Elongated element of inflatable revolution with sewn captive air.

Abstract

This elongated element (18) of captive air inflatable revolution comprises at least one internal air chamber and an external envelope (19) inside which said internal air chamber is housed, the external envelope (19) being formed from at least one strip of fabric (20) which extends longitudinally forming turns of fabric, the adjacent turns of fabric being sewn together by at least one seam (22) extending helically along the external envelope (19). Figure for abstract: Fig 3

Description

Title of the invention: Inflatable elongated element of revolution with sewn captive air. Technical field

[0001] The technical field of the invention is sewn captive air inflatable elements.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to an inflatable elongated element of revolution with captive air, an assembly for solar protection comprising at least one such elongated element and a method of assembling such an elongated element. Previous techniques

[0003] An elongated inflatable element of revolution with captive air is generally composed of an external fabric envelope and at least one internal air chamber housed in the external envelope.

[0004] The outer casing is made by joining two opposite edges of a rectangular strip of fabric with a longitudinal seam made with a straight stitch to form a fabric cylinder. Several fabric cylinders can then be juxtaposed by making a circumferential seam between them to form the outer casing.

[0005] Each air chamber of the elongate element is inflated to a low pressure, for example between 0.1 and 0.5 bar for a fabric cylinder of 25 cm diameter, to limit the stresses exerted by the air chamber on the longitudinal seams of the associated fabric cylinder and on the circumferential seams connecting the adjacent fabric cylinders.

[0006] The present invention aims to reduce the risks of tears and leaks of an external envelope of an inflatable elongated element of revolution with captive air, and in particular to provide an external envelope of an inflatable elongated element of revolution with captive air making it possible to withstand higher inflation pressures of air chambers, for example between 0.6 and 1.2 bar for a fabric cylinder of 25 cm in diameter. Statement of the invention

[0007] The invention relates to an elongated element of revolution, inflatable with captive air, comprising at least one internal air chamber and an external envelope inside which said internal air chamber is housed.

[0008] According to a general characteristic, the outer envelope is formed from at least one strip of fabric which extends longitudinally forming turns of fabric, the adjacent turns of fabric being sewn together by at least one seam extending helically along the outer envelope.

[0009] Said strip of fabric extending longitudinally forming turns of fabric and the seam extending helically along the outer envelope makes it possible to distribute the stresses exerted by said air chamber on the outer envelope into longitudinal stresses and circumferential stresses, making it possible to increase the resistance of the inflatable elongated element of revolution with captive air.

[0010] The seam can be made with a straight stitch.

[0011] The seam can be made with a zigzag stitch.

[0012] The zigzag stitch has elasticity allowing it to stretch with the fabric. The Zigzag stitch is therefore particularly suitable for inflatable, air-revolving, elongated elements. Indeed, when an inflatable, air-revolving, elongated element is inflated, the fabric can stretch, for example by up to 10%.

[0013] At least one edge of a fabric turn may be folded back on itself and sewn to an adjacent fabric turn.

[0014] The edge of a fabric coil folded back on itself makes it possible to reinforce the external envelope of the elongated inflatable revolution element with captive air.

[0015] The present invention also relates to an assembly for solar protection provided with an inflatable structure comprising an inflatable vertical barrel with captive air and at least three, in particular six, inflatable tubes projecting transversely relative to said barrel and regularly spaced in the circumferential direction, and at least one canvas fixed between each pair of successive tubes, the vertical barrel and / or at least one of the tubes comprises an elongated element of revolution inflatable with captive air as defined previously.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a method for assembling an elongated inflatable element of revolution with captive air comprising at least one internal air chamber and an external envelope inside which said internal air chamber is housed, the method comprising the following steps:

[0017] - a step of cutting at least one strip of fabric;

[0018] - a step of forming the outer envelope during which said strip of fabric is arranged to extend longitudinally forming fabric turns;

[0019] - a step of sewing the outer envelope during which the fabric turns adjacent are sewn together by a seam extending helically along the outer envelope; and

[0020] - a step of mounting said internal air chamber in the external envelope.

[0021] The seam can be made with a straight stitch.

[0022] The seam can be made with a zigzag stitch.

[0023] The sewing step may comprise folding at least one edge back on itself. of a turn of fabric before sewing said turn. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] The present invention will be better understood upon studying the detailed description of embodiments, taken as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings in which:

[0025] [Fig-1] is a schematic side view of a solar protection assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0026] [Fig.2] is a top view of the assembly of [Fig.l];

[0027] [Fig.3] is a schematic view of an elongated inflatable air-revolution element captive according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0028] [Fig.4] is a schematic view of an elongated inflatable revolution element with captive air according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

[0029] [Fig.5] is a schematic representation of an assembly method according to the invention. Detailed description

[0030] [Fig.l] schematically represents an assembly 2 for solar protection comprising a trunk 4, an inflatable structure 6 mounted on the trunk 4 and provided with an inflatable vertical barrel 8 with captive air deploying from the trunk 4 and a canopy 10 projecting transversely relative to the vertical barrel 8, and a plurality of guy ropes 12 fixing the canopy 10 to the vertical barrel 8.

[0031] As illustrated more visibly in [Fig.2], the canopy 10 comprises a plurality of inflatable air-captive members or tubes 14, here six in number, extending transversely relative to the vertical shaft 8 and spaced regularly in the circumferential direction.

[0032] The assembly 2 for solar protection also comprises canvases 16 fixed between the inflatable tubes 14 of the canopy 10 successively in the circumferential direction, the canvases 16 forming protection under the canopy 10.

[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the canopy 10 comprising six inflatable tubes 14 is hexagonal in shape, thus making it possible to juxtapose several assemblies 2 for solar protection according to a hexagonal mesh in order to obtain solar protection over a larger surface area. Alternatively, the canopy 10 may have other shapes, for example circular, oval, square, rectangular.

[0034] As illustrated in [Fig.3], the inflatable tubes 14 are each in the form of an elongated element 18 of revolution inflatable with captive air, here an elongated cylindrical element 18 with circular section. The vertical barrel 8 can also be of a similar construction to the inflatable tubes 14.

[0035] The elongated element 18 of captive air inflatable revolution comprises a plurality of internal air chambers (not visible) and an external envelope 19 inside which houses the internal air chambers.

[0036] The outer casing 19 of the elongate element 18 is formed from a strip of fabric 20 extending longitudinally, forming turns of fabric. The strip of fabric 20 is, for example, made of DACRON®.

[0037] The internal air chambers of the elongate member 18 are formed of an expandable material, for example polyurethane. The internal air chambers form the framework of the elongate member 18.

[0038] The adjacent fabric turns are sewn together by a seam 22 extending helically along the outer envelope 19 of the elongate element 18. The seam 22 extends helically around the longitudinal axis, i.e. the axis of elongation, of the elongate element 18 of revolution.

[0039] The pitch of the helical shape formed by the seam 22 is here constant along the external envelope 19 of the elongated element 18. Alternatively, the pitch of the helical shape formed by the seam 22 could be variable along the external envelope 19 of the elongated element 18.

[0040] The seam 22 is here made with a straight stitch 24.

[0041] Each elongated element 18 of revolution inflatable with captive air comprises one or more inflation points (not shown), in particular an inflation valve allowing the internal air chambers of the elongated element 18 to be inflated simultaneously or several inflation valves allowing the internal air chambers of the elongated element 18 to be inflated independently, so that each elongated element 18 of revolution inflatable with captive air can be inflated independently of the other elongated elements 18 of revolution inflatable with captive air.

[0042] The embodiment illustrated in [Fig.4], in which identical elements bear the same references, differs from the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.3] in that an edge 26 of the strip of fabric 20 is folded back on itself, thus each turn of fabric comprises a folded edge 26 sewn to an adjacent turn of fabric.

