FR2871821A1 - Inflatable self-supporting structure for framing e.g. cycle race, has inflatable posts that occupy flat position in which peripheral posts delimit closed contour, which is folded along folding axis to define support post and vertical panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The structure has inflatable posts that occupy a flat position in which peripheral posts (1`, 1``) delimit a closed contour. The closed contour is trapezoidal along the flat position and is folded along a folding axis for defining a support post (4) and a vertical panel (2) when the inflatable self-supporting structure is in an upright position. The axis is perpendicular to the large bottom of the trapezium. An independent claim is also included for a utilization of an inflatable self-supporting structure.

Description

2871821 1

  The invention relates to an inflatable self-supporting structure and will find a particular application as a means for the delimitation of terrain, or as a means of support for advertising display.

  Currently, in the field of the delimitation of land, we know the metal barriers that are used in particular to frame sports events such as cycling races.

  We also know the straw boots used in particular on kart circuits.

  Nevertheless, these means of delimitation are heavy, bulky, and in the case of metal barriers can even be dangerous.

  In the field of advertising display stands, metal or wooden panels are known which have the same disadvantages.

  In another field, inflatable self-supporting structures are known for forming a goal. The structure has a closed contour consisting of inflatable tubes with a net. Said structure is inflated flat and then folded to form said goal.

  Nevertheless, the structure of the inflatable goal differs from the structure of the present invention and does not achieve the objective pursued.

  The purpose of the present invention and to provide an inflatable self-supporting structure that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and whose implementation is facilitated.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable structure having a low storage volume.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible and non-injurious structure for the safety of users.

  Another object of the present application is to provide an inflatable structure at low cost.

  Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, which is given for information only and which is not intended to limit it.

  The invention relates to an inflatable self-supporting structure, consisting of at least a plurality of uprights, the latter being at least for a plurality of them, inflatable, said inflatable uprights being capable of occupying a first flat position in which at least a part of them, called peripheral amounts, delimit a closed contour, said amounts delimiting in a second position, called upright, a configuration of use, characterized in that said closed contour is able to be folded according to at least one bending axis for firstly define at least one support amount and secondly define a vertical panel, when said structure is in a standing position.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, accompanied by the appended drawings which form an integral part thereof and among which: FIG. 1 illustrates, in the first flat position, an embodiment of the compliant self-supporting inflatable structure FIG. 2 is a rear view of said inflatable structure illustrated in FIG. 1 in said second standing position, FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the structure 20 as illustrated in FIG. FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the structure as illustrated in FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a sectional view according to the line VV shown in FIG. 1 above.

  The invention relates to an inflatable self-supporting structure, especially for the delimitation of land or as a means of support for advertising display.

  As illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the self-supporting inflatable structure according to the invention consists of at least a plurality of amounts such as poles, cross bars or other. Said amounts are, for at least part of them, inflatable.

  2871821 3 said inflatable amounts are able, in the inflated state, to occupy a first flat position marked in Figure 1, wherein at least a portion of them, called peripheral amounts 14, define a closed contour.

  Thus, thanks to the invention, it is possible to perform the preparation of the inflatable flat structure to have only to erect, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, in a second position, said standing, in usage configuration.

  According to the invention, said closed contour is adapted to be folded along at least one folding axis 3 in order firstly to define at least one support post 4 and secondly to define a vertical panel 2 when said structure is in a standing position.

  According to one embodiment, said closed contour has a large side following said first flat position and is adapted to be folded along at least one folding axis 3 perpendicular to said long side to form at least one support post and define in the second position, a vertical panel when said structure is in a standing position.

  Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, said peripheral means 1 'delimit in this second position, in use configuration, in particular, a dihedron defining a vertical panel 2 and support posts 4.

  According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, said closed contour is trapezoidal, in particular isosceles, according to said first flat position and is folded along at least one folding axis 3 perpendicular to said large base of the trapezium, to define in said second position said vertical panel 2 standing, and said support posts 4.

  As illustrated in Figure 1, the trapezoidal structure comprises two folding axes 3 advantageously concurrent with the ends of the small base of the trapezium.

  According to one embodiment, said closed contour defines a support frame for a sheet of material 2, defining said vertical panel.

  2871821 4 Said sheet of material 2 may cover all or part of the inner surface of the closed contour.

  According to one embodiment, the support amounts 4 are not covered by said sheet of material. For example, in the case of a structure having a closed trapezoidal contour, said sheet of material 2 may be rectangular with a large side of the same length and coinciding with the small base of the trapezium, the other large side coinciding in part with the large base of the trapeze.

  Said sheet of material may be a coated fabric, or a grid including PVC.

  According to the various embodiments shown, all the peripheral uprights 1 'are inflatable and internally accommodate any other uprights 1. The other uprights 1 "used may be, for example, rigid or semi-rigid. However, all or part of them can also be inflatable.

  According to an advantageous embodiment, said structure comprises reinforcement means consisting of additional amounts 1 ", said reinforcement provided between two peripheral amounts 1 'as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4. It may be two 1 "amounts located between the upper transverse amount constituting the panel, including the small base of the trapezium, and the other peripheral amount parallel to the latter, including the large base of the trapezium.

  As illustrated in Figure 1, said structure may include additional additional amounts to stiffen the structure, including the middle.

  According to an embodiment not illustrated, said additional uprights 1 "may also be arranged diagonally.These may be two additional uprights 1" forming with the preceding a W whose middle point is in the median portion of said upright superior.

  On the other hand, other geometries could be envisaged from additional 1 "uprights to arrange them in the shape of M or others.

  Said peripheral amounts 1 'at least are constituted for example by a single inflatable bead or by a plurality of inflatable tubes 5, secured to each other, each peripheral upright 1' being defined by one of said strands and / or a portion said flange or one of said flanges 5.

  According to one embodiment, said at least 3 folding axis is defined by folding and / or reinforcing means 6.

  The or these beads 5 may be made of a waterproof material, including coated fabric. They will eventually be of varying colors.

  Said folding and / or reinforcing means 6 are constituted, for example, at least for some of them of fastening means 10 of one end of one of said reinforcement amounts 1 ".

  It has been found that by providing these between the inflatable amounts, they then allow their folding along the axis of the amount of reinforcement 1 ".

  As illustrated in Figure 1, for example, the self-supporting structure has two amounts of reinforcement 1 "each connecting one end of the small base of the trapezium to the large base of the trapezium Advantageously, the reinforcing amounts 1" defining an axis 3 of folding are perpendicular to the long side of said closed contour and in particular to the large base of the trapezium.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the one or more tubes 5 consist, for example, of a first sheet of material 7 wound around its longitudinal axis. It is, in particular, closed on itself, at a longitudinal weld line 8.

  At least for some of said strands 5, said first sheet of material 7 may be extended laterally beyond said corresponding strands 5, over part of their length, to define a wing 9.

  As a remark, it will be noted that the tubes having such a structure can be used with any type of self-supporting inflatable structure to delimit a field or be used for advertising display.

  That being so, said fastening means 10 consist, in particular of a second sheet of material 11, attached to said flange 9 opposite the latter and secured thereto to constitute a sleeve 12.

  For this, the inflatable structure has, for example, welding points 13 between said first sheet 7 and said second sheet 11 so as to allow the introduction of said reinforcement amounts 1 "into said sleeve 12.

  Naturally, such a solution may be used at other points than the folding points, especially at the middle part including transverse amounts.

  For inflatable structures comprising at least two said fastening means 10 each consisting of undit sleeve 12, arranged at the junction of the support posts 4 and the upper and lower transverse uprights, and able to accommodate the opposite corresponding ends of one of said reinforcement amounts 1 ", it can provide a said second sheet of material 11, provided extending between them and cooperating with said corresponding amount of reinforcement 1" so as to reinforce its maintenance. For this, it is in particular provided with holes 14 inside which it is inserted.

  However, in other embodiments, it may be provided at each end two separate sleeves 12. At least for a portion of said strands or 5, they will optionally be provided with said wing 9 over all or part of their length to secure said sheet of material 2 constituting said vertical panel. Said vertical panel will be subject to said flange 9 by any known means, and in particular by welding, gluing, by means of a seam, by means of bands with buckle closure system / hooks better known under the name Velcro, or at 2871821 7 means of a cord pulled between eyelets arranged in said flange 9 and on the periphery of said sheet of material 2 constituting said panel.

