Abstract:
A load-absorbing device initiates load forces such as cable forces or tensioning forces of sheet-shaped structures into supporting structures ( 10 ). At least one bearing element ( 24, 80 ) is anchored on supporting structure ( 10 ). A tie rod ( 40 ) of a load-absorbing part ( 36, 40 ) is connected to the bearing element. A connection device ( 50 ) for tension members ( 16; 98 ) cooperates with the tie bar ( 40 ). The connection device ( 50 ) has at least one connection wing ( 66 ) projecting laterally from the longitudinal axis (A) and forming at least one connection point ( 69   a ) offset with respect to the longitudinal axis (A).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a load-absorbent device for introducing load forces, such as cable forces or tensioning forces of sheet-like structures, into supporting structures. The device comprises at least one bearing element anchored to the pertinent supporting structure, a tension rod of a load-absorbent part connected to the bearing element, and a connecting device for tensioning members interacting with the tension rod. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modern architecture has increasingly incorporated concepts of load-bearing structures, where planar elements, such as tent-like or umbrella-like coverings that form, as a textile building material, part of a load-bearing structure. Such structures are anchored or erected on support systems, for example, steel supports. To form the respective elements form space-creating structures of a desired architectural design, the respective suitable introduction of load forces, in particular, the tensioning or bearing cable forces, is a crucial factor. To avoid distortions of the desired architectural design, the surface elements are conventionally braced on a plurality of connecting points. A corresponding plurality of tensioning members, such as tensioning cables must be attached to a corresponding number of load-absorbing devices. This arrangement leads to considerable installation effort, especially since pertinent bearing elements may not be comfortably accessible on the support system of the supporting structure, such as, for example, supports, with varying inclination. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide an improved load-absorbing device of with a simple design enabling reliable connection of tensioning members to the tension rod with low installation effort. 
     The invention basically achieves this object with a load-absorbing device where the connecting device has at least one connecting wing projecting laterally from the longitudinal axis and forming at least one connection point offset relative to the longitudinal axis. Compared to a coaxial connection of tensioning members, such as cables or brackets or the like, to a tension rod, the connection to a laterally projecting component is much simpler, both with respect to the installation effort and the use of the required connectors. 
     The arrangement can be especially advantageously made such that the respective wing is supported on the tension rod to be able to swivel around the longitudinal axis. Regardless of the respective circumstances, the connection point can then be moved into the position especially suitable for the installation process. At the same time, the connection point can be set into the optimum swivel position under the action of the tensioning force. 
     Advantageously, the connecting device has two wings extending in different directions away from the longitudinal axis. This type in an especially advantageous manner enables the connection of several tensioning members to a common load-absorbing member. 
     The arrangement can be made especially advantageously when the two wings are formed by plates of the same shape and are rigidly connected to a hinge member forming the swivel bearing of the pertinent wing on the tension rod. For connection points formed on laterally projecting plates, not only is the coupling of the tensioning cables made simple, reliable, and convenient, but this construction is also especially suited to mounting tent-like or sail-like surface supporting structures in which there is no securing at points, but which are mounted on edge regions with, as it were, “linear fastening.” In these cases, the pertinent sheet-shaped supporting structure (tent, sail, or membrane) on the edge is provided with a keder. In the connecting sections, this keder is surrounded by a keder groove profile which holds it and which can be connected in turn to the pertinent load-absorbing member, that is, the assigned tension rod. This arrangement can take place especially advantageously such that the plates forming the connecting wings at the connection points form linkage sites for tension brackets which, on the other hand, are connected to linkage sites on the pertinent keder groove profile located at a mutual distance from one another. 
     The hinge member forming the swivel bearing of the wings on the tension rod can be constructed as one piece and can horizontally connect the wings rigidly to each other in a common plane. 
     Another possibility for equalization or setting movements can involve the hinge member being multi-part. For each wing the hinge has one bearing part with which the wings can be swiveled around the longitudinal axis independently of each other. 
     As another configuration, the respective wing can be supported on the hinge member to be able to swivel around another axis perpendicular to the swiveling axis of the hinge member corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the tension rod. 
     Preferably, the tension rod has an external thread on which an adjusting nut forms an axial safeguard of the connecting device. By actuating the adjusting nut, a turnbuckle-like tensioning or retensioning of the connecting device and in turn of the respective pertinent tensioning members is advantageously made possible. 
     Regardless of the configuration of the connection to one or to two connecting wings, rigid connection of connecting wings, or individual or joint swiveling capacity of the respective wings around the longitudinal axis of the tension rod, a spherical body attached to the tension rod for forming a hinge joint on the bearing element can be supported on a support surface forming one part of a spherical cap. A ball-and-socket joint is then formed on the bearing element. 
     Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a roof covering composed of a sail mounted between four columns and referred to as a roof membrane; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a hinge holder or joint mounted on the apex or head surface of a column of  FIG. 1  and securing the sail on the column according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the disassembled hinge holder of  FIG. 2  with its insert screw or rotary screw as well as with an end disk of the column; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the assembled hinge holder of  FIG. 3  with an inserted insert screw; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the hinge holder of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view of the hinge holder of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the hinge holder of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of a base plate of the hinge holder of  FIGS. 3 and 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a vent elevational view in section taken along line IX-IX of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the hinge holder of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of the hinge holder of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is side elevational view in section of the hinge holder of  FIG. 10 , along the line XII-XII of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a hinge holder according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention, with its insert or rotary screw as well as with the end region of the column; 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view of the assembled hinge holder of  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a sider elevational view in section of the hinge holder of  FIG. 13  taken along line XV-XV of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIGS. 16 to 18  are front, rear and perspective views, respectively, by the hinge holder of  FIGS. 13 to 15 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a hinge holder on the end of a horizontally extending column according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a hinge holder according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 21  is a front elevational view of the hinge holder  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a side elevational view in section taken along line XXII-XXII of  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a top view of the hinge holder of  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a side elevational view in section taken along its line XXIV-XXIV of  FIG. 23 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a front plate according to the hinge holder of  FIG. 20 ; 
         FIG. 26  is a front elevational view of the front plate of  FIG. 25 ; 
         FIG. 27  is a top plan view of the front plate of  FIG. 25 ; 
         FIG. 28  is a perspective view of a hinge holder according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 29  is a top plan view of the hinge holder of  FIG. 28 ; 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a hinge holder according to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 31  is a front elevational view of the hinge holder of  FIG. 30 ; 
         FIG. 32  is a top plan view of the hinge holder of  FIG. 30 ; 
         FIG. 33  is a side elevational view in section taken along line XXXIII-XXXIII of  FIG. 32 ; 
         FIG. 34  is a perspective view of a front plate according to the hinge holder of  FIG. 30 ; 
         FIG. 35  is a front elevational view of the front plate of  FIG. 34 ; 
         FIG. 36  is a top plan view of the front plate of  FIG. 34 ; 
         FIG. 37  is a perspective view of the holding plate of  FIG. 2  and of two connecting plates and connected with the insert screw of the hinge holder by a base hinge; 
         FIG. 38  is a perspective view of one of the connecting plates of  FIG. 37 ; 
         FIG. 39  is a perspective view of a connecting plate according to a seventh exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 40  is a perspective view of a part of the base hinge of  FIG. 37 ; 
         FIG. 41  is a front elevational view of the part of  FIG. 40 ; 
         FIG. 42  is an enlarged front elevational view of the region XLII of  FIG. 41 ; 
         FIG. 43  is a top view of a part of the holding plate of  FIG. 37 ; 
         FIG. 44  is a front elevational view of the part of  FIG. 43 ; 
         FIGS. 45 to 47  are perspective views of the hinge holder of  FIG. 2  in different positions; 
         FIG. 48  is a perspective view of a holding plate according to an eighth exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 49  is a perspective view of a part of the base hinge of  FIG. 48 ; 
         FIG. 50  is a front elevational view of the part of  FIG. 49 ; 
         FIG. 51  is an enlarged front elevational view of region LI of  FIG. 50 ; 
         FIG. 52  is a front elevational view of a part of  FIG. 48 ; 
         FIGS. 53 and 54  are each a top view of a part of  FIG. 48 ; 
         FIG. 55  is a perspective view of a connecting member with an attached additional strip of two adjacent angle sections coupled to the hinge holder of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 56  is an exploded perspective view of the arrangement  FIG. 55 ; 
         FIG. 57  is an enlarged side elevational view of an angle section of  FIGS. 55 and 56 ; 
         FIG. 58  is a side elevational view of the angle section of  FIG. 57  with an attached top; 
         FIGS. 59 and 60  are enlarged side elevational views of regions LIX and LX, respectively, of  FIG. 58 ; 
         FIG. 61  is a perspective view of two strips that are assigned to each other; 
         FIG. 62  is a front elevational view of an installation of the strips of  FIG. 61 ; and 
         FIGS. 63 and 64  are exploded perspective views of two additional connecting member arrangements. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A plane load-bearing structure has, according to  FIG. 1 , four somewhat outwardly inclined columns  10 . Columns  10  are set apart from each other and reach upward in pairs from a floor area B and stretch between their free ends  11  a sail or membrane S having an approximately rectangular contour and made of a textile material to serve as a membrane-like roof surface. The membrane free ends  11  are tensioned by cables  14  against the floor area B and anchors (not illustrated herein) that are secured on the floor. The four corner regions of this membrane S or a correspondingly constructed net are connected in each case by short cable strands  16  to hinge joints  20  projecting from the head surface  12   k  of the column  10 . The head surface  12   k  forms the upper edge of the supporting structure and is formed by an end disk  12  inserted into the column  10 . 
     According to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a base plate  22  having a diameter d of, for example, 117 mm and a height h of, for example, 20 mm, of the hinge joint  20  has a bearing element  24 . Bearing element  24  has an angular configuration in  FIGS. 7 and 14 , a height h 1  of 100 mm and a thickness e of approximately 37 mm, with two molded-on leg sections  25 ,  25   a . The leg sections form a two-armed configuration having an angle w of approximately 120°, as shown in the top view of  FIG. 7 . 
     As clearly shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  6  that two side surfaces  27  of a width e extend from a ridge surface  26  of the bearing element  24 . The upper top region of the side surfaces  27  is slightly curved in the direction of the ridge surface  26 . The width of the connecting region  25   q  of the two curved sections  25 ,  25   a  in the ridge surface  26  is designated as e 1  in  FIGS. 7 and 12 . 
     The ridge surface  26  and each of the side surfaces  27  define outwardly a wall region of the hinge joint  20  or more specifically the bearing element  24  that exhibits a curved longitudinal cross section. A relatively large aperture  30  is milled into the center of bearing element  24  as well as axially in relation to the central axis M of the hinge joint  20 . The edge  32  of aperture  30  extends at an axial distance a of about 10 mm in relation to the planar ridge surface  26 . The distance h 2  between the center Z of the aperture and the base plate  22  measures approximately 50 mm. Due to the milling and the angular configuration of the bearing element  24 , that edge  32  is slightly curved in the cross section and defines a surface region  31  of the hinge joint  20 . This surface region  31  is matched to a part of the surface of a bearing ball  36  (described below) that is capable of resting flush with the surface region  31  in the tensioning direction x ( FIGS. 2 ,  11 ,  14 ,  55 ). The forces are transferred to the bearing element  24  by the engagement surface. 
     Between the pair of curved sections  25 / 25   a , there is a triangular surface section of the head surface  23  of the base plate  22 , which surface section is triangular in shape in the top view. Its central region shows a screw hole  29  for a connecting screw  21 .  FIG. 8  shows the position of two additional screw holes  29  in the base plate  22 , one of the screw holes lying in the transverse axis Q of the base plate, and the two others lying on both sides of this transverse axis at distances a 1  from it of approximately 28 mm. Each screw hole  29 , having a diameter i of 17 mm, passes over in the direction of the upper surface  23  of the base plate  22  into a funnel-shaped expansion  29   t  having an upper surface diameter i 1  of 29 mm. 
     The dimensions of all of the parts of the hinge joint  20  are adjusted to the respective cable forces that may arise. The securement elements are designed to meet static requirements and can be matched to a plurality of cables  14 . Below are listed the dimensions for forces that may occur, for example, at a pointwise attachment having a tensioning force of approximately 100 kN. 
       FIG. 10  depicts the rotary screw  40  in the horizontal position as well as two of the three connecting screws  21 , which approximately flank the curved section  25   a . 
     The connecting screws  21 , shown at the upper end in  FIG. 3 , in the attachment position, extend into the screw holes  29   e  of the end disk  12  of the column  10 . 
