GB2503047A - Inflatable igloo mould - Google Patents

Abstract

Snowfall is an enjoyable time for children in particular, with building snowmen being a particular favorite. Igloos can be built to great effect but are difficult to build safely. The invention relates to an inflatable igloo comprising an inflatable inner part sealed to an inflatable outer part. The inflatable inner part may be framework structure for supporting the igloo, the inflatable outer part may define an inner wall of the shell of the finished igloo. The outer part may have projecting regions for forming window and door apertures or ventilation lacunae through the shell. The inner and outer parts may be connected so that air can flow between them through connected apertures. An inflation valve may be provided in the outer part. The mould may be provided as part of a kit to include pegs, shovel and a flag.

Description

AN INFLATABLE IGLOO

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an inflatable igloo, more particularly an inflatable mould for an igloo.

Backaround

Snowfall is an enjoyable time for children in particular, with building snowmen being a particular favourite.

Igloos can be built to great effect but are difficult to build safely.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed and granted in the past in an effort to deal with this problem or similar, including the following: Granted German patent DE 1 911 352 (HEIFETZ) discloses a pneumatically inflatable form apparatus for use in the construction of shell-form structures, said apparatus comprising a stress resisting base assembly which includes a rigid, perimeter defining structure and a transverse structure extending across and connected to said perimeter defining structure, said perimeter-defining structure comprising a rigid base ring of predetermined shape and said transverse structure comprising a plurality of elongated stress transmitting members extending across and anchored to the base ring, a flexible inflatable form having a peripheral rim and a flexible base, means securing said rim to said perimeter defining structure with said flexible base resting on said transverse structure, said base assembly being sufficiently rigid to oppose, independently of external forces, deflection of said flexible base upon inflation of said form, said base assembly together with said form constituting a closed force system which prevents interiorly exerted pneumatic forces within said form from acting as elevating forces on said perimeter defining structure.

Granted European patent EP 0 229 867 (SCHELFHORST) discloses a method of producing a structure using supporting sheets which consist of an inner and an outer sheet and whose distance from one another corresponds to the desired wall thickness of the structure, in which arrangement a baseplate, e.g. of concrete, corresponding to the shape of the structure in outline is produced first, then the water-tight and air-tight outer and inner sheet corresponding to the desired shape of the structure is arranged on this baseplate, the outer sheet is secured in a sealing manner to the outside of the baseplate and is inflated, and finally a free-flowing structural material is introduced into the intermediate space between the inner and outer sheets, characterized in that the inner sheet put onto the baseplate is inflated and the outer sheet is arranged on the inflated inner sheet, structural material then being poured into the space between the inflated inner sheet and the supported outer sheet United States patent application US 5 497 974 (TAPANG) discloses a mold for constructing an igloo, comprising: (a) a set of from three to six walls fastenable together to define a mold cavity therebetween; (b) a mold floor removably located between said walls to define a bottom of a said cavity; (c)a handle attached to an outer surface of said floor; and (d) a pipe attached to an inner surface of said floor at the centre of said floor, with the bore of said pipe passing through said floor.

United States patent application US 5 485 701 (HECHT) discloses an igloo mold for making a child's snow igloo comprising: a plurality of curved sections adapted to be secured together at the edges thereof to form the contour of an igloo of substantially hemispherical shape; a first of said sections having an opening passing therethrough; curved entry member means secured to said first section at the edge of the opening therethrough and extending outward from the first section to form an entry tunnel; a second and third of each of said sections, each having an opening passing therethrough; curved window member means secured to each of said second and third section at the edge of the respective openings therethrough and extending outward to form windows; the outer surfaces of the plurality of sections having a grid of indentations in the form of the edges of snow blocks whereby snow may be packed on the said outer surfaces and held in place; and the outer surfaces of the plurality of sections being rough to facilitate the sticking thereto of falling snow.

Granted United States patent US 6 210 142 (HUESERS et al) discloses a portable apparatus for constructing a shelter of snow or ice for protection of users against the environment, the structure of said shelter comprised of arching walls which meet to form a roof, said apparatus comprising: a) a forming means for shaping in situ a plurality of building blocks by packing snow or ice within said forming means, said building blocks comprising the walls of said shelter; b) a positioning means removably connected to said forming means and pivotally connecting said forming means to a fixed reference point located at the centre of said shelter, said positioning means providing a variable radial length for sequentially and uniformly placing said forming means wherein said building blocks may be sequentially formed and uniformly placed in a circular configuration around the reference point and stacked in successive layers to form the walls of said shelter; and c) said positioning means and forming means being connected by a removable swivel means which allows the forming means to be connected or disconnected and rotate and pivot with respect to said positioning means.

In contrast the present invention provides a simply inflated igloo mould which may be deflated incrementally, maintain structural strength during deflation..

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an inflatable igloo comprised of: an inflatable inner part, sealed to an inflatable outer part.

According to a second aspect of the present invention inflation between the inner and outer is through connected apertures, with for example the apertures allowing passage through flexibly resilient seals or other restriction.

