US20060219374A1

US20060219374A1 - Awning bead and staple system

Info

Publication number: US20060219374A1
Application number: US11/434,337
Authority: US
Inventors: Kennon McKinney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: SABIC Global Technologies BV
Priority date: 2005-03-29
Filing date: 2006-05-15
Publication date: 2006-10-05

Abstract

An improved system of virtually seamless connected awning sections with a consistent visual appearance between the sections. A recessed awning bead encased with the fabric covering material chosen for the awning is contoured to, and fit into, a novel channel in the awning frame members. The awning bead allows for uniform weathering and fading of all visible awning parts. Such an improved awning is more aesthetically pleasing because no part of the seam protrudes above the plane of the awning surface. A narrowed neck of the channel in the awning frame member maintains the awning bead within the channel and thus slightly below the exterior awning surface in order to maintain a consistent surface between panel sections.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/091,112 titled “Perma-Stitch Awning Staple System” filed on Mar. 23, 2005 by inventor Kennon Kyle McKinney, the technical disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and to the benefit of the Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/555,228 filed on Mar. 23, 2004.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the manufacturing and installation of commercial and residential awnings and fabric framing structures. More specifically, the present invention allows awnings and other fabric framing structures such as canopies, boat coverings, displays, signs, and the like to be manufactured and installed as a series of individual sections while presenting the appearance of a single, continuous assembly without obvious seams.
2. Description of Related Art
Traditional awnings and fabric framing structures consist of forming a rigid frame to the desired, often arcuate, shape. Over the rigid frame are stretched panels of a fabric material. The fabric panels are typically held in place by staples that are driven into a channel present in the rigid framing members. To hide the staples and seal the channel from the elements, a PVC bead is often pressed into the channel to fill the exposed gap. The PVC bead protrudes from the channel and extends well beyond the plane of the fabric panel. This results in an inconsistent appearance between the panels of fabric material due to the high visibility of the PVC bead. Also, the inconsistent appearance is further accentuated as the fabric panels weather due to exposure to the elements. This is because the fabric panels weather at a different rate than the PVC bead. Attempts have been made to attach fabric to the top surface of the PVC bead, but all this has done is further exaggerate the seam and make it even more visible. Also, the typical framing members feature essentially square channels which make it somewhat difficult to retain fabric panel material that has been stored in rolls. Essentially, when the fabric material is unrolled and placed in the channel the square bottom edges result in relatively large void spaces beneath the curving fabric that increase the difficulty in applying the retaining staples.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,605 ('605 patent) discloses a construction assembly for fabric closures such as awnings. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of this invention. This patent provides for framing members of different outer shapes, with an essentially square inner channel wherein staples are driven so as to secure the outer fabric panels to the framing member. Once stapled, an elongated trim pad (“bead”) is pressed into the channel to cover the staples and provide a tight seal over the channel. The disclosed elongated trim pad has coplanar longitudinal slots that engage in the opening of the channel for retention of the pad while the remainder protrudes above the surface of the fabric covering material. This patent is distinguished because the trim pad protrudes above the surface of the fabric covering material. Also, the trim pad is of a material different than that of the fabric covering material. This will cause the trim pad to weather at a rate different than that of the fabric covering material which will only serve to increase the visibility of the seams. In addition, this patent is distinguishable because it discloses an essentially square channel in the framing member which makes it more difficult to apply the staples necessary to retain the fabric covering material.
U.S. Pat. No. D309,351 ('351 patent) is a design patent that discloses an ornamental design for a combined frame extrusion and spline for framing awnings. FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of this invention. The disclosed extrusion features a framing member with a square channel, within which the fabric awning material is retained by a spline (“bead”) that is pressed into the channel and is retained by the two coplanar longitudinal slots in the spline. This patent is distinguished by the spline because it protrudes above the surface of the fabric surface. Also, this patent is distinguished by the square shaped channel present in the framing member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,131 ('131 patent) discloses a fabric awning assembly, method of assembling a fabric awning assembly, and a novel divider bead for spanning the joints between awning frame sections. FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of this invention. The disclosed divider bead fits between two framing members whose channels have been rotated such that they face each other when the framing sections are joined. This patent is distinguished because the novel divider bead protrudes above the surface of the fabric covering material and is of a different material such that it will weather at a rate different than that of the fabric covering material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,033 ('033 patent) discloses a method of joining fabric framing structures. FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of this invention. Because this patent is from the same inventor, it features the same frame extrusion and spline as the '351 patent. This patent is distinguished because it claims a method of joining the framing structures. Also, the spline featured extends above the surface of the fabric covering material. The framing member also features a square shaped channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,695 ('695 patent) discloses a channeled extrusion for framing and holding flexible coverings, such as awnings and other fabric framing structures. FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of this invention. This patent is distinguished because it merely discloses various channeled extrusions, each with an essentially square fabric attachment cavity. No means, other than staples, for retaining the fabric covering material is mentioned.