  According to one embodiment, said inflatable self-supporting structure has means 15 for holding the support posts 4 in a folded configuration.

  According to an embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, it may be two collars 15 subject to the amounts of lateral supports. Said collars have eyelets for pulling a cord between them and maintain the structure in folded configuration.

  According to one embodiment, said structure is weighted. Advantageously, said structure is weighted by partially filling at least one of said beads with water.

  According to another embodiment, the structure is weighted by means of at least one mass external to said structure.

  According to another embodiment, the structure is fixed to the ground, in particular by means of stakes.

  Said self-supporting inflatable structure will find use as a means of delimiting the surface of a field, such as in particular the surface of a sports field.

  Advantageously, a plurality of structures will be arranged contiguous and may be attached by any known means, such as in particular a cord or secured by means of bands closure buckles / hooks system better known under the name Velcro.

  Said self-supporting inflatable structure will find another use as a means of supporting the advertising display.

  Thus, said sheet of material 2 defining said vertical panel may be printed. Said vertical panel 2 can also serve as a support for advertising posters fixed by any known means and in particular by welding, gluing, by means of bands with Velcro hook / loop closure system, or by means of a cord.

  Naturally, other modes of implementation, within the scope of those skilled in the art, could have been envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

2871821 9

Claims (12)

  1. Inflatable self-supporting structure, consisting of at least a plurality of uprights, the latter being at least for a plurality of inflatable, said inflatable amounts being able to occupy a first flat position in which at least a portion of between them, called peripheral amounts (1 '), delimit a closed contour, said amounts (1') delimiting in a second position, said upright, a configuration of use, characterized in that said closed contour is adapted to be folded according to at least one folding axis (3) for defining, on the one hand, at least one support post (4) and, on the other hand, defining a vertical panel (2) when said structure is in a standing position.   2. Inflatable self-supporting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said closed contour is trapezoidal in said first flat position and is folded along at least one fold axis perpendicular to said large base of the trapezium, to define in the second position said vertical panel (2) in a standing position, and said support posts (4).   3. Inflatable self-supporting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said closed contour defines a support frame for a sheet of material (2), defining said vertical panel.   4. Inflatable self-supporting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said peripheral uprights receive internally other amounts, said structure comprising reinforcement means constituted by additional amounts (1 "), said reinforcement provided between two peripheral uprights (1 ').   5. Self-supporting inflatable structure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said peripheral amounts (1 ') at least consist of a single inflatable bead, or a plurality of inflatable tubes (5), secured to each other, each peripheral upright being defined by one of said strands and / or a portion of said strand or one of said strands (5), said at least one axis (3) of folding 2871821 being defined by means of folding and reinforcement (6).   6. Inflatable self-supporting structure according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that said folding means and / or reinforcement (6) are constituted, at least for some of them, means for fixing (10) a end of one of the amount of reinforcement (1 ").   7. Inflatable self-supporting structure according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said one or more flanges (5) consist of a first sheet of material (7) wound around its longitudinal axis, said first sheet of material (7). , at least for some of them, being extended laterally beyond said corresponding flanges, over at least part of their length, to define a wing (9).   8. Inflatable self-supporting structure according to claim 7, characterized in that said fixing means (10) consist of a second sheet of material (11), attached to said flange (9) vis-à-vis the latter and subject to it to form a sleeve (12).   9. Inflatable self-supporting structure according to claim 8, characterized in that said structure comprises at least two said fixing means each consisting of undit sleeve (12) and adapted to receive the corresponding opposite ends of one of said reinforcement amounts ( 1 ").   10. Inflatable self-supporting structure according to claim 3 and 7, characterized in that, for at least a portion of them or said strands are provided with said wing (9) over all or part of their length to secure said sheet of material (2) constituting said vertical panel.   11. Use of said self-supporting inflatable structure according to one of the preceding claims, as a means of delimiting the surface of a terrain, such as in particular the surface of a sports field.   12. Use of said self-supporting inflatable structure according to one of the preceding claims as a support means for the advertising display.