EP1439272B1 - Sheet equipped with an element provided on its edge in order to attach it to a rigid frame - Google Patents

Abstract

The band (5) has a hanging zone (22) cooperating directly or indirectly with a rigid frame from which a fabric hangs down, where the fabric has an edge. An integration zone (27) is integrated to the fabric and an inextensible zone (26) forming an inflated room sealed to gas. The inextensible zone is situated between the hanging zone and the integrated zone. An Independent claim is also included for a fabric equipped with a textile band.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to an improvement made to the fabrics made in particular textile coated, and which are intended to be implemented in a rigid frame. This type of fabric is used in many applications, including making structures based on tensile structures similar to tents or capitals, but also to form all kinds of walls, whether cladding or building. ceiling or false ceiling, or even roof.

The invention aims an improvement imported to this type of fabric to improve its ease of assembly and the quality of its voltage state when installed.

Previous techniques

To make tents or marquees based on stretched canvas, it is generally used a set of metal structures forming pillars and a frame between which are stretched canvases. Among these various modes of attachment, one is known that equip the selvedge cloths of elements called "ropes" having a rod extending on the edge of the fabric. This rod is introduced into a groove made in one of the metal beams of the rigid structure.

Other fastening systems are also known, using either the use of springs, or even lacings passing through eyelets made on an element which is attached to the edge of the fabric.

This type of construction is intended to be set up in very diverse places, whose flatness of the ground is not always perfect. As a result, the distance and relative inclination of the different beams can vary from one assembly to another.

Thus, the fabric that is placed between two beams is not always in its optimal tension state, which can cause floating effects that degrade the visual appearance of the entire structure. In the case on the contrary where the beams are found after mounting a little more than they should, it requires for the operator to exert very important efforts to set up the canvas in the various gorges, and ensure the sliding to its final position.

The mounting tolerances of the elements of the rigid structure are also the result of the fact that such a structure must be able to be assembled and disassembled many times, which inevitably causes an increase in the mechanical clearances.

These mounting tolerance issues of the rigid structure also induce constraints on the accuracy of making the fabrics, including the assembly of fastening means on the edge of the fabric.

Devices to solve these problems have been described in the documents US 4,398,376 and US 4,583,331 which have inflatable means for tensioning a wall or erecting a structure. However, in these two documents, the inflation means are formed by a sealed air chamber positioned at the connection between two fabric portions, the two portions being attached to one another and secured. It is conceivable that the confection associated with the introduction of this inner tube is complex. Similarly, the relative movements between the inner tube and the rest of the canvas are a source of problems. Finally, the introduction of the inflation valves is also a very delicate operation.

A problem to be solved by the invention is that of facilitating the introduction of inflatable areas on a fabric using an element attached to the edge of a fabric. Another problem to be solved by the invention is to reduce the garment operations to achieve this inflatable area.

Presentation of the invention

The invention therefore relates to a fabric equipped with an element which is intended to be attached to the edge of the fabric for attachment to a rigid frame and its power.

In known manner, such an element comprises a hooking zone, adapted to cooperate directly or indirectly with the frame, and a zone which is secured to the fabric.

According to the invention, the fabric is characterized in that the element comprises an inextensible zone, forming an inflatable gas-tight chamber, located between the attachment zone and the zone secured to the fabric, and formed by the defined space between the two flaps connecting the fastening zone and the secured zone to the canvas. In this case, these two flaps are therefore also gastight. The volume of the inflatable chamber is delimited on one side by the weld zone between the flaps at the hooking zone of the rope, and on the other side by the weld zone of each of the flaps on the canvas.

Such an element thus performs both the function of headline facilitating the establishment of a canvas on a support, to maintain the canvas on the support but also allows to stretch the fabric by inflating an inextensible area on its periphery.

In other words, the invention consists in placing on the edge of the fabric an element which has an air-deformable chamber formed by the space defined between two flaps. Thus, the establishment and the same formation of this inflatable area requires a very small number of operations.

In practice, the two flaps can be welded together at the attachment zone, and are each welded to the fabric. In other words, the inflatable area can be made during the establishment of the element on the canvas.

This room is flattened in its deflated state, and therefore has a maximum length. When inflated, it increases in volume, reducing its dimension measured parallel to the canvas.

