WO2003080952A1

WO2003080952A1 - Enclosing system

Info

Publication number: WO2003080952A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/008285
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel M. Dunson; Stephen D. Dunson; Vincent J. Vohnout
Original assignee: Dream Garage Llc
Priority date: 2002-03-19
Filing date: 2003-03-17
Publication date: 2003-10-02
Also published as: US20040216394A1; AU2003230674A1; US20030177715A1

Abstract

A system (10) and method are provided for enclosing an object comprising a front (20), a rear (16), and sides (14, 18). The system (10) and method further provide a base (22) on a base receiving surface (112) and a closing portion (12). The front (20), rear (16), sides (14, 18), base (22), and closing portion (12) define an area surrounding the object. The system (10) and method further provide stiffening devices (118) extending from the sides (14, 18) and the closing portion (12), fasteners (120) coupling the sides (14, 18) to the base (22) and the sides (14, 18) to the closing portion (12) via the stiffening devices (118), and securing devices (104) holding edges of adjacent sections of the sides (14, 18) and edges of adjacent sections of the closing portion (12) together. The system (10) and method also typically provide for access areas (24, 26) that have hinged sections (34, 36, 42, 44, 70, 72). The system (10) and method further comprise connectors (126) located between the closing portion (12) and the sides (14, 18) which the fasteners (120) also pass to couple the sides (14, 18) to the closing portion (12).

Description

ENCLOSING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments are directed toward enclosing systems that may be easily assembled.

BACKGROUND

For many years people have purchased, either through a retail establishment or mail order, protective enclosing systems for their vehicles and other objects typically stored outside. This may be because the people had no garage or because the people had more vehicles or other items to store than they had garage space, so additional protective enclosing systems were needed. This may also be because the people have boats, planes, or other powered or non-powered apparatus, machines, or other objects that need to be protected, where they need to purchase systems to protect them. Generally, these protective enclosing systems have been quite burdensome to construct due to their weight, irregularly sized pieces, difficult fastening devices, two-step processes of building a frame and then building the structure, or other aspects. Even after constructed, many of the protective enclosing systems had drawbacks, such as roofs that could not withstand heavy snow loads, weak structures that could not withstand high winds, loose fitting pieces that allowed water to enter the structure, no base to protect against ground related problems, or other deficiencies. Therefore, a need exists for a sturdy, weather tight, easy to construct, and cost effective protective enclosing system for vehicles and other objects.

SUMMARY

A system and method are provided for enclosmg an object comprising a front, a rear, and sides. The system and method further provide a base on a base receiving surface and a closing portion. The front, rear, sides, base, and closing portion define an area surrounding the object. The system and method further provide stiffening devices extending from the sides and the closing portion, fasteners coupling the sides to the base and the sides to the closing portion via the stiffening devices, and securing devices holding edges of adjacent sections of the sides and edges of adjacent sections of the closing portion together. The system and method further provide for an access area.

Another aspect provides the access area is in the rear.

Another aspect provides additional access areas in the front and/or sides.

Another aspect provides the access area comprises first and second hinged sections.

Another aspect provides a system for enclosing an object comprising a front, a rear, an access area, and hoop sections positioned between the front and the rear. Each hoop section comprises a first base section, a first side section coupled to the first base section, a closing portion section, a first connector section coupling the first side section to the closing portion section, a second connector section, a second side section, the second connector section c oupling the c losing p ortion section to the second s ide s ection, and a second b ase section coupled to the second side section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features will become apparent from the following specification and claims, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an enclosing system with front, rear and side access areas, all shown in a closed state;

Figure 2A is a perspective view of an enclosing system shown with two access areas in an open state;

Figure 2B is a perspective view of an enclosing system shown with one access area in an open state;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation view of an enclosmg system;

Figure 4 is a slightly exploded front elevation view of an enclosing system; Figure 5 is a plan view of a base of an enclosing system;

Figure 6A is a perspective view of adjacent sides and adjacent closing portion sections of an enclosing system;

Figure 6B is an end view of a connection between (1) adjacent sides and (2) adjacent closing portion sections of the system in Figure 6 A;

Figure 6C is an end view of a connection between (1) a side section and a corner section and (2) a closing portion section and a cap section of an access area in a front portion of an enclosing system;

