US2827138A - Portable building construction - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1958 R JR 2,827,138

PORTABLE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 1, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 INVE TOR ATTORNEYS March 18, 1958 R. ROY, JR 2,827,138

PORTABLE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 1. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 56 H M H ,lllm

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INVEN TOR P055197 FO); JP.

BY %4K 7% ATTORNEYS March 18, 1958 R JR 2,827,138

PORTABLE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 1. 1954 4 Shams-Sheet 3 1 1 i INVENTOR FOEEW F0), .11?

BY /ZZV A TTORN E Y- March 18, 1958 R. ROY, JR 2,327,138

PORTABLE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 1, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR AOBE/PT 'PO zJ/P W ATTORNEYS z,s27,1ss

PORTABLE nonsense. coNsrnrJcrioN Robert Roy, n, Bradford, Pa, assignor of one-third to Virginia Burdiclr Roy and one-third to Rona Roy Lynch, Bradford, Pa.

Application March 1, 1954, Serial No. 413,16ll

22 Claims. (Cl. 189--4) This invention relates to buildings and more particularly to a novel greenhouse, tent, or analogous structure comprising a plurality of elemental units which may be quickly assembled to form a sturdy, clepsable housing.

Buildings of the same general class as the present invention suffer from a plurality of deficiencies which detract from their desirability and utility. Among these shortcomings are (a) complicated and expensive asse nbly requiring skilled workmen; (b) laca' of structural stability; (0) lack of weather-tightness or of adequate insulation against the elements; (d) lack of adaptability or versatility. The present invention overcomes these and other deficiencies of the prior art.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a unique building.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel structure which may be employed as a greenhouse, tent, or shed.

A further object is to provide budding which may be constructed in sections, thereby affording a housing which may assume a plurality of sizes and yet employ standard materials.

An additional object is to provide a greenhouse or the like which is economical yet dependable.

A more specific object is to provide a building comprising a plurality of bays, each including skeletal elements and suitable coverings.

Yet another object is to provide novel frame and skin tensioning means.

Another object is to provide a means for tensioning a flexible covering in several directions simultaneously.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a building having a plurality of spaced flexible walls.

Briefly, a building constructed according to the inven tion includes a plurality of bow frame elements arranged in spaced vertical planes and supporting one or more coverings or skins. The bows may be mounted on a suitable masonry foundation. The covering material may be applied in sections which, together with adjacent bows, form successive bays. The bows are channeled to receive cables to which the skin is attached and by which it may be tensioned. End closures of the same covering material may be provided.

The objects will become more apparent in the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying rawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:

'Fig. l is a perspective, somewhat diagrammatic view of the building in partial assembly against a wall of an existing structure;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of an end closure for the building of Fig. 1;

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Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail of the inner and outer bow frame elements taken along line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail of the bow frame elements and associated structure taken along line 77 of Fig. 1 and also illustrating one manner of mounting the coverings;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 1 and also illustrating one manner of tensioning the coverings;

Fl 8a is a view illustrating a modification of certain elements of Fig. 8;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail showing one manner of attaching the covering or skin to the tensioning cables;

Fig. 10 is another modification of the detail of Fig. 8, taken along line 1010 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 11 is a front elcvational view of the detail of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail taken along line l212 of Fig. 11 and illustrating the duplication of successive bays;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional detail of an alternative bow frame element with means for mounting a plurality of spaced coverings, the coverings being illustrated in phantom; and

Fig. 14 is an elevational view of the detail of Fig. 13.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the invention comprises a plurality of how frame elements 1t? composed of metal, plastic, wood or the like and mounted in spaced vertical planes on a masonry foundation ii. to form a framework or skeleton. The ends of the bows may be secured to a pair of channeled sills 17, which also may be composed of metal or wood. The building has been illusrated as erected against an existing structure 13, although this arrangement is entirely optional. Bows ill may be assembled from several sections provided with suitable joints, such as the lap joints shown at 14. The sections may be secured together and spaced by a plurality of cross bars 15, which are threaded and provided with a pair of nuts 16 at each end to embrace the opposite sides of each bow (see Fig. 7).

Each of bows 10 has a channeled outer circumference formed by a pair of sloping side walls 18 and a bottom surface 19, as better seen in Fig. 7. The skin or covering 20 may be composed of flexible transparent plastic, cloth, canvas, or similar material and may be secured to the outer circumference of the bows by a plurality of cables, wires, or ropes 21. The choice of covering material will of course depend on the function of the building. If a greenhouse, transparent or translucent material will naturally be employed, while if the building is to be a tent or shed, opaque material may be employed at least in part. The thickness, weight and type of material may vary with the local weather conditions.

