Extrusion design and fabric installation method for weather tight seal

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6564513
  • Patent Number
    6,564,513
  • Date Filed
    Friday, February 16, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 20, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
The invention relates to building structures of the type comprising arched frame members supporting panels of flexible materials such as weather resistant fabric. Problems accompanying the use of separate panels extending between frame members are overcome by providing connecting members on the frame members, and panels having means for attachment to the connecting members and flaps of flexible material adjacent to but spaced from the side margins of the panels, the connecting members slidably engage the means for attachment and have a channel to receive the flaps. The flaps are secured in the channel to provide weatherproof connections between the panels.
Description




FIELD OF INVENTION




The present invention relates to a building structure of the type comprising arches supporting flexible material such as fabric.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




There is an increasing demand for comparatively inexpensive building structures in which arch frame members support a flexible material such as fabric. Such structures can be pre-engineered and are capable of being dismantled and re-erected in different locations. Clear span widths typically range from 30 to 160 feet. There is no limit to the length of the building when the construction is modular.




One approach has been to cover the frame with a single sheet of fabric, such as plastic film or sheeting. Building of this type are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,613. However, it is difficult to position a single sheet of fabric in the case of a large structure. If there is damage, any repair is usually of a patchwork nature because of the cost of replacing the entire fabric. It is generally impossible to replace small sections. Also, a single sheet is not adaptable to a modular approach.




The problems of a single sheet can be overcome by providing panels of fabric which extend between, and are connected to, the arch members of such a building. It is then easier and cheaper to install the fabric. A damaged panel can be replaced in its entirety. The use of separate panels is particularly well-adapted to modular design. There is, therefore, flexibility of design and no limit to the length of the structure, whereas a single sheet structure of considerable length would be impractical or impossible.




There are, however, problems accompanying the use of separate panels. It is difficult to combine ease of installation with weatherproof junctions between the panel. The object of this invention is to address these problems.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




This invention comprises a novel building structure made up of novel connecting members and novel panels.




In one aspect, therefore, there is provided a building structure comprising:




a. a plurality of arch members.




b. panels connected between said arch members, each of the panels comprising a sheet of flexible material having means for attachment at each side margin and a flap of flexible material joined to said sheet adjacent to, but spaced from, the side margins of said sheet.




c. connecting members, comprising means for slidably engaging said means for attachment, a channel to receive said flaps and means for securing said flaps in the channel.




Another aspect of the invention is the novel connecting member. In this aspect, there are provided connecting members (sometimes called keder strips) for connecting keder ropes at the side edges of flexible panels extending between arch members of a building structure and also for connecting flaps joined to the panels adjacent to, but spaced from the side margins of the sheets. The connecting members comprise oppositely-facing c-shaped sections adapted to slidably engage the keder ropes. An offset web connects the c-shaped sections so that a channel within which the flaps may be secured is defined by central portions of the c-shaped sections and said web.




A further aspect of the invention is the novel sheet panel. In this aspect there is provided a panel to extend between connecting members on arch members of a building structure, said panel comprising a sheet of flexible material, a keder rope secured to each side margin of the sheet and adapted slidably to engage the connecting member and a flap of flexible material joined to said sheet adjacent to, but spaced from the side margins of the sheet, said flaps being adapted to be secured to said connecting members.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings in which:





FIG. 1

is an overall perspective view of a building structure showing the supporting arches and panels joined by connecting members.





FIG. 2

is a sectional view of a connecting member mounted on an arch frame member.





FIG. 3

is a detailed perspective view of the connecting member.





FIG. 4

is a perspective view showing the assembly of the panels and the connecting member.





FIG. 5

is a detailed sectional view of a panel.





FIGS. 6

,


7


,


8


and


9


are sectional views showing the sequence of operations in connecting flaps on the panels with the connecting member.





FIG. 10

is a sectional view illustrating an alternate embodiment in which a plug is welded onto one of the flaps.





FIG. 11

is a sectional view of an embodiment in which a plug is rolled into a flap.





FIG. 12

is a cross-section view illustrating use of a screw to secure the flaps in the connecting member.





FIG. 13

is a cross-sectional view illustrating the use of a spring clip to secure the flaps in the connecting member.





FIG. 14

illustrates the use of a pulled-in keder rope to secure the flaps in the connecting member.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION




In

FIG. 1

of the drawings, a fabric-covered building is illustrated in perspective comprising truss arch members


10


comprising outer tubular frame member


11


, inner tubular frame member


12


and cross braces


13


. Truss arch members


10


are preferably of structural steel. Desirably, the arch members are corrosion resistant.