Typically these apertures may contain lost air within the inner part as deflation occurs first primarily in the outer part whereby the inner part is comparatively raised in pressure.

At least one output may be present from the outer part or skin, such that the outer may be inflated and deflated through this output.

The inner part is a frame when inflated that consists of struts, posts and cross members, defining the igloo's shape, including at least one door and window.

In this way the inner part defines the frame for the igloo; wherein the outer provides a skin upon which the igloo may be constructed, typically of snow.

In preferred embodiments the outer skin has projections that help define the igloo shape for example by defining shape of blocks, albeit which block shapes may only be visible from the interior of the constructed igloo once the mould is removed.

In some embodiments these block shape projections or block shapers may be envisaged to pass through the snow to mean that the igloo is formed of a plurality of individual blocks of snow when the mould is removed or deflated.

In addition or the alternative there are provided projections which are intended to pass through the snow when the igloo is being formed, in order that holes are left in the snow, permithng ventilation.

In use and according to a third aspect of the present invention the outer and inner will be deflated and inflated at different speeds, on account of the size of apertures.

Particularly this will have an effect as the outer is formed with a depth of between 50mm and 100mm and progressive deflation of this will mean that any snow that is placed on, or packed onto, the skin will become progressively detached from the skin.

This deflation will however leave the frame mostly intact, and consequently supporting the skin and in consequence the snow, meaning the skin is pulled away from the snow but the igloo's structure is still supported.

The inner and outer are typically sealed together, such as by heat sealing or solvent sealing. Such ensures that the two are indivisible and will inflate together, however the provision of small apertures ensures that inflation and deflation will be bipartite, with the outer skin deflating first. Consequently an air input may be located on the inner and an output located on the outer.

A plurality of apertures are accordingly dispersed according to best effect about the inner and/or outer such that the outer or skin will be able to deflate effectively without affecting the frame or skin. Once the pressure in the skin has fallen substantially the inner frame air pressure will force air through the apertures into the outer skin where it may be expelled through the valve or output.

Alternatively other bipartite or cellular configurations may be operable such as two pumps or inflation means.

In some embodiments these apertures may be one-way egresses in order that the outer may be inflated after the inner has been inflated and the inner remains robust at all times.

Further embodiments may have separate inputs or more particularly outputs, allowing a better controlled bipartite deflation and inflation.

These inputs or outputs may be envisaged as valves wherein the release in pressure -of one cellor partis possible, or one part deflatesmorerapidlythananother.

In preferred embodiments said valve(s) are/is capable of maintaining a high degree of pressure robustness in order even when a separate air pump is attached to pump up or inflate the mould and then detached from the valve.

Preferably the valve will accordingly ensure that rigidity and pressure is maintained within the mould when the pump is detached. Mechanisms may be provided to ensure this is the case.

Typically the mould is formed primarily of flexible plastic or elastomer, such that the inflation may provide a taut, smooth surface when completed.

Ridges or ribbing on the skin permit easier packing of snow onto the skin by preventing the snow falling off as it is packed, furthermore ideally presenting the appearance of a built igloo from its exterior.

The completed igloo will typically have a plurality of ventilation holes left from projections from the outer and a door which is formed by a lacuna in the outer and the inner. Additionally a plurality of window lacunae are envisaged in order that maximum ventilation and safety. When the skin is deflated the lacunae will be left in desired positions.

An air pump may be included in the mould, either where the mould is in the form of a kit, or integrally in the mould outer or inner. This may be electrically charged or powered by such as integral battery or power lead.

Preferably the mould additionally includes outlaying legs or aids that allow the inflated mould, or pre-inflation mould, to be pegged out, attached, fastened or tied to the ground in use, in order that under inflation the mould remains tight to the ground and furthermore does not move laterally or horizontally.

Preferably at least one leg is fastened to the ground using pegs or stakes, and the legs extend beyond the footprint of the inflated igloo.

Some embodiments of the igloo may be sold in kit form with a set of necessary implements, such as a shovel, pegs and a marker flag.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figures 1 show an overhead isometric view (IA) and a view from underneath (1B) of a preferred embodiment of the inflated igloo; Figure 2 shows the isometric view from Figure 1A; Figure 3 shows an overhead view of the preferred embodiment; Figures 4 show a front and rear view of the embodiment; Figure 5 shows two side views of the embodiment; Figures 6 show parts of an igloo making kit containing the embodiment.

Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the igloo with half of the outer not pictured; And Figure 8 shows an isometric view of the inner with the outer not pictured.

Claims (6)

1. Claims 1. An inflatable igloo comprised of: an inflatable inner, sealed to an inflatable cuter.
2. 2. An igloo according to claim I wherein a passage of air between the inner and outer is possible through restricted apertures.
3. 3. An igloo according to claim 2 wherein the outer has an air valve.
4. 4. An igloo according to any preceding claim wherein the outer has a ridged surface when inflated.
5. 5. An igloo according to any preceding claim wherein the outer provides ventilation laounae for overpacked snow.
6. 6. An igloo kit including pegs, a shovel, a flag and an igloo according to a preceding claim.