Reinforced tetrahedral structure

Abstract

A method for constructing a non-linear structure comprising bending a chain of serially connected hollow metal tetrahedral to form a non-linear segment and reinforcing the connections of the segment to form a rigid non-linear structure, and a tetrahedral structure comprising at least one non-linear segment consisting of a chain of serially connected hollow metal tetrahedra, in which each connection between successive tetrahedra includes external reinforcement. The structure can be a sculpture or a multipod such as legs for a table or the like.

1 . A method for constructing a non-linear structure comprising: bending a chain of serially connected hollow metal tetrahedra to form a non-linear segment and reinforcing the connections of the segment to form a rigid non-linear structure. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tetrahedra are integrally connected by respective crimped webs of metal, the bending is along at least one web, and the reinforcement is at each web. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement includes a weld. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one bending is on one plane and another bending is on a different plane. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the bending produces a non-linear sculpture. 
     
     
         6 . A method for constructing a non-linear structure comprising the steps of:
 a. forming a multiplicity of individual hollow, metal tetrahedral units, each unit having six edges;   b. vertically abutting one edge of a first unit with one edge of an adjacent second unit;   c. tacking together the vertically abutting edges of the first and second units;   d. horizontally aligning another edge of the second unit with a horizontal edge of an adjacent third unit;   e. tacking together the horizontally abutting edges of the second and third units;   f. vertically abutting another edge of the third unit with a vertical edge of an adjacent fourth unit;   g. tacking together the vertically abutting edges of the third and fourth units;   h. repeating at least some of the steps b.-g. to form a segment of connected units with a centerline passing through a multiplicity of vertically oriented tacked edges and a multiplicity of horizontally oriented tacked edges;   i. after any one or more of steps b.-h., orienting a tacked edge of at least one unit such that the centerline of the segment is non-linear; and   j. after step i., joining the abutting edges with a rigid metal-to-metal bond and thereby producing a rigid non-linear segment.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the non-linear segment is mounted on a base and the structure is a sculpture. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , including
 k. repeating steps b.-j. at least once to produce a plurality of rigid non-linear segments; and   l. joining the plurality of non-linear segments to produce a three dimensional tetrahedral structure.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of joining a plurality of non-linear segments produces an arch. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each segment is curved in two planes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of joining a plurality of non-linear segments produces a multi-pod. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein step i. of orienting an edge includes bending the segment along a tacked edge. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein step i. of orienting an edge includes rotating one unit relative to an adjacent unit and tacking congruent vertical edges such that the horizontal edge of the one unit is not parallel to the horizontal edge of the adjacent unit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein step i. of orienting an edge includes rotating one unit relative to an adjacent unit and tacking congruent horizontal edges such that the vertical edge of the one unit is not parallel to the vertical edge of the adjacent unit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the tacking is spot welding and the metal to metal bond is a weld fully along the edges. 
     
     
         16 . A tetrahedral structure comprising: at least one non-linear segment consisting of a chain of serially connected hollow metal tetrahedra, in which each connection between successive tetrahedra includes external reinforcement. 
     
     
         17 . The tetrahedral structure of  claim 16 , wherein each segment includes a plurality of tetrahedral units each having six edges and successive tetrahedra are welded together at abutting edges. 
     
     
         18 . The tetrahedral structure of  claim 17 , wherein each weld extends congruently along respective abutting edges and has a thickness greater than the thickness of the metal walls and wherein each segment has two longitudinal ends and an end-to-end centerline through the segment has a deviation of at least 30 degrees from a straight line. 
     
     
         19 . The tetrahedral structure of  claim 16 , wherein a plurality of said segments are connected together. 
     
     
         20 . The tetrahedral structure of  claim 16 , wherein the structure is an arch. 
     
     
         21 . The tetrahedral structure of  claim 16 , wherein the structure is a multipod. 
     
     
         22 . The tetrahedral structure  claim 16 , wherein the structure is a sculpture. 
     
     
         23 . The tetrahedral structure of  claim 16 , wherein each segment has first and second longitudinal ends and a plurality of segments are connected together other than at the ends. 
     
     
         24 . The tetrahedral structure of  claim 16 , wherein the structure is a sculpture with the a first end supported in a base and second ends extending at least ten feet above the base. 
     
     
         25 . The tetrahedral structure of  claim 16 , wherein the tetrahedra within in each segment differ in size.