Joints and connections – Branched – Three or more radiating members
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-27
2001-10-02
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Branched
Three or more radiating members
C403S093000, C135S098000, C135S901000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296415
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCES TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
None.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is for a support system, and more particularly, pertains to a cam style hub and strut system for use in portable and semi-permanent structures. The present invention can be used in any number of structures, including but not limited to, portable or semi-permanent structures, such as ice fishing houses, movie screens, road crew signs, boat covers, tents, medical tents, hunting blinds, photography blinds, portable garages, and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Portable or semi-permanent structures are popular and practical for many of the aforementioned applications. The shortcomings of the current art device centrally hubbed units lie in the impracticality of utilizing the proper amount of extra diagonal length between the rod or strut ends and the distance between corners of a panel. The diagonal distance between opposing strut ends must be sufficiently greater than the corresponding corner-to-corner measurement of the panel in order to hold the panel in place once the hub is forced through the center. When the struts used are of optimal length, the unit becomes very difficult to set up, and damage to the hub system or structure itself frequently occurs. Couple this with the fact that many optimal structural fabrics stretch and shrink when contacted with environmental conditions to which they are commonly exposed, for example, rain, high humidity, heat, sunlight, and the like, the optimal system then is one that can be adjustable. In systems utilizing fabrics prone to stretching or shrinking, the unit may be built so that the cam need only be engaged in conditions in which the fabric is found to be affected. This system couples ease of setup with the cam disengaged and application of the proper amount of pressure on the panel to hold the system in a fixed position with the cam engaged, utilizing either flexible or rigid struts depending upon the properties of the material used in the panel and the size of the panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention incorporates a cam style hub and strut system with offset pivot points in the hub that when turned moves the opposing struts to a lineal orientation furthering the distance between the strut ends. This allows ease of setup partnered with the ability to apply a greater amount of diagonal force upon the panel in which they are installed, creating panels used in structures that were formerly prone to failure caused by (1) the forces exerted in erection, (2) changes in environmental conditions, (3) excessive wind or wind flap, specifically in wildlife concealment applications (wind flap equates to failure), (4) injury from sudden accidental collapse, and (5) inability to erect. The cam style hub also eliminates the need for excessive panel construction costs associated with current techniques incorporating elastic perimeters, no-stretch perimeters, spring-loaded strut end caps, and the use of various sizes of struts needed to match panel material weights and stretch properties. The framework of the cam need not go past 180 degrees and may incorporate a locking mechanism, if desired. The diagonal length of the struts is greater than the diagonal of the panel. The locking mechanism makes it possible to use same length struts if desired, meaning struts will not bow and the structure will stay up.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a cam style hub and strut system, including a centrally located rotatable hub having a plurality of positionable struts extending outwardly therefrom to engage the outer regions of a flexible panel of cloth, tent material, canvas, sheet plastic or the like.
One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a cam style hub and strut system having a centrally located rotatable hub which operates two or more struts outwardly. The cam style hub and strut system includes sockets which accommodate the ball ends of the outwardly extendable struts. The cam style hub and strut system incorporates over-the-center locks.
Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a cam style hub and strut system incorporating capture detents to lock the struts in the extended position.
Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a cam style hub and strut system having accommodational maneuvering channels, truncated slots and capture detents in which the struts can be positioned, maneuvered and locked or collapsed.
A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a cam style hub and strut system in which the struts are collapsible when not in use.
Having thus described one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is the principal objective hereof to provide a cam style hub and strut system.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3810482 (1974-05-01), Beavers
patent: 3941140 (1976-03-01), Beavers
patent: 4077417 (1978-03-01), Beavers
patent: 4606669 (1986-08-01), DeBliquy
patent: 4637748 (1987-01-01), Beavers
patent: 4941499 (1990-07-01), Pelsue et al.
patent: 5069572 (1991-12-01), Niksic
patent: 5628338 (1997-05-01), Stumbo
patent: 5943837 (1999-08-01), Esser et al.
patent: 5944041 (1999-08-01), Kitchens
Beam Keith J.
Johnson Brooks E.
Bochna David E.
Browne Lynne H.
Double Bull Archery, LLC
Jaeger Hugh D.
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