U.S. patent application number 13/915972 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-05 for lattice support structure.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kamal Daas, ProDelta Investments b.v.. Invention is credited to Kamal Daas, Doron Livnat.
Application Number | 20140150370 13/915972 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40512200 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140150370 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Daas; Kamal ; et
al. |
June 5, 2014 |
LATTICE SUPPORT STRUCTURE
Abstract
The present invention relates to a lattice support structure
having longitudinally extending supports which are connected to one
another by obliquely extending struts and are also connected to one
another in the state of the lattice support structure ready for
operation by transversely extending struts provided with a joint,
with the struts being pivotably connected to two respective
preferably adjacent supports, with at least one connection strut
being provided which connects two supports to one another which are
not adjacent to one another and which are preferably disposed
opposite one another, and with the at least one connection strut
and/or at least one component of the lattice support structure
connected thereto having fastening means or being connected or
connectable thereto, with the fastening means being made such that
they prevent a folding together of the lattice support structure in
at least one position.
Inventors: |
Daas; Kamal; (Bergschenhoek,
NL) ; Livnat; Doron; (Rotterdam, NL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Daas; Kamal
ProDelta Investments b.v. |
Rotterdam |
|
US
NL |
|
|
Family ID: |
40512200 |
Appl. No.: |
13/915972 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12865219 |
Jul 29, 2010 |
8484925 |
|
|
PCT/EP09/00581 |
Jan 29, 2009 |
|
|
|
13915972 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/646 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 12/18 20130101;
E04H 12/187 20130101; E04H 12/10 20130101; E04B 1/3441 20130101;
B66C 23/70 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/646 |
International
Class: |
E04H 12/18 20060101
E04H012/18; E04H 12/10 20060101 E04H012/10; E04B 1/344 20060101
E04B001/344 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 29, 2008 |
DE |
20 2008 001 272.4 |
Claims
1. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein
the longitudinally extending supports (10) are also connected to
one another in the state of the lattice support structure ready for
operation by transversely extending struts (30) provided with a
joint (32), with the struts (20, 30) being pivotably connected to
two respective preferably adjacent supports (10), with at least one
connection strut (40) being provided which connects two supports
(10) to one another which are not adjacent to one another and which
are preferably disposed opposite one another, and with the at least
one connection strut (40) and/or at least one component (50) of the
lattice support structure connected thereto having fastening means
or being connected or connectable thereto, with the fastening means
being made such that they prevent a folding together of the lattice
support structure in at least one position.
2. (canceled)
3. A lattice support structure having longitudinally extending
supports (10) which are connected to one another by obliquely
extending struts (20), wherein one or both end regions of the one,
several or all of the obliquely extending struts (20) is/are
connected directly or indirectly to at least one of the
longitudinally extending supports (10) such that the obliquely
extending strut (20) is displaceable relative to the longitudinally
extending support (10), and sliding elements, preferably sliding
sleeves, are provided which are preferably pivotably connected to
an end region of the obliquely extending struts (20) and which run
on the longitudinally extending supports (10).
4. (canceled)
5. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein
the fastening means include a first (62) and second fastening
element (64); and the connection strut (40) is connected to the
first fastening element (62), with a first and second lever (50)
being pivotally connected to the at least one connection strut
(40), said first and second levers being connected to the second
fastening element (64) and with the fastening elements (62, 64)
being arranged such that they can be connected to one another.
6. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 5, wherein
two connection struts (40, 42) are provided which are both
connected to the first fastening element (62).
7. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 4 5,
wherein the at least one connection strut (40, 42) is pivotably
connected to the first fastening element (62).
8. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 5, wherein
the levers (50) are pivotably connected to the second fastening
element (64).
9. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein
the fastening means or fastening elements (62, 64) are made such
that they can be connected to one another by a clip (70).
10. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein
one of the fastening elements (62) of the fastening means has a
flange-like part (66) and pins (67) extending from it; and the
other one of the fastening elements (64) of the fastening means has
a flange-like part (68) which has cut-outs (69) in which the pins
(67) can be at least partially received.
11. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein
the transversely extending struts (30) provided with a joint (32)
are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction;
and a connection element (90) is provided which connects two joints
(32) of two such struts (30) to one another.
12. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein
a blocking element (100) is provided which prevents an inward
pivoting of the transversely extending struts (30) in the state of
the lattice support structure ready for operation.
13. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 12,
wherein the blocking element (100) is made to be self-locking.
14. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein
the lattice support structure has struts which are made in the form
of a pyramid or in the form of a truncated pyramid.
