EP0118343A2 - Inflatable structure for use as a shelter - Google Patents

Abstract

The inflatable structure for use as a shelter for a given area comprises a flexible envelope with one or two walls (1, 2) which, in service, is arranged above the area to be protected, which comprises a base ( 11) connected to the ground by an anchoring device (12) and which is maintained erected in service by a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The two walls (1, 2) of the envelope are each connected to the base (11) by a removable assembly device (3, 4), such as a zipper, allowing them to be mounted at the disassemble independently of each other. Use in particular for the protection of playgrounds or sports areas such as tennis courts, or swimming pool.

Description

The present invention relates to an inflatable structure used as a shelter to cover a specific area, such as a tennis court, swimming pool, or playing or sports field, in order to protect it from bad weather, especially during the bad season or possibly for shelter from excessive solar radiation.

Inflatable structures are known which are produced by means of thin sheets of an impermeable and flexible material, which are maintained in the erected state by means of an air pressure applied inside the structure.

The inflatable structures currently known generally comprise a flexible single-walled envelope constituted by a plastic-based sheet whose specific weight is greater than 700 g / m2 and which is firmly anchored to the ground to withstand the forces generated by the internal pressure d air and wind.

Inflatable structures are also known comprising a flexible double-walled envelope which provides a certain thermal and sound insulation.

The two walls of these structures are fixed to the ground by means of attachment devices which make these walls difficult to dismantle.

However, we see that the outer wall degrades much faster than the inner wall because it is directly exposed to the weather, to abrasion caused by the dust-laden wind, to polluting and aggressive chemical agents and to solar radiation. which deteriorates plastics. So it is necessary after a certain time to replace the outer wall. This operation is complicated and costly because it forces to dismantle the whole structure.

In addition, known structures with two walls have the drawback of being less well lit inside than structures with a single wall because the double wall thickness reduces the transmission of external light.

Thus, during seasons in which the thermal insulation provided by the double wall becomes unnecessary, it is desirable to reduce the number of walls to just one in order to be able to make the most of outdoor natural lighting. However, given the difficulty of dismantling the known structures, this transformation is very difficult, so that we prefer to use artificial interior lighting.

On the other hand, it would be desirable to be able to easily dismantle the entire structure, for example in summer, if it is more pleasant to practice a sport or a game on a completely open area.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of known embodiments, by creating an inflatable structure whose assembly or partial or total disassembly are particularly easy, while having a very reduced total weight, excellent mechanical resistance and a duration of extended life compared to existing structures.

The inflatable structure targeted by the invention comprises a flexible envelope with one or two walls which, in use, is disposed above the area to be protected, which comprises a base connected to the ground by an anchoring device and which is maintained erected in service by a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure.

According to the invention, this inflatable structure is characterized in that the wall or walls of the envelope are each connected to the base by a removable assembly device, such as a zipper, making it possible to mount or dismount them independently of each other.

Thus, it is very easy, for example to remove the outer wall to keep only the inner wall, especially after winter, where the thermal insulation provided by the two walls is no longer essential and where the presence of a single wall provides better interior lighting.

Furthermore, the fact of being able to easily remove the external wall makes it possible to store the latter for long periods protected from the weather and external aggressive agents, so that its lifespan is considerably prolonged.

According to an advantageous version of the invention, the base has a substantially Y-shaped profile in cross section, the middle wall carrying the anchoring device to the ground and the two branches being each provided with one of the connecting bands of the closure. with a slide, the other strip of which is disposed around the perimeter of the removable wall.

Thanks to this Y-shaped profile of the base, the two walls can be dismantled independently of one another, without the need to dismantle this base. Each branch of the base takes into account the tension forces applied to the corresponding wall, so that removing a wall does not cause any imbalance of voltages likely to require any operation to re-energize the other wall.

According to a preferred version of the invention; the two removable walls of the double envelope are produced in a substantially identical cut and are interchangeable.

For this purpose, it suffices simply to provide unequal lengths for the branches of the base of Y-shaped profile. Thanks to the interchangeability of the walls, the mounting of the structure is facilitated since it is not necessary to identify the walls. Furthermore, it is possible after a certain time to put the inner wall in place of the outer wall, which makes it possible to extend the life of the structure.

These walls are advantageously made of a plasticized fabric, thin, flexible, light and waterproof. Preferably, this fabric is made of polyester resin fibers and the plasticizing layer is made of acrylic or polyurethane resin. The specific mass of this fabric is less than 200 g / m2.

This low density essentially facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the envelope.

Furthermore, thanks to the flexibility and lightness of these walls, they can easily deform under the effect of the wind to take an optimal aerodynamic profile which reduces the effect of the wind on the structure.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the two walls of the envelope are kept apart from one another by an intermediate gas pressure between the internal pressure and the external pressure.

To this end, the structure comprises means for establishing in the internal envelope a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, means for allowing a controlled leakage of a gaseous fluid such as air in the volume between the two walls. and means for allowing a controlled leakage of this gaseous fluid towards the external atmosphere.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description below.

• la figure 1 est une vue en élévation d'une structure gonflable conforme à l'invention;
• . la figure 2 est une vue de dessus de cette structure;
• . la figure 3 est une vue en coupe de la structure suivant le plan III-III de la figure 2;
• . la figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale partielle, à échelle agrandie de l'embase et du dispositif d'ancrage;
• . la figure 5 est une vue en coupe suivant V-V de la figure 4;
• . la figure 6 est une vue en coupe transversale partielle de la structure montrant le dispositif de mise sous pression du volume compris entre les deux parois;
• la figure 7 est une vue de dessus de la structure comportant un élément intercalaire;
• . la figure 8 est une vue de dessus de la structure comportant deux éléments intercalaires.

In the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples:

• Figure 1 is an elevational view of an inflatable structure according to the invention;
• . Figure 2 is a top view of this structure;
• . Figure 3 is a sectional view of the structure along the plane III-III of Figure 2;
• . Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale of the base and the anchoring device;
• . Figure 5 is a sectional view along VV of Figure 4;
• . Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the structure showing the device for pressurizing the volume between the two walls;
• Figure 7 is a top view of the structure comprising an intermediate element;
• . Figure 8 is a top view of the structure comprising two intermediate elements.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the inflatable structure according to the invention comprises a flexible envelope which comprises either a single wall either an inner wall 1 and an outer wall 2 disposed above the area to be protected.

These walls 1 and 2 are formed by a set of strips of plastic fabric, for example made of polyester resin fibers, thin, flexible, light and waterproof, assembled for example by sewing.

The plasticizing layer of this fabric is, for example, made of acrylic or polyurethane resin. The specific mass of this fabric does not substantially exceed 200 g / _m 2 _.

On one of the side faces of the structure is provided a rotary drum door 15 which allows the passage of people without creating permanent air outlets.

The envelope of the structure comprises a base 11 connected to the ground by an expansion anchoring device 12 which comprises vertical rods fixed in the ground.

The envelope of the structure is kept erected in service by a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, as will be described in detail below.

The two walls 1, 2 of the envelope are each connected to the base 11 by a removable assembly device which is constituted in the example represented by slide fasteners 3, 4 (see FIGS. 4 and 5), which allow the walls 1, 2 to be mounted or dismantled independently of one another.

The anchoring device further comprises (see FIGS. 4 and 5), a lashing cable 7 disposed along the perimeter of the area to be protected passed inside metal loops 12a mechanically linked to rods d anchor 12 sunk into the ground and the lower part of which comprises elements expanded into the ground 12b, maintaining the assembly firmly connected to the ground.

The base 11 has at its base a sheath llb consisting for example of a loop of reinforced fabric sewn along the base of the base 11, this sheath llb having recesses llc in line with the metal loops 12a of the rods d anchor 12.

The cable 7 is slid inside the sheath llb sewn to the base 11 over the entire length of the latter, and therefore passes alternately in a loop 12a and in a portion of sheath llb located between two recesses.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base 11 has a Y-shaped profile in cross section.

The two upper branches llb, 11c of the base 11 are each provided with one of the bands 3a, 4a for connecting the zipper 3, 4, the other band 3b, 4b of which is disposed on the perimeter of each of the removable walls 1, 2.

The branch llb of the base 11 which is connected to the external wall 2 (see FIG. 4) has a length greater than that of the branch llc connected to the internal wall 1 so that the two removable walls 1, 2 can be produced according to a substantially identical cut and thus be interchangeable.

At the ends of the branches llb, llc of the base 11 are fixed respectively flaps 9, 13 which extend all around the structure on either side of the middle part lla of the base 11 and come into contact with the ground, thus making the lower part of the structure substantially watertight outside and inside.

In the erected position of the structure, the two walls 1, 2 are kept apart from one another by a gas pressure intermediate between the pressure internal and external pressure.

As shown in FIG. 6, the pressurizing means comprise a compressor 25 for gaseous fluid such as air, placed outside the structure which sends this fluid under pressure in a sheath 26a towards the interior of the structure, and in its lower part.

A removable chimney, 26 can be connected to the sheath 26a by means of connection means, this removable chimney 26a extending along the internal wall 1 towards the upper part thereof.

This arrangement makes it possible to maintain the appropriate pressure inside the wall 1. In the event of extreme cold the chimney 26 can be put into service and thus, the cold air coming from outside propelled by the compressor 25, is directed towards the top of the structure and not towards the ground where the players can move.

The end 27 of this removable chimney 26 is located near a vent 15 which communicates with the volume. Taken between the two walls 1, 2 by a valve 17.

