GB2415912A

GB2415912A - Inflatable structure with air transfer duct

Info

Publication number: GB2415912A
Application number: GB0415133A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Brereton Anthony
Original assignee: Finecard International Ltd
Current assignee: Finecard International Ltd
Priority date: 2004-07-06
Filing date: 2004-07-06
Publication date: 2006-01-11
Also published as: GB0415133D0

Abstract

An airflow structure, e.g. an inflatable football pitch, comprises at least one inflatable chamber 11, a removably connected fan or blower 14 for inflating the chamber, means permitting a controlled bleed of air from the chamber, and a transfer duct 20 connected to the structure in fluid communication with the chamber, the transfer duct having an end removably connected to a second structure 26 such that air is supplied to the second structure from the fan or blower via the first structure and the transfer duct. The end of duct 20 may connect to the end of another duct 21 connected to second structure 26, and the ends of the ducts may be connected via elastic cuff 29, hook and loop fasteners (not shown), or a sliding clasp fastener, e.g. a zip (31, fig. 3). Closure members (30, fig. 4) maybe provided for closing ducts when not connected to another structure or duct, and the fan or blower may removably connect to the chamber by direct connection to a transfer duct. Removable extension ducts may be connected to the transfer ducts such that the relative positions of two airflow structures may be varied, and a T-piece may be included to allow the fan or blower to be connected in parallel to transfer ducts of respective airflow structures.

Description

Airflow Structures This invention concerns airflow structures of the kind

comprising at least one chamber defined by one or more walls of the substantially air-impermeable flexible material such that the structure assumes a collapsed condition when not in use but is equipped with a fan or blower removably connected to the chamber to establish therein an air pressure greater than atmospheric pressure thus to inflate and erect the structure and maintain same in an erect condition.

Such structures usually include means to permit a controlled bleed of air from the chamber to atmosphere so that the structure remains erect by way of a slight internal over-pressure. The air bleed may be afforded by a natural bleed of air through stitching or by a degree of porosity of the material or alternatively there may be vents to allow the air to bleed from the interior of the structure such vents being adjustable as required.

Airflow structures of this kind are often used for the purpose of amusement, particularly for children, and may take many different forms. The present invention is concerned with enclosure which may provide a small sports arena within which children can play or practice games such as football. In this example a goal post must be placed within the structure, and the present invention enables the separate goal post or other such secondary structure also to be of airflow form and to be removably connectable to the main airflow structure thus to be fed with air from the fan or blower supplying air to the main structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a structure with means to transfer the air from the main structure to one or more secondary structures or to further such main structures without the need to use separate fans or blowers.

According to the present invention there is provided an airflow structure comprising at least one chamber defined by one or more walls of a substantially air-impermeable, All Specs 2004 P107074GB ë :: a.: . . . : : ë flexible material, a fan or blower removably connected to the chamber to establish therein an air pressure greater than atmospheric pressure thus to inflate and erect the structure and maintain the same in an erect condition, and means to permit a controlled bleed of air from the chamber to atmosphere; characterised by a transfer duct having one end connected to the structure in communication with the chamber and having a free end for removable connection to a second such structure for the supply of air thereto from the fan or blower, via the first structure and the transfer duct.

The free end of the transfer duct may be adapted for connection to a free end of another such duct connected to said second such structure.

Connection of the respective free ends of the transfer ducts may be by way of an elasticated cuff at or adjacent one of free ends.

Connection of the respective free ends of the transfer duct may be by way of hook and loop fastener at/or adjacent the respective free ends.

Connection of the respective free ends of the transfer ducts may be by way of a sliding clap fastener.

A closure may be provided for the or each said transfer duct when not connected to another such structure.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of first and second airflow structures removably connected together in accordance with the invention; All Specs 2004 P 1 07074GB :e e:e::: : :. . . . .e Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a pair of transfer ducts, one connected to each such structure, and connected together; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a different form of connection of the two S transfer ducts; and Fig. 4 shows a blind cuff to close a transfer duct.

Referring now to the drawings a first airflow structure made in accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 comprises four columns 10 connected at their respective bases by cross members 11 and, in their upper regions, by cross members 12 to form side walls 13. The columns and cross members are all made from a woven synthetic material which is flexible and substantially air impermeable. The respective columns and cross members are preferably connected together by stitching and are in mutual 1 S internal communication throughout the structure.

