Abstract:
In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a free-standing structure which includes an eight-sided roof perimeter; at least four geodesic structures extending from four sides of the eight-sided roof perimeter and supporting the perimeter; and at least four legs, each leg structurally corresponding with one of the at least four geodesic structures for upholding the free-standing structure.

Description:
[0001]    The instant disclosure claims the filing-date benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/819,011, filed Jul. 7, 2006, the specification of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
       [0002]    The disclosure generally relates to a modular frame and a covering therefor. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the modular frame is a free-standing structure which can be positioned independently or it can be combined with other similar structures to provide a larger span of coverage. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Conventional frame tents, party tents, vestibule tents and common rental tents are readily assembled and disassembled frame structures which incorporate conventional slip fit elements for legs, perimeter and roof support pieces. Supporting legs of conventional tents are spaced at increments of 10 to 20 feet, around the perimeter, along with the related gable, hip or pyramid components needed to support the tent top. These multi-component assemblies provide the structural elements for supporting the fabric tops of these shelters. 
         [0004]    Frame tents are normally restricted to an interior span of less than fifty feet wide due to structural requirements. This is because the large span roofs require additional support and cannot be free-standing. Accordingly, tents larger than 50 feet are classified as pole, bail ring tents, clear span beam or truss structures. Conventional large tents require either a center pole (for supporting the roof fabric), a special extrusion material (to be used as a clear-span beam supporting the roof fabric), or multiple structural pieces (for forming a clear-span truss supporting the roof fabric). The multiple structural pieces form the base for tensioning the fabric top between the structural elements. 
         [0005]    Pole or bale ring tents require many perimeter support legs, commonly spaced between 5 feet to 15 feet for tensioning the top; while clear span beams or trusses units require multiple purlin spacers to maintain alignment and structural integrity of the support frame and commonly are spaced at varying distances up to 20 feet. The roofs of such tents normally extent above the perimeter frame a distance equal to 25 percent of the width of the tent for frame and pole tents, while structures may extend 25 percent, or more, of the width of the tent from the ground. A standard 20 foot by 20 foot frame tent may have as many as 59 structural elements plus the top; while the quantity of pieces required to setup larger tents increases in both quantity and length of pipes or extruded beams. 
         [0006]    The conventional large tent structures also have a roof member which directly supports the center or a portion of the roof. The roof member has been an essential part of the conventional tent structures especially when the tent&#39;s size increases requiring larger roof-top material. The roof members are typically positioned inside the tent thereby interrupting the space under the roof of the tent. 
         [0007]    The conventional large tents are also heavy, inefficient and costly to produce and maintain. Because of the many structural parts, they provide difficult and time-consuming assembly and disassembly. Moreover, the weight of the fabric-top limits the span of the tent. Accordingly, there is a need for a free-standing structural system that addresses these deficiencies. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0008]    In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a free-standing structure which includes an eight-sided roof perimeter; at least four geodesic structures extending from four sides of the eight-sided roof perimeter and supporting the perimeter; and at least four legs, each leg structurally corresponding with one of the at least four geodesic structures for upholding the free-standing structure. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a modular free-standing structure comprising: a plurality of support members forming a roof support structure and defining a roof perimeter for the free-standing structure; a roof fabric covering the roof support structure; a plurality of load transfer structures upholding certain of the support members and transferring the weight of the roof support structure; a plurality of legs for receiving the weight of the roof support structure and upholding the free-standing structure, the plurality of legs defining a footprint perimeter for the free-standing structure; wherein the footprint perimeter is larger than the roof perimeter. 
         [0010]    In still another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a free standing modular structure comprising a plurality of support members forming an eight-sided perimeter for receiving a roof cover; a plurality of geodesic structures, each geodesic structure sharing at least one support member with the eight-sided perimeter to define a geodesic area for receiving a geodesic cover; and a plurality of legs, each leg structurally corresponding with one of the plurality of geodesic structures, the plurality of legs defining a footprint area for the modular structure; wherein the footprint area is substantially equal to a sum of a roof cover area and the geodesic areas. 
         [0011]    In still another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for providing a free-standing coverage for an obstruction-free area, the method comprising providing a support perimeter for receiving a roof cover; providing a plurality of geodesic corner structures to extend from the support perimeter and to receive a geodesic cover; and freestanding the roof cover by connecting each of the geodesic corner structures to a leg member. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The embodiment of the disclosure will be discussed in referenced to the following non-limiting and exemplary drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a modular frame according to one embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of an exemplary modular frame having the roof fabric assembled to the top of the frame pipe; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of the modular structure shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of an embodiment of the disclosure having parabolic shaped top where the fabric top is attached to the bottom of the frame pipe; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows a joint for connecting two members; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a three-way joint for connecting three members; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  represents a three-way joint which has different angles for connecting three members; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary base plate adapted to receive two legs; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  shows an modular frame adapted to combine with similar frames to form a larger structure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  shows the modular frame of  FIG. 9  with a parabolic shaped roof cover assembled thereon; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  shows the combination of several modular frames as shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  shows the top modular assembly top plate  1200  as demonstrated in the assembly of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a schematic representation of the structure shown in  FIG. 11  with a top cover assembled thereon; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a schematic representation of the structure shown in  FIG. 11  with a parabolic shaped top cover assembled thereon. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a schematic representation of a modular frame with support members  1510  and  1520  of varying length. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    An embodiment of the disclosure relates to a wide-span modular free-standing structure. The modular structure combines the structural components of the fabric top with the structural elements of the support frame, eliminating the need for the additional roof-support bracing. While the top may have many geometric forms, in one embodiment the top is substantially octagonal. The octagonal top frame along with geodesic corners provides converge to the supporting legs with the built in parabolic shaped top. It also provides the necessary flowing curvature for water removal, while integrating structural tensioning of the top from the perimeter structural frame forms the base tent unit. 
         [0029]    The octagonal perimeter frame of equal or unequal side dimensions provides support only at the four corners, thereby providing clear side openings, based upon the tent size, from 10 feet to 40 feet or larger. Due to structural requirements for snow or wind loadings, an interior wire cable system may be optionally added, along with a cable to fabric top tensioning rod to offset the loading needs. A tent according to one embodiment of the disclosure can incorporate conventional slip fit design elements for the octagonal perimeter frame, geodesic corners and the vertical legs. 
         [0030]    The structural components (base plates, frame pipe fittings, pipes and modular assembly elements) can be constructed from any structural material products, including but not limited to steel, aluminums, plastics and composite products (i.e., carbon fiber) and alloys. The parabolic-shaped top can be constructed from any fabric which has structural supporting characteristics and can have either sewn or welded joints. Sidewalls or partition walls can be either attached to the fabric or side frame members and constructed from any fabric which has structural supporting characteristics and can have either sewn or welded joints. These walls can be attached with VELCRO® type connectors, zippers or webbing. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a modular frame according to one embodiment of the disclosure. To ease description, the structure of  FIG. 1  is shown without a roof top. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the free-standing modular frame  100  includes base-plate. The base-plate defines a footprint which is the perimeter of the structure. That is, by drawing an imaginary line between the adjacent base-plates, a footprint for the structure can be determined. The base-palate  110  is shown to have several connections points for securing the structure to the ground. The connection points can be sized to receive an anchor or the like. Base plate  110  may have an integrated structure to receive one or more legs  101 . For example,  FIG. 1  also shows base plate  112  adapted to support two legs  102 . Each leg couples (or connects) to a geodesic corner structure  120 . The geodesic corner structure  120  comprises of at least three structural members coupled to each other to substantially form a triangle. The geodesic corner structure  120  may be adapted to receive more than one leg as shown in the geodesic structure  122 . While the geodesic corner structure is shown as having three members forming a triangle, the principles disclosed herein are not limited thereto. Indeed, a corner structure not resembling the triangular shape shown in  FIG. 1 , for example a parabolic structure can be used without departing from the principles of the disclosure. 
         [0032]    Structural support members  130  connect the geodesic structures to each other and can be seen as interposed between two adjacent geodesic structures. The connection of the support members and the geodesic structures forms perimeter  135 , which in the non-limiting embodiment of  FIG. 5 , is octagonal. Parameter  135  provides a frame for receiving the roof-top material for the modular tent. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  also shows cross-members  105  connecting support members  130  to each other. Cross-members can be tension wires, bars, rods or any other conventional structural mean. As shown in  FIG. 1  tension wires  105  and  106  meet at center point  107 . While not shown in  FIG. 1 , a support bar can be placed at the center point  107  between the top tension wire  105  and the bottom tension wire  106  or above both wires ( 105  and  106 ) to the underside of the fabric top, to create a peak at the center of the modular structure  100 . Once parameter  135  is covered by a roof-top material, the peak at center  107  will help repel water and debris. Thus, a peak is provided without the need to have a separate roof-support member that disrupts the space inside the structure.  FIG. 1  also shows footprint  150  which is the surface area defined by foot-prints  110  (and  112 ). 
