An assembly comprising at least two movable panels, each having an elongated profile and at least two pivot connections is provided. The assembly also includes at least two links, each link comprised of at least two pivot connections, each of which is offset from one another both in the plane orthogonal to the axis of the pivots as well as offset from one another along the vector defined by the axis of the pivots itself. The assembly further includes a single fixed member to which the two or mor...

Apparatus is provided for supporting a retractable roof. The support includes a support frame which supports the roof sections, and a follower wheel which moves along a rail formed in the retraction and expansion direction of the roof sections. The support frame has a base support having a spherical surface. Also included is a base capable of tolerating movement within a given range in the horizontal direction, substantially perpendicular to the rail and supported by the base support via a movem...

An openable roof includes a plurality of movable roof members. Each of the movable roof members is of a generally sectorial shape in two-dimensional projection. The sectorial shape has a radially outer edge portion and a radially inner edge portion. The outer edge portion of the movable roof member is movably disposed on an outer arcuate support. The inner edge portion of the movable roof member is movably disposed on an inner arcuate support. The outer and inner arcuate supports are disposed co...

A collapsable structure including a folding strut one end of which is pivoted to a rigid element to enable said strut to be rotated from a retracted position to an extended position, said strut having an abutment surface spaced away from the pivot and extending in a plane substantially parallel to the axis thereof, said surface being shaped to engage a co-operating engagement surface carried on said rigid element to locate said strut in its extended position, and releasable means for causing sai...

An attic storage system comprising a series of elongated rails, each including an array of rollers mounted in and along the length of each rail at spaced apart locations. Individual storage containers, provided with bottom support means adapted to ride along the length of the rails are carried by the rails. The rails of the present invention are adapted to be mounted atop the upper surface of two or more of the ceiling joists of the attic. Thus, the rails may be mounted parallel to, angular to, ...

A shed is provided principally for the storage of a unitary automobile and includes a frame bolted to the ground or a cement slab, and an overlying housing substantially conforming to the external shape of the vehicle, the housing being hinged to the frame and spring-loaded such that access to the vehicle is provided by lifting the entire housing clear of the stored automobile.

A housing structure for storage of motorcyles includes a rigid cover member pivoted to a floor plate and adapted when fully open to rest in stabilized position permitting the vehicle to be ridden upon the plate and when fully closed to seal against the plate.

A convertible stadium includes an exhibition area, a seating area and a plurality of roof support locations for supporting a movable or retractable roof assembly. The roof assembly includes a first major truss that spans a distance between a first and a second of the roof support locations and a second major truss that spans a distance between a third and a fourth of the roof support locations. Both of the first and second major trusses are preferably structurally configured as a tied arch, each...

An openable dome-shaped roof structure is provided upon a circular side wall and comprises a crescent-shaped fixed roof section, a pair of pivotable roof sections and a pair of slidable roof sections. Each pivotable roof section is connected to a respective slidable roof section by a pivot at peripheral end portions thereof so that the pivotable roof section can rotate to a position above the slidable roof section. The slidable roof sections are each provided to be able to rotate toward the uppe...

Mechanism for covering a greenhouse has rotating shaft upon which a flexible cover is wound. The shaft travels along an arch or bow truss with the cover being wound upon or released from the shaft to uncover or cover the greenhouse. Two rotating shafts are provided on opposite sides of the roof ridge and each are attached to two sets of cables. One set of cables serving to pull the covers and a second set serving to apply tension to the covers during the covering and uncovering process. A counte...