The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 18, 1989
Filed:
Nov. 10, 1987
Douglas M Sneyd, Orillia, CA;
Abstract
A building of generally spherical configuration has a lower portion and an upper portion and includes an outer skin of first triangular panels and an inner skin of second triangular panels. Substantially all of the panels are light-transmitting, and may be made of glass. Partitions extend from the lower to the upper portion of the building between the two skins and divide the inter-skin region into a plurality of sectors running from the lower to the upper portion of the building. Particulate insulative material is provided, along with apparatus for selectively filling the sectors with insulative material by delivering insulative material to the upper ends thereof, and to selectively empty the sectors of insulative material by withdrawing insulative material from the bottom ends thereof. The building can be controlled in such a way as to allow open or empty sectors to track the sun in the winter, thus maximizing solar heating, and to face away from the sun in hot weather, thus minimizing overheating while allowing light entry.