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,400 ('400 patent) discloses a composite framing member and the method of producing it. FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of this invention. The disclosed framing member features a square shaped channel for accepting the fabric covering material and the requisite fabric retention staples. This patent is distinguished because it applies to the manufacture of a framing member with a square shaped channel. Also, the bead featured in the drawing protrudes above the surface of the fabric covering material, making the seam highly visible.
The Fabric ZipStrip® manufactured by Steel Stitch Corporation is a commercially available PVC bead used to fill the channel void space of a framing member after the fabric covering material has been stapled to the channel. FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of this product. The PVC bead utilized to make the ZipStrip® is similar to the beads disclosed in the previously mentioned prior art in that it features two coplanar longitudinal slots that serve to positively engage within the opening of the channel in the framing member. The outer surface of the ZipStrip® is covered with a strip of fabric covering material, which is sewn directly to the outer surface. This product is distinguished because the ZipStrip® bead, once installed, protrudes well above the surface of the fabric covering material, making the seam highly visible. Also, the stitching used to retain the fabric greatly increases the bead's visibility.
Nothing in the prior art addresses the problems associated with providing an awning and fabric framing structure with consistent, inconspicuous seams that, when combined with additional fabric framing structures, presents the appearance of being one, continuous, consistent unit. Therefore, a need exists for a method of conjoining separate fabric framing structure sections such that they appear to be one continuous unit with consistent, inconspicuous seams. Further, a need exists for a framing member channel that is shaped to provide for easier application of retention staples and increased gripping and retention of the fabric covering material. Further, a need exists for a retention bead that sits completely within the void space within the framing member's fabric covering material retention channel and does not protrude above the surface of the fabric covering material. And further, a need exists for a retention bead that weathers and wears at the same rate as the fabric covering material so as to make the seam between the two inconspicuous. The present invention fills these needs and other needs as detailed more fully in the remainder of the specification.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a method of conjoining discreet sections of awnings and other fabric framing structures in such a manner so as to give the sections the appearance of a single, continuous unit with inconspicuous seams. Prior art designs typically feature a flexible bead that is pressed into the channel space in the framing members to fill the gap between stapled sections of the fabric covering material. This prior art bead is highly visible because it protrudes above the surface of the fabric covering material and is of a different material than the fabric panels. This difference of materials creates an uneven appearance due to the different weathering characteristics.
The disclosed method of assembling discreet sections of awnings or other fabric framing structures creates a seam between the discreet sections that is consistent in appearance to the other fabric panel seams in each section. The method includes a novel recessed bead apparatus that is encased with the same material as that chosen for the fabric covering material which allows it to weather consistently with the rest of the fabric. Also, the recessed bead fits completely and securely within the fabric retention channel within the framing members and does not protrude above the surface of the fabric covering material. This affords seams that are inconspicuous and consistent in appearance.
Also, the disclosed method includes a novel framing member channel that is shaped to allow easier application of retention staples and improved retention of the fabric covering material. The channel is shaped so that the fabric covering material, which is typically stored in rolls, will contact the walls of the channel and prevent the formation of void spaces. Also, the channel features longitudinal grooves to assist in the trimming of excess fabric covering material. Once the material has been attached within the channel and before the bead is inserted, the excess material is trimmed from the channel. The grooves afford a clean, strait cut by providing a guide for the tip of the trimming knife to follow.
Accordingly, it is one general object of the invention to provide a retention bead that weathers at the same rate and appears visibly consistent with the fabric covering material. It is another general object of the invention to provide a retention bead that sits completely within the channel of the framing member and does not protrude above the surface of the fabric covering material. It is another general object of the invention to provide an improved means of inserting and retaining the fabric covering material within the framing member channel. It is yet another general object of the invention to provide an improved means for trimming the excess fabric covering material from within the framing member channel. The invention accordingly comprises the features described more fully in the remainder of the specification, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. Further objects of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description read in light of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

