US5118542A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Assembly of articulated members for forming a surface
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-08-13
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Granted: 1992-06-02
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Expires: 2010-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of rigid bars, made of wood, plastic or other material, are joined together to form an articulated assembly. A rope is threaded through bores formed in the bars. Cylindrical spacers are placed over the rope between the bars. In an alternate embodiment, flexible interlocking elements are connected to bores formed in the bars. When laid flat over a surface, the articulated assembly may be used as a support that forms a deck, walkway, or similar structure. Other uses of the assembly include a latticework, a barrier and a vertical support.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren H. McLeod
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:17
CPC Classifications
E; E01; E01C; E01C9/00; E01C9/08; E04; E04H; E04H17/00; E04H17/14; E04H17/1413; E04H17/1417; E04H17/1426; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/139; Y10T428/18; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24273; Y10T428/24322; Y10T428/24331
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An assembly of articulated members comprising: a plurality of rigid bars, each said bar having at least two bores formed therein, said bores in said bars extending through said bars; flexible connecting means extending between said bars and into said bores for articulating said bars with respect to each other, said flexible connecting means including at least one rope; and, a plurality of cylindrically shaped tubular spacers having axial bores, each of said spacers mounted on said connecting means between adjacent ones of said bars, wherein said connecting means extends through said bores in said bars and through said axial bores in said spacers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An assembly of articulated members comprising: a plurality of rigid bars, each said bar having at least two bores formed therein, said bores in said bars extending through said bars; flexible connecting means extending between said bars and into said bores for articulating said bars with respect to each other, said flexible connecting means including at least one rope; and, a plurality of cylindrically shaped tubular spacers having axial bores, each of said spacers mounted on said connecting means between adjacent ones of said bars, wherein said connecting means extends through said bores in said bars and through said axial bores in said spacers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said rope includes means for holding said rope in tension such that said bars and spacers abut each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The assembly of claim 2 wherein one of said spacers is mounted on each of said ropes extending between each of said bars.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assembly of claim 3 wherein some of said spacers have different lengths whereby said assembly forms a turning surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The assembly of claim 3 wherein the width of some of said bars varies across their length whereby said assembly forms a turning surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
A supporting surface comprising: a plurality of rigid bars having flat upper and lower surfaces; spacer means mounted between said bars for holding said bars in a spaced relationship with respect to each other; and a flexible securing means passing through said bars and said spacer means for holding said bars in abutting relationship to said spacer means and for permitting said bars to be folded with said flat upper and lower surfaces superimposed on each other, wherein said bars are aligned along a winding path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
A supporting surface comprising: a plurality of rigid bars having flat upper and lower surfaces; spacer means mounted between said bars for holding said bars in a spaced relationship with respect to each other; and a flexible securing means passing through said bars and said spacer means for holding said bars in abutting relationship to said spacer means and for permitting said bars to be folded with said flat upper and lower surfaces superimposed on each other, wherein said bars are aligned along a winding path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A supporting surface comprising: a plurality of rigid bars having flat upper and lower surfaces; spacer means mounted between said bars for holding said bars in a spaced relationship with respect to each other; and, a flexible securing means passing through said bars and spacer means for holding said bars in abutting relationship to said spacer means and for permitting said bars to be folded with said flat upper and lower surfaces superimposed on each other, wherein some of said spacer means have different lengths whereby said surface forms a turning surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
A supporting surface comprising: a plurality of rigid bars having flat upper and lower surfaces; spacer means mounted between said bars for holding said bars in a spaced relationship with respect to each other; and, a flexible securing means passing through said bars and spacer means for holding said bars in abutting relationship to said spacer means and for permitting said bars to be folded with said flat upper and lower surfaces superimposed on each other, wherein some of said spacer means have different lengths whereby said surface forms a turning surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
A supporting surface comprising: a plurality of rigid bars having flat upper and lower surfaces; spacer means mounted between said bars for holding said bars in a spaced relationship with respect to each other; and, a flexible securing means passing through said bars and spacer means for holding said bars in abutting relationship to said spacer means and for permitting said bars to be folded with said flat upper and lower surfaces superimposed on each other. wherein the widths of some of said bars varies across their length whereby said surface forms a turning surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
A supporting surface comprising: a plurality of rigid bars having flat upper and lower surfaces; spacer means mounted between said bars for holding said bars in a spaced relationship with respect to each other; and, a flexible securing means passing through said bars and spacer means for holding said bars in abutting relationship to said spacer means and for permitting said bars to be folded with said flat upper and lower surfaces superimposed on each other. wherein the widths of some of said bars varies across their length whereby said surface forms a turning surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
An assembly of articulated members comprising: a plurality of rigid bars, each of said bars having at least two bores formed therein, said bores in said bars extending through said bars; elastic connecting means extending between said bars and into said bores for articulating said bars with respect to each other, said elastic connecting means including at least one rope; and, a plurality of cylindrically shaped tubular spacers having axial bores, each of said spacers mounted on said connecting means between adjacent ones of said bars, wherein said elastic connecting means extends through said bores in said bars and through said axial bores in said spacers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
An assembly of articulated members comprising: a plurality of rigid bars, each of said bars having at least two bores formed therein, said bores in said bars extending through said bars; elastic connecting means extending between said bars and into said bores for articulating said bars with respect to each other, said elastic connecting means including at least one rope; and, a plurality of cylindrically shaped tubular spacers having axial bores, each of said spacers mounted on said connecting means between adjacent ones of said bars, wherein said elastic connecting means extends through said bores in said bars and through said axial bores in said spacers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
118 words
An assembly of articulated members comprising: a plurality of rigid bars, each of said bars having at least two bores formed therein, said bores in said bars extending through said bars; flexible connecting means extending between said bars and into said bores for articulating said bars with respect to each other, said flexible connecting means including at least one rope; and, a plurality of spacers having a long dimension and a short dimension and including a bore extending through the long dimension of said spacer, each of said spacers mounted on said connecting means between adjacent ones of said bars, wherein said connecting means extends through said bores in said bars and through said bores in said spacers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
An assembly of articulated members comprising: a plurality of rigid bars, each of said bars having at least two bores formed therein, said bores in said bars extending through said bars; flexible connecting means extending between said bars and into said bores for articulating said bars with respect to each other, said flexible connecting means including at least one rope; and, a plurality of spacers having a long dimension and a short dimension and including a bore extending through the long dimension of said spacer, each of said spacers mounted on said connecting means between adjacent ones of said bars, wherein said connecting means extends through said bores in said bars and through said bores in said spacers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
112 words
An assembly of articulated members comprising: a plurality of rigid bars, each of said bars having at least two bores formed therein, said bores in said bars extending through said bars; flexible, non-rigid securing means extending between said bars and into said bores for articulating said bars with respect to each other; and, a plurality of spacers having a long dimension and a short dimension and including a bore extending through the long dimension of said spacer, each of said spacers mounted on said flexible securing means between adjacent ones of said bars, wherein said flexible securing means extends through said bores in said bars and through said bores in said spacers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
An assembly of articulated members comprising: a plurality of rigid bars, each of said bars having at least two bores formed therein, said bores in said bars extending through said bars; flexible, non-rigid securing means extending between said bars and into said bores for articulating said bars with respect to each other; and, a plurality of spacers having a long dimension and a short dimension and including a bore extending through the long dimension of said spacer, each of said spacers mounted on said flexible securing means between adjacent ones of said bars, wherein said flexible securing means extends through said bores in said bars and through said bores in said spacers.
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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) | 1995-06-02 | 1995-12-02 | 1996-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-02 | 1999-12-02 | 2000-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-02 | 2003-12-02 | 2004-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |