Transportable modular configuration for holding panels

A method establishing support for a modular configuration, comprising:

• a) providing and unfolding a quadrilateral frame module with an open top and an open bottom, comprising:
• one each mount of a first type at each of four corners of said module establishing extremities of said top;
• one each mount of a second type at each of said four corners establishing extremities of said bottom,
• wherein said mount of a first type is connectable to said mount of a second type on another said module to permit vertical stacking of said frame modules, and
• wherein said mount of a first type is connectable to an abutted said mount of a first type to permit horizontal connection of said frame modules one to another;
• a pair of cross members in compression on each of said four sides of said frame module, each said cross member establishing a diagonal connection between a said first type of mount and a said second type of mount,
• wherein each said cross member of said pair is pivotally joined at the center to the other said cross member of said pair, and
• wherein each said cross member is pivotally joined to one said mount of a first type and one said mount of a second type to allow pivoting of said pair of cross members in a plane parallel to said side containing said pair of cross members;
• and
• at least first and second members in tension on each said side, ends of one first member in tension attached horizontally to each said mount of a first type in each said side and ends of one second member in tension attached horizontally to each said mount of a second type in each said side;
• b) providing at least one pair of z-bars comprising integral open channels facing opposite directions and raised slots at each end on one side for indexing said z-bar to said module, each said z-bar incorporating an adjustable tensioner at each end, affixing said z-bars along at least a first side of said frame module by indexing each end of a first z-bar of said pair to one of two said mounts of a first type at the extremities of the top of said first side and indexing each end of a second z-bar of said pair to one of two said mounts of a second type at the extremities of the bottom of said first side;
• c) providing four leveling pads;
• d) placing said pads on a level surface spaced to approximate the spacing of the four corners of a said frame module;
• e) indexing each said pad to each bottom corner of a first said module via at least one first type of rod incorporated in each said pad that mates with an opening in said mount of a second type,
• wherein each said pad is in operable communication both with at least one each said mount of a second type and a surface upon which said pads rest;
• and
• wherein said second type of mount is connectable to said leveling pad when said second type of mount is employed in modules that are a base of said configuration, and
• wherein said pads may accommodate up to at least three said mounts of a second type;
• f) providing two additional said pads per a second and each succeeding said frame module to be connected to existing installed said modules to comprise said modular configuration, each said addition of said second and succeeding frame modules comprising:
• 1) repeating steps (a) and (b);
• 2) placing said two pads on a level surface, spaced to approximate the spacing of two of the four corners of an additional said frame module to be abutted to said installed frame module;
• 3) indexing each of two said pads employed in installing said installed frame module to each mount of a second type on the side of said additional frame module abutting said first frame module and in a similar manner indexing said additional two pads to remaining said mounts of a second type on said additional frame module;
• 4) adjusting the height of said leveling pads now associated with said additional frame module to permit connection of said mounts of a first type on the abutting sides of said installed and additional frame modules to be connected together and approximately level;
• 5) providing panels having a length, width and depth;
• 6) mounting said panels on at least one said side of said configuration in each said pair of z-bars in each said frame module incorporated in said configuration as a base of said configuration;
• 7) checking openings between installed panels,
• 8) re-adjusting the height of said installed modules to minimize any said openings above a pre-specified value;
• 9) setting tension of said adjustable tensioners to a pre-specified value;
• and
• g) repeating step a) -f) until a pre-specified length of said configuration is established.

Support for a transportable configuration that provides protection for assets, comprising:

