Deployable origami-inspired barriers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11650028-B2
Application number	US-202117539436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2021
Priority date	Sep 7, 2016
Publication date	May 16, 2023
Grant date	May 16, 2023

Abstract

An example barrier can be switchable between an at least partially collapsed state and at least partially expanded state (e.g., a deployed state). For example, the barrier can be formed from a continuous sheet and a plurality of rigid sections (e.g., rigid panels) attached or incorporated into the continuous sheet. The barrier can also include a plurality of hinges, such as hinge lines, between the panels that are formed from the continuous sheet. The hinges enable the barrier to be rigid foldable (e.g., the hinges can fold and unfold while the rigid sections remain stiff and rigid) between the expanded and collapsed states.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A barrier, comprising
a sheet extending between two opposing surfaces;
a plurality of rigid sections attached to or incorporated into the sheet, wherein the plurality of rigid sections form a plurality of stories between the two opposing surfaces, the plurality of rigid sections defining gaps therebetween; and
a plurality of hinges, each of the plurality of hinges is adjacent to a corresponding one of the gaps, the plurality of hinges formed from portions of the sheet, the plurality of hinges intersect with each other at at least one vertex, wherein at most only one pair of hinges intersecting at one vertex is collinear;
wherein the barrier is configured to be switchable between an at least partially collapsed state and an at least partially expanded state.

2. The barrier of claim 1 , wherein the sheet includes a continuous sheet.

3. The barrier of claim 2 , wherein the continuous sheet includes an uncut sheet.

4. The barrier of claim 1 , wherein the sheet includes a discontinuous sheet.

5. The barrier of claim 4 , wherein the discontinuous sheet includes one or more cuts formed therein.

6. The barrier of claim 5 , wherein the one or more cuts formed in the discontinuous sheet are covered by another portion of the sheet.

7. The barrier of claim 1 , wherein the sheet includes a plurality of layers.

8. The barrier of claim 7 , wherein:
the plurality of layers includes at least one first layer and at least one second layer; and
each of the plurality of rigid sections is disposed between the at least one first layer and the at least one second layer.

9. The barrier of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rigid sections forms an even number of stories.

10. The barrier of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rigid sections includes a plurality of rigid panels that are distinct from the sheet.

11. The barrier of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rigid sections includes ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

12. The barrier of claim 1 , wherein the barrier exhibits a single degree of freedom when switching between the at least partially collapsed state and the at least partially expanded state.

13. The barrier of claim 1 , wherein each of the portions of the sheet that form the plurality of hinges exhibits a thick membrane fold.

14. The barrier of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
one or more spacers positioned on a mountain side of one or more of the plurality of hinges;
one or more springs coupled to at least one of the plurality of rigid sections; or
at least one brace coupled to at least some of the plurality of rigid sections.

15. A barrier, comprising
a sheet extending between two opposing surfaces;
a plurality of rigid sections attached to or incorporated into the sheet, wherein the plurality of rigid sections form a plurality of stories between the two opposing surfaces, the plurality of rigid sections defining gaps therebetween; and
a plurality of hinges, each of the plurality of hinges is adjacent to a corresponding one of the gaps, the plurality of hinges formed from portions of the sheet, the plurality of hinges intersect with each other at at least one vertex, wherein some of the plurality of hinges that intersect at the at least one vertex are collinear;
wherein the barrier is configured to be switchable between an at least partially collapsed state and an at least partially expanded state.

16. A method to make a barrier, the method comprising:
providing a sheet extending between two opposing surfaces;
defining a plurality of rigid sections on the sheet, wherein the plurality of rigid sections form a plurality of stories between the two opposing surfaces, wherein the plurality of rigid sections define gaps therebetween; and
forming a plurality of hinges from portions of the sheet, each of the plurality of hinges is adjacent to a corresponding one of the gaps, wherein at most only one pair of hinges intersecting at one vertex is collinear.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein providing a sheet includes providing a continuous uncut sheet.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
providing a sheet includes providing at least one first layer and at least one second layer, the at least one first layer and the at least one second layer forming two opposing exterior surfaces of the sheet; and
defining a plurality of rigid sections on the sheet includes disposing a plurality of rigid panels between the at least one first layer and the at least one second layer.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein defining a plurality of rigid sections on the sheet includes forming an even number of stories of the plurality of rigid sections on the sheet.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising positioning one or more spacers on a mountain side of at least one of the plurality of hinges.

Assignees

• Univ Brigham Young

Inventors

• Howell Larry L
• Magleby Spencer P
• Morgan David C
• Bateman Terri
• Niven Jeffrey E
• Avila Alex
• Crampton Erica
• Tolman Kyler
• Greenwood Jacob
• Schleede Peter

Classifications

• E06B2009/007

  Flood panels · CPC title

• E01F13/02

  free-standing; {portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes (E01F9/688 takes precedence); Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers} · CPC title

• E06B9/06

  collapsible or foldable, e.g. of the bellows or lazy-tongs type (bellows-type doors E06B3/94; roll-type grilles E06B9/18) · CPC title

• F41H5/013 Primary

  Mounting or securing armour plates · CPC title

• F41H5/24

  for stationary use, e.g. fortifications {; Shelters; Guard Booths (air-raid shelters E04H9/04)} · CPC title