Lattice supporting framework

Abstract

A lattice support structure has lattice bars pivotally connected to one another and extending in the longitudinal direction of the lattice support structure as well as lattice bars connecting them, with the connecting lattice bars being connected directly or indirectly to the lattice bars extending in the longitudinal direction such that the spacing of the lattice bars extending in the longitudinal direction of the lattice support structure can be decreased on the inward folding of the lattice support structure and increased on the folding apart of the lattice support structure.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A lattice support structure having lattice bars pivotally connected to one another, wherein the lattice support structure has lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the lattice support structure as well as connecting lattice bars ( 20 ) connecting them, with the connecting lattice bars ( 20 ) being connected directly or indirectly to the lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction such that the spacing of the lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the lattice support structure can be decreased on the inward folding of the lattice support structure and can be increased on the folding apart of the lattice support structure;
 wherein the lattice support structure has lattice bars ( 90 ,  91 ), which are made in two parts or in multiple parts and are pivotally connected to the lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction and connect them such that the they form a triangle whose tip is formed by a joint ( 92 ) connecting two parts or more than two parts of the lattice bar ( 90 ,  91 ).   
     
     
         25 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein two such lattice bars ( 90 ,  91 ) forming a triangle are provided which are arranged such that their tips converge toward one another in the state of the lattice support structure folded apart. 
     
     
         26 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction form the outer edges of the lattice support structure. 
     
     
         27 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the connecting lattice bars ( 20 ,  90 ,  91 ) are disposed in the outer surfaces of the lattice support structure at least in the folded apart state of the lattice support structure. 
     
     
         28 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the connecting lattice bars ( 20 ,  90 ,  91 ) are made in one part or in multiple parts. 
     
     
         29 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein first connecting lattice bars ( 20 ) are provided which extend in a first direction toward the lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction in the folded apart state of the lattice support structure and which comprise two or more parts directly or indirectly pivotally connected to one another; and wherein second connecting lattice bars ( 90 ,  91 ) are provided which extend obliquely to the lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction in the folded apart state of the lattice support structure, with two lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction being connected to one another by at least one first connecting lattice bar ( 20 ) and at least one second connecting lattice bar ( 90 ,  91 ). 
     
     
         30 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 29 , wherein two lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction are connected to one another by two second connecting lattice bars ( 90 ,  91 ) which are arranged such that they extend cross-ways in the state of the lattice support structure folded apart. 
     
     
         31 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the second connecting lattice bars ( 90 ,  91 ) are made in two parts or in multiple parts, with a first part ( 32 ) being connected to the second part ( 34 ) by means of a joint ( 33 ) in that the two parts ( 32 ,  34 ) are pivotable relative to one another, with the first part ( 32 ) being arranged such that it is pivotably connected to the lattice bar ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction, and wherein connection struts ( 40 ) are provided which comprise two parts or more than two parts ( 41 ,  42 ) pivotable relative to one another and which connect a second connecting lattice bar ( 90 ,  91 ) to a first connecting lattice bar ( 20 ) and are pivotally connected to both lattice bars ( 20 ,  90 ,  91 ). 
     
     
         32 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the first connecting lattice rods ( 20 ) extend perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         33 . A lattice support structure in accordance with either of  claim 31 , wherein the connection strut ( 40 ) is connected to the joint ( 33 ) which connects the first part ( 32 ) to the second part ( 34 ) of a second connecting lattice bar ( 90 ,  91 ). 
     
     
         34 . A lattice support structure in accordance with either of  claim 31 , wherein the joint ( 33 ) by means of which the first part ( 32 ) of a second connecting lattice bar ( 90 ,  91 ) is connected to the second part ( 34 ) is made such that only a pivot movement away from the adjacent lattice bar ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction is possible. 
     
     
         35 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein the first or second part ( 32 ,  34 ) has a groove ( 36 ) and a groove base ( 37 ); and wherein the other part ( 34 ,  32 ) has a projection ( 38 ) which is pivotably received in the groove ( 36 ), with the groove base ( 37 ) bounding the pivot angle of the projection ( 38 ). 
     
