Air Beam Structure

Abstract

To provide a certain degree of freedom for shape and size of an air beam structure used for setting up a substantially-hogbacked tent.SOLUTION: An air beam structure X to be set up has three arched main beams 100 that are disposed in parallel. Adjacent main beams are connected to each other by a linear horizontal sub-beam 200. Each main beam 100 is different from each sub-beam 200. The sub-beam can be attached to or detached from the main beam.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air beam structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Air beam structures are known. An air beam structure is a membrane structure that uses as beams bags made of membrane material that are airtight and can be strengthened by filling the inside with air. In this application, the term "beam" does not only mean something that extends horizontally, but is used to mean something that provides strength to a structure. For example, in this application, the term "beam" includes not only beams and girders that the term "beam" normally means, but also columns that extend in other directions such as vertically, and also curved shapes such as arch shapes (shapes in which two or more straight lines are continuously connected, or curved shapes, such as circular arc shapes). In this application, only the part of the final structure that corresponds to the aggregate in a general structure for giving the structure strength is defined as an air beam structure. Such air beam structures are generally used to build tents that use the air beam structure as an aggregate. For example, a tent is built by covering the entire air beam structure with a membrane material.

[0003] Air beam structures, or tents that use them, use membrane material to form them, which allows for beautiful curves to be achieved. In addition, they have the advantage that they can be set up and taken down relatively easily and in a short amount of time compared to normal structures. For example, they are used in arches used in school festivals and pavilions at world expos. In addition, it has been proposed to use tents that utilize air beam structures as temporary tents in emergencies such as natural disasters, which have become more frequent in recent years.

[0004] Among air beam structures, there are those that have at least two arch-shaped main beams arranged in parallel and sub-beams connecting adjacent main beams. Such air beam structures can be used to make tents in a roughly kamaboko (spiral-shaped) shape, and their simple shape has a wide range of applications. As will be the case below, the term "approximately kamaboko-shaped" in this application also includes cases where the cross section of the air beam structure parallel to the inner plane of the arch made by the main beams included in the air beam structure is not the same size or shape at any part in the longitudinal direction of the air beam structure (direction perpendicular to the plane made by the above-mentioned arch of the main beams). For example, even if the arch of the main beam at one end in the longitudinal direction of the air beam structure is small and the arch of the main beam at the other end is gradually larger (approximately shell-shaped like a bivalve shell), or if the arches of the main beams at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the air beam structure are small and the arch of the main beam at the center in the longitudinal direction is large (approximately dome-shaped), this does not prevent the air beam structure from being "approximately kamaboko-shaped". Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, there is still room for improvement in the air beam structure used to make the generally semi-cylindrical tent. As mentioned above, an air beam structure is composed of a combination of an arch-shaped main beam and a straight sub-beam. The bags provided in the main beam and the sub-beam are often continuous, that is, an air beam structure often has one bag and one air chamber defined by one bag. Such an air beam structure having one air chamber is convenient in that a predetermined shape can be obtained by filling one air chamber with air, but the predetermined shape and size that can be obtained are limited to one fixed shape and size.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for giving a certain degree of freedom in shape and size to an air beam structure used for making a roughly semi-cylindrical tents. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve these problems, the present inventors propose the following invention. The present invention is an air beam structure having at least two main beams which are arranged parallel to one another in a plan view and which become arched when the main air chamber is filled with air, the main beam having a main bag made of a membrane material that defines a main air chamber which can be filled with air, and which has a predetermined shape maintained by filling the main air chamber with air; and a plurality of sub-beams which are beams which connect adjacent main beams and which become straight when the sub-air chamber is filled with air, the sub-air chamber having a sub-bag made of a membrane material that defines a sub-air chamber which can be filled with air, the sub-air chamber having a predetermined shape maintained by filling the sub-air chamber with air. In other words, the air beam structure in the present invention is an air beam structure whose shape when completed is similar to the approximately semi-cylindrical shape explained in the Background of the Invention section. Here, both ends of the sub-beam connected to the main beam of the air beam structure of the present invention are configured so as to be detachably fixed to the main beam. For example, if two adjacent main beams have the same size and shape, and the sub-beam on the straight line connecting them is horizontal, the length of the multiple sub-beams connecting the two adjacent main beams will be the same. In such a case, for example, in an air beam structure with two arch-shaped main beams, by preparing sub-beams of different lengths and changing the length of the sub-beams by replacing them, the distance between the two main beams can be changed. Also, if the air beam structure has three or more main beams, the interval between the two adjacent main beams can be freely selected for each of the two adjacent main beams. In addition, for example, it is possible to arbitrarily increase the number of main beams by adding a third main beam with a sub-beam between them to an air beam structure with two main beams. In addition, by preparing main beams of various sizes and heights and replacing them, it is possible to change the width and height of the main beam. In this case, some of the sub-beams connecting two main beams of different shapes and sizes may be horizontal, while others may not. In that case, the multiple sub-beams connecting two main beams may each have different lengths. Even in such a case, if sub-beams of different lengths are prepared, it is possible to obtain air beam structures of various shapes and sizes by rearranging the main beams and sub-beams. With these configurations, the air beam structure of the present invention makes it possible to give a certain degree of freedom in shape and size to the air beam structure used to make a tent having a roughly semi-cylindrical shape.

[0008] As described above, in the air beam structure of the present invention, the main beam and the sub beams are separate and can be combined. By preparing main beams and sub beams with different sizes and shapes, it is possible to provide a wide variety of sizes and shapes for the air beam structure. To make this possible, the ends of the sub-beams need to be removably fixed to the main beam. For example, such removably fixed may be configured such that a first member is attached to a specific position of the main beam that is intended to be connected to the sub-beam, and second members are attached to both ends of the sub-beam, and the first member and the second member can be removably fixed to each other. With this configuration, it is possible to easily realize detachable fixation of the main beam and the end of the sub-beam.

[0009] The first member and the second member can be, for example, as follows. A hole is provided in the main bag at a position corresponding to the specific position of the main beam, and the first member includes a plate-shaped first outer member whose outer periphery surrounds the hole in the main bag, and a first inner member fixed to the first outer member with the edge of the hole clamped between the first outer member and the first outer member from the inside of the main bag, and a hole is provided in the sub bag at positions corresponding to both ends of the sub beam, and the second member includes a plate-shaped second outer member whose outer periphery surrounds the hole in the sub bag, and a second inner member fixed to the second outer member with the edge of the hole clamped between the second outer member and the second outer member, and the first outer member and the second outer member may be configured to be fixed in a detachable manner. Having a hole in the main bag at a position corresponding to a specific position of the main beam helps to make it easier to clamp the edge of the hole in the main bag between the first outer member and the first inner member. Similarly, having a hole in one of the sub-bags corresponding to both ends of the sub-beam helps to make it easier to clamp the edge of the hole in the main bag between the second outer member and the second inner member. In addition, as described below, these holes also help to make it possible to arbitrarily select whether or not to communicate the main air chamber in the main bag with the sub air chamber in the sub bag. Furthermore, by making it possible to detachably fix the first outer member and the second outer member, it becomes possible to detachably fix the main beam and the sub beam. Any configuration or structure may be applied to detachably fix the first external member on the main beam side and the second external member on the sub beam side. For example, the first external member and the second external member may be configured to be detachably fixed by engaging with each other. By making it possible to engage the first external member and the second external member with each other without using any other member, the work of detachably fixing the two can be easily performed. The first external member and the second external member may be configured to be detachably fixed by engaging with each other via a third member that engages the two. According to this, although the use of the third member may cause some complication in the ease of the work of detachably fixing the first external member and the second external member, it may be possible to easily design and work the first external member and the second external member.

