Inflatable enclosure and method for producing an inflatable enclosure

Abstract

The invention relates to an inflatable enclosure (1) comprising an inflatable structure (2) including at least one inflatable beam (10) and a cover (3) supported by the structure, wherein the cover (3) comprises a longitudinal dimension (3L) for attachment to a corresponding longitudinal dimension (10L) of the beam. According to the invention, an elastic band (20), which runs along the longitudinal dimensions (3L, 10L), is inserted between the cover and the beam.

Description

INFLATABLE ENCLOSURE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN INFLATABLE ENCLOSURE

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of inflatable enclosures, more particularly of the type comprising an inflatable structure covered with a flexible covering, for example covering enclosures such as shelters, hangars, industrial or test enclosures, tents or any other object comprising an inflatable structure to which a flexible covering is attached to delimit an interior volume.

[0002] Inflatable enclosures are known in this field, comprising a structure made from continuously inflatable tubular beams. However, these structures require special arrangements to continuously blow a flow of air that keeps the structure inflated. Inflatable enclosures are also known, comprising a structure made from airtight inflatable tubular beams, where the beam is equipped with an inflation valve that keeps the inflated tube closed. These structures are generally self-supporting; once inflated, they maintain their shape and support the covers, doors, and other elements of the enclosure.

[0003] In all cases, the inflatable structure must support a covering which has the role of protecting the volume of the enclosure against bad weather, heat, dust, electromagnetic radiation, or of insulating it from the outside.

[0004] Self-supporting inflatable enclosures are known from documents FR3069001 or FR3092126. These enclosures comprise a structure comprising beams and spacers which support a covering separating the internal part of the enclosure from the exterior. Such enclosures are very light, they are generally made from flexible materials and their manufacture requires particular attention with regard to the dispersions of shape and dimensions of their geometry due in particular to manufacturing tolerances. More particularly, if the geometric shape is not compliant, the structure cannot fulfill its support function correctly. Furthermore, if folds form in the junction zone of the covering and an element of the structure, these folds can generate rainwater storage zones, which can have the consequence, from a certain limit, a sagging of the structure. Furthermore, these folds give a visual impression of degraded quality of the whole.

[0005] Therefore, a re-assembly of the elements of the inflatable enclosure (made by sewing, gluing, welding) is necessary. Such a re-assembly (or retouching) has the consequence of a decrease in the manufacturing productivity of the enclosure and an increase in the manufacturing cost.

[0006] An objective of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the aforementioned documents and to provide an original solution for the production of a better quality inflatable enclosure, allowing the flow of liquids on its external surfaces without accumulation in pockets or folds, which has an improved appearance and this for a lower cost price.

[0007] This objective is achieved by the invention which provides an inflatable enclosure comprising an inflatable structure comprising at least one inflatable beam and a covering supported by said structure in which the covering comprises a longitudinal dimension for attachment to a corresponding longitudinal dimension of said beam, characterized in that between said covering and said beam is interposed an elastic band which runs along said longitudinal dimensions.

[0008] In other words, the invention proposes to connect the covering and the inflatable structure by their facing longitudinal dimensions by interposing an elastic band between the two so as to exert tension in a transverse direction between the covering and the beam when they are connected or assembled. By elastic band is meant a flat elastic ribbon of width significantly less than its length, a length which corresponds substantially to the longitudinal dimensions of the beam and the covering. An elastic band preferably has elastic properties in the transverse direction of the band and even more preferably in the transverse direction and in the longitudinal direction of the band.

[0009] Thus, it was found during laboratory tests that such an elastic band allowed, when the covering and the beam were assembled, to exert a continuous elastic tension between the assembled parts, tension which can vary punctually in order to absorb excessively large dispersions of manufacturing tolerances. This is all the more effective when the covering and the inflatable structure are textile materials that are assembled by sewing, because the manufacturing dispersions, which are very large in this case, are completely absorbed by the deformation of the elastic band connecting them.

[0010] This eliminates the need for retouching when assembling the structure and the covering by sewing, welding or gluing, thereby increasing productivity, improving the overall appearance and obtaining a consistent appearance for the coverings that are attached to different inflatable structures.

[0011] Said elastic band can be tensioned in a transverse direction when it is assembled with the beam or with the covering. The elastic band of the invention is introduced between the covering and the beam of the inflatable structure so that its longitudinal direction follows those of the beam and the covering. Tensioning the elastic band in its transverse direction ensures better absorption of dimensional variations which may occur during the assembly of the covering and the beam.

