Braceable, unsupported arch arrangement and protective roof comprising it

• US 5,950,649 A
• Filed: 04/04/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerig Grafik Design Co.
• Original Assignee: Gerig Grafik Design Co.
• Inventors: Gerig, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US08/817,591
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 135/122, 135/124, 135/128, 135/132, 135/133, 135/136, 135/138, 135/119, 135/906, 135/907, 135/908, 135/125, 135/126, 52/86
• US Class Current: 135/125
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/32 Arched structures; Vaulted structures; Folded structures E04B1/345 takes precedence; vaulted roofs E04B7/08
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3241 Frame connection details
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/3252 Covering details
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/40 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 135/906 Arched structure

Abstract

An arch element (1") for protecting roofs has at least one tubular arch (2) held in the curved state by at least one brace (4). The ends of arch and brace (2, 4) are interconnected by end connectors (3). In order to keep the brace (2) out of the direct connection between both end connectors (3) and to guide it along the arch (2) at a certain distance thereof, a flat connecting part (5) is arranged between and joined to arch and brace (2, 4). By using three arches (2), two braces (4) designed as bracing booms, four fabric or plastic connecting surfaces (5) that join the braces (4) to the arches (2), and three spacers (10) that keep the outer arches (2) apart, an unsupported, dimensionally stable three-dimensional arch element (1") is obtained that may be used directly as a shade or associated to other arch elements to carry roof surfaces. By using arches (2), spacers (10) and end connectors (3) that can be plugged into each other, the arch element (1") may be dismounted.

Claims

1. A braceable, unsupported arch arrangement comprising:

at least one elongated, bendable arch portion providing a restoring force when bent;

at least one longitudinal bracing portion for bending and bracing at least one bendable arch portion;

at least one sheet-like connecting portion for holding said at least one bracing portion and said at least one arch portion curved to the same side, said bracing portion and said arch portion being in adjacent relationship at opposite sides of said connection portion, wherein said arch portion has a greater overall curvature than said bracing portion; and

at least one pair of end connections for interconnecting said arch portion and said bracing portion in braced condition at respective end regions thereof;

wherein said arch arrangement is to be set up by bracing said at least one arch portion by said at least one bracing portion; and

said arch arrangement being tensioned by the restoring force of said at least one arch portion, and being form-stabilized by said connecting portion, thereby being stable in unsupported conditions.

2. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that in braced condition, at least one arch portion (2) and at least one longitudinal bracing portion (4) are bent to the same side, preferably parabolically, the arch portion (2), in particular, being curved more than said bracing portion (4) so that the distance between said arch portion (2) and said bracing portion (4) increases from said end connections (3) towards the middle of said arch portion and said bracing portion.

3. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, comprising two of said arch portions, one of said bracing portion and at least one spacer element, wherein said bracing portion is disposed between planes of said arch portions and connected to each of said arch portions via said at least one connection portion and wherein said arch portions are laterally spaced by said at least one spacer element.

4. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein planes in which said arch portions and said bracing portion extend are rotatable in one another about a straight line, which extends substantially through two points situated somewhat at or below said end connections, so that the arch arrangement has a slice-like appearance.

5. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one spacer element is formed by a composite rod.

6. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least two of said connection portions comprise each at least one respective butt strap at the laterally outer arch portions for receiving at least one of said spacer elements, said butt straps being pocket-shaped so that said spacer elements meet outer abutments at their two ends for holding them in a desired distance.

7. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, comprising three of said arch portions, two of said bracing portions and at least one spacer element, wherein said bracing portions are disposed between planes of successive pairs of said arch portions and connected to said arch portions of said respective pair via said connection portions and wherein the arch portions are laterally spaced by said at least one spacer element.

8. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one arch portion is formed by a rod.

9. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein said rod comprises partial pieces.

10. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one bracing portion is formed by a tension chord.

11. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of said at least one arch portion is within a range of 4 to 6 m, and the length of said at least one bracing portion is within a range of 3.5 to 5.5 m.

12. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one bracing portion is formed by a tensile stressable rod.

13. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein said tensile stressable rod comprises partial pieces.

14. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one connection portion is formed by a web.

15. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one connection portion has at least on one side a fastening arrangement for receiving said arch portion.

16. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 15, wherein said fastening arrangement of the connecting portion comprises a seam-like holder.

17. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one connection portion is on one side fastened directly to a chord being said at least one bracing portion.

18. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one connection portion comprises parabolic edges, and becomes narrower towards two end regions.

19. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein said at least one connection portion has in a central region a width of substantially 40 cm.

20. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 19, wherein said central region of the connecting portion extends over a large portion of the length of said arch portion and is omitted adjacent regions near said end connections so as to avoid difficulties in setting up the arch arrangement.

21. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein said at least one connection portion is composed of interconnected parts, connection lines of the parts extending from the side of said at least one arch portion to the side of said at least one bracing portion.

22. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 21, wherein said interconnected parts are sewed together.

23. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least two of said connection portions are interconnected along respective longitudinal edges thereof so that at least two of said arch portions and at least one of said bracing portions are held together.

24. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said end connections comprise each a rod-like support element arranged transversely to the arch'"'"'s central longitudinal plane.

25. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said end connections comprise a weight element.

26. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 25, wherein said weight element is a water fillable bag.

27. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of said at least one arch portion is about 5 m and the length of said at least one bracing portion is about 4.4 m.

28. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one connection portion is formed by a flexible plastic layer of tearproof material.

29. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said connecting portion holds said bracing portion along a curved line such that the bracing portion is curved compared to a direct connecting line between two ends of said arch portion;

said bracing portion interconnecting said two ends of said arch portion and said connecting portion connecting said bracing portion to said arch portion act to bend and brace said arch portion; and

said sheer-like connecting portion is tightly tensioned between the arch portion and the bracing portion by said restoring force of said arch portion, whereby a stable curvature shape is formed without any support at two end regions of the arch arrangement.

30. Arch arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ends of the arch portion and of the bracing portion terminate distributed over a substantially linear joining area, which is in form of a shackle.

31. A protective roof comprising a roof surface and at least one arch arrangement supporting said roof surface, wherein said at least one arch arrangement comprises:

at least one elongated, bendable arch portion providing a restoring force when bent;

at least one longitudinal bracing portion for bending and bracing said at least one arch portion;

at least one sheet-like connecting portion for holding said at least one bracing portion and said at least one arch portion curved to the same side, said bracing portion and said arch portion being in adjacent relationship at opposite sides of said connection portion, wherein said arch portion has a greater overall curvature than said bracing portion; and

at least one pair of end connections for interconnecting said arch portion and said bracing portion in braced condition at respective end regions thereof;

wherein said arch arrangement is set up by bracing said at least one arch portion by said at least one bracing portion; and

said arch arrangement being tensioned by said restoring force of at least one of said arch portions, and being form-stabilized by said connecting portion, thereby being stable in unsupported conditions.

32. Protective roof as claimed in claim 31, further comprising at least one of said arch arrangements wherein said arch arrangement comprises two of said arch portions and one of said bracing portions being disposed between the planes of said arch portions and connected to each of them via one of said connection portions, said roof surface has a triangular form with a free edge and is connected with a side opposite to said free edge to an arch portions of said arch arrangement to form a mussel-shaped protective roof, wherein at least one substantially stable girder is used to keep said roof surface substantially tight and said arch portions laterally spaced.

33. Protective roof as claimed in claim 32, further comprising three of said girders extending from a joining point at said free edge of the roof surface to points at said arch portion opposite to said free edge pushing said arch portion away from said free edge.

34. Protective roof as claimed in claim 31, further comprising at least two of said arch arrangements wherein said arch arrangements comprise two of said arch portions and one of said bracing portions being disposed between the planes of said arch portions and connected to each of them via one of said connection portions, said arch arrangements are arranged substantially parallel at a distance to each other and said roof surface is connected to adjacent arch portions of both arch arrangements to form a tunnel-shaped protective roof, wherein at least one substantially stable girder is used to keep said roof surface substantially tight and said arch portions laterally spaced.

35. Protective roof as claimed in claim 34, further comprising three of said girders pushing outermost arch portions of said arch arrangements apart.