[0010] The first and second external members may both have a circular outer shape when viewed from a direction perpendicular to their plates. For example, if the first and second external members have a circular outer shape when viewed from a direction perpendicular to their plates, it may be possible to eliminate or reduce the need to consider the angle around the center when connecting the first and second external members, unlike when the first and second external members are, for example, square. For example, the first and second external members may be disk-shaped or annular. The first inner member can be annular in shape to fit along the edge of the hole of the main bag, and the second inner member can be annular in shape to fit along the edge of the hole of the sub-bag. Of the first member, the function of detachably fixing to the second member is possessed by the first outer member, and the first inner member is only necessary for fixing the first outer member to the main bag. Similarly, of the second member, the function of detachably fixing to the first member is possessed by the second outer member, and the second inner member is only necessary for fixing the second outer member to the sub-bag. Considering these points, there is a high degree of freedom in designing the first and second internal members, and they can both be made into multiple members, but doing so would make the first and second internal members less manageable.By making the first and second internal members annular, the first and second internal members can be made into a single member, improving the manageability.

[0011] In the present invention, the main beam and the sub beam are detachably fixed to each other. The main beam has a main bag that defines a main air chamber, and the sub beam has a sub bag that defines a sub air chamber. When the main beam and the sub-beam are detachably fixed, it is convenient to be able to select whether or not to communicate the main air chamber in the main bag with the sub air chamber in the sub bag at the connection part. The main air chamber and the sub air chamber communicated form one air chamber, so it is convenient because air can be filled from one blower. However, if the air beam structure has only one air chamber as a whole, if any of the main bags and sub bags that form the air chamber is damaged, the entire air beam structure will not be able to maintain its shape and may even collapse. From this point of view, it is considered better to divide the air chamber into as many parts as possible. Considering the above points, the air beam structure should have multiple air chambers, and the extent to which the air chambers are continuous should be selected based on various circumstances that exist in a trade-off relationship between having multiple air chambers and having only one. Because of these circumstances, when the main beam and the sub-beam are detachably fixed, if it is possible to arbitrarily select whether or not to communicate the main air chamber in the main bag with the sub-air chamber in the sub-bag at the connection portion, this would increase the degree of freedom in design, for example, and would be convenient. The air beam structure of the present invention can be configured so that both ends of the sub-beams connected to the main beam can be removably fixed to the main beam in a state in which either a connected state in which the sub-air chambers of the sub-beams connected to each other are connected to the main air chamber of the main beam, or a non-connected state in which they are not connected, and this is preferable from the above-mentioned viewpoint. In this case, a first member is attached to a specific position of the main beam which is a position where the sub-beam is to be connected, and a second member is attached to both ends of the sub-beam, and the first member and the second member are configured to be detachably fixed to each other. A hole is provided in the main bag at a position corresponding to the specific position of the main beam, and the first member includes a plate-shaped first outer member whose outer periphery surrounds the hole, and a first inner member which is fixed to the first outer member with the edge of the hole sandwiched between the first outer member and the first outer member from the inside of the main bag, and holes are provided at both ends of the sub-beam. The second member comprises a plate-shaped second outer member whose outer periphery surrounds the hole, and a second inner member fixed to the second outer member with the edge of the hole clamped between the second outer member and the first outer member from the inside of the sub-bag, and the first outer member and the second outer member are configured to be removably fixed to each other, and the first outer member and the second outer member in the portion that is in a connected state have holes that communicate with the hole of the main bag and the hole of the sub-bag, and the first outer member and the second outer member in the portion that is in a non-connected state are configured to block the hole of the main bag and the hole of the sub-bag, respectively. In other words, in this case, if both the first and second external members, which are plate-shaped and butt together at the connection portion, have holes that connect the main air chamber to the sub air chamber, the main air chamber and the sub air chamber will be connected at the connection portion between the main beam and the sub beam, and if at least one of the first and second external members, which are plate-shaped and butt together at the connection portion, does not have a hole that connects the main air chamber to the sub air chamber, the main air chamber and the sub air chamber will not be connected at the connection portion between the main beam and the sub beam. According to this, by appropriately selecting the first and second members, provided that the first inner member and the second inner member are originally annular, or have holes in the above sense, simply by selecting whether both the first outer member and the second outer member have holes in the above sense or not (either both the first outer member and the second outer member have no holes, or only one of the first outer member and the second outer member has holes), when the main beam and the sub-beam are detachably fixed, it is possible to arbitrarily select whether or not to connect the main air chamber in the main bag to the sub-air chamber in the sub-bag at the connection part. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of an air beam structure after completion, which is constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an air beam structure after completion, which is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the completed air beam structure constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. [Figure 4] A cross-sectional view of the air beam structure shown in Figure 1 taken along a plane perpendicular to the length of the main beam. [Diagram 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air beam structure shown in FIG. 1 taken along a plane along the length of the sub-beam. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first member in the air beam structure shown in FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is an end view of the first member shown in FIG. 6 after it has been assembled, cut along a plane perpendicular to the plate material passing through the center. [Figure 8] 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another first member in the air beam structure shown in FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is an end view of the first member shown in FIG. 8 after it has been assembled, cut along a plane perpendicular to the plate material passing through the center. [Figure 10] 7 is an end view of the first member shown in FIG. 6 and a second member having the same configuration as the first member, which are detachably fixed together and cut along a plane perpendicular to the plate material passing through the center. [Figure 11] 9 is an end view of the first member shown in FIG. 8 and the second member having the same configuration as the first member shown in FIG. 6, after they are detachably fixed together, cut along a plane perpendicular to the plate material passing through the center. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a plan view for explaining the range and number of air chambers provided in the air beam structure of this embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a side view of another air beam structure. [Figure 14] 1A is an end view of the first and second members used in the air beam structure of variant example 1, cut along a plane perpendicular to the plate material passing through the center after they are detachably fixed together; FIG. 1B is an oblique view of a fixing ring used to lock the first and second members shown in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a first member and a second member used in an air beam structure according to a second modified example. [Figure 16] 1A is an oblique view of the first member used in the air beam structure of variant example 3, and FIG. 1B is an end view of the first member and second member shown in FIG. 1A cut along a plane perpendicular to the plate material passing through the center after the first member and second member shown in FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of a specific position of a main beam in an air beam structure of a fourth modified example, and the vicinity of an end of a sub-beam connected to the specific position. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of the cover portion shown in FIG. 17. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a side view of an air beam structure, including diagonal sub-beams, after completion, constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications thereof will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the embodiments and modifications, common objects will be designated by common reference numerals, and common descriptions will be omitted in some cases. Furthermore, the contents described in each embodiment and its modified examples are mutually applicable unless there is any particular contradiction when they are combined.

[0014] The following describes how to erect the air beam structure that will be the framework for the temporary tent. The term "temporary" means that it is not intended to be used for a permanent period, such as decades. Generally, temporary tents are used for only a few years at most, and although this is not a limitation, in many cases, temporary tents are used for only a few weeks to a few months, or at most a year. In this embodiment, a method for erecting an air beam structure is described. Once erected, the air beam structure can be covered with other large membrane materials or the membrane materials can be stretched between aggregates to form a temporary tent.

[0015] First, a description will be given of the completed air beam structure X. Figures 1 to 3 are a side view, a plan view, and a front view of the completed air beam structure X, respectively. The completed air beam structure X described below is covered with an appropriate membrane material (not shown) to form a temporary tent. The configuration of the membrane material covering the air beam structure X and the method of covering the air beam structure X with the membrane material may follow the conventional techniques. The timing of covering the air beam structure X with the membrane material may be before filling the main beam with air, which will be described later.

[0016] The air beam structure X erected by the erection method of this embodiment serves as a framework for a temporary tent having a roughly semi-cylindrical shape. The air beam structure X has a main beam 100 that is arch-shaped when viewed from the front (for example, when viewed from the left in FIG. 1). The arch formed by the main beam 100 does not need to be curved (but is not limited to this, is circular in this embodiment) as in this embodiment, and may be formed by connecting two or more straight lines. There are at least two main beams 100, and in this embodiment, there are three. The main beams 100 are in a parallel positional relationship when viewed in a plane, and are independent in a state in which adjacent sub-beams described later are connected to each other. At least two main beams 100 are required for the main beam 100 to be able to stand on its own, but there may be three main beams 100 as in this embodiment, or more. Although not limited thereto, the main beams 100 in this embodiment have the same size and shape, and except for the connection parts with the sub-beams, all of them have the same configuration. Although not limited thereto, the main beams 100 in this embodiment are positioned so that the two rearmost beams overlap the frontmost main beam 100 when viewed from the front.

[0017] A cross section of the main beam 100 is shown in Fig. 4. The cross section of the main beam 100 is basically as shown in Fig. 4, except for the lower end and the portion where the first member and the connection port described below are present. The main beam 100 has a substantially circular cross section when the air beam structure X is set up. The main beam 100 includes an outer membrane material 110 on the outside and an inner membrane material 120 on the inside of the outer membrane material 110. Both the outer membrane material 110 and the inner membrane material 120 are made of membrane material. The inner membrane material 120 is a membrane material that divides the main air chamber. A membrane material that can form the main air chamber airtight is selected as the material of the inner membrane material 120. Although it is preferable that the airtightness required for the main air chamber is perfect, it may be sufficient that it is practically airtight. In the present application, the main air chamber may be airtight if the air beam structure X can maintain its shape by appropriately filling the air with air as necessary using a blower as described later for the air beam structure X after construction. The inner membrane material 120 is, for example, a film made of resin or a membrane material in which a fibrous fabric is coated with resin. Resins that are materials for the film or membrane include PU (polyurethane), PE (polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), hypalon rubber, etc. The thickness of the inner membrane material 120 is 50 to 500 μm, and is generally selected from the range of 100 to 300 μm. The outer membrane material 110 is a membrane material that has both the function of forming the inner membrane material 120 into a predetermined shape and the function of protecting the inner membrane material 120. The outer membrane material 110 is configured to have a shape as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The main beam 100 made of the outer membrane material 110 is tubular, in this embodiment, cylindrical, following a known or well-known manufacturing method for conventional products of the same type. The outer membrane material 110 is configured to have the above-mentioned shape after being cut using a three-dimensional cutting technique in order to form a three-dimensional shape. Note that the outer membrane material 110 is not required to be airtight. Therefore, both ends of the main beam 100 may be open. The outer membrane material 110 is, for example, a film made of resin or the like, or a membrane material in which a fibrous fabric or the like is coated with resin or the like. Resins that are materials for the film and membrane material include PU (polyurethane), PE (polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), hypalon rubber, etc. The thickness of the outer membrane material 130 is 300 to 1000 μm, and is generally selected from the range of 500 to 700 μm.

[0018] The above-mentioned inner membrane material 120 in the main beam 100 is used to make a main bag (not shown). The main bag is a cylindrical bag with both ends closed, and has a length corresponding to the length of the main beam 100 shown in FIG. 4. Its diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the cylinder formed by the outer membrane material 110, and its length is longer than that of the outer membrane material 110. The space inside the main bag is the main air chamber. The main bag is arranged in the main beam 100 so as to cover the entire length of the space formed by the cylindrical outer membrane material 110. In this embodiment, the main bag is arranged to cover the entire length of the main beam 100, and the main beam 100 has only one main air chamber defined by one main bag, but it is also possible to divide the main bag into several parts in the length direction of the main beam 100, so that the main beam 100 has multiple main air chambers. The main bag is formed into a cylindrical shape using the inner membrane material 120 according to a known or well-known manufacturing method of a conventional product of the same kind. When the main bags are alone, the shape of the main bags when air is filled into them may be curved along the shape of the main beam 100 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 5. However, although not limited to this, in this embodiment, when the main bags are alone, the shape of the main bags when air is filled into them is linear. As already mentioned, the main bags need to be airtight to a certain degree, and if the shape of the main bags is complicated, it is difficult to make the main bags airtight. In this embodiment, the main bags are made to have a simple cylindrical shape, so that the manufacture of the main bags having a certain degree of airtightness can be made as easily as possible. On the other hand, when air is filled into the main bag, the shape of the main bag is forcibly deformed into an arch shape along the main beam 100 by the tube formed by the outer membrane material 110. The diameter of the main bag may be larger than that of the bag made of the outer membrane material 110, and when the main bag is inflated by filling it with air as described below, the outer surface of the main bag is pressed against the inner surface of the bag made of the outer membrane material 110 in a wrinkled state, for example. This is also the case with the sub-beam 200. In this way, the main bag made of the inner membrane material 120 has the function of making the main air chamber airtight, while the so-called side of the cylindrical shape made of the outer membrane material 110 has the function of adjusting the shape of the main bag when air is put in and protecting the main bag, which are different functions from those given to the main bag. If there is no need to assign such different functions to the inner membrane material 120 and the outer membrane material 110, it is also possible to omit the outer membrane material 110 and make up the main beam 100 only with the inner membrane material 120. The same is true for the sub-beam 200.

