PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8544217-B2
Application Number: US-201113107116-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Glass building panel and building made therefrom

Abstract:
A building panel and a building formed therefrom, where the building includes a plurality of building panels arranged to form a cylindrical shape, where each panel comprises a single, or monolithic, glass piece, where each glass piece is substantially rectangular and includes two opposing long sides extending in a height direction and two opposing short sides extending substantially in a width direction, and where each glass piece forms an identical circular arc when viewed from either of the two opposing short sides.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A glass building, comprising:
 a plurality of curved glass panels disposed adjacent to each other to form a cylinder, 
 a cylindrical support disposed about a central longitudinal axis of the building; 
 a plurality of first glass beams, each extending from the panels to the cylindrical support; and 
 a plurality of second glass beams, each extending from the panels to the central longitudinal axis of the building, 
 wherein each panel comprises a monolithic glass piece, 
 wherein each glass piece is substantially rectangular and comprises two opposing long sides extending in a height direction and two opposing short sides extending substantially in a width direction, 
 wherein each glass piece forms an identical circular arc when viewed from either of the two opposing short sides, and 
 wherein at least one glass piece extends from a base of the building exterior to above at least a portion of a roof beam supporting a roof of the building. 
 
     
     
       2. The building of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of glass fins supporting the panels, the fins being disposed where adjacent panels meet. 
     
     
       3. The building of  claim 2 , wherein the fins have the same length as the panels and are each formed of a monolithic glass piece. 
     
     
       4. The building of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third beam formed of glass, extending across the building through the central longitudinal axis of the building. 
 
     
     
       5. The building of  claim 1 , further comprising a roof, wherein the roof comprises:
 a plurality of first glass roof panels; and 
 a plurality of second glass roof panels, 
 wherein each of the first glass roof panels has a planar shape defined by an outer first circular arc, an inner first circular arc, and two straight first sides connecting the ends of the outer first circular arc to the ends of the inner first circular arc, 
 wherein each of the second glass roof panels has a planar shape defined by a second circular arc and two straight second sides, each of the two second sides connecting to one end of the second circular arc and to the other second side, and 
 wherein each outer first circular arc, each inner first circular arc, and each second circular arc share a center point. 
 
     
     
       6. The building of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of first glass roof panels comprises twelve and the plurality of second glass roof panels comprises four. 
     
     
       7. The building of  claim 5 , wherein each outer first circular arc has a radius of 16′3″ and subtends an angle of 30°,
 wherein each inner first circular arc has a radius of 6′6″ and subtends an angle of 30°, and 
 wherein each second circular arc has a radius of 6′6″ and subtends an angle of 30°. 
 
     
     
       8. The building of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of first glass roof panels and the plurality of second glass roof panels are aligned with the cylindrical support, the first beams, the second beams, and the third beam. 
     
     
       9. The building of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more glass roof panels forming a glass circle, wherein the glass circle is disposed on a top end of the cylinder to form a roof. 
     
     
       10. The building of  claim 1 , wherein the panels are longer in the height direction than in the width direction. 
     
     
       11. A glass building, comprising:
 a plurality of curved glass panels disposed adjacent to each other to form a cylinder; 
 a cylindrical support disposed about a central longitudinal axis of the building; 
 a plurality of first glass beams, each extending from the panels to the cylindrical support; and 
 a plurality of second glass beams, each extending from the panels to the central longitudinal axis of the building. 
 
     
     
       12. The building of  claim 11 , wherein each glass panel is substantially rectangular and comprises two opposing long sides extending in a height direction and two opposing short sides extending substantially in a width direction. 
     
     
       13. The building of  claim 11 , wherein each of the curved glass panels is formed as a monolithic glass piece. 
     
     
       14. The building of  claim 11 , wherein each glass panel is substantially rectangular and comprises two opposing sides extending in a height direction and two opposing sides extending in a width direction,
 wherein the two opposing sides extending in the height direction are longer than the two opposing sides extending in the width direction. 
 
     
     
       15. The building of  claim 11 , wherein at least one glass panel has a height greater than approximately 26′. 
     
     
       16. The building of  claim 11 , wherein the cylinder has a radius of between approximately 15′ and 17′. 
     
     
       17. The building of  claim 11 , wherein at least one glass panel has an arc length of between approximately 8′ and 9′. 
     
     
       18. The building of  claim 11 , wherein at least one glass panel comprises a plurality of laminated glass layers. 
     
     
       19. The building of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one fitting laminated integrally with layers of at least one glass panel. 
 
