Adaptive enclosure with rapid stow, deploy and locking machanisms

Abstract

An enclosure with a soft cover, typically of various fabric-like materials which can be operated to enclose a space and volume of variable dimensions from a maximum amount to near zero, and to positions between these limits, by manipulation of its novel frame structure and connecting devices.. The enclosure has a frame assembly which is covered. The frame assembly is formed of members pivotally connected to a central subassembly such that each member may be disposed at a selected position and may be locked in the selected position.

1 . A habitable enclosure, comprising: 
 a frame assembly which will overlie the space and volume occupied by the enclosure and support a cover assembly when said enclosure is erected;    at least two devices which have the means of being attached to the surface over which the enclosure is to be erected; 
 which devices provide a means of and general locus for attachment of other selected members of the frame assembly;  
 which devices provide at least two axes about which attached structural members of the frame assembly may be rotated;  
 which devices provide a means of being locked in a fixed orientation to provide full enclosure of the space and volume occupied by the enclosure, from a maximum  
   amount to a minimum amount near or at zero;    at least three structural members of the frame assembly that are of arbitrary arc-shape; 
 the structural members having a means of adjusting the height of their arbitrary arc-shape;  
 the structural members having a means of adjusting the span of their arbitrary arc-shape;  
 the structural members having a means of being rotated about an axis collinear with the chord of their respective arc lengths;  
   at least four structural members of the frame assembly which provide a means of being folded approximately in half when desired; 
 having a means of being arranged in a generally linear configuration when desired;  
 having a means of locking the member in the generally linear configuration when desired;  
 having a means of varying the overall length of the structural member when desired;  
   a cover assembly overlying and attached to the frame assembly when said enclosure is erected; 
 said cover assembly being secured to the frame assembly;  
 said cover assembly being formed of any material which can be secured to the frame assembly; and  
   when all of the above in the aggregate are combined, can be operated to either fully enclose an objective space, to partially enclose an objective space, or to fully uncover or un-enclose an objective space.    
   
   
       2 . A device which provides a means for being attached to an attachment of selected members of a composite structure: 
 which device has the means of being attached or anchored to a surface to which it is to be mounted;    which device provides a means and a general locus for the attachment of at least three members of the composite structure;    which device has at least one common axis of rotation about which selected members of the composite structure may be rotated;    which device has at least two axes about which attached structural members of the frame assembly may be independently rotated;    which devices provide a means of being locked in a fixed orientation when desired;    which device provides a means of being unlocked to provide a variable degree of rotation for each of the at least three (3) members of the composite structure, from a near zero degrees to approximately one-hundred eighty degrees (180°).    
   
   
       3 . A device: 
 which provides a means of being attached to other members of a composite structure;    which provides a means of being folded approximately in half when desired;    which provides a means of being arranged in a generally linear configuration when desired;    which provides a means of locking the member in the generally linear configuration when desired;    which provides a means of varying the overall length of the member both independently and when it is used as a member of a composite structure.    
   
   
       4 . An enclosure comprising: 
 a frame assembly having a first member, a second member and at least one intermediate member, each member having opposite sides formed of struts, each strut having an upper end and a lower end, each lower end being pivotally connected to a respective subassembly, each upper end being connected to a bow section;    means to anchor each subassembly to a surface in which the enclosure is assembled;    a rotating member having a first end pivotally connected to the subassembly, each rotating member having a plurality of secondary pivot axes formed therein; the lower ends of the respective struts being received in a respective secondary pivot axes;    at least four (4) brace arms, each brace arm having a first end connected to a selected frame assembly member and an opposite second end connected to another selected assembly member;    a flexible cover secured to the frame assembly; 
 wherein, the frame assembly overlies the space and volume occupied by the enclosure, with at least one intermediate member being rotatable with respect to the first member such that the enclosure may be partially or completely covered.  
   
   
   
       5 . The enclosure of  claim 4 , wherein the bow section is formed from two half bow sections joined to one another.  
   
   
       6 . The enclosure of  claim 4 , wherein the connection between the upper end of the strut and the bow section is adjustable such that tolerances and tensioning variances may be compensated.  
   
   
       7 . The enclosure of  claim 4 , wherein the brace arms may be locked to secure the members of the frame assembly in a desired position with respect to one another.  
   
   
       8 . The enclosure of  claim 4 , wherein the brace arm has a lower arm pivotally connected to an upper arm, by a coupler, a movable locking sleeve disposed on the upper arm, wherein the locking sleeve may be moved over the coupler between the upper arm and the lower arm to lock the brace arms in a linear position.  
   
   
       9 . The enclosure of  claim 8 , wherein the locking sleeve may be moved over the upper arm and the brace arm may be folded in two.  
   
   
       10 . The enclosure of  claim 8 , wherein the lower arm has an end stub rotatably connected to the lower arm such that the length of the length of the brace arm may be increased or decreased.  
   
   
       11 . The enclosure of  claim 4 , wherein the enclosure may be fully expanded to overlie a desired space and may be fully collapsed for storage.