[0019] Each main beam 100 also has a connection port 131. The connection port 131 is an opening that can be opened and closed freely and communicates with the main air chamber, which is the space inside the main bag. Although not limited to this, each main beam 100 in this embodiment has at least one connection port 131, and although not limited to this, in this embodiment, each main beam 100 is provided with a total of two connection ports 131, one near each of its lower ends. The connection port 131 is exposed to the outside of the main beam 100, in other words, it is exposed to the outside from the outer membrane material 110. In other words, an opening corresponding to the connection port 131 exists in that part of the outer membrane material 110. Although not limited thereto, all of the connection ports 131 in this embodiment are the same and are made of, for example, but not limited to, resin or metal. Connection port 131 is designed to be detachably connected in a generally airtight state to the end of a tube extending from a blower, which will be described later. Components that can perform such a connection are publicly known or well-known, so connection port 131 may be configured according to the publicly known or well-known technology.

[0020] In addition, a first member (not shown) is attached to a portion of the main beam 100 that is intended to be connected to the sub-beam 200. The first member will be described in detail later, but the first member has the function of connecting the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200, more precisely, of detachably fixing the first member to a second member (described later) attached to the sub-beam 200. As described above, the position where the first member is attached is the position of the main beam 100 where the sub beam 200 is scheduled to be attached. As shown in the portion surrounded by the dashed line marked with the symbol Y1 in Figures 1 and 2, the first member is present at the portion where the main beam 100 and the sub beam 200 are connected. Although not all portions are marked with the symbol Y1 in Figures 1 and 2, in this embodiment, there are 28 connection portions between the main beam 100 and the sub beam 200 that should be marked with the symbol Y1. On the other hand, the portion marked with the symbol Y2 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a portion to which the sub-beam 200 may be connected, although the sub-beam 200 is not connected in this embodiment. Or rather, the sub-beam 200 is connected only from its rear surface to the front of the three main beams 100, and only from its front surface to the rear of the main beams 100, whereas the sub-beam 200 is connected from both its front and rear surfaces to the middle main beams 100. In this way, the sub-beam 200 may be connected from both its front and rear surfaces, depending on the position in the air beam structure X in which it is used. In consideration of this point, the main beam 100 in this embodiment has seven first members attached to both its front and rear surfaces, although this is not necessarily required. Although the position marked with the symbol Y2 is not connected to the sub-beam 200 in this embodiment, it is still a "position to which the sub-beam 200 is expected to be connected", depending on the configuration of the air beam structure X. The positions indicated by Y1 and Y2 are the specific positions in the main beam 100 as referred to in the present invention. Holes, which will be described later, are provided in the inner membrane material 120 at positions corresponding to the specific positions, and in this embodiment, in the outer membrane material 110 as well.

[0021] Next, the configuration of the sub-beam 200 will be described. The sub-beam 200 is for connecting adjacent main beams 100 to each other, and is approximately horizontal in the air beam structure X after erection, with the front-to-rear direction of the air beam structure X being its longitudinal direction. However, all the sub-beams 200 do not need to be approximately horizontal, and for example, when adjacent main beams 100 have different sizes, some of the sub-beams 200 often have one end positioned higher than the other end. In the case of an air beam structure that is approximately shell-shaped or approximately dome-shaped, at least some of the sub-beams 200 are almost always inclined rather than horizontal (see FIG. 19). The sub-beam 200 is configured with a double structure of an outer membrane material and an inner membrane material (both not shown) like the main beam 100. The materials and roles of the outer membrane material and inner membrane material in the sub-beam 200 are the same as those in the main beam 100. The sub-beam 200 has a substantially circular cross section when the air beam structure X is set up, and the cross section is the same as the cross section of the main beam 100 shown in FIG. As described above, the sub-beams 200 connect adjacent main beams 100. In this embodiment, since there are three main beams 100, there are sub-beams 200 that connect the front main beam 100 and the middle main beam 100, and sub-beams 200 that connect the middle main beam 100 and the rear main beam 100. In this embodiment, although not limited to this, the front main beam 100 and the middle main beam 100 are connected by seven sub-beams 200, and the middle main beam 100 and the rear main beam 100 are also connected by seven sub-beams 200. However, the number of sub-beams 200 that connect the front main beam 100 and the middle main beam 100 and the number of sub-beams 200 that connect the middle main beam 100 and the rear main beam 100 are not limited to this, and may be different from each other. One end of the seven sub-beams 200 is attached to the highest position of the main beam 100 at the center in the length direction. The ends of the other six sub-beams 200 are fixed at positions slightly lower than the highest point of the main beam 100 and even lower than that, and are symmetrical on the left and right sides of the main beam 100 when viewed from the front.

[0022] The outer membrane material 110 (see FIG. 5) constituting the sub-beam 200 is similar to the outer membrane material 110 constituting the main beam 100, and its shape is as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5. The outer membrane material 110 is cylindrical. The inner membrane material 120 constituting the sub-beam 200 defines an air chamber in the same manner as the inner membrane material 120 in the main beam 100. That is, like the main beam 100, the inner membrane material 120 in the sub-beam 200 (see FIG. 5) is used to make a sub-bag. The space inside the sub-bag is the sub-air chamber. The sub-air chamber is as airtight as the upper main air chamber and lower main air chamber in the main beam 100. The sub-bag is a cylindrical or tubular bag with a length corresponding to the length of the sub-beam 200. Its diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the cylinder formed by the outer membrane material 110 of the sub-beam 200, and its length is longer than the outer membrane material 110. The sub-bag is placed in the space formed by the cylindrical outer membrane material 110 with its length direction aligned. A second member 400 is attached to both ends of the sub-beam 200 or the sub-bag in the longitudinal direction. The second member 400 is for detachably fixing to the main beam 100, more precisely, to the first member attached to the main beam 100. Details of the second member 400 will be described later. The second member 400 shown in Fig. 5 is somewhat inaccurate, and is only sufficient to allow the attachment position and rough size of the second member 400 to be grasped. The sub beam 200 is also provided with a connection port similar to the connection port 131 provided on the main beam 100. The connection port of the sub beam 200 only needs to be configured in the same manner as the connection port 131 provided on the main beam 100, and its function is also the same as that of the connection port 131, so it is not shown in the figures. When a connection port is provided on the sub beam 200, its position is arbitrary.

[0023] As described above, the front main beam 100 and the intermediate main beam 100, and the intermediate main beam 100 and the rear main beam 100 are each connected by seven sub-beams 200. Such connections are realized by the functions of the first member and the second member 400. In addition, at each connection portion between the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200, whether or not the main bag included in the main beam 100 communicates with the sub-bag included in the sub-beam 200 can be selected arbitrarily by the person constructing the air beam structure X. This is also realized by the configuration of the first member and the second member 400.

