Roof panel and roof structure

Abstract

A roof structure is supported on legs and has a frame of interconnected structural members about the periphery. A flexible roof panel is connected to the structural members at a pair of opposed corners of the frame to lie in the plane of the structural members. A portion of the panel intermediate the opposed corners of the frame is connected to an adjacent leg below the plane of the structural members and tensioned to provide a curvature to the panel and thereby encourage shedding of water from the panel at the intermediate corner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A roof structure supported on legs and having a frame of interconnected structural members about the periphery, a flexible roof panel connected to the structural members at a pair of opposed corners of the frame to lie in the plane of the structural members, a portion of the panel intermediate the opposed corners of the frame being connected to an adjacent leg below the plane of the structural members and tensioned to provide a curvature to the panel and thereby encourage shedding of water from the panel at the intermediate corner. 
     
     
         2 . The roof structure according to  claim 1  wherein the panel is rectangular and a pair of intermediate portions are connected to diagonally opposed posts. 
     
     
         3 . The roof structure according to  claim 1  wherein a plurality of connections is provided between the panel and the structural member extending from each of said opposed corners and partially along said structural members toward said intermediate corner. 
     
     
         4 . The roof structure according to  claim 3  wherein said plurality of connections extend from each of the opposed corners between 40% and 60% of the distance to the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         5 . The roof structure according to  claim 4  wherein said plurality of connections extend to the midpoint between said opposed corners and said intermediate portion. 
     
     
         6 . The roof structure according to  claim 1  wherein a local reinforcement extends across said panel between said intermediate portions. 
     
     
         7 . The roof structure according to  claim 6  wherein said local reinforcement is a strap sewn to said panel. 
     
     
         8 . The roof structure of  claim 1  wherein said structural members are interconnected by brackets having sockets to receive said structural members, said roof panel being connected to brackets at said opposed corners by a hanger extending between opposed faces of adjacent sockets. 
     
     
         9 . The roof structure of  claim 8  wherein said intermediate portions are connected to a hanger disposed on a leg below said backets. 
     
     
         10 . A polygonal flexible panel for attachment to a framework, the edges of the panel meeting at vertices and a pair of opposed vertices have a plurality of connectors extending along edges extending from each of the opposed vertices, the connectors terminating prior to the adjacent vertex to provide an unencumbered portion of the edge remote from the opposed vertex, and a local reinforcement extends between a second pair of vertices located between the opposed vertices and terminating with connectors for securing to the framework. 
     
     
         11 . The panel of  claim 10  wherein said local reinforcement is a tape sewn to said panel. 
     
     
         12 . The panel of  claim 10  wherein the panel is rectangular to provide two pairs of diagonally opposed vertices with one pair of diagonally opposed vertices providing the pair of opposed vertices and the other pair of diagonally opposed vertices providing the second pair of vertices. 
     
     
         13 . The panel of  claim 12  wherein the connectors extend between 40% and 60% of the distance along the respective edges. 
     
     
         14 . The panel of  claim 13  wherein said connectors extend to the midpoint of said edges.