Uni-Systems, Inc.

Bart Riberich

Cyril J Silberman

Timothy John Kline

Terry Thompson

David Sadinsky

Andrew Cheng

Lennart Nielson

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 of which has a generally convex upper portion and a lower portion that is adapted to assume gravity induced stresses within the trusses as tension. In order to keep the center of mass of the major trusses generally positioned within a plane including the roof support locations, which optimizes lateral stability of the major trusses, the major trusses are most preferably given a lenticular shape, meaning that the lower portion of the trusses is convex and in fact preferably generally symmetrical to the upper portion. First and second convex guide tracks are respectively mounted to the upper portions of the first and second major trusses, and a movable roof member is mounted for movement along the guide tracks. Advantageously, the guide wheels and the drive wheels on the movable roof member engage the upwardly facing and downwardly facing surfaces on the guide tracks, and are biased together so as to provide sufficient traction to be able to move the movable roof member along the guide tracks even when such movement has an upward component due to the convex shape of the guide tracks.

Retractable roof system for stadium

A convertible stadium includes an exhibition area, a seating area and an outer sidewall in which is defined in large opening, preferably located so as to provide favorable outdoor views to the occupants of the stadium. A movable wall member is advantageously position so as to be able to open or close the large opening. When the movable wall member is in a first, retracted position spectators will be provided with a view of the outdoors and a great deal of outdoor air and sunlight. When outdoor conditions are unfavorable for an intended event within the stadium, however, the movable wall member may be repositioned in order to partially or fully close the opening. Such unfavorable conditions may include undesirable sun position, an undesirable amount of wind or humidity; or unfavorable temperatures. The movable wall member may be deployed in combination with a retractable roof in an otherwise indoor stadium, resulting in a convertible stadium that may be converted to have a true outdoor feel during favorable weather conditions.

Movable wall for stadium

A convertible public exhibition facility includes a stadium having an exhibition area and a seating area that is situated about the exhibition area for permitting spectators to view activities taking place in the exhibition area. The exhibition facility further includes a movable natural grass activity platform that has a surface area of natural grass that is at least 10,000 square feet and that is constructed so as to have a characteristic frequency of at least 6 Hz. Situated within the natural grass activity platform is a transport mechanism that is constructed and arranged so as to be able to move the natural grass activity platform as a complete unit from a location that is outside of the stadium to a location that is within the exhibition area. Preferably, the location that is outside of the stadium is an outdoor location that provides optimal conditions for the growth of natural grass.

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Brooklyn Park, MN, United States of America

Bart Riberich