Origami & Patents

Kevin Koo

14 years ago

Introduction

How many philanthropists have raised money for charity by making and selling origami? Fifth grader Sebastian Carpenter, only 11 years old, did just that, raising USD$610 for a local charity in Massachusetts. Sebastian created and sold Christmas-themed origami to family friends, hoping to raise only $50. As word about his cause and his creations spread, demand for the origami pieces rose, eventually selling 60 pieces, and raising $610 for a worthy cause. (Source: Wicked Local, 13th Jan 2010. Student joins fundraising fold: Origami creations raise money for Acord Food Pantry.)

Even engineers are passionate about origami. In December 2009, Japanese aeronautical engineer, Takuo Toda, created a world record for creating a paper plane that stayed airborne for 26.1 seconds, while staying true to the rules of origami: no scissors, and no glue. Takuo previously made the world record for creating a paper plane that stayed airborne for 27.9 seconds, but had deviated from origami rules by using cellophane tape. He plans to exceed 30 seconds on his next attempt. (Source: The Guardian, 27 Dec 2009. Paper plane enthusiast sets flight record.)

Origami

The recreational art of paper folding originated from Japan. The word “origami” comes from Japanese words “oru” (which means “to fold”) and “kami” (which means “paper”). The recreational art of paper folding became popularly known as “origami” at the end of the nineteenth century, or the early twentieth century. Before that, it was known as “orikata”, “orisue”, “orimono”, “tatamgami”, among others, which also referred to origami. (Ref: PaperFolding.com, Origami History. Accessed: 20-1-2010.)

Flying cranes usually come to mind when we hear the word “origami”. Origami as an art form is versatile, beautiful, useful, and is more than just flying cranes. Consider:

Origami has been found to be tremendously helpful to the area of engineering. (Ref: Web-Japan, 12th Mar 2008. The Science of Origami.)
Rigid origami is studied as the science of “folding structures using flat rigid sheets joined by hinges”, and is considered a type of mechanical linkage. (Ref: Wikipedia)
Fresnel lenses have been packed on Earth using origami techniques and unpacked in outer space. (Ref: California Connected. Interactive: An Origami Space Telescope.)
Various architectural structures utilize principles from origami. (Ref: Pleated Structures)
Origami based furniture — made of aluminum and cardboard — has proven to be usable and viable. (Ref: Origami Resource Center, Origami Furniture.)
Orikaso, founded by Tomoko Fuse sells flat, foldable polypropylene tableware that transform from flat sheets into cups, bowls and plates. Orikaso claims that polypropylene is the only alternative to PVC endorsed by Greenpeace. (Found via Origami Resource Center, Origami Furniture.)