NL2008689C2

NL2008689C2 - A framework for a collapsible building structure.

Info

Publication number: NL2008689C2
Application number: NL2008689A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Spitas Christos; Edgar Francisco Rios Soltero
Original assignee: Univ Delft Tech
Priority date: 2012-04-24
Filing date: 2012-04-24
Publication date: 2013-10-28

Description

A framework for a collapsible building structure

The invention relates to a framework for a collapsible building structure comprising said framework and a sheet 5 of flexible material supported by said framework, the framework comprising a plurality of flexible, resilient rodlike rib members in spaced relation parallel to one another, said rib members being provided with means to impart structural rigidity to the framework and said framework being provided with 10 fixing means in order to attach the framework to the ground.

US-A-2,823,683 teaches a collapsible building structure which is proposed to provide a structure which can be easily made, of lightweight, compactly stored, and readily erected or dismantled with little or no preparation of the 15 supporting surface.

The known collapsible building structure comprises a sheet of flexible material and a number of flexible rodlike rib members arranged to be secured thereto preferably in parallel relation and transversely relatively to the sheet, and 20 means to maintain the rib members in a bowed attitude so that they form hooplike supports for the sheet when the building is in its erected position. The rodlike members may be of any length and number, and may be secured in their bowed position either by ties attached thereto, or by co-action with the sup-25 porting surfaces, e.g. by location in prepared sockets in the ground.

The object of the invention is to further improve the framework of the known collapsible building structure and to provide an alternative solution addressing the objectives of 30 the known prior art as mentioned above.

The framework for a collapsible building structure according to the invention is to this end embodied with the features of any one of the appended claims.

In a first aspect of the invention the rodlike rib 35 members are hollow and through the hollow rodlike rib members first or inner ropes are provided that are placed under tension. Within the scope of this invention the term 'ropes' relates to any suitable element which may transfer tensile forces, such as tape, bands or strips. The hollow rodlike rib 2 members may be formed in one piece are may be made from several parts that are connected with separate connecting elements. The tensile forces imparted with the ropes to the hollow rodlike rib members force these rib members in a desired 5 structural shape. Preferably these first ropes are embodied as a closed loop, which is very effective for this purpose. The construction of the invention provides flexibility and effective resistance against heavy wind with high capability to absorb the forces caused by such winds. Further the construction 10 provides ease of erection and dismantling of the framework for the collapsible building structure.

Preferably the first ropes are fixable to the ground with tent pegs. Tent pegs are known and are an inexpensive tool for fixing the ropes to the ground.

15 A further preferable feature is the extremities of the rodlike rib members are provided with tubular elements fitted in the rodlike rib members. These tubular elements provide protection to both the extremities of the rodlike rib members and to the ropes under tension that are guided through 20 the rodlike rib members.

Still a further preferable feature is that between adjacent rodlike rib members a number of second or outer ropes are tied under tension that restrict the distance between such adjacent rib members. This promotes and supports the ease of 25 erection of the structure according to the invention.

It is further preferable that the sheet of flexible material is connected to the framework with intermediate cylindrical elements connected to the sheet of flexible material and fitted around a part of the rodlike rib members of the 30 framework. This is advantageous for strength of the construction and for sealing purposes.

The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to the appended drawing showing a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment of a framework of the invention that may 35 be applied in a collapsible structure.

In the drawing: -figure 1 shows the frontal views of of a first (on the left) and a second (on the right) embodiment of the framework of the invention; 3 -figure 2 is a detail cross-sectional view of an extremity of a rodlike member showing a tubular element fitted into the rodlike rib member; -figure 3 portrays a detail of the cross-section view 5 showing a rodlike rib member made out of several parts, connecting elements for these parts, first and second tensile elements, a sheetlike cover and a cylindrical element connecting the sheetlike cover to the framework; -figure 4 shows a frontal (on the left) and lateral 10 view (on the right) of the second embodiment of the framework; and -figure 5 shows a frontal section view of the second embodiment.

Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals 15 are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

Figures 3 and 4 provide frontal and lateral views at a framework 1 according to the invention which may be used for a collapsible building structure comprising said framework 1. The collapsible building structure further comprises a sheet 20 of flexible material 8 (as shown in the detail view of figure 3) which will then be supported by said framework 1.

Figure 4 shows that the framework 1 comprises a plurality of flexible, resilient rodlike rib members 2 in spaced relation parallel to one another. Each of the rib members 2 is 25 provided with means 3, 4 to impart structural rigidity to the framework 1 which will be detailed hereafter. The framework 1 is further provided with fixing means 5 in order to attach the framework 1 to the ground.

As best shown in figure 5 according to the invention 30 the rodlike rib members 2 are hollow and through the hollow rodlike rib members 2 first or inner ropes 3 are provided that are placed under tension. Preferably the first ropes 3 are embodied as is shown in this figure 5 as a closed loop. This is a very effective way of evenly distributing the tensile forces 35 over the rodlike rib members 2. The first ropes 3 are fixable to the ground with tent pegs, for instance at the locations indicated with reference 5.

Turning back to figure 4 it is shown that between adjacent rodlike rib members 2 a number of second or outer ropes 4 4 are tied under tension that restrict the distance between such adjacent rib members 2. Also these second ropes 4 are tied to the ground with for instance tent pegs at the locations 5 on the left-hand and right-hand of the series of rod-5 like rib members 2.

Figure 2 provides a view at an extremity of a rodlike rib member 2 to show that this extremity is provided with a tubular element 6 fitted in the rodlike rib members 2 to protect both the rodlike rib member 2 and the tensioned rope 3 10 against wear and tear.

Turning now to the detail view of figure 3 it is shown that the complete collapsible building structure may comprise a cover sheet of flexible material 8 supported by the rodlike rib members 2 and attached thereto. The attachment of the 15 flexible material 8 to the rodlike rib members 2 is preferably realized with intermediate essentially cylindrical elements 9 connected to the sheet of flexible material 9 and fitted around a part of the rodlike rib members 2 of the framework 1. Figure 3 also shows that there may be connecting elements 7 20 having the function of providing a connection between separate parts that together form the rodlike rib members 2. The rope 4 may be placed through connecting element 7 via a through-hole as shown in figure 3 or alternatively, tied around or otherwise fixed to rodlike rib members 2 to avoid stress concentra-25 tions.

Claims

1. Frame (1) for a collapsible building structure comprising said frame (1) and a cloth of flexible material (8) supported by said frame, said frame (1) a multi-flexible, resilient rod-like ribbed portion (2) spaced and parallel arranged relative to each other, which ribbed sections (2) are provided with means (3, 4) for providing structural rigidity to the frame (1) and wherein said frame is provided with securing means (5) around the frame (1) connectable to the bottom, characterized in that the rod-like ribbed sections (2) are hollow and that first cords (3) are provided by the hollow rod-like ribbed sections (2) and are tensioned.

2. Frame (1) for a collapsible building construction according to claim 1, characterized in that the first cords (3) are designed in a closed loop.

Frame (1) for a collapsible building structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first cords (3) can be connected to the bottom by means of tent pegs (5).

Frame for a collapsible building structure according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ends of the rod-like ribbed sections (2) are provided with tubular elements (6) which are received in the rod-like ribbed sections (2).

Frame (1) for a collapsible building structure according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that a number of second cords (4) are arranged under tension between adjacent rod-like ribbed sections (2), which distance are arranged between such adjacent ribbed sections. (2) limit.

Frame (1) for a collapsible building structure according to one of the preceding claims 1-5, characterized in that the cloth of flexible material (8) is connected to the frame by means of intermediate, substantially cylindrical elements (9) which are connected to the cloth flexible material 35 (8) and are arranged around a part of the rod-like rib beg (2) of the frame (1).