Patent ID: 7517024

Claim:
An arrangement for enabling post-assembly tension adjustment in an elastomeric material application, the arrangement comprising: a frame structure with first and second opposed sides; a panel of elastomeric material with opposed first and second edges, a body portion between the first and second edges, an inner surface side, and an outer surface side; means for retaining the first edge of the panel of elastomeric material in relation to the first side of the frame structure and means for retaining the second edge of the panel of elastomeric material in relation to the second side of the frame structure thereby to cause the panel of elastomeric material to span from the first side to the second side of the frame structure in tension; and a tension adjustment assembly operably associated with the frame structure and the panel of elastomeric material wherein the tension adjustment assembly comprises a means for selectively and adjustably pressing on the body portion of the panel of elastomeric material between the first and second edges of the elastomeric panel to induce a localized deflection of the panel of elastomeric material thereby to enable a selective post-assembly deflection and adjustment of tension in the panel of elastomeric material wherein the tension adjustment assembly comprises a slidable member coupled for lateral sliding relative to the frame structure, wherein the slidable member can be selectively slid to adjust a deflection of the panel of elastomeric material, and wherein the slidable member is disposed to the inner surface side of the panel of elastomeric material.