US3924366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Easily erected roof structure for modular buildings
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-08-26
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1994-08-26
Abstract
Abstract An easily erected roof structure designed to be transported in a conventional trailer truck, which is particularly adapted for use in relatively low cost modular buildings. The roof structure has a centrally located roof section with two side roof sections hinged to opposite sides of the central section. During transportation the central roof section is disposed horizontally proximate the top of the trailer, and the side roof sections are parallel to the trailer side walls, extending substantially vertically downward from the central section to which they are hinged with the lower edges of the side sections resting on the bed of the trailer. Mounted underneath the central section are permanent support legs which are disposed, during transportation, in a folded or parked position spaced above and clear of the bed of the truck. The roof structure is unloaded from the truck by rolling or sliding the lowermost edges of the side sections along the trailer floor. As the structure emerges from the trailer, the support legs, which are mounted underneath the central section, are swung into a vertical position, transferring support of the structure to the ground. Once the roof structure is fully unloaded from the truck, the support legs are permitted to telescope inwardly under the weight of the roof structure. The telescoping movement, through a suitable linkage assembly such as a cable/linkage assembly or temporary supports, is utilized to raise the side sections from the substantially vertical position exhibited during transport in the trailer to a substantially horizontal or erect position, whereat the side roof sections form an extension of the roof surface of the central section.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis L Gibbs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:57
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B7/00; E04B7/16; E04B7/163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
411 words
An easily transported, easily erected roof structure for a building comprising, in combination: a central roof section having at least two opposed edges; a plurality of legs connected to said central roof section and constructed to depend downwardly from said central roof section for supporting said central roof section spaced above a base, each said legs including at least two sections with one of each said leg section telescopically interfitting with at least one other leg section; releasable means connected to the leg sections of each said leg to selectively lock said legs against telescopic movement when said releasable means are unreleased, and permit telescoping of each said support leg to enable said central roof section to move closer to said base under the force of gravity when said releasable means are released; a pair of side roof sections each pivotally attached along an inner edge thereof to a different said opposed edge of said central roof section, each said side roof section having an outer edge and being pivotal between a downwardly folded position wherein said side roof section is disposed vertically in a generally perpendicular relation to said central roof section to facilitate compact storage and an erect position whereat said side roof section is pivoted upwardly relative to said folded position to form a continuous roof surface with said central roof secTion; said releasable means when unreleased maintaining the length of said legs longer than the distance between the inner and outer edges of said side roof sections to permit said legs to support said central roof assembly at a predetermined height above said base with said outer edges of said side roof sections spaced above said base when said side roof sections are folded; and side roof section pivoting means directly connected to said side roof sections, operative in response to gravity-induced downward movement of said central roof section toward said base below said specified height accompanied by telescoping shortening movement of said support legs, to react against said downward movement on said side roof section in a direction to pivot said side roof section outwardly and upwardly relative to said central roof section from said folded position toward said erect position, whereby the energy required to move said side roof sections to said erect position from said stored position is obtained by a gravity-induced decrease in height of said central roof section upon selective release of said releasable means and consequent shortening of said telescoping legs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
411 words
An easily transported, easily erected roof structure for a building comprising, in combination: a central roof section having at least two opposed edges; a plurality of legs connected to said central roof section and constructed to depend downwardly from said central roof section for supporting said central roof section spaced above a base, each said legs including at least two sections with one of each said leg section telescopically interfitting with at least one other leg section; releasable means connected to the leg sections of each said leg to selectively lock said legs against telescopic movement when said releasable means are unreleased, and permit telescoping of each said support leg to enable said central roof section to move closer to said base under the force of gravity when said releasable means are released; a pair of side roof sections each pivotally attached along an inner edge thereof to a different said opposed edge of said central roof section, each said side roof section having an outer edge and being pivotal between a downwardly folded position wherein said side roof section is disposed vertically in a generally perpendicular relation to said central roof section to facilitate compact storage and an erect position whereat said side roof section is pivoted upwardly relative to said folded position to form a continuous roof surface with said central roof secTion; said releasable means when unreleased maintaining the length of said legs longer than the distance between the inner and outer edges of said side roof sections to permit said legs to support said central roof assembly at a predetermined height above said base with said outer edges of said side roof sections spaced above said base when said side roof sections are folded; and side roof section pivoting means directly connected to said side roof sections, operative in response to gravity-induced downward movement of said central roof section toward said base below said specified height accompanied by telescoping shortening movement of said support legs, to react against said downward movement on said side roof section in a direction to pivot said side roof section outwardly and upwardly relative to said central roof section from said folded position toward said erect position, whereby the energy required to move said side roof sections to said erect position from said stored position is obtained by a gravity-induced decrease in height of said central roof section upon selective release of said releasable means and consequent shortening of said telescoping legs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said central roof section has a peaked central portion to promote gravity induced flow of fluid therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein each said side roof section, when disposed at said erect position, forms a sloping continuous surface with said central roof section to promote gravity induced flow of fluid from the roof structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said means to selectively permit telescoping for each said leg comprises a removable means associated with each telescopically interfitting section, each removable means being operative to prevent telescopic movement when in place and permit telescopic movement when removed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
The combination of claim 1 additionally including a transport vehicle having a flat bed slidably engaged with said outer edges of said side roof sections for temporarily supporting said side roof sections in their stored position with said central roof section spaced above said bed, and a travelling hoist located beneath, and supported by, said central roof section, said hoist being disposed below said central roof section between said side sections when said bed and outer edges of said side sections are engaged and operative to lift objects off said bed and transport said lifted objects along said bed when said side roof section outer edges are engaged thereby.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said side roof section pivoting means includes at least two additional support legs having upper ends attached to different ones of said side roof sections and lower ends engageable with said base when said additional legs are disposed vertically for pivoting upwardly from its stored position to its erect position each said side roof section while said support legs telescope in a manner to cause each side roof section to pivot from its folded to its erect position when said central roof section is lowered under the force of gravity upon release of said releasable means and consequent shortening of said telescoping legs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination of claim 1 additionally including permanent support means attachable between each said side roof section and said central roof section to permanently support each said side roof section at its erect position, said permanent support means being independent of said additional and telescoping legs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said side roof section pivoting means includes at least one pivoted erecting linkage pivotally interconnected between each said side roof section and said central roof section and a cable operatively interconnecting each said pivoted erecting linkage with at least one said telescoping section to convert the shortening telescoping movement of said telescoping legs produced by gravity-induced lowering of said central section when saiD releasable means is released into movement of each said side roof section from its folded position toward its erect position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said pivoting means includes: at least one pulley rotatably mounted at a position which remains fixed with respect to said central roof section as said telescoping support leg telescopes, said pulley being drivably interconnected with said telescoping support leg so the telescoping movement of said support leg between its fully extended and its fully telescoped position when said central roof section lowers under the force of gravity is operative to rotate said pulley; and a cable/linkage means interconnecting each said pulley with one said side roof section to pivot said connected side roof section between said folded position and said erect position as said support legs move telescopically between said fully extended and said fully telescoped position in response to gravity-induced lowering of said central roof section when said releasable means is released.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |