Abstract:
A structural assembly for the construction of buildings and other types of structures where a covering is fixed to a frame by a removable seal. The seal is spring biased to secure the covering against the frame in at least two places. The system provides for quick assembly and with the use of different types of connectors and joiners, different types of structures of variable design can be formed for temporary or permanent use.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to building structures involving securing covering to a frame. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for emergency and temporary shelters and greenhouses. Greenhouses are described in the body of the specification as an example of the present invention and are described in the specification by way of example only.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Greenhouses usually consist of a frame covered with shade cloth so to protect plants housed within the greenhouse from the weather, particularly the effects of the sun. The shade cloth is often attached by clips such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,537, clasps as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,617, nail strips as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,298, or suspended on the frame by covering loops. Each of these different forms of securing the covering to the frame has problems. Where the covering is fastened at a fixed point, such as with clips and clasps the covering has a tendency to tear about the fastened point during high winds or storms. Some methods of fastening the covering also fail to maintain the stretched position of the shade cloth over the frame subsequently resulting in the frame not being adequately covered by the shade cloth.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,788,806 discloses a framework assembly with a molding strip locatable within a channel to fix a flexible covering. The molding strip is able to snap fit within the channel to fix the covering. The covering however can only be fixed one way and the channel and molding strip has only one orientation.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,790 discloses a fixing arrangement where there is a channel with longitudinally extending rigid bars along the channel walls and a locking member with two bars positioned so to complement the channel grooves formed by the rigid bars. Under stressful conditions the locking member may be dislodged and the covering loosened from the channel as the locking member does not clamp the covering against the channel wall and dislodgement of one portion of the locking member affects the positioning of other portions of the locking member.  
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative means for securing a covering to a frame. It is a further object to provide an alternative structural assembly whereby a covering is secured to the frame and covers the frame to form a desired structure.  
       STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a system for securing a covering to a frame including  
         [0007]     a longitudinal frame member with a longitudinally extending recess, said recess having a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs on each opposing face of the recess walls; and  
         [0008]     a resiliently deformable sealing member having a substantially complementary profile to the recess;  
         [0009]     wherein said covering is locatable between said recess and the inserted sealing member and secured in position by the outwardly directed spring bias of the inserted sealing member against the recess walls.  
         [0010]     There are preferably two longitudinally extending ribs on each opposing inner face of the recess walls that can engage complementary grooves in the sealing member. The covering is preferably positioned so that it Is captured by both ribs on one recess face when the sealing member is inserted. The advantage of being captured by both of the ribs on one of the faces is that there are two securing points thereby reducing the tendency for slippage or tearing of the covering. The advantage of having ribs on both inner faces of the recess is that the frame member may be placed in either orientation relative to the covering during fastening.  
         [0011]     The frame member is preferably substantially cylindrical to provide integral strength and surfaces without edges to avoid abrasive wear of the contacting covering.  
         [0012]     The frame member is preferably connectable with other frame members. The frame member preferably has hollow ends or narrower diameter ends that provide for the fitting of connector members or other frame members with connectable ends.  
         [0013]     The resiliently deformable sealing member is preferably made of plastics and designed to deform during insertion with a spring bias that has a tendency to push the outer surfaces of the sealing member against the recess wall faces. The sealing member preferably clamps the covering to the opposing recess wall because of the outwardly directed spring bias when the sealing member is inserted within the recess.  
         [0014]     Preferably the sealing member has two relatively independent legs which are biased to moving outwardly. The legs are preferably independent to the extent that the legs operate substantially Independently. Each leg preferably has a spring bias directed outwardly and when inserted within the recess, each of the legs is disposed to abut the opposing recess wall surface thereby clamping the covering between the recess wall and the sealing member. Being resiliently deformable and having outwardly disposed spring biased legs, the sealing member can be easily removed and repositioned without damaging the sealing member.  
         [0015]     The sealing member may be of any desired length or width but preferably with a substantially constant profile.  
         [0016]     When inserted the sealing member is substantially flush with the cylindrical frame member.  
         [0017]     The covering may be any sized portion of a suitable fabric including shade cloth, canvas and plastics material.  
         [0018]     In another aspect the invention broadly resides in a structural assembly including  
         [0019]     a plurality of longitudinal frame members, each of said frame members has a longitudinally extending recess, each of said recesses has a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs on each opposing face of the recess walls;  
         [0020]     connector means for connecting the frame members;  
         [0021]     one or more resiliently deformable sealing members, each of said sealing members has a substantially complementary profile to the recess; and  
         [0022]     one or more coverings wherein each of said coverings is locatable between said recess and the inserted sealing member and secured in position by the outwardly directed spring bias of the inserted sealing, member against the recess walls.  
         [0023]     The frame members, sealing member(s) and covering(s) are preferably as described in the above mentioned description. The connector means may include connector members such as a 90 degree joiner, a 120 degree joiner, a straight joiner, a three way joiner, a four way joiner, a spreader, an end adaptor, and one or more different types of brackets. Each of the (assembled) connector members preferably has a recess similar to the frame member. Each of the connector members preferably has a connector portion locatable within the open end of the frame member. The connector portion preferably forms an inner sleeve. The connector portion has a substantially cylindrical shape with one or more outwardly extending projections to abut the inner cylindrical surface of the frame member. The outwardly extending projections preferably are adapted to secure or lock against the inner surface of the frame member. The three way joiner, 120 degree joiner and 90 degree joiner may have an outer surface with a locator portion that is adapted to engage a complementary locator portion of another member thereby fixing the position of the members relative to each other. One locator portion preferably has two or more dimples while a complementary locator portion has two or more pins that can engage the dimples. Preferably the end adaptor has a locator portion with two or more pins.  
         [0024]     With the frame member and the connector members, different types of structures can be formed. The different types of building structures include shade houses and greenhouses, shade tunnels, animal shelters, awnings, canopies, carports, temporary accommodation, emergency shelters, canopies on the back of trucks and bus shelters.  
         [0025]     In a further aspect the invention broadly resides in a method of assembling a structure as described above including  
         [0026]     building a frame with frame members and connecting members as described above;  
         [0027]     positioning one or more covering members over the frame; and  
         [0028]     inserting the sealing member to secure the covering member to the frame member.  
         [0029]     The covering member is preferably sealed while tension is kept on the covering member.  
         [0030]     The integrity of the frame may be maintained by bolting the frame members and connector members together to avoid accidental disassembly. An advantage of the system is that the assembly and disassembly can be relatively quick.  
         [0031]     A variety of different structures may be formed with the abovementioned method. In one preferred embodiment the structure formed by the method is a modular structure wherein each module has a length and width not greater than approximately 6 metres and any one structure may comprise one or more modules.  
         [0032]     In another aspect the invention broadly resides in a system for assembling a structure including  
         [0033]     forming a frame with a plurality of longitudinal frame members, each of said frame members has a longitudinally extending recess, each of said recesses has a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs on each opposing face of the recess walls; connecting frame members with suitable connectors wherein the recesses are aligned for inserting a sealing member;  
         [0034]     positioning a covering over the frame and inserting one or more resiliently deformable sealing members so that the covering is secured within the recess by the sealing members wherein each of said sealing members has a substantially complementary profile to the recess and an outwardly directed spring bias against the recess walls.  
         [0035]     Structures can be made in a modular arrangement and two or more modules can be joined to form a structure of a desired size. Where the particular structure is longer or wider than 6 metres, the structure is formed by joining two or more modules. In this way, the use of modules provides easy and reproducible assembly for larger structures without compromising structural integrity and strength. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0036]     In order that the present invention be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0037]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the frame member of the preferred embodiment;  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of the frame member with the seal;  
         [0039]      FIG. 3   a  is a cross-sectional view of the seal;  
         [0040]      FIGS. 3   b  and  3   c  are diagrammatic views of the seal;  
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a 120 degree joiner with joining frame members;  
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the 120 degree joiner at A-A shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the 120 degree joiner at B-B shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic view of a flange connecting bracket;  
         [0045]      FIG. 8   a  is a diagrammatic view of a vertical four way joiner while  FIG. 8   b  is a diagrammatic view of a flat four way joiner;  
         [0046]      FIG. 9  is a side view of an end bracket;  
         [0047]      FIG. 10  is an alternate side view of an end bracket;  
         [0048]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a diagonal tube bracket;  
         [0049]      FIG. 12  is an alternate side view of a diagonal tube bracket;  
         [0050]      FIG. 13  is an end view of the diagonal tube bracket;  
         [0051]      FIG. 14  is a diagrammatic view of an end adapter;  
         [0052]      FIG. 15  is a side view of a 90 degree joiner,  
         [0053]      FIG. 16  is a diagrammatic view of a three way joiner;  
         [0054]      FIG. 17   a  is a diagrammatic view of a post bracket;  
         [0055]      FIG. 17   b  is a diagrammatic view of an alternate door trim;  
         [0056]      FIG. 18  is a diagrammatic view of the frame of a shelter;  
         [0057]      FIG. 19   a  is a diagrammatic view of a fascia awning while  FIG. 19   b  is an off-the-wall awning; and  
         [0058]      FIG. 20  is a diagrammatic view of an emergency shelter. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0059]     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a tubular frame member  10  with a longitudinal recess  11  in which the seal  12  can be located. The tubular frame member  10  is substantially cylindrical in shape. The longitudinal recess  11  is substantially rectangular in shape with two spaced apart ribs  13  on each of the opposing side walls  14 ,  15  with a first groove  16  formed between the two ribs  13  and a second groove  17  formed between recess base wall  18  and adjacent rib  13 .  
