EP3179013A1 - Inflatable tent structure or similar provisional shelter, and method for manufacturing such a structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The inflatable structure comprises an inflatable arch (2) and two half-arches (3) whose vertices are connected to the top of this arch (2). Each arch (2) or half-arch (3) comprises an envelope formed by a series of tube sections (6) assembled one after the other to form said body, and at least one inflatable bead placed in said envelope. The method comprises the steps of determining a desired number n of pipe sections (6) to form said body of an arch (2) or a half-arch (3), to cut pieces (10) of material flexible to form the pipe sections (6), to form the pipe sections (6) and to assemble these sections (6).

Description

The present invention relates to an inflatable tent structure or other similar temporary shelter, and a method of manufacturing this structure.

It is known to make tents with an inflatable structure, especially for use in events or events, such as sports or cultural events, or trade shows.

A known tent structure of this type comprises two inflatable arches placed at 90 ° to each other and intersecting each other at their vertices, and panels of flexible material, for example made of canvas or plastic, stretched between the arches. A similar structure comprises four half-arches held relative to each other at their vertices.

According to the known technique, each arch or half-arch is formed by a single curved inflatable bead.

Such tent structures are expected to be unfolded, inflated, deflated, folded and transported many times during their service life, which subjects them to significant wear and significant risks of drilling the strands, which do not resist. not perfectly to these many manipulations. In case of drilling, they involve the interchanging of the entire coil, which results in a cost and a significant downtime of the tent.

The publication of application for Patent No. FR 2,556,384 discloses a half-arches single coil formed by the assembly of sections, each section, consisting of either several strips welded together in the longitudinal direction of the section, or a tube.

The tent structure according to this document is however not suitable for use in the field of events, requiring numerous operations of unfolding, inflating, deflating, folding and transport of the structure. In addition, the perfectly tight assembly of the successive tube sections is delicate, complex and long to achieve, which leads to reducing the number of tube sections that includes a half-arch, and therefore leads to a half-arch does s' not necessarily extending over 90 °, as visible on the figure 6 of the previous document, making it necessary the presence of straps 4 or 12 between the half-arches. The presence of such straps on a tent for a very frequent use, as is the case of the tents used in the field of events, is unthinkable for issues of complexity of structure, installation time and risk of deterioration at the junction points between the half-arches and straps.

The present invention aims to remedy all of these disadvantages, by providing a tent structure specially adapted to a very frequent use, as is the case of the tents used in the field of events, so remaining simple and fast to set up and fold, and able to resist in the best conditions to wear resulting from such a very frequent use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tent structure in which the assembly of successive tube sections is easier, simpler and faster to achieve than in the prior art.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tent structure for making arches or half-arches extending substantially 180 ° or 90 °, at acceptable costs, and not involving the presence of webbing straps. restraint of arches or half-arches.

• dans le cas d'une arche, 180 divisé par le nombre n de tronçons de tube constituant le corps de cette arche, et
• dans le cas d'une demi-arche, 90 divisé par ce nombre n.

The inflatable structure concerned comprises, in a manner known per se, two inflatable arches placed at 90 ° to each other and intersecting each other at their vertices, or an arch and two half-arches of which the vertices are connected to the summit of this arch; each arch comprises a body which constitutes it essentially and two pieces of foot; each half-arch comprises a body which essentially constitutes it, a piece of foot and a piece of vertex; each arch or half-arch comprises an envelope formed by a series of tube sections assembled one after the other to form said body; each tube section has end apertures extending substantially in planes converging towards each other on one side of the pipe section, called the "convergence side", the different sections being assembled together. following the others so that these convergence sides are aligned from one section to another; the angle of convergence of the planes in which the end openings of each tube section extend is equal to:

• in the case of an arch, 180 divided by the number n of pipe sections constituting the body of this arch, and
• in the case of a half-arch, 90 divided by this number n.

According to the invention, each arch or half-arch comprises at least one inflatable bead placed in said envelope.

• déterminer un nombre désiré n de tronçons de tube pour former ledit corps d'une arche ou d'une demi-arche ;
• découper des pièces de matériau flexible destinées à constituer les tronçons de tubes, de telle sorte que chaque pièce comprenne, lorsqu'elle est à plat :
  • un premier bord et un deuxième bord opposé au premier bord, ces premier et deuxième bords étant destinés à être assemblés l'un à l'autre pour former le tronçon de tube ;
  • un axe médian de cette pièce, cet axe médian étant parallèle auxdits premier et deuxième bords et situé à équidistance de ceux-ci ;
  • un troisième bord, reliant une première extrémité dudit premier bord à une première extrémité dudit deuxième bord située sur le même côté de la pièce que ladite première extrémité ; le troisième bord est formé de deux demi-bords ; un premier demi-bord de ce troisième bord va de ladite première extrémité dudit premier bord jusqu'au point du troisième bord situé sur l'axe médian et s'étend selon une direction formant, avec la droite passant par lesdites premières extrémités, un angle de 180 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une arche et de 90 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une demi-arche ; le deuxième demi-bord de ce troisième bord va dudit point du troisième bord situé sur l'axe médian jusqu'à ladite première extrémité dudit deuxième bord et s'étend selon une direction formant, avec la droite passant par lesdites premières extrémités, un angle de 180 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une arche et de 90 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une demi-arche ;
  • un quatrième bord, reliant la deuxième extrémité dudit premier bord à la deuxième extrémité dudit deuxième bord située sur le même côté de la pièce que ladite deuxième extrémité ; le quatrième bord est formé de deux demi-bords ; un premier demi-bord de ce quatrième bord va de ladite deuxième extrémité dudit premier bord jusqu'au point du quatrième bord situé sur l'axe médian et s'étend selon une direction formant, avec la droite passant par lesdites deuxièmes extrémités, , un angle de 180 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une arche et de 90 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une demi-arche ; le deuxième demi-bord de ce quatrième bord va dudit point du quatrième bord situé sur l'axe médian jusqu'à ladite deuxième extrémité dudit deuxième bord et s'étend selon une direction formant, avec la droite passant par lesdites deuxième extrémités, un angle de 180 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une arche et de 90 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une demi-arche ;
  • assembler ledit premier bord et ledit deuxième bord de chaque pièce l'un à l'autre, pour constituer un tronçon de tube dont les ouvertures d'extrémité s'étendent substantiellement dans des plans qui convergent l'un vers l'autre sur un côté du tronçon de tube, dit "côté de convergence" ;
  • assembler les différents tronçons ainsi constitués les uns à la suite des autres, de telle sorte que lesdits côtés de convergence soient en alignement les uns avec les autres, afin de constituer une enveloppe formant ledit corps de l'arche ou de la demi-arche ;
  • placer au moins un boudin gonflable à l'intérieur de l'enveloppe ainsi constituée.

The method according to the invention comprises the steps of:

• determining a desired number n of pipe sections to form said body of an arch or half-arch;
• cutting pieces of flexible material intended to constitute the sections of tubes, so that each piece comprises, when it is flat:
  • a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, these first and second edges being intended to be joined to one another to form the tube section;
  • a median axis of this piece, this median axis being parallel to said first and second edges and located equidistant therefrom;
  • a third edge, connecting a first end of said first edge to a first end of said second edge located on the same side of the part as said first end; the third edge is formed of two half-edges; a first half-edge of this third edge goes from said first end of said first edge to the point of the third edge located on the median axis and extends in a direction forming, with the straight line passing through said first ends, an angle 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of an arch and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case of a half-arch; the second half-edge of this third edge goes from said point of the third edge located on the central axis to said first end of said second edge and extends in a direction forming, with the straight line passing through said first ends, an angle 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of an arch and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case of a half-arch;
  • a fourth edge, connecting the second end of said first edge to the second end of said second edge on the same side of the part as said second end; the fourth edge is formed of two half-edges; a first half-edge of this fourth edge goes from said second end of said first edge to the point of the fourth edge located on the median axis and extends in a direction forming, with the straight line passing through said second ends, a angle of 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of an arch and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case of a half-arch; the second half-edge of this fourth edge goes from said point of the fourth edge on the median axis to said second end of said second edge and extends in a direction forming, with the straight line passing through said second ends, an angle of 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of an arch and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case of half arch;
  • assembling said first edge and said second edge of each piece together to form a pipe section whose end openings extend substantially in planes that converge towards each other on one side the pipe section, called "convergence side";
  • assembling the different sections thus formed one after the other, so that said convergence sides are in alignment with each other, to form an envelope forming said body of the arch or the half-arch;
  • place at least one inflatable bead inside the envelope thus formed.

Thus, according to the invention, the arches, or the arch and half-arches of the tent structure, are not constituted solely by inflatable tubes, nor only by an outer casing formed of assembled tube sections, but by an outer casing formed of assembled tube sections and one or more inflatable tubes placed in this casing. By this combination of means, the invention thus makes it possible to constitute an outer casing made of a material having a high resistance, for example a PVC or a coated polyurethane, making it possible to perfectly protect the inflatable casing (s) placed inside the casing. envelope during the many manipulations experienced by the tent during its use. In addition, because the casing does not have to be particularly tight, the assembly of the successive tube sections can be done with lower requirements than in the prior art, so in a simpler, faster and less expensive than according to this prior art.

By this combination of means, the invention makes it possible to perfectly achieve the aforementioned objectives, and in particular to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

Said foot pieces can simply be formed by transverse walls closing the foot ends of the arch or half-arches.

Each half-arch may comprise at its summit a tubular section of apex allowing the connection of the half-arch to the arch, this tubular section of top having an end for connection to said half-arch body and an opposite end having diametrically opposite upper and lower extensions to each other and, between these extensions, diametrically opposed rounded indentations one to the other; the other, said opposite end thus having a free edge having a substantially sinusoidal shape for connecting this crown section to the arch extending perpendicularly to the half-arch.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une tente incluant la structure selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de côté, à échelle agrandie, d'une portion de sommet d'une demi-arche que comprend cette structure, et d'une portion de l'arche à laquelle cette demi-arche est raccordée ;
• la figure 3 est une vue à plat d'une pièce de matériau permettant de constituer un tronçon de tube destiné à former, avec d'autres tronçons de tube identiques, le corps d'une arche ou d'une demi-arche que comprend ladite structure ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de côté d'un tronçon de tube formé par assemblage l'un à l'autre de deux bords opposés de la pièce montrée sur la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue à plat d'une pièce de matériau permettant de constituer une pièce d'extrémité de sommet tubulaire que comprend la demi-arche dont une portion est visible sur la figure 2 ; et
• la figure 6 est une vue de côté de la pièce de sommet tubulaire formée par assemblage l'un à l'autre de deux bords opposés de la pièce montrée sur la figure 5.

The invention will be better understood, and other features and advantages thereof will become apparent, with reference to the attached schematic drawing, showing, by way of non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment of the inflatable structure concerned.

• The figure 1 is a perspective view of a tent including the structure according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the top of a half-arch that includes this structure, and of a portion of the arch to which this half-arch is connected;
• the figure 3 is a plan view of a piece of material to form a tube section for forming, with other identical tube sections, the body of an arch or half-arch that includes said structure;
• the figure 4 is a side view of a pipe section formed by assembling one to the other of two opposite edges of the part shown on the figure 3 ;
• the figure 5 is a flat view of a piece of material making it possible to constitute a tubular end end piece that includes the half-arch, a portion of which is visible on the figure 2 ; and
• the figure 6 is a side view of the tubular vertex piece formed by assembling one to the other of two opposite edges of the piece shown on the figure 5 .

The figure 1 represents a tent 1 with an inflatable structure, particularly usable for events or events, such as sports or cultural events, or trade shows.

The tent 1 comprises a structure formed of an inflatable arch 2 and two inflatable half-arches 3, and panels 4 of flexible material, for example of canvas or plastic, stretched over the arch 2 and the half-arches 3 and between them. Half-arches 3 are placed at 90 ° from the arch 2 and are connected thereto by their vertex ends, as visible on the figure 2 for one of the half-arches 3.

The body of the arch 2 and that of each half-arch 3 is formed by an outer envelope intended to receive at least one inflatable bead placed inside it.

It will be understood that "body" means the portion that essentially constitutes the arch 2 or each half-arch 3; by this body, the arch comprises two pieces of foot, and each half-arch 3 comprises a foot piece and a top piece 5.

It appears on Figures 1 and 2 the envelope of the arch 2 and each half-arch 3 is made by assembling a series of tube sections 6 assembled one after the other.

The figure 3 shows, viewed flat, a part 10 made of a resistant flexible material, such as a PVC or a coated polyurethane, from which is obtained one of the tube sections 6, visible on the figure 4 .

This piece 10 is cut from a strip of said material; before making this cut, it was determined the desired number n of sections of tube 6 to form the body of the arch 2 or a half-arch 3.

• un premier bord 11 et un deuxième bord 12 opposé au premier bord 11, ces premier et deuxième bords 11, 12 étant destinés à être assemblés l'un à l'autre pour former le tronçon de tube 6 ;
• un axe médian A de cette pièce 10, cet axe médian A étant parallèle auxdits premier et deuxième bords 11, 12 et situé à équidistance de ceux-ci ;
• un troisième bord 13, reliant une première extrémité 11a dudit premier bord 11 à une première extrémité 12a dudit deuxième bord 12 située sur le même côté de la pièce 10 que ladite première extrémité 11a ; ledit troisième bord 13 est formé de deux demi-bords 13a, 13b ; un premier demi-bord 13a de ce troisième bord 13 va de ladite première extrémité 11a dudit premier bord 11 jusqu'au point 13c du troisième bord 13 situé sur l'axe médian A et s'étend selon une direction formant, avec la droite D1 passant par lesdites premières extrémités 11a, 12a, un angle de 180 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas de l'arche 2 et de 90 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une demi-arche 3 ; le deuxième demi-bord 13b de ce troisième bord 13 va dudit point 13c jusqu'à ladite première extrémité 12a dudit deuxième bord 12 et s'étend selon une direction formant, avec la droite D1, un angle de 180 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas de l'arche 2 et de 90 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une demi-arche 3 ;
• un quatrième bord 14, reliant la deuxième extrémité 11b dudit premier bord 11 à la deuxième extrémité 12b dudit deuxième bord 12 située sur le même côté de la pièce 10 que ladite deuxième extrémité 11b ; le quatrième bord 14 est formé de deux demi-bords 14a, 14b ; un premier demi-bord 14a de ce quatrième bord 14 va de ladite deuxième extrémité 11b dudit premier bord 11 jusqu'au point 14c du quatrième bord 14 situé sur l'axe médian A et s'étend selon une direction formant, avec la droite D2 passant par lesdites deuxièmes extrémités 11b, 12b, un angle de 180 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas de l'arche 2 et de 90 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une demi-arche 3 ; le deuxième demi-bord 14b de ce quatrième bord 14 va dudit point 14c jusqu'à ladite deuxième extrémité 12b dudit deuxième bord 12 et s'étend selon une direction formant, avec la droite D2, un angle de 180 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas de l'arche 2 et de 90 degrés divisé par 2n dans le cas d'une demi-arche 3.

The piece 10 is cut in such a way that it comprises, when it is flat:

• a first edge 11 and a second edge 12 opposite to the first edge 11, these first and second edges 11, 12 being intended to be joined to one another to form the tube section 6;
• a median axis A of this part 10, this median axis A being parallel to said first and second edges 11, 12 and located equidistant from them;
• a third edge 13, connecting a first end 11a of said first edge 11 to a first end 12a of said second edge 12 located on the same side of the piece 10 as said first end 11a; said third edge 13 is formed of two half-edges 13a, 13b; a first half-edge 13a of this third edge 13 goes from said first end 11a of said first edge 11 to the point 13c of the third edge 13 located on the central axis A and extends in a direction forming with the line D1 passing through said first ends 11a, 12a, an angle of 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of the arch 2 and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case of a half-arch 3; the second half-edge 13b of this third edge 13 goes from said point 13c to said first end 12a of said second edge 12 and extends in a direction forming, with the line D1, an angle of 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of the arch 2 and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case of a half -Arche 3;
• a fourth edge 14, connecting the second end 11b of said first edge 11 to the second end 12b of said second edge 12 located on the same side of the piece 10 as said second end 11b; the fourth edge 14 is formed of two half-edges 14a, 14b; a first half-edge 14a of this fourth edge 14 goes from said second end 11b of said first edge 11 to point 14c of the fourth edge 14 located on the central axis A and extends in a direction forming with the line D2 passing through said second ends 11b, 12b, an angle of 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of the arch 2 and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case of a half-arch 3; the second half-edge 14b of this fourth edge 14 goes from said point 14c to said second end 12b of said second edge 12 and extends in a direction forming, with the line D2, an angle of 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of arch 2 and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case of a half-arch 3.

To constitute each section of tube 6, the first edge 11 of a part 10 is brought against the second edge 12 of this piece and these edges 11, 12 are assembled to one another, as visible on the figure 4 . The pipe section 6 thus formed has end openings extending substantially in planes converging towards each other on one side of the pipe section, called the "convergence side"; the angle of convergence is 180 degrees divided by n in the case of arch 2 and 90 degrees divided by n in the case of a half-arch 3.

The different sections 6 are assembled one after the other, in particular by gluing and / or welding, so that said convergence sides are in alignment with each other, in order to constitute the outer envelope forming the body of the arch 2 or each half-arch 3.

The foot ends of this body of the arch 2 or half-arches 3 are closed by transverse walls connected to the opening edges of the foot sections 6. These transverse walls, and possibly these foot sections, are reinforced to withstand the friction that the tent 1 can be made to suffer against the ground.

The summit section 5, visible on the figures 2 and 6 , is constituted from the visible part 20 on the figure 5 .

As this shows figure 5 , the piece 20 has lateral edges 21, 22 intended to be joined to one another, which are homologous to the edges 11 and 12 except that they are longer than the latter so as to form, with the edge 23 of the piece 20, points constituting after assembly an upper extension 26 of the section 5. The edge 23 also forms a tip 27 centered on the central axis A, intended to form a lower extension 27 of the section 5, diametrically opposite to the extension 26. Between the tips of the edges 21 and 22 and the tip 27, the edge 23 forms rounded indentations 28 for conferring at the end of the section 5 intended to be connected to the arch 2 an edge having a substantially sinusoid, allowing this connection.

The piece 20 otherwise has an edge 24 of identical shape to that of the edge 14.

As appears from the foregoing, the invention provides an inflatable tent structure in which the arch 2 and the half-arches 3 are not constituted by inflatable tubes only but by outer casings made of a material having a high resistance. , which makes it possible to perfectly protect the inner inflatable tube (s) during the many manipulations that the tent undergoes.

Claims (4)

An inflatable tent structure or other similar temporary shelter, comprising two inflatable arches (2) placed at 90 ° to each other and intersecting each other at their vertices, or an arch (2) and two half-arches (3) whose vertices are connected to the top of this arch (2); each arch (2) comprises a body which constitutes it essentially and two pieces of foot; each half-arch (3) comprises a body which essentially constitutes it, a foot piece and a crown piece (5); each arch (2) or half-arch (3) comprises an envelope formed by a series of tube sections (6) assembled one after the other to form said body, each section of tube (6) having openings of end extending substantially in planes which converge towards each other on one side of the pipe section (6), said "convergence side", the different pipe sections (6) being assembled to each other. following the others so that these convergence sides are aligned from one section to another; the angle of convergence of the planes in which the end openings of each tube section (6) extend is equal to: in the case of an arch (2), 180 divided by the number n of pipe sections (6) constituting the body of this arch (2), and - in the case of a half-arch (3), 90 divided by this number n; characterized in that each arch or half-arch comprises at least one inflatable bead placed in said envelope. Inflatable structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said foot pieces are formed by transverse walls closing the foot ends of the arch (2) or half-arches (3). Inflatable structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that each half-arch (3) comprises at its apex a tubular section of apex (5) allowing the connection of the half-arch (3) to the arch ( 2), this tubular crown portion (5) having an end for connection to said half-arch body (3) and an opposite end having top and bottom extensions (26, 27) diametrically opposed to each other; and, between these extensions, rounded indentations (28) diametrically opposite one another, said opposite end thus having a free edge having a substantially sinusoidal shape allowing the connection of this crown section (5) to the arch (2) extending perpendicularly to the half-arch (3). A method of manufacturing the inflatable tent structure or other similar temporary shelter according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: determining a desired number n of pipe sections (6) to form said body of an arch (2) or half-arch (3); cutting off pieces (10) of flexible material intended to constitute the pipe sections (6), so that each piece (10) comprises, when it is flat: a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge, said first and second edges being intended to be assembled together to form the tube section; (6); a median axis (A) of this part (10), this median axis (A) being parallel to said first and second edge (11, 12) and situated equidistant from them; a third edge (13), connecting a first end (11a) of said first edge (11) to a first end (12a) of said second edge (12) located on the same side of the piece (10) as said first end (12); 11a); the third edge (13) is formed of two half-edges (13a, 13b); a first half-edge (13a) of this third edge (13) goes from said first end (1 1a) of said first edge (11) to the point (13c) of the third edge (13) located on the median axis ( A) and extends in a direction forming, with the line (D1) passing through said first ends (11a, 12a), an angle of 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of an arch (2) and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case of a half-arch (3); the second half-edge (13b) of this third edge (13) goes from said point (13c) of the third edge (13) located on the central axis (A) to said first end (12a) of said second edge (12). ) and extends in a direction forming, with the straight line (D1) passing through said first ends, an angle of 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of an arch (2) and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case half-arch (3); a fourth edge connecting the second end of said first edge to the second end of said second edge on the same side of the workpiece (10) as said second end (11b); the fourth edge (14) is formed of two half-edges (14a, 14b); a first half-edge (14a) of this fourth edge (14) goes from said second end (11b) of said first edge (11) to the point (14c) of the fourth edge (14) located on the central axis (A) ) and extends in a direction forming, with the straight line (D2) passing through said second ends (11b, 12b), an angle of 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of an arch (2) and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case of a half-arch (3); the second half-edge (14b) of this fourth edge (14) goes from said point (14c) of the fourth edge located on the central axis (A) to said second end (12b) of said second edge (12) and extends in a direction forming, with the straight line (D2) passing through said second ends (11b, 12b), an angle of 180 degrees divided by 2n in the case of an arch (2) and 90 degrees divided by 2n in the case of a half-arch (3); - assembling said first edge (11) and said second edge (12) of each piece (10) to one another, to constitute a tube section (6) whose end openings extend substantially in planes which converge towards each other on one side of the pipe section (6), referred to as the "convergence side"; - assembling said first edge (11) and said second edge (12) of each piece (10) to one another, to constitute a tube section (6) whose end openings extend substantially in planes which converge towards each other on one side of the pipe section (6), referred to as the "convergence side"; - Assembling the different tube sections (6) thus formed one after the other, so that said convergence sides are in alignment with each other, to form an envelope forming said body of the arch ( 2) or half-arch (3); placing at least one inflatable bead inside the envelope thus formed.

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