Figure 6D is an end view of a closing portion section and a cap section of a rear hinged section of an enclosing system;

Figure 6E is an end view of a side section and a rear corner section of a rear hinged section of an enclosing system;

Figure 7A is a slightly exploded side view illustrating a connection between a base, a section of a side, a connector device, and a section of a closing portion of the system;

Figure 7B is a perspective view of two connectors coupled together via a splice device of the system;

Figure 8 is an end view of (1) a section of a side and (2) a section of a closing portion showing a stiffening device extending from the section of the system;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a securing device for coupling adjacent sections of a side portion of the system;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a securing device for coupling adjacent sections of a closing portion of the system;

Figure 11 is a side view of a flexible, self-securing fastener of the system; and

Figure 12 is a side view of a securing rod for a base of the system. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) Reference is made to Figures 1, 3, and 4, in which is shown an object enclosmg system 10 according to a typical first embodiment. The system 10 comprises a closing portion 12, a first side 14, a rear 16, a second side 18, a front 20, and a base 22 (Figure 5). The system 10 also comprises an access area 24 in the rear 16 and may include a second access area 26 in the side 18. In other embodiments, the second access area 26 may be in the side 14. The second access area 26 comprises first 34 and second 36 hinged sections, where the sections 34, 36 are locked with a locking device 38 and each section 34, 36 has a handle 40. The locking device 38 may be a slide lock or other suitable locking means. A third access area 28 (Figure 4) is located in the front 20. The closing portion 12 and sides 14 and 18 of the system 10 comprise sections 30 and 32, respectively, which may be panels or the like. As canbe appreciated, although only the side 18 is shown, the side 14 is similarly arranged with the sections 32, except it does not include a second access area in the embodiment shown. In other embodiments the side 14 comprises the second access area 26. Further, the second access area 26, whether located on side 18 or side 14, may be placed in alternative positions on those sides. In yet another embodiment, the system shown in Figures 1 and 4 may be comprised of only the rear 24 and front 26 access areas, the access area in either or both of the sides 14, 18, being omitted.

Figures 2A-B show a second embodiment of a closing system 200 and a third embodiment of a closing system 300, respectively. All elements that are similar to the first embodiment carry the same reference numbers. In a second embodiment, the system 200 shown in Figure 2A comprises only two access areas, the access area 24 and the second access area 26, where no third access area is provided in the front 220. Likewise, a second embodiment may include a rear 24 and front 28 access areas, where no third access area is provided on either side 14 or 18. In the third embodiment, the system 300 shown in Figure 2B comprises only the access area 24, but no second access area in one of the sides 14 or 318 and no third access area in the front 320. All the embodiments show enclosing structures that may be used to enclose and protect any object. For example, the object may be a vehicle, a boat, a plane, a motorcycle, a tractor, or any other motorized or non-motorized device, apparatus, machine, or other object. In another alternative embodiment, the rear and the front may include the only access areas.

With specific reference to Figure 3, the access area 24 comprises first 42 and second 44 hinged sections. The hinged sections 42, 44 each comprise a corner section 46, 48, a cap section 50, 52, and a panel section 54, 56. The corner sections 46, 48 (Figure 6E) and the cap sections 50, 52 (Figure 6D) each have flanges 78. The hinged sections 42, 44 also comprise hinges 58 (Figures 1 and 6E) that hingedly couple the hinged sections 42, 44 to the sections 32-8 (discussed below). Further, similar to the second access area 26, the hinged sections 42, 44 c omprise a 1 ocking device 64 and h andles 66. T he cap s ections 50, 52 m ay c omprise cutout, screened over sections 68 for ventilation.

Now with reference to Figure 4, the third access area 28 comprises hinged panel sections 70, 72, corner sections 74, 76, and a cap section 80. The corner sections 74, 76 and the cap section 80 each have flanges 78 (Figure 6C). The hinged panel sections comprise hinges 82, a locking device 84, and handles 86. The cap section 80 may comprise cutout, screened over ventilation sections 88. In some of the embodiments, one or more of the access areas 24, 26, and 28 may include cut out ventilated sections 89 (shown only in Figure 4 for convenience), sweeps 90 (only the access area 24), and flanges 91 (shown only in Figures 3 and 4 for convenience) to weather seal the access areas when the hinged sections 34, 36, 42, 44, 70, and 72 are closed.

