Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Shaped or strengthened by fluid pressure – Comprising spaced – sheetlike members and fluid chamber...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-19
2001-12-25
Canfield, Robert (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Shaped or strengthened by fluid pressure
Comprising spaced, sheetlike members and fluid chamber...
C052S002240, C052S002250, C052S002130, C052S002170, C052S002110, C135S124000, C135S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332290
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The subject of the present invention is a canopy which can be inflated, deployed and retracted by means of inflation and deflation, respectively.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally speaking, inflatable canopies comprise a plurality of longitudinal beams placed side by side, means for supplying the inflatable beams with pressurized fluid, at least one path for the deployment or refolding of the said beams, and means for the foundation or ballasting of the said canopy.
This type of canopy is designed, amongst other things, to allow its deployment by simple inflation and its retraction by deflation, which makes it possible, at will, to cover over a space in order to protect it against bad weather and to uncover it in fine weather.
Such a canopy may be used to temporarily cover over large installations such as stadia or spectators' stands.
Canopies of this type are already known, in which each beam is formed by a flexible envelope which incorporates means which ensure the continuity of the leaktightness of the volume it confines and which principally comprises four longitudinal panels whose edges intersect along four longitudinal edges perpendicular to which these panels are not only connected together but also connected to the equivalent panels of the adjacent beams by means of discontinuous mechanical linking means.
However, such a structure poses problems of leaktightness and is complicated owing to the design of each of the inflatable beams.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to propose an inflatable canopy which is simple to implement and which makes it possible to avoid the drawbacks mentioned above.
The subject of the invention is thus a canopy which can be inflated, deployed and retracted by inflation and deflation, respectively, of the type comprising:
a plurality of longitudinal inflatable beams arranged side by side;
means for supplying the inflatable beams with pressurized fluid; and
means for the foundation or ballasting of the canopy, characterized in that each of the inflatable beams is formed by a tubular envelope which is closed at its two ends by mechanical leaktight confinement means.
According to other characteristics of the invention:
the inflatable beams are independent of one another or connected together longitudinally by linking means;
the inflatable beams are connected, at at least one of their ends, to the foundation or ballasting means by the mechanical leaktight confinement means;
each tubular envelope is formed by a cylindrical sheath portion made from plastic and produced by extrusion;
each tubular envelope is produced from a machine width of coated fabric of which warp threads run substantially in the longitudinal direction of this envelope and of which weft threads run substantially in the transverse direction of the envelope; and
the mechanical leaktight confinement means are formed, in the case of each inflatable beam, by two small bars connected together by at least one fastening element by pinching the corresponding end of the tubular envelope of the beam.
According to further characteristics of the invention:
the mechanical leaktight confinement means are formed, in the case of all or some of the inflatable beams, by two small bars connected, on the one hand, together by at least one fastening element pinching the corresponding ends of the tubular envelopes of all or some of the beams, and, on the other hand, to the foundation or ballasting means;
the mechanical leaktight confinement means are formed, in the case of each beam, by a clamp piece which has a central orifice and is connected to the foundation or ballasting means, the clamp piece including a first part fastened to the outer face of the envelope of the corresponding beam and a second part fastened to the inner face of the envelope and connected to the first part by at least one fastening element and the central orifice communicating with the pressurized-fluid-supply means via the foundation or ballasting means;
the means for linking the inflatable beams together are formed, on the one hand, by a T-shaped section made from flexible material fastened to the envelope of each inflatable beam and including two lateral branches fastened to the envelope and a central branch forming, at its free end, a loop and having uniformly spaced transverse notches to form a series of separate flaps, and, on the other hand, by at least one flexible rod which is intended to be slipped into the loop of one small bar in two of two contiguous sections in order to form at least one hinge; and
the means for linking the inflatable beams together are formed by a fastening fitting with a central orifice communicating between the inner spaces of the envelopes of two contiguous beams and which includes two parts intended to interact with each other by having a portion of the said envelopes inserted between them.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3116746 (1964-01-01), Bird
patent: 3277615 (1966-10-01), Marquez
patent: 3332176 (1967-07-01), Knetzer
patent: 3368599 (1968-02-01), Dailey et al.
patent: 4976074 (1990-12-01), Delamare
patent: 5303516 (1994-04-01), Delamare
patent: 5526610 (1996-06-01), Delamare
patent: 539480 (1960-06-01), None
patent: 1287725 (1991-08-01), None
patent: 2724373 (1978-11-01), None
patent: 0 065 240 (1982-11-01), None
patent: 0 235 013 (1987-09-01), None
patent: 0 312 429 (1989-04-01), None
patent: 831738 (1938-09-01), None
patent: 1.126.261 (1956-11-01), None
patent: 1237283 (1960-06-01), None
patent: 2.070.982 (1971-09-01), None
patent: 2 483 489 (1981-12-01), None
patent: 975199 (1964-11-01), None
patent: 2 177 737 (1987-01-01), None
patent: 07-091110 (1995-04-01), None
patent: 96/38642 (1996-12-01), None
Canfield Robert
S.A. Spironef Technologies
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
LandOfFree
Inflatable, deployable, and collapsible arch does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Inflatable, deployable, and collapsible arch, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Inflatable, deployable, and collapsible arch will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2579644