US4583331A — Frame supported structure with tensioned fabric p…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 272 words

A frame supported structure comprising; ground plate means extending in two parallel lines to form support surfaces in each line spaced a predetermined distance apart and fixedly fastened to the ground; a plurality of spaced frames extending up from said ground plate means to form a plurality of arched spans, the frames pivotally attached at their ends to said ground plate means such that said ends are spaced apart by said predetermined distance; each frame having a transverse cross-section including a web section extending in a direction parallel to the plane of the frame span; a flange at the outer end of the web section extending laterally on each side at the outer end of the web section; and an enclosed groove extending the length of the frame on each side of said web section at said flange, a slot extending through a wall of each groove to provide communication therewith; a fixed length rigid spacer connected between adjacent frames, said rigid spacer being pivoted to said adjacent frames and having a length equal to said predetermined distance such that said adjacent frames and said rigid spacer form an articulated parallelogram with said ground plate means and such that said adjacent frames can be pivoted about said ground plate means and always remain parallel to each other; a fabric panel extending between each pair of adjacent frames, each panel including a beaded edge along each side, the beaded edges being positioned in said grooves and the panel extending through said slots; tensioning means extending lengthwise in each panel and adapted to tension said panels after attachment of said panels to said frames.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 272 words

A frame supported structure comprising; ground plate means extending in two parallel lines to form support surfaces in each line spaced a predetermined distance apart and fixedly fastened to the ground; a plurality of spaced frames extending up from said ground plate means to form a plurality of arched spans, the frames pivotally attached at their ends to said ground plate means such that said ends are spaced apart by said predetermined distance; each frame having a transverse cross-section including a web section extending in a direction parallel to the plane of the frame span; a flange at the outer end of the web section extending laterally on each side at the outer end of the web section; and an enclosed groove extending the length of the frame on each side of said web section at said flange, a slot extending through a wall of each groove to provide communication therewith; a fixed length rigid spacer connected between adjacent frames, said rigid spacer being pivoted to said adjacent frames and having a length equal to said predetermined distance such that said adjacent frames and said rigid spacer form an articulated parallelogram with said ground plate means and such that said adjacent frames can be pivoted about said ground plate means and always remain parallel to each other; a fabric panel extending between each pair of adjacent frames, each panel including a beaded edge along each side, the beaded edges being positioned in said grooves and the panel extending through said slots; tensioning means extending lengthwise in each panel and adapted to tension said panels after attachment of said panels to said frames.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, said grooves positioned substantially at the junction of said flange and said web section.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 13 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, said grooves of substantially circular cross-section.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 60 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, said transverse cross-section of a hollow, box-like section having two spaced parallel webs forming said web section and inner and outer flanges joining inner and outer ends respectively of said spaced parallel webs, and including an enclosed groove at each junction of a flange and a web, the grooves positioned outside said webs.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ground plate means comprises a plurality of individual ground plates, and including a bottom spacer between adjacent ground plates and attached thereto.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, including diagonal cross-bracing wires between adjacent frames.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said panels extend in one unit for the complete span of said frames.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each panel comprises a plurality of separate sections, each section extending for part of the span of said frames.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 77 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, said beaded edge along each side of a panel comprising a central flexible core, a length of material positioned around said core and fastened along a side of said core, said material extending laterally from said core, and a length of webbing positioned around said core and said material and fastened along a side of the core, said webbing extending laterally from said core on either side of said material.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, said transverse cross-section comprising a unitary integral form.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, said transverse cross-section being fabricated and comprising a continuous flange and a plurality of separate web sections welded to said flange at spaced positions along said flange.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 72 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, said transverse cross-section further including a further flange at the inner end of the web section extending laterally on each side at the inner end of the web section, and a further enclosed groove extending the length of the frame on each side of said web section at said further flange, a slot extending through a wall of each further groove to provide communication therewith.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

A structure as claimed in claim 12, said further grooves positioned substantially at the junction of said further flange and said web-section.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 43 words

A structure as claimed in claim 12, said transverse cross-section being fabricated and comprising continuous flanges at inner and outer ends, and a plurality of separate web sections welded at inner and outer ends to said flanges at spaced positions along said flanges.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 50 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, said transverse cross-section comprising an I shaped cross-section, including inner and outer flanges extending transversely at inner and outer ends of said web section, and including an enclosed groove at each internal corner at the junctions of said flanges and said web section.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 67 words

A structure as claimed in claim 15, said fabric panels positioned in said grooves at said outer end of said web section, and including a further panel extending between each pair of adjacent frames, said further panels including a beaded edge along each side, the beaded edges being positioned in the grooves at said inner ends of said web section and the panel extending through said slots.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

A structure as claimed in claim 16, said further panels including tensioning means extending the length of each panel and adapted to tension the panels after attachment to said frames.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 56 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, said transverse cross-section of a hollow box-like section having two spaced channel shaped webs in opposition; a flange portion at the inner edge and at the outer edge of each web, and an enclosed groove extending along each flange portion; the flange portions connected together to form a frame.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

A structure as claimed in claim 18, said spaced channel shaped webs with said flange portions extending in short lengths, the lengths connected together in staggered overlapping relationship to form a frame.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 123 words

A frame supported structure comprising: means for providing a ground support; a plurality of spaced frames extending up from said ground support means to torm a plurality of arched spans; means for maintaining said frames in spaced relation to each other; a plurality of fabric panels, each fabric panel extending between and attached to a pair of adjacent frames; tensioning means extending lengthwise in said panel and adapted to tension said panel after attachment to said adjacent frames, comprising an inflatable portion attached to said panel and positioned between said adjacent frames, said inflatable portion having opposite sides attached to spaced portions of said panel such that, as said inflatable portion is inflated, said spaced portions are drawn together to tension said panel.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 123 words

