US3842550A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air supported metal roof and method of raising and lowering
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-23
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1993-10-23
Abstract
Abstract An air supported building structure having a pair of parallel spaced side walls, a curved sheet metal membrane forming the roof and side walls disposed between the vertical walls, a weight mounted for vertical movement attached to one end of the curved membrane for continuously biasing an end outwardly, the other end of the sheet being permanently attached to the fixed structure such as the vertical walls or the foundation. An air supported building having a pair of parallel, spaced vertical side walls and a curved sheet metal membrane forming the roof and side walls in which the metal member is composed of elongated channel members in which the sides of the channels are mechanically joined together.
Inventors
- 👤 W Duquette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:38
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H15/00; E04H15/20; E04H15/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A building structure comprising: a. an air impermeable floor; b. a pair of parallel substantially planar air impermeable side walls; c. a metal membrane forming the roof and end walls dimensioned to register with and form a sliding relatively air tight seal with said side walls in forming an enclosed building space; d. said metal membrane consisting of a plurality of channelshaped side ribbed, elongated panels arranged with their longitudinal axis parallel to said side walls and having an unbroken length equal to the length to said roof and end walls; e. said panels having parallel upstanding sides terminating in outwardly and downwardly curved flanges of dissimilar radii; f. said panels being mechanically joined at their sides by positioning said curved flanges one within the other and mechanically reducing the radii of said larger flange until said flanges are in interlocking relationship; and g. means for raising the pressure inside said building above the outside pressure sufficient to raise said membrane above said floor and maintain said membrane above said floor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A building structure comprising: a. an air impermeable floor; b. a pair of parallel substantially planar air impermeable side walls; c. a metal membrane forming the roof and end walls dimensioned to register with and form a sliding relatively air tight seal with said side walls in forming an enclosed building space; d. said metal membrane consisting of a plurality of channelshaped side ribbed, elongated panels arranged with their longitudinal axis parallel to said side walls and having an unbroken length equal to the length to said roof and end walls; e. said panels having parallel upstanding sides terminating in outwardly and downwardly curved flanges of dissimilar radii; f. said panels being mechanically joined at their sides by positioning said curved flanges one within the other and mechanically reducing the radii of said larger flange until said flanges are in interlocking relationship; and g. means for raising the pressure inside said building above the outside pressure sufficient to raise said membrane above said floor and maintain said membrane above said floor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A building structure as described in claim 1 comprising: a. internal panels projecting upwardly from said floor for receiving and holding said membrane at an elevation above said floor for protecting personnel in the event of an emergency lowering of said membrane; and b. sealing means forming an air impermeable seal between said membrane and said side walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A building structure as described in claim 1 comprising: a. means pivotally affixing a first end of said membrane to said floor in an air impermeable relationship; and b. biasing means attached to a second end of said membrane permitting movement of said membrane to a raised curved position by said pressure means and effecting movement of said second end to a position away from said first end when said pressure means permits said differential pressure to be decreased and said membrane to be lowered from its fully raised position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A building structure as described in claim 2 comprising: a. said sealing means including an air impermeable sealing strip mounted along the longitudinal axis of said flanges for compression therebetween upon mechanical reduction of the radii of said flanges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A building structure as described in claim 3 comprising: a. said biasing means includes pre-selected weights moveable from a first elevation to a second higher elevation upon raising of said roof and end walls and back to said lower elevation upon lowering of said membrane; and b. cable means connected to said second end and said weights.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of constructing a building structure comprising: a. constructing an air impermeable floor; b. erecting a pair of parallel substantially planar air impermeable side walls joining said floor; c. joining a plurality of channel shaped, ribbed elongated metal panels into a single air impermeable membrane forming the roof and end walls and dimensioned to coact with said side walls in forming an enclosed building space, said panels having parallel upstanding sides terminating in outwardly and downwardly curved flanges of dissimilar radii and being mechanically joined at their sides by positioning said curved flanges one within the other and mechanically reducing the radii of said larger flange until said flanges are in interlocking relationship; d. anchoring a first end of said end wall to said floor; e. introducing air pressure beneath said roof and end walls to effect raising thereof between said side walls; f. maintaining an air seal between said roof and side walls and between a second end of said end wall and said floor; g. anchoring said second end to said floor to prevent further raising of said roof and end walls; and h. maintaining sufficient pressure within said structure to prevent lowering of said roof and end walls.