US3924364A - Wind-inflatable tent - Google Patents

Wind-inflatable tent Download PDF

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Publication number
US3924364A
US3924364A US259294A US25929472A US3924364A US 3924364 A US3924364 A US 3924364A US 259294 A US259294 A US 259294A US 25929472 A US25929472 A US 25929472A US 3924364 A US3924364 A US 3924364A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
wind
tent
catch
ring
catch member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US259294A
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English (en)
Inventor
Cornelis Eerkens
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of US3924364A publication Critical patent/US3924364A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H15/00—Tents or canopies, in general
    • E04H15/20—Tents or canopies, in general inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure
    • E04H15/22—Tents or canopies, in general inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure supported by air pressure inside the tent

Definitions

  • the y tent is provided with walls forming the sides and top [52] U S Cl thereof, with a wind-catch opening as part of a wind- [51] In.t..CL.2::: catch member for receiving the w pressure and for [58]
  • Field 6 Search 73/188; 52/2, 157 direciinfisame the interim the hmugh an opening in the wall of the tent, and means are pro- 'ded for supporting said wind-catch member in a [5 6]
  • the present invention relates to wind-inflatable tents and more particularly to tents whichare inflatable by wind pressure, and are maintained in an erected state by means of air pressure therewithin which is built up by the introduction of the said wind pressure.
  • Bubbles tents i.e. enclosures formed of flexible, relatively light, strong material such as sheets of a plastic film, inflatable by air pressue and maintained by internal air pressure, have been known heretofore.
  • enclosures as is well known, have been used as storage rooms, greenhouses, enclosures for tennis courts, etc.
  • enclosures or tents require mechanical means to generate sufficient internal pressure to inflate same and to maintain the tent in an erected, inflated state. It has been customary to utilize one or more air blowers, mounted in a corner within the enclosure, to maintain the tent in its inflated state.
  • one object of the present invention to provide an enclosure which may be inflated and maintained in its inflated state without resort to mechanical blowers.
  • a wind-inflatable tent comprising flexible walls forming the sides and top thereof, a wind-catch member adapted to receive wind pressure and direct same to the interior of said tent through an opening in said walls, and means adapted to be secured to the ground and to support said wind-catch member in substantially fixed relation thereto.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tent in its inflated state having a star-shaped form
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the tent depicted in FIG.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tent according to a modified embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tent in the configuration of an animal.
  • the tent is shown as comprising sidewalls 1 which are secured at the base to a ground cloth 2.
  • the space within the tent, as defined by the sidewalls, is in communication with the air outside by means of wind-catch channel 3.
  • This channel is open at one end to the outside air by virtue of wind-catch opening 4, the other end of the channel being in communication with the interior of the tent by means of an opening in the roof of the tent.
  • windcatch channel 3 may take the shape of a tube or sleeve, and may be constructed of a suitable lightweight material such as a plastic or canvas sheet.
  • a wind-catch ring 5 defines the wind-catch opening.
  • the tent When the tent is erected it isdesirable to orient the ring such that its geometric plane is perpendicular to the wind direction.
  • reference letter W designates the wind direction.
  • the wind-catch ring 5 is preferably formed with an integral extension 9.
  • the upper portion of support member 6 is so constructed as to permit the formation of a rigid joint with the lower portion of the extension of ring 5.
  • a convenient construction is simply the provision of a socket or blind bore in member 6 into which the end of the extension may be inserted.
  • the socket may just as effectively be provided at the end of the extension.
  • a set screw may be provided to assist increating a rigid connection between the extension of the ring and the support member.
  • the particular manner of joining the ring and its support member is not of critical importance, it being sufficient to insure that no bending is permitted at the juncture and that the extension is separable from the support member.
  • air entering the tent via the wind-catch opening 4 and wind-catch channel 3 generates an air pressure therewithin as shown by reference letter p.
  • Such pressure tends to act outwardly in the direction shown by the arrows. It is this generation of air pressure within the tent which maintains same in its inflated state.
  • the tent is desirably provided with a zippered entrance (not shown) in the sidewall.
  • a zippered entrance (not shown) in the sidewall.
  • the entrance opening is located on the lee side. Since the wind-catch opening is intended to face the wind it is preferred that the opening be provided on the opposite side of the tent.
  • the windcatch channel 3 may be an integral part of the sidewall of the tent and need not take the form of a distinct channel which is separate from the sidewall.
  • the tent may be formed in various shapes.
  • the tent has the configuration of an animal.
  • One of the advantages of this invention is the almost limitless number of forms which may be utilized. Such flexibility of shape, as well as of color, tends to enhance the attractiveness of the tent for recreational purposes by enabling the provision of a pleasant appearance.
  • the invention provides a tent or enclosure which is readily transportable and is easily inflated and maintained in an erected state utilizing only the natural wind force.
  • experiment has demonstrated that comparatively little wind force is needed for inflation and maintenance.
  • FIGS. 1-3 show the use of a ground cloth, and it is presently preferred that one be employed, such cloth is not essential to the operativeness of the tent.
  • the tent can be erected by first setting the lower edges of the sidewall close to the ground, so as to substantially eliminate any possibility of air leakage, and then positioning the wind-catch opening and ring so as to permit the introduction of wind pressure into the tent.
  • a habitable wind-inflatable tent comprising flexible walls forming the sides and top thereof, a windcatch member integral with said walls and adapted to receive wind pressure and direct same to the interior of said tent through an opening in said walls, means for providing access and egress to and from said tent, and means integral and cooperable with said wind-catch member adapted to be secured to the ground and to support said wind-catch member in spaced substantially fixed relation thereto, said wind-catch member support means also serving to maintain said tent in an erected state, said tent being sufficiently light-weight so as to be manually transportable as a unitary assembly from one location to another.
  • wind-catch member support means is a pole-like element adapted adjacent one end thereof to engage telescopically with the extension of said ring to provide a substantially rigid juncture therewith, the other end of said support means being provided with a screw to facilitate attachment to the ground.
  • wind-catch member support means is a pole-like element adapted adjacent one end thereof to engage telescopically with the extension of said ring to provide a substantially rigid juncture therewith, the other end of said support means being provided with a screw to facilitate attachment to the ground.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
US259294A 1971-07-15 1972-06-02 Wind-inflatable tent Expired - Lifetime US3924364A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL7109798A NL7109798A (es) 1971-07-15 1971-07-15

