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US 7,546,654 B2Granted
Mobile compression and tension bridge and shelter structure
OwnerMordehay Carmelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile compression and tension bridge and shelter structure having a plurality of individual structural elements that are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the length of the bridge or shelter. The structural elements are flexibly connected to one another on a bottom surface forming an arch caused by the shape of the elements or by placing spacers between the elements with at least one tension device attached to each structural element.
Claims17
A free-standing mobile compression and tension structure comprising:
- a plurality of parallel structural elements, wherein adjacent parallel structural elements are in contact with each other while in a free-standing state, said plurality of parallel structural elements being perpendicular to a length of the structure;
- means for absorbing a tension between each adjacent structural element as a compression load is applied to an upper portion of the adjacent structural elements and for preventing said adjacent structural elements from separating, said means being a tension device that is rigidly secured to an intermediate portion of a lower surface of each adjacent structural element such that said tension device is under a tension load while said structure is in said free-standing state;
- each of said adjacent structural elements having an upper portion width that is larger than a lower portion width;
- and
- said structure being configured as an arch in its free-standing state.
2 more elements
A free-standing compression and tension bridge comprising:
- a plurality of parallel structural elements, wherein adjacent parallel structural elements are in contact with each other while in a free-standing state, said plurality of parallel structural elements being perpendicular to a length of the structure;
- means for absorbing a tension between each adjacent structural element as a compression load is applied to an upper portion of the adjacent structural elements and for preventing said adjacent structural elements from separating, said means being a tension device that is rigidly secured to an intermediate portion of a lower surface of each adjacent structural element such that said tension device is under a tension load while said structure is in its free-standing state;
- said structure being configured as an arch shape in its free-standing configuration;
- and
- a wedge-shaped generally flat spacer is positioned between each adjacent structural element so as to maintain a separation of said upper portion of each adjacent structural element when under compression and so as to maintain the structure in said arch shape.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.