FIG. 1

illustrates the building in the course of construction so that some of the truss arch members


10


support and are spanned by panels


14


. Inner tubular frame members


12


may be interconnected for stability by horizontal frame members


15


. Panels


14


are linear sheets comprised of fabric secured by lateral fasteners and tie down members


16


in pockets


16


A at the ends of the sheets of fabric. The fabric may be natural or synthetic, and may be extruded or woven sheets. It is advantageous for the sheets of fabric to be of transparent or translucent woven fiber so that natural light will pass through during daytime. The fabric should preferably be weatherproof and able to sustain tensile loads. Of course, moisture impenetrability and ultra-violet resistance are highly desirable. A suitable woven, tear resistant, weather-proof fabric is available under the trade mark “DURAWEAVE II” from Intertape Polymer Group of Sarasota, Fla. Suitable winches


17


provide tensioning for the panel ends and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,526 issued Nov. 14, 2000. A suitable winch is available commercially under the trade name WINCH LOCK from Custom Rope & Cable of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.




This invention is particularly concerned with connecting member


18


, which, as shown in

FIG. 2

, is a keder strip secured by self-tapping bolts


19


to the outwardly facing surface of outer tubular member


11


. As shown in

FIG. 3

, keder strip or fastening member


18


is an extrusion formed from oppositely facing substantially c-shaped sections


20


and


21


connected by an offset bottom web


22


to leave a channel


23


defined by web


22


and the central portions


20


A and


21


A of c-shaped sections


20


and


21


. Center portions


20


A and


21


A are concavely curved so that the throat


24


of channel


23


is narrower than the widest part


25


. The channel


23


is thus undercut.




As shown in

FIG. 4

, the panels


14


comprise sheets


30


and


30


A of fabric with keder ropes


31


and


31


A affixed along the sides of sheets


30


and


30


A respectively. When the fabric is a plasticized material, the rope may be bonded in a pocket edge of the fabric which is then heat sealed. Spaced from each keder, and heat welded to sheets


30


and


30


A, are fabric flaps


32


and


32


A. As shown in detail view,

FIG. 5

, each fabric sheet


30


has keder ropes welded to both margins.




To assemble the structure, keder ropes


31


and


31


A, together with integral sheets


30


and


30


A, are threaded into c-shaped sections


21


and


20


. Keder ropes


31


and


31


A are dimensioned to provide a close fit compatible with easy sliding into its desired position. However, the diameter of each keder rope


31


is greater than the width of mouth


33


of the c-shaped sections.




Panels


14


may be tensioned using hold-down members


16


and winches


17


in manner known in the art, and as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,526.




As diagrammatically shown in

FIGS. 6 and 7

, flap


32


A is folded over the top extension of c-shaped section


20


and then flap


32


is similarly folded into place over the top extension of section


21


. As shown in

FIGS. 8 and 9

, an elongated plug such as a round rope plug


34


is forced into channel


23


so that plug


34


is aligned with the wide or undercut portion


25


of channel


23


and holds flaps


32


and


32


A in position within the channel


23


.




Roof panel replacement can be achieved by removing rope plug


34


and reversing the steps shown in

FIGS. 5

to


7


.




Instead of securing fastening members


16


to tubular member


11


and then sliding rope keders


31


into the c-shaped sections


20


and


21


, an option is first to mate keders


31


with c-shaped sections


20


and


21


and then to secure fastening member


18


with self-tapping bolts.




There are several ways of positioning rope keders


31


in the c-shaped sections. One option is to pull tie-down member


16


by ropes (not shown) connecting tie-down member


16


to winch


17


. Another option is to provide such rope as a direct extension of or attached to the keder rope. The extended rope may be winched by winches


17


.




In one variation, a rope plug


34


A could be welded onto one of flaps


32


as illustrated in FIG.


10


. It is also noted that plug


34


or


34


A could be of various shapes and various materials, provided it performs the function of keeping flaps


32


and


32


A in position in fastening member


18


.




Another variation is shown in

FIG. 11

in which a continuous plug


34


is rolled into fabric flap


32


before it is forced or locked into position over flap


32


A in channel


23


of the fastening member


18


.





FIG. 12

shows another variation in which fabric flaps


32


and


32


A are held in position by a self-tapping screw


36


and washers


37


on the screw. Plug


34


is then not required, but a sealing plug or cap may be added for cosmetic purposes.




