EP0561576B1

EP0561576B1 - Inflatable storage chamber

Info

Publication number: EP0561576B1
Application number: EP19930301921
Authority: EP
Inventors: George Page
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-03-14
Filing date: 1993-03-12
Publication date: 1997-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-12
Also published as: SG43282A1; GB2264963B; GB9205618D0; DE69312535D1; GB9305064D0; GB2264963A; DE69312535T2; EP0561576A1

Description

This invention relates to an inflatable storage chamber.
Valuable items such as vintage motor vehicles and antiques will deteriorate if not stored in dry, non-humid conditions. Even if for example a vintage car is stored in a garage, the storage conditions are far from perfect. The vehicle will collect dust and grit but even more important is the damage caused by still air and condensation resulting in rusting bodywork and chassis. The interior trim will collect moisture from the still air and will quickly deteriorate. It is known to drape a cover such as a sheet over a car in an attempt to prevent deterioration. However, if a cover remains in contact with the paint work for a substantial length of time then adhesion to the car will tend to occur and on removing the cover some of the paint will become detached from the car.
Particularly in the case of the storage of a motor vehicle, in US-A-4 991 363 there is proposed the use of an inflatable structure within which the vehicle is positioned. A metal frame is placed on a very large plastic sheet and the vehicle is driven on to the frame. The sheet is pulled over the vehicle, adjoining edges are joined together and then a fan is operated to inflate the structure. This arrangement has the disadvantages that the overall size of the sheet is very large and is difficult to handle, and the frame cannot easily be stored when the structure is not in use. The sheet configuration is such that the vehicle can be driven on to the sheet from one end only. Also, there is no controlled through-flow of air, leading to air stagnation and unreliable drying if the vehicle is wet when located in the structure.
The present invention has been made from a consideration of these problems.
The present invention concerns an inflatable chamber adapted for the storage of a motor vehicle as described in US-A-4 991 363, which chamber comprises: a plastics material base sheet of a size not smaller than the vehicle with which the chamber is to be used; a flexible plastics material upper sheet pre-formed to be of such a shape that the upper sheet may enclose a motor vehicle located on the base sheet; zipper fastener means for joining the upper sheet to the base sheet; a first opening formed through the upper sheet; and electrically driven air fan means mounted on the upper sheet around the first opening and arranged to draw air from the ambient and supply said drawn air through said first opening under pressure to the interior of the chamber thereby to inflate the chamber. Such a chamber is characterised in accordance with this invention in that: the base sheet is of generally rectangular shape and defines four side edges; the upper sheet defines four lower edges corresponding to the side edges of the base sheet; the zipper fastener means extends around all four said side edges of the base sheet and all four said lower edges of the upper sheet whereby operation of the zipper fastener means of the base sheet and the upper sheet joins together the base sheet and the upper sheet to form a substantially sealed chamber; and a second opening is formed in the upper sheet, an adjustable air vent means being mounted on the upper sheet to overlie the second opening whereby the flow of air through the chamber may be controlled by adjustment of said air vent means.
In an embodiment of the invention, the chamber is inflated by a fan motor and safety release valves or vents may be provided in the membrane to prevent over inflation. Any suitable gas or combination of gases may be used such as air, helium or nitrogen. The gas is preferably dried and filtered prior to or upon entering the chamber. A dehumidifier may be provided in or connected to the chamber. The fan motor may be operated via any suitable power source such as a battery, mains or be solar powered. Thus, with the inflatable storage chamber of the present invention items can be stored in a controlled, fresh, dry environment. An individual environment is envisaged for each vehicle.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood a specific embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the inflated chamber of an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2a is a perspective view of the inflated chamber of a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2b shows the base of the chamber of Fig. 2a; and
Fig. 2c is a side view of the chamber of Fig. 2a.

