US2052217A

US2052217A - All weather stadium

Info

Publication number: US2052217A
Application number: US676755A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sibour Jules H De; George P Marshall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-06-20
Filing date: 1933-06-20
Publication date: 1936-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 1953-08-25

Description

J. Hf DE SIBOUR ET AL ALL WEATHER STADIUM Filed June 20, 1933 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug, 25, 1936.. J. H. DE SIBOUR ET AL ALL WEATHER STADIUM Filed June 20, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 JuLis h. p: 6/5005 650555 P Mfles/eouzd.

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Aug. 25, 1936.

J. H. DE 'snBouR ET AL ALL WEATHER STADIUM 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 20, 1935 Aug. 25, 1936.

ALL WEATHER STADIUM Filed June 20, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 V 3 V Z m v .2 5 L d, F E g i X M 3 w am m ,7 Z h Z 2 v J Juass 650E622 Aug. 25, 1936.

J, H. D E SIBOUR ET AL ALL WEATHER STADIUM Filed June 20, 1933 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 V wae/wfiomr Jl/L 55 H 5/5002 650E616 WLL I, i E 5 2 J. 0/ 5 f; w 7% F M 0 .W W m U 2% Wu -2 7 5 Aug. 1936- I J. H. DE SIBOUR ET AL 2,052,211

ALL WEATHER STADIUM Filed June 20, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 $3M JULES H D 5/5005 650265 7? MAESf/flLL WWW :creased and yet the tiers of Patented Aug. 25, I936 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFlfiE ALL WEATHER STADIUM Jules H. de Sibour and George P. Marshall, Washington, D. 0.

Application June 20,

2 Claims.

posed or intosuch a position as to completely inclose the entire stadium so as to protect the playing field as Well as the spectators from the weather, the construction being such that the desired height is maintained in order to allow foot ball to be played within the stadium.

Another object of our invention is toprovide a stadium in which the tiers of seats are so arranged that the seating capacity is greatly inseats are maintained in proximity to the playing field.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stadium which can be used for any and all sports with the exception of base ball, means being provided for forming a swimming pool in the playing field, an ice rink and a a ring within the center of the field, boxing bouts can be held within the stadium so that allof the spectators will have a clear view of the ring.

an open air stadium is Another object of the invention is to sub-divide the grandstand into units of approximately one hundred feet lengt each unit being provided with the necessary ramps and Stairways and the other accommodations for spectators, yet maintaining each unit in communication with the other units.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rolling roof for the field, preferably formed of eight panels constructed of frames, four to each slde of the longitudinal center, which panels are mounted on rollers on the fixed inclined roof of the stadium, each section thus formed being provided with means, such as an electric motor, for moving each section independent of the other whereby these roof sections can be adjusted into various positions so as to completely inclose the stadium or partly inclose the same and when moved into position over the fixed section of the roof will expose the entire playing field so that formed, and when moved into position to inclose the stadium, the entire field will be covered, means being provided for heating the stadium in any suitable manner, such as arranging pipes under the seats or in various ways, whereby the stadium can be used for playing ice hockey and the like and yet the spectators will not suffer from the cold.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a stadium which is preferably formed 4,0f steel and concrete of the desired size, with the track and by placing 1933, Serial No. 676,755

pended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a horizontal section taken through and oilicials;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section showing the lower tiers of seats at one end and the upper tiers of seats at the other end with the various accommodations and concessions for the spectators;

Figure 3 is a detail enlarged plan view of one of the units of the lower tiers of seats forming one of the sections of the grandstand;

Figure 4 is a transverse section through half the stadium showing the roof in position to inclose the field and the field converted into a swimming pool with a central island with bridges leading to the various dressing rooms as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detail transverse section through part of one of the roof frames showing the manner of mounting the frame and propelling the same so as to move it back and forth on the fixed section of the roof;

Figure 6 is a sectional View through a portion of the fixed roof structure and one of the movable roof frames with its driving means for the rollers supporting the same;

Figure 7 is a vertical section through a portion of the fixed roof section with two of the abutting movable roof frames showing the gutter between the two sections in order to form a weather tight joint between the sections as they move independent of one another;

Figure 8 is a detail section showing the construction of the meeting ends of the various sliding roof frames with the gutter and weather stripping in position to form a tight joint when these two sections are moved into contact with one another; and .1.

Figure 9 is a detail plan view of a portion of one of the roof frames with its glass enclosure removed showing the electric motor and its driving means for moving the frame back and forth on the fixed roof.

In the embodiment of the invention herein shown the stadium is preferably formed of steel and concrete and comprises a suitable annular base above which is arranged a lower tier of seats I and an upper tier of seats 2 and a fixed roof structure 3, each tier of seats being formed in units with its own ramps and staircases, thesetiers being in communication with each other by corridors in order to allow the spectators to pass from one section to another.

Each unit is provided with suitable aisles and corridors with concession areas and toilets. This provides accommodations for the spectators and means for allowing the spectators to reach and leave their seats quickly yet maintain the tiers of seats in such a position that the'spectators will have a clear view of the field.

These tiers of seats and a fixed roof structure surround a central playing field of such a size that a regulation foot ball field with a space surrounding the same is formed which can be converted into a track and the field is so constructed that a swimming pool 4 can be formed with a central island 5 having bridges 6 leading thereto which extend from suitable passageways leading from dressing rooms disposed below the lower tiers of seats as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings which is also provided with sufiicient space to form club rooms'and dressing rooms for the players.

The central island 5 formed in the playing field when the field is converted into a swimming pool is covered with sand and this island is arranged above a suitable tank 1 shown in Figure 4: which is. capable. of being converted into an ice rink.

The construction thus far described discloses an open air stadium with two tiers of seats surrounding the playing field divided into units, each unit having its own ramps and Stairways and facilities. for accommodating the spectators with its fixed roof section protecting the tiers of seats.

This roof. section is formed of sufficient strength by suitable beams and trusses to support the sliding roof sections as will be hereinafter fully described in order. to allow the stadium to be completely closed to protect the playing field from rain and snow and to allow the stadium to' be propertemperature' whereby the spectators will not be subjected to discomfort irrespective of the atmospheric conditions on the outside and by using the conventional illuminating systems the stadium can be used at night as well as day.

The movable roof as shown, is formed of eight sections, four to each side of the longitudinal center of the field, each section comprising a glazed panel composed of a suitable frame 8, the description of one being sufficient for all. Each roof frame is provided with rollers 9 mounted on suitable tracks l arranged on the fixed roof 3, these sections being mounted to move independent of one another and to move back and forth by independent propelling means.

The roof frames are inclosed in glass by any suitable skylight structures II and the adjacent roof sections carry cooperating gutter members l2 and G3, which slide one within the other, one section being provided with a suitable packing, such as leather, to'form a tight joint between the adjacent sections as these sections move independent with one another.

heated andmaintained at the The opposing ends of the roof sections or panels which meet at the longitudinal center of the stadium are provided with cooperating gutter members I4 and H: which are likewise provided with suitable packing material to form a tight joint when the various sections are brought into contact with one another by moving the rolling roof sections outwardly to inclose the field.

The rear ends of the roof sections are counterbalanced as shown at l by iorming these ends of masonry to offset the weight of heavy snow on the unsupported ends of the panels and a bumper I1 is provided to cooperate with these sections as the roof sections are moved from over the field.

Disposed within the frame work forming the panel of each roof section is an electric motor 18 provided with a gear reduction box l9 from which extends a drive shaft carrying a driving gear 20 which meshes with a pinion 2| on a driven shaft 22 and through suitable driving connections, such as gears 23, the propeller shaft 24 is driven which is provided with wheels 25 traveling on the tracks It) so as to propel the roof panels back and forth on the fixed roof in order to inclose the stadium or to move the roof sections from over the playing field.

The electric motor is provided with an automatic brake 26 for holding the roof panels in any position desired and it is, of course, understood that a suitable flexible conduit, which can be mounted on a drum as shown at 21 can be employed for supplying the desired energytothe electric motor so as to move the panels andwhile we have shown certain details of construction of driving these panels forming the sectional roof, it is, of course, understood that certain changes can be made. without departing from the spirit of our invention.

It is, of course, understood that the particular manner. of mounting the panels on tracks can be departed from without departingfrom the spirit of the. invention, as the invention consists in constructing an all mounting on the fixed roof of the stadium a plurality of glazed panels formed of frames movably mounted independent ofone another and independently propelled so that they can be adjusted into various positions so as to completely or partly close the stadium and therefore the right is reserved to change these without departingfrom the spirit of theinvention as. defined in. the claims.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that wehave provided a stadium comprising=a central playing field surrounded by a steel and concrete structure composed of two-tiers of seats, the lower tier. extending outwardly beyond the upper tier with the roofv structure covering'bothtiers and extending outwardlybeyond the-lower tier of seats, said roof structure being of, such a height and so formed: that it provides a rigid support for a plurality of glazedpanels which are movably mounted thereon and so constructed that these panels interlock with one another toform a weather tight joint between the same whereby these panels can be moved upwardly and outward.-. ly so as to contact-with one another. to completely inclose the playing field in. order toprotect it from snow and rain, thereby providing a convertible stadium which in good weather is an open air stadium and in bad weather can be con-. vertediinto a closed structure.

In the disclosurethefixed roof structure cov.-.. ering the superposed rowsof tiers. isonly. half."

weather stadium by movablydetails of construction is also covered by the panels. 7

This enables the driving mechanism to be mounted on tracks supported by the roof structure and as the movable panels carry electric motors with driving wheels which are driven through a plurality panels can be moved back and forth very rapidly and are counter-balanced sition.

What we claim is:

1. An all weather stadium comprising a central playing field free from aerial obstructions and surrounded by tiers of seats, a fixed roof structure covering said tiers of seats, a plurality slidably mounted on said fixed roof structure and wholly supported thereby and