A fan or blower 14 is removably connected by a duct 15 to one of the cross members 11 and is operable to establish within the structure an air pressure slightly greater than atmospheric pressure thus to inflate and erect the structure in a form as illustrated and to maintain same in an erect condition.

As is typical with airflow structures there is established a controlled bleed of air from the interior thereof and this may be by way of vents which may be adjustably controlled, or simply by allowing sufficient bleed of air through the stitching by which the various cross members and columns are connected together.

In accordance with the present invention, there is connected to one of the cross members 11 a transfer duct 20 of a similar flexible material which communicates with the interior of the structure and is shown connected to a similar transfer duct 21 itself connected to the interior of a second airflow structure which in this example is shown as a goal 23 comprising uprights 24 an upper cross member 25, and three base All Specs 2004 P 107074GP d. e,

: :: A: cross members 26. The entire structure of the goal is made up from tubular members in mutual communication with each other, or alternatively, some parts of the goal may be of rigid construction.

By connecting the two airflow structures together in this way the slightly excessive air pressure supplied by the fan or blower 14 enables both structures to be inflated and maintained in an erect condition during use. When not required for further use, the fan or blower 14 may be disconnected and the two transfer ducts 20 and 21 may be disconnected so that the two structures can be deflated and packed away for storage.

Referring now to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the respective transfer ducts 20, 21 are removably connected together, in one example, by providing a pair of rigid rings 27 and 28, one at the end of transfer duct 20 and the other spaced inwardly therefrom, and an elasticated cuff 29 on the other transfer duct 21 which surrounds the first duct between the rings 27 and 28. thus, the cuff 29 provides a substantially airtight connection between the ducts.

In place of the Masticated connection of the two transfer ducts, an annular strip of hook and loop fastener may be used, the respective parts of which are attached to the respective ducts. In a further alternative arrangement as shown in Fig. 3 a sliding clasp fastener 31 may form the removable connection between the transfer ducts.

Other forms of removable connection are envisaged.

If a single airflow structure is to be used, its transfer duct may be closed off by a blind cuff as illustrated at 30 in Fig.4.

It will be appreciated that by provision of a transfer duct connected to the or each airflow structure, a whole range of structures may be made available for connection together so that users may select a combination of structures for inter-connection.

The flexibility of the material of the transfer ducts enables them to be positioned for All Specs 2004 P107074GH i.. ë.: :: . s easy connection to another such structure, and if required, extension ducts may be provided connectible in the same way so that the relative positions and distances apart of two or more airflow structures may be selected.

Similarly, the connection of the fan or blower to the airflow structure may be universally formed for direct connection to the air transfer duct of any one of the airflow structures.

If required, T-pieces of transfer duct may be provided whereby the fan or blower may be connected in parallel to two such transfer ducts of respective airflow structures.

All Specs 2004 P 1 07074GB

Claims

j e. . ' CLAIMS

1. An airflow structure comprising at least one chamber defined by one or more walls of a substantially air-impermeable, flexible material, a fan or blower removably connected to the chamber to establish therein an air pressure greater than atmospheric pressure thus to inflate and erect the structure and maintain the same in an erect condition, and means to permit a controlled bleed of air from the chamber to atmosphere; characterized by a transfer duct having one end connected to the structure in communication with the chamber and having a free end for removable connection to a second such structure for the supply of air thereto from the fan or blower, via the first structure and the transfer duct.

2. An airflow structure according to claim 1 wherein the free end of the transfer duct is adapted for connection to a free end of another such duct connected to said second structure.

3. An airflow structure according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein connection of the free ends of the transfer ducts is by way of an elasticated cuff at or adjacent one of the free ends.

4. An airflow structure according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein connection of the respective free ends of the transfer ducts is by way of hook and loop fastener at or adjacent the respective free ends.

5. An airflow structure according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein connection of the respective free ends of the transfer ducts is by way of a sliding clasp fastener.

All Specs 2004 P107074GB .e.. .. .::

6. An airflow structure according to preceding claim including a closure member for the or each transfer duct when not connected to another such structure or transfer duct.

7. An airflow structure according to any preceding claim wherein the fan or blower may be removably connected to the chamber by direct connection to said transfer duct.

8. An airflow structure according to any preceding claim including removable extension ducts connectable to said transfer duct whereby to determine the relative positions and distances apart of two or more airflow structures.

9. An airflow structure according to any preceding claim including a Tpieces of the transfer duct enabling the fan or blower to be connected in parallel to two such transfer ducts of respective airflow structures.

All Specs 2004 P107074GB