Turning now to Figure 5, the base 22 comprises a front curvilinear section 92, a rear curvilinear section 94, and linear side sections as at 96, a base mat 98, and support plates as at 100. Alternative embodiments may not include a base mat 98, support plates, or the same number of support plates. The sections 92, 94, and 96 of the base 22 are coupled via coupling devices 102 (only one is shown for convenience). In other embodiments, the sections 92, 94, and 96 may each comprise several coupled sections, for example, the front section 92 and rear section 94 may comprise three coupled pieces, two curvilinear and one straight. Merely as an example, four securing devices as at 104 are received in four holes of the coupling device 102 overlapping four corresponding holes in the curvilinear section 92. Likewise four s ecuring devices 1 04 a re r eceived in four h oles o f t he coupling d evice 1 02 overlapping four corresponding holes in the side section 96. The base mat 98 is received over a circular rod 106 in the sections 92, 94, and 96 and is held onto the rod (see also Figure 7A) via base clips, as at 108 (see also Figure 7A) that overlap the base mat 98. The base 22 is coupled to a base receiving surface 112 via securing rods 114 (Figure 12), which may be threaded, through holes 116 periodically located along the sections 92, 94 and 96 when the base receiving surface 112 is earth, or the like. In other embodiments, the base 22 is coupled to the base receiving surface 112 via an adhesive material or other adhering material if the base r eceiving s urface 1 12 i s a sphalt ( which may also b e coupled via se curing r ods 1 14), concrete, or other non-earth surfaces. The base 22 further comprises recessed areas 117 in 94 to allow a vehicle tire to easily enter the system 10. The sweeps 90 may cover the recess areas in 94 for weather proofing purposes by attachment to the panel sections 54, 56, the corner sections 46, 48, or otherwise.

Returning now to Figures 1 , 2 A, and 2B, as appropriate or each embodiment, the sections 32 and the sides 14 and 18 will be described in more detail. Each section 32 includes a plurality of stiffening devices 118 (Figure 8) that extend from the section 32 of the sides 14, 18. Also, each section 30 has stiffening devices 136 (Figure 8), which are similar in shape and function as 1 18. Further, the hinged s ections 34, 36, 42, 44, 70, and 72 have stiffening devices 119. The stiffening devices 118 may be vertical ribs and the stiffening devices as at 119 may be patterned ribs, or the like. The patterned ribs may have a periodic or alternating raised and flat cross section, where some areas are raised and others are fiat. The ventilated section 89 may be formed by cutting away material from an underside of a raised section of the patterned stiffening devices 119. The stiffening devices 118 perform several functions, such as strengthening the sections 32 and assisting in coupling the base 22, sides 14 and 18, connectors 126, and the closing portion 12 together, which will be described hereinafter. Stiffening devices 119 perform similar strengthening functions.

Several of the sections 32 are configured to perform certain, specific functions. One of the sections 32-Battery is positioned so as to be aligned with a battery of the object (not shown), if that is desired, otherwise there may be no 32-Battery. This section 32-Battery is easily opened because it is not coupled to the base 22 and closing portion 12, but only to adjacent sections 32 to allow access to the interior of the system 10 so that a battery can be interacted with, where the coupling will be described below. Another section 32-Electrical is configured to receive cords of electrical devices to permit the cords of the electrical devices to pass from an exterior to an interior of the system 10, 200, or 300. This configuration may be an opening capped with a device including a cord hole, or the like. When not in use, the section 32-Electrical e lectrical c ord opening m ay be c apped w ith a d evice n ot including a hole. As can be appreciated, the section 32-Battery and the section 32-Electrical may be in several positions within the system 10, 200, or 300, and thus none of the sections 32 is labeled as such. Also, in various embodiments there may be more than one of the section 32- Electrical. There is also a section 32-Hinge/Electrical and a section 32-Hinge. The 32-Hinge is adjacent to one of the hinged sections 34 or 36 of the second access area 26, which allows the hinging function. Further, the 32-Hinge/Electrical includes both the hinging function and the capped opening as described above. The 32-Hinge/Electrical is adjacent to one of the hinged sections 34, 36 of the second access area 26, to perform the hinging function. As discussed in more detail below, there are also hinged 32-8 sections that are coupled to the access area 24. In alternative embodiments, there may be no 32-Electrical, 32- Hinge/Electrical, and 32-Hinge.

Now with reference to all of the figures, as appropriate for each embodiment, a procedure for assembly will be described. As was described earlier, at least the loop of the base 22 is assembled and coupled to the base receiving surface 112. Before doing this, the base receiving surface 112 should be prepared by marking off an appropriately sized section, cleaning the base receiving surface 112 if it is not earth or the like, and if appropriate, leveling the base receiving surface 112. To determine the best placement of the access area 26, the object should be positioned on the base 22 after assembled, and any appropriate access areas marked off. Also, when this is done the optimum position for the support plates 100 can be determined and so indicated. Once the access area 26 is determined, this information is used as a guide to position the section 32-Hinge/Electrical and the section 32- Hinge because, as discussed, the section 32-Hinge/Electrical and the section 32-Hinge have hinges adjacent to the respective ones of the hinged sections 34, 36.

After performing these steps, the sections 32-1 on either side of the front 20, 220, or 320, which are where the third access area 28 may be located, are installed. To install the sections 32-1 on both the sides of the front 20, the sections 32-1 are positioned on the holding section 121 (Figure 7 A) of the base 22 and flexible, self-securing fasteners 120 (Figure 11) are passed through apertures 122 in the base 22 and apertures 124 in a bottom section of the stiffening devices 118 at an end of the sections 32-1. Although the cross section of the base 22 is shown as a k-shape, any shape may be utilized that comprises a holding section 121 and appropriately placed apertures 122 or other types of receiving areas for the fastener 120. The flexible, self-securing fasteners 120 may be tie wraps, cord, wire, string, or the like. Once these first two sections 32-1 are coupled to the base 22, the position of the access area 26 dictates where some of the sections 32 should be coupled to the base 22. The next two of the sections 32 that are coupled via fasteners 120 to the base are the sections 32-8 that are located adjacent the hinged sections 42, 44 on either side of the rear 16. These sections 32-8 have hinge elements complementary to hinge elements 58 to allow for functioning of the first 42 and second 44 hinged sections.

After performing these steps, the section 30-1 is coupled to the installed sections 32-1, while in contrast the section 30-8 is coupled to the sections 32-8 last. Two identical connectors 126, which may be T-shaped connectors, are coupled together via a splice device 128 (Figure 7B). The coupled connectors 126 are then spanned across sides 14 and 18 and positioned for connection between section 30-1 and sections 32-1 and positioned for connection to sections 32-8. After positioning the coupled connectors 126, fasteners 120 are passed through apertures 130 in the stiffening devices 118, apertures 132 in the connectors 126, and apertures 134 in the stiffening devices 136 extending from the sections 30 of the closing portion 12. After the section 30 is coupled at both ends to the section 32, a hoop portion is formed. Each of these hoop portions is defined to be a base 22/section 32/connector 126/section 30/connector 126/section 32/base 22. The structural integrity of each hoop section is independent of adjacent hoop sections, so any length of the system 10 may be possible by adding additional hoop sections.

After performing these steps, the front 20, 220, and 320 is assembled, as appropriate for each embodiment. To assemble the front 20, 220, and 320, the corner sections 74, 76 are coupled to the base 22 via fasteners 120 through apertures 138 in the corner sections 74, 76 and apertures 122 in the base 22. Then, the cap section 80 is coupled to the corner sections 74, 76 via fasteners 120 through apertures 142 in the cap section 80 and apertures 144 in the corner sections 74, 76. Following that, flange edges 78 (Figure 6C) of the corner sections 74, 76 are mated with adjacent edges 118 (B type) of the sections 32-1. Once the corner sections 74, 76 and the adjacent sections 32-1 are mated, they are secured together with a securing device 146 (Figures 6C and 9). The securing devices 146 may be elongated flexible clips that provide continuous clamping action along a continuous length of a seam to provide both securing and weather proofing functions. To further assure securing, the edges 118 (B type) may have channel sections 148 into which extensions 150 (Figures 6B-C and 9) from the securing devices 146 are received.

With reference to Figures 6C and 10, similar securing devices 152 are then utilized to secure edges 136 (B type) of the installed sections 30-1 of the closing portion 12 to a flange edge 78 of the cap section 80. Similar to above, the edges 136 (B type) of the sections 30 may have channels 148 to receive e tensions 1 53 (Figure 6C and 1 0) extending from the securing device 152. A difference between securing devices 146 and 152 may be that securing devices 152 have notches 154 near their ends to allow a bending action required to conform to a curved shape of the closing portion 12, where the shape may be elliptical, semicircular, semi-oval, crescent, or the like. Both securing devices 146 and 152 perform similar securing and weather proofing functions. The closing portion 12, corners 46, 48, 74, 76 and caps 50, 52, 80 have a curved shape to allow for increased strength against damage from heavy snow loads and to withstand high winds.

Referring now to Figures 6A-B, the sections 30, 32 have either edge A type or B type, other than where an edge A type is trimmed for coupling hinges (see Figure 6E), where adjacent sections 30, 32 have a complementary edge A or B to allow for a mechanical interconnection. This mechanical interconnection performs both securing and weather proofing functions. Further, these edges A and B may both have a channel 148 into which the extensions 150, 153 are received. Hence, after performing the above steps, a second pair of the sections 32-2 are placed next to the first pair of the sections 32-1 and coupled to the base 22 and the section 30-2 of the closing portion 12 similarly as described above. Then, the mechanically interconnected edges of the first and second pair of the adjacent sections 32-1 and 32-2 are secured together via securing devices 146, and the mechanically interconnected edges of the first and second of the adjacent sections 30-1 and 30-2 are secured together via securing device 152. Then, further sets of the sections 32 and 30 are similarly coupled to each other in the systems 10, 200, and 300, where appropriate for each embodiment, except no sections 32 are coupled adjacent to where the second access area 26 will be located in system 10 and 200. Some of these sections may be the sections 32-Electrical, 32- Hinge/Electrical, 32-Hinge, or 32-Battery, as appropriate.

After performing these steps, the base mat 98 is brought into the systems 10, 200, or 300 unrolled, and coupled to the rod 106. In other embodiments the base mat 98 may be coupled to the base 22 subsequent to assembling the base 22. Then, the support plates 100 are placed on the base mat 98. Once this is completed, the front hinged sections 70, 72 are coupled to the corner sections 74 and 76 via the hinges 82. Alternatively, in systems 200 and 300, front sections, similar to sections 32, are mechanically mated with adjacent front sections and with the corners 74, 76 and then a securing device 146 is clamped onto the seam between either the mated front sections or the mated front sections and corners 74, 76. Then, the hinged sections 34, 36 are coupled to the hinges of the appropriate sections 32- Hinge/Electrical and 32-Hinge. Following this, the rear hinged sections 42 and 44 are coupled to the adjacent sections 32-8 via hinges 58.

One of the sections 32, the section 32-Battery, is not coupled to the base 22 nor the closing portion 12 via fasteners 120, but only coupled to adjacent ones of the sections 32 via the securing devices 146. Hence, a user need only remove the securing devices 146 and remove the section 32-Battery to gain access to a battery of an object, if appropriate. The section 32-Battery may have one or more handles to assist a user in removing it. As can be appreciated, the number system 1-8 for the side sections 32 may be altered depending upon where the second access area 26 is positioned. Therefore, there may be no 32-2 but a 32-5, or no 32-6 but a 32-3, or other variations. Some of the system 10, 200, or 300 may be manufactured of polymers or the like, and may comprise extruded, vacuum formed, or injection molded polymer materials. Extrusion and vacuum forming allow for the unique cross-sections of the stiffening devices 118, 119, and 136. Through this unique section geometry and coupling arrangement, the systems 10, 200, and 300 are structurally sound and easy to assemble without requiring the additional step of building, or the necessity of having, a frame.

As can be appreciated, in some embodiments the access area or areas can comprise temporarily removed sections 32, where the rear also comprises rear sections, similar to sections 32, secured together as described above.