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of constructing a building structure comprising: a. constructing an air impermeable floor; b. erecting a pair of parallel substantially planar air impermeable side walls joining said floor; c. joining a plurality of channel shaped, ribbed elongated metal panels into a single air impermeable membrane forming the roof and end walls and dimensioned to coact with said side walls in forming an enclosed building space, said panels having parallel upstanding sides terminating in outwardly and downwardly curved flanges of dissimilar radii and being mechanically joined at their sides by positioning said curved flanges one within the other and mechanically reducing the radii of said larger flange until said flanges are in interlocking relationship; d. anchoring a first end of said end wall to said floor; e. introducing air pressure beneath said roof and end walls to effect raising thereof between said side walls; f. maintaining an air seal between said roof and side walls and between a second end of said end wall and said floor; g. anchoring said second end to said floor to prevent further raising of said roof and end walls; and h. maintaining sufficient pressure within said structure to prevent lowering of said roof and end walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of constructing a building structure as defined in claim 6 comprising: a. anchoring said first end by a pivotal means permitting angular displacement of said end in relation to said floor while maintaining an air impermeable seal; and b. providing a sliding, air impermeable seal between said second end and said floor.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of constructing a building structure comprising: a. constructing an air impermeable floor; b. erecting a pair of parallel substantially planar air impermeable side walls joining said floor; c. selecting a flat air impermeable metal membrane forming the roof and end walls formable in its longitudinal direction into an arcuate shape and deformable to said initial flat shape and dimensioned to coact with said side walls in forming an enclosed building space; d. anchoring a first end of said end wall to said floor; e. introducing air pressure beneath said roof and end walls to effect raising thereof between said side walls; f. maintaining an air seal between said roof and side walls and between a second end of said end wall and said floor; g. anchoring said second end to said floor to prevent further raising of said roof and end walls; h. maintaining sufficient pressure within said structure to prevent lowering of said roof and end walls; i. providing a biasing means having a force acting away from said structure with a force permitting raising of said roof by differential pressure; and j. providing sufficient biasing force to move said second end away from said structure when the differential preSsure is insufficient to maintain said roof and end walls in a raised position so that said membrane may return to said flat form.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of constructing a building structure comprising: a. constructing an air impermeable floor; b. erecting a pair of parallel substantially planar air impermeable side walls joining said floor; c. selecting a flat air impermeable metal membrane forming the roof and end walls formable in its longitudinal direction into an arcuate shape and deformable to said initial flat shape and dimensioned to coact with said side walls in forming an enclosed building space; d. anchoring a first end of said end wall to said floor; e. introducing air pressure beneath said roof and end walls to effect raising thereof between said side walls; f. maintaining an air seal between said roof and side walls and between a second end of said end wall and said floor; g. anchoring said second end to said floor to prevent further raising of said roof and end walls; h. maintaining sufficient pressure within said structure to prevent lowering of said roof and end walls; i. providing a biasing means having a force acting away from said structure with a force permitting raising of said roof by differential pressure; and j. providing sufficient biasing force to move said second end away from said structure when the differential preSsure is insufficient to maintain said roof and end walls in a raised position so that said membrane may return to said flat form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method of lowering a building structure as defined in claim 7 comprising: a. reducing the differential air pressure inside said structure so that it is incapable of maintaining said roof and end walls at a fixed elevation above said floor; b. pulling said second end wall in a direction parallel to said floor in a direction axially to and away from said building until said ceiling ceases to drop.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method of lowering a building structure as defined in claim 8 comprising: a. attaching weights to said second end wall in a suspended position so that gravitational force can provide the automatic biasing force necessary to pull said second end outwardly in the event of a decrease in air pressure below the selected pressure necessary to hold said roof in a raised position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |