Geodesic Patents

Since R. Buckminster Fuller received his first patent in 1954 many other geodesic-related patents were applied for and issued. Even Fuller received another patent for an improved geodesic dome in 1965. Many of the patents relate to hub connectors for metal but mainly timber geodesic domes.

About patents

Generally a patent is valid for 20 years but the clock starts ticking from the moment you file it with the patent office. If you are awarded the patent 2 years later you have 18 years left to exploit it exclusively. The 20 year patent is a non-provisional patent. You can also receive a “provisional patent” good for a year.

Non-provisional: application establishes filing date of your patent application and the examination process by the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) begins.

Provisional: establishes your filing date and expires automatically after a year. Used for when one is not ready for the regular examination process. Also allows “Patent Pending” to be applied to the invention.

The list below is far from complete but it will give you a good idea of what inventors filed to patent. Links are to Google Patents.

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