US4057095A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible sheet fixing device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-11-03
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Granted: 1977-11-08
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Expires: 1995-11-03
Abstract
Abstract A device for fastening sheet material, such as plastic sheeting, to a framework, such as a greenhouse construction, composes longitudinally extending channel members firmly attached to the framework at selected parallel locations, the channel members having opposing, outwardly projecting longitudinal flange portions which converge slightly towards each other to define a dove-tail cross-section groove. The entire network of channels is overlaid with the sheet material and the sheet material is depressed into the channels and held therein by a resilient retaining member, such as a zig-zag spring member which is operatively inserted into the channel and held therein by the converging flange portions, thereby positively connecting the sheet material to the channels and the framework. The sheet material is easily removed from the channel members and different thicknesses of sheet can be accommodated.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshinari Hirota
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:10
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B5/00; F16B5/06; F16B5/0692; E; E04; E04H; E04H15/00; E04H15/32; E04H15/64; E04H15/642; E04H15/646; F16B2/00; F16B2/20; F16B2/22; F16B2/24; F16B2/248
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A device for stretching and fixing flexible sheets over a skeleton framework to enclose the framework, said device comprising, in combination, an elongated channel having a substantially flat base and outwardly extending flanges converging toward each other to define, with said base, an outwardly opening groove which has a dovetail shape in cross-section; said base being arranged to be secured to a skeleton framework so that plural such channels can be secured to the framework to extend longitudinally thereof in spaced parallel relation to each other; an elongated, undulating zig-zag spring resiliently engageable in said dovetail groove adjacent said base; and a pressing plate in the form of an elongated channel member having a base and flanges extending outwardly from said base, said elongated channel member being sufficiently flexible laterally for pressing of the same into the dovetail groove of said channel with the flanges of said channel member resiliently pressing outwardly against the flanges of said channel; whereby, after a flexible sheet has been stretched transversely over said channel and into the dovetail grooves thereof, a respective pressing plate may be pressed into the dovetail groove of each channel so that the sheet is retained between the interior surfaces of the channel and the exterior surfaces of the pressing plate, and a respective said zig-zag spring may be inserted into each pressing plate to firmly compress the flexible sheet between the exterior surfaces of the pressing plate and the interior surfaces of the channel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
245 words
A device for stretching and fixing flexible sheets over a skeleton framework to enclose the framework, said device comprising, in combination, an elongated channel having a substantially flat base and outwardly extending flanges converging toward each other to define, with said base, an outwardly opening groove which has a dovetail shape in cross-section; said base being arranged to be secured to a skeleton framework so that plural such channels can be secured to the framework to extend longitudinally thereof in spaced parallel relation to each other; an elongated, undulating zig-zag spring resiliently engageable in said dovetail groove adjacent said base; and a pressing plate in the form of an elongated channel member having a base and flanges extending outwardly from said base, said elongated channel member being sufficiently flexible laterally for pressing of the same into the dovetail groove of said channel with the flanges of said channel member resiliently pressing outwardly against the flanges of said channel; whereby, after a flexible sheet has been stretched transversely over said channel and into the dovetail grooves thereof, a respective pressing plate may be pressed into the dovetail groove of each channel so that the sheet is retained between the interior surfaces of the channel and the exterior surfaces of the pressing plate, and a respective said zig-zag spring may be inserted into each pressing plate to firmly compress the flexible sheet between the exterior surfaces of the pressing plate and the interior surfaces of the channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer edges of said flanges are reentrantly curled to form a smooth surface for engagement with the flexible sheet, and wherein the outer edges of said channel are reentrantly curled to form a smooth surface for engagement with the flexible sheet; the outer edges of the flanges of said channel-shape pressing plate having a curvature conforming to the curvature of the reentrantly curled outer edges of said channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base of the channel member constituting said pressing plate is longitudinally corrugated so as to be laterally flexible and the flanges of said channel member are formed of a relatively hard, rigid material.
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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) | 1980-11-07 | 1981-05-09 | 1981-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-07 | 1985-05-09 | 1985-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-07 | 1989-05-09 | 1989-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |