GB2134559A - Inflatable building in which lights or sound sources are mounted - Google Patents

Abstract

Support member 8 for lights 18 or sound sources 20 may be maintained in position by the overpressure of the internal air. Or display member 56 is supported by vertical strut 58. An airlock entrance 6 may be provided. The floor 4 maybe a double-wall cellular inflated structure. Use: discotheque. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Inflatable building The invention relates to an inflatable building, for example to such a building incorporating sources of sound and/or light,forexample ofthe kind associated with so-called "discotheques".

The invention provides an inflatable building comprising an inflatable envelope providing wall portions ofthe building, an inflatable floor member having an at least partially partitioned inflatable chambertherein, and, arranged in a roof area ofthe building, a support member upon which are mounted sources of sound and/or light.

In an example,to be described below, of a building according to the invention, the floor membercomprisestwo parallel skin portions an upper one of which is a tread surface for persons entering the building and the lower one of which is in contact with a substrate upon which the building is erected. A peripheral wall surrounds the floor member and is sealed in an air-tight mannerto margins ofthetwo skin portions.

Internal partitions are provided within the floor member linking thetwo skin portions at a plurality of regions so as to maintain the two skin portions in a substantially parallel relationship even when fully inflated. The inflatable envelope may be domeshaped i.e. taking the shape of a hollow hemisphere when inflated with margins thereofsecured to the periphery ofthe floor member.

A support member positioned for example, atthe highest part of the inflated envelope comprises a display member upon which may be arranged a pluralityof lightsand sound-sources ion a desired array. The display member is visible to occupants of the building and is received in a suitably dimensioned aperture in the material ofthe envelope. The support member also comprises a backing portion which may be larger in plan than the display member so that a flange is formed which extends around the periphery ofthe memberand againstwhich margins of the aperture are sealingly in contact.This contact may conveniently be maintained simply by the aboveatmospheric pressure within the envelope, which is sufficient both for preventing undue leakage of air and also to supportthe weig ht of the display member.

The pressurewithin the envelope may be maintained at slightly above atmospheric pressure, and it will be found advantageous to provide a controlled leakage of air balancing the output ofthe air blower means maintaining inflation.

Advantageously the leakage may be provided in the region ofthe entrance/exit ofthe envelope, which may be an air-lock device comprising at least two door arrangements spaced along a tunnel communicating with the interior of the envelope.

With this arrangement it has been found that even in the event offailure ofthe material ofthe envelope through accident oran act of vandalism, deflation of the envelope is gradual and controlled, so that there is no dangerto occupants.

However, should the building be erected in circumstances when additional support is thought to be necessary, itwould be possible to provideforexample an external supportframe having a plurality of support legs, for example three, arranged so thatthey converge (or so that their longitudinal centre lines converge if projected) at a point in the upper region of the inflated envelope in the vicinity ofthe display member. Conveniently the display and backing members may be secured to the support legs by resilient mounting. Alternatively an internal support strut arrangement may be used.

There will now be described an example of a building according to the invention. It will be understood that the description which is intended to be read with reference to the drawings, is given by way of example only and not byway of limitation.

In the drawings: Figure lisa perspective view of a building according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a support member including a display arrangement; Figure 3 is a plan view of the display arrangement of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the inflatable floor memberofthe building; Figure 5 is a perspective view of another example of a building according to the invention; and Figure 6 is a fragmentary interior view of the building of Figure 5.

The building shown in Figure 1 comprises an inflatable envelope 2 of flexible sheet material having a generally hemispherical shape when inflated. Afloor member4 is arranged in a substantially diametrical plane with respect to the hemispherical configuration and an entrance/exit indicated at 6 is provided which includes an air lock arrangement.

Maintained in position by internal air pressure within the inflated envelope is a support member8for an array of lights and loudspeakers (see Figure 3).

Blown airfor maintaining the inflation ofthe envelope at a pressure very slightly above atmospheric pressure is provided buy a blower 9.

