Method of erecting portable structure and related apparatus

Abstract

A method of erecting a tent includes a plurality of beam members comprising a roof portion and a pair of leg portions. A plurality of base members are securedly fixed to the ground surface. The beam assembly leg portions are pivotally coupled to the base members, pivoted to a vertical position, and secured to the base member to prevent further pivoting of the beam assembly. Extendable purlins couple adjacent beam assemblies to one another. A single piece fabric panel extends between the full length of a pair of adjacent beam assemblies. The fabric panels are tensioned by expanding the plurality of extendable purlins to increase the distance between the adjacent beam assemblies. Fabric panel tensioning is sequenced from the center of the structure outward.

1 . A method of erecting a portable structure, comprising:
 securing a plurality of base members to a support surface;   assembling a plurality of beam members, wherein each of said beam members has a length and is configured to couple to a pair of said base members;   coupling said plurality of beam members to said plurality of base members;   erecting said plurality of beam members about said pairs of said base members;   coupling a plurality of transverse members between adjacent beam members, said transverse members establishing a plurality of spaced distances between said adjacent beam members;   coupling a fabric to a pair of adjacent beam members of said plurality of beam members, said fabric extending from substantially adjacent a first base member to substantially adjacent a second base member; and   deciding whether to elongate at least one of said plurality of transverse members between said adjacent beam members to increase the length of said at least one of said plurality of transverse members, wherein said increased length would facilitate tautly securing said fabric to said beam members.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising elongating at least one of said plurality of transverse members between said adjacent beam members to increase the length of said at least one of said plurality of transverse members, wherein said increased length facilitates tautly securing said fabric to said beam members. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said base members are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said erecting said plurality of beam members comprising pivoting an upper portion of said beam assembly about said pair of base clamps. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said securing said plurality of base members comprising coupling said base members to said support surface by inserting stakes through said base member into said support surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said stakes comprising at least one of concrete anchors or elongate ground stakes. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said support surface is the ground. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said support surface is a concrete surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said coupling said plurality of beam members comprising coupling a first end of said beam member to a first base member and a second end of said beam member to a second base member. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said pair of base members comprising said first base member and said second base member. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said beam members comprising a plurality of beam member portions, each beam member portion comprising at least one of displaceable protrusions and receiving apertures, to couple said beam member portions to one another. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said coupling said fabric to said plurality of beam members comprising slidingly inserting said fabric through a plurality of apertures disposed along an outer surface of said beam members. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of apertures comprise keder tracks. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said beam members comprising a plurality of apertures configured to receive the fabric, said apertures disposed about the body of the beam member and extending longitudinally along the length of the beam members. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising pulling fabric through the apertures along the length of said beam members. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of beam members comprising a hollow body. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said beam members comprising an aluminum body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said assembling said plurality of beam members further comprising coupling a plurality of discrete beam member portions to one another, wherein a first beam member portion having a first portion with displaceable protrusions being received by a second beam member, said second beam member having receiving apertures to receive said displaceable protrusions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising fixing keders to said fabric panels adjacent an outer periphery of said fabric panel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said coupling said beam members to said base members comprising securingly inserting an elongate member through a first aperture in a first portion of said beam assembly and a first aperture of said base member. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric comprising one of PVC coated canvas or PVC coated polyester. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said elongating at least one of said plurality of transverse members includes rotating an adjustment portion of said at least one of said plurality of transverse members about a longitudinal axis of said at least one of said plurality of transverse members. 
     
     
         23 . A method of erecting a portable structure, comprising:
 securing a plurality of base members to a support surface;   assembling a plurality of beam members, wherein each of said beam members has a length and is configured to couple to a pair of said base members;   coupling said plurality of beam members to said plurality of base members;   erecting said plurality of beam members about said pairs of said base members;   coupling a plurality of transverse members between adjacent beam members, said transverse members establishing a plurality of spaced distances between said adjacent beam members;   coupling a fabric to at least a pair of adjacent beam members of said plurality of beam members;   elongating at least one of said plurality of transverse members between said adjacent beam members to increase the length of said at least one of said plurality of transverse members, wherein said increased length facilitates tautly securing said fabric to said beam members; and   sequencing the elongating of said plurality of transverse members to begin at a spaced distance that is substantially centered between the plurality of spaced distances established between the plurality of adjacent beam members, wherein each subsequent elongating of said transverse members occurs at a spaced distance between beam members that is adjacent a spaced distance having elongated transverse members.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said elongating at least one of said plurality of transverse members includes rotating an adjustment portion of said at least one of said plurality of transverse members about a longitudinal axis of said at least one of said plurality of transverse members.