[0043] The seam 22 is here made with a zigzag stitch 28. Alternatively, no edge of the strip of fabric 20 can be folded back when the seam 22 is made with a zigzag stitch 28. As a variant, at least one edge 26 of the strip of fabric 20 can be folded back when the seam 22 is made with a straight stitch 24.

[0044] [Fig. 5] schematically represents a method of assembling the elongated element 18 of revolution inflatable with captive air.

[0045] We start with a step 30 of cutting a strip of fabric 20, for example in the fabric of a roll of fabric according to previously established plans, the plans comprising at least one opening for the inflation point of the elongated element 18. Fabric reinforcements are also added near the opening for the inflatable point of the elongated element 18. Optionally, a waterproof film is added par- over the fabric to waterproof it.

[0046] The previously established plans are, for example, created using computer-aided design software. The fabric strip 20 is, for example, cut by a computer-aided cutting machine.

[0047] Then, a step 32 of forming the external envelope 19 is carried out in which the strip of fabric 20 is wound so that the strip of fabric 20 extends longitudinally, forming the turns of fabric.

[0048] Next, a sewing step 34 of the outer casing 19 is carried out by sewing the edges of the adjacent fabric turns together. The seam 22 then extends in a helical manner along the outer casing 19.

[0049] Finally, an assembly step 36 is carried out by placing the internal air chambers in the external envelope 19 and putting the inflation valve(s) in place. Advantageously, the seam 22 produced guarantees the sealing of the elongated element 18. Optionally, at least one edge 26 of the strip of fabric 20 is folded back on itself before sewing it.

Claims

Claims

1. An elongated element (18) of revolution, inflatable with captive air, comprising at least one internal air chamber and an external envelope (19) inside which said internal air chamber is housed, characterized in that the external envelope (19) is formed from at least one strip of fabric (20) which extends longitudinally, forming turns of fabric, the adjacent turns of fabric being sewn together by at least one seam (22) extending helically along the external envelope (19).

2. An elongated element (18) of revolution inflatable with captive air according to claim 1, in which the seam (22) is made with a straight stitch (24).

3. An elongated element (18) of revolution inflatable with captive air according to claim 1, in which the seam (22) is made with a zigzag stitch (28).

4. An elongate element (18) of revolution inflatable with captive air according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one edge (26) of a turn of fabric is folded back on itself and sewn to an adjacent turn of fabric.

5. Assembly (2) for sun protection provided with an inflatable structure (6) comprising a vertical inflatable barrel (8) with captive air and at least three, in particular six, inflatable tubes (14) extending transversely relative to said barrel (8) and regularly spaced in the circumferential direction, and at least one canvas (16) fixed between each pair of successive tubes (14), characterized in that the vertical barrel (8) and / or at least one of the tubes (14) comprises an elongated element (18) of revolution inflatable with captive air according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. Method for assembling an elongated element (18) of revolution, inflatable with captive air, comprising at least one internal air chamber and an external envelope (19) inside which said internal air chamber is housed, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - a step of cutting (30) at least one strip of fabric (20); - a step of forming (32) the external envelope (19) during which said strip of fabric (20) is arranged so as to extend longitudinally, forming turns of fabric; - a step of sewing (34) the outer casing (19) during which the adjacent turns of fabric are sewn together by a seam (22) extending helically along the outer casing (19); and - a step of mounting (36) said internal air chamber in the outer casing (19).

7. A method of assembling an elongate element (18) of revolution inflatable with captive air according to claim 6, in which the seam (22) is made with a straight stitch (24).

8. A method of assembling an elongate element (18) of revolution inflatable with captive air according to claim 6, in which the seam (22) is made with a zigzag stitch (28).

9. A method of assembling an elongate element (18) of revolution inflatable with captive air according to any one of claims 6 to 8, in which the sewing step (34) comprises folding back on itself at least one edge (26) of a turn of fabric before sewing said turn.

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