In

FIG. 13

, a spring clip


40


is used instead of plug


34


. The spring clip includes arms


41


which fit the undercut recess


23


.





FIG. 14

illustrates the use of a continuous pulled-in rope plug


43


fitting snugly within undercut channel


23


to hold flaps


32


and


32


A in position, instead of plug


34


.




Other variations within the scope of the appended claims may be used, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. The terms and expressions which have been employed in this disclosure are used as terms of description, and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions to exclude equivalents of the features shown or described.



Claims
  • 1. A building structure comprising:a. a plurality of arch members; b. panels connected between said arch members, each of the panels comprising linear sheets of flexible material having means for attachment at each side margin and a flap of flexible material joined to said sheets adjacent to, but spaced from, the side margins of said sheets; c. connecting members, comprising means for slidably engaging said means for attachment, a channel to receive said flaps and means for securing said flaps in the channel.
  • 2. A building structure as in claim 1 in which the connecting member is mounted on and attached to said arch member.
  • 3. A building structure as in claim 1 in which the flexible material of the sheets is a fabric.
  • 4. A building structure as in claim 3 in which the flexible material of the flap is a fabric.
  • 5. A building structure as in claim 1 in which the means for attachment at the side margins of the sheets of flexible material comprise keder ropes.
  • 6. A building structure as in claim 5 in which the connecting member is a keder strip which comprises oppositely facing c-shaped sections, slidably to engage the keder ropes.
  • 7. A building structure as in claim 6 in which the keder strip has an offset bottom web connecting said c-shaped sections so that said channel is defined by central portions of said c-shaped sections and said bottom web.
  • 8. A building structure as in claim 7 in which the throat of said channel is narrower than its widest part.
  • 9. A building structure as in claim 8 in which the means for securing the flaps in the channel comprises an elongated compressible plug.
  • 10. A building structure as in claim 8 in which the means for securing the flaps in the channel comprises a spring clip.
  • 11. A building structure as in claim 8 in which the means for securing the flaps in the channel comprises a screw.
  • 12. A building structure as in claim 8 in which the means for securing the flaps in the channel comprises a keder rope slidable within the channel.
  • 13. A connecting member for connecting keder ropes at the sides of flexible panels extending between frame members of a building structure and also for connecting flaps joined to the panels adjacent to, but spaced from the side margins of the panels, said connecting member is a keder strip which comprises oppositely-facing c-shaped sections slidably to engage the keder ropes, and an offset web connecting the c-shaped sections so that a channel within which the flaps may be secured is defined by central portions of the c-shaped sections and said web.
  • 14. A connecting member as claimed in claim 13 in which the throat of the channel is narrower than its widest part to retain means for securing the flaps in the channel.
  • 15. A panel to extend between connecting members on frame members of a building structure, said panel comprising a sheet of flexible material, a keder rope secured to each side margin of the sheet and adapted slidably to engage the connecting member and a flap of flexible material joined to said sheet adjacent to, but spaced from the side margins of the sheet, said flaps being adapted to be secured to said connecting members.
  • 16. A panel as in claim 15 in which the flexible material of the panel is fabric.
  • 17. A panel as in claim 16 in which the flexible material of the flap is fabric.
  • 18. A method for making a building structure with a weather-tight seal comprising:a. erecting a plurality of spaced arch members; b. mounting a connecting member on the arch members, said connecting member having oppositely facing c-shaped sections connected with a web to define a channel between the c-shaped sections; c. attaching panels to said connecting members, said panels comprising flexible sheets with keder ropes secured to each side margin of the sheets and said panels comprising flexible flaps joined to the sheets adjacent to but spaced from side margins of said sheets, the panels being attached by sliding the keder ropes within the c-shaped sections; d. folding the flaps into said channel; e. inserting a retaining member in said channel to secure the flaps.
  • 19. A method as in claim 18 in which the channel has a throat narrower than its widest dimension and the retaining member is a rope plug.
  • 20. A method as in claim 18 in which the channel has a throat narrower than its widest dimension and the retaining member is a rope of a diameter greater than that of the throat, slidable within the channel.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2298728 Feb 2000 CA
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Number Name Date Kind
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3987835 Bloomfield Oct 1976 A
4075811 Keith Feb 1978 A
4214407 Charter Jul 1980 A
4583331 Hunt et al. Apr 1986 A
4665670 van den Burg May 1987 A
4838294 Hunt Jun 1989 A
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5269106 Stafford et al. Dec 1993 A
5953875 Harkins Sep 1999 A
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