This document relates to the technical field of (and is not limited to) an arch-support system configured to support an archway during construction of the archway.
An archway is the passage (“way”) under an arch. The Romans introduced stone arch technology over two thousand years ago. They applied this technology to bridges they constructed across the known world, and examples of it may still be seen today. The technology they used has stood the test of time and some Roman construction methods are still used today. One example of these construction technologies is the wood frame, which was constructed in the shape of an arch. The stone work (arch) was built up around the frame, and finally a keystone was set in position. The wood frame was then removed, and the arch was left in position. Stone arch technology was used even on Roman monuments such as the Colosseum in Rome. Many of the monuments built with stone arch technology can still be seen today (due to the strength of the arch).
It will be appreciated that there exists a need to mitigate (at least in part) at least one problem associated with the existing systems for constructing archways (also called the existing technology). After much study of the known systems and methods with experimentation, an understanding of the problem and its solution has been identified and is articulated as follows:
Existing systems do not provide enough flexibility for assisting in the construction of archways.
To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with the existing technology, there is provided (in accordance with a major aspect) an apparatus. The apparatus includes an arch-support system configured to support an archway above a work surface during construction of the archway. A rail assembly is configured to selectively receive and support the arch-support system in such a way that the rail assembly, in use, supports the arch-support system once the rail assembly selectively receives the arch-support system.
To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with the existing technology, there is provided (in accordance with a major aspect) an apparatus. The apparatus includes an arch-support system configured to support an archway above a work surface during construction of the archway while allowing unimpeded movement below the archway during construction of the archway. The arch-support system includes a telescoping base section having an upper base section and a lower base section spaced apart from the upper base section, in which the lower base section is configured to be securely mounted to the work surface. This is done in such a way that the telescoping base section extends upwardly from the work surface once the lower base section is securely mounted to the work surface. An intermediate section has an upper intermediate section and a lower intermediate section spaced apart from the upper intermediate section, in which the lower intermediate section is configured to be securely affixed to the upper base section of the telescoping base section. This is done in such a way that the intermediate section extends upwardly from the telescoping base section once (A) the lower intermediate section is securely affixed to the upper base section of the telescoping base section, and (B) the lower base section is securely mounted to the work surface. An arch-support section is configured to be securely affixed to the upper intermediate section of the intermediate section. This is done in such a way that the arch-support section is spaced apart from the work surface once the arch-support section is securely affixed to the upper intermediate section of the intermediate section, and the arch-support section being configured to securely support construction of the archway in such a way that the arch-support section is removable from the archway, once construction of the archway is completed and the archway is self-supporting. A rail assembly is configured to selectively receive and support the telescoping base section in such a way that the rail assembly, in use, supports movement of the telescoping base section relative to the archway once the rail assembly selectively receives the telescoping base section.
Other aspects are identified in the claims. Other aspects and features of the non-limiting embodiments may now become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments with the accompanying drawings. This Summary is provided to introduce concepts in simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the disclosed subject matter, and is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the disclosed subject matter. Many other novel advantages, features, and relationships will become apparent as this description proceeds. The figures and the description that follow more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments.
The non-limiting embodiments may be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details unnecessary for an understanding of the embodiments (and/or details that render other details difficult to perceive) may have been omitted. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several figures of the drawings. Elements in the several figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not been drawn to scale. The dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be emphasized relative to other elements for facilitating an understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. In addition, common, but well-understood, elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible embodiments are often not depicted to provide a less obstructed view of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The scope of may be defined by the claims (in which the claims may be amended during patent examination after filing of this application). For the description, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the examples as oriented in the drawings. There is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory in the preceding Technical Field, Background, Summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are exemplary embodiments (examples), aspects and/or concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. It is understood that the phrase “at least one” is equivalent to “a”. The aspects (examples, alterations, modifications, options, variations, embodiments and any equivalent thereof) are described regarding the drawings. It should be understood that the invention is limited to the subject matter provided by the claims, and that the invention is not limited to the particular aspects depicted and described.
Referring to a general embodiment as depicted in
The arch-support system 102 is configured to support an archway 900 above a work surface 902 during construction of the archway 900. The rail assembly 120 is configured to selectively receive and support the arch-support system 102. This is done in such a way that the rail assembly 120, in use, supports the arch-support system 102 once the rail assembly 120 selectively receives the arch-support system 102.