J The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout the views, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art construction assembly for closures and awnings that utilizes a traditional square shaped channel and retention bead that protrudes above the surface of the fabric covering material;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art ornamental design for a combined frame extrusion and spline for framing awnings;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art fabric awning assembly and protruding divider bead used in conjoining two discreet sections of an awning assembly;
FIG. 4 is perspective view of a prior art apparatus for conjoining parallel structural members of two discreet sections of an awning assembly, with the framing members shown in conjunction with the protruding bead;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a prior art channeled extrusion illustrating the essentially squared inner channel surface for attaching and retaining the fabric covering material;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art composite frame member illustrating the essentially squared inner channel surface for attaching and retaining the fabric covering material by using staples and a protruding bead;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a prior art commercial product known as a “Fabric ZipStrip®” which utilizes fabric material sewn to the outer surface of a conventional bead;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating a single sheet of fabric covering material attached to the inner channel of the framing member and being positively retained by the use of a flexible bead encased in the same material as the fabric covering;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the attachment and retention of two sheets of fabric covering material within the frame member channel using staples and an recessed bead;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating only the channel of the frame member;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating only the recessed bead;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the recessed bead in the shape of an octagon;
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the recessed bead in the shape of a trapezoid;
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the recessed bead in the shape of a pentagon;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cross-section of the seam between two discreet sections of a fabric structure, conjoined so as to present a seam appearance similar to that created by the novel recessed bead; and
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of two discreet sections of an awning structure utilizing an embodiment of the present invention to present a consistent seam appearance, conjoined using the methods disclosed.
Where used in the various figures of the drawing, the same reference numbers designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “height,” “width,” “length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.
All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

800 awning bead and staple system
802 bead
804 core
806 encasement
808 channel
810 framing member
812 groove
814 staple
816 fabric covering material
1500 center seam
1600 awning system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent like parts throughout the several views of the drawings, FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 details one embodiment of the awning bead and staple system 800 in which only one sheet of fabric covering material 816 is attached using the novel bead 802 and channel 808 disclosed herein. In a typical awning installation, the framing members 810 are measured and bent to an arcuate shape prior to installation. Once bent, the chosen fabric covering material 816 is stretched across the framing members 810 and fixedly attached to the inner surface of the channel 808 using an attachment means such as nails, screws, tacks, glue, heat tacking (melting of the covering material to the inner channel surface), or staples 814. The longitudinal groove 812 on the inner surface of the channel 808 serves as a guide for trimming excess fabric covering material 816 from the channel 808. After the fabric covering material 816 has been attached and tensioned over the framing members 810, the tip of a trimming knife is inserted into the groove 812 and slid the length of the fabric covering material 816. This affords a clean, straight cut on the edge of the fabric covering material 816 prior to bead 802 insertion. Finally, a flexible bead 802 is inserted into the channel 808 such that it fills the remaining void space of the channel 808 and does not protrude above the top surface of the fabric covering material 816.
FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention in which two sheets of fabric covering material 816 are attached using the novel bead 802 and channel 808 disclosed herein. The sheets of fabric covering material 816 are inserted, one at a time, such that the inserted edge of each sheet wraps almost completely around the inner surface of the channel 808 without extending beyond the opposite side of the channel 808 opening. Once inserted, the fabric covering material 816 is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the channel 808 using an attachment means such as previously mentioned. The longitudinal groove 812 on the inner surface of the channel 808 further serves to increase the gripping strength of the channel by allowing some of the fabric covering material 816 to extend into the groove 812. Once attached, a flexible bead 802 is inserted into the channel 808 such that it fills the remaining void space of the channel 808 and does not protrude above the top surface of the fabric covering material 816.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a framing member 810 of an embodiment of the present invention. The channel 808 illustrated is essentially circular, but can be any other shape as long as the channel opening is narrower than the overall width of the channel 808. Formed in the inner surface of the channel 808 are grooves 812 that run longitudinally with respect to the channel 808 surface. With respect to FIGS. 8 and 9, each groove 812 is intended to act as a guide for the tip of a fabric trimming knife. This provides for a clean, straight cut on the edge of the attached fabric covering material 816 in order to remove the excess from the channel 808 prior to bead 802 insertion. Also, this grove 812 has the added benefit of providing increased gripping strength by allowing a portion of the fabric covering material 816 to extend into the groove 812. For instance, if an adhesive is utilized as an attachment means between the fabric covering material 816 and the inner surface of the channel 808, the adhesive will tend to gather in the groove 812 as well which will further increase the gripping strength. Thus, the groove 812 also increases the surface area of the inner surface of the channel 808 which consequently increases the friction between the inner channel 808 surface and the inserted fabric covering material 816.
With respect to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, a circular inner surface of the channel 808 allows for easier installation of the fabric covering material 816. The typical awning fabric utilized as a covering material tends to be quite stiff. Because it is usually stored in rolls, this imparts a natural tendency for the material to want to curl when unrolled. To leverage this natural tendency for the covering material to curl, an essentially circular channel 808 is provided. Thus, the natural curl will tend to cause the fabric covering material 816 to lay flat against the inner surface of the channel for easier insertion of staples 812 or other attachment means.
The framing member 810 is constructed from metal, preferably aluminum. Aluminum is chosen because it is lightweight, rigid, corrosion resistant, easily formable, and relatively inexpensive. Also, aluminum readily accepts metal staples 814 (such as steel or stainless steel) that are typically used to retain the covering material 816. The framing member 810 can also be manufactured from other more rigid materials, such as galvanized steel, for use in areas with high wind loads. When galvanized steel is used, an aluminum insert is typically added to the inner surface of the channel 808 to allow for the ability to utilize staples to retain the fabric covering material 816. It is further possible to substitute other materials for the framing member 810 depending upon the structural requirements of a particular awning or other fabric framing structure.
As demonstrated by the prior art, a typical bead used in awning and framing structure manufacture has somewhat of a “T” shaped cross-section with coplanar longitudinal slots to provide positive retention in the opening of a framing member's channel. FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention which is a novel bead 802 with a circular shaped cross-section. With respect to FIGS. 8 and 9, the bead 802 can have essentially any shaped cross-section providing that it can sit entirely within the channel 808 of the framing member 810 and not protrude beyond the top surface of the fabric covering material 816. Ideally, the bead 802 will be the same cross-sectional shape as the channel 808. However, that is not a necessity. For instance, it is possible to utilize an octagonal bead 802 (as illustrated in FIG. 12) inside an essentially circular channel 808 as long as the diameter of the bead 802 is sufficient to positively engage the entire inner surface of the channel 808. An octagonal bead 802 in a circular channel 808 can actually improve the sealing effect of the bead 802 due to the increased pressure points on the tips of the edges. In addition, the bead 802 should not protrude above the surface of the fabric covering material 816.
In the preferred embodiment, and with respect to FIGS. 11 through 14, the bead 802 consists of a flexible core 804 and an encasement 806. The core 804 can be made from a semirigid yet flexible material such as PVC, foam cord, rope, or even a roll of the same fabric as that chosen for the fabric covering material 816. This affords the bead 802 a certain amount of strength and compressibility to allow the bead 802 to pass, with force, through the channel 808 opening and for the channel 808 opening to still physically retain the bead 802. Around the core 804 is an encasement 806 material. In the preferred embodiment, the encasement 806 material is the same as the fabric covering material 816 chosen for the outer face of the fabric framing structure. The encasement 806 is attached to the core 804 by any suitable means, such as adhesive or heat welding. If the same fabric covering material 816 is chosen for the encasement 806, this will ensure that both the encased bead 802 and the fabric covering material 816 weather and wear at the same rate and present the same visible appearance. If the core 804 is made from the same material as that chosen for the fabric covering material 816, then an encasement 806 is not necessary as long as the core 804 is the proper diameter to fit snuggly within the channel 808.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an awning system 1600 comprised of two independent sections of an arching awning constructed using the awning bead and staple system according to the present invention. FIG. 15 illustrates a cutaway view of the center seam 1500 between the two awning sections. With reference to FIG. 16, a fabric covering material 816 is stretched over several framing members 810. On side facing the fabric covering material 816, the framing members 810 have channels 808 for receiving an awning bead 802. The fabric covering material 816 may be any material known in the art to provide a covering over frame members 810. Standard tubing without a channel can be used to create the frame in sections where there is no fabric covering material 816 seam which requires anchoring to the frame.
In the center region of the awning system 1600 of FIG. 16, the fabric covering material 816 is drawn tightly together using an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 15. With reference to FIG. 8, the outer two framing members 810 are assembled by placing and securing the edge of the fabric covering material 816 into the channel 808 of each framing member 810 and rotating each of said framing members 810 such that the respective channels 808 are facing and the fabric covering material 816 enters the seam from the top. In this manner, the two sections of fabric covering material 816 are abutted tightly against each other. FIG. 15 shows that the awning bead 802 is not necessary when used in this configuration. However, the addition of an awning bead 802 would provide increased gripping strength for the fabric covering material 816.
It will now be evident to those skilled in the art that there has been described herein an improved computer-based learning system that through a combination of repetitive narrative solutions and multiple choice questions greatly facilitates trainee learning, improving significantly the retention of information over existing training methods.
Although the invention hereof has been described by way of a preferred embodiment, it will be evident that other adaptations and modifications can be employed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, some of the steps in the system procedure could be conducted mechanically in addition to those conducted electrically. The terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation; and thus, there is no intent of excluding equivalents, but on the contrary it is intended to cover any and all equivalents that may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An improved awning system having a fabric covering material applied over a tubing framing structure, wherein the improvement comprises:

a frame member having at least one longitudinal channel, said channel having an inner surface and a narrowed channel neck, one edge of said fabric covering material being fixedly attached to said inner surface; and

a bead for insertion into said channel of said frame member such that, when inserted into said channel, said bead is positively retained in said channel and no part of said bead protrudes above the plane defined by the opening of said channel neck.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said inner surface of said channel has at least one groove running longitudinally along said channel, said groove serving as a guide to assist in trimming said fabric covering material.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said inner surface of said channel has at least one groove running longitudinally along said channel, said groove providing increased gripping strength for improved retention of said fabric covering material.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the material for said bead is selected from the group consisting of PVC, foam cord, hose, rope, and said covering material.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said bead is encased with the same material as said fabric covering material to allow said bead and said fabric covering material to weather at approximately the same rate and thus maintain a consistent aesthetic appearance as said system ages.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said fabric covering material is fixedly attached to said inner surface using an attachment method that is selected from the group consisting of nails, screws, tacks, glue, heat tacking, and staples.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said frame member is aluminum.

8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said frame member is a composite of steel and aluminum.

9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the cross-section of said channel is essentially circular, said circular shape allowing for easier attachment of rolled fabric covering material.

10. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the cross-section of said bead approximates the shape of the cross-section of said channel.

11. An improved bead for use in awning and other fabric framing structures, said bead for use in filling the gap present in the channel of a frame member wherein at least one edge of a fabric covering material is fixedly attached, said improvement comprising:

a core selected from the group consisting of PVC, foam cord, hose, rope, and said covering material; and

an outer encasement, said encasement being fixedly attached to said core and sized to fit into said channel such that, when inserted into said channel, said bead is positively retained in said channel and no part of said awning bead protrudes above the plane defined by the opening of said channel neck.

12. The improvement of claim 11 wherein said bead is compressible.

13. The improvement of claim 11 wherein said encasement is said fabric covering material, so as to allow said bead and said fabric covering material to weather at approximately the same rate and thus maintain a consistent aesthetic appearance as said awning or other fabric framing structure ages.

14. an improved frame member extrusion for use in awnings and other fabric framing structures, said improvement comprising:

at least one longitudinal channel, said channel having an inner surface and a narrowed channel neck, said inner surface for fixedly attaching a fabric covering material; and

at least one longitudinal groove in said inner surface of said channel, said groove serving as a guide to assist in trimming said fabric covering material.

15. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said groove provides increased gripping strength for improved retention of said fabric covering material by increasing the surface area of said inner surface.

16. The improvement of claim 14 wherein the cross-section of said channel is essentially circular, said circular shape allowing for easier attachment of rolled fabric covering material.

17. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said frame member extrusion is aluminum.

18. The improvement of claim 14 wherein said frame member extrusion is a composite of steel and aluminum.

19. A method for creating a multiple-section framing structure system with inconspicuous seams utilizing the improved awning system of claim 1 such that said system appears to be one continuous unit, said method comprising the steps of:

a. forming the frame members to establish the desired shape of said framing structures, with the outer frame members of each of the multiple-sections that will eventually be conjoined oriented such that said outer frame member channels will be in contact between the conjoined sections;

b. stretching a fabric covering material over said framing structure;

c. fixedly attaching the ends of the panels of said covering material in the channels of said frame members of said framing structure;

d. trimming the excess of said covering materials from said channels by inserting the tip of a trimming knife into the groove in said channel and sliding said knife the length of said covering material;

e. inserting said bead encased with said covering material into the gap remaining in said channels; and

f. fixedly attaching the outer frame members of said multiple-sections to be conjoined.