[0024] The first member 300 and the second member 400 will be described below with reference to Figures 6 to 10. Both the first member 300 and the second member 400 are entirely made of metal or resin having a certain degree of rigidity.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a first member 300 of the present invention, and FIG. 7 shows a side cross-sectional view thereof. The first member 300 is for making a detachable connection with the second member 400 as described above. The first member 300 includes a first outer member 310X and a first inner member 320, as shown mainly in FIGS. There are two types of first outer members 310 used in this embodiment. One of them is called the first outer member 310X, and the other is called the first outer member 310Y. Figures 6 and 7 show the first member 300 including the first outer member 310X. This will be explained first. The reference numerals of the components of the first outer member 310X are followed by X, and the reference numerals of the components of the first outer member 310Y are followed by Y.

[0026] Of the first outer member 310X and the first inner member 320, the first outer member 310X is for detachably fixing the second member 400 to a second outer member, which will be described later. On the other hand, the first inner member 320 is for fixing the first outer member 310 (note that, in this case, when the symbols "X" and "Y" are not attached to the first outer member or its element, it refers to both the first outer member or its element) and the inner membrane material 120 constituting the main bag in the main beam 100. The first inner member 320 is configured to fix the inner membrane material 120 and the first outer member 310 by sandwiching the inner membrane material 120 between the first outer member 310 and the first inner member 320. The inner membrane material 120 has a hole 121 as shown in, for example, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, and the outer membrane material 110 has a hole 111 at a corresponding position. These holes 121 and 111 are circular, although this is not limited thereto, and are the same size, although this is not limited thereto. The first outer member 310 and the first inner member 320 are configured to sandwich the edge portion of the hole 121 of the inner membrane material 120. More specifically, although not limited thereto, the first outer member 310 and the first inner member 320 in this embodiment are configured to sandwich the entire circumference of the edge portion of the hole 121 of the inner membrane material 120. In addition, although not limited thereto, the first outer member 310 and the first inner member 320 in this embodiment are configured to sandwich the outer membrane material 110 in addition to the inner membrane material 120, and the portion of the outer membrane material 110 sandwiched therebetween is the edge of the hole 111, and further is the entire circumference of the hole 111. The first inner member 320 may be configured relatively freely and divided into several members as long as it is possible to fix the inner membrane material 120 and the first outer member 310 by sandwiching the inner membrane material 120 between the first inner member 320 and the first outer member 310, but in this embodiment, the first inner member 320 is an integral member in consideration of its ease of handling. If the first inner member 320 is not an integral member, for example, the first inner member 320, which is circular in plan view and will be described later, may be divided into two or three members along a line passing through the center.

[0027] The first outer member 310X of the first outer member 310 will be described. The first external member 310X has a plate portion 311X at the top in FIG. 6. The plate portion 311X is circular in plan view and is a plate of a predetermined thickness. However, although the plate portion 311X is circular, a hole 312X is drilled through the plate portion 311X with the same center as the plate portion 311X, so that the plate portion 311X is annular. As described later, this hole 312X is used to communicate the main air chamber in the main beam 100 with the sub air chamber in the sub beam 200. In that sense, the hole 312X does not necessarily have to be circular, and the outer shape of the plate portion 311X does not necessarily have to be circular. Also, the hole 312X does not necessarily have to be one as described in this embodiment, and in extreme cases, the hole 312X may be in a mesh-like shape with many holes drilled. However, in this embodiment, the outer shape of the plate portion 311X is circular, and the hole 312X is also circular and concentric with the plate portion 311X. A cutout 311AX is provided on the lower surface side of the edge of the plate portion 311X in FIG. 6. The cutout 311AX is used to detachably fix the first external member 310X and the second external member. As shown in the end view of FIG. 7, the cutout 311AX is formed by cutting out the edge of the plate portion 311X into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Although not limited thereto, in this embodiment, the cutout 311AX is provided at four symmetrical positions around the center of the plate portion 311X on the edge of the plate portion 311X (four positions at 90° intervals from a radius of a circle that is the edge of the plate portion 311X). However, the number of the cutouts 311AX does not have to be four, and an appropriate number of about three to eight may be provided, or may be provided around the entire circumference of the edge of the plate portion 311X. A cylindrical protrusion 313X is provided on the lower surface side of the plate portion 311X in FIG. 6, with its axis passing through the center of the plate portion 311X. Although not limited thereto, in this embodiment, the inner surface of the protrusion 313X is a surface obtained by extending the inner surface of the hole 312X of the plate portion 311X directly below in FIG. 6. In other words, the inner surface of the protrusion 313X and the inner surface of the hole 312X of the plate portion 311X form a series of cylindrical holes. The outer diameter of the protrusion 313X is smaller than the diameters of the holes 121 and 111 provided in the inner membrane material 120 and the outer membrane material 110, respectively.

[0028] Next, the first inner member 320 will be described. The first inner member 320 includes an annular portion 321. The annular portion 321 is plate-shaped, has a circular outer shape, and includes a hole 322 that is concentric with the circle of the outer shape. The outer diameter of the annular portion 321 is somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the plate portion 311X of the first outer member 310X, but this is not limited to the above. The hole 322 is used to communicate the main air chamber in the main beam 100 and the sub-air chamber in the sub beam 200, as described below. A cylindrical tube portion 323 having an axis passing through the center of the annular portion 321 is provided on the upper surface of the annular portion 321 of the first inner member 320 in FIG. 6 in a state of protruding upward. Although not limited to this, in this embodiment, the inner surface of the tube portion 323 is a surface obtained by extending the inner surface of the hole 322 of the annular portion 321 directly upward in FIG. 6. In other words, the inner surface of the tube portion 323 and the inner surface of the hole 322 of the annular portion 321 coincide with the outer surface of a virtual cylinder. The outer diameter of the protruding portion 313X is approximately the same as the diameters of the holes 121 and 111 provided in the inner membrane material 120 and the outer membrane material 110, respectively. In addition, the inner diameter of the tube portion 323, i.e., the inner diameter of the hole 322 of the annular portion 321, corresponds to the outer diameter of the protruding portion 313X of the first outer member 310X.

