Method and apparatus for securing flexible sheeting to a cylindrical structure

A system for securing flexible sheeting material in a fixed position defining a surface, comprising in combination:

• at least two elongate frame elements including a first frame element and a second frame element, each frame element having a substantially cylindrical surface;
• means to secure a position of said at least two frame elements without relative motion between said at least two frame elements;
• at least two clamps including a first clamp and a second clamp, each said clamp having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, said inner surface of said first clamp having a diameter substantially identical to a diameter of said cylindrical surface of said first frame element, said inner surface of said second clamp having a diameter substantially identical to a diameter of said cylindrical surface of said second frame element;
• each said clamp having a gap passing into an interior region of said clamp faced by said inner surface;
• each said clamp formed of resilient material allowing said gap of each said clamp to flex open to an amount equal to one of said diameters of one of said frame elements, allowing said frame element to be located within said interior region with the flexible sheeting material secured between said first clamp and said first frame element and with said flexible sheeting material secured between said second clamp and said second frame element;
• wherein at least one of said frame elements is curved and at least one of said clamps is formed from a material having sufficient flexibility to allow said clamp to bend to exhibit a radius of curvature matching the radius of curvature exhibited by said curved frame element;
• and
• wherein at least one of said clamps exhibits a series of slits passing there through, each said slit extending through said lip of said clamp in a direction substantially perpendicular to a central axis of said clamp, said slits having sufficient width to allow said clamp to bend to exhibit a radius of curvature matching the radius of curvature exhibited by said curved frame element.

A clamp for securing flexible sheeting to elongate cylindrical structures, said clamp comprising in combination:

• an inner surface having a cylindrical contour and defining an interior region of said clamp;
• said inner surface extending from a first lip to a second lip, said first lip and said second lip spaced apart by a gap, said gap providing access into said interior region;
• said inner surface having a pair of extremes defining uppermost and lowermost locations on said inner surface, said extremes spaced apart by a diameter of said inner surface, said inner surface being continuously curving on one side of said extremes and said inner surface broken by said gap on a side of said extremes opposite said one side;
• and
• wherein said clamp exhibits a constant cross-sectional contour between a first end and a second end except where slits pass from said first lip to an adjacent one of said extremes and from said second lip to an adjacent one of said extremes.