Figure 2 shows the support member8 comprising a backing member 10 having a peripherally extending flange 12 againstwhich are pressed margins 14 of an aperture formed in the envelope 2. Beneath the backing member 10 is a display member 16 incorpor ating variously coloured lights 18 and also a sound source 20 (Figure 3).

The floor member4 comprises a pairofsubstantial- ly parallel skin portions 22,24. The upper skin portion 22 provides a tread surface for occupants of the building, and the lower portion 24 rests upon a substrate 26, which may be any suitable ground surface.

The two skin portions are secured together by a continuous peripheral wall 28 and also by web portions 30 which link the portions 22,24 at spaced intervals throughout the chamber defined by the portions 22, 24andthe wall 28. In this way, the inflation ofthefloor member4 results in a resilient surface which nevertheless permits the performance of dancing activities to accompany music from the speaker 20.

The entrance/exit 6 to the inflated building comprises a D-cross-sectiontunnel 32 of flexible material, conveniently similar to that ofthe envelope 2. Loops 34 provided at intervals on the tunnel 32 receive struts 36 of a cage-like support arrangement including three half-hoop members 38,38' and 38".

An end wall 40 supported by the half-hoop member 38 incorporates a doubleflap 42 which may be folded back or up to permitpersonswishingtheenterthe building to enterthetunnel 32. When theflap 42 is closed, then a folding door 44 of resilient sheet material stiffened by suitable reinforcement ribs and supported by member 38", may be opened to permit entry.

In the present example, itwill be found convenient to provide for the controlled leakage of airfrom the inflated building as hereinbefore discussed, by refrainingtoclosethedoor44completely,leaving agap of approximately 1 sq. ft. forthe escape of air.

Various modifications may be made within the scopeoftheinvention. Forexample,flexibleplastics windows may be provided in the envelope 2 or the tunnel 32. Alternative siting may also be provided for the controlled leakage of air.

In a second example of a building according to the invention illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, an inflatable envelope 46, similar in configuration to the envelope 2, is provided with a floor member 48. Access to the interiorofthe building isthrough an aperture 50 in the wall oftheenvelope46which incorporates an air-lock arrangement including aflexiblefolding blind arrangement 52. This blind is provided with a bar handle 54 and is opened by lifting the bar handle upwardly.

Insidethe building, as shown in Figure 6, a display member 56 and its support member is supported in position bya vertical strutdevice 58which for convenience in the present example is centrally disposed with respect to the floor member 48.

Protective padding 60 is provided to avoid injury to persons who mightfall against the strut 58.

Flexible plastics windows 62 are provided as an optional feature.

Claims (12)

1. An inflatable building comprising a shaped inflatable envelope, comprising wall and roof portions ofthe building, an inflatable floor member comprising an at least partly partitioned inflatable chamber therein, said roof portions defining a roof area of the building, and a support member arranged in the roof area and upon which are mounted sources of light.

2. A building as claimed in claim 1 wherein sources of sound are provided within the interior of the building.

3. A building as claimed in either one of claims 1 and 2wherein the floor member comprises two substantially parallel skin portions, an upper one of which is tread surfacefor persons entering the building, and a lower one of which is in contact with a substrate upon which the building is erected.

4. Abuilding as claimed in claim 3, wherein internal tie members are provided within the floor member linking the two skin portions at a plurality of regions so asto maintain the two skin portions in their substantially parallel relationship.

5. A building as claimed in claim 4, wherein margins ofthe envelope are secured in an air-tight mannertothe periphery of the floor member.

6. A building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support member mounting the sources of light is carried on a strut device, which strut device extends between the supportmemberandthelevel ofthefloormember.

7. A building as claimed in claim 6, wherein the strut device has protective padding.

8. A building as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including an externally positioned blower device for inflation purposes.

9. A building as claimed in claim 8,whereinthere is provided a doorway aperture giving access to the interior, said doorway aperture including air-lock means to reduce the escape of air during entry or exit

10. A building as claimed in claim S,whereinthe doorway aperture is incorporated in an access tunnel including the air-lock means.

11. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided for controlled ventilation ofair within the building while it is in an inflated condition.

12. An inflatable building constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.