In our world there are various types of objects that are designed to serve specific needs, for example, the buildings, the machines, the devices, or even virtual objects on the computer display. Each of these objects has its own unique shape that is usually hard to be transformed into other shapes after constructing the object.
The present invention enables us to essentially design and construct objects that are able to transform, or “morph” into several different shapes to adapt to various circumstances or needs.
For example, in case of designing and constructing a building, this building needs to adapt to various future conditions that can affect the built environment such as: (1) changes in temperature, sun orientation or wind direction; (2) changes in the needs or desires of the building's users towards the building's functionality; (3) changes in the type/class of the building (e.g., residential to commercial, educational to industrial, etc.); (4) changes in the appropriate building area according to changes in the number of users; (5) changes in the building height or number of stories; (6) changes in the shape of the building or part of it.
In case of designing a chassis for a computer mouse, this chassis needs to change its shape or dimensions to suite the different users' hands, ages, or personal preferences and uses. Also, in case of modeling a 3D object on the computer display, this 3D object needs to change its form/shape to reach and satisfy specific engineering or artistic requirements.
The present invention introduces a polymorphic component that is able to transform the shape of many objects into other various shapes in an innovative manner, that includes the aforementioned objects or the like as will be described subsequently.
The position of each controller end doesn't change while the position of each free end can be changed. The telescopic beam can be rotated horizontally and/or vertically about the controller end. It can also be protracted or retracted to change its span moving the free end to get closer to or further from the central point.
To clarify the mechanism of the present polymorphic component, assume a polymorphic component with 16 telescopic beams is used as illustrated in
The 16 free ends or points of this telescopic beam can be divided in many ways. For example, they can be divided into 2 groups each one including 8 points, or 4 groups each one including 4 points, or 2 groups where the first group includes 12 points and the second includes 4 points, etc. Assuming the 4 groups where each group including 4 points is utilized. According to this division, the first group includes the points (A1, A2, A3, A4), the second group includes the points (B1, B2, B3, B4), the third group includes the points (C1, C2, C3, C4), and the fourth group includes the points (D1, D2, D3, D4).
It is possible to select any one of said four groups and move its telescopic beams similar movements. For example, protracting the telescopic beams of the first group will move the points A1, A2, A3, and A4 away from the central point “O”, transforming the shape of
Also retracting the telescopic beams of the second group will move the points B1, B2, B3, and B4 closer to the central point “O”, transforming the shape of
In general, the telescopic beams of the present polymorphic component can be moved horizontally, either diametrically to move the free ends to be closer to/further from the central point, or be rotated clockwise/counter-clockwise about the controller ends. Using these simple steps, the 16 free ends of the telescopic beams can be moved to different positions generating a plurality of different shapes.
FIGS. 7 to 12 illustrate examples of transforming the shape of
The previous examples illustrate moving the telescopic beams horizontally; however, it is possible to rotate the telescopic beams vertically about the controller ends to move the free ends vertically away from their original horizontal plane. Accordingly if any group of the free ends is moved vertically then a three-dimensional shape will be formed, for example, FIGS. 13 to 16 illustrate four examples for those three-dimensional shapes resulting from horizontal and vertical movements of the telescopic beams of
Generally, Any three-dimensional shape created by the present polymorphic component can be represented in a numerical table. This is through forming a table divided into a number of groups (G). Each group includes a definite number of free ends or points (P). Each point has three numerical values, the first one is (r) which indicates the total length of the telescopic beam, the second one is (a) which indicates the angle of the horizontal rotation of the telescopic beam about the controller end, and the third one is (h) which indicates the height of the free end from a predetermined plane such as the ground or the zero level. For example,
To form a numerical table for a simple two-dimensional shape as the one shown in
To transform a three-dimensional shape to another using the present polymorphic component, the values of (r, a, h) of the first three-dimensional shape need to be changed to the values of (r, a, h) of the second three-dimensional shape, where in such case the two three-dimensional shapes should have the same number of groups and the same number of points in each group.
Using the present numerical table enables estimating the movement of the telescopic beams to change their free ends' positions to morph from a three-dimensional shape to another. FIGS. 19 to 21 illustrate three-dimensional shapes that can transform from one to the other employing the numerical tables.