     
     
       20. The building of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one fitting laminated integrally with layers of at least one glass panel, 
 wherein the at least one fitting couples the at least one glass panel to an adjacent glass panel. 
 
     
     
       21. The building of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of glass fins supporting the glass panels,
 wherein the fins are disposed where adjacent panels meet. 
 
     
     
       22. The building of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more glass roof panels forming a glass circle, wherein the glass circle is disposed on a top end of the cylinder to form a roof. 
     
     
       23. A glass structure, comprising:
 a plurality of curved glass panels disposed adjacent to each other to form a cylinder; 
 a support disposed about a central longitudinal axis of the structure; 
 a first support beam extending from a cured glass panel to the support; and 
 a second support beam extending from a curved glass panel to the central longitudinal axis of the building. 
 
     
     
       24. The structure of  claim 23 , wherein the second support beam is at least partially disposed within the support. 
     
     
       25. The structure of  claim 23 , wherein the first support beam is coupled to an outer face of the support, and
 wherein the support is supported by the first support beam.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/362,277, filed Jul. 7, 2010, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to building panels and to a building made therefrom. 
     More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to glass building panels and to a building made therefrom, where the panels are curved and the building is cylindrical in shape. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Glass structures have been around for some time. Such structures must meet structural requirements for their particular operation, and must support loads and forces of expected magnitudes. Because of the structural requirements for supporting such loads and forces, glass pieces used in such glass structures may be formed of a laminate structure that includes layers of glass and bonding materials. A laminate structure is much stronger than any one layer by itself and thus it can support loads and forces of greater magnitude. For long spans of single, or monolithic, glass panels, however, the conventional laminate structure may deflect for lack of sufficient support, and may be unsuited to withstand some loads or forces of great magnitude. Such difficulties have conventionally prevented the creation of large buildings made of large glass panels and supports, because the structural properties needed to construct the buildings limited the size of the glass panels that could be used. This is particularly problematic in the case of structures with curved walls, such as a cylindrical shaped building. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates, in one embodiment, to a building panel. The building panel may be glass and may include a plurality of glass layers. The building panel may also be curved. 
     The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a building made using building panels where the building panels may be glass, may include a plurality of glass layers, and may be curved. The building may include glass fins and glass beams for support, and a glass roof The glass building panels, glass fins, glass beams, and glass roof may be connected together by a plurality of fittings. 
     Additional features of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     An embodiment of the present invention discloses a building panel, including a single, or monolithic glass piece, wherein the glass piece is substantially rectangular and includes two opposing long sides extending in a height direction and two opposing short sides extending substantially in a width direction, and wherein the glass piece forms a circular arc when viewed from either of the two opposing short sides. 
     An embodiment of the present invention also discloses a building, including a plurality of panels, wherein each panel includes a single, or monolithic, glass piece, wherein each glass piece is substantially rectangular and includes two opposing long sides extending in a height direction and two opposing short sides extending substantially in a width direction, and wherein each glass piece forms an identical circular arc when viewed from either of the two opposing short sides. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a building panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the panel of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the panel of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged schematic view of an edge profile of the panel of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a building incorporating the panel of  FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the building of  FIG. 5 , taken along line  6 - 6 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the building of  FIG. 5 , taken along line  7 - 7 . 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the fin and beam construction of the building of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the building of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the building of  FIG. 9 , taken along line  10 - 10 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the building of  FIG. 9 , taken along line  11 - 11 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the roof of the building of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic top view of the roof of the building of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of a first roof panel of the roof of the building of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 15  is a top view thereof. 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of a second roof panel of the roof of the building of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 17  is a top view thereof. 
