EP0598489A1

EP0598489A1 - A canopy

Info

Publication number: EP0598489A1
Application number: EP93308261A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas Joseph Mchugh; Adrian Jack Bolten
Original assignee: TUBULAR ACCESS Ltd
Current assignee: TUBULAR ACCESS Ltd
Priority date: 1992-11-17
Filing date: 1993-10-18
Publication date: 1994-05-25
Also published as: GB9224120D0; GB2265931B; GB2265931A

Abstract

A canopy (10) for extending over an upper portion of a building (29) during construction or reconstruction of a roof thereof comprises a rectangular flexible sheet (11) having straps (18) extending from a pair of opposite margins thereof. The straps (18) are secured to a structure (26,27,28) and tensioning means (20) is provided so that the sheet (11) is maintained in tension, when supported relative to the structure (26,27,28) by operation of the tensioning means (20).

Description

This invention relates to a canopy for extending over an upper portion of a building during construction or reconstruction of a roof thereof.
In EP-A-0 207 08 there is disclosed a canopy for extending over an upper portion of a building during construction or reconstruction of a roof thereof comprising a flexible sheet, securing means for securing the sheet relative to a structure and tensioning means for applying tension to the sheet so that the sheet is maintained in tension, when supported relative to the structure, by operation of the tensioning means.
A disadvantage of such a canopy is that tensile forces are applied directly to the sheet and can result in tearing of the sheet.
The invention is characterised in that the securing means comprises flexible straps and the tensioning means is adapted to apply tension to the straps.
Therefore, the invention provides an advantage compared with the canopy disclosed in EP-A-0 207 008 in that operation of the tensioning means results in tensile forces being applied to the straps. In consequence, there is less likelihood of the tensile forces resulting in tearing of the sheet. Furthermore, the straps provide reinforcement of the sheet.
Following is a description by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.
In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross section of a structure extending over an upper portion of a building during construction or reconstruction of a roof thereof and a diagrammatic representation of an embodiment of a canopy in accordance with the present invention when secured relative to the structure,
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of each of details A, B, C, D and E indicated in Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a plan view of the canopy shown in Figure 1,
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic cross section of a margin of the canopy shown in Figures 1 to 3 when connected with another similar canopy, and
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view when viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow 'X' in Figure 4.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a canopy 10 comprising a rectangular flexible sheet 11 of reinforced polyvinyl chloride having an upper surface 12, a lower surface 13 and two pairs of opposite facing margins 14, 15 and 16, 17. The lower surface 13 of the sheet 11 has stitched thereto a plurality of spaced parallel straps 18 of webbing material, the straps 18 extending transversely of and beyond the opposite facing margins 14, 15 of the sheet 11. Each of the straps 18 extending beyond the margin 15 is turned on itself and stitched to provide a loop 19 and each opposite end portion of each strap 18 is threaded through a manually operable tensioning device 20 (only one of which is shown in Figure 3). Each tensioning device 20 is provided with a strap 21 having a loop 22 at an end portion thereof remote from the device 20. Each of the straps 18 also is provided with a plurality of loops 23 of webbing material which are stitched to the corresponding straps 18 and which are spaced one from another longitudinally of the corresponding straps 18.
The lower surface 13 of the sheet 11 is provided with a hard portion 24 of a dual portion cooperative securing device 24,25, the portion 24 extending longitudinally of the margin 16 of the sheet 11. The upper surface 12 of the sheet 11 is provided with a soft cooperating portion 25 of the dual portion cooperative securing device 24, 25, the portion 25 extending longitudinally of the margin 17 of the sheet 12. Such a securing device may be of the kind identified by the trademark "Velcro".
The canopy 10 is intended to be supported by a structure comprising a plurality of beams 26, opposite end portions of which are supported on scaffolding towers 27, 28 such that the beams 26 extend above and over an upper portion of a building 29. The structure also includes a plurality of tubular members 30 which extend in a direction transversely of the beams 26 and are secured either to the beams 26 or to the scaffolding towers 27, 28.
The canopy 10 is laid over the beams 26 and is positioned such that the margins 14, 15 of the sheet 11 extend at right angles to and adjacent opposite end portions of the beams 26 and opposite end portions of the straps 18 depend from the opposite end portions of the beams 26. The tubular members 30 then are inserted through the loops 19, 22 and 23 of the canopy 10 and are secured to the beams 26 or the scaffolding towers 27, 28. The tensioning devices 20 then are operated so as to tension each of the straps 18 and, in consequence, apply tension to the sheet 11.
It will be appreciated, therfore, that the sheet 11 is thereby in tension and any tendency for the sheet 11 to vibrate when subjected to wind or air currents is reduced to a minimum.
It will also be appreciated that provision of a canopy in accordance with the present invention is less expensive to manufacture than rigid panels used hitherto.
Furthermore, the canopy 10 may be rolled up when not in use and the space occupied by such a roll of material is less than the space required for rigid panels known hitherto for providing a canopy having a corresponding area of cover. In consequence, the cost of storage of a canopy in accordance with the present invention is considerably less than the cost of storage of rigid panels known hitherto.
Referring now to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, there is shown diagrammatically two canopies 10 connected one to another relative to a beam 26 by means of the securing device 24, 25, the portion 24 of one sheet 11 overlapping and being united with the portion 25 of the other sheet 11. Additional security may be effected by providing eyelets 31 in each of the margins 16, 17 of each sheet 11, the arrangement being such that the adjoining sheets 11 may be laced together by a lace 32.
The sheet 11 may be provided with a marginal flap 33 extending from the margin 14 for covering the tensioning devices 20.
The sheet 11 may also be provided with a central reinforcing strip (not shown) extending parallel to the margins 14, 15 for location adjacent apices of the beams 26.

Claims

A canopy (10) for extending over an upper portion of a building (29) during construction or reconstruction of a roof thereof comprising a flexible sheet (11) , securing means (18) for securing the sheet relative to a structure (26,27,28) and tensioning means (20) for applying tension to the sheet (11) so that the sheet is maintained in tension, when supported relative to the structure, (26,27,28) by operation of the tensioning means (20) characterised in that the securing means (18) comprises flexible straps (18) and the tensioning means (20) is adapted to apply tension to the straps (18).
A canopy (10) as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that end portions of the straps (18) are adapted to form loops (19) for receiving elongate members (30) of the structure (28).
A canopy (10) as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that the straps (18) extend from one to the other of opposite margins of the sheet (11).
A canopy (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that there is provided a plurality of additional straps (21) for securing the sheet (11) relative to the structure (27).
A canopy (10) as claimed in Claim 4 characterised in that each said additional strap (21) is provided with a loop configuration 22.
A canopy (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that there is provided attachment means (24,25) for attaching the sheet (11) to another sheet (11).
A canopy (10) as claimed in Claim 6 characterised in that the attachment means (24,25) comprises a dual portion cooperative securing device.
A canopy (10) as claimed in Claim 7 characterised in that the sheet (11) is rectangular and comprises on opposite margins of the sheet not having said straps extending therefrom a corresponding portion (24,25) of a said dual portion cooperative securing device.
A canopy (10) as claimed in Claim 8 characterised in that one said portion (24) is located on an upper surface of the sheet (11) and the other said portion (25) is located on a lower surface of the sheet (11).