In general the previous description summarizes the concept of the present polymorphic component to create three-dimensional shapes that are able to transform into several different shapes. The following description provides more technical details and applications for the present invention.
FIGS. 4 to 12 are examples for transforming the shape of
FIGS. 13 to 16 are examples for transforming the shape of
FIGS. 19 to 21 are 3D shapes that can be transformed to each other.
FIGS. 22 to 25 are different alternatives for positioning covering triangles.
FIGS. 26 to 29 are four 3D shapes that are able to transform to each other.
FIGS. 30 to 33 are a 3D object transforms from a shape to other.
FIGS. 38 to 41 are different views for a 3D object utilizes a polymorphic component.
FIGS. 42 to 44 are different views for a building utilizing polymorphic components.
FIGS. 45 to 47 are different views for the former building transforming to other shape.
FIGS. 48 to 50 are different views for the former building transforming to other shape.
FIGS. 51 to 53 are three buildings that are able to transform to each other.
FIGS. 54 to 59 are different alternatives for locating exterior openings of a building.
FIGS. 60 to 62 are three top views for transforming a virtual polymorphic component.
FIGS. 63 to 68 are a group of virtual polymorphic components transforming together.
FIGS. 69 to 74 are a virtual polymorphic component transforming into different shapes.
FIGS. 81 to 82 are illustrations for the main parts of the telescopic beam.
Moving the telescopic beams relocates the free ends to different positions, and accordingly some covering triangles change their shapes or dimensions. For example,
All the previous examples illustrate a plurality of symmetrical shapes that are transformed into other symmetrical shapes using the present polymorphic component. However, it is possible to utilize the present polymorphic component to transform asymmetrical shapes. For example,
The previous examples illustrate positioning free ends of the telescopic beams on the same height or level; however it is possible to make the free ends located on different heights that form one sloped plane. For example,
As previously mentioned the present invention can be utilized for different applications or objects. For example, in the buildings applications;
FIGS. 48 to 50 illustrate, respectively, the floor plane, the isometric projection, and the elevation of the same building after moving the telescopic members of the polymorphic components to again change the design/shape of the building.
FIGS. 51 to 53 illustrate three exteriors for other three buildings that can be transformed to each other using the present polymorphic components as described previously. However, using the polymorphic components and the covering triangles enables us to dismantle and transfer the building to another site, or even store the complete building after disassembly for future user.
In such buildings applications; the covering triangles are needed to be made of elastic sheets to enable changing their shapes or dimensions during the movement of the telescopic beams. It is also possible to use triangles that can easily be disassembled before the movement and reassembled afterwards. However, there are some types of movements that do not change the dimensions of the covering triangles, where in such cases, there is no need to use elastic sheets, or to disassemble and reassemble the covering triangles as mentioned previously.
The triangular formations of the free ends of the telescopic beams provide great flexibility to choose the locations of the exterior openings or windows. FIGS. 54 to 59 illustrate a building exterior with different alternatives for locating the windows or the skylights, where such triangular windows or skylights can be made of a transparent material that allows the natural daylight.
In general it is possible to use more than one polymorphic component for a single space, when this space is too wide or long, this is to enable reducing the dimensions of the telescopic beams. It is also possible to use the present polymorphic components to morph a certain part of a building such as the ceiling or the façade; thus, the other parts of the building remain without movement. In cases such as these, the present polymorphic components are integrated with the other fixed parts of the building.
The previous examples describe using the present polymorphic component for the buildings, however, the polymorphic components can be employed for other different objects such as machines body, devices body, or the like. The main difference in these cases will be the dimensions of the polymorphic components that need to match the size or the dimensions of the different objects
Another application for the present polymorphic components is in the field of 3D computer modeling. FIGS. 60 to 62 illustrate a top view for a virtual polymorphic component with a plurality of free ends and colored covering triangles presenting on a computer display. When the free ends are moved on the computer display the virtual polymorphic component changes its shape with each movement. To enable the computer user to control changing the positions of the free ends s/he will drag any point of any group of the free ends and move it on the computer display where the other points of the same group will be moved similarly relative to the central point of the virtual polymorphic component.
FIGS. 63 to 68 illustrate another example, where a virtual polymorphic component is repeated on the computer display. In this case when the user moves any point of the free ends of a virtual polymorphic component all the points of the same group of all the repeated virtual polymorphic components will be moved similarly relative to their central points on the computer display. Each little movement of a point will create a new pattern, thus the user can create a great number of different patterns with just moving one point or more. As illustrated in these figures; the shape of each virtual polymorphic component is illustrated beside its pattern.
FIGS. 69 to 74 illustrate another example for utilizing a virtual polymorphic component to create a plurality of 3D objects on the computer display, where these objects can be transformed to each other. In this example the user can drag any point of the free ends where each dragging of a point creates a different 3D object. In this case the points dragging can be horizontally parallel to the xy-plane of vertically perpendicular to the xy-plane.
In such 3D computer modeling applications there is no need for the telescopic beams to appear on the computer display since the appearance of the points of the free ends is enough for the user to create different 2D or 3D objects. One of the advantages of these 3D computer modeling applications is the covering triangles which can intersect with each other on the computer display generating unique intersected shapes.
Generally, the innovative concept of the present polymorphic components is simple and straightforward, and can utilize a number of existing technologies to easily and inexpensively achieve the different applications. However there are some alternatives for carrying out the polymorphic components where each alternative suites a specific application.
In the 3D computer modeling applications, to enable the user to initiate creating a virtual polymorphic component; s/he will need to specify the number of the groups of the free ends, and the number of the free ends in each group. The user can connect between any three points of the free ends on the computer display to indicate the existing of a covering triangle; s/he can also choose the color of each covering triangle. After that; when the user drags any point of the free ends on the computer display the points of the same group will be moved similarly relative to the central point, as previously described, creating a new object shape with each horizontal or vertical dragging of a point.
In the buildings applications,
The spherical joints enables the telescopic structural beams to be rotated horizontally and/or vertically.
FIGS. 81 to 83 are, respectively, a top view, a side view, and an isometric projection for a telescopic structural beam illustrating its main components. It is comprised of; (a) plurality of interconnected cylindrical members 250 that slide inside each other telescopically to change the span of the telescopic structural beam, (b) an interior wire 260 running along the insides of the interconnected cylindrical members to connect between the free end of the outer cylindrical member and a pulley which controls the retraction of the telescopic structural beam by dragging the wire to a specific limit. (c) a spring 270 inside each interconnected cylindrical member except the outer one to control the protraction of the telescopic structural beam, when the wire is relieved. (d) a spherical joint 280 to allow the telescopic structural beam to rotate horizontally or vertically. (e) two vertical wires 290 connecting the top outer surface of the innermost cylindrical member to two pulleys, so that when the two wires are pulled, the telescopic beam rotates vertically anti-clockwise, and when the two wires are relieved gradually, the telescopic structural beam rotates vertically clockwise. (f) two horizontal wires 300 connecting the outer side surface of the innermost cylindrical member to two other pulleys, so that the two pulleys control the horizontal rotation of the telescopic structural beam, when one of the wires is pulled and the other is relieved; the telescopic beam rotates in the direction of the pulled wire.
There are some advantages of using the collective cylinder, for example when it moves or slides vertically on the column this movement will make all the telescopic structural beams rotate vertically. Also, when the collective cylinder is rotated horizontally about the column the entire group of telescopic beams rotate horizontally. Moving or rotating the collective cylinder is a simple way to move a group of telescopic structural beams together.
It is possible to control the movements of the telescopic structural beams and accordingly control the movement of the object that utilizes the present polymorphic components by some types of sensors. For example, in the buildings applications; the sensors can detect specific data from the surrounding environment; though some program; the suitable movement is calculated to make the building respond toward the detected data. Such sensors are excellent to detect the change of temperature, sun orientation or wind directions.
Another alternative for carrying out the polymorphic components in the buildings applications, is to utilize three wires where each one of these wires is pulled to have a specific length where the three specific lengths of the three wires determine the position of the free end.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EG2006/000019 | May 2006 | EG | national |
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pending International Application No. PCT/EG2006/000019, filed May 28, 2006.