Covering material 2d may be attached to the tensioning cables by wrapping the material around the cable and adhesively joining the overlapped material as indicated at 22 in Fig. 9. The edges of the material may be strengthened by the addition of reinforcing members 23. The exact manner of attachment is of course subject to innumerable variations. The covering material, which may be chosen from standard supplies, is arranged in sections or bays, with each bay having a pair of tensioning cables attached to its circumferential edges. The cables may be pulled taut by suitable tensioning means such as the springs 24 and 24a of Figs. 8 and 8a, respectively, or by other means, such as weights. As shown, the springs may be attached inside the sills 17, 17:: either in compression or tension.

By referring to Fig. 7 it is seen that as the cables are pulled taut, they move more deeply into the channeled fling screws for successive bows into ho hows. toward bottom surfaces 19, and at the same time move laterally toward the central plane of the bows as a result of the inclination of the side walls 18. In this i manner the covering for each bay is stretchedalongthe lengthof the building. The provision of the channeled bows, cables, and cabletensioning device is particularly effective to stretch the covering longitudinally of the building -to-the proper degree. In order to stretch the skin circumferentially of the building,rthe lower extremities of the-material may be attached to weights 26, which may be provided for each bay or which may run the entire length of sills =17; Alternatively, springsmay be used inplace of the weights 26. 'Thus the coverin is pulled taut over the bows both longitudinally and circumferentia-lly. I

As shown in Figs. 8 and 8a weights 26'm'ay 'be pro vided with Weather strips-2'5,"25o, respectively, of 'suitable flexible material, which run theiength of the sills and prevent the passage of ,airyunderthe lower edges of the covering it will he noted that the sill 17a of Fig.

, 8a'is shallower than that of Fig.28. This allows the ends of cables 21 to enter thesills without boring the latter; It will also be noted in Fig. '8 that 'the sill 17'is provided with a pin 27 which enters a hole 28 in the end of a bow 1t Theprovision of a pin and cooperating hole for each bow allows accurate location of the-bows and at the same time prevents late'ral movement. V In Figs. 10 and 11 a slightly different sill is employed.

Here the sill 17 is made of woodand is solid exceptfor recesses 29, which may behored in the sill to receive the ends of cables 21. As describedin connection with Fig. 8, the ends of the cables pass through the sill and are provided with suitable tensioning devices 24. It will be noted that the channeled bows are provided with coextensive cover strips (see Fig. 12) which may be, attached to the-b'ows'by a plurality of self-tapping screws,

as indicated by screws 31; The cover stripsprotect the. bows and the cable-covering joints frorn'the weather and maybe employed in any ofthe embodiments illustrated. Whilefonly a single slgin'has been described so far, it will be appreciated that a plurality of spaced skins may beprovided, the air layers ltherebetwcen serving as insulation for the housing. The.additional coverings may be supported in many ways. .'-In Fig. 7, a plurality of augriliary bows 132 are employed. These bows may be constituted by metal strips: having a. trough-like cross section with sloping sides diverging from a bottom -sur.- a h xi i y bio smay be attached to the outer bows by self-tapping screws It, as indicated in Fig.

7 rnore than one additionalcovering is.-provided, the bows may D -nes e as sho n byt a ng t mcun llow 'mounting screws for the preceding bows,

The ad ditional coverings 34 may-be drawn taut over the auxiliary bows by cables. 35, which may be tensioned by springs 36 at their ends {see Fig. 8). Anangle bracket a V 37 may be mounted on thesill 17 to receive the cables and tensioning means." The 'coveringmaterial may be secured to the cables as described previously with respect :to the outer skin, and may bedrawn taut circumferentially. of the building. by weights 381(see Figs} Hand 80) secured to theends of the material, V

ln the modification shown 'in .F ig. l0, a 'plura'lity of spring biased rcllers3 mounted n'bracketssor eeive by bolts an'd nuts,-as indicated at 44, 45,and by spacer blocks 46, 47, 48. It is clear that the spacer blocks may i be formed integrally with the bows and that they need be provided only at intervals along the length of the bows. The bows may be provided with shirt portions 49 to in crease their rigidity. Covering material and cables have 7 been shown in phantom and may be mounted as described previously. 7

End closures for thebuilding according to the invention may be constructed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 2 an inner bow 50 is mounted in the end planeof the building, and sector panels 51 or" covering ma? terial are drawn tight between the inner and outer end b ows by cables. The inner .bow may be provided with cables 52 which are tensioned as described above. As

shown in Fig. 6, a plurality of, end coverings may be employed. Bow 50 is grooved to receive a cable for The outer end covering may be,

each covering layer. secured to end bow 10, while the inner covering .may be secured to an extra auxiliary how 32 provided for that purpose. I

Panels 51 may be joined, as byadhesive, to form a continuous endcovering- The lower-most panels maybe provided with weights 53 at their lower edges; which may beireceived within grooved sills '54 secured to the.

foundation 11, as by screws 55 (see Fig. '5). Weights 53 aid in tightening the end closure fabric. The s'ills 54 'and end bow 50 may be provided with drainage orifices 56'to'ca'rry ofi' rain water. The end closure may be provided with a door frame 57. a

A modified end closure is shown in Fig 3. 7 Here,-;' vertical panels 58 are employed. These panels may be secured to end how 10 by cables,,as previously described, The panels may be or by any other suitable means. adhesively joined to adjacent panels, 'or a plurality of vertical reinforcing elements, such' as dowels, may be provided between adjacentpanels, and the material may be attached thereto, as by rings. frame .59 may bejemployecl, andthat'part of the frame which is abovethe foundation 11' may be grooved as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to receive the edges of the cover- 5 ing material. (Fig. 5 is an accurate section along line t of Fig. '3 except for elements 11 and 55.) Weights maybe attached to the panels 58 in the sills 54 and in 7 the top of the door frame, 0r alternatively, the lower f edges of the panels 58 may be attached to a bent rod within the grooves of the sills and the door frame. 7 Z 7 It should be notdthat the modified'bows of Fig; 13 also are arranged to receive end panels; A pair of end coverings and. associated cablesi'has been indicated in phantom at the right of Fig. 13. Optionally, the' right" portion of the center bow may be removed, where, as

shown, only two end coverings are employed. The right portion of, the lower bow has beenshortened to allow spacing of the end surfaces; It will'also beappreciated J that solid end closures may be employed inplace of any of the flexible closures described, and' thatlouvred end walls or the like maybe provided for controlled ventilation.

From "the. above description, it is evident that the in vention provides abuilding of great versatilityand adapt ability, yet a building which can be erected from standardized parts by a personwith nospecialized training and at a minimum cost. The use'of the skin jtensionjng 1 devices allows eigpansion and contraction of the covering material with changes in weather conditions', but m aintains atautsurface at all times. plurality 'of covering ilayersprovides the necessary in} sulation lf desired,*ventilation openings maybe pro-ff 1 vided to allow controlledcirculation of airg Although the'building' hasbeenshown ashavinga generally cylin-j 4 drical contour, any suitable configuration, such, as; a

gabled shape, maybe'employedp I i While preferred forms of the inventionhave been 7 7 shown and described, it will be evident to. those, skilled 1 ind e ,art 'that such embodiments may. be modifi' d in A rectangular door I The usefof a many ways without departing from the essential concepts of the invention. The embodiments shown and described are to be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive, and the scope of the invention is to be determined by a liberal interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a building construction, at least a pair of spaced substantially parallel elongated frame elements, said elements each having a corresponding longitudinal channel, a cable member in each said channels, a covering surface having a pair of opposite edges attached respectively to said cable members, means for placing said cable members under tension, and means responsive to the tensioning of said cable members for applying a tensile force to said covering surface transversely of said frame elements, the channel of each of the elements of said pair having its side wall nearest the other element sloping toward the central portion of said covering surface between said elements, and said cable members being supported against said walls, respectively, intermediate the wall extremities at the bottom and the top of said channels, respectively, whereby said cable members may move along said walls between said extremities in response to changes in cable tension.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said frame elements are arcuate.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said covering surface is substantially rectangular, the remaining pair of opposite edges having means for applying a tensile force therebetween.

4. In a building construction, a first pair of substantially parallel elongated channel members defining an outer surface, a second pair of substantially parallel elongated channel members defining an inner surface, said surfaces being substantially parallel, an elongated flexible element in each channel member, a covering sheet for each pair of channel members, connected at opposite extremities to one of said flexible elements, said sheets conforming to said defined surfaces, and means for applying a tensile force between opposite ends of said flexible elements.

5. The invention of claim 4, one channel member of each pair being located adjacent a corresponding member of the other pair, and means for connecting said corresponding members.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein the channel members of one of said pairs are substantially rigid bars, the channel members of the other pair being relatively flexible strips.

7. The invention of claim 5, wherein said channel members are strips, and said connecting means include spacer blocks.

8. The invention of claim 4, wherein said channel members with reference to said outer and inner surfaces have inwardly converging side walls, and wherein said flexible elements lie against and intermediate the inner and outer extremities of said side walls, whereby a tensile force is applied to said sheets between said channel members as said flexible elements are tensioned as aforesaid; and further including means for applying a tensile force to said sheets orthogonal to said first mentioned force.

9. The invention of claim 8, wherein said last mentioned means includes a spring biased roller element.

10. The invention of claim 4, further comprising means for urging the flexible elements connected to the opposite extremities of each sheet away from each other as said tensile force is applied between the opposite ends of said flexible elements.

11. The invention of claim 4, further comprising means for converting part of the tensile forces applied between opposite ends of said flexible elements into transverse forces for tensioning the covering sheets between said channel members.

12. In combination, a pair of spaced foundation walls, a pair of sills on said walls, a pair of spaced outwardly G bowed elongated frame members having ends attached respectively to said sills, each of said frame members having a longitudinal groove therein, a cable in each said grooves, a covering surface attached to and stretched between said cables, means for tensioning said cables with respect to said sills, and means responsive to the tensioning of said cables for applying a tensile force to said covering surface transversely of said frame members, the groove of each of the members of said pair having its side wall nearest the other member sloping toward the central portion of said covering surface between said members and said cables being supported against said Walls, respectively, intermediate the wall extremities at the bottom and the top of said grooves, respectively, whereby said cables may move along said walls between said extremities in response to changes in cable tension.

13. The invention of claim 12, further including means for tensioning said covering surface between said sills.

14. An end closure for a building, comprising an upper elongated frame element, a lower elongated frame element located in substantially the same plane as said first element, a sheet of flexible material, means for stretching said material between said elements, the lastmentioned means including a cable attached to one edge of said sheet, means for applying a tensile force between the opposite ends of said cable, and means for converting part of said force to a force transverse to said edge, said frame elements being outwardly bowed and each having a longitudinal groove, and said stretching means including a cable in each of said grooves and means for tensioning said cables.

15. The invention of claim 14, further including weights attached to the lower edges of said material.

16. An end closure for a building, comprising an upper elongated frame element, a lower elongated frame element located in substantially the same plane as said first element, a sheet of flexible material, means for stretching said material between said elements, the lastmentioned means including a cable attached to one edge of said sheet, means for applying a tensile force between the opposite ends of said cable, and means for converting part of said force to a force transverse to said edge, said material being divided into a plurality of vertical panels, and said stretching means comprising weights attached to the lower edge of said panels, the lower frame element being a sill having a longitudinal groove in which said weights are located.

17. In a building construction, a plurality of substantially parallel sets of elongated frame elements, the elements of each set being arranged in spaced superposed relationship, a plurality of flexible covering surfaces, and means for suspending said surfaces in adjacent relationship and for stretching the same laterally between corresponding elements of said sets.

18. In a building construction, at least a pair of spaced frame elements, a flexible covering sheet mounted between and over said elements and having a pair of opposite edges associated, respectively, with said elements, a pair of elongated flexible members lying along and attached to said edges, respectively, means for applying a tensile force between the opposite ends of said members, and means responsive to the tensioning of said members for applying a tensile force to said sheet between said edges to stretch it between said elements, each of the frame elements of said pair having a longitudinal wall over one lateral extremity of which said covering sheet is drawn taut, said walls sloping toward the central portion of said sheet between said elements, and said flexible members resting on said walls, respectively, intermediate the lateral extremities of the respective walls, whereby said flexible members may move along said walls between said lateral extremities as the tension in said members varies.

19. The construction of claim 18, further comprising a mller massed t a eiise y cf the time ie enle tssnear 'Qne endrthereof n on h c said h et m y he qnnd- 21. In a building construction, first, second, and third;

elongated frame elements spaced in succession, a sheetlike covering extending between the first and second elementsya separate and independent sheet-like covering extending between the iseconcl and third elements, each said coverings having opposite edges lying along the associated frame elements, a separate elongated flexible or m mber ying along and ta d o a h sa-i e e specti ly, m ans or pp yi a ten le f c between the pp si nds f ch said m b rs, e p ct y, means =responsive to 'tlie'tensioning-of said members for applying :a tensile force to the attached coveging trans verselyof the associated flame elements, and means for applyi ensi .fcrce t ch covering lon h l n Qf the associated frameelen ents. V V

r, imdisidua ly- 38' s 9f claim 21, wherein :th lastre sely Refei'ences Cited in the file of this pate nt- Scientific American, March 20, 1915, vol. CXI-I, No. 12

page 271.

.' UNITED STATES *S'urb'er '-V--'----V---s-- Au 28 s Zimmern -s Ang. 1, 1939 .Waterma'n'et al. :N o v; 28, 1944 1 Collins Sept. '6, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS V G reatVBritein June '10, 1920' ''OTHER REFERENCES v he

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