In accordance with an embodiment, the arch-support system 102 includes a synergistic combination of (A) an arch-support section 116 configured to securely support construction of the archway 900, and (B) a telescoping base section 104 configured to move the arch-support section 116 relative to the archway 900. The rail assembly 120 is configured to selectively receive and support the telescoping base section 104 in such a way that the rail assembly 120, in use, supports movement of the telescoping base section 104 relative to the archway 900 once the rail assembly 120 selectively receives the telescoping base section 104.
More specifically, referring to the embodiment as depicted in
With reference to all of the FIGS., and starting with
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
In accordance with an embodiment as depicted in
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted on the left-hand side of
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
Spaced-apart wheel lift actuators 134 are respectively coupled to the spaced-apart wheels 122. The spaced-apart wheel lift actuators 134 are configured to respectively move the spaced-apart wheels 122 up or down relative to the rail assembly 120. Referring to the left-hand side of
Preferably, the spaced-apart lift actuators 118 are affixed to the lower base section 108 of the telescoping base section 104. The spaced-apart lift actuators 118 (hydraulic cylinders) are coupled to the telescoping base section 104. The spaced-apart lift actuators 118 are configured to lift and lower the telescoping base section 104 relative to the work surface 902 (away from the rail assembly 120 or toward the rail assembly 120).
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
The telescoping base section 104 further includes vertically-extending spaced-apart telescoping tubular sections 136. The vertically-extending spaced-apart telescoping tubular sections 136 each includes an outer tube section 138 and an inner tube section 140 (which is also called a threaded inner tube section). The inner tube section 140 may include a threaded inner tube section or a grooved inner tube section, etc. The inner tube section 140 and the outer tube section 138 are threadably engaged with each other. In accordance with an option, the inner tube section 140 includes an unthreaded inner tube section 141 or a grooved inner tube section.
A safety lock assembly 142 (also called a lock nut or a split lock nut) is provided with each of the vertically-extending spaced-apart telescoping tubular threaded sections 136. The safety lock assembly 142 is configured to selectively lock out (selectively prevent) vertical height adjustment of the vertically-extending spaced-apart telescoping tubular sections 136.
The spaced-apart lift actuators 118 may include a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. A manual and lockable safety shut off valve 144 is provided with each of the spaced-apart lift actuators 118.
In accordance with the embodiments as depicted in
In accordance with the embodiment as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
Referring to the embodiment as depicted in
Unless otherwise specified, relational terms used in these specifications should be construed to include certain tolerances that the person skilled in the art would recognize as providing equivalent functionality. By way of example the term perpendicular is not necessarily limited to 90.0 degrees, but also to any slight variation thereof that the person skilled in the art would recognize as providing equivalent functionality for the purposes described for the relevant member or element. Terms such as “about” and “substantially”, in the context of configuration, relate generally to disposition, location, or configuration that is either exact or sufficiently close to the location, disposition, or configuration of the relevant element to preserve operability of the element within the invention which does not materially modify the invention. Similarly, unless specifically or made clear from its context, numerical values should be construed to include certain tolerances that the person skilled in the art would recognize as having negligible importance as it does not materially change the operability of the invention. It will be appreciated that the description and/or drawings identify and describe embodiments of the apparatus (either explicitly or non-explicitly). The apparatus may include any suitable combination and/or permutation of the technical features as identified in the detailed description, as may be required and/or desired to suit a particular technical purpose and/or technical function. It will be appreciated, that where possible and suitable, any one or more of the technical features of the apparatus may be combined with any other one or more of the technical features of the apparatus (in any combination and/or permutation). It will be appreciated that persons skilled in the art would know that technical features of each embodiment may be deployed (where possible) in other embodiments even if not expressly stated as such above. It will be appreciated that persons skilled in the art would know that other options would be possible for the configuration of the components of the apparatus to adjust to manufacturing requirements and still remain within the scope as described in at least one or more of the claims. This written description provides embodiments, including the best mode, and also enables the person skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments. The patentable scope may be defined by the claims. The written description and/or drawings may help to understand the scope of the claims. It is believed that all the crucial aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been provided in this document. It is understood, for this document, that the phrase “includes” is equivalent to the word “comprising.” The foregoing has outlined the non-limiting embodiments (examples). The description is made for particular non-limiting embodiments (examples). It is understood that the non-limiting embodiments are merely illustrative as examples.
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