As can be appreciated, in some embodiments the sections 30 and 32 do not include any stiffening devices, only apertures or other holding devices to allow for the fasteners or other fastening devices to secure the various parts of the object enclosing system. Alternatively, the panels 30 and 32 may comprise other similarly functioning geometries to allow for the sections 30 and 32 without stiffening devices to be coupled to each other and to the base 22.

Typical embodiments have been described in detail above, but it will be apparent that numerous variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A system for enclosing an object, the system comprising: a front; a rear; sides; a base on a base receiving surface; a closing portion; the front, rear, sides, base, and closing portion defining an area surrounding the object; stiffening devices extending from the sides and the closing portion; fasteners coupling the sides to the base and the sides to the closing portion via the stiffening devices; securing devices holding edges of adjacent sections of the sides and edges of adjacent sections of the closing portion together; and an access area.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising connectors located between the closing portion and the sides through which the fasteners also pass to couple the sides to the closing portion.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the access area is located in the rear of the system and comprises first and second hinged sections.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each hinged section comprises a comer section, a panel section, and a cap section.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising another access area located in the front of the system comprising first and second hinged sections.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising another access area located in one of the sides comprising first and second hinged sections.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the another access area is located in one of a plurality of positions in one of the sides.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the base is coupled via a coupling material to the base receiving surface.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the base is coupled via coupling devices to the base receiving surface.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the stiffening devices are ribs.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the base is shaped in a loop and comprises curvilinear and linear pieces, wherein adjacent pieces are coupled together via coupling devices.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising ventilated caps.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the access area is ventilated

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the stiffening devices located on the edges of the adjacent sections of the sides and the edges of the adjacent sections of the closing portions have complementary shapes that mechanically interconnect before receiving the securing devices.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the securing devices are elongated clips providing continuous fastening action along substantially an entire length of a seam to secure and weather proof the seam.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the closing portion is curved.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising curved corners and curved caps.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the system is manufactured from polymers.

19. The system of claim 1 further comprising an area defined in one of the sides to access a battery of the object.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the fasteners are tie wraps.

21. The system of claim 1 further comprising areas defined in at least one of the sides that receive cords of electrical devices.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the another access area comprises patterned stiffening devices.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the access area comprises removed front, rear, or side sections.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein the access area comprises patterned stiffening devices.

25. A system for enclosing an object comprising: a front; a rear; an access area; and hoop sections positioned between the front and the rear, each of the hoop sections comprising: a first base section; a first side section coupled to the first base section; a closing portion section; a first connector section coupling the first side section to the closing portion section; a second connector section; a second side section, the second connector section coupling the closing portion section to the second side section; and a second base section coupled to the second side section.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein a predetermined length of the system is assembled based on varying the number of hoop sections.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the access area is located in the rear and comprises first and second hinged sections.

28. T he system o f c laim 25 further c omprising another access area located in one o f the sides, wherein the another access area replaces several of the first or second side sections of the hoop sections and wherein the another access area is comprised of first and second hinged sections.

29. The system of claim 25 further comprising another access area located in the front, wherein the another access area comprises first and second hinged sections.

30. A method of forming an object enclosing system comprising the steps of: providing a front and a rear; providing a base; providing sides comprising side stiffening devices; providing a closing portion comprising closing portion stiffening devices; coupling the base to the side stiffening devices and the side stiffening devices to the closing portion stiffening devices with fasteners to define an area surrounding the object; securing edges of adjacent sections of the sides and edges of adjacent sections of the closing portion together via securing devices; coupling the base to a base receiving surface; and . providing an access area.

31. The m ethod o f claim 30 further c omprising the step o f providing connectors 1 ocated between the sides and the closing portion that receive the fasteners to couple the sides and the closing portion together.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of mechanically interconnecting the edges of the adjacent sections of the sides and the edges of the adjacent sections of the closing portion before securing the securing device by providing complementary shapes in the edges of the adjacent sections of the sides and the edges of the adjacent sections of the closing portion.

33. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of providing elongated clips as the securing devices, wherein the elongated clips provide continuous clamping action along substantially an entire length of a seam to secure and weather proof the seam.

34. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of performing the coupling of the base to a base receiving surface with a coupling material.

35. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of performing the coupling of the base to a base receiving surface with coupling devices.