US3803671A

US3803671A - Attaching assembly for sheet material

Info

Publication number: US3803671A
Application number: US00301091A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Stuppy; E Stephenson
Original assignee: STUPPY FLORA Inc
Current assignee: STUPPY FLORA Inc
Priority date: 1972-10-26
Filing date: 1972-10-26
Publication date: 1974-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-16

Abstract

A two-piece assembly is provided for attaching sheet material, such as polyethylene film, to greenhouses and the like. An elongated base member is secured to a support and includes a channel longitudinally therealong for receiving a portion of the sheet material therein and which also receives a material holding element having a configuration corresponding to that of the channel, the member and the element cooperating to releasably clamp the portion of the material in the channel. The element is nested in the channel in a manner that a pulling tension on the material serves to further tighten the clamping action of the element with the member, thus insuring a positive holding action. The element is further provided with a longitudinally extending flange in order that a screwdriver or similar tool may be utilized to pry the element out of the channel to facilitate easy removal or replacement of the sheet material.

Description

limited States Patent [191 Stuppy et a1.

[ 4] ATTACHING ASSEMBLY FOR SHEET MATERIAL [75] Inventors: Francis X. Stuppy, Greenwood;

Emmett Stephenson, Raytown, both of Mo.

[73] Assignee: Stuppy Flora, Inc., North Kansas Ciy, Mo.

[22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 301,091

[52] US. Cl. 24/243 K [51] Int. Cl A44b 21/00 [58] Field of Search 24/243 K, 243 M, 243 N,

24/30.5 R, 30.5 L, 72.5; 16/93 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,699,610 10/1972 Harby 16/93 D 3,141,221 7/1964 Faulls 24/30.5 R 3,426,412 2/1969 Streng et a1... 24/243 K 3,621,539 11/1971 Ayers 24/30.5 R

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,245,940 10/1960 France 24/243 K 5/1949 Great Britain 24/243 K Apr. 16, 1974 18,945 5/1956 Germany 24/243 K Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Schmidt, Johnson, Hovey & Williams 57 ABSTRACT A two-piece assembly is provided for attaching sheet material, such as polyethylene film, to greenhouses and the like. An elongated base member is secured to a support and includes a channel longitudinally therealong for receiving a portion of the sheet material therein and which also receives a material holding element having a configuration corresponding to that of .the channel, the member and the element cooperating to releasably clamp the portion of the material in the channel. The element is nested in the channel in a manner that a pulling tension on the material serves to further tighten the clamping action of the element with the member, thus insuring a positive holding action. The element is further provided with a longitudinally extending flange in order that a screwdriver or similar tool may be utilized to pry the element out of the channel to facilitate easy removal or replacement of the sheet material.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ATTACHING ASSEMBLY FOR SHEET MATERIAL This invention relates to an assembly for attaching sheet material to a support, an example of which is the construction of a temporary or semi-permanent greenhouse structure comprised of a framework over which sheet material, such as polyethylene film, is stretched to form an enclosure. Frequently these structures are provided with various temperature and other atmospheric controlling devices which require that the enclosure be relatively tight to seal out the outside weather yet must be of a nature that permits at least partial disassembly during the off season while at the same time being low cost both from the standpoint of materials used and the labor involved in assembly and disassembly.

In this connection then, it has become a readily accepted practice to employ the use of polyethylene film which heretofore has been attached to a framework through the use of laths or strips of wood which are nailed to the support in such a manner that the film is disposed between the lath and the support and thus held in place. This has been less than satisfactory, however, because of the tendency for the plastic material to tear at the point that the nails are driven through the lath and the film and because of the wind action which tends to cause the film to pull loose thus making the structure less than air tight in addition damaging the polyethylene film.

It is therefore a very important object of our invention to provide an assembly for .quickly and easily attaching sheet material in the natureof polyethylene film to a framework such as might be found in the construction of greenhouses and the like.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an attaching assembly for sheet material in which the material is clamped by the assembly and held without damage to the material such as by the puncturing of holes therein.

A still further important object of our invention is the provision of a material holding assembly in which the material is positively held and in which increased tension on the material will increase the grip of the assembly on the. material thus clamping it tighter.

