Folding frame system with cantilever arrangement

Abstract

A cantilever arrangement for a folding structure is provided. The folding structure is of the type including a plurality of strut members foldable between an open position in which the strut members define a non-zero angle with each other and a closed position in which the strut members define a substantially 0° angle with each other. The cantilever strut arrangement includes a first cantilever strut pivotably adapted to be attached at a first point on the folding structure and a first support member adapted to be attached at a second point on the folding structure and attached at a point on the first cantilever strut. When the folding structure is folded to the closed position, the first cantilever strut member defines a substantially 0° angle with the strut members.

1 . A modular frame system, comprising:
 a frame system comprising a first and a second plurality of scissor assemblies, each scissor assembly of the first and the second plurality of scissor assemblies comprising at least a pair of pivotably connected struts, the scissor assemblies of each of the first and the second plurality of scissor assemblies being pivotably connected end to end by hub assemblies at ends of the struts, the hub assemblies having first and second ends, the scissor assemblies of the first and the second plurality of scissor assemblies being movable from a closed position in which the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly are substantially parallel and ends of the struts are substantially adjacent, and an open position in which all of the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly define non-zero angles with each other and the ends of the struts are separated by a predetermined distance; and   a scissor assembly connection arrangement, comprising, for at least one scissor assembly of the first and second plurality of scissor assemblies, a first connecting strut pivotably attached at a first end thereof to a first end of a hub assembly, and a second connecting strut pivotably attached at a first end thereof to a second end of the hub assembly, the second connecting strut being pivotably attached to the first connecting strut, each first connecting strut for the first scissor assembly being removably attached to a corresponding first connecting strut of the second scissor assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second connecting strut and the first connecting strut are pivotably attached to each other such that, when the first connecting strut of a first scissor assembly is disconnected from a first connecting strut of a second scissor assembly, the struts of the at least one strut pair and the second connecting strut and the first connecting strut are adapted to be pivoted between the closed position in which the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly and the second connecting strut and the first connecting strut are substantially parallel, and an open position in which all of the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly and the second connecting strut and the first connecting strut define non-zero angles with each other. 
   
   
       3 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the second connecting strut is pivotably attached to the first connecting strut. 
   
   
       4 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hub assemblies each include first and second members that are lockable relative to each other to retain the ends of the struts separated by the predetermined distance. 
   
   
       5 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the second connecting strut is in compression when the first and second scissor assemblies are in the open position. 
   
   
       6 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a manual lock associated with second ends of each first connecting strut for locking the second ends of each first connecting strut to the corresponding second end of a corresponding first connecting strut. 
   
   
       7 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a cantilever arrangement comprising a cantilever strut pivotably attached at a first end thereof to an end of a hub assembly, and a second member pivotably attached to an opposite end of the hub assembly and to the cantilever strut. 
   
   
       8 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the cantilever arrangement is foldable such that the cantilever strut and the second member are adapted to be pivoted between the closed position in which at least the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly and the cantilever strut are substantially parallel, and an open position in which all of the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly define non-zero angles with each other and the ends of the struts are separated by a predetermined distance. 
   
   
       9 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein, in the open position, the cantilever strut defines a second non-zero angle with struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly that is different than the non-zero angle defined by the struts of the at least one strut pair with each other. 
   
   
       10 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the second connecting strut and the first connecting strut are pivotably attached to each other such that, when the first connecting strut of a first scissor assembly is disconnected from a first connecting strut of a second scissor assembly, the struts of the at least one strut pair and the second connecting strut and the first connecting strut are adapted to be pivoted between the closed position in which the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly and the second connecting strut and the first connecting strut are substantially parallel, and an open position in which all of the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly and the second connecting strut and the first connecting strut define non-zero angles with each other. 
   
   
       11 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 7 , comprising a cover for covering an exterior of the modular frame system, a portion of the cover being suspended by a first and a second cantilever arrangement and including a doorway, the first cantilever arrangement being pivotably attached to the first plurality of scissor assemblies and the second cantilever arrangement being pivotably attached to the second plurality of scissor assemblies. 
   
   
       12 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 7 , comprising a cover for covering an exterior of the modular frame system, a portion of the cover being suspended by a first and a second cantilever arrangement and including a doorway, the first and the second cantilever arrangement being pivotably attached to two respective scissor assemblies. 
   
   
       13 . A modular frame system, comprising:
 a frame system comprising a plurality of scissor assemblies, each scissor assembly of the plurality of scissor assemblies comprising at least a pair of pivotably connected struts, the scissor assemblies of the plurality of scissor assemblies being pivotably connected end to end by hub assemblies at ends of the struts, the hub assemblies having first and second ends, the scissor assemblies being movable from a closed position in which the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly are substantially parallel and ends of the struts are substantially adjacent, and an open position in which all of the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly define non-zero angles with each other and the ends of the struts are separated by a predetermined distance; and   a cantilever arrangement attached to at least one of the pairs of pivotably connected struts, the cantilever assembly comprising a cantilever strut pivotably attached at a first end thereof to an end of a hub assembly, and a second member pivotably attached to an opposite end of the hub assembly and to the cantilever strut.   
   
   
       14 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the cantilever arrangement is foldable such that the cantilever strut and the second member are adapted to be pivoted between the closed position in which at least the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly and the cantilever strut are substantially parallel, and an open position in which all of the struts of the at least one strut pair of each scissor assembly define non-zero angles with each other and the ends of the struts are separated by a predetermined distance. 
   
   
       15 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the second member is a flexible member. 
   
   
       16 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein, when the frame system is in an open position, the second member is in tension. 
   
   
       17 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the frame system comprises first and second scissor assemblies arranged parallel to each other when the frame system is in an open position, first and second cantilever arrangements being attached to at least one of the pairs of pivotably connected struts of each of the first and second scissor assemblies, respectively. 
   
   
       18 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 17 , comprising a cover for covering an exterior of the modular frame system, a portion of the cover being suspended by the first and the second cantilever arrangement and including a doorway. 
   
   
       19 . The modular frame system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein, in the open position, the cantilever strut defines a second non-zero angle with struts of the at least one strut pair that is different than the non-zero angle defined by the struts of the at least one strut pair with each other. 
   
   
       20 . A cantilever arrangement for a folding structure, the folding structure comprising a plurality of strut members foldable between an open position in which the strut members define a non-zero angle with each other and a closed position in which the strut members define a substantially 0° angle with each other, the cantilever strut arrangement comprising:
 a first cantilever strut pivotably adapted to be attached at a first point on the folding structure; and   a first support member adapted to be attached at a second point on the folding structure and attached at a point on the first cantilever strut,   wherein, when the folding structure is folded to the closed position, the first cantilever strut member defines a substantially 0° angle with the strut members.   
   
   
       21 . The cantilever arrangement as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the first support member is a second cantilever strut. 
   
   
       22 . The cantilever arrangement as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the first support member is in compression when the folding structure is in the open position. 
   
   
       23 . The cantilever arrangement as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the first support member is in compression when the folding structure is in the open position. 
   
   
       23 . The cantilever arrangement as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the first support member is a cable. 
   
   
       24 . The cantilever arrangement as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the first support member is a tension member. 
   
   
       25 . The cantilever arrangement as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the first cantilever strut and the first support member define a first cantilever, the cantilever arrangement comprising a second cantilever comprising a second cantilever strut and a second support member, and a cover adapted to be suspended by the first and the second cantilevers and including a doorway.