15. A lattice support structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein
the longitudinally extending supports (10) are also connected to
one another by struts (30) extending transversely in the state of
the lattice support structure ready for operation and provided with
a joint (32), with the struts (20, 30) being pivotably connected to
two respective adjacent supports (10), and with a central element
(120, 130) being provided, starting from which struts (110) extend
to the longitudinally extending supports (10), with the struts
(110) extending at an acute angle to the longitudinally extending
supports (10) at least in the state of the lattice support
structure ready for operation.
16. (canceled)
17. A lattice support structure having spreadable structures, in
particular a lattice support structure in accordance with claim 3,
wherein the lattice support structure has pivotably arranged
lattice bars, with the pivotable connection being made such that
one of the mutually pivotably connected parts has a projection; and
the other of the pivotably connected parts has a groove which is
bounded by walls on three sides and in which the projection of the
other part is pivotably received.
18. A crane, wherein the crane comprises one or more lattice
support structures in accordance with claim 3 or has at least one
such support structure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to lattice support
structure.
[0002] Such lattice support structures are known in different
embodiments. Lattice support structures are known whose outer
dimensions can be decreased by being folded together and can be
increased again by folding apart the framework of the lattice
support structure.
[0003] Such lattice support structures bring along the advantage
that the lattice support structure can be folded up for the purpose
of transport and thus takes up less room and only has to be folded
apart into the state ready for operation just before its use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is the underlying object of the present invention to
further develop such a lattice support structure such that it can
be secured simply and reliably in its set-up state.
[0005] This object is solved by a lattice support structure having
the features herein.
[0006] Provision is accordingly made for the lattice support
structure to have longitudinally extending supports which are
connected to one another by obliquely extending struts and also, in
the state of the lattice support structure ready for operation, by
transversely extending struts provided with a joint, with the
struts being pivotably connected to two respective preferably
adjacent supports, with at least one connection strut being
provided which connects two supports to one another which are not
adjacent to one another and which are preferably disposed opposite
one another. Provision is furthermore made that the at least one
connection strut and/or at least one component of the lattice
support structure connected thereto, such as one or more levers
pivotably connected to the connection strut, has fastening means or
is connected or connectable thereto with the fastening means being
made such that they prevent a folding together of the unfolded
lattice support structure in at least one position.
[0007] In this respect, a preferred embodiment of the invention
comprises the connection strut being connected to a first fastening
flange and first and second levers being pivotally connected to the
at least one connection strut, said first and second levers being
connected to a second fastening element and with the fastening
elements being arranged such that they can be connected to one
another. In the mutually connected state of the fastening elements,
they are locked with respect to one another so that the lattice
support structure is secured in the unfolded state.
[0008] The levers project comparatively far from the connection
strut or struts in the state of the lattice support structure
folded together. The two fastening elements are accordingly spaced
comparatively far away from one another.
[0009] If the lattice support structure is brought into its
operating position, the angle between the levers and the connection
struts decreases, whereby the fastening elements can be moved
toward one another and can be secured in a suitable manner after
reaching their end position.
[0010] The total lattice support structure is secured against being
folded together in this state since the fastening elements prevent
the connection struts, and thus the total lattice support
structure, from being able to be folded together.
[0011] The invention furthermore relates to a lattice support
structure having longitudinally extending struts which are
connected to one another by obliquely extending struts, with one of
both end regions of the one, several or all of the obliquely
extending struts being connected directly or indirectly to at least
one of the longitudinally extending struts such that the obliquely
extending strut is displaceable in at least one of the end regions
relative to the longitudinally extending support. It is conceivable
that sliding elements preferably sliding sleeves are provided which
are preferably pivotable, which are connected to an end region of
the obliquely extending struts and which run on the longitudinally
extending supports. Provision is made in a possible embodiment that
the obliquely extending strut(s) is/are pivotable with such a
sliding element in one end region and is/are arranged in its/their
other end region in a spatially fixed, but pivotable manner at the
longitudinally extending supports.
[0012] Any desired combinations of the above-described embodiments
of a lattice support structure or of its features are also covered
by the invention.
[0013] Two connection struts can be provided which e.g. extend
cross-ways and which are both connected to the first fastening
element.
[0014] It is conceivable that the lattice support structure has a
square or rectangular design in cross-section, with the corners of
the square or of the rectangle being formed by the longitudinally
extending supports and with the connection struts extending
diagonally such that they connect two supports with one another
disposed in oppositely disposed corners.
[0015] Provision is made in a further embodiment of the invention
for the at least one connection strut to be pivotably connected to
the first fastening element.
[0016] The lever or levers can be pivotably connected to the second
fastening element.