• a stackable frame open at the top and bottom of said frame, said frame having four sides and eight corners, comprising:
• first and second type mounts at each of said eight corners of said frame,
• four said mounts of a first type located at said top of said frame, one at each corner, said mounts of a first type comprising in part an L-shaped channel along one corner for securing members having a quadrilateral cross section, the open side of said L-shaped channel oriented to point toward a surface upon which said frame is placed, first and second indexing tabs pointing away from said surface, each said indexing tab on opposing corners of said mount of a first type and parallel to a respective leg of said L-shaped channel and four said mounts of a second type located on the four corners at said bottom of said frame, said mounts of a second type mirroring said L-shaped channels of said mount of a first type by having said open side of said L-shaped channels oriented opposite those of said mounts of a first type to allow said mount of a first type to index to said mount of a second type, thus allowing said configuration to be built in multiple vertical layers of said frames;
• at least one third indexing arrangement incorporated in said mount of a second type permitting mating to said mount of a first type when using said frame to add an upper layer of said frames to a structure with an existing lower layer of said frames;
• wherein each said mount of a first type on a first frame is configured to allow connection to another said mount of a first type that is a part of a second said frame abutting said first said frame to allow horizontal connection of said frames one to another;
• a pair of cross members in compression on each of said four sides of said frame, each said cross member of said pair pivotally joined at its center to the center of the other said cross member of said pair and pivotally joined to one said mount of a first type and one said mount of a second type diagonally opposite said mount of a first type on the same side of said frame so as to allow pivoting of said pair of cross members in one plane parallel to said same side;
• and
• at least first and second members in tension positioned on each of said four sides of said frame, said first member horizontally attached to respective said mounts of a first type and said second member horizontally attached to respective said mounts of a second type;
• at least first and second z-bars, each said z-bar comprising two abutting open channels facing opposite directions to create a “z” when viewed from an end, an installed pair of said z-bars allowing inserting protective panels therein, said z-bars incorporating raised slots formed at each end on one side of said z-bar that allow indexing said z-bar to said frame, each said z-bar incorporating first and second tensioning wires, each in operable communication with an adjustable tensioner, said tensioning wires connected on each said formed slot so as to be behind any installed said protective panels, said z-bars horizontally indexed along at least a first side of said frame, ends of said first z-bar indexed to two said mounts of a first type and ends of said second z-bar indexed to two said mounts of a second type in one side of said frame to create said installed pair;
• wherein said tensioning wires when installed are connected to said mounts that oppose those mounts indexed to said first and second z-bars, respectively, and
• wherein once said protective panels are slid into said slots provided by an installed said pair of z-bars, said z-bars are tensioned using their respective said adjustable tensioners;
• four adjustable bases incorporating at least one first indexing device,
• wherein each said base as installed is in operable communication with at least one said mount of a second type;
• first receiving arrangements on said mounts of a second type that mate to said first indexing devices of said bases;
• and
• second receiving arrangements on said mounts of a second type that mate to said indexing tabs of said mounts of a first type,
• wherein said protective panels are installed before tensioning said z-bars because the weight of said protective panels facilitates optimum tensioning of said z-bars, and
• wherein said protective panels are mounted in said z-bars to provide physical protection of assets on the side of said configuration opposite the side of said configuration facing away from said assets.

A support for a configuration providing mobile protection from airborne projectiles, comprising:

• a quadrilateral frame with an open top and an open bottom, comprising:
• one each quadrilateral mount of a first type comprising:
• an L-shaped channel along one corner of said mount of a first type, the open side of said L-shaped channel oriented to point toward a surface upon which said frame is placed;
• first and second indexing tabs each said tab on opposing corners of said mount of a first type parallel to a respective leg of said L-shaped channel;
• at least said mount of a first type incorporated at each of four corners of said frame thus establishing extremities of said open top;
• one each mount of a second type at each of said four corners that establish extremities of said bottom, said mount of a second type mirroring said L-shaped channels of said mount of a first type to allow said mount of a first type to connect to said mount of a second type, thus allowing said configuration to be built in multiple vertical layers of said frames, the open side of said L-shaped channel of said mount of a second type oriented to point away from a surface upon which said frame is placed;
• at least one first arrangement for indexing said mount of a first type to said mount of a second type when using said frame to add an upper layer of frames to a structure with an existing lower layer of frames;
• at least one second arrangement for securing said mount of a first type to an adjacent said mount of a first type to extend the horizontal length of said configuration;
• a pair of cross members in compression on each of said four sides of said frame, each said cross member establishing a diagonal connection between a said mount of a first type and a said mount of a second type,
• wherein each said cross member of said pair is pivotally joined at its center to the center of said other cross member of said pair, and
• wherein each said cross member is pivotally joined to one said mount of a first type and one said mount of a second type to allow pivoting of said pair of cross members in a plane parallel to said side containing said pair of cross members;
• at least first and second members in tension on each said side, ends of one said first member in tension attached horizontally to each said mount of a first type in each said side and ends of one said second member in tension attached horizontally to each said mount of a second type in each said side;
• at least one pair of z-bars, each said z-bar comprising integral open channels facing opposite directions to insert protective panels therein and slots formed at each end on one side of said z-bar for indexing said z-bar to said frame, each said z-bar incorporating an adjustable tensioner on each end located so as to be behind any installed said protective panels,
• wherein said z-bars are affixed along at least a first longitudinal side of said frame, each end of a said first z-bar of said pair affixed to one of two said mounts of a first type at the extremities of the top of said first longitudinal side and each end of a said second z-bar of said pair affixed to one of two said mounts of a second type at the extremities of the bottom of said first longitudinal side;
• and
• four leveling bases, adjustable at least in height, indexed to each bottom corner of said frame via at least one first type of rod in each said base that mates with an opening in said mount of a second type as employed when said mount of a second type is incorporated on said frame used as a bottommost frame in said configuration,
• wherein each said base is in operable communication both with at least one each said mount of a second type and a surface upon which said bases rest, and wherein each said base may accommodate up to at least three said mounts of a second type in forming said configuration.

Support for a transportable configuration that provides protection for assets, comprising:

• a stackable frame open at the top and bottom of said frame, said frame having four sides and eight corners, comprising:
• first and second type mounts at each of said eight corners of said frame, four said mounts of a first type located at said top of said frame, one at each corner, said mounts of a first type comprising in part an L-shaped channel along one corner for securing tubes having a quadrilateral cross section, the open side of said L-shaped channel oriented to point toward a surface upon which said frame is placed, first and second indexing tabs pointing away from said surface, each said indexing tab on opposing corners of said mount of a first type and parallel to a respective leg of said L-shaped channel and four said mounts of a second type located on the four corners at said bottom of said frame, said mount of a second type mirroring said L-shaped channels of said mount of a first type by having said open side of said L-shaped channels oriented opposite those of said mounts of a first type to allow said mount of a first type to connect to said mount of a second type, thus allowing said configuration to be built in multiple vertical layers of said frames;
• at least one third indexing arrangement incorporated in said mount of a second type permitting mating to said mount of a first type when using said frame to add an upper layer of said frame to a structure with an existing lower layer of said frames;
• wherein each said mount of a first type on a first frame is configured to allow connection to another said mount of a first type that is a part of a second said frame abutting said first said frame to allow horizontal connection of said frames one to another;
• a pair of cross members in compression on each of said four sides of said frame, each said cross member of said pair pivotally joined at its center to the center of the other said cross member of said pair and pivotally joined to one said mount of a first type and one said mount of a second type diagonally opposite said mount of a first type on the same side of said frame so as to allow pivoting of said pair of cross members in one plane parallel to said same side;
• at least first and second members in tension positioned on each of said four sides of said frame, said first member horizontally attached to respective said mounts of a first type and said second member horizontally attached to respective said mounts of a second type;
• at least first and second z-bars, each said z-bar comprising two abutting open channels facing opposite directions to create a “z” when viewed from an end, an installed pair of said z-bars allowing inserting protective panels therein, said z-bars incorporating raised slots formed at each end on one side of said z-bar that allow indexing said z-bar to said frame, each said z-bar incorporating first and second tensioning wires, a proximal end of each said first and second wires affixed one to each end of each said z-bar and an adjusting strap incorporating a ratchet and hook at the distal end of each said wire, said tensioning wires connected on each said raised slot so as to be behind any installed said protective panels, said z-bars horizontally affixed along at least a first side of said frame, ends of said first z-bar indexed to two said mounts of a first type and ends of said second z-bar indexed to two said mounts of a second type in one side of said frame to create said installed pair;
• wherein said tensioning wires when installed are connected to said mounts that oppose those mounts indexed to said first and second z-bars, respectively, and
• wherein once said protective panels are slid into said slots provided by an installed said pair of z-bars, said z-bars are tensioned using their respective said adjusting straps;
• four adjustable bases incorporating at least one first indexing device,
• wherein each said base as installed is in operable communication with at least one said mount of a second type;
• first receiving arrangements on said mounts of a second type that mate to said first indexing devices of said bases;
• and
• second receiving arrangements on said mounts of a second type that mate to said indexing tabs of said mounts of a first type,
• wherein said protective panels are installed before tensioning said z-bars because the weight of said protective panels facilitates optimum tensioning of said z-bars, and wherein said protective panels are mounted in said z-bars to provide physical protection of assets on the side of said configuration opposite the side of said configuration facing away from said assets.