[0012] Said beam may comprise a flexible envelope enclosing an inflatable tube and in that said envelope may be connected to a flexible flap at a first end thereof. The envelope and the flap may be made of a woven material, which facilitates their assembly by sewing.

[0013] Said elastic band can be assembled with said flap in an area close to a second end of the flap opposite said first end for attachment to the envelope.

[0014] The covering and the beam may include removable assembly means.

[0015] Said cover and said bib can be connected by a zipper.

[0016] The elastic band can be attached to a fold of the bib. This allows the bib fabric to have some leeway.

[0017] Said elastic band may be a woven elastic band.

[0018] Said inflatable structure may comprise two parallel arch-shaped beams supporting said covering and each beam may be secured to the covering by interposing an elastic band between the two. Such a curved structure is capable of spanning a space while being able to support a significant weight.

[0019] The objective of the invention is also achieved with a method of assembling an inflatable enclosure comprising an inflatable structure comprising at least one inflatable beam and a covering supported by said structure in which the covering comprises a longitudinal dimension for attachment to a corresponding longitudinal dimension of said beam, characterized in that an elastic band is interposed between said covering and said beam which runs along said longitudinal dimensions.

[0020] The elastic band can be sewn together at one end of the covering or beam so that the band can be tensioned in the transverse direction of the latter.

[0021] The elastic band can be sewn together at the end of a flap attached to the beam, forming a fold above the elastic band.

[0022] The elastic band can be sewn using a fixed center distance sewing machine.

[0023] The method of the invention may comprise a step of assembling the cover and the end of said flap using a zipper.

[0024] The invention will be better understood from the remainder of the description, which is based on the following figures: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the inflatable structure of an inflatable enclosure of the invention; Figures 2a, 2b and 2c are top, front and side views of an inflatable enclosure of the invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view with plane AA of Figure 2b illustrating an embodiment of the assembly of the enclosure according to the state of the art; Figure 4 is a sectional view with plane AA of Figure 2b illustrating an embodiment of the assembly of the enclosure according to the invention.

[0025] In the various figures, identical or similar elements bear the same reference. Their description is therefore not systematically repeated.

[0026] In Figure 1, a perspective view is shown of the inflatable structure 2 of the enclosure 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The inflatable structure 2 is formed of two peripheral beams or arches 10, 12, an intermediate arch 14, and three crosspieces 11, 13 and 15 connecting the arches together at different levels from their top. The peripheral arches 10, 12 and the intermediate arch 14 are each formed of several pieces of fabric sewn together (the seams being visible in the form of transverse lines in the figures) to form the envelope of a fabric arch inside which an inflatable tube equipped with an inflation valve is introduced. Similarly, the crosspieces 11, 13 and 15 are each obtained by sewing pieces of fabric to form the envelope on one side of cylindrical shape inside which an inflatable tube equipped with an inflation valve is introduced.The various inflatable tubes are then advantageously connected to each other (for example using sealed external connecting pipes) in order to facilitate the inflation of the entire structure from a single inflation valve. An inflatable tube is a closed cylindrical tube, for example made of polyurethane, whose dimensions are approximately those of the envelope in which it is inserted.

[0027] The envelope of the elements of the inflatable structure 2 is made of a synthetic fabric of the DACRON type. The envelope of each element is closed and made by sewing several pieces of fabric together and in which an opening has been made allowing the insertion of an inflatable tube.

[0028] The inflatable structure 2 is connected to a covering 3 preferably using a removable fastener. More precisely, a fabric flap 17 is sewn onto the envelope of the beam 10 and at the end of the flap 17 a part of a zipper 30 is sewn, the other part of the zipper being sewn to the end of the covering 3. The end of the flap 17 opposite that of assembly with the covering 3 has a second zipper 32 for attachment to a module of the enclosure or to another covering.

[0029] According to the invention, the inflatable beam 10 or 12 of the inflatable enclosure 1 comprises a longitudinal dimension for attachment to a corresponding longitudinal dimension of the covering 3 and an elastic band 20 is interposed or introduced between the two, a band which runs along said longitudinal dimensions of the beam 10 or 12 and of the covering 3. Such an elastic band is capable of exerting elastic tension continuously between the assembled parts. Thus, the formation of folds on the covering is avoided, folds in which rainwater could accumulate.