[0017] The fastening elements can be made such that they can be
connected to one another by a clip or the like. If the lattice
support structure has been completely folded apart, the clip, or
also another fastening element, serves to effectively prevent a
removal of the fastening elements and thus a folding together of
the lattice support structure.
[0018] Provision is made in another embodiment of the invention for
one of the fastening elements to have a flange-shaped part and pins
extending therefrom and for the other of the fastening elements to
have a flange-shaped part which includes cut-outs in which the pins
can be at least partially received.
[0019] Provision can furthermore be made for the transversely
extending struts provided with a joint to be spaced apart from one
another in the longitudinal direction and for a connection element
to be provided which connects two joints of two such struts or two
struts to one another.
[0020] This has the result that the movement of a strut by means of
the connection element results in a corresponding movement of the
adjacent strut.
[0021] Provision can furthermore be made for at least one blocking
element to be provided which prevents an inward pivoting of the
transversely extending struts in the state of the lattice support
structure ready for operation. This blocking element can be made
self-locking, which means that it moves into its locking position
when the lattice support structure has been fully folded apart.
[0022] Provision is made in a further embodiment of the invention
that the lattice support structure has struts which are made in the
form of a pyramid or in the form of a truncated pyramid. These
structures can be arranged simply or in repeated form in the
longitudinal direction of the lattice support structure, with the
structures being able to be arranged in the same direction or in
opposite directions in the case of a plurality of these structures.
The pyramids or truncated pyramids are preferably located in the
interior of the lattice support structure. They can be made such
that a middle longitudinal axis of the lattice support structure
extends through the tips of these structures.
[0023] The present invention furthermore relates to a lattice
support structure having longitudinally extending supports which
are connected to one another by obliquely extending struts and also
by transversely extending struts provided with a joint in the state
of the lattice support structure ready for operation, with the
struts being pivotably connected by a respective two adjacent
supports and with a central element being provided, starting from
which struts extend to the longitudinally extending supports, with
the struts extending at an acute angle to the longitudinally
extending supports at least in the state of the lattice support
structure ready for operation.
[0024] This lattice support structure can be made in accordance
with the features herein.
[0025] The invention furthermore relates to a lattice support
structure having spreadable structures, in particular a lattice
support structure in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 16,
which is characterized in that the lattice support structure has
pivotably arranged lattice bars or struts, with the pivotable
connection being made such that one of the mutually pivotably
connected parts has a projection and that the other of the
pivotably connected parts has a groove which is bounded by walls on
three sides and in which the projection of the other part is
pivotably received. These lattice rods or struts can, for example,
be the struts of the aforesaid embodiments of a lattice support
structure.
[0026] The groove base thus serves as a boundary such that a
pivoting of the lattice bar is only possible by so much until the
one of the named parts lies on the groove base. In this position,
the lattice bar is thus blocked or a further pivoting is not
possible. Such a pivotable connection can be provided wherever two
segments of a lattice bar are mutually pivotably connected to one
another and/or wherever a lattice bar is pivotally connected to
another part of the lattice support structure.
[0027] The lattice bar or the strut can have the projection at its
one end region and the named groove at its other end region. It is
possible in this manner to connect a plurality of lattice bars to
one another or to provide lattice bars of different lengths. It is
generally also conceivable to design both ends of the lattice bars
with grooves or with the named projections.
[0028] The invention furthermore relates to a crane which comprises
one or more lattice support structures in accordance with the
description herein or at least has such a support structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] Further details and advantages of the invention will be
explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in
the drawing. There are shown:
[0030] FIG. 1: a perspective view and a plan view of the lattice
support structure in accordance with the invention in the folded
apart state;
[0031] FIG. 2: a perspective view of the lattice support structure
in accordance with FIG. 1 in the folded together state;
[0032] FIG. 3-5: detailed representations of an end region of the
lattice support structure in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0033] FIGS. 6, 7: representations of the lattice support structure
in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 in a side view;
[0034] FIG. 8: a detailed representation of the blocking element of
the lattice support structure in accordance with FIG. 7;
[0035] FIGS. 9, 10: the lattice support structure in further
embodiments in accordance with the present invention in the state
folded apart;
[0036] FIG. 11: the lattice support structure in accordance with a
further embodiment in accordance with the present invention in the
state folded apart; and
[0037] FIG. 12: a representation of the lattice support structure
in accordance with the invention corresponding to FIGS. 9 and 10
with a plurality of lattice support structure segments set adjacent
to one another.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] FIG. 1, upper representation, shows the lattice support
structure in accordance with the invention in a perspective view in
the state folded apart. The lattice support structure is square in
cross-section. The corners of the square are formed by
longitudinally extending supports 10 which are connected to one
another by obliquely extending and intersecting struts 20, as can
be seen from FIG. 1.
[0039] The struts 20 are arranged pivotably at the supports 10.
They form the outer surface of the support structure.
[0040] Furthermore, transversely extending struts 30, which are
provided centrally with a joint 32 which allows its inward
pivoting, extend between the struts 10.
[0041] Two struts 30 adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the
lattice support structure are connected to one another by a
connection element 90 which has the task of transmitting the pivot
movement of a strut 30 to a pivot movement of the adjacent strut
30.
[0042] Connection struts 40, 42 are furthermore provided which each
connect two diagonally opposite supports of the lattice support
structure to one another, as can be seen from FIG. 1. The struts
40, 42 are thus located on the end-face side of the lattice support
structure segment shown in the state folded apart.
[0043] They are arranged pivotably at the supports 10 in their end
regions, and indeed at the level of the pivotal connection of the
struts 30.
[0044] Respective pivotable levers which are pivotally connected to
a fastening element 64 are connected to the connection struts 40,
42. The struts 40, 42 are likewise pivotably connected at their
middle regions to a further fastening element 62. FIG. 1, bottom
representation, shows the arrangement in a top view.
[0045] FIG. 2 shows the lattice support structure in accordance
with FIG. 1 in the state folded together. It is here a lattice
support structure segment which can be assembled with further
lattice support structures. The mounts arranged in the end regions
of the supports 10 serve this purpose, with the connection to
further lattice support structure segments being secured e.g. by
bolts.
[0046] FIG. 3 shows the end-face end section of the lattice support
structure shown at the right in accordance with FIG. 1 in a
partially folded together state.
[0047] It can be seen from this drawing that the levers 50 project
at a comparatively large angle from the connection struts 40, 42 in
this state.
[0048] The two fastening elements 62, 64 are spaced comparatively
far apart from one another.
[0049] If, starting from this position, the lattice support
structure is now folded apart, the position shown in FIG. 4
results. The levers 50 are now disposed approximately parallel to
or at an acute angle to the connection struts 40, 42 and the
spacing of the fastening elements 62, 64 from one another is
comparatively large.
[0050] The fastening element 62 comprises a flange-shaped section
66 and pins 67 extending vertically therefrom. The fastening
element 64 likewise comprises a flange-shaped section 68 and
part-circular cut-outs 69 at the periphery which are dimensioned
such that the pins 67 can be received therein, as is shown in FIG.
4. As soon as this is the case, the clip 70 is pivoted around the
received sections of the pins 67 and around the flange 68 such that
a moving apart of the fastening elements 62 and 64 is
precluded.
[0051] FIG. 5 shows this state.
[0052] FIG. 6 shows the lattice support structure in a side
view.
[0053] As can be seen from FIG. 7 and as is shown in detail in FIG.
8, the struts 30 which extend transversely in the state folded
apart and which have a joint 32 are secured by a pawl 100. This
pawl moves independently into its locking position as soon as the
struts 30 have been outwardly pivoted into their shown
position.
[0054] For the release, the pawl 100 is actuated whereupon the
pivoting of the struts 30 around the joint 32 and thus also the
folding together of the lattice support structure is possible.
[0055] FIG. 9 shows the lattice support structure in accordance
with the invention in a further embodiment. Struts 110 are provided
in this embodiment which extend from a centrally arranged element
120 to the longitudinally extending supports 10. In the state ready
for operation shown in FIG. 9, the struts 110 extend at an acute
angle to the longitudinally extending supports 10. The struts 110
are arranged pivotably both at the supports 10 and at the central
element 120.
[0056] As can furthermore be seen from FIG. 9, this strut
arrangement is continued downwardly with mirror symmetry. The
struts 110 open into a further central element 130 there. These
central elements 120 and 130 can be connected in the assembled
state of the lattice support structure to the adjacent segments of
the lattice support structure such that a continuous system results
as is shown in FIG. 12. It is possible in this manner to effect a
folding in and a folding apart of the total lattice support
structure by a corresponding actuation of the central elements.
[0057] FIG. 11 shows an embodiment in which this strut arrangement
does not repeat downwardly, but is rather only made at a half-side
with respect to the lattice support structure segment.
[0058] As finally can furthermore be seen from a comparison of
FIGS. 9 and 10, connection struts can also be provided in this
embodiment of the invention which extend diagonally between two
obliquely oppositely disposed supports 10. These connection struts
are marked by the reference numeral 140 in FIGS. 10 and 11. These
struts can, in accordance with the embodiment shown above, likewise
be used to secure the lattice support structure in the position
folded apart.
* * * * *