[0029] The first outer member 310X, the outer membrane material 110 and the inner membrane material 120 constituting the main beam 100, and the first inner member 320 are arranged in the order or positional relationship shown in FIG. 6, and then fixed to each other as shown in FIG. The first outer member 310X and the first inner member 320 can be fixed together by, for example, screwing a nut onto a bolt that passes through the former plate portion 311X and the latter annular portion 321, welding, or by threading the outer circumferential surface of the former protruding portion 313X so that the protruding portion 313X functions as a male screw, and threading the inner circumferential surface of the latter tubular portion 323 so that the tubular portion 323 functions as a female screw, thereby screwing the inner circumferential surface of the tubular portion 323 onto the outer circumferential surface of the protruding portion 313X. Although not limited to this, this is done in this embodiment. When the inner peripheral surface of the tube portion 323 is screwed onto the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion 313X, an O-ring 300A made of an elastic material (e.g., rubber) not shown in Fig. 6 is disposed, for example, at the upper position of the outer membrane material 110 in Fig. 6 as necessary. In this state, when the inner peripheral surface of the tube portion 323 is screwed onto the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion 313X, the O-ring 300A, the edge portion of the hole 111 of the outer membrane material 110, and the edge portion of the hole 121 of the inner membrane material 120 are sandwiched between the vicinity of the protruding portion 313X on the surface of the plate portion 311X of the first outer member 310X on the first inner member 320 side and the vicinity of the tube portion 323 on the surface of the annular portion 321 of the first inner member 320 on the first outer member 310X side (Fig. 7). It is also possible to sandwich a doughnut-shaped plate, for example made of metal, between the outer membrane material 110 and the inner membrane material 120, which is a member separate from the first outer member 310X and the first inner member 320. Basically, it is the first outer member 310X and the first inner member 320 that sandwich the outer membrane material 110 and the inner membrane material 120, but it is also acceptable to have other members such as an O-ring 300A or a doughnut-shaped plate. This also applies to other structures for sandwiching the outer membrane material 110 and the inner membrane material 120. The above-mentioned configuration fixes the first outer member 310X, the first inner member 320, the outer membrane material 110, and the inner membrane material 120. At this time, the edge of the hole 121 of the inner membrane material 120 is tightly clamped between the vicinity of the protruding portion 313X on the surface of the plate portion 311X of the first outer member 310X on the side of the first inner member 320 and the vicinity of the tube portion 323 on the surface of the annular portion 321 of the first inner member 320 on the side of the first outer member 310X, and further, since not only the edge of the hole 111 of the outer membrane material 110 but also the O-ring 300A are present there, the airtightness of the hole 121 of the inner membrane material 120 is virtually maintained, and air leakage from there is either nonexistent or suppressed to a negligible amount.

[0030] Next, the first outer member 310Y will be described. The first outer member 310Y is shown in Figs. The first outer member 310Y has almost the same configuration as the first outer member 310X. The difference between the first outer member 310X and the first outer member 310Y is that the first outer member 310Y does not have the holes 312X that the plate portion 311X of the first outer member 310X has. This is the only difference between the two. The first outer member 310Y is also fixed to the inner membrane material 120 in the same manner as the first outer member 310X, by clamping an O-ring 300A, the edge portion of the hole 111 of the outer membrane material 110, and the edge portion of the hole 121 of the inner membrane material 120 between the first outer member 310Y and the first inner member 320.

[0031] Next, the second member 400 will be described. The configuration of the second member 400 in this embodiment is the same as the configuration of the first member 300X including the first outer member 310X. The second member 400 includes a second outer member 410 and a second inner member 420. The only difference between the first member 300X and the second member 400 is that the first member 300X is attached to a specific position of the main beam 100 as referred to in the present invention, whereas the second member 400 is attached to both end portions of the sub-beam 200 as referred to in the present invention. Like the main beam 100, the sub-beam 200 is basically composed of an outer membrane material 110 and an inner membrane material 120, so the method of fixing the second member 400 to the sub-beam 200 is the same as that of the first outer member 310X. In the following description of this embodiment, when the second member 400 is described, the elements corresponding to the elements in the first outer member 310X that were all given reference numbers in the 300s in the description of the first outer member 310X will be given reference numbers in the 400s. For example, "the second member 400 includes the second outer member 410X and the second inner member 420."

[0032] Next, a method for connecting the main beam 100 and the sub beams 200 will be described. Before connecting the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200, a first member 300 (FIGS. 8 and 9, hereinafter sometimes referred to as "first member 300Y") including a first outer member 310Y is attached to position Y2, which is a specific position of the main beam 100 to which the sub-beam 200 is not connected in this embodiment. Note that there is also an option of not drilling holes in the outer membrane material 110 and the inner membrane material 120 at position Y2, and not attaching the first member 300Y. On the other hand, among the specific positions of the main beam 100, at position Y1 where the sub-beam 200 is connected in this embodiment, a first member 300Y including a first outer member 310Y, or a first member 300 including a first outer member 310X (Figures 6 and 7, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "first member 300X") is attached. Both the first member 300X and the first member 300Y are attached to the main beam 100 facing either forward or backward of the air beam structure. Whether the first member 300 attached to the main beam 100 is the first member 300X or the first member 300Y is determined as follows. That is, when it is desired to communicate the main air chamber in the main beam 100 with the sub-air chamber in the connected sub-beam 200 at that portion when connected to the sub-beam 200, the first member 300X is selected, and when it is desired not to communicate the two, the first member 300Y is selected. On the other hand, second members 400 having the same structure as the first members 300Y are attached to both ends of all the sub-beams 200, respectively.

[0033] When connecting the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200, the first member 300X or the first member 300Y attached to the position Y1 of the main beam 100 is butted against the second member 400 attached to the end of the sub-beam 200.

[0034] When the first member 300X and the second member 400 attached to the end of the sub-beam 200 are butted together, the plate portion 311X of the first outer member 310X of the first member 300X is butted against the plate portion 411X of the second outer member 410X of the second member 400 (Figure 10). More specifically, while rotating around the axis, the end of the sub-beam 200 is brought closer to a specific position on the main beam 100 so that the plate portion 311X in the first external member 310X and the plate portion 411X in the second member 400 fit snugly together and so that the positions of the four notches 311AX in the first external member 310X and the four notches 411AX in the second external member 410X are aligned, and the plate portion 311X of the first external member 310X on the main beam 100 side and the plate portion 411X of the second external member 410X of the second member 400 on the sub-beam 200 side are butted together and brought into contact. In this state, the notch 311AX in the plate portion 311X in the first outer member 310X and the notch 411AX in the plate portion 411X in the second outer member 410X, which are located at corresponding positions, are joined together and locked by the joint piece 300B. As shown in the blown-out portion of Fig. 10, the joint piece 300B is a member having a U-shaped cross section, and its upper and lower protrusions that protrude to the right in Fig. 10 from the notch 311AX and the notch 411AX can be inserted into the notch 311AX and the notch 411AX, respectively, while straddling the plate portion 311X and the plate portion 411X. In this embodiment, when the joint piece 300B is fitted into all pairs of corresponding notches 311AX and 411AX, that is, the four pairs of notches 311AX and 411AX, each joint piece 300B engages the plate portion 311X of the first outer member 310X and the plate portion 411X of the second outer member 410X. This causes the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X to be detachably fixed to each other. When the joint piece 300B is removed, this fixation is released. It is also effective to provide at least one of the joint piece 300B or the cutouts 311AX and 411AX with a mechanism for preventing the joint piece 300B from falling off the cutouts 311AX and 411AX, such as a claw and a recess for engaging the claw. In this manner, the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X are detachably fixed to each other, whereby the end of the sub-beam 200 is detachably fixed to a specific position of the main beam 100. When the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X are fixed, the plate portion 311X of the first outer member 310X and the hole 412X of the second outer member 410X, which are in contact with each other, form a series of holes. Therefore, at the connection portion between the end of the main beam 100 and the sub beam 200 connected at this specific position, the main air chamber in the main beam 100 and the sub air chamber in the sub beam 200 are in communication with each other.