[0030] As best seen in Figure 4, the elastic band 20 is fixed by its ends 22 and 24 in line with a fold 19 formed in the flap 17. The elastic band 20 is preferably fixed on the intrados of the flap 17. The intrados is understood to mean the face facing the inside of the enclosure of the flap or of the fabrics of the different components of the enclosure, as opposed to the extrados which is the external face of the components of the enclosure. Thus, by fixing the elastic band on the intrados, the external appearance of the enclosure is preserved, and the protection of the internal space of the enclosure is ensured by the materials covering the enclosure.

[0031] The elastic band can be attached to the bib 17 by sewing using a double-needle sewing machine with a fixed center distance. The elastic band 20 is tensioned by the fold thus formed, which also allows the fabric of the bib 17 to have latitude. Preferably, the elastic band 20 is tensioned in the direction of its width when sewing its edges 22, 24 below the fold 19.

[0032] Cover 3 is made, for example, from spinnaker fabric.

[0033] The elastic band 20 is a flat woven elastic band comprising weft threads and warp threads made of an elastic material, for example elastane or nylon. The Young's modulus of the elastic band can range from 20 to 300 MPa, depending on the nature of the materials chosen. Furthermore, the Young's modulus of the fabrics used for coverings is of the order of 550 to 600 MPa. Thus, the elastic band is at least half as rigid. than the fabric of the cover and that which connects the elastic band to the inflatable beam, preferably between two and thirty times less rigid than these.

[0034] For example, for an enclosure with dimensions 7100mmx5000mmxl200mm, the elastic band has a width of 50mm.

[0035] In one variant, the covering 3 is attached to the inflatable structure using self-gripping or VELCRO-type strips, part of the strips being sewn to the end of the flap 17 secured to the beam 10 of the inflatable structure 2 and another to the covering 3 of the enclosure 1.

[0036] Other variants and embodiments of the invention may be envisaged within the scope of the invention as claimed. Thus, in one variant, the longitudinal end of the covering and the longitudinal end of the flap are each assembled directly to the elastic band. The solution of the invention may also be used with any other shape of inflatable beam which is not an arch, for example a beam in the shape of a right prism or a right cylinder.

[0037] Alternatively, you can consider attaching the elastic band to the cover by sewing or welding it, making a fold above the elastic band to give the cover material some leeway.

Claims

Claims 1. Inflatable enclosure (1) comprising an inflatable structure (2) comprising at least one inflatable beam (10) and a covering (3) supported by said structure in which the covering (3) comprises a longitudinal dimension (3L) for attachment to a corresponding longitudinal dimension (10L) of said beam, characterized in that between said covering and said beam is interposed an elastic band (20) which runs along said longitudinal dimensions (3L, 10L).

2. Enclosure according to claim 1, characterized in that said elastic band (20) is tensioned in a transverse direction when it is assembled with the beam (10) or with the covering (3).

3. Enclosure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said beam (10) comprises a flexible envelope enclosing an inflatable tube and in that said envelope is connected to a flexible flap (17) at a first end thereof.

4. Enclosure according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said elastic band (20) is assembled with said flap (17) in an area close to a second end of the flap opposite said first end for attachment to the envelope.

5. Enclosure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering (3) and the beam (10) comprise removable assembly means.

6. Enclosure according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that said cover (3) and said flap (17) are connected by a zipper (30).

7. Enclosure according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the elastic band (20) is fixed at right angles to a fold (19) of said flap.

8. Enclosure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic band (20) is a woven elastic band.

9. Enclosure according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inflatable structure comprises two parallel beams (10, 12) in the form of an arch supporting said covering (3) and in that each beam (10, 12) is fixed to the covering (3) by interposing an elastic band (20) between the two.

10. Method for assembling an inflatable enclosure comprising an inflatable structure (2) comprising at least one inflatable beam (10) and a covering (3) supported by said structure in which the covering comprises a longitudinal dimension (3L) for attachment to a corresponding longitudinal dimension (10L) of said beam (10), characterized in that an elastic band (20) is interposed between said covering (3) and said beam (10) which runs along said longitudinal dimensions (3L, 10L).

11. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the elastic strip (20) is assembled by sewing to one of the ends of the covering (3) or of the beam (10) so as to put the strip under tension in the transverse direction thereof.

12. Method according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the elastic band (20) is assembled by sewing to the end of a flap (17) integral with said beam (10) by forming a fold (19) at right angles to the elastic band (20).

13. Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the sewing of said elastic band (20) is carried out using a sewing machine with two needles and fixed center distance.

14. Method according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a step of assembling the covering (3) and the beam (10) using a zipper (30).

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