The inflation thus makes it possible to ensure a force on the fabric in the direction of the outside, which thus makes it possible to compensate for the positioning tolerances of the rigid elements of the frame by ensuring a tensioning of the fabric. In this way, the tensioning of the fabric does not take place during assembly, and more specifically during the attachment of the canvas on the frame, but in an independent operation, which occurs later.

The assembly is thus facilitated, since the fabric is put in place without necessarily being powered.

As already mentioned, the attachment zone of the characteristic element may carry different mechanical elements of cooperation with the rigid frame. It may be in particular a longitudinal rod intended to be introduced into a complementary groove made in the frame, or even a plurality of eyelets for receiving fastening means to the frame.

In practice, this type of element can be mounted on any type of fabric, at least on one edge, so as to ensure power in at least one direction of the fabric.

However, it may be advantageous to achieve a bidirectional power supply, by equipping the fabric of the characteristic elements on at least two adjacent sides, and preferably on all four sides of the fabric, when it is of quadrangular shape.

To ensure a homogeneous distribution of the pressure within the various inflatable chambers, it can be provided that the various chambers arranged around the fabric are pneumatically connected.

In a particular form, especially in the case where the fabrics have quite different dimensions between length and width, inflatable chambers can be used, which have different widths in their non-inflated state.

In other words, the forces exerted by the characteristic chambers being proportional to their surface in their inflated state, it may be advantageous to use inflatable chambers of larger diameter at the shorter sides, so as to exert greater effort parallel to the longer sides.

Brief description of the figures

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective sommaire d'une toile conforme à l'invention équipée de deux éléments conformes à l'invention, montrée selon plusieurs variantes en ce qui concerne l'accrochage et la réalisation de la chambre gonflable.
• Les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues en coupe montrant l'élément caractéristique dans des états respectivement dégonflé et gonflé.
• La figure 4 est une vue en coupe illustrant une variante de réalisation d'éléments caractéristiques.
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective sommaire, illustrant une toile équipée sur ses quatre côtés d'éléments caractéristiques de l'invention.

The manner of carrying out the invention, as well as the advantages which result therefrom, will emerge from the description of the embodiments which follow, in support of the appended figures, in which:

• The figure 1 is a brief perspective view of a canvas according to the invention equipped with two elements according to the invention, shown in several variants with regard to the attachment and the production of the inflatable chamber.
• The Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views showing the characteristic element in respectively deflated and inflated states.
• The figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating an alternative embodiment of characteristic elements.
• The figure 5 is a brief perspective view, illustrating a fabric equipped on its four sides with characteristic elements of the invention.

Way of realizing the invention

The canvas (1) illustrated at figure 1 is intended to be stretched between two uprights (2, 3) of a rigid frame. To do this, it is equipped with characteristic elements (5, 6) which are secured to the edge (8) of the fabric, and which can cooperate with the frame (2, 3) by hooking means.

In the form illustrated in figure 1 various attachment means are illustrated. Thus, the characteristic element (5) may comprise a rod (10) intended to be introduced into a groove (11) provided in the frame (3). The opening of this groove (11) is smaller than the size of the ring (10) to ensure its maintenance. Other attachment means can be used as illustrated in the lower part of the figure 1 , in which there are observed springs (13) hung on the one hand in eyelets (14) formed in the attachment zone of the element (6). These eyelets (14) can also accommodate a lacing (15) connecting the upright (2) and the characteristic element (6).

The element (5, 6) mounted on the edge of the fabric comprises an inflatable zone (20, 21), an exemplary embodiment of which is illustrated in FIG. figure 2 .

The element (5) illustrated in figure 2 is made from a textile band folded on itself. This element (5) therefore comprises a hooking zone (22) trapping the rod (10). The two flaps (23, 24) are welded together at the area (25) so as to trap the rod and form an inflatable area. This inflatable area is formed by the two flaps (23, 24) which are in turn secured to the edge of the fabric at the area (29). This joining can be done by welding, gluing or any other equivalent means.

The inner faces of the flaps (23, 24) have been treated to allow them to be gas-tight, and for example a polyurethane-based coating. However, it is also possible to use to make the flaps (23, 24) the same textile as that of the fabric (1), if it is gas tight.

This inflatable chamber is associated with a location of the characteristic element (5) with an inflation valve allowing the introduction of pressurized air.

When the inflatable chamber is inflated, the characteristic element (5) deforms according to the illustration of the figure 3 . In this extreme case where the chamber is inflated to its maximum, its initial length L (see figure 2 ) then has a length L ', which is about 35% lower than L. It follows that the fabric (1) undergoes a tension F directed towards the outside.

As already mentioned, the inflatable chamber can be made as shown in FIG. figure 4 directly by the flaps (23, 24) secured together by gluing at the area (25) and with the fabric at the attachment zone (29) on the fabric.

The figure 5 illustrates a situation in which the fabric is not square, but on the contrary has a width substantially greater than its length. In this case, the elements (33, 34) placed on the edge of the fabric (35) have chambers (36, 37) which are of different dimensions. Indeed, the forces exerted on the fabric in the width direction, by the chamber (37), are greater than those exerted in the direction of the height, by means of the chamber (36).

In this case, the chamber (37) located on a vertical edge is then of greater diameter, to exert at equivalent pressure a higher force in the horizontal direction of the fabric. Of course, the orientation illustrated in figure 5 is only an example, and it can be transposed to any positioning of the canvas in space.

The pressures prevailing in the various chambers (36, 37) are equal, thanks to the pneumatic connections (39) which connect the chambers themselves inflated by means of the valve (40).

• la possibilité de régler la tension de la toile selon une ou deux directions, quelles que soient les tolérances de montage du cadre rigide ;
• les opérations de montage sont facilitées, puisque la mise sous tension intervient après la mise en place de la toile ;
• les précisions de fabrication de la toile, notamment de la confection par la mise en place de l'élément caractéristique sont diminuées. En effet, les différentes tolérances sont compensées par la possibilité de modification des dimensions de la chambre gonflable ;
• il est possible de décliner les dimensions et chambres gonflables selon les tolérances que l'on souhaite compenser ;

It follows from the foregoing that the fastening element provides multiple advantages including:

• the ability to adjust the tension of the fabric in one or two directions, regardless of the mounting tolerances of the rigid frame;
• assembly operations are facilitated, since the power is involved after the introduction of the fabric;
• the details of manufacture of the fabric, in particular the preparation by the establishment of the characteristic element are reduced. Indeed, the different tolerances are compensated by the possibility of modifying the dimensions of the inflatable chamber;
• it is possible to decline the dimensions and inflatable chambers according to the tolerances that one wishes to compensate;

Industrial applications

The invention can be used in multiple sectors, which use webs to have a state of tension.

One can cite the realization of constructions based on stretched fabrics, such as capitals, tents and other demountable structures. These stretched fabrics can also be used to produce stretched roofs or more generally vertical or horizontal walls such as stretch ceilings or cladding.

It can also be used in the field of the display to ensure a flatness of the information carrier.

Claims (7)

1. Fabric (1) equipped with an element (5) disposed on at least one of the borders (8) thereof with a view to attachment thereof to a rigid frame (2, 3) and tensioning thereof, the said element (5) comprising an attachment area (22) able to cooperate directly or indirectly with the said frame (2, 3), and an area (27) secured to the fabric, the element (5) comprising an inextensible area (26) forming an inflatable chamber (20, 21), gastight, situated between the attachment area (22) and the area (27) secured to the fabric, characterised in that the said inextensible area (26) is formed by the space defined between two flaps (23, 24) connecting the attachment area (22) and the area (27) secured to the fabric.
2. Fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the two flaps (23, 24) are welded together (25) at the attachment area and are each welded (29) to the fabric (1).
3. Fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the attachment area (22) comprises a longitudinal rod (10) intended to cooperate with a complementary groove (11) produced in the frame (3).
4. Fabric according to claim 1, characterised in that the attachment area comprises a plurality of eyes (14) intended to receive means (13, 15) of fixing to the frame.
5. Fabric (35) according to claim 1, characterised in that it has a quadrangular shape and elements (33, 34) on these four sides.
6. Fabric according to claim 5, characterised in that the inflatable chambers (36, 37) of the four elements (33, 34) are connected pneumatically.
7. Fabric according to claim 5, characterised in that the inflatable chambers (36, 37) of the four elements (33, 34) have different widths in their non-inflated state.

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