         [0060]     The seal  12  is also shown in  FIG. 3   a ,  3   b  and  3   c . The seal  12  has a top portion  21  and legs  22 ,  23 . Legs  22 ,  23  are shaped so that when they are pressed together they deform but resume their initial shape in the absence of the deforming force. When there is a deforming force, legs  22  and  23  move together with bridge portions  24 ,  25  abutting. The lower portions  26 ,  27  of each leg  22 ,  23  respectively moves to fit within the recess  11 . Each leg  22 ,  23  has projections  28 ,  29  that are shaped to complement grooves  16  and  17  within the recess  11 . When the seal  12  is positioned within the recess  11 , the projections  28 ,  29  engage grooves  16 ,  17  respectively, ribs  13  engage grooves  30  on either side of projection  28  and top portion  21  forms a seal with the outer surface of the frame member  10 . Each of the legs  22 , 23  have an outwardly directed spring bias which when located within the recess  11  pushes against the corresponding recess side wall. The seal  12  is made of plastics preferably extruded PVC.  
         [0061]     The frame member  10  is made of aluminum by an extruded process.  
         [0062]     A 120 degree joiner  40  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The 120 degree joiner  40  comprises two connector sleeve portions  41 , and a corner portion  42 . The connector sleeve portions  41  have outwardly extending ribs  43  for abutting the inner surface of frame member  10 . The connector sleeve portions  41  have a recess  44  that nests about recess  11  on the tubular frame member  10 . The fifting of the recess  44  about recess  11  serves to prevent the 120 degree joiner  40  from rotating within the frame member  10 . The corner portion  42  also has a recess portion  45 . The recess portion  45  is in line with recess  44 . The recess portion  45  has two ribs on each opposing sidewall surface and is similar in shape to recess  11 . The recess portion  45  can accommodate the seal  12 . Recess  44  is shown in  FIG. 6  while recess portion  45  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The 120 degree portions  40  are typically used to form framework for roofs.  
         [0063]     The 120 degree joiner  40  is cast-molded in two parts and assembled with guide pins and sockets. Apertures  51 ,  52  shown in  FIG. 6  allow the two part 120 degree joiner  40  to be bolted together to maintain the assembled state. There are other corner joiners induding 106 degree joiner and 148 degree joiner.  
         [0064]     In  FIG. 7  there is shown a connector bracket  70  having a connector portion  71  and flange  72 . The connector portion  71  is shaped to form a sleeve substantially surrounding the frame member  10 . The flange  72  can serve as a window or door jamb or architrave.  
         [0065]      FIG. 8   a  shows a vertical four way joiner  80  with four connector portions  81  and a corner portion  82 .  FIG. 8   b  shows a flat four way joiner  83  with four connector portions  84  and a corner portion  85 . The connector portions  81 ,  84  are similar to the connector portions  41  described in the 120 degree joiners  40 . The four way joiners  80 ,  83  are used to connect intersecting frame members during the construction of shelter.  
         [0066]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show an end bracket  90  having a connector portion  91  and spreader portion  93 . The connector portion  91  has longitudinally extending ribs  92  which can abut the inner wall of the frame member  10  when inserted within the frame member  10 . The spreader portion  93  is substantially cup-shaped for supporting frame members  10 . The end bracket  90  can be used to provide support and connection between horizontally and vertically displaced frame members  10 .  
         [0067]      FIGS. 11, 12  and  13  show a diagonal tube bracket  110  which has a connector portion  111  and a fastening portion  112 . The connector portion  111  is cylindrical and can be positioned within frame member  10  while fastening portion  112  can be bolted to another suitable frame member by the fastening of a bolt through aperture  113  and another frame member or connector. The diagonal tube bracket  110  is useful when the cylindrically shaped frame member  10  needs to be fastened to a substantially flat or rectangular frame member.  
         [0068]     An adaptor  140  is shown in  FIG. 14  and has an adaptor portion  141  and a connector portion  142 . The connector portion  142  is similar to connector portions of other bracket and joiner members. The connector portion  142  is insertable within the frame member  10  and has ribs  145  for abutting against the inner wall of the frame member  10 . The connector portion  142  is substantially cylindrical in shape with a portion removed to allow the adaptor  140  to be positioned relative to the recess  11  of the frame member  10 . The adaptor portion  141  has a circular wall  143  with two locating pins  144  that extend outwardly. The adaptor  140  is designed for use with a frame member  10  to abut against a joiner or bracket with corresponding locating sockets.  
         [0069]     In  FIG. 15  there is shown a 90 degree joiner  150  with connector portions  151  and corner portion  152 . The connector portions  151  are insertable within frame members  10  and are similar to connector portions of other bracket and joiner members. The corner portion  152  has a locator portion  153  that has a circular wall  154  with four locating sockets  155 . The locator portion  153  has four spaced apart locator sockets  155  that allow the adaptor  140  to be positioned in one of two alternate 90 degree positions.  
         [0070]     In  FIG. 16  is shown a three-way joiner  160  where there are three connector portions  161  and a central portion  162 . The three-way joiner  160  may have connector portions  161  in any suitable arrangement. The connector portions  161  are similar to connector portions of other bracket and joiner members. Central portion  162  may have a locator portion similar to the locator portion  153  shown in  FIG. 15 .  
         [0071]     A post bracket  170  is shown in  FIG. 17   a  and comprises a post portion  171  and a bracket portion  172 . The post portion  171  is an elongate portion with a rectangular cross-section while the bracket portion  172  has a substantially U-shaped bracket sharing a base wall  173  with the post portion  171 . The post bracket  170  is used to attach to the length of the frame members  10  to provide a flat surface for doorway frames and window architraves and lintels.  
         [0072]     In  FIG. 17   b  there is shown an alternate door trim  175  where the covering is sandwiched between the trim  175  and the frame  176 . The trim  175  is fastened to the frame  176  by fasteners at flange  177  and held in position by hook-shaped portion  178 .  
         [0073]     There may be other types of connectors such as other multi-way joiners and U-shaped brackets.  
         [0074]     From these frame members, connectors and joiners different types of structures can be formed. These include by way of example, shelters ( FIGS. 18 and 20 ) and awnings ( FIGS. 19   a  and  19   b ). Frame members, connectors and joiners may be used to produce other types of structures including patio awning, greenhouses or shade houses, pergolas and car ports. As well the same structure may have different designs such as patio awning with bull nose section.  
         [0075]     With reference to  FIG. 18  there is shown a shelter  181  with frame members  10  forming uprights, roof frames and base frames. The frame members  10  are connected by three way joiners  160 , 120 degree joiners  40 , 148 degree joiners and adapters  140 . The frame is covered with a shade cloth to form a greenhouse. In contrast, a similar frame is covered with canvas  201  and fly screen mesh  202  in  FIG. 20  to provide an emergency or temporary shelter  200 . Permanent doors may be installed in the shelters with the use of post brackets and flange brackets.  
         [0076]     In  FIGS. 19   a  and  19   b , there is shown two different types of awnings for screening a window from the effects of the sun.  FIG. 19   a  shows a fascia type awning  190  whereas  FIG. 19   b  shows an off-the-wall type awning  191 . The frame for the awnings comprises frame members  10  connected by 90 degree joiners. Shade cloth  192  is stretched across the frame and fixed in position by seal  12 .  
         [0077]     When the frame has been constructed, covering such as shade cloth, canvass, plastic sheeting or any other suitable material may be inserted within the recess and fixed in position by the seal. The covering is clamped in position by the engagement of ribs  13  of the frame member  10  with recesses  30  on the seal  12 . With two ribs  13  either side of recess side walls  14 ,  15  the covering is clamped in two positions irrespective of which side the covering is placed. As a consequence the resulting structure can be assembled quickly and with the covering securely fastened.  
       Advantages  
       [0078]     The advantages of the present invention include the quick assembly of a suitable frame with the rapid fixing of covering the frame by a removable seal. With the different types of connectors and joiners, different types of structures of variable design can be formed for temporary or permanent use.  
       Variations  
       [0079]     It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.  
         [0080]     Throughout the description and claims this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.