Patent ID: 7735541
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: B44D

Abstract:
1. A sheet material tensioning apparatus comprising: a plurality of frame members interconnected to form a material-supporting edge defining a plane around a closed contour; a material fastening mechanism for affixing sheet material to said frame members over said closed contour; at least one expansion mechanism imposing a separation between said frame members so as to expand said closed contour; an edge-bridging mechanism spanning said separation between each of said frame members and maintaining continuity of said plane defined by said material-supporting edge at said separation as said closed contour expands; and wherein said edge-bridging mechanism is a spline affixed at one end thereof to one of said frame members at a first respective protrusion thereof and affixed at an opposing end thereof to another of said frame members at a second respective protrusion thereof, said spline having a pair of complementary spline sections, each of said spline sections having a plurality of keys received into keyways of said other complementary one of said spline sections to form a cross-sectional profile matching said first and second respective protrusions in said frame members.