     In the working position, the bearing ball  36  having a diameter d 1  of approximately 74.5 mm sits in the aperture  30  of the bearing element  24 . In the example according to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , this bearing ball  36  is provided with a surface  35  and a radial passage  37 . The surface  35  serves as the stop face for the head  38  of a rotary screw  40  having a diameter f of 26 mm. A washer  39  engages to the head  38 . According to  FIG. 12 , the longitudinal axis A of the rotary screw  40  of the bearing ball  36  is to be rotated with the bearing ball at an angle w 1  of approximately 80° (swivel level A 1  of the longitudinal axis A of the screw). Likewise, the bearing ball  36  can be swiveled horizontally. The possibilities of the directions of the bearing ball  36  in the bearing element  24  describe a conical shape. 
       FIG. 2  shows an inventive hinge joint  20  and the connecting member  50 , also shown in  FIG. 3 , as individual parts for the sake of a better overview. The rotary screw  40  passes through the plate-like connecting member  50  fixed in position by a nut  41 , supported on a washer  39  and described in detail below. 
     The hinge joint holder  20  of  FIGS. 13 to 19  accommodates a bearing ball  36   a  in its aperture  30   a . The rotary screw  40  in this bearing ball extends into a blind hole  34  with an internal thread, that is, does not totally pass through this bearing ball  36   a . 
       FIG. 19  offers a horizontal column  10   a  as a variation. Arranged in parallel to the longitudinal axis E of this column, a protruding support tongue  42  with its position stabilizing support consoles  43  is molded to the column. The base plate  22  of the hinge joint  20  sits on this support tongue  42 . The rotary screw  40  and the connecting member  51  extend parallel to the longitudinal axis E, that is, also horizontally. Each of the side edges of the connecting member  51  has a threaded fitting  70  described in detail with respect to  FIG. 39 . 
       FIG. 20  shows a cassette-like or sleeve-shaped body  80 , which can be secured, for example, on a wall area F with retaining screws  18 . The screw holes  19  are provided in body  80  for these retaining screws. This body  80  has two plates  82  protruding in parallel from a rear wall  81  having a height h 4  of 100 mm. The plates have a width b 3  of 140 mm, an overhang length n 1  of 120 mm and a thickness e 4  of 20 mm. The height h 5  of the interior space  79  of this body  80  also measures 100 mm. Between the free ends of those plates  82 , a front plate  84  of a height h 5  contains the aperture  30  with the matching surface region  31 . The aperture  30  of the front plate  84  can accommodate the bearing ball  36  without the rotary screw.  FIGS. 25 to 27  show the shape of this front plate  84  with the inwardly shaped side wall surfaces  85  as well as a horizontal cross section that tapers in the direction of the central axis G of the front plate  84 . The ridge surface  86  is constructed accordingly ( FIG. 27 ). 
     This front plate  84  can also be inserted into a body  80   a  that has asymmetrical overhang plates  83  (see  FIGS. 28 and 29 ). In the top view, each of the overhang plates is provided with an overhang tongue  88  on a side surface. The distance n 2  between the overhang tongue and the rear area of the rear wall  81  is greater than the length of the other longitudinal side  87 . In this case, the transversal distance b 4  between the longitudinal side  87  and the overhang tongue  88  is 92 mm. 
       FIG. 30  shows a different design concept of the wall joint  90 . Two console plates  93  having an overhang length k of 48 mm project frontward at a distance h 7  of 70 mm from a rear plate  92  having a height h 6  of 150 mm, a width b 5  of 66 mm, and a thickness e 4  of 10 mm. The rear plate  92  is secured with retaining screws  18  on a wall that is not illustrated herein. 
     Each of the console plates  93  that resemble tongues in the top view has a hole  94  for a connecting screw  21   a  in the central axis T of the console plates. The screw  21   a  secures an annular retaining body  96  of the wall joint  90  between the console plates  93 . Retaining body  96  holds a bearing ball  36   a  in a central aperture  30 . 
     The aperture  30  is centered in relation to the retaining body  96 . Retaining body  96  has height h 5  of 70 mm, a thickness e 6  of 31 mm, and a width b 3  of 54 mm. The aperture  30  has a center Z. 
