The present invention relates to modular surface structures.
More particularly, the invention provides a primary hinged surface element and a second hinged element which can be used to rigidize a structure composed of multiple primary surface elements. The structure can be rolled up for storage and transport. Applications are many, those described in the present specification include dismountable platforms, window shades, building elements, bridges, a pool deck or cover, stretcher and a ladder. Auxiliary components are required for some of these applications.
Interlocking structural elements are well known, examples being interlocking floor tiles, aluminium facing profiles, wooden facing strips for interiors, and facing stones for building exteriors. All these are intended for permanent attachment and construction.
Examples of modular building construction are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,712,352; 4,802.500; 6,615,999; 6,645,871 and others. None are of the roll-up type.
The armed forces, sports organizations and some industrial concerns may require light-weight temporary structures, which can be deployed quickly and easily, which can be modified if needed, can be transported and stored in a compact manner, and can be reused in a second location. The armed forces in particular are constantly being faced with changing circumstances such as the need to construct temporary structures to serve as a helicopter landing pad, a store, a bridge or a house-like enclosure. By use of conventional building methods the structures are permanent and unmovable, and require destruction if there is a danger of enemy forces capturing the area in which said structures are located.
A search of US, European and other patents failed to find any system that meets these requirements. The temporary structures seen in the prior art require dismantling for transport and compact storage, and reassembly on redeployment, both of which consume time that may not be available in the field. Furthermore none of the systems reviewed are equipped with deployable rigidizers, which greatly add to the rigidity of the surface being constructed. Examples of prior art temporary construction surfaces are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,811,530 and 6,736,446.
It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to obviate the disadvantages of prior art construction systems and to provide components which can be used for temporary construction of surfaces and on conclusion of use can be rolled up for compact transport and storage.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system that includes automatic or manual deployment of rigidizing beams attached underneath the surface elements which form the primary construction component.
The present invention achieves the above objects by providing a segmented surface having a series of elements hingedly attached to each other, said hinges enabling said elements to be rolled into a compact array and to be rotated and extended vis-à-vis adjacent elements to ascribe predetermined angles therebetween, and comprising additional elements, each additional element being hingedly attached to the hinge of a pair of adjacent surface elements, wherein said hinges enable said additional element to be rotated vis-à-vis a commonly hinged surface element to ascribe an angle of between 10° and 350° relative thereto.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface, wherein said surface elements are substantially in the form of quadrilateral plates.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface, wherein said additional elements are substantially in the form of quadrilateral plates.
In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface, having a series of surface elements hingedly attached to each other to form a longitudinally-extending surface, characterized in that said additional elements extend substantially perpendicular to said longitudinally-extending surface, to provide structural support for said surface along the lateral axis of the respective hinges from which said additional elements depend.
In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface, whenever used to form a weight-supporting platform.
In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface, whenever used to form a weight-supporting bridge.
In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface, whenever used to form a weight-supporting pool deck or pool cover.
In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface, whenever used to form a weight-supporting stretcher.
In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface, whenever used to form a weight-supporting landing surface for helicopters.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface, whenever used to form a weight-supporting enclosure.
In yet a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface, wherein said additional elements are interconnected to each other by means enabling the controlled rotation thereof to at least one predetermined angle, vis-à-vis said segmented surface.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface wherein said surface elements are at least partially transparent and said additional elements are at least partially opaque and said controlled rotation of said additional elements enables the control of the passage of light through said surface elements.
In another embodiment of the present invention either the surface elements or the additional elements can be made porous for enabling controlled entry of air therethrough.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface having a series of surface elements having two major faces, two longitudinal side edges and two lateral edge faces, a first lateral edge face supporting a plurality of spaced-apart first loop members, the second lateral edge supporting a plurality of spaced-apart loop members spaced in a manner allowing adjacent pivoted interconnection to a first edge face of a substantially identical second surface element, a hinged additional element of substantially the same width as said surface elements, said additional element being provided with a plurality of spaced-apart third loop members positioned to allow revolvable interconnection along a pivot axis already partially occupied by said first and said second loop members, and a hinge pin substantially as long as said lateral edge of said surface elements, said pin being insertable through said first, second and third loop members to hingedly attach an additional element to a pair of interconnected adjacent surface elements.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a roll-up bridge for use above ground level comprising a plurality of surface elements, wherein said surface elements are hingedly attached to each other by axially extended hinge pins projecting beyond both lateral edges of said surface elements, ground support pillar elements as required by the level of the ground and the desired height of said bridge, and a pair of flexible tension members engaging and supporting the ends of said hinge pins.
