US4055030A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Greenhouse
Assignee: EARNSHAW ENTERPRISES Ltd
•
Filing: 1976-04-26
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Granted: 1977-10-25
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Expires: 1996-04-26
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure concerns a greenhouse which defines an enclosed growing area covered by a structure including an external framework of convex shape in transverse cross-section, and a plurality of flexible light-transmitting panels arranged to form a covering at the inner side of the framework. The frame work includes a plurality of curved members extending transversely of the structure in parallel longitudinally spaced positions and forming rafters of the structure, and a plurality of parallel elongate members extending longitudinally of the structure and attached to the rafters. The light transmitting panels are each snap-fitted between adjacent ones of said longitudinal members of the framework in an outwardly bowed configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 William Ferguson Earnshaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:37
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G9/00; A01G9/14; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A40/00; Y02A40/10; Y02A40/25; Y10; Y10S; Y10S135/00; Y10S135/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A greenhouse which defines an enclosed growing area and which includes a structure covering said area, the structure comprising: an external framework of convex shape in transverse vertical cross-section, the framework including: a plurality of curved members extending transversely of the structure in parallel longitudinally spaced positions and forming rafters of the structure, said rafters being arranged in two series extending along opposite sides of the structure and meeting at a longitudinal ridge area of the structure; a plurality of parallel elongate members extending longitudinally of the structure, the inner ends of the rafters in each of said series being coupled to one of said elongate members at said ridge area of the structure, and the outer ends of the rafters in each series being coupled to a further one of said elongate members at an outer side of the structure; and a capping element disposed at said ridge area of the structure and arranged to prevent ingress of moisture between the elongate members in said area; and, a plurality of flexible light-transmitting panels arranged to form a covering inside the framework, said elongate members at the inner and outer ends of the rafters of each series defining opposed locating surfaces for respectively opposite ends of said panels, and each panel being fitted to the framework in a tensioned condition in which the panel bears against the inner sides of at least some of said rafters in the relevant one of said series, with its ends braced against the locating surfaces of said elongate members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A greenhouse which defines an enclosed growing area and which includes a structure covering said area, the structure comprising: an external framework of convex shape in transverse vertical cross-section, the framework including: a plurality of curved members extending transversely of the structure in parallel longitudinally spaced positions and forming rafters of the structure, said rafters being arranged in two series extending along opposite sides of the structure and meeting at a longitudinal ridge area of the structure; a plurality of parallel elongate members extending longitudinally of the structure, the inner ends of the rafters in each of said series being coupled to one of said elongate members at said ridge area of the structure, and the outer ends of the rafters in each series being coupled to a further one of said elongate members at an outer side of the structure; and a capping element disposed at said ridge area of the structure and arranged to prevent ingress of moisture between the elongate members in said area; and, a plurality of flexible light-transmitting panels arranged to form a covering inside the framework, said elongate members at the inner and outer ends of the rafters of each series defining opposed locating surfaces for respectively opposite ends of said panels, and each panel being fitted to the framework in a tensioned condition in which the panel bears against the inner sides of at least some of said rafters in the relevant one of said series, with its ends braced against the locating surfaces of said elongate members.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
250 words
A method of constructing a greenhouse which defines an enclosed growing area and which includes a structure covering said area, the method comprising the steps of: erecting an external framework of convex shape in transverse vertical cross-section, the framework including: a plurality of curved members extending transversely of the structure in parallel longitudinally spaced positions and forming rafters of the structure, said rafters being arranged in two series extending along opposite sides of the structure and meeting at a longitudinal ridge area of the structure; a plurality of parallel elongate members extending longitudinally of the structure, the inner ends of the rafters in each of said series being coupled to one of said elongate members at said ridge area of the structure, and the outer ends of the rafters in each series being coupled to a further one of said elongate members at an outer side of the structure, each said elongate member defining a locating surface disposed inwardly of said rafters; and a capping element disposed at said ridge area of the structure and arranged to prevent ingress of moisture between the elongate members in said area; and, fitting between the elongate members at the inner and outer ends of each of said series of rafters, at least one flexible light-transmitting panel, each panel being disposed in a tensioned condition against the inner sides of the rafters in said series with its ends braced against said locating surfaces of the elongate elements associated with the rafters of said series.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
250 words
A method of constructing a greenhouse which defines an enclosed growing area and which includes a structure covering said area, the method comprising the steps of: erecting an external framework of convex shape in transverse vertical cross-section, the framework including: a plurality of curved members extending transversely of the structure in parallel longitudinally spaced positions and forming rafters of the structure, said rafters being arranged in two series extending along opposite sides of the structure and meeting at a longitudinal ridge area of the structure; a plurality of parallel elongate members extending longitudinally of the structure, the inner ends of the rafters in each of said series being coupled to one of said elongate members at said ridge area of the structure, and the outer ends of the rafters in each series being coupled to a further one of said elongate members at an outer side of the structure, each said elongate member defining a locating surface disposed inwardly of said rafters; and a capping element disposed at said ridge area of the structure and arranged to prevent ingress of moisture between the elongate members in said area; and, fitting between the elongate members at the inner and outer ends of each of said series of rafters, at least one flexible light-transmitting panel, each panel being disposed in a tensioned condition against the inner sides of the rafters in said series with its ends braced against said locating surfaces of the elongate elements associated with the rafters of said series.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A greenhouse as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a foundation wall of rectangular shape in plan extending around the said enclosed growing area of the greenhouse, wherein said two elongate members at the outer ends of the rafters in said series extend along the upper surfaces of and are secured to longitudinal portions of the said wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A greenhouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said flexible light-transmitting panels, in addition to being snap-fitted between adjacent ones of said elongate members are bolted to the rafters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A greenhouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said panels are corrugated and are made of fiberglass, and wherein the said corrugations extend parallel to the rafters, the rafters being spaced to correspond with the pitch of the corrugations in the panels, whereby the panels can be fitted to the said framework with the rafters fitted into relevant ones of said corrugations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A greenhouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rafters are connected together by external bracing members which extend longitudinally of the structure parallel to said elongate members and are coupled to the rafters externally of the structure.
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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) | 1980-10-24 | 1981-04-25 | 1981-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-24 | 1985-04-25 | 1985-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-24 | 1989-04-25 | 1989-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |