US4277922A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Frame assembly apparatus and method of making same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-02-01
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Granted: 1981-07-14
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Expires: 2000-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A frame assembly and method of making a frame assembly over an area with a plurality of strut assemblies connected to hubs and peripherally located anchors. The hubs pivotally connect the adjacent ends of the strut assemblies to complete a network of hubs and strut assemblies covering the surface. Each strut assembly has a leaf spring strut that is biased to a curved contracted position. The curved struts are bowed contracted struts and S-curved contracted struts. A holding member engages separate portions of the strut to retain the strut in its biased curved contracted position. The contracted strut assemblies are pivotally attached to the anchors and hubs on the surface. The frame assembly is erected by releasing the holding members to allow the strut assemblies to spring to their natural elongated positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack G. McAllister
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:09
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/32; E04B1/343; E04B1/344; E04B1/3441; E04B1/35; E04B1/3533; E04B2001/3217; E04B2001/3235; E04B2001/3241; E04B2001/3247; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S135/00; Y10S135/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A frame assembly located over a surface surrounded by an outer peripheral edge comprising: a plurality of anchor means spaced along said outer peripheral edge, a plurality of strut assemblies located adjacent said surface, means pivotally connecting some of said strut assemblies to the anchor means, hub means connected to adjacent strut assemblies to form a network of strut assemblies and hub means located over the surface, each of said strut assemblies having at least one spring strut that can be biased from an elongated position to a curved contracted position, and holding means retaining the strut in said curved contracted position, said holding means being releasable whereby the spring strut moves from said contracted position to said elongated position thereby moving the frame assembly away from the surface to an erected position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A frame assembly located over a surface surrounded by an outer peripheral edge comprising: a plurality of anchor means spaced along said outer peripheral edge, a plurality of strut assemblies located adjacent said surface, means pivotally connecting some of said strut assemblies to the anchor means, hub means connected to adjacent strut assemblies to form a network of strut assemblies and hub means located over the surface, each of said strut assemblies having at least one spring strut that can be biased from an elongated position to a curved contracted position, and holding means retaining the strut in said curved contracted position, said holding means being releasable whereby the spring strut moves from said contracted position to said elongated position thereby moving the frame assembly away from the surface to an erected position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein: each anchor means has a fixed first member and a second member movably mounted on the fixed first member, said means pivotally connecting some of said strut assemblies to the anchor means being connected to the second member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The frame assembly of claim 2 wherein: pivot means pivotally connect the second member to the first member for movement about a generally horizontal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The frame assembly of claim 2 wherein: the second member is a clevis adapted to accommodate a pivot member connecting a strut assembly to the clevis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein: the hub means has a center core and disc members attached to said core forming a groove to accommodate a portion of the strut assemblies, and pivot means pivotally connecting the portion of the strut assemblies to the discs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein: each strut has an elongated body having opposite ends, a first head attached to one end of the body, and a second head attached to the other end of the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The frame assembly of claim 6 wherein: each head has a hole for accommodating pivot means for connecting one head to the anchor means and the other head to the hub means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The frame assembly of claim 6 wherein: each head is wider than the cross sectional length of the body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The frame assembly of claim 6 wherein: the body has a cross sectional length that is substantially longer than the cross section width thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The frame assembly of claim 9 wherein: said length is about twice said width.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein: each strut assembly includes a plurality of spring struts, and holding means retaining each strut in a curved contracted position, said holding means being releasable whereby each spring strut elongates and moves the frame assembly away from the surface to an erected position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein: each strut assembly includes a pair of spring struts, each strut having a first end and second end opposite the first end, means connecting adjacent first and second ends of the struts, and holding means engageable with the struts to retain each strut in a curved contracted position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The frame assembly of claim 12 wherein: the means connecting adjacent first and second ends of the struts comprise plate means pivotally connected to said ends, said plate means being connected to either of said anchor means or hub means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The frame assembly of claim 12 wherein: said holding means comprises at least one rigid link engageable with the mid-sections of said pair of spring struts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein: each strut assembly has a S-curved spring strut, and holding means retaining the S-curved spring strut in a S-curved contracted position, said holding means being releasable whereby the S-curved spring strut elongates and moves the frame assembly away from the surface to an erected position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The frame assembly of claim 15 wherein: each spring strut has a S-curved body having a first end and second end opposite the first end, a first head attached to the first end, a second head attached to the second end, said first and second head each adapted to be connected to said anchor means or hub means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The frame assembly of claim 16 wherein: said holding means includes an elongated member, said body having a mid-section with a hole, said elongated member extended through said hole, and means attaching the elongated member to opposite end portions of the strut.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The frame assembly of claim 16 wherein: the hub means has laterally spaced members providing a groove for accommodating a head, and pivot means pivotally connecting the accommodated head to said spaced members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The frame assembly of claim 1 wherein: the holding means comprises a member extended between and attached to opposite end portions of the strut.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The frame assembly of claim 19 wherein: the holding means includes hook means attached to the member to connect the member to said opposite end portions of the strut.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
103 words