A still further important object of the invention is the provision of a material holding assembly by which a holding element is releasably held in a channel without the use of auxilliary fasteners yet which is capable of being easily and quickly removed from the channel.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a greenhouse or the like employing the use of a sheet material covering, such as polyethylene film, which is attached to a framework through the use of an attaching assembly for sheet material made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged, exploded, crosssectional view illustrating the relative dispositions of a base member and holding element of the attaching assembly with respect to the sheet material as they would appear immediately prior to insertion of the material and the holding element into a channel of the base member;

FIG. 3 is fragmentary, enlarged, cross-sectional view illustrating the holding element and thematerial partially inserted in the channel of the base member; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, cross-sectional view illustrating the material holding assembly as it would appear when in clamping engagement with the sheet material.

An assembly, broadly designated by the numeral 10, is provided for the attachment of sheet material, such as polyethylene film or the like identified by the numeral 12, for use in constructing a greenhouse 14 or for use in other situations where it is desired to releasably hold a piece of sheet material such as for swimming pool covers, silo covers, or for construction protection.

The assembly 10 is comprised of an elongated base member 16 adapted to be attached to a support, such as a sideboard 18, which inturn is affixed to a frame structure 20 of the greenhouse 14. The member 16 may be attached in any conventional manner such as through the use of flathead screws, (not shown) which cooperate with pre-punched holes (not shown) provided in the member 16.

The member 16 may be of any desired length depending on the particular application, with ten foot lengths normally being recommended, or may be cut into shorter lengths for following various contours such as for a gable end of the structure 20. Disposed longitudinally along the member 16 is a generally C-shaped channel 22 having an arcuate surface 24 disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of the member 16 and an opening 26 which is of a lesser transverse width than that of the corresponding transverse width of the channel 22 itself.

The assembly 10 further includes an elongated material holding element 28 also being generally C-shaped in transverse cross section corresponding to the configuration of the channel 22 and likewise including an arcuate surface 30 disposed longitudinally therealong and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the element 28. It is to be here noted that the arc of curvature of the surface 24 of the channel 22 is somewhat larger than is the arc of curvature of the surface 30 of the element 28. An elongated arm 32' extends longitudinally along the entire length of the element 28 and defines the normally lower leg of the C-shaped element 28. Elongated flange means 34 and 36, perpendicular to the arms 32, extend longitudinally along the outer edge of the arm 32 and are disposed exteriorly of the channel 22 when the element 28 is nested therein.

Means for retaining the element 28 in the channel 22 are provided in the form of an angular, normally downwardly projecting leg 38 which is a part of the member 16 and extends longitudinally therealong adjacent the normally upper edge of the channel 22, the transverse distance between the arm 32 and the leg 38 defining the previously mentioned opening 26. The leg terminates in an arcuate, enlarged, material engageable lip 40 coextensive in length with the leg 38. A series of interlocking, opposed and relatively

offset ribs

42 and 44 are provided on the arm 32 of the element 28 and on a normally lower arm 46 of the member 16 respectively. The

ribs

42 and 44 extend longitudinally along their

respective arms

32 and 46, the ribs 44 being disposed in the cavity 22 while the ribs 42 are on the normally lower or underside of the leg 32. A plastic or rubber beading, partially embedded in the arm 32, might be provided in lieu of the ribs 42; the beading being seated between the ribs 44 when the element 28 is inserted in to the channel 22.

In addition to the leg 38 and the

ribs

42 and 44, the element retaining means also includes an elongated, transversely arcuate stretch 48 extending longitudinally along the element 28 and defining the normally upper leg thereof. The stretch 48 is disposed behind the leg 38 when the element 28 is in the channel 22 such that the arcuate surfaces 24 and 30 are in their opposed relationship. The member 16 and the element 28 may be made of any convenient, durable, lightweight material such as extruded aluminum.

In use, the member 16 is attached to the sideboard 18 as previously described and in a position to permit the material 12 to be stretched over the structure 20 as seen in FIG. 1. The material 12 is then positioned relative to the member 16 such that a portion 50 of the material is adjacent the opening 26, it being noted that sufficient length is provided to permit the material to extend beneath or beyond the assembly at all times. The element 28 is then inserted into the channel 22 such that the arcuate stretch 48 is leading and enters the channel first, forcing the portion 50 of the material 12 through the'opening 26 as seen in FIG. 3. After the arcuate stretch 48 has been disposed behind the leg 38, the arm 32 is then pressed into the cavity such that the portion 50 is not only disposed between the member 16 and element 28 but is also clamped or gripped between the cooperating

ribs

42 and 44. A light pressure on the

flanges

34 and 36 is normally sufficient to insert the arm 32 into the channel 22. I

The fact that the element 28 must be tilted about its longitudinal axis such that the stretch 48 leads when inserted through the opening 26 and into the channel 22 permits the stretch 48 to be nested behind the leg 38 preventing the element from being pulled out of the channel 22 in response to any pulling force thay may be applied through the material 12 such as by winds, stretching or otherwise. In fact, a force such as just described would tend to tighten the clamping action of the element 28 on the portion 50 of the material in that the stretch 48 would be pulled into tighter contact with the material in the region of the leg 38 and the lip 40. The

ribs

42 and 44 sufficiently grip the portion 50 of the material to prevent its being pulled through the cavity 22 during the exertion of such previously mentioned tension.

The removal of the element 28 to release the material 12 from the assembly 10 is easily accomplished by inserting a screwdriver or other prying tool behind the flange 34 such that the shank of thescrewdriver pivots about the lip 40 which serves as a fulcrum point and, by exerting pressure on the handle of the screwdriver in the direction of the framework the arm 32 of the element 28 is pried outwardly from the channel 22 thus releasing the latter and the clamped portion 50 of the material 12. An alternate to the use of a screwdriver or other prying tool is the provision of an element inserting and removing tool (not shown) having elongated, opposed lips which are placed behind the stretch 48 and the flange 34 to swing the element 28 into and out of the channel 22 as previously described.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that there has been here disclosed a novel assembly for the attachment of polyethylene film or other sheet material which permits quickand economical installation of the same in a positive manner, does not have a tendency to become loose or otherwise unattached and does not require puncturing or otherwise tearing of the material in order to firmly attach the same. The assembly 10 is particularly well-suited for use in providing relatively tight enclosures which are of a temporary nature and which are subject to repeated assembly and disassembly. The interlocking feature of the assembly 10 permits unlimited re-use thereof inasmuch as the assembly 10 is not susceptible to damage during the course of normal use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising:

a rigid, shape-retaining base member adapted to be attached to a support and having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configuration;

therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion of sheet material therein; and

a rigid, shape-retaining material holding element insertable into said channel and having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configuration similar to that of said channel whereby said element is nested in said channel when inserted therein, j

said member and said element each being elongated and having a normally lower, laterally and outwardly extending arm disposed longitudinally therealong,

said base and said element being provided with retaining'means, which includes gripping means co operatively located on said arms, for releasably holding said elementin said channel when the elementis nested therein in said non-deformed condition and said portion of material is disposed in the channel between the member and the element, said portion of material thereby being clamped and held therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion of sheet material therein; and a rigid, shape-retaining material holding element insertable into said channel and having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configuration corresponding to that of said channel whereby said element is nested in said channel when. inserted therein, i

said member and said element being elongated with said channel extending longitudinally along said member,

said channel and said element being generally C- shaped in transverse cross-section.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said member presents a channel opening which is of a lesser transverse width than the corresponding transverse width of said element.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said channel and said element each include an arcuate surface disposed transversely of their respective longituditherebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion of sheet material therein; and

a rigid, shape-retaining material holding element insertable into said channel and having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configuration corresponding to that of said channel whereby said element is nested in said channel when inserted therein,

said retaining means further includes an angular, normally downwardly projecting leg extending longitudinally along said member adjacent said channel and adapted to restrict the outward movement of said element from said channel when a pulling tension is exerted on said material in a direction generally opposite to that at which said leg projects,

said leg is fixed relative to said member and includes an arcuate, non-deformable, enlarged, material engaging lip rigidly extending longitudinally along said leg.

8. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising:

a base member adapted to be attached to a support;

said retaining means further includes an elongated,

transversely arcuate stretch extending longitudinally along said element and adapted to be disposed behind said leg when said element is in said channel.

9. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising:

a base member adapted to be attached to a support;

therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion of sheet material therein; and a material holding element insertable into said channel and having a configuration corresponding to that of said channel whereby said element is nested in said channel when inserted therein, said base and said element being provided with retaining means for releasably holding said element in said channel when the element is nested therein and said portion of material is disposed in the channel between the member and the element, said portion of material thereby being clamped and held between the member and the element, said retaining means including an angular, normally downwardly projecting leg extending longitudinally along said member adjacent said channel and adapted to restrict the outward movement of said element from said channel when a pulling tension is exerted on said material in a direction generally opposite to that at which said leg projects, said retaining means further including an elongated,

transversely arcuate stretch extending longitudinally along said element and adapted to be disposed behind said leg when said element is in said channel, said element including an elongated, longitudinally extending arm in spaced parallelism with said stretch, said arm having flange means extending longitudinally therealong and disposed exteriorly of said channel when said element is nested therein. 10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said flange means extends perpendicularly in opposite directions from said arm.

Claims

1. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising: a rigid, shape-retaining base member adapted to be attached to a support and having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configuration; therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion of sheet material therein; and a rigid, shape-retaining material holding element insertable into said channel and having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configuration similar to that of said channel whereby said element is nested in said channel when inserted therein, said member and said element each being elongated and having a normally lower, laterally and outwardly extending arm disposed longitudinally therealong, said base and said element being provided with retaining means, which includes gripping means cooperatively located on said arms, for releasably holding said element in said channel when the element is nested therein in said non-deformed condition and said portion of material is disposed in the channel between the member and the element, said portion of material thereby being clamped and held between the member and the element.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said retaining means further includes an angular, normally downwardly projecting leg extending longitudinally along said member adjacent said channel and adapted to restrict the outward movement of said element from said channel when a pulling tension is exerted on said material in a direction generally opposite to that at which said leg projects.

3. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising: a base member adapted to be attached to a support; therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion of sheet material therein; and a rigid, shape-retaining material holding element insertable into said channel and having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configuration corresponding to that of said channel whereby said element is nested in said channel when inserted therein, said member and said element being elongated with said channel extending longitudinally along said member, said channel and said element being generally C-shaped in transverse cross-section.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said channel and said element each include an arcuate surface disposed transversely of their respective longitudinal axes and opposite one another to clamp said material portion therebetween when said element is nested in the channel, the arcuate surface of said channel having a larger arc of curvature than the arcuate surface of said element.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said element and said member are provided with longitudinally extending interlocking ribs for gripping said material portion when the latter and said element are disposed in said channel.

7. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising: a base member adapted to be attached to a support; therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion of sheet material therein; and a rigid, shape-retaining material holding element insertable into said channel and having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configuration corresponding to that of said channel whereby said element is nested in said channel when inserted therein, said retaining means further includes an angular, normally downwardly projecting leg extending longitudinally along said member adjacent said channel and adapted to restrict the outward movement of said element from said channel when a pulling tension is Exerted on said material in a direction generally opposite to that at which said leg projects, said leg is fixed relative to said member and includes an arcuate, non-deformable, enlarged, material engaging lip rigidly extending longitudinally along said leg.

8. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising: a base member adapted to be attached to a support; therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion of sheet material therein; and a rigid, shape-retaining material holding element insertable into said channel and having a substantially non-deformable, transverse configuration corresponding to that of said channel whereby said element is nested in said channel when inserted therein, said retaining means further includes an angular, normally downwardly projecting leg extending longitudinally along said member adjacent said channel and adapted to restrict the outward movement of said element from said channel when a pulling tension is exerted on said material in a direction generally opposite to that at which said leg projects, said retaining means further includes an elongated, transversely arcuate stretch extending longitudinally along said element and adapted to be disposed behind said leg when said element is in said channel.

9. A sheet material attaching assembly comprising: a base member adapted to be attached to a support; therebeing a channel disposed in said base for receiving a portion of sheet material therein; and a material holding element insertable into said channel and having a configuration corresponding to that of said channel whereby said element is nested in said channel when inserted therein, said base and said element being provided with retaining means for releasably holding said element in said channel when the element is nested therein and said portion of material is disposed in the channel between the member and the element, said portion of material thereby being clamped and held between the member and the element, said retaining means including an angular, normally downwardly projecting leg extending longitudinally along said member adjacent said channel and adapted to restrict the outward movement of said element from said channel when a pulling tension is exerted on said material in a direction generally opposite to that at which said leg projects, said retaining means further including an elongated, transversely arcuate stretch extending longitudinally along said element and adapted to be disposed behind said leg when said element is in said channel, said element including an elongated, longitudinally extending arm in spaced parallelism with said stretch, said arm having flange means extending longitudinally therealong and disposed exteriorly of said channel when said element is nested therein.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said flange means extends perpendicularly in opposite directions from said arm.