[0035] When the first member 300Y and the second member 400 attached to the end of the sub-beam 200 are butted together, the plate portion 311X of the first outer member 310X of the first member 300X is butted against the plate portion 411X of the second outer member 410X of the second member 400 (Figure 11). More specifically, while rotating around the axis, the end of the sub-beam 200 is brought closer to a specific position on the main beam 100 so that the plate portion 311Y in the first external member 310Y and the plate portion 411X in the second member 400 are perfectly aligned and so that the positions of the four notches 311AY in the first external member 310Y and the four notches 411AX in the second external member 410X are aligned, and the plate portion 311X of the first external member 310X on the main beam 100 side and the plate portion 411X of the second external member 410X of the second member 400 on the sub-beam 200 side are butted together and brought into contact. Then, in the same manner as when the first member 300X and the second member 400 are fixed together, the first member 300Y and the second member 400 are locked together using the above-mentioned joint piece 300B. In this manner, the first outer member 310Y and the second outer member 410X are detachably fixed to each other, whereby the end of the sub-beam 200 is detachably fixed to a specific position of the main beam 100. When the first outer member 310Y and the second outer member 410X are fixed together, the plate portion 311Y of the first outer member 310Y, which comes into contact with each other, has no hole, and therefore the plate portion 311Y of the first outer member 310Y closes the hole 412X of the second outer member 410X. Therefore, at the connection portion between the ends of the main beam 100 and the sub beam 200 connected at this specific position, the main air chamber in the main beam 100 and the sub air chamber in the sub beam 200 are not in communication with each other.

[0036] For example, the air beam structure X shown in FIG. 2 can be modified to have three air chambers as shown in FIG. In this air beam structure X, in each of the two shaded portions, the main air chamber in the main beam 100 and the sub-air chamber in the sub beam 200 are connected to each other, and the main air chamber and the sub-air chamber form a continuous air chamber. The same is true for the one unshaded portion. In total, the air beam structure X has three air chambers. In FIG. 12, the portion marked with α indicates the connection between the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X in the main beam 100, and the portion marked with β indicates the connection between the first outer member 310Y and the second outer member 410X in the main beam 100. In this way, the range of the continuous air chambers can be freely designed depending on which of the two connection methods described above is adopted.

[0037] The three air chambers are independent of each other, and therefore, when constructing the air beam structure X, it is necessary to fill each air chamber with air from a blower (not shown). Air can be filled by connecting a pipe (not shown) extending from the blower to a connection port 131 on the main beam 100 or a connection port on the sub-beam 200 that constitutes each air chamber. If the air pressure in the air chamber drops after construction, the air beam structure X will not be able to maintain its shape and may even collapse. Therefore, it is preferable to continue to send air to each air chamber even after the air beam structure X is completed.

[0038] According to this air beam structure X, the main beam 100 and the sub beams 200 can be separate bodies that can be connected to each other, so that it is possible to increase the number of main beams 100 or to change the interval between adjacent main beams 100 by preparing sub beams 200 of different lengths, as shown in Fig. 13. It goes without saying that even in the air beam structure X shown in Fig. 13, the range of the series of air chambers can be freely selected.

[0039] In this air beam structure X, whether or not to connect the main air chamber in the main beam 100 and the sub-air chamber in the sub-beam 200 at the connection portion between the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200 was selected depending on whether a first member 300X having a hole 312X in the plate portion 311X was used as the first member 300 attached to the main beam 100 side, or a first member 300Y having no hole 312X in the plate portion 311Y was used. However, it is not essential to select whether or not the main air chamber in the main beam 100 and the sub-air chamber in the sub-beam 200 are to communicate with each other based on differences in the configuration of the main beam 100 side in this manner. For example, it is possible to select whether the first members 300 on the main beam 100 side are all first members 300X having holes 312X in their plate portions 311X, and the second members 400 on the sub-beam 200 side are either second members 400X having holes 412X in their plate portions 411X, or second members 400Y having no holes 412X in their plate portions 411Y (hereinafter referred to as such) having the same configuration as the first members 300Y. More specifically, by using a combination of the first member 300X and the second member 400X at the connection portion where the main air chamber and the sub-air chamber should be connected, and by using a combination of the first member 300Y and the second member 400X, a combination of the first member 300X and the second member 400Y, or a combination of the first member 300Y and the second member 400Y at the connection portion where the main air chamber and the sub-air chamber should not be connected, it becomes possible to select whether or not to connect the main air chamber in the main beam 100 and the sub-air chamber in the sub-beam 200.

[0040] <Variation 1> The air beam structure of the first modification will be described below. The air beam structure in the modified example 1 is almost the same as the air beam structure X described in the embodiment. The only difference between the air beam structure in the modified example 1 and the air beam structure X in the embodiment is the configuration of the first member 300 and the second member 400. However, the functions and purposes of the first member 300 and the second member 400 in the first modification are the same as those in the embodiment. Also in the first modification, the first member 300 includes a first outer member 310 and a first inner member 320, and the second member 400 includes a second outer member 410 and a second inner member 420. In addition, the first outer member 310 includes a first outer member 310X and a first outer member 310Y, and accordingly, the first member 300 includes a first member 300X and a first member 300Y, which is the same between the modified example 1 and the above-mentioned embodiment. In addition, the second outer member 400 includes a second outer member 410X and a second outer member 410Y, and accordingly, the second member 400 may include a second member 400X and a second member 400Y, which is the same between the modified example 1 and the above-mentioned embodiment. The difference between the above-described embodiment and Modification Example 1 is the configuration for detachably fixing the first outer member 310X or the first outer member 310Y to the second outer member 410X, and the manner in which they are detachably fixed. In terms of FIG. 10, only the plate portion 311X of the first outer member 310X and the portion of the second outer member 410X are different between the above-described embodiment and the first modified example. The following will focus on the differences.

[0041] FIG. 14(A) shows a state in which the first outer member 310X of the first modification is fixed. The plate portion 311X of the first external member 310X in the first modification is generally the same in configuration as the plate portion 311X in the first embodiment, but does not have the notches 311AX scattered around the periphery of the plate portion 311 in the first embodiment, and instead, a predetermined height range of the edge of the lower surface of the plate portion 311X in Fig. 14(A) is cut away to form a step portion 311BX. In other words, the step portion 311BX is a series of the notches 311AX in the above embodiment that extends around the entire periphery of the plate portion 311X. On the other hand, the plate portion 411X of the second outer member 410X has a shape that is vertically symmetrical to the plate portion 311X of the first outer member 310X, and includes a step portion 411BX similar to the step portion 311BX. In this case, the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X are fixed to each other using a fixing ring 300C as shown in Fig. 14(B). The fixing ring 300C has a generally U-shaped cross section, a ring body 300C1 with a portion of the circumference missing, and locking claws 300C2 provided near both ends of the ring body 300C1. To detachably fix the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X, the fixing ring 300C is disposed around the plate portion 311X and the plate portion 411X with both ends in the width direction abutted against the step portion 311BX of the first outer member 310X and the step portion 411BX of the second outer member 410X. Since the ring body 300C1 is allowed to undergo some elastic deformation, the large diameter portions of the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X can be accommodated in the grooves of the ring body 300C1. In this state, a long and thin ring-shaped spread stopper 300C3 is hung on both locking claws 300C2 so that the ring body 300C1 does not open. The spread stopper 300C3 is made of, for example, durable rubber, resin, or wire. The plate portion 311X and the plate portion 411X are locked to each other by the fixing ring 300C, so that the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X are detachably fixed to each other. Of course, if the fixing ring 300C is removed from the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X by removing the spread stopper 300C3 from the locking claws 300C2, the fixation between the first member 300X and the second member 400X will be released.