A strut assembly for use in a frame assembly having hub means, said frame assembly being located over a surface surrounded by an outer peripheral edge and a plurality of anchors spaced along said outer peripheral edge comprising: elongated spring strut means adapted to be connected to the anchor means, said strut means including at least one elongated spring strut that can be biased from an elongated position to a curved contracted position, and holding means retaining the strut in said curved contracted position, said holding means being releasable whereby the spring strut moves from the curved contracted position to its elongated position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
103 words
A strut assembly for use in a frame assembly having hub means, said frame assembly being located over a surface surrounded by an outer peripheral edge and a plurality of anchors spaced along said outer peripheral edge comprising: elongated spring strut means adapted to be connected to the anchor means, said strut means including at least one elongated spring strut that can be biased from an elongated position to a curved contracted position, and holding means retaining the strut in said curved contracted position, said holding means being releasable whereby the spring strut moves from the curved contracted position to its elongated position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The strut assembly of claim 21 wherein: each strut has an elongated body, said body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a first head attached to the first end of the body, and a second head attached to the second end of the body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The strut assembly of claim 22 wherein: each head has a hole for accommodating pivot means for connecting a head to the anchor means or a hub means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The strut assembly of claim 22 wherein: each head is wider than the cross sectional length of the body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The strut assembly of claim 21 wherein: the body has a cross sectional length that is substantially longer than the cross sectional width thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The strut assembly of claim 25 wherein: said length is about twice said width.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
54 words
The strut assembly of claim 21 wherein: each strut means includes a plurality of struts, each of said struts being biased from an elongated position to a curved contracted position, and holding means retaining each strut in a curved contracted position, said holding means being releasable whereby each strut elongates to its elongated position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
62 words
The strut assembly of claim 21 wherein: each strut means includes a pair of spring struts, each of said pair of spring struts having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, means connecting the adjacent first and second ends of the struts, and holding means engageable with the struts to retain each strut in said curved contracted position.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
The strut assembly of claim 28 wherein: the means connecting adjacent first and second ends of the struts comprise plate means pivotally connected to said ends, said plate means being connected to either of said anchor means or hub means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The strut assembly of claim 28 wherein: said holding means comprises at least one rigid link engageable with the mid-sections of said pair of spring struts.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The strut assembly of claim 28 wherein: said pair of struts are biased to opposite bowed positions and retained in said bowed positions by the holding means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
56 words
The strut assembly of claim 21 wherein: each strut means has a S-curved spring strut, said strut being biased from an elongated position to a S-curved contracted position, and holding means retaining the S-curved spring strut in said S-curved contracted position, said holding means being releasable whereby the S-curved spring strut moves to an elongated position.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
60 words
The strut assembly of claim 32 wherein: the spring strut has a S-curved body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a first head attached to the first end, a second head attached to the second end, said first and second heads each adapted to be connected to said anchor means or said hub means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The strut assembly of claim 33 wherein: each of said first and second heads have a width greater than the cross sectional length of the body.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The strut assembly of claim 33 wherein: the body has a cross sectional length that is substantially longer than the cross sectional width thereof.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
The strut assembly of claim 32 wherein: said holding means includes an elongated member, said strut having a mid-section with a hole, said elongated member extended through said hole, and means attaching the elongated member to opposite end portions of the strut.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The frame assembly of claim 21 wherein: the holding means comprises a member extended between and attached to opposite end portions of the strut.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
The frame assembly of claim 37 wherein: the holding means includes hook means attached to the member to connect the member to said opposite end portions of the strut.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making a frame assembly over a surface comprising: bending strut means into curved contracted positions, retaining said strut means in said curved contracted positions with holding means, arranging on the surface a plurality of curved contracted strut assemblies, said strut means having opposite ends, attaching one end of some of said strut means to said anchor means, attaching the remaining ends of said strut means to hub means, releasing the holding means to allow said strut means to elongate to their elongated positions whereby said strut assemblies and hub means move away from the surface erecting the frame assembly over the surface.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making a frame assembly over a surface comprising: bending strut means into curved contracted positions, retaining said strut means in said curved contracted positions with holding means, arranging on the surface a plurality of curved contracted strut assemblies, said strut means having opposite ends, attaching one end of some of said strut means to said anchor means, attaching the remaining ends of said strut means to hub means, releasing the holding means to allow said strut means to elongate to their elongated positions whereby said strut assemblies and hub means move away from the surface erecting the frame assembly over the surface.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 39 including: pivotally connecting ends of said strut means to said anchor means and hub means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 39 wherein: the plurality of said strut assemblies are arranged on said surface in a generally rectangular pattern.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 39 wherein: the plurality of said strut assemblies are arranged on said surface in a generally hexagonal pattern.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 39 wherein: each strut means is biased to a bowed contracted position.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 39 wherein: the strut means comprise a pair of struts biased in opposite bowed contracted positions.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 39 wherein: each strut means is biased to a S-curved contracted position.
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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) | 1984-07-13 | 1985-01-12 | 1985-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-07-13 | 1989-01-12 | 1989-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-07-13 | 1993-01-12 | 1993-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |