Abstract:
A portable adaptable enclosure for providing environmental control and containment of contaminants for a variety of onsite applications. The enclosure utilizes a limited number of tubular construction elements that are interlinked together to form an integrated expandable use enclosure defined by extending interengaging vertical and horizontal tubular elements in a terrain adaptable extensible structure. Telescopically adjust support elements with interengaging multi-directional attachment fittings allow for successive erection and extension in linear and off access orientation in a sequential step fashion to follow work defined directional requirements in the field.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    This invention relates to portable temporary tent-like constructions used to temporarily enclose a work area for maintenance or construction related actions so as to be shielded from the environmental elements. Such constructions are also used as containment enclosures preventing contaminants from being released from the enclosure into the environment. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0004]    Prior art devices of this type have been directed to a variety of containment systems and constructions, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,335,274, 3,121,470, 4,739,592, 4,787,178, 4,926,892 and 7,134,444. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,335,274 discloses a portable welding screen having multiple supports bolted together along a single plane to form a safety screen. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,121,470 claims a protective covering for a scaffold wherein a flexible sheet of material overlies and is secured to the vertical support elements of a scaffolding. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,592 illustrates a protective awning for a scaffolding and tubular structure having a sheet of covering material fitted on the bearing structure formed from tubular elements. A tightening mechanism allows for tightening of the sheet so as to be secured thereon and thereover. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,176 discloses an abrasive blasting containment system wherein an enclosure is formed by a tubular support frame on which flexible material is attached. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,892 claims a temporary enclosure structure formed of interengaging tubular framed elements and side frame sections of vertical and horizontal members with multiple pipe sections oriented therewith. 
         [0010]    Finally, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,444 an environmental containment unit is disclosed having a portable enclosure providing a flexible envelope attached to an interior support of vertical and horizontal collapsible frame elements. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A portable self-supporting enclosure frame system for field applications having interengagement, vertical and horizontal frame members with selective unidirectional frame attachment fittings for sequential frame assembly and disassembly in progressive adapted sections. Longitudinally adjustable cross support frame members and independent vertically extensible posts accommodate terrain variations and work defined area requirements. Longitudinal frame stabilization tensioning elements between vertical post elements and transversely adjustable upstanding interengagement rafter define frame elements to accommodate height requirements and incumbent weather protection by inclusive over covering sheet material secured thereto. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the portable enclosure structure of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial front elevational view of an adjustable support frame post. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial side elevational view thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial front elevational view of an adjustable rafter support frame element. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial side elevational view thereof. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged broken away cross sectional view of the adjustable rafter support frame engagement mounting configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a portable expansible enclosure  10  of the invention can be seen having a main support frame  11  with multiple vertical support post  12  and interlocking horizontally disposed cross frame elements  13 . The vertical support post  12  and interlocking cross frame elements  13  are removably secured to one another by a mounting attachment assembly  14  on each of said support post  12  to define an expansible, interchangeable and multi-directional support frame construction thereby adapted to non-uniform and continuous work areas as required. 
         [0019]    Each of the vertical support posts  12  has an upper tubular portion  15  and a telescopically adjustable extensible lower portion  16  therewithin. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures A within each of the post portions  15  and  16  are provided for adjustable alignment engagement by a spring urged pop pin assembly  17  which are permanently secured by welding to the surface of the upper tubular post portion  15  allowing for selective incremental longitudinal deployment and locking of the slidably disposed inner lower post portion  16  as best seen in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. 
         [0020]    A leveling post support foot  18  assembly has a ground engagement pad  18 A and an extending threaded rod  18 B which is threadably disposed within the free end of each of said lower post portion  16  via a receiving nut end N secured there within as well be well understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0021]    It will be seen that each of the vertical support post  12  can be adjustably extended vertically and locked in place to accommodate overall support frame  11  height requirements and adapted to uneven ground terrain GT as illustrated in broken lines. 
         [0022]    Each of the fastener assemblies  14 , best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  of the drawings, have a pair of identical engagement plates  19  which are welded on the respective free ends of the support posts  12  and extend at right angles therefrom in spaced parallel relation to one another. The plate pairs  19  have aligned apertures AA extending in longitudinally and vertical relation for registerable engagement with corresponding mounting apertures AA in the respective cross frame elements  13 . 
         [0023]    A pop pin assembly  17  secured over one of the apertures AA is provided for selective removable locking of the cross frame element  13  into horizontal transverse angular use alignment therebetween. A pivot pin PP secures the respective aperture ends of the cross frame elements  13  between the spaced plates  19  for pivotal deployment thereof indicated by directional broken arrows shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. 
         [0024]    It will be seen that a plurality of threaded mounting bolt fittings  20  are secured to and extend outwardly from each of the support posts  12 . The threaded mounting bolt fittings  20  have a rectangular base mounting plate  20 A which is preferably welded to the outer surface of the upper tubular portion  15  in longitudinal alignment with one another with a pair of engagement bolts  20 B extending therefrom. The engagement bolts  20 B provide attachment points for interconnecting respective side rails  21  between spaced support posts  12  as seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
         [0025]    The side rails  21  are preferably of a tubular configuration having a fixed length with oppositely disposed aperture end fittings for retaining engagement over correspondingly aligned mounting bolt fittings  20  extending across respective plate pairs  19  edges adjacent their tops as best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. 
         [0026]    This fixed length orientation determines the maximum length of any of the portable enclosures frame elements assuring ease of transportation with no specialized vehicle requirement or associated support fixtures thereon. 
         [0027]    Each of the cross frame elements  13  are selectively secured between the correspondingly parallel spaced engagement plates  19 , as noted, and therefore the respective base support post  12  and are longitudinally adjustable having a telescopically disposed tubular construction. 
         [0028]    It will be seen that an outside support tube  13 A has a resilient pop pin PP thereon for engagement with an interior tube  13 B of a reduced diameter extending from its pivotal engagement therewithin. 
         [0029]    Each of the corresponding cross frame elements  13  can therefore be extended longitudinally and fixed in place as needed to accommodate the width of a work area requirement. 
         [0030]    The threaded mounted bolt fittings  20  provide engagement retainment for pairs of side braces  21 A and  21 B that extend cross wise between support posts  12  in planar relationship to the hereinbefore described respective upper side rails as best seen in  FIG. 1  of drawings and partially in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The tubular braces  21 A and  21 B are flattened at the respective distal ends with a mounting aperture therewithin. The braces  21 A and  21 B are secured to the respective post  12  in angular crossing relationship and are pinned to one another at central aligned apertures at  22 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4, 5 and 6  of the drawings an optional cross frame attachment can be seen wherein an elevated truss frame and beam support assembly  25  provides for adjustable attachment to each of cross frame elements  13 . The frame and beam support assembly  25  has an upstanding angular tubular truss element  26  with channel frame engagement fitting  26 A on oppositely disposed free ends thereof. Each of the channel frame fittings  26 A has apertured sidewalls  26 B and is of a dimension slidably engaging over and on the respective cross frame elements  13 . 
         [0032]    Once of a pair of frame and beam assemblies  25  are engaged in spaced parallel relation to one another, a tubular truss beam  27  is positioned to extend therebetween at their respective apex. A pipe fitting  28  is secured to each of the truss elements  26  thereby slidably receiving the respective free ends of a tubular truss beam  27  therein as best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5  of the drawings. This optional assembly provides for added height and affords an angular inclination when covered with a weather resistant sheet as illustrated in broken lines in the preferred embodiment in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
         [0033]    In view of the following descriptions, it will be evident that in use the main support frame  11  once broken down can be easily transported to a work site and reassembled to the size and configuration needed. Containment and environmental element sheets ES shown in broken lines graphically in  FIG. 1  of the drawings are secured over the frame providing a self-supporting portable enclosure for the work site WS such as a pipeline application, not shown. The main support frame  11  can be selectively moved along the site as required by disassembling post sections, cross frames and side rail elements  13  and  21  and then reassembling in a sequential stepped manner. Additionally, given the post  12  annular orientation the effective directionality of the enclosure can be configured to conform to the work site directional changes which are typically encountered in the field with a minimum amount of frame elements being assembled and then reassembled as noted in a sequential step-like progressive fashion and directional orientation required. 
         [0034]    It will thus be seen that a new and useful portable enclosure for work site venue has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.