Patent ID: 7908817

Claim:
A method for the construction of a structure comprising a multiplicity of joined hyperbolic paraboloid faces, each formed on an a-planar quadrilateral frame, said joined a-planar quadrilateral frames composing an underframing which is completed by inframing to compose a framework which is raised into position, and covered with strips of slightly twisted sheeting material, being a method of constructing enclosures of N-way symmetry comprising N hyperbolic paraboloid faces, said structures being formed by the following process: arranging of N ridge members of substantially straight materials laid out substantially radially, and connecting said ridge members to each other with a flexible attaching means at an apex; arranging of 2N leg members of substantially straight materials laid out surrounding said ridge members, forming a pattern of N quadrilaterals; attaching outer ends of said leg members to each other with a flexible attaching means, wherein N foot joints are formed; attaching inner ends of each pair of said leg members to outer ends of each of said ridge member with a flexible attaching means, wherein N peak joints are formed, and N quadrilateral frames joined by their shared connection at said ridge members are formed, composing an underframing; said leg and ridge members together comprising underframing wherein N quadrilateral frames joined by their shared connection at said ridge members are formed; attaching a multiplicity of inframing members of substantially straight materials, said members arranged substantially parallel to one another and to a leg and ridge member at substantially equal intervals, to the other leg and ridge members of said quadrilateral frames with a flexible attaching means, said underframing and said inframing together forming an assembled framework composed of N quadrilateral frames together with said inframing; raising said apex a prescribed amount such that said peak joints are set at prescribed distances between each other; attaching a tension restraining members circumferentially connecting each of said peak joints, establishing said peak joints at said prescribed distances; raising entire said assembled framework to a desired height as foot joints move inward to positions on a base, wherein triangular openings are formed, and said quadrilateral frames of said assembled framework become a-planar; attaching and twisting a covering of strips of sheeting material, oriented substantially perpendicular to said inframing, to said a-planar quadrilateral framework wherein N framed and sheeted hyperbolic paraboloid faces are formed, composing a completed roof structure suitable for full enclosure by the filling of said triangular openings.