US3886961A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Prestressed membrane structure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-26
•
Granted: 1975-06-03
•
Expires: 1993-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A building structure has a plurality of elongated flexible compression arches or ribs to which a flexible membrane is operatively connected to span spaces between the arches in a folded pattern with the arches located at the apices of the folds and valleys formed between the apices. A plurality of cables are operatively associated with the membranes by prestressing and are located in the valleys formed between the arches in order to maintain the membrane in tension under substantially all load conditions so that the flexible arches are braced against buckling by the membrane. As a result, the flexible components of the structure cooperate to form a relatively rigid structural system capable of spanning relatively long distances for covering sports stadiums and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 David H Geiger
- 👤 Horst Berger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:03
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H15/00; E04H15/18; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/32; E04B2001/3235; E04B2001/3252; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S135/00; Y10S135/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A building structure including a plurality of flexible arches, a flexible membrane operatively connected to said arches in a folded configuration having ridges and valleys therebetween with said flexible arches being located at said ridges, and a plurality of prestressed flexible cables respectively located in the valleys formed in the membrane between two adjacent arches to hold said membrane in tension against said arches, whereby said arches are braced against buckling by said membrane to form a relatively rigid structure; said arches being formed of normally flat flexible members arranged to extend radially with respect to each other, to define a generally circular dome structure; and said structure including means for maintaining said flexible members in an arched configuration; said prestressed cables holding said membrane against said flexible arches upon downward flexing of said arches and said flexible arches holding said membrane against said prestressed cables during upward movement of said arches whereby said membrane is held in tension against said arches under substantially all load conditions to brace said arches against buckling.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A building structure including a plurality of flexible arches, a flexible membrane operatively connected to said arches in a folded configuration having ridges and valleys therebetween with said flexible arches being located at said ridges, and a plurality of prestressed flexible cables respectively located in the valleys formed in the membrane between two adjacent arches to hold said membrane in tension against said arches, whereby said arches are braced against buckling by said membrane to form a relatively rigid structure; said arches being formed of normally flat flexible members arranged to extend radially with respect to each other, to define a generally circular dome structure; and said structure including means for maintaining said flexible members in an arched configuration; said prestressed cables holding said membrane against said flexible arches upon downward flexing of said arches and said flexible arches holding said membrane against said prestressed cables during upward movement of said arches whereby said membrane is held in tension against said arches under substantially all load conditions to brace said arches against buckling.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
173 words
A building structure including a plurality of flexible arches, a flexible membrane operatively connected to said arches in a folded configuration having ridges and valleys therebetween with said flexible arches being located at said ridges, and a plurality of prestressed flexible cables respectively located in the valleys formed in the membrane between two adjacent arches to hold said membrane in tension against said arches, whereby said arches are braced against buckling by said membrane to form a relatively rigid structure; said arches being formed of normally flat flexible members arranged to extend radially with respect to each other, to define a generally circular dome structure; and said structure including means for maintaining said flexible members in an arched configuration; said prestressed cables holding said membrane against said flexible arches upon downward flexing of said arches and said flexible arches holding said membrane against said prestressed cables during upward movement of said arches whereby said membrane is held in tension against said arches under substantially all load conditions to brace said arches against buckling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
173 words
A building structure including a plurality of flexible arches, a flexible membrane operatively connected to said arches in a folded configuration having ridges and valleys therebetween with said flexible arches being located at said ridges, and a plurality of prestressed flexible cables respectively located in the valleys formed in the membrane between two adjacent arches to hold said membrane in tension against said arches, whereby said arches are braced against buckling by said membrane to form a relatively rigid structure; said arches being formed of normally flat flexible members arranged to extend radially with respect to each other, to define a generally circular dome structure; and said structure including means for maintaining said flexible members in an arched configuration; said prestressed cables holding said membrane against said flexible arches upon downward flexing of said arches and said flexible arches holding said membrane against said prestressed cables during upward movement of said arches whereby said membrane is held in tension against said arches under substantially all load conditions to brace said arches against buckling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The building structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the innermost portions of said arches are located at a common point thereby to define said generally circular dome structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The building structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for maintaining said flexible arch members in an arched configuration includes a peripheral cable operatively interconnecting the free ends of the arches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The building structure as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said arches is formed from two normally flat flexible elongated structural members and said structure includes a central connecting ring for said structural members, said ring being operatively connected to one end of each at said structural members, with the structural members of each pair extending in radial alignment from the ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The building structure as defined in claim 4 in which there are at least four pairs of said structural members whereby said dome has an octagonal shape in plan.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The building structure as defined in claim 4 including a plurality of inverted V-shaped dome support members associated respectively with the free ends of said arches, said support members being operatively connected to said archeS at the apices thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The building structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said membrane extends beyond the free ends of said arches to span between said support members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The building structure as defined in claim 7 wherein said radially extending cables are secured at one end to said central connecting ring and at their opposite ends to said support members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The building structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said support members form a side wall of said building and provide access thereto through the inverted V-shaped opening formed thereby.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The building structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said opposite ends of said cables are operatively secured to the free ends of the adjacent legs of two of adjacent inverted V-shaped support members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The building structure as defined in claim 7 including cable means operatively connected between the edge of said membrane and the legs of each of said inverted V-shaped support members for transferring stress in the membrane to the support members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2021480A
Cited
US2516369A
Cited
US2881718A
Cited
US2988096A
Cited
US3134200A
Cited
US3198200A
Cited
US3473272A
Cited
US3465764A
Cited
US3474802A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |