ES2377955T3 - Element intended to be inserted on the edge of a fabric with a view to its hook on a rigid frame, and fabric equipped with this system - 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

Element intended to be inserted on the edge of a fabric with a view to its hook on a rigid frame, and fabric equipped with this system

Technical field

The invention relates to improvement contributed to fabrics made especially in coated textile, and which are intended to be placed in a rigid frame. This type of fabric is used in multiple applications, and especially to make constructions based on tensile structures assimilable to tents or tents, but also to form any wall, whether it is a lining or a ceiling or false ceiling, even a roof. The invention tends to an improvement imported into this type of fabric to improve its ease of assembly and the quality of its tension state when installed.

15 Prior Techniques

To make tents or tents based on tensioned fabrics, a set of metal structures are usually used forming uprights and a frame between which some fabrics are tensioned. Among these various ways of hooking, it is known that it consists of equipping the edges of the fabrics of elements called "slings" comprising a reed extending over the edge of the fabric. This reed is inserted into a throat made in one of the metal beams of the rigid structure.

Other coupling systems are also known, putting into practice the use of the springs or loops passing through the eyelets made on an element that is inserted in the edge of the

25 cloth

This type of construction is intended to be placed in very diverse places, whose soil flatness is not always perfect. Therefore, the distance and the 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 optimum tension state, which can cause floating effects that degrade the visual aspect of the structure as a whole. In the opposite case where the beams are after a slightly more distant assembly than is convenient, the operator needs to exert very important efforts to place the fabric in the different throats, and ensure its

35 sliding to its final position.

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

These questions of tolerance of assembly of the rigid structure also induce tensions on the precision of fabric manufacturing, and especially of the assembly of the hooking means on the edge of the fabric.

Devices that allow solving these problems have been described in documents US 4 398 376 and US 4

45 583 331 presenting inflatable means for tensioning a wall or mounting a structure. However, in these two documents, the inflation means are formed by a sealed air chamber positioned at the level of the junction between two portions of fabric, the two portions are inserted one above the other and in solidarity. It is conceived that the preparation associated with the placement of this air chamber is complex. Also, the relative movements between the air chamber and the rest of the fabric are a source of problem. Finally, the placement of the inflation valves is also a very delicate operation.

A problem that arises to solve the invention is to facilitate the placement of inflatable areas on a fabric using an element inserted on the edge of a fabric. Another problem that is proposed to solve the inventions reduce manufacturing operations allowing this inflatable area.

Exhibition of the invention

The invention thus relates to a fabric equipped with an element that is intended to be inserted over the edge of the fabric with a view to its engagement on a rigid frame and its placing under tension.

In a known way, such an element comprises a hitch zone, capable of cooperating directly with the frame, as well as an area that is in solidarity with the fabric.

In accordance with the invention, the fabric is characterized in that the element comprises an inextensible zone, forming an inflatable chamber, gas-tight, located between the hitching zone and the area in solidarity with the

fabric, and formed by the defined space between the two flaps joining the hitch zone and the area in solidarity with the fabric. In this case, these two flaps are therefore equally gas tight. The volume of the inflatable chamber is delimited on one side by the welding zone between the flaps at the level of the hitch area of the slingshot, and on the other side, by the welding zone of each of the flaps on the fabric.

This element thus performs at the same time the ralinga function by facilitating the placement of a fabric on a support, keeping this fabric on the support but also allowing the fabric to be tensioned by swelling of an inextensible area on its periphery.

In other words, the invention consists in placing on the edge of the fabric an element that has a swelling deformable chamber formed by the space defined between two flaps. Thus, the placement and formation of this inflatable area need few operations.

In practice, the two flaps can be welded together at the level of the hitch zone, and are welded each

15 one to the web. In other words, the inflatable area can be made during the placement of the element on the fabric.

This camera is flattened in its deflated state, and therefore has a maximum length. When it is swollen it increases its volume by reducing its dimension measured parallel to the fabric.

20 The inflation thus ensures an effort on the fabric in the direction of the outside, thus allowing to compensate for the positioning tolerances of the rigid elements of the frame, ensuring that the fabric is placed under tension. In this way, the tensioning of the fabric is not carried out during assembly, and more precisely during the engagement of the fabric on the frame, but in an independent operation that intervenes subsequently.

The assembly is thus facilitated, since the fabric is placed without necessarily being under tension.

As already mentioned, the hitch zone of the characteristic element can have different mechanical elements for cooperation with the rigid frame. It can be especially a longitudinal reed intended to be introduced

30 in a complementary throat made in the frame, or a plurality of eyelets intended to receive fixing means to the frame.

In practice, these types of elements can be mounted on any type of fabric, at least on one edge, so as to ensure a tensioning in at least one direction of the fabric.

35 However, it may be advantageous to perform a bidirectional tensioning, by equipping the fabric of the characteristic elements on at least two adjacent sides and preferably on the four sides of the fabric, when it is quadrangular in shape.

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

In a particular way, especially in the case where the fabrics have quite different dimensions between length and width, inflatable chambers can be used that present in their non-swollen state.

45 different widths.

In other words, being the efforts exerted by the characteristic chambers proportional to their surface in their swollen state, it may be advantageous to use inflatable chambers of greater diameter at the level of the shorter sides, so as to exert a more important effort parallel to the longer sides.

Summary description of the figures

The manner of carrying out the invention, as well as the advantages that are deduced, will become apparent with the description of the embodiments below, referring to the attached figures in which

Figure 1 is a summary perspective view of a fabric according to the invention equipped with two elements according to the invention, shown according to some variants as regards the engagement and the realization of the inflatable chamber.

60 Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views showing the characteristic element in deflated and swollen states.

Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating a variant embodiment of characteristic elements.

Figure 5 is a summary perspective view, illustrating a fabric equipped on its four sides with characteristic elements of the invention.

Way of carrying out the invention

The fabric (1) illustrated in Figure 1 is intended to be tensioned between two uprights (2,3) of a rigid frame. For this, 5 is equipped with characteristic elements (5,6) that are joined to the edge (8) of the fabric, and which can cooperate with the frame (2,3) by means of engagement.

In the form illustrated in Figure 1, different engagement means are illustrated. Thus, the characteristic element

(5) may comprise a reed (10) intended to be inserted into a throat (11) provided in the frame (3). The

The opening of this throat (11) is less than the size of the reed to ensure its maintenance. Other coupling means can be used as illustrated in the lower part of Figure 1, in which springs are observed

(13) hooked by one part in eyelets (14) formed in the area of engagement of the element (6). These eyelets (14) can also receive a tie (15) joining the upright (2) and the characteristic element (6).

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

The element (5) illustrated in Figure 2 is made from a textile tape folded on it. This element (5) thus comprises a hitch zone (22) imprisoning the reed (10). The two flaps (23,24) are

20 welded together at the level of the area (25) so as to imprison the reed and form an inflatable area. This inflatable area is therefore formed by the two flaps (23,24) which are in turn joined to the edge of the fabric at the level of the area (29). This solidarity can be done by welding, gluing or any other equivalent means.

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

This inflatable chamber is associated to a site of the characteristic element (5) with a inflation valve 30 allowing the introduction of air under pressure.

When the inflatable chamber is swollen, the characteristic element (5) deforms in accordance with the illustration in figure 3. In this extreme case in which the chamber is swollen to its maximum, its initial length L (see figure 2) then presents a length L ', less than about 35% to L, resulting in the fabric (1)

35 suffers a voltage F directed outwards.

As already mentioned, the inflatable chamber can be made as illustrated in Figure 4, directly by the flaps (23,24) joined together by gluing at the level of the area (25) and with the fabric at the level of the coupling area

(29) on the cloth.

40 Figure 5 illustrates a situation in which the fabric is not square, but instead has a width clearly greater than its length. In this case, the elements (33; 34) placed on the edge of the fabric (35) have chambers (36,37) that are of different dimensions. In fact, the efforts exerted on the fabric in the sense of width, by the chamber (37), are greater than those exerted according to the sense of height,

45 using the camera (36).

In this case, the chamber (37) located on a vertical edge is then of a larger diameter, to exert a greater stress in the horizontal direction of the fabric under equivalent pressure. Obviously, the orientation illustrated in Figure 5 is only by way of example, and can be transposed to any positioning of the fabric in space.

50 The pressures that reign in the different chambers (36,37) are equal, thanks to the pneumatic connections (39) that join the same swollen chambers by means of the valve (40).

It follows from the foregoing that the coupling element provides multiple advantages and in particular:

55 -the possibility of regulating the tension of the fabric according to one or two directions whatever the mounting tolerances of the rigid frame;

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the assembly operations are facilitated since the putting under tension intervenes after the placement 60 of the fabric;

-

 The manufacturing precision of the fabric, especially of the garment with the placement of the characteristic element is diminished. In fact, the different tolerances are compensated by the possibility of modifying the dimensions of the inflatable chamber;

-

 It is possible to reduce the dimensions and inflatable chambers according to the tolerances to be compensated;

Industrial applications

The invention can be used in multiple sectors that use fabrics that must have a state of tension.

5 It is possible to cite in particular the construction of construction based on tensioned fabrics, such as tents, tents and other removable structures. These stretched fabrics can also be used to make stretch roofs or generally vertical or horizontal walls such as stretch ceilings or coverings.

It can also be used in the field of poster fixing to ensure a flatness of the support of 10 information.

Claims (6)

1.Fabric (1) equipped with an element (5) arranged on at least one of its edges (8) with a view to its engagement on a rigid frame (2,3) and its tensioning, said element (5) comprising a hitch zone 5 (22) capable of cooperating directly or indirectly with said frame (2,3) and an area (27) in solidarity with the fabric, the element comprising an inextensible zone (26) forming an inflatable chamber (20,21), sealed to the gas, located between the hitch zone (22) and the area (27) in solidarity with the fabric, characterized in that said inextensible zone (26) is formed by the space defined between two flaps (23,24) joining the hitch zone ( 22) and the zone (27) in solidarity with the fabric. 2. Cloth according to claim 1, characterized in that the two flaps (23,24) are welded together (25) at the level of the engagement area, and are welded (29) each to the fabric (1) 3. Fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the hitch zone (22) comprises a longitudinal reed 15 (10) intended to cooperate with a complementary throat (11) made in the frame (3). 4. Fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the engagement zone comprises a plurality of eyelets (14) intended to receive means (13.15) for fixing to the frame. 5. Fabric (35) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a quadrangular shape and elements (33,34) on its 4 sides. 6. Fabric according to claim 5, characterized in that the inflatable chambers (36,37) of the four elements (33,34) are pneumatically bonded. 7. Fabric according to claim 5, characterized in that the inflatable chambers (36,37) of the four elements (33,34) have different widths in their swollen state.