The valve 17 is articulated on the wall 1 and its weight determines the opening pressure.

The volume 14 comprised between the two walls 1, 2 communicates itself with the outside atmosphere by a second opening 16 formed in the outside wall 2 situated slightly above the first opening 15 and also provided with a valve 18.

The operation of these means for pressurizing the structure allows satisfactory deployment of the envelope that it has one or two walls, and whether the removable chimney is in place or not thanks to the flexibility of operation of the valves 17 or 18 .

• On met tout d'abord en place dans le sol les tiges d'ancrage 12 équipées d'ancres à expansion 12b de type connu qui maintiennent les tiges 12 fermement reliées au sol. Par ailleurs on fait passer le câble 7 dans la gaine llb de l'embase 11 et, en regard de chaque évidement llc de cette gaine llb, on fait également passer ce câble 7 à l'intérieur des anneaux 12a des tiges 12, sur toute la longueur de chaque côté de l'aire à protéger. Le câble 7 est ensuite tendu par ses extrémités.

To mount the structure that we have just described, we proceed as follows:

• First of all, the anchor rods 12 fitted with expansion anchors 12b of known type are placed in the ground, which hold the rods 12 firmly connected to the ground. Furthermore, the cable 7 is passed through the sheath llb of the base 11 and, opposite each recess llc of this sheath llb, this cable 7 is also passed through the rings 12a of the rods 12, over all the length of each side of the area to be protected. The cable 7 is then stretched by its ends.

The internal wall 1 is fixed to the branch llc of the base 11 by means of the zipper 3, then the external wall 2 is fixed to the branch llb by means of the zipper 4.

The compressor 25 and the blowing duct 26a are put in place, then the chimney 26. The compressor 25 is started up, which blows in the interior volume of the air structure at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure and which has to inflate the inner wall 1.

Experience shows that an internal pressure of 2.5 to 3 millibars is sufficient to obtain a good deployment of the internal wall 1. The weight of the valve 17 is calculated so that it can lift when the internal pressure exceeds the above value and thus allow a controlled air leak in the volume 14 between the two walls 1, 2. This controlled air leak in the volume 14 allows the outer wall 2 to be inflated. When the air pressure in this volume 14 reaches 1 to 1.5 millibar, the valve 18 of the outer wall 2 lifts, thereby allowing controlled air leakage to the outside atmosphere.

Once the structure is completely erected, the flow of air under pressure can be reduced to a value just sufficient to maintain the structure in the erected state and not to cool the interior too much.

The assembly of the inflatable structure according to the invention is very rapid. Thus in the case of a structure intended to cover a tennis court of length equal to 36 m and width equal to 18 m, the assembly time does not exceed 2 H 30 min. This result is obtained in particular by means of rapid fixing of the walls 1 and 2 to the base 11 and the lightness of the removable walls 1 and 2. In fact, in the case of the above example the weight of each of these walls is less than 90 kg.

Because the walls 1 and 2 are interchangeable, each of them can be placed inside or outside. Thus, since the inner wall 2 deteriorates more quickly than the inner wall 1, it is possible to double the life of the complete envelope by periodically reversing these walls.

Furthermore, it is advantageous after winter to remove the outer wall 2 to keep only the inner wall 1, because at this time the climatic conditions no longer justify the thermal insulation provided by the air space between the two walls.

The outer wall 2 can then be stored protected from the weather and the sun, which makes it possible to extend its service life.

In addition, the removal of this outer wall 2 improves the interior lighting of the structure which makes the playing area particularly pleasant for players.

The exchange of the walls 1, 2 or the removal of only one of them can be carried out very easily thanks to the removable assembly devices constituted by the slide fasteners 3, 4.

Furthermore, thanks to the ease with which the removable walls 1, 2 can be removed from the structure, users do not hesitate to dismantle them completely, in order to be able to take full advantage of even short periods of favorable sunshine.

Figures 1 and 2 schematically indicate that each wall 1, 2 can be made up of three removable elements: a central element 1b, 2b of approximately cylindrical shape and two end elements 1a, 1c, 2a, 2c in the form of a cul de -oven. These elements are linked together by removable connecting means 28, such as for example zippers.

When the envelope is not erected under internal pressure and rests on the ground, each of the above elements can be detached or assembled.

FIG. 7 schematically represents an intermediate element 2d, the shape of which is substantially a section of central element 2b, intended to be interposed between the central element 2b and an end element such as 2a.

This intermediate element 2d has at its edges the same removable connecting means 28 so that it can be connected on the one hand to the central element 2b and on the other hand to the end element 2a. It comprises at its base the same removable assembly means 3,4 as those of the walls 1, 2 intended to be assembled to a base 11 of length equal to the length of the intermediate element.

When all the removable connection and assembly means are linked, the assembly can be pressurized and deployed constituting a new wall having all the characteristics of the initial wall and the length of which is the sum of the lengths of the initial wall and of the insert.

An intermediate element can be just as easily interposed on the inner wall 1 as on the outer wall 2. The elongation of the envelope is thus possible, whether it has one or two walls.

This arrangement makes it possible to extend the structure by a length equal to that of the intermediate element, after the cables 7 and the anchoring devices 12 have been arranged for this purpose at ground level.

A second, or even a third intermediate element the, 2e can be connected to the walls 1, 2 according to the same arrangements.

The structure with one or two walls can thus have several lengths according to the requirements of the user.

This also has the advantage of being able to produce this structure industrially according to a modular design comprising a central element, an end element and an intermediate element. This arrangement with three modular elements considerably reduces the costs of study, tools, production and management.

From three different elements: a central element, an end element and an intermediate element in an appropriate number, a multitude of combinations can be made to form a structure with a wall (a central element, two end elements) a structure with two walls (two central elements, four end elements) each version can be extended on demand by interposing an adequate number of intermediate elements.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the example which has just been described and many modifications can be made to it without departing from the scope of the invention.

Thus, the zippers 3, 4 can be replaced by other quick fastening devices, such as snaps, Velcro type adhesive tapes and the like.

Furthermore, the removable walls 1, 2 could be made of poylamide fiber fabric of the Kevlar type or of Goretex (polyamide fiber fabric coated with a layer of polytetrafluoroethylene).

Of course for large inflatable structures, several air supply ducts 26a and several valves 17, 18 could be provided for each of the removable walls 1, 2.

Furthermore, the general shape of the structure could be different from that described.

Claims (12)

1. Inflatable structure for use as a shelter for a given area, this structure comprising a flexible envelope with one or two walls (1, 2) which, in service, is arranged above the area to be protected, which comprises a base (11) connected to the ground by an anchoring device (12) and which is maintained erected in service by a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, characterized in that the wall or walls (1, 2) of the envelope are each connected to the base (11) by a removable assembly device (3, 4), such as a slide fastener, making it possible to mount or dismount them independently of one another. 2. Inflatable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (11) has a substantially Y-shaped profile in cross section, the middle wall (Ila) carrying the ground anchoring device (12) and the two branches (llb, llc) each provided with a connecting strip (3b, 4b) of the zipper (3, 4), the other strip (3a, 4a) of which is disposed on the perimeter of the removable wall (1 , 2). 3. Inflatable structure according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the two removable walls (1, 2) of the envelope are produced according to a substantially identical cut and are interchangeable. 4. Inflatable structure according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the walls (1, 2) are made of a plasticized fabric, thin, flexible, light and waterproof. 5. Inflatable structure according to claim 4, characterized in that the fabric is made of polyester resin fibers, in that the plasticizing layer is made of acrylic or polyurethane resin and in that the specific mass of this fabric does not substantially exceed step 200 g / _m 2 _. 6. Inflatable structure according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the anchoring device (12) comprises loops (12a) through which passes a lashing cable (7), itself threaded in a sheath (llb) linked to the base (11), this sheath (llb) being hollowed out in line with the loops (12a). 7. Inflatable structure according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the two walls (1, 2) of the double envelope are kept apart from one another by a gas pressure intermediate between the internal pressure and external pressure. 8. Inflatable structure according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises means (25) for establishing in the interior volume of the internal wall (1) a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, means (17) for allowing a controlled leak of the gaseous fluid in the volume (14) comprised between the two walls (1, 2) and means (18) to allow a controlled leak of this gaseous fluid towards the external atmosphere. 9. Inflatable structure according to claim 8, characterized in that the means for pressurizing and circulating the gaseous fluid comprise a sheath (26a) for supplying this pressurized fluid inside the envelope and in that a chimney (26) connected by removable means to the sheath (26a) brings this gaseous fluid towards the upper wall of the envelope in the vicinity of a valve (17) for communication with the volume (14) included between the two walls (1, 2) of the double envelope, this volume communicating itself with the external atmosphere by a second valve (18) located in the vicinity of the first. 10. Inflatable structure according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that each of the branches (llb, llc) of the base (11) carries a sealing flap (9, 13) extending at less to the ground, on either side of the middle part of the base (lla). 11. Inflatable structure comprising a flexible envelope with one or two walls (1, 2) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that each wall (1, 2) consists of two end elements (the , 1c, 2a, 2c) and a central element (lb, 2b) connected together by removable connection means (28) and in that one or more intermediate elements (ld, le, 2d, 2e), the shape is substantially a portion of central element (1b, 2b), said intermediate elements comprising the same removable connecting means (28) and assembly devices (3, 4) substantially identical to those of the central element (1b , 2b). 12. Inflatable structure according to claim 11, characterized in that said removable fixing means (28) are slide fasteners.

Images