A frame supported structure comprising: means for providing a ground support; a plurality of spaced frames extending up from said ground support means to torm a plurality of arched spans; means for maintaining said frames in spaced relation to each other; a plurality of fabric panels, each fabric panel extending between and attached to a pair of adjacent frames; tensioning means extending lengthwise in said panel and adapted to tension said panel after attachment to said adjacent frames, comprising an inflatable portion attached to said panel and positioned between said adjacent frames, said inflatable portion having opposite sides attached to spaced portions of said panel such that, as said inflatable portion is inflated, said spaced portions are drawn together to tension said panel.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

A structure as claimed in claim 20, said inflatable portion comprising pockets extending lengthwise in each panel, and means for inflating said pockets.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

A structure as claimed in claim 21, including inflatable tubes in said pockets and means for inflating said tubes.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

A structure as claimed in claim 21, including at least one pocket in each panel.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

A structure as claimed in claim 21, including a plurality of pockets extending parallel to each other, in each panel.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 19 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, each frame comprising a plurality of straight sections joined by curved sections.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 15 words

A structure as claimed in claim 25, including joints between curved sections and straight sections.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 28 words

A structure as claimed in claim 25, said straight sections formed by unitary lengths and said curved sections being fabricated from flange lengths and individual separate web sections.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 71 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, including a lifting door structure at at least one end, said lifting door structure comprising a plurality of arched end frames and at least one end ground plate at each side, said end frames pivotally attached at their lower ends to said end ground plates, said end frames extending successively from horizontal up towards vertical, and segmental fabric panels extruding between said end frames.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 41 words

A structure as claimed in claim 28, each said at least one end ground plate including a plurality of pivot positions extending inward parallel to the span of said spaced frames, the lower ends of said end frames positioned successively inward.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 36 words

A structure as claimed in claim 29, the end frame extending horizontally having its lower ends pivotally attached to the innermost pivot position, each succeeding frame being pivotally attached at the next successively outerward pivot position.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 39 words

A structure as claimed in claim 28, said at least one end ground plate comprising a plurality of ground plates extending in a direction normal to the span of said spaced frames and positioned immediately adjacent to each other.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 19 words

A structure as claimed in claim 28, including means for raising said end frames to open said one end.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 36 words

A structure as claimed in claim 22, said means for raising said end frames including at least one winch mounted on a frame and at least one cable extending from said winch to said end frames.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 23 words

A structure as claimed in claim 1, including at least one door hinged about a vertical axis, at an end of said structure.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 164 words

A method of erecting a frame supported structure, comprising; positioning a plurality of frame supports in two parallel rows, the frame supports being at predetermined relative positions and spacings on a ground surface; fastening the frame supports immovably to the ground surface; pivotally attaching a plurality of arched frames at their ends to said frame supports, said frames being at substantially ground level and having their ends spaced by a predetermined distance equal to said predetermined spacing; pivotally attaching rigid spacers having a length equal to said predetermined distance between adjacent frames such that said adjacent frames, rigid spacers and frame supports define articulated parallelograms in which said frames remain parallel when pivoted upward from said ground surface; pulling said frames upward from the ground surface with said frames remaining parallel to each other; positioning fabric panels between each pair of adjacent frames by sliding beaded edges on each side of a panel through grooves in said frames; tensioning said panels when in position.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 164 words

A method of erecting a frame supported structure, comprising; positioning a plurality of frame supports in two parallel rows, the frame supports being at predetermined relative positions and spacings on a ground surface; fastening the frame supports immovably to the ground surface; pivotally attaching a plurality of arched frames at their ends to said frame supports, said frames being at substantially ground level and having their ends spaced by a predetermined distance equal to said predetermined spacing; pivotally attaching rigid spacers having a length equal to said predetermined distance between adjacent frames such that said adjacent frames, rigid spacers and frame supports define articulated parallelograms in which said frames remain parallel when pivoted upward from said ground surface; pulling said frames upward from the ground surface with said frames remaining parallel to each other; positioning fabric panels between each pair of adjacent frames by sliding beaded edges on each side of a panel through grooves in said frames; tensioning said panels when in position.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 35, including positioning a bottom spacer between each pair of adjacent ground plates and attaching said bottom spacers to said ground plates.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 35, including positioning said fabric panels in an outer series of grooves, and positioning further fabric panels between each pair of adjacent frames by sliding beaded edges on each side of a further panel through an inner series of grooves in said frames.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 35, including positioning a rope in each of said grooves in each of said frames before said frames are pulled upward; attaching ends of panels to said ropes; and positioning said panels by pulling said ropes and said beaded edges of said panels through said grooves after said frames have been pulled upward to an erected position.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 34, wherein tensioning of said panels is obtained by inflating inflatable members extending spanwise in said panels.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 39, wherein tensioning is obtained by inflating tubes positioned in pockets extending spanwise in said panels.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as claimed in claim 35, including attaching said cross-bracing wires, extending in one direction, to said frames before pulling the frames upward.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 41 including attaching cross-bracing wires extending in the other direction to said frames at one end of each wire before pulling the frames upward, and attaching the other end to a frame when said frames are in the erected position.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 42 including tightening the cross-bracing wires where said frames are in the erected position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-04-21	1989-10-21	1990-04-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-04-21	1993-10-21	1994-04-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-04-21	1997-10-21	1998-04-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Frame supported structure with tensioned fabric panels

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