CA1182375A

CA1182375A - Inflation dome

Info

Publication number: CA1182375A
Application number: CA000402630A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Italo Bertoni
Original assignee: SUNRISE POOLS Ltd
Current assignee: SUNRISE POOLS Ltd
Priority date: 1982-05-10
Filing date: 1982-05-10
Publication date: 1985-02-12

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The invention disclosed an inflatable pool enclosure that is formed of arcuate ribs, juxtaposed adjacent to each other to form a continuous longitudinal arch-like structure.
The terminal ends of each arch are affixed to the ground by convenient means more particularly in the preferred embodiment by a weight. Each rib of the arch is composed of a circumscribing impervious sheet material that forms a cell the cell defining a plenum in which compressed air may be entrapped so as to inflate the cell and hence the rib. Each rib is inflated in a similar manner so that the longitudinal continuous arch-like structure is formed.

Description

7~

This invention releates to an inflatable dome and particularily to a dome that is inflatable and may be used as a light transparent housing over swimming pools and the like.
In North America and in Europe, domes-tic swimming pools are popular. In the upper latitudes of the midwestern United States and Canada and in similiar latitudes in Europe, a swimming pool may not be used year round because of inclement cold weather.
I have perceived of an inflatable pool enclosure which may be mounted over a swimming pool or even a tennis court to enclose the environment oE the swimming pool and to form a closed housing.
Such enclosure is formed of arcuate ribs, juxaposed adjacent to each other to form a longtudinal continous arch-like structure. The terminal ends of the arch are aEfixed to the ground by convenient means. Each rib of -the arch is composed of an impervious sheet material forming cells for entrapment of compressed air that i5 injected into them, to inflate the same and to hence create rigidity to the structure.
The invention therefore comtemplates an inElatable covering Eor a swimming pool or the like comprising;
(a) a plurality of air inflated rib sections, each section including;
(i) at least two hollow rib members, w:ith opposite closed ends, Eormed Erom Elexible air impervious sheet material~ so that each member is hollow and 3() the material is formed to surround the hollow and to deEine thereby an air impervious longitudinally formed plenum;
(ii) valve means communicating with each air impervious plenum for inflating the plenum with air;
(iii) each distal margin of each rib member defining a linear connection means therealong;
(b) the attachment means for attaching connection means of two juxtaposed rib sections, together, whereby adjacent rib sections are attached one to the other, to spacially dispose them into the inflatable covering.
The invention will now be described by way oE example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
Figure 1 is cross section through a swimming pool showing -the rib structure of the invention.
Figure 2 is a side longitudinal elevation of a inflatable enc]osure in figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end view of the enclosure of figure 2.
Figure 4 is a section through a single rib, and partially through adjacent ribs thereof, along lines IV-IV oE
Eigure 2.
Figure 5 is a section along lines V-V of Eigure 2.
Figure 6 is an exploded view of the inter-rib connecting device.
Referring to figure 1 the swimming pool 10 is an inground pool located in the soil 15, and has a circumferential patio 17 thereabout. The pool is fi:Lled with water 1~.
An inflatable enclosure 30 extends over the poo:L 10 and the patio 17. The enclosure 30 consists of a plurality of rib sections ~enerally indicated as 35. Each rib section 35 comprises three juxtaposed rib members 36. A centre rib member 36' and two lateral rib members 36''. ~etween the lateral rib members 36'' and the centre rib member is an interior wall 40 formed from an air impervious membrcllle rnaterial such as impre~nated fabric or plastic. Each o the lateral rib members 36'' have exterior end walls 41 forrned of similar material and the outside surfaces 4~ and 43 of each rib is oE like material. As such, each rib section 35 deEines three rib~like plenums 45 in~o which compressed air is in~ected. It is the compressed air that adds rigidity to the rib structure 35.
As seen in figure 4, the outside and inside surfaces 43 and 44 are smooth planes, but when the plenums 45 are overinflated they tend to buldge as shown in phan-tom in figure 4 and hence the rib like structure of figure 2 is achieved.
For the sake of clarity, in the drawings and in further discussion of this invention, the side panels 43 and 44 of each rib member will be shown as indicated in the drawings, as flat surfaces. Referring to figures 4 and 6, each adjacent rib section 35 is held in juxtaposition by a U type clamp generally shown as 50 in figure 6. Thus, reviewing :Eigure 6 it will seen that the inside and ou-tside surface sheets 43 and 44 extend past the ou-tside marginal wall 41 each into an upstanding flange 46 and 46' respectively. An upper U shaped channel 58 overlays the adjacent flanges 46 of adjacent rib sections 35 while a lower U shaped channel 58' overlays the adjacent lower f].anges 46'. A spacing I member 55 constrains the .Elanges 46 and 46' as shown in figure 6, and on the end Eaces o:E the I member 55 is a socket 56 into whlch threads a bolt 59 so as to secure the U shaped channels 58 and 58' over the flanges 46 or ~6' as the case might be. In this way, adjacent rib sections 35 are held in juxtaposition.
The structure is secured to the ground by weighing the bottom terminus of each plenum 45 with water as shown at 60.
The water is shown as 65 and the rib member or plenum 45 may have a drain 63 at the outside bottom thereof, and an upper :Eill port 62 ~or fillinc~ the base of each plenum 45 with the water 65. It is convenient to ensure a given quantity of water in each base portion of the plenum 45 to have the water carryin~ base region enclosed with an upper impervious s.kln or sheet 61 as shown.
In order to fi:ll the plenum 45 with air a conventional a.Lr valve 33 is located at the base of each rib just above the water partitioning membrane 610 Since the water 65 i.s located in the base o:E each rib mcmb~r the bottom profile of the rib, generally indicated as 70, will conform to the surface irregularities of the ground 15.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. An inflatable covering for a swimming pool or the like comprising;
(a) a plurality of air inflated rib sections, each section including;
(i) at least two hollow rib members, with opposite closed ends, formed from flexible air impervious sheet material, so that each member is hollow and the material is formed to surround the hollow and to define thereby an air impervious longitudinally formed plenum;
(ii) valve means communicating with each air impervious plenum for inflating the plenum with air;
(iii) each distal margin of each rib member defining a linear connection means as a radially disposed flange therealong; and, (b) an attachment means for attaching radially disposed flange of two juxtaposed rib sections, together, whereby adjacent rib sections are attached one to the other, to spacially dispose them into the inflatable covering.
2. The pool covering as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rib sections and rib members, are arcuately formed.
3. The pool covering as claimed in claim 2 wherein the opposite closed ends lie in the same plane.
4. The pool covering as claimed in claim 2 wherein near opposite closed ends there is a second impervious sheet member extending through the plenum thereby to define the air impervious plenum into a first and into second and third plenums, said second and third plenums located at said opposite ends each with a drain means and a valve means communicating with each of said second and third plenums whereby the said second and third plenums may be filled with water or other fluid by the valve means, and drained off by the drain means.
5. The pool covering as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the attachment includes a U shaped channel with opposite arms that overengage the flanges of the adjacently disposed rib sections, and means for holding the U-shaped channel against the flanges whereby adjacent rib sections are held together.
6. The pool covering as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the attachment means includes a pair of U shaped channels with opposite arms that overengage, one U shaped channel, over adjacent disposed outside flanges; the other U shaped channel likewise over opposite radially disposed inside flanges the two U shaped channel members disposing their opposite arms toward each other, and means for holding said pair of U shaped channels in proximity one to the other and hence against the flanges whereby the adjacent rib sections are held together.