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3924364A true US3924364A (en) 1975-12-09

Family

ID=19813619

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US259294A Expired - Lifetime US3924364A (en) 1971-07-15 1972-06-02 Wind-inflatable tent

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US (1) US3924364A (es)
NL (1) NL7109798A (es)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4031674A (en) * 1976-01-19 1977-06-28 Rand J Patrick Inflatable tent
WO1981002041A1 (en) * 1980-01-02 1981-07-23 M Denev Use of inflatable(fillable)funnel-like constructions for concentration of wind power in wind power systems
US4863339A (en) * 1983-06-09 1989-09-05 Bjk Industries, Inc. Vacuum assisted method for installing a waterproof liner
US5291698A (en) * 1992-11-02 1994-03-08 Rayner Covering Systems, Inc. Tarpaulin air vent system
WO2008005279A2 (en) 2006-06-27 2008-01-10 Jonathan David Chelf Methods and apparatus for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air- supported structure
US9593503B2 (en) * 2015-03-30 2017-03-14 William Lester Creagh Portable expandable carport

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7608098A (nl) * 1975-07-28 1977-02-01 Unilever Nv Opblaasbare tent.

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3254457A (en) * 1964-12-21 1966-06-07 Leigh M Gedney Equilibrium (air) door
US3318560A (en) * 1964-08-03 1967-05-09 Armed Forces Equipment Dev Cor Mast assembly and ground engaging support therefor
US3335529A (en) * 1966-04-29 1967-08-15 Leigh M Gedney Inflatable building
US3501917A (en) * 1968-06-14 1970-03-24 Phillips Petroleum Co Liquid storage
US3589183A (en) * 1969-07-16 1971-06-29 Kenneth Ledford Airdropped portable windsock

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3318560A (en) * 1964-08-03 1967-05-09 Armed Forces Equipment Dev Cor Mast assembly and ground engaging support therefor
US3254457A (en) * 1964-12-21 1966-06-07 Leigh M Gedney Equilibrium (air) door
US3335529A (en) * 1966-04-29 1967-08-15 Leigh M Gedney Inflatable building
US3501917A (en) * 1968-06-14 1970-03-24 Phillips Petroleum Co Liquid storage
US3589183A (en) * 1969-07-16 1971-06-29 Kenneth Ledford Airdropped portable windsock

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4031674A (en) * 1976-01-19 1977-06-28 Rand J Patrick Inflatable tent
WO1981002041A1 (en) * 1980-01-02 1981-07-23 M Denev Use of inflatable(fillable)funnel-like constructions for concentration of wind power in wind power systems
US4863339A (en) * 1983-06-09 1989-09-05 Bjk Industries, Inc. Vacuum assisted method for installing a waterproof liner
US5291698A (en) * 1992-11-02 1994-03-08 Rayner Covering Systems, Inc. Tarpaulin air vent system
WO2008005279A2 (en) 2006-06-27 2008-01-10 Jonathan David Chelf Methods and apparatus for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air- supported structure
US20150099451A1 (en) * 2006-06-27 2015-04-09 Airstream Intelligence, Llc Methods and apparatus for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported structure
EP2995748A1 (en) 2006-06-27 2016-03-16 Jonathan David Chelf Methods and apparatus for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported structure
US10024562B2 (en) * 2006-06-27 2018-07-17 Airstream Intelligence, Llc Methods and apparatus for efficiently pressurizing and ventilating an air-supported structure
US9593503B2 (en) * 2015-03-30 2017-03-14 William Lester Creagh Portable expandable carport

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL7109798A (es) 1973-01-17

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