     The connecting member  50  of  FIGS. 2 and 3  has a width n of 120 mm and projects in a wing-like or radial manner from the rotary screw  40 . The rotary screw  40  passes through a central base hinge  52  composed of two hinge halves  54 ,  54   a . Each hinge half has a tubular part  56  having a width e 2  of 40 mm, according to  FIG. 40 , with a tubular channel  57  having a diameter d 2  of approximately 28 mm for accommodating the rotary screw  40 . Tubular channel  57  has three radial slots  58  as well as partial ring ribs  59  of the tubular part  56 . The ribs  59  extend between the radial slots  58 . The other hinge part  54   a  is constructed in the same way so that, when the two parts are fitted together, the radial slots  58  in one part of the hinge  54  or  54   a  is capable of receiving the partial ring ribs  59  of the other part of the hinge  54   a  or  54 , respectively. These two parts  54 ,  54   a  of the hinge are held together by the rotary screw  40  that passes through their common tubular channel  57 . 
     A wing plate  66  is inserted as the connecting tension bracket into the respective external oblong slot  60  of that hinge parts  54  or  54   a , respectively. The screw holes  63  extend through overhang ribs  62  defining slot  60 . A molded-on push bar  68  forms a linear edge  67 . This wing plate is secured in position with three socket head cap screws  64  that cross the oblong slot  60  and the drill holes  65  of the push bar  68 . The configuration of this wing-shaped connecting plate  66  resembles that of the lid of a grand piano and ends relative to the push bar  68  with a protruding semicircular tongue piece  69  that contains a passage hole  69   a  near the edge forming a connection point. 
       FIG. 39  is s perspective view of a wing plate  66   a  that has, instead of the tongue piece, a straight side edge  67   a  that extends at an angle w 2  of, for example, 30° in relation to the free edge  67  of the plate  66   a . This obliquely extending side edge  67   a  rests against a lateral tube  72 , which accommodates a hexagonal nut  73  with a push-on disk  74  having a semicircular cross section. In this case, it involves the threaded fitting  70 . 
       FIGS. 45 to 47  show different positions of the overhang plate  60  of a connecting member  50 . In  FIGS. 45 and 46 , the rotary screw  40  extends at approximately right angles to the longitudinal axis E of the column  10  or more specifically the central axis M of the hinge joint  20 . In  FIG. 47 , the longitudinal axis A of the rotary screw  40  is folded upward at an angle t of approximately 45° in relation to the central axis M. 
     The connecting member  50   a  of  FIG. 48  resembles the just described connecting member  50  with the one difference being that the rotary screw  40  passes through a central tubular channel  77  of the connecting member  50   a  constructed as one piece. The central hinge of  FIG. 37  is missing here. The connecting member  50   a  is constructed as a flat plate, since, instead of a pairing of two hinge halves  54  according to  FIGS. 48 ,  49 , a compact base plate  78  has the central tubular channel  77 . The vertex e 3  of the base plate  78  is 40 mm, the length n is 120 mm, and the width b is 100 mm. The distance b 1  between the two rows of screw holes  63  measures 70 mm. Their distance b 2  from the adjacent longitudinal edge  61  is 15 mm in each case. The clear height h 3  of the lateral oblong slots  60  is 13 mm, a distance that matches the dimension in  FIG. 42 . 
     The drawings do not show that in this case, too, it is possible to use the described threaded fitting  70  of  FIG. 39 . 
     According to  FIGS. 55 and 56 , the connecting member  50  can also be used as the connecting element for strip-shaped keder profiles  100 . Such a keder profile  100  is connected to the connecting member  50  by tension brackets  98  mounted in a rotationally limited manner at both ends. At the same time, the pins  76  pass through the keder profile  100  and the tension bracket  98 , each of which is fixed in position at both ends by a safety cotter pin  75  passing radially through the pins  76 . The pins  76  also pass through both the hinge parts  54  and  54   a , respectively, with a washer  39   a  on both sides of the tension bracket  98 . 
     Each of the two keder profiles  100  of  FIGS. 55 and 56  has two angle sections  102  that are molded by extrusion molding from a light metal alloy with each of these angle sections having an L-shaped cross section. In  FIG. 55 , two angle sections form together with a base arm  104  an overhang plate as well as two end strips  106 , reaching upward at a right angle from the overhang plate at an edge. According to  FIG. 57 , each angle section  102 , has a cross-sectional height h 8  of 50 mm, a cross-sectional width b 6  of approximately 80 mm, as well as a thickness f 1  of 12 mm or f 2  of 13 mm, and contains a plurality of longitudinal channels  108  or  109 , respectively. In addition, the base strips  104 , which lie one over the other, form with the recesses  110   a ,  111   a  situated one over the other and being a part of the external surfaces  105  ( FIGS. 55 and 57 ) of the base strips. A common central channel  110  has an approximately rectangular cross section, and a common longitudinal channel  111  has a circular cross section. 