         [0034]    While the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  shows cross members  105  and  106  connecting support members  130  which are opposite to each other, the principles disclosed herein are not limited thereto and can apply to cross-members which couple (or connect) adjacent support members. 
         [0035]    It should be noted that because  FIG. 1  is a plan view of a modular frame, the perimeter  135  may appear smaller than the foot-print of the modular frame. However, as will be demonstrated in side-view  FIG. 3 , such is not the case. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of an exemplary modular frame having the roof fabric assembled to the top of the modular frame pipe thereon. Referring to  FIG. 2 , modular frame  200  is shown with legs  101  supporting geodesic corner structure  120 . A roof fabric  210  covers the top surface of the structure formed by the plurality of support members  130  and geodesic corner structures  120 . The roof fabric can be extended to cover the space supported by each geodesic corner structure as is shown by regions  215 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , additional tension wires  220  adjoin opposite corners. The implementation of tension wires  220  is optional. In an alternative embodiment, the tension wires are support rods configured to provide a small slope or a slant by raising the center point  225  slightly above the support members  130 . Such configuration enables the modular frame to shed water and debris. This top can be used to cover an individual wide span modular free standing structure or incorporated to cover the same frame, reconfigured to form a larger modular component interior clear span frame tent. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of the modular structure shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 3 , base-plate  112  receives legs  102 . Each leg  102  connects to geodesic corner structure  120  through a different joint  310 ,  312 . Additional joints  314  and  316  define the geodesic corner structure  120 . Bars  330 ,  332  and  334  can be fabricated from any conventional material including, aluminum, titanium, steel, carbon fiber, etc. 
         [0038]    Because  FIG. 3  is a side view, it can be readily seen that the coverage area of the roof top supported by roof parameter  135  is substantially similar to that the of the foot-print perimeter of the modular structure. In one embodiment, the size of the parameter  135  is substantially the same as the parameter defined by the base-plates  110 . In another embodiment, the surface area of the foot-print is substantially equal to the surface area of the roof combined with the surface area of the geodesic portions. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of an embodiment of the disclosure having parabolic top  410 . Parabolic-shaped top  410  can be made of any conventional material having structural value including, for example, vinyl, PVC, canvas, etc. The parabolic-shaped top extends to cover the geodesic portions  415 . The parabolic-shaped top can be attached to the bottom side of the modular frame and can have a parabolic shape which creates a curvature from the center of the top to the corners, providing for drainage and debris removal. This parabolic-shaped top also provides a structural bracing of the modular frame to reduce lateral movement from the wind. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  shows the exemplary joint  500  which can be use in connection with the principles disclosed herein. Joint  500  generally has an elbow shape and may form a right-angle. Opening  510  can be sized to receive a leg, a part of the geodesic structure or cross members. An optional notch  520  is formed on each side of the joint to receive a complementary ball or release mechanism. From the member which is received by the joint. 
         [0041]    Similarly,  FIG. 6  shows a three-way joint for connecting three members. Again, notches  620  can be optionally formed to secure an adjoining member with a complementary ball or release mechanism.  FIG. 7  represents the three-way joint of  FIG. 6  from a different angle. A similar numbering scheme is used in  FIG. 7  to identify the various portion of the three-way joint. 
         [0042]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary base plate adapted to receive two legs. Base plate  800  is shown to have four holes  805  formed therein. Holes  805  can be devised to receive an anchor bolt securing the base plate to the ground. Receiving tubes  810  can also be integrated to base plate  800 . Each receiving tube  810  can releasably receive, for example, a leg of the modular frame  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Opening  812  can be sized to accommodate the appropriate members while rejecting others. Notch  814  is formed in the receiving tubes  810  to releasably engage a structural member or a leg having a complementary release or attachment mechanism. Cavity (or marker)  815  can be positioned centrally within the base plate to identify the tent frame size and provide a reference point for laying out the base plates prior to assembling the structural components. 
         [0043]    According to one embodiment of the disclosure several modular frames can be combined to form a larger structure.  FIG. 9  shows a modular frame adapted to combine with similar frames to form a larger structure. Referring to  FIG. 9 , three of base plates  905  are positioned on the ground and adapted to receive two legs  910  each. In addition, each of base plates  905  supports a geodesic corner structure  920 . Geodesic corner structure  925  is coupled to leg  915  which ends in base plate  917 . Geodesic corner structure  925  as well as leg  915  and base plate  917  are rotated to point up-ward and away from the ground. 
         [0044]      FIG. 10  shows the modular frame of  FIG. 9  with roof cover  1010  assembled thereon. It can be readily seen that cover  1010  extends to cover geodesic corner structure  925  which is turned upward. 
         [0045]    When creating a larger interior clear span modular frame tent, four of the basic Modular Frames can be grouped together. Three of the geodesic corner and leg assemblies of each modular frame, are assembled normally; while the fourth is reversed, with the geodesic corners and leg assembly pointed upward. The four center geodesic corners and leg assemblies are attached to the Top Modular Assembly Base plate  1200 , which allow the structural forces from the center to be balanced against each other when assembled. Due to structural requirements for snow or wind loadings, an interior wire cable system may be added between the octagonal frames. Opening the center of the Modular Assembled tents, in distances of 20 feet to 80 feet or larger, allows the larger clear spanned area to be available, while maintaining the larger clear side openings. This configuration of Modular Frames to create larger structures without special beam or truss span components, thereby reducing the quantity of perimeter legs while obtaining the larger clearance spaces and reducing the time needed to set up these larger tents. 
         [0046]      FIG. 11  shows the combination of several modular frames as shown in  FIG. 9 . Namely,  FIG. 11  shows the combination of modular frames  110 ,  1104 ,  1106  and  1110 . At the point where each two modular frames join (e.g., frames  110  and  1106 ) the legs can be supported by a specially-adapted base plate  1120  which can accommodate 2 or more legs or use the standard leg base plate connected adjacent to each other. Additional joiner elements (not shown) that couple other members (e.g., legs) of the coupled frames may optionally be used. As shown in  FIG. 11  each frame  1102 ,  1104 ,  1106  and  1110  will have one geodesic corner structure and leg turned upward. The upwardly-facing geodesic corner structures and legs for each of the modular frames can be joined at the center to form center peak  1130 . Peak  1130  provides a means for shedding water and other debris and provides structural stability. To provide additional structural stability, the legs from the joinder of the geodesic corners can be coupled through top plate  1135  or similar devices. Further structural rigidity can be provided by optionally assembling tensions wires  1140  and  1145  which connect support members  1112 ,  1114 ,  1116  and  1118 . 
         [0047]    Cross members  105  are also shown in  FIG. 11 . These cross members can be tension wires separated by a spacer (not shown) such that the top tension wire is slightly elevated over the bottom tension wire. Thus, each of the modular frames  1102 ,  1104 ,  1106  and  1110 , when covered by a roof material will have a slight peak for shedding water. 
         [0048]      FIG. 12  shows top plate  1200  as demonstrated in the assembly of  FIG. 11 . In  FIG. 12 , top plate  1200  includes several receiving tubes  1210 . Each receiving tube  1210  is sized to releasably receive a leg member associated with a modular frame of the structure. Top plate  1200  also shelters the opening at top of peak  1130  (see  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0049]      FIG. 13  is a schematic representation of a modular structure  1300  including the structure shown in  FIG. 11  with a top cover assembled thereon. The top cover in this schematic is attached to the top of the modular frame assembly pipe. The modular frame  1300  can be devise so as to minimize seams  1310 . Alternatively, seam covers (not shown) can be provided to obviate water leakage. 
         [0050]      FIG. 14  is another schematic representation of a modular structure  1400  including the structure shown in  FIG. 11  with a top cover assembled thereon. The top in the representation of  FIG. 14  is a parabolic top which can be attached to the underside of the modular frame pipe. The openings between the modular frame parabolic tops is closed with a joint cover (not shown) to obviate water leakage. 
         [0051]    It can be seen that the embodiments disclosed herein provide a structural frame that, among other: (1) reduces the visual obstruction of standard tent roofs; (2) reduces the length of pipe components required to construct a frame tent; (3) reduces assembly and disassembly time; and (4) increases the width size of slip joint frame constructed tents. 
         [0052]    The embodiments disclosed herein are exemplary in nature and are not intended to limit the scope of the principles disclosed and/or claimed herein. Other embodiments which are not specifically described herein can be made in accordance with the principles of the disclosure and within the scope of these principles.