Modular structure formed of interconnected tubular members

Claim 2

A modular structure comprising: a pair of vertical support towers spaced apart and defining the sides of the modular structure, each support tower comprising a base formed of interconnected tubular members and support struts extending upwardly from the base so as to form a pair of upper corners spaced apart a pre-determined distance, each said tower further comprising reinforcing means that interconnect the base and the support struts so as to maintain the upper corners of the tower in a fixed position relative to the base of the tower; and a section of a domed roof mounted on and extending between the support towers, said section of domed roof comprising a plurality of interconnected truss units formed in the shape of inverted pyramids having rectangular bases, said truss units being formed of tubular members connected together at the ends thereof, with the truss units being connected together along common sides of their bases, the truss units on each end of the domed roof section being mounted on the upper corners of the tower such that one side of the base of each such truss unit extends between the upper corners of the tower.

Claim 3

A modular structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein each pair of towers and attached section of domed roof comprise a single truss section and the modular structure comprises a plurality of truss sections connected together end-to-end.

Claim 4

A modular structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the individual truss sections are spaced apart by truss section spacer tubes that extend between and connect adjacent truss sections so as to separate adjacent truss sections by a pre-determined distance.

Claim 5

A modular structure as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising diagonal reinforcing tubes extending between opposite corners of the bases of a sufficient number of truss units to adequately reinforce the modular structure.

Claim 6

A modular structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein the truss section spacer tubes extend from the corners of each truss unit in each truss sectiOn to the corners of each truss unit in the truss section adjacent thereto.

Claim 7

A modular structure as claimed in claim 4 and further comprising a plurality of truss unit spacer tubes interconnecting the inverted points of adjacent pyramidal truss units in each truss section, a truss unit spacer tube also extending from the inverted point on the truss unit at each end of each section of domed roof to the tower on which the truss unit is mounted.

Claim 8

A modular structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the base of each tower is rectangular and is positioned such that two sides of the base are parallel to the axis of the domed roof and two sides of the base are perpendicular to the axis of the domed roof; the tower comprises four support struts extending upwardly from the respective four corners of the base in vertical planes perpendicular to the axis of the domed roof, each pair of struts in a common plane being connected at upper ends thereof to form each upper corner of the tower; and the reinforcing means comprise reinforcing tubes that extend from each corner of the base and each upper corner of the tower to a common point inside the tower, said reinforcing tubes being interconnected at said common point.

Claim 9

A modular structure as claimed in claim 7 wherein the domed roof is bolted to each upper corner of each tower by means of a connecting plate.

Claim 10

A modular structure comprising: a pair of support towers spaced apart and defining the sides of the modular structure, said support towers each having inside surfaces that face each other, outside surfaces that face away from each other, and side surfaces that are perpendicular to the inside and outside surfaces, each support tower comprising: a rectangular base formed of tubular base members interconnected at right angles at corners of the base; support struts attached to and extending upwardly from each corner of the base, with the support struts on each side of the base being connected at upper ends thereof so as to make each side of the support tower a vertically disposed triangle, with the upper ends of the struts forming spaced upper corners of the support tower; and reinforcing means adapted to maintain the structural rigidity of each support tower; and a section of domed roof mounted on and extending between the upper corners of the two support towers, said domed roof comprising a plurality of pyramidal truss units having rectangular bases formed of tubular members connected together at right angles, with the truss units being interconnected end-to-end along a common side of each base, and with the sides of the bases on each end of the domed roof being connected at the ends thereof to the upper corners of the support tower.

Claim 11

A modular structure comprising: a pair of support towers spaced apart and defining the sides of the modular structure, said support towers each having inside surfaces that face each other, outside surfaces that face away from each other, and side surfaces that are perpendicular to the inside and outside surfaces, each support tower comprising: a rectangular base formed of tubular base members interconnected at right angles at corners of the base; support struts attached to and extending upwardly from each corner of the base, with the support struts on each side of the base being connected at upper ends thereof so as to make each side of the support tower a vertically disposed triangle, with the upper ends of the struts forming spaced upper corners of the support tower; and reinforcing means adapted to maintain the structural rigidity of each support tower; and a section of domed roof mounted on and extending between the upper corners of the two support towers, said domed roof comprising a plurality of pyramidal truss units having rectangular bases formed of tubular members connected together at right angles, with the truss units being interconnected end-to-end along a common side of each base, and with the sides of the bases on each end of the domed roof being connected at the ends thereof to the upper corners of the support tower.

Claim 12

A modular structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein the reinforcing means comprises a plurality of reinforcing tubes, one tube extending upwardly from each of the four corners of the base and one tube extending downwardly from each upper corner of the support tower, said reinforcing tubes all extending to a common point in the interior of the support tower and being rigidly fastened together at said point.

Claim 13

A modular structure as claimed in claim 10 wherein the reinforcing tubes of the truss tower are interconnected at said common point by means of a bolt and nut fastener.

Claim 14

A modular structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein: each pair of towers and interconnecting section of domed roof comprises a single truss section and the modular structure comprises: a plurality of identical truss sections, spaced apart a fixed distance and aligned end-to-end; truss section spacer tubes interconnecting each corner of each base of each pyramidal truss unit with the corner of the base of the adjacent truss unit in the immediately adjacent truss section; and diagonal reinforcing tubes extending diagonally across the base of each truss unit.

Claim 15

A modular structure as claimed in claim 12 wherein: the pyramidal truss units arE positioned so that the base of the pyramid forms the outer surface of the domed roof and the sides of the pyramid extend inwardly to a common point in the interior of the structure; and truss unit spacer tubes interconnect the inwardly extending common points of adjacent pyramids in each truss section.

Claim 16

A modular structure as claimed in claim 13 wherein the modular structure is covered with snow fence material.

Claim 17

A modular structure comprising: a plurality of identical domed truss sections spaced apart from each other a fixed distance and aligned end-to-end to form an elongated domed structure, each truss section comprising: a plurality of identical inverted pyramidal truss units connected together end-to-end in a curved column, each truss unit comprising a rectangular base formed of tubular members connected together at right angles and four tubular members extending from the respective four corners of the base to a common point, said truss units being connected together in said curved column along common sides of their bases; truss unit spacer tubes interconnecting the common point of each truss unit with the common point of the adjoining truss unit in each truss section; and diagonal reinforcing tubes extending between two opposing corners of each truss unit base; and a plurality of truss section spacer tubes interconnecting the adjacent truss sections so as to produce a stretched truss structure, the truss section spacer tubes extending from the corners of the base of the truss units in each truss section to the adjacent corners of the base of the truss units in the adjacent truss section.

Claim 18

A modular structure comprising: a plurality of identical domed truss sections spaced apart from each other a fixed distance and aligned end-to-end to form an elongated domed structure, each truss section comprising: a plurality of identical inverted pyramidal truss units connected together end-to-end in a curved column, each truss unit comprising a rectangular base formed of tubular members connected together at right angles and four tubular members extending from the respective four corners of the base to a common point, said truss units being connected together in said curved column along common sides of their bases; truss unit spacer tubes interconnecting the common point of each truss unit with the common point of the adjoining truss unit in each truss section; and diagonal reinforcing tubes extending between two opposing corners of each truss unit base; and a plurality of truss section spacer tubes interconnecting the adjacent truss sections so as to produce a stretched truss structure, the truss section spacer tubes extending from the corners of the base of the truss units in each truss section to the adjacent corners of the base of the truss units in the adjacent truss section.

Claim 19

A modular structure as claimed in claim 15 wherein each domed truss section further comprises: a vertically disposed support tower supporting each end of each domed truss section at a pre-determined distance above the ground, each tower being formed of tubular members that are interconnected at the ends thereof to form a rectangular base and a pair of upper corners on which the domed truss section is mounted.