         FIG. 18  is an expanded reference view of the building of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention refers to the accompanying figures that illustrate the exemplary embodiments. Other embodiments are possible and may fall within the scope of the present invention. Modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not meant to be limiting. Further, it would be apparent to one of skill in the art that the exemplary embodiments described below can be implemented in many different embodiments. Any actual embodiment described is not intended to be limiting. The operation and behavior of the exemplary embodiments presented are described with the understanding that various modifications and variations of the exemplary embodiments may be within the scope of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a building panel  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a top view of panel  100 , and  FIG. 3  is a front view of panel  100 . Panel  100  may include two short sides  110 , two long sides  120 , an inner surface  132 , and an outer surface  134 . 
     Panel  100  may be formed of a single, or monolithic, glass piece, including a glass piece having a layered or laminate structure. The glass used to form panel  100  may be a tempered, low iron glass. Panel  100  may be formed of multiple layers of glass so as to form a laminated structure. Such an exemplary embodiment is described in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 4 . Depending on the properties of the materials used to form panel  100 , it may be substantially transparent, but may alternatively be formed to be translucent or opaque, or variants thereof. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,765,362 to Jobs et al., issued Jan. 23, 2007, describes laminated glass structures, and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     Short sides  110  may be curved to form a circular arc shape and may be positioned parallel to each other and perpendicular to long sides  120 , so as to extend substantially in a width direction with respect to panel  100 . “Circular arc”, as used herein, may refer to a segment of the circumference of a circle. Long sides  120  may be straight and may be positioned parallel to each other and perpendicular to short sides  110  so as to extend in a height direction with respect to panel  100 . Short sides  110  and long sides  120  may be positioned such that panel  100  appears substantially rectangular in shape when viewed from the front (as, for example, in  FIG. 3 ). Long sides  120  may have a length L 1  where L 1  is, for example, greater than 26′ (e.g., 39′1 7/16″, 40′, 40′10 3/16″, 41′2 19/32″, or 45′). 
     Short sides  120 , due to their circular arc shape, may have an inner edge arc, corresponding to inner surface  132 , and an outer edge arc, corresponding to outer surface  134 . The inner edge arc and the outer edge arc share the same center point, and subtend the same angle θ 1 . The inner edge arc has an inner radius r 1  with respect to the shared center point, and the outer edge arc has an outer radius r 2  with respect to the shared center point. Short sides  120  have an arc length corresponding to each of inner radius r 1  and outer radius r 2 . A thickness T 1  of panel  100  may be the difference between outer radius r 2  and inner radius r 1 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, angle θ 1  may, for example, be 30°, inner radius r 1  or outer radius r 2  may be between 15′ and 17′ (e.g., inner radius r 1  may, be 16′1 13/16″ and outer radius r 2  may be 16′3″), and thickness T may be, for example, between 0.5″ and 4″ (e.g., 1 3/16″). In some exemplary embodiments, short sides  120  may have an arc length of, for example, between 8′ and 9′ (e.g., 8′5½″), which may correspond to inner radius r 1 , outer radius r 2 , or any length in between. 
     Inner surface  132  and outside surface  134  may maintain a constant profile throughout a length of panel  100 , the constant profile corresponding to the circular arc shape of short sides  110 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged schematic view of an edge profile of the panel of  FIG. 1 . As discussed above, panel  100  may be composed of multiple layers. Such layers may include an outer surface layer  136 A corresponding to outer surface  134  and an inner surface layer  136 C corresponding to inner surface  132 . Panel  100  may further include intervening layer  136 B. Layers  136 A and  136 C may be made of glass and layer  136  B may be made of an adhesive. Layers  136 A through  136 C may be formed together through, for example, a laminating process while in a substantially flat state, and may acquire their arc shape through a slumping process by heating panel  100  over a mold. 
     In some exemplary embodiments, a layer of adhesive (corresponding to layer  136 B in  FIG. 4 ) is disposed between adjacent glass layers. The adhesive is preferably transparent. Any suitable adhesive may be used as would be apparent to one of skill in the art. For example, the adhesive may be polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or an adhesive such as that known as SentryGlas® Plus (SGP) interlayer, manufactured by Dupont of Wilmington, Del. Each of layers  136 A through  136 C may have a thickness independent of the others of layers  136 A through  136 C. In some exemplary embodiments, layers  136 A and  136 C have an identical thickness, and layer  136 B has a thickness less than that of layers  136 A and  136 C. For example, the thickness of layers  136 A and  136 C may be 9/16″, and the thickness of layer  136 B may be 1/16″. 
     Panel  100  may have an edge profile  140  extending along short sides  110  and long sides  120 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , edge profile  140  includes chamfers on each side of panel  100 . As would be appreciated by one of skill in the art, edge profile  140  can be configured in a variety of ways in order to accomplish a variety of ends, tor example, increasing handling safety or facilitating mounting. 