     
         36 . A lattice support structure in accordance with either of  claim 31 , wherein the parts ( 41 ,  42 ) of the connection strut ( 40 ) pivotable with respect to one another are pivotally connected to one another such that the parts are pivotable at a first spacing to one another and are not pivotable to one another at a second spacing which is smaller than the first spacing. 
     
     
         37 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein the first or second part ( 41 ,  42 ) has a groove ( 47 ) and the other of the parts ( 42 ,  41 ) has a bolt ( 48 ) which is displaceably received in the groove ( 47 ), with the groove ( 47 ) having a proximal end ( 47   a ) and a distal end ( 47   b ) and wherein locking means ( 49 ) are provided which prevent a pivoting of the parts ( 41 ,  42 ) with respect to one another when the bolt ( 48 ) is located in the proximal end ( 47   a ) of the groove ( 47 ). 
     
     
         38 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the second connecting lattice bars ( 90 ,  91 ) are made in one part or in multiple parts. 
     
     
         39 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the second connecting bars ( 90 ,  91 ) are not connected to one another at their intersection point. 
     
     
         40 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the second connecting bars ( 90 ,  91 ) are connected to one another at their intersection point. 
     
     
         41 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein a guide rod ( 60 ) is provided on which a sleeve ( 70 ) is longitudinally displaceably arranged and at which second connecting lattice bars ( 30 ) are pivotally connected. 
     
     
         42 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the joint ( 92 ) by which a first part of lattice bar ( 90 ,  91 ) is connected to a second part is made such that only a pivot movement away from the adjacent lattice bar ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction is possible. 
     
     
         43 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the bars of the lattice support structures are linked so that folding and unfolding of the lattice support structure takes place in two dimensions. 
     
     
         44 . A lattice support structure having lattice bars pivotally connected to one another, wherein the lattice support structure has lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the lattice support structure as well as further lattice bars connected to the lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the lattice support structure, said further lattice bars forming at least one pyramid structure within the space defined by the lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction at least when the lattice support structure is folded apart. 
     
     
         45 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 44 , characterized in that the further lattice bars forming a pyramid structure are pivotally connected with the lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the lattice support structure. 
     
     
         46 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 44 , characterized in that the number of further lattice bars forming a single pyramid structure corresponds to the number of lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the lattice support structure. 
     
     
         47 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 44 , characterized in that the peak of the pyramid structure is located in the centre of the lattice support structure. 
     
     
         48 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 44 , characterized in that the pyramid structure is connected with or forms a part of a mechanism for folding and/or unfolding the lattice support structure. 
     
     
         49 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 44 , characterized in that at least some of the pyramid structures are formed as pairs of pyramid structures, wherein the two pyramid structures forming one pair share the same base area. 
     
     
         50 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , further including further lattice bars connected to the lattice bars ( 10 ) and forming at least one pyramid structure within a space defined by the lattice bars ( 10 ) extending in the longitudinal direction at least when the lattice support structure is folded apart. 
     
     
         51 . A lattice support structure with structures which can be spread apart, in particular a lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 24 , characterized in that the lattice support structure has pivotally arranged lattice bars, wherein the pivotal connection is made such that one of the parts pivotally connected to one another has a projection and that the other one of the pivotally connected parts has a groove which is bounded on three sides by walls and in which the projection of the other part is pivotally received. 
     
     
         52 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 51 , characterized in that the lattice bars have the projection at their one end region and the groove their other end or in that the lattice bars have grooves or projections at their two end regions. 
     
     
         53 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 51 , characterized in that a braking device is provided which fixes the lattice bars in a specific pivot position. 
     
     
         54 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 53 , characterized in that the braking device is made as a drum brake or as a shoe brake. 
     
     
         55 . A lattice support structure in accordance with  claim 54 , characterized in that the shoe brake is arranged at one of the parts pivotally connected to one another and has two projections which, on the actuation of the brake, simultaneously come into contact with the other of the parts pivotally connected with one another.