Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Cover with surface water receiver at eave or valley
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-08
2001-11-13
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Cover with surface water receiver at eave or valley
C052S222000, C052S202000, C160S392000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314684
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
In the field of agriculture, various devices for attaching sheets of material are known. The prior art contains devices made of wood and aluminum that attach plastic sheets covering agricultural hothouses or greenhouses. One attachment device consists of a wooden pole upon which the plastic sheet is rolled. In order to attach the sheet, nails are inserted in the plastic sheet to attach it to the wooden rod.
In addition, attachment devices made of aluminum are also known. These aluminum attachment devices are based on the passive operation of placing a male and female component on one another. The sheet is attached by spreading the sheet on the female part, placing the male part on the female part, and subsequently attaching a clip that prevents the two parts from separating.
These devices have many disadvantages. The attachment devices made of wood are problematic because the method of attaching the plastic sheets by inserting nails through the sheet causes damage to the plastic sheets. These devices can only be used once, thereby preventing the reuse or adjustment of sheets. In addition, because of the aggressive method of attachment, it is not possible to use the wooden device for attaching sheets made of delicate materials, such as paper. Utilizing this method, delicate materials would tear.
Aluminum attachment devices in the prior art are also problematic because the plastic sheets are only passively attached. In these passive attachment devices, the two parts of the device, one on the other with the sheet between them, only have a clip holding them together. This method of attachment frequently causes the sheet to be cut in the place of attachment to the attachment device, and thus causes damage to the sheet and the loss of attachment and tension of the sheet. In addition, the metal clips tend to come loose and thus release the attachment of the sheet. It is therefore necessary to fit numerous metal clips and to check them frequently in order to verify that they remain in place.
None of the above types of devices provide the possibility of initial locking or temporary attachment of the sheets. Rather the prior art only allows for final attachment and fitting. This causes great difficulties when covering hothouses, stretching the sheets, and adjusting and correcting them as necessary.
In addition, the prior art does not account for drainage of the condensation water. In agricultural hothouses in which there is a system for controlling the irrigation and the climate inside them, condensation water typically accumulates in random places in the roof of the hothouse and drips on the plants. This affects the monitoring and control of the climate and the irrigation in the hothouse. Further, the condensation water dripping downwards may produce various diseases in the plants. Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a way to collect and drain the accumulated condensation water.
Further, these devices do not have the shape of an angle, and the constructor must therefore attach angles to produce a frame for the structure. It would therefore also be desirable to utilize a device for attaching sheets that is already angled to produce a frame.
There is a need for an efficient device that will produce active and strong locking of sheets, including plastic sheets for hothouses, capable of multiple uses, i.e., the ability to remove and attach sheets again and again without damaging them. In addition there is also a need for a device that collects the condensation water accumulating mainly in the roof of the hothouse. Further, it would be beneficial to integrate an angle support into the design of the aforementioned devices.
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention addresses the deficiencies in the prior art by providing a locking device that is useful for connecting sheets of materials without damaging the sheets and that minimizes the number of pieces needed to secure the sheets together. One common application for the invention is agricultural hothouses, where it is necessary to cover the hothouse with plastic sheets on all sides. One aspect of the present invention provides a locking device that may be fitted to the roof of the hothouse or to the side beams of the hothouse. This locking device allows one to fix, stretch and lock the sheets covering the hothouse on all sides. The locking device, as well as a small gutter, may be attached to the roof of the hothouse. One embodiment of the present invention, comprising a locking device, a small gutter and a right angled base, may be fitted to the beam between the roof and the side wall of the hothouse, where base serves as an angle for the frame of the hothouse and thus eliminates the need for fitting an angle in addition to the locking device, the mesh attachment device, and the small gutter.
Another aspect of the present invention combines a sheet locking device, a small gutter, and a mesh attachment device in a single unit. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a device for active multi-locking of sheets and surfaces made of plastic, nylon, paper, or similar sheets or thin surfaces is provided. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a right angled shape serves as an angle for the frame of the structure to which the device is attached. Further, the present invention also contemplates the use of a small gutter that can collect and drain water vapor that may accumulate on the roof of a hothouse.
The device for active multi-locking of sheets in the presently preferred embodiment consists of two complementary pieces. The sheet is locked by placing a male piece inside a female piece. The locking produced by this device forms absolute locking in one direction, while the locking in the other direction is initial only and permits simple release of the sheets or surface, if necessary, without damaging them.
In a presently preferred embodiment, there is also a base that has two perpendicular edges. One edge contains a device for active multi-locking of sheets and a small gutter for the collection of condensation water. The other edge contains a device for attaching a mesh for hot houses. The angled shape of the base serves as an angle for the frame of the structure, and eliminates the need for fitting an angle for the structure in addition to the sheet locking device, the small gutter and the mesh attachment device, since it combines these devices with the angle into a single unit
In addition, the presently preferred embodiment incorporates a small gutter to collect condensation water, such as the condensation water that accumulates on the roof of a hothouse, and drain it to one or more drainage points. The drainage point may be chosen by the assembler at any point along the water collection line produced by the installation of several small gutters, one alongside the other.
By eliminating the need to provide separate devices for locking sheets, collecting condensation, and attaching mesh, the present invention provides a significant advance in the agricultural field. In addition, this invention advances the art by providing an angle for attaching the locking device and mesh attachment device to a structure. Further, the present invention advances the art by providing an improved method of active multi-locking and an effective way to collect and drain condensation water.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4189880 (1980-02-01), Ballin
patent: 4566236 (1986-01-01), Pound
patent: 4665670 (1987-05-01), van den Burg
patent: 4682642 (1987-07-01), Hogshead, III et al.
patent: 5809709 (1998-09-01), Ryan et al.
Aviram Itzik
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Friedman Carl D.
Varner Steve
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