[0042] In the above example, both the plate portion 311X and the plate portion 411X are provided with the holes 312X, 412X, but it goes without saying that a configuration in which the plate portion 311X and the plate portion 411X are not provided with the holes 312X, 412X may be adopted. In other words, as already described, a mechanism in which the first member 300 includes selectable first members 300X and 300Y, and the second member 400 includes selectable second members 400X and 400Y is also permitted in this example. As a result, also in the first modification, it is possible to select whether or not to communicate the main air chamber in the main beam 100 with the sub-air chamber in the sub-beam 200 at the connection portion between the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200.

[0043] <Variation 2> As in the case of variant example 1, the difference between the above-described embodiment and variant example 2 is the configuration for detachably fixing the first external member 310X or the first external member 310Y to the second external member 400, and the manner in which they are detachably fixed. In FIG. 10, the plate portion 311X of the first outer member 310X and the portion of the second outer member 410X are different between the above-described embodiment and the second modification. Since the configuration of the first outer member 310X in the second modification is different from that of the above-described embodiment, the configuration of the first inner member 320X in the second modification can be changed from that of the first inner member 320 in the above-described embodiment, but the function may be any as long as the edge of the hole 121 of the inner membrane material 120 having the hole 121 can be clamped between the first outer member 310. The same applies to the second inner member 420. In consideration of this point, in the following description, the description and illustration of the first inner member 320 and the second inner member 420 will be omitted.

[0044] FIG. 15 shows a first outer member 310X and a second outer member 410X. The first outer member 310X includes a plate portion 311X. The plate portion 311X is a circular plate having a predetermined thickness. The plate portion 311X includes a hole 312X, similar to the above-described embodiment. The plate portion 311X includes a cylindrical outer tube 314 extending upward in FIG. 15. Although not limited thereto, the axis of the outer tube 314 passes through the center of the plate portion 311X. An engagement groove 315X, which is a groove having a rectangular cross section, is cut in the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube 314X. In this embodiment, the engagement groove 315X is provided in a plurality of positions symmetrical with respect to the axis of the outer tube 314X. In this embodiment, there are two engagement grooves 315X, but this is not necessarily limited thereto, and there may be one to eight of them. All the engagement grooves 315X have the same configuration, and the engagement grooves 315X extend from the upper end of the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube 314X toward the axial direction, and are cranked in an L-shape. The engagement groove 315X may be a cranked long hole penetrating the outer tube 314X. The second outer member 410X includes a plate portion 411X. The plate portion 411X is a circular plate having a predetermined thickness. The plate portion 411X includes a hole 412X. The plate portion 411X includes a cylindrical inner tube 414X extending downward in FIG. 15. Although not limited to this, the axis of the inner tube 414X passes through the center of the plate portion 411X. The outer diameter of the inner tube 414X is approximately equal to the inner diameter of the outer tube 314X. Furthermore, the length of the inner tube 414X is equal to the length of the outer tube 314X, for example. Further, an engagement protrusion 415X having a shape and size that allows it to be inserted into the above-mentioned engagement groove 315X is provided at a position symmetrical about the outer axis of the inner cylinder 414X. Although not limited thereto, the engagement protrusion 415X has a short cylindrical shape in this embodiment.

[0045] The first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X are detachably fixed to each other in the following manner. To fix the first outer member 310X and the first outer member 410X, the inner tube 414X of the second outer member 410X is inserted into the inside of the outer tube 314X of the first outer member 310X. At this time, the engagement protrusions 415X of the inner tube 414X are inserted into the engagement grooves 315X of the outer tube 314X, and while the engagement protrusions 415X are guided by the engagement grooves 315X, the inner tube 414X or the second outer member 410X is rotated around its axis, and the inner tube 414X is gradually inserted into the outer tube 314X. Although not limited thereto, in this embodiment, when the inner tube 414X is fully inserted into the outer tube 314X, both engagement protrusions 415X of the inner tube 414X reach the innermost portion of the engagement groove 315X of the outer tube 314X. In this state, the engagement protrusions 415X are engaged with the engagement groove 315X. In this way, the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X are detachably fixed to each other. Of course, by performing the process in reverse to that described above to pull out the inner tube 414X from the outer tube 314X, the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X are released from the fixed state.

[0046] In the above example, both the plate portion 311X and the plate portion 411X are provided with the holes 312X, 412X, but it goes without saying that a configuration in which the plate portion 311X and the plate portion 411X are not provided with the holes 312X, 412X can also be adopted. In other words, as already described, a mechanism in which the first member 300 includes selectable first members 300X and 300Y, and the second member 400 includes selectable second members 400X and 400Y is also permitted in this example. As a result, also in the second modification, it is possible to select whether or not to communicate the main air chamber in the main beam 100 with the sub-air chamber in the sub-beam 200 at the connection portion between the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200.

[0047] <Modification 3> For the same reasons as in the case of Modification 2, the configurations of the first outer member 310 and the second outer member 410 will be described, and description and illustration of the first inner member 320 and the second inner member 420 will be omitted.

[0048] FIG. 16 shows a first outer member 310X and a second outer member 410X. The first outer member 310X includes a plate portion 311X. The plate portion 311X is a circular plate having a predetermined thickness. The plate portion 311X includes a hole 312X, similar to the above-described embodiment. The plate portion 311X has a cylindrical body 316X that extends upward in Fig. 16. Although not limited to this, the axis of the cylinder body 316X passes through the center of the plate portion 311X. In addition, the upper end outer side has a locking jaw 317X that protrudes slightly outward. Although not limited to this, the locking jaw 317X goes around the upper end of the cylinder body 316. The first outer member 310X, particularly the locking jaw 317X, is made of a material that is somewhat elastically deformable, such as a resin. The second outer member 410X is a rotating body having a cross section as shown in Fig. 16(B) and a shape symmetrical about an axis. The second outer member 410X includes a plate portion 411X. The plate portion 411X is a circular plate having a predetermined thickness. The plate portion 411X includes a hole 412X. The plate portion 411X has a cylindrical body 416X that extends downward in FIG. 16(B). Although not limited thereto, the axis of the body 416X passes through the center of the plate portion 411X. The lower end of the body 416X has a thick portion 417X that is thicker in the left-right direction in FIG. 16(B). The inner diameter of the thick portion 417X is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the locking jaw 317X at the upper end of the body 