     The end strips  106  contain the passage slots  107  crossing the end strips receiving the tension brackets  98  and terminate in each case with a longitudinal edge  112 . An oblong slot  114  extends in longitudinal edge  112 . On the other hand, oblong slot  114  issues from the adjacent longitudinal channel  109 . This oblong slot  114  serves to accommodate a keder secured on the edge of an assigned textile surface. This keder has to be enveloped by the membrane welded together. The keder of a defined strength then sits rigidly and immovably on the edge of the textile surface. This keder has to transfer the forces in the transverse direction to a structural element to the keder profile  100  in the example of  FIG. 55 . 
       FIGS. 58 to 60  show a portion of a mounting section  120 , having a right angular cross section, for the angle section  102 . A shaped plate  122  extends from the end strip or transverse strip  106  of the profile. The shaped plate sits with an endwardly molded-on round bead  124  in the longitudinal channel  109  of the angle section  102 . Above the longitudinal edge  112 , which is semicircularly curved in the cross section, a second shaped bead  126  of the shaped plate  122  is provided. The center points of the two beads  124 ,  126  form a distance g of 8.6 mm in this exemplary embodiment. The distance g 1  of the center point Z 1  of each round bead  124  from the underside  105  of the base arm  104  of the angle section  102  measures 44 mm. The distance g 2  of the center point Z 1  from the upper surface  128  of a transverse plate  130 , which is molded endwardly at a right angle onto the shaped bar  122 , is 56 mm. The transverse plate has a width e 7  of 50 mm and a thickness e 7  of 2 mm. The clear distance g 3  of the transverse plate  130  from the base strip  104  measures 85 mm. The thickness e 8  of the shaped plate  122  is only slightly larger than the thickness e 7 . 
     In  FIGS. 61 and 62 , two transverse strips of keder profiles  100  made of light metal sections are assigned to each other at a distance k 1 . In  FIG. 62  the end or transverse strips  106  of their angle sections  102  are connected by spacing screws  116 . In this case, the figures show two membrane webs S 1 , which are clamped with an edge in a respective central channel  110  by an inserted profile bar  115 . Two cloth strips S 2  are laid over the angle sections  102  to protect them, are connected to each other on a longitudinal plate  118 , and terminate on the surface of the membrane webs S 1 . Owing to the oblong slot  114  of the longitudinal edge  112 , this longitudinal plate is positioned in the longitudinal channel  109  adjacent to this longitudinal edge and extends at a distance in parallel to the spacing screws  116 . 
       FIG. 63  shows a device analogous to that in  FIG. 56 , where the keder profile  100  is provided with a housing  140 . This housing has a floor plate  132  with a profile bar  135  having a circular cross section. The profile bar in the working position rests in the transverse channel  111  of the transverse strip  100 . A wall plate  134  having an angular cross section is hinged to the floor plate  136  with both wall strips  136 ,  136   a  of the wall plate defining an angle w 3  of approximately 130°. In the working position, an angle section  138  is connected to the narrow wall strips  136   a . The free edge of the angle section also forms a profile bar  135   a . In the working position, this profile bar rests in the upper longitudinal channel  109  of the upper angle section  102 . 
       FIG. 64  illustrates a connecting device of two net or cloth surfaces (not illustrated). A retaining tube  142  shown in sections and exhibiting an external diameter q, is connected to a spaced ridge tube  144  having a significantly smaller diameter q 1  by three radial plates  146 . U-shaped clamps  150  may be slid onto this ridge tube  144 . The clamps can be secured with their bow end  148  on the ridge tube and are slid with a screw end  149  through a hole  147  in one of the assigned angle sections  102 . Threaded nuts  41   a  secure the two screw ends  149  of the clamp  150  on the angle section  102 , on which the net or cloth surface is secured. The result is, for example, a rigid connection between two such textile surfaces resting in the adjacent hole sections  145 ,  145   a  of the length c of the ridge tube  144 . 
     While various embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.