With regard to the roll-up bridge, in a preferred embodiment said pair of flexible tension members are steel cables.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface wherein said surface elements are buoyant.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface composed of a series of surface elements hingedly attached to each other to form an extended surface, two parallel set-apart, longitudinally extending side surfaces and further comprising a rigidifying rail element affixed to at least one of said side surfaces wherein said rail is non-linear along portions of its length and ascribes predetermined angles complementary to angular connections between hingedly attached adjacent surface elements.
In one more preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a segmented surface wherein said extended attached surface elements ascribe an angle of about 180° relative to each other.
It will thus be realized that the novel device of the present invention serves many purposes, and whether the surface elements are made of plastic, of an obtuse or transparent material, or of a light metal or steel depends entirely on the application, which dictates the balance between strength, light weight and lowest cost.
The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.
With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.
In the drawings:
a is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the segmented surface seen partially rolled up, according to the invention;
b is an underside perspective view of a preferred surface element;
c is a perspective view of an additional element to be suspended below the surface elements;
a is a section taken at BB in
b is an elevational view of a bridge constructed according to the present invention; and
There is seen in
An additional element 18, seen best in
For high load applications, for example a military bridge (to be described with reference to
For lighter duty applications, for example a wall surface, or an application where light weight and greater flexibility are needed, the surface elements 12 and the additional elements 18 are made of plastic.
Normally, as seen in the figures, the surface elements 12 are substantially in the form of quadrilateral plates. So too the additional elements 18, except that the plate corners remote from the hinge area, are in some applications advantageously chamfered 20, as shown in
With regard to the rest of the figures, similar reference numerals have been used to identify similar parts.
Referring now to
After the device is unrolled the additional elements 18 extend by gravity to take up a position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinally-extending surface 22. This provides structural support and greatly increases rigidity for the surface along the lateral axis of the respective hinges 30 from which the additional elements 18 depend.
After deployment the extended attached surface elements 12 ascribe an angle of about 180° relative to each other.
A light-weight cylinder 31 is useful for roll-up.
Seen in
Turning now to
Turning now to
A steel cable 48 is seen enabling the controlled rotation of the additional elements 58. The cable is removed before roll-up.
The assembly may be used to form a roof surface, a wall surface or a pergola.
The shown embodiment is configured to function as a roll-up emergency ladder when positioned in a near-upright manner.
Seen in
Referring now to
Each surface element has two major faces 76, two longitudinal side edges 78 and two lateral edge faces 80, as seen more clearly in
A hinged additional element 86, seen most clearly in
A hinge pin 94, seen in
The array 75 is intended for use as a substantially flat surface. Where the surface elements are made of plastic, some substantial irregularities in the ground to be covered can be accepted.
A further benefit of the tubular construction is that the end faces can be sealed to provide a buoyant surface element and so form a pontoon bridge.
Seen in
A segmented surface 100 is formed by an array of surface elements 98 hingedly attached to each other by axially extended hinge pins 102. Lateral rigidity is provided by the additional element 106. The pins project beyond the lateral edges of the surface elements 98. Preferably the surface elements 98 are made of rust-protected steel.
At least one steel cable 104 engages the head 107 of the hinge pins 102. The cable is tensioned and anchored by prior art procedures.
Suitable ground support pillar elements 108 are used in accordance with the level of the ground and the desired height of the bridge.
The cable(s 104 are) is removed before roll-up.
With reference now to
A rigidifying rail element 118 is affixed to at least one of the side surfaces 116. The rail 118 is non-linear along portions of its length and ascribes predetermined angles complementary to angular connections between hingedly attached adjacent surface elements 12.
It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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172,664 | Dec 2005 | IL | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IL2006/001437 | 12/14/2006 | WO | 00 | 6/17/2008 |