion  84  to accept calibrated portion  82 . Each end of variable spacer arm  78 , i.e., the end of calibration portion  82  and housing portion  84 , includes fasteners  86 A and  86 B (“fasteners  86 ”) to couple variable spacer arm  78  to hinges  80 . Variable spacer arm  78  and, more particularly, calibrated portion  82  and housing portion  84  may have tubular shapes. The radius of calibrated portion  82  may be smaller that housing portion  84  such that calibrated portion may extend from and retract into housing portion  84 . Calibrated portion  82  and housing portion  84  may take on different shapes. For example, calibrated portion  82  and housing portion  84  may be flat, rectangular, or any other shape as long as calibrated portion  82  extends from and retracts into housing portion  84 . However, calibrated portion  82  need not retract into housing portion  84  as long as the length of a side and vertex angles of variable spacer  76  may be adjusted. For instance, a spacer may include a calibrated portion that may be fixed in relation to other portions of the spacer and adjusted to form spacers of different lengths.  
         [0058]    Calibrated portion  82  may include settings for easy adjustment of variable spacer arm  78  to particular lengths. For example, calibrated portion  82  may include settings that correspond to geodesic domes of varying radii. In this manner, calibrated portion  82  extends from housing portion  84  to a setting in accordance with the radius of a desired geodesic dome. The settings may correspond to other factors including diameter, circumference, or the like.  
         [0059]    Calibrated portion  82  may further include multiple setting scales for adjustment of variable spacer arm  78 . The multiple setting scales may be used in order to adjust variable spacer arm  78  for spacers that have more than one length. For example, when adjusting calibrated portion  82  for a spacer that is shaped like an isosceles triangle, variable spacer arms  78  must be adjusted to different lengths. As illustrated in the example of FIG. 13B, calibrated portion  82  may include a first setting that corresponds to a first length, e.g., a base length of the isosceles triangle, and a second setting that corresponds to a second length, e.g., a side length of the isosceles triangle. A spacer shaped like an isosceles triangle, for example, may include two variable spacer arms adjusted using the second setting scale and one variable spacer arm adjusted using the first setting scale. Both of the setting scales may be calibrated to correspond to geodesic domes of varying radii, diameter, circumference or the like. The setting scales may further be color-coded.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 13C illustrates one of hinges  80  in further detail. Hinge  80  is shaped to form variable spacer  76  upon coupling to variable spacer arms  78 . Hinge  80  includes slots  88 A and  88 B (“slots  88 ”) to accept and hold fasteners  86  from variable spacer arms  78 . More specifically, slot  88 A accepts a fastener  86  from a first variable spacer arm  78  and slot  88 B accepts a fastener  86  from as second variable spacer arm  78 . Hinge  80  may further include a hook  90  to attach an assembled variable spacer  76  to other spacers at a vertex of a geodesic dome. Hinge  80  may be constructed from materials such as steel, rigid plastic, or the like.  
         [0061]    A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

Summary:
Techniques are described for constructing geodesic dome structures. For example, a method includes connecting a set of temporary spacers to a set of connectors. The spacers arrange the connectors in space so that the connectors are referenced with respect to one another to form the geometries of a geodesic dome. The method may further include making the temporary geodesic dome structure permanent. The techniques described may allow the construction of a geodesic dome structure of precisely controlled dimensions with relatively small numbers of people and little strenuous labor.