Referring to the drawings of the first embodiment, an inflatable chamber 10 has a plastics base sheet 11 which may be connected to a plastics cover sheet 12 via a clasp fastener 16 the slide of which is movable around the base sheet. The base 11 of the chamber may optionally be defined by rigid poles.
In use an item to be stored within the chamber would be placed on base sheet 11, whereafter the cover sheet 12 is placed thereover. The fastener is subsequently closed to define the chamber 10.
An electric motor driven fan is used to drive gas into the chamber through an opening 30, thereby inflating the chamber 10 such that only the base of the item or in the case of a motor vehicle the wheels are in contact with the base sheet 11.
If air is used to inflate the chamber it is desirable to have a filter 28 and a dehydrating agent such as silica gel provided at the opening 30 to the chamber 10. These prevent contamination of the environment and maintain dry conditions within the chamber 10. A dehumidifier may be used to maintain dry conditions in addition to, or as an alternative to this.
Air need not be used to inflate the chamber 10. Inert gases such as helium or nitrogen are also suitable.
Safety valves may be provided in the cover sheet 12 to prevent overinflation of the chamber 10. Filters and dehydrating agents may be provided in such safety valves.
The cover sheet 12 is provided with adjustable vents, to allow a slow release of gas from the chamber 10. If this is so then the amount of gas within the chamber will need to be maintained within certain parameters. This can be achieved by using a pressure meter (not shown) which is connected to the motor and automatically switches on the motor when the amount of gas in the chamber has fallen below a certain minimum level and switches the motor off as the amount of gas in the chamber 10 reaches a predefined maximum level.
The sheets 11 and 12 may be made of any suitable flexible plastics material such as polypropylene, but the plastics material is preferably transparent to allow the stored item to be viewed from outside the chamber. Alternatively, windows of transparent plastics material may be provided.
Referring to the second embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the inflatable chamber 50 is formed by starting with a base sheet 52 of coloured pvc with a zip 54 around all four sides. A clear pvc top 56 is attached and zipped to the base to form the sealed chamber. To this sealed chamber a small fan and air filter unit 58 is added which not only inflates the chamber but supplies a constant flow of fresh filtered air through the entire unit. The unit 58 is sewn into the top cover 56, at one end. To stimulate and enhance the flow of air throughout the chamber controlled openings 60 are provided in the other end of the top 56. These openings, or vents, are at the opposite end to the fan and filter unit 58, thus ensuring air passes over and through the entire contents of the chamber. The fan and filter will supply enough dust free air to change the air inside the chamber three times every hour. This flow of constantly changing fresh air will have the effect of drying whatever is stored in the chamber. For example, if a wet motor car be placed in the chamber, it should dry completely (after several hours) and stay that way as long as it is stored in the inflated chamber. The openings 60 have plastic, adjustable air vents.
In use, the vehicle or object to be stored is placed on the base 52 and the clear top 56 is then thrown over it. The top and base are then joined together around all four sides by means of the zip 54. The fan is turned on to inflate the chamber. Usually such inflation will be achieved in approximately ten minutes. The rear air vents 60 are then adjusted to control the chamber ventilation.
The chamber may be designed to approximate the shape of a motor vehicle, as illustrated.
The top cover may be 500s gauge clear plastic and the base sheet may be 1000s gauge clear plastic.
The present invention therefore provides an inflatable chamber which can store an item in a suitable environment whilst only the base of the item is in contact with the chamber and the item can be viewed from outside the chamber.
It is to be understood that the above described embodiments are by way of example only and many modifications and variations may be made.
The size of the chamber may be adapted to suit the item to be stored. Supplementary rigid supports may be attached to the sheets to ensure that once inflated the chamber has a set configuration.
Any item may be stored within the chamber such as motor vehicles and especially vintage cars, machinery, or furniture and especially antiques.

Claims

An inflatable chamber adapted for the storage of a motor vehicle, which chamber (10) comprises:
- a plastics material base sheet (52) of a size not smaller than the vehicle with which the chamber is to be used;

- a flexible plastics material upper sheet (56) pre-formed to be of such a shape that the upper sheet may enclose a motor vehicle located on the base sheet;

- zipper fastener means (54) for joining the upper sheet (56) to the base sheet (52);

- a first opening (30) formed through the upper sheet (56); and

- electrically driven air fan means (58) mounted on the upper sheet (56) around the first opening (30) and arranged to draw air from the ambient and supply said drawn air through said first opening (30) under pressure to the interior of the chamber (10) thereby to inflate the chamber;
characterised in that:
- the base sheet (52) is of generally rectangular shape and defines four side edges;

- the upper sheet (56) defines four lower edges corresponding to the side edges of the base sheet;

- the zipper fastener means (54) extends around all four said side edges of the base sheet (52) and all four said lower edges of the upper sheet (56) whereby operation of the zipper fastener means (54) of the base sheet and the upper sheet joins together the base sheet and the upper sheet to form a substantially sealed chamber (10); and

- a second opening (60) is formed in the upper sheet, an adjustable air vent means being mounted on the upper sheet to overlie the second opening (60) whereby the flow of air through the chamber (10) may be controlled by adjustment of said air vent means.
An inflatable storage chamber according to claim 1, wherein the air fan means (58) draws air from the ambient and supplies said drawn air to the chamber (10) at such a rate that the air within the chamber is changed about three times every hour.
An inflatable storage chamber according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a dehumidifier is provided in the chamber (10).
An inflatable storage chamber according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a dehumidifier is provided within said first opening (30) whereby air supplied under pressure by the air fan means passes through the dehumidifier.
An inflatable storage chamber according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base sheet (52) comprises a clear plastics material of approximately 1000 gauge.
An inflatable storage chamber according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper sheet (56) comprises a clear plastics material of approximately 500 gauge.
An inflatable storage chamber according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shape of the chamber as defined by the base sheet (52) and the upper sheet (56), when inflated, approximates to that of a motor vehicle whereby said motor vehicle may be stored therewithin.