GB2212120A

GB2212120A - Versatile collapsible protective structure

Info

Publication number: GB2212120A
Application number: GB8829960A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Edward Rennard; Clifford George Gordon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-12-23
Filing date: 1988-12-22
Publication date: 1989-07-19
Also published as: GB8829960D0; GB8729935D0

Abstract

A protective structure, particularly useful for casual or intermittent protection of materials and/or persons, comprises an open framework of rigid members 10, 11, 12 etc which together form at least a pair of opposed sides and a roof bridging the sides, the sides and roof being extensible and retractable in the direction of the length of the sides by relative movement of adjacent members. The framework is secured in its position of use, for example upon a floor or base 17, Fig 4 or upon the bed of a haulage vehicle Fig 1 and has a flexible covering which is connected or connectable to the framework. In one preferred form of the invention, the rigid frame members form telescoping frame units eg. 14, 15, 16. <IMAGE>

Description

Versatile Protective Structure The present invention is a protective structure which has numerous possible applications and may be placed in position to protect materials and/or persons, with little expenditure of time and effort.

Protective structures are primarily required to prevent exposure of materials and/or persons to adverse weather conditions although in many situations security against casual theft is an additional advantage. Such protection may be required in a static location, for example in a market, or in rrobile locations such as to protect goods carried on lorries or other forms of transport. The present invention is particularly concerned with such situations wherein the requirement for protection is casual, as to cover a market stall, or intermittent, for example to protect goods in transit.

Thus, by way of example, market stalls are usually assembled in situ fran scaffolding or the like and then disassembled after use, an exercise which entails a considerable amount of time on every occasion when the stall is required. Haulage vehicles either have fixed protective body structures, which impose significant restrictions during loading and unloading of the vehicles, or simple tarpaulins, which take considerable time to install and renove.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective structure which is versatile in its applicability and is more readily placed in its protecting position than many prior available protective structures.

The protective structure according to the present invention comprises an open framework of rigid embers which together form at least a pair of opposed sides and a roof bridging said opposed sides, said sides and roof being extensible and retractable in the direction of the length of the sides by movement apart and together of adjacent said rigid members, anchorage means to secure the framework in its position of use, and a flexible covering connected or connectable to said rigid rembers.

The method of installing and using the protective structure according to the invention is extremely simple. Thus, in the example of a casual market stall, the framework may be transported and initially erected in its relatively collapsed condition, with the frame members disposed in their closest relative positions, and then extended to the extent necessary to cover the goods to be protected. In the example of a haulage vehicle, the framework may be relatively retracted during loading or unloading and relatively extended during transport of the protected goods.

In a preferred form of the invention, the open framework comprises a plurality of rigid frame units, each comprising at least two side members and a roof member bridging said side rtnbers, and the sides and roof are extensible by iroveent apart of adjacent frame units and retractable by mavemant together of adjacent frame units.

The relative movement of the frame members or frame units may be brought about by folding of bracing struts by which they are braced apart in the extended condition of the framework or the members or units may be simply linked together by flexible links such as cords or the like. However, in a much preferred form of the invention, the framework takes the form of frame units as aforesaid, which are adapted for relative telescoping to extend or retract the framework.

The framework is preferably securable in its extended condition and may advantageously also be securable in its collapsed condition.

The individual rigid frame members will normally be made of metal, especially steel or aluminium, for example of circular or square cross-section, although in sone forms of the invention they may be made of wood.

The roof of the framework may be flat or pitched. The framework may include end frame members if desired, for example including a rigid door in one or both end members.

The anchorage means for the protective structure will depend upon the situation and location in which the structure is to be used. For example, where the protective structure is to be erected for use as a static protection, then a base or floor unit may be provided, to which the framework is secured at at least one point. In the case of protection for goods to be carried by a vehicle, then the framework is anchored to the vehicle chassis or body. In a particularly preferred version of this latter form of the invention, also adaptable for use for static protection, the framework is linked to the vehicle or other base by guide means, for example guide rails, along which the frame members are designed to be moved during extension or retraction of the framework.Such movement along guide rails may be by simple sliding or preferably by means of rollers or wheels on the frame members.

The actual act of extending or retracting the framework may be carried out manually or mechanically and may be power- driven if desired. For example, especially when the structure is not unduly large and/or heavy (as in the case, say, of a garden-shed or greenhouse structure or a small or medium-sized vehicle), the frame members or units may be readily movable by hand. In another form of the invention, the members or units are moved by hand-operated mechanical means, for example a screw drive or winch. For particularly large vehicles and other large structures, a suitable power drive, for example an electric motor or hydraulic drive, may be provided.

The flexible covering rray be of any desired material, depending to a considerable extent on the intended use of structure. Thus it rray be of a woven material, such as canvas or tarpaulin, or it may be of a synthetic polymeric material in sheet form, for example polythene or PV:. The covering may be designed to remain secured to one or more of the frame mgnberr throughout use of the structure (that is, whether the framework is extended or retracted) or it may be detachably secured to the structure only when the latter is extended.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example only, two embodiments of the invention and wherein: Fig. I illustrates, in elevation from the side, a first embodiment of the protective structure according to the present invention, as fitted to a vehicle trailer, the structure being illustrated in a retracted condition; Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, with the structure retracted at a different position on the trailer; Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2, with the protective structure fully extended; Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of the framework incorporated in the structure of Figs. 1 to 3, with the structure in the extended condition; and Fig. 5 illustrates the framework of Fig. 4, in the retracted condition shown in Fig. 2.

The two illustrated embodiments differ fran each other only in the shape of the roof. r;t is, the framework upon which the structure of Figs. 1 to 3 is based has a flat roof, while the frarrk shown in Figs. 4 and 5 has a pitched roof.

In each case the framework comprises a number of boxtsection steel vertical sidelmeibers 10 and roof members 11 forming a bridge between the upper ends of the opposite side members.

These structural members together form five frame units, 12 to 16, which interlock telescopically as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5. The framework structure is mounted upon the bed 17 of a vehicle trailer, by means of guide rails (not shown) fitted along the sides 18 of the bed 17. The endmost frame unit 12 is detachably securable to the front end 19 of the trailer by means of catches or bolts at 20 (Fig. 1). The whole structure is covered by a flexible waterproof fabric covering 21.

When the trailer illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 is to be loaded or unloaded, the framework and the covering 21 attached to it are retracted to the fully-retracted condition shown in Figs. I and 2 or to a partially-retracted condition (not illustrated).

The position of the retracted covering along the length of the trailer bed 17 is determined solely by the part of the bed to be loaded or unloaded. As loading or unloading proceeds, the structure is moved forward or rearward in the direction of one of the arrows 22 to expose a fresh section of the trailer bed.

The loading or unloading can take place from the side or rear of the trailer or from above, as desired.

With the trailer fully or partially loaded, the structure either may be secured in the retracted position at the forward end of the trailer, as shown in Fig. 2, or may be secured fully extended as shown in Fig. 3.

The illustrated trailer and protective structure have many advantages as compared with conventional closed trailers. For example, a trailer having a rigid closed body can only be loaded or unloaded from the rear, which means that either a predetermined prograrme of deliveries must be adhered to if several part-loads are to be delivered, or alternatively goods must be retrieved fran less accessible positions behind other goods in the trailer.

A so-called "curtain-sider" usually has a fixed roof and also roof-supports in mid-length. In addition, curtain-siders normally have rear doors, which by law must be secured in the closed position while the vehicle is being driven and therefore restrict the length of any load which can be carried.

In contrast to such prior vehicles, a vehicle fitted with the protective structure according to the present invention can be loaded and unloaded in any desired sequence and from several different directions and, unless fitted with a rear door, may carry a rea:wardly-projecting long load. Loads of any shape may readily be loaded and carried, subject only to any restriction imposed by the overall dimensions of the vehicle bed, with the result that the econanics of operation of the vehicle may be assisted by accepting unexpected return loads. The considerable time entailed in fitting and removing and folding conventional tarpaulins is completely avoided.

Claims

1. A protective structure comprising an open framework of rigid members which together form at least a pair of opposed sides and a roof bridging said opposed sides, said sides and roof being extensible and retractable in the direction of the length of the sides by movement apart and together of adjacent said rigid members, anchorage means to secure the framework in its position of use, and a flexible covering connected or connectable to said rigid members.

2. A protective structure ds claimed in claim 1, wherein the framework comprises a plurality of rigid frame units, each comprising at least two side members and a roof meeker bridging said side members, and the sides and roof are extensible and retractable by movement apart and together of adjacent frame units.

3. A protective structure as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said movement apart and together of frame members or units is brought about by folding bracing struts by which they are braced apart in the extended condition of the framework.

4. A protective structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the frame units are adapted for relative telescoping to extend or retract the framework.

5. A protective structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the framework is securahle in its extended condition.

6. A protective structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the framework is securable in its retracted condition.

7. A protective structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the rigid frame members are of circular or square metal section.

8. A protective structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims, including a base or floor unit to which the framework is secured at at least one point.

9. A protective structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the framework is anchored to the chassis or body of a vehicle.

10. A protective structure as claimed in either of claims 8 and 9, wherein the framework is licked to the vehicle or other base by guide means.

1l. A protective structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein said guide means comprises guide rails, along which the frame mEsbers are designed to be moved during extension or retraction of the framework.

12. A protective structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having hand-operated mechanical means to move the frame members or units.

13. A protective structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to ll, having a sower drive to move the frame members or units.

14. A protective structure as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible covering is of a woven material or of a synthetic polymeric material in sheet form.

15. A protective structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.