Mechanically operated erectable structure

Claim 2

A mechanically erectable structure which comprises: a pair of curved stiffening members bendable on themselves arranged in opposed spaced face to face relation to form a substantially elliptical shape in cross section, flexible fabric joining the edges of each member together, a frame holding one end of each member in position to the other, a take-up roller mounted in the frame, the other end of each of the members being secured to the take-up roller, a pair of roller means within the frame defining a bite receiving the portions of each member extending from the takeup roller in face to face adjacent relationship, and means for driving the roller means and the take-up roller in synchronization to control retraction or extension of the members.

Claim 3

The structure according to claim 1 where the curved stiffening members are spring steel having a guage between 0.003 inches to 0.020 inches.

Claim 4

A structure according to claim 1 where the flexible fabric is of such length so as to compress that portion of the members bent back on themselves internally into an adjacent back to back flattened substantially X shaped configuration.

Claim 5

A structure acCording to claim 3 where the fabric attaches to the members at a slightly spaced distance from the lateral edges thereof thereby forming a groove between the edges and the point of fabric attachment, said internal portion of each member having its lateral edges slidably received into interlocking relation in such grooves.

Claim 6

A structure according to claim 3 which includes means holding those portions of each member that are in back to back relation at the full extension thereof in fixed relation to each other.

Claim 7

A mechanically erectable structure which comprises a pair of curved stiffening members resiliently bendable back through 180* onto themselves arranged in opposed spaced face to face relation to form a substantially circular shape in cross section, frame means holding one end of each member in such face to face relation with the members having first portions extending upwardly from the frame means and second portions doubled back from the upper ends of the first portions and in back relation within the confines of the first portions thus forming each member into a substantially elliptical configuration in cross section, means to grasp and move the second portions adjacent the point in which the second portions pass through the opening between the fixed ends of the members, means to hold the members in substantially their same spaced face to face relationship along their lengths, and means to selectively move the second portions of the members through the means to grasp adjustably controlling the amount of extension of the members with respect to the fixed ends.

Claim 8

A mechanically erectable structure which comprises a pair of curved stiffening members resiliently bendable back through 180* onto themselves arranged in opposed spaced face to face relation to form a substantially circular shape in cross section, frame means holding one end of each member in such face to face relation with the members having first portions extending upwardly from the frame means and second portions doubled back from the upper ends of the first portions and in back relation within the confines of the first portions thus forming each member into a substantially elliptical configuration in cross section, means to grasp and move the second portions adjacent the point in which the second portions pass through the opening between the fixed ends of the members, means to hold the members in substantially their same spaced face to face relationship along their lengths, and means to selectively move the second portions of the members through the means to grasp adjustably controlling the amount of extension of the members with respect to the fixed ends.