Sliding roof

Claim 1

In combination with a building structure having a supporting framework having roof opening of predetermined length and width and a series of fixed parallel supports within said opening, a sliding roof structure adapted selectively to cover and uncover said roof opening, said roof structure comprising: a plurality of parallel beams spanning said roof opening and disposed transverse to and below said fixed supports, said beams being constructed of rigid material such as metal; means slidably suspending the said beams from said fixed beams supports for movement between a retracted position in which the beams are crowded together at one end of said roof opening and an exended position in which the beams are spaced apart throughout the length of said roof opening; upper flexible covering means connecting adjacent pairs of beams for allowing relative movement therebetween and lower flexible covering means connecting adjacent pairs of beams for allowing relative movement therebetween, each said flexible covering means being of gas-tight material to define a chamber between each adjacent pair of beams and means for closing each end of each chamber whereby said roof structure is essentially airtight; means for selectively filling said chambers with gas and discharging gas therefrom whereby each covering means is ballooned out between each adjacent pair of beams when the roof structure is extended and each covering means is flaccid to permit the retracted positioning of said beams; and means for physically displacing only the leading one of said beams, and flexible connecting means joining each adjacent pair of beams for displacing all but the last of said beams in train-like fashion behind said leading beam.