     Panel  100  may further include anchor points (not shown). As would be appreciated by one of skill in the art, positions near the periphery of panel  100  may be integrally formed with fittings  210 , including mounting or joining hardware, or a configuration for receiving such fittings  210 , so as to facilitate use of panel  100  in a variety of operations, such as, for example, as an exterior panel in a building. For example the fittings  210  may be laminated with the glass so as to be integrally formed therewith. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a building  200  incorporating a plurality of panels  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Building  200  includes panels  100 , a roof  300 , fins  400 , first beams  510 , second beams  520 , a third beam  530 , and a cylindrical support  540 .  FIG. 18  is an expanded reference view of building  200  in which building  200  is depicted in an “unrolled” state (i.e., panels  100  are positioned in a row, rather than as a cylinder). 
     Building  200  includes 12 panels  100  arranged such that long sides  120  of adjacent panels meet, and together panels  100  form a vertical cylinder. The circular arcs of all panels  100  share a center point, corresponding to a longitudinal axis extending through the center of the vertical cylinder. The circular arcs of each panel  100  may subtend an angle θ 1  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). In the case where θ 1  is, for example, 30°, building  200  will include 12 panels  100 , in order to complete the cylinder. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 8 , building  200  includes a plurality of rectangular fins  400  internal to building  200 , which act as supports for building  200 . Each fin  400  is aligned with a region where long sides  120  of adjacent panels  100  meet. Fins  400  may each be formed of a single, or monolithic, piece of glass, similar to panels  100 , or may be formed in segments by multiple pieces of glass. Each fin  400  may be mounted to its corresponding panels  100 , by, for example, fittings  210  positioned intermittently joining fin  400  with adjacent panels  100 . As would be appreciated by one of skill in the art, various other suitable mounting techniques or hardware may be used. 
     Fins  400  may have a length L 2 , which may be, for example, 33′. Fins  400  may have a width W 2 , which may be, for example, 2′3 9/16″. Fins  400  may have a thickness of, for example, 2 13/16″. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 , and  FIG. 11 , building  200  also includes a plurality of first beams  510 , a plurality of second beams  520 , third beam  530 , and cylindrical support  540 . Cylindrical support  540  may include a plurality of curved beams  550 . 
     Third beam  530  may be positioned so as to align with regions where long sides  120  of adjacent panels  100  meet. Third beam  530  may, at one end, connect to a first set of adjacent panels  100 , and may extend across the diameter of building  200  to connect to a second set of adjacent panels, opposite to the first. Third beam  530  may be formed of a single, or monolithic, piece of glass, similar to panels  100 , or may be formed in segments by multiple pieces of glass. 
     Third beam  530  may have a length L 3 , which may be, for example, 32′⅛″. Third beam  530  may have a width that may be, for example, 1′11⅝″ at at least one end. Third beam  530  may have a thickness of, for example, 2 13/16″. Third beam  530  may be shaped so that its width increases gradually from its ends to its midpoint. 
     Second beams  520  may be positioned to as to align with regions where long sides  120  of adjacent panels  100  meet. Second beams  520  may, at one end, connect, to corresponding adjacent panels  100 , and may, at the other end, connect to third beam  530  at its midpoint. Building  200  may include two second beams  520 , positioned on opposite sides of third beam  530  and oriented so as to form 90° angles with third beam  530  when viewed from above. Second beams  520  may each be formed of a single, or monolithic, piece of glass, similar to panels  100 , or may be formed in segments by multiple pieces of glass. 
     Second beams  520  may have a length L 4 , which may be, for example, 15′9 11/16″. Second beams  520  may have a width that may be, for example, 1′11⅝″ at at least one end. Second beams  510  may have a thickness of, for example, 2 13/16″. Second beams  510  may be shaped so that their width increases gradually from the end connected to panels  100  to the end connected to third beam  530 . 
     Cylindrical support  540  is a cylinder-shaped support that has its center point at the center point of building  200 , such that the circles formed by building  200  and cylindrical support  540  when viewed from above are concentric. Cylindrical support  540  may be attached to panels  100  through first beams  510 , second beams  520 , and third beam  530 . Cylindrical support  540  may be made up of a plurality of curved beams  550 . Cylindrical support  540  may include four curved beams  550 . Each curved beam  550  may be connected at one end to third beam  530 , and at the other end to a second beam  520 , so as to form a cylindrical shape bisected in a first direction by third beam  530  and in a second direction perpendicular to the first by second beams  520 . Curved beams  550  may each be formed of a single, or monolithic, piece of glass, similar to panels  100 , or may be formed in segments by multiple pieces of glass. 
     Curved beams  550  may each form a cylindrical arc when viewed from above (as in, for example,  FIG. 7 ). The cylindrical arc may subtend an angle of, for example, 90°, and may have a radius of, for example, 6′6″. Curved beams  550  may have a width of 2′3 1/16″. Curved beams  550  may have a thickness of 1′ 4/16″. 
     First beams  510  may be rectangular, and may be positioned so as to align with regions where long sides  120  of adjacent panels  100  meet. First beams  510  may, at one end, connect to corresponding adjacent panels  100 , and may, at the other end, connect to cylindrical support  540 . Building  200  may include eight first beams  510 . First beams  510  may each be formed of a single, or monolithic, piece of glass, similar to panels  100 , or may be formed in segments by multiple pieces of glass. 
     First beams  510  may have a length L 5 , which may be, for example, 9′5 1/16″. 
     First beams  510  may have a width W 3 , which may be, for example, 1′11⅝″. First beams  510  may have a thickness of, for example, 2 13/16″. First beams  510  may be shaped so that their width increases gradually from the end connected to panels  100  to the end connected to cylindrical support  540 . 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of roof  300  of building  200 .  FIG. 13  is a schematic top view of roof  300 . Roof  300  includes a plurality of first roof panels  310  and a plurality of second roof panels  320 . Roof  300  may be peaked at its center. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of a first roof panel  310  of roof  300 .  FIG. 15  is a top view thereof Each first roof panel  310  has a planar shape defined by an outer first circular arc  312 , an inner first circular arc  314 , and two straight first sides  316  connecting the ends of outer first circular arc  312  to the ends of inner first circular arc  314 . First sides  316  define lines that, if extended beyond the limits of first roof panel  310 , would cross at a point that corresponds to the center point of both outer first circular arc  312  and inner first circular arc  314 . First roof panels  310  may be each formed of a single, or monolithic, piece of glass, similar to panels  100 , or may be formed in segments by multiple pieces of glass. 
     First roof panels  310  are positioned as a part of roof  300  such that outer first circular arc  312  of a first roof panel  310  aligns with a short side  110  of a corresponding panel  100 , and such that each first side  316  of a first roof panel  310  meets a first side  316  of an adjacent first roof panel  310 . An arc length of first outer circular arc  312  may correspond to the arc length of panel  100 . Roof  300  may include twelve first roof panels  310 . 
     Outer first circular arc  312  may have a radius with respect to the center point of, for example, 16′3″. Inner first circular arc  314  may have a radius with respect to the center point of, for example, 6′6″. First sides  316  may have a length L 6  of, for example, 9′5 1/16″. First roof panel  310  may have a thickness of 1 4/16″. Outer first circular arc  312  and inner first circular arc  314  may subtend an angle with respect to the center point of 30°. 
       FIG. 16  is a side view of a second roof panel  320  of roof  300 .  FIG. 17  is a top view thereof. Each second roof panel  320  has a planar shape defined by a second circular arc  322  and two straight second sides  324 , where each of the two second sides  324  connects to one end of second circular arc  322  and to the other second side. Second sides  324  meet at a corner  326 , corresponding to the center point of second circular arc  322 . Second roof panels  320  may each be formed of a single, or monolithic, piece of glass, similar to panels  100 , or may be formed in segments by multiple pieces of glass. 
     Second roof panels  320  are positioned as a part of roof  300  such that second circular arc  322  aligns with adjacent inner first circular arcs  314 , and such that each second side  324  of a second roof panel  320  meets a second side  324  of an adjacent second roof panel  320 . In such a configuration, the corners  326  of second roof panels  320  may meet. An arc length of second circular arc  322  may correspond to the arc length of the inner first circular arcs  314  of three adjacent first roof panels  310 . Roof  300  may include four second roof panels. 
     Second circular arc  322  may have a radius with respect to the center point of, for example, 6′6″, Second sides  324  may have a length L 7  of, for example, 6′4 10/16″, Second roof panel  320  may have a thickness of 1 4/16″. Second circular arc  322  may subtend an angle with respect to the center point of 90°. 
     The panels  100 , fins  400 , first beams  510 , second beams  520 , third beams  530 , curved beams  550 , first roof panels  310 , and second roof panels  320  may each be made of layered glass. The layered glass may include two opposing exterior glass layers connected by an adhesive layer (such as is depicted in, for example,  FIG. 4 ). Alternatively, the layered glass may include at least one interior glass layer, connected to other interior glass layers or exterior glass layers by adhesive layers, as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art. The number of glass layers used may be from two to five. As an example, panels  100  may include two glass layers, fins  400  may include five glass layers, first beams  510  may include five glass layers, second beams  520  may include five glass layers, third beams  530  may include five glass layers, curved beams  550  may include three glass layers, first roof panels  310  may include three glass layers, and second roof panels  320  may include three glass layers. 
     The glass layers described above may have various thicknesses, as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art. For example, the glass layers may range from ⅜″ to 9/16″ in thickness. Additionally, the glass layers may have been subject to various treatments as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art. For example, the glass layers may be fully tempered, heat strengthened, or annealed. As described above with reference to  FIG. 4 , the adhesive used between adjacent glass layers may be polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or SGP interlayer. An adhesive layer may have a thickness of 1/16″. 
     In some exemplary embodiments, building  200  including panels  100  may optionally incorporate at least one panel  100  that is shorter (has a smaller L 1  measurement, for example 28′8⅝″) than the other panels  100  and that is positioned with its top short side  110  aligned with the top short sides  110  of the other panels  100  so as to create an opening  220  in the exterior of building  200  at a lower end thereof (see, for example,  FIG. 5 ). A corresponding fin  400  may also be included that is shorter than the other fins  400 , and is positioned with its top end aligned with the top ends of the other fins  400 . Such a corresponding fin may be mounted to its corresponding panels  100  by fittings that are different from fittings  210  used to mount the other fins  400 . 
     Opening  220  can be used as an entrance to building  200 . Opening  220  may be fitted with doors  230 , which may be glass, and which may be curved so as to match the profile of panels  100 . Building  200  may further optionally include an awning  240  extending from the exterior of building  200  over an area corresponding to the opening. Awning  240  may also extend within building  200  and be attached to at least one fin  400 . Building  200  may also include various fittings  250  in addition to the fittings already described. 
     The positions of panels  100 , fins  400 , first beams  510 , second beams  520 , third beams  530 , curved beams  550 , first roof panels  310 , and second roof panels  320  are described above to some extent based on their orientation with respect to other elements of building  200 . In many cases, edges or sides of panels  100 , fins  400 , first beams  510 , second beams  520 , third beams  530 , curved beams  550 , first roof panels  310 , and second roof panels  320  are described as proximate to other edges or sides of panels  100 , fins  400 , first beams  510 , second beams  520 , third beams  530 , curved beams  550 , first roof panels  310 , and second roof panels  320 . As would be appreciated by one of skill in the art, building  200  may include fittings to connect these elements to one another. These fittings may include, for example, clamps, threaded elements, adhesive elements, anchors, holes, or any combination thereof. These fittings may be separable from the other elements of building  200 , or may be integrally formed therewith. For example, portions of the fittings may, in the case of glass building elements, be laminated with the glass to as to be integrally formed therewith. 
     The numbers, values, amounts, ranges, and the like that have been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments of the present invention are presented as examples, and are not limiting. As one of skill in the art would appreciate, the numbers, values, amounts, ranges, and the like presented above may be varied within appropriate ranges without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The various elements of building  200 , including panels  100 , fins  400 , first beams  510 , second beams  520 , third beams  530 , curved beams  550 , first roof panels  310 , and second roof panels  320  have been described above in exemplary positions relative to each other, and in exemplary shapes, numbers, sizes, dimensions, and other qualities. It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the elements of building  200  may be configured in a wide variety of positions, shapes, numbers, sizes, dimensions, and other qualities and that the configuration used may depend on many factors, including, for example, the overall size and dimensions of the building and available area for the building, the aesthetic appearance desired, or the structural specifications desired. 
     While various exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above, they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. The elements of the exemplary embodiments presented above are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but may be interchanged to meet various needs as would be appreciated by one of skill in the art. 
     It therefore will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail can be made to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The phraseology or terminology herein is used for description and not for limitation. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20110513
Publication Date: 20131001
Grant Date: 20131001
Priority Date: 20100707
Inventors: ANDREINI DAVID
BACKUS KARL
COOKSEY JON F.
ELIASSEN TIM
HAZARD SCOTT DAVID
KRUEGER HOLGER
LENK PETER
O'CALLAGHAN JAMES
ZHANG YUTANG
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "E04C2/328", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04B1/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04C2/54", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04C2/328", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04B1/32", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04B2001/0061", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04B1/28", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04C3/36", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04B1/34", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04C3/285", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04B1/34", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04C3/46", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04B1/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04C2/54", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04C3/36", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04C3/46", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04B2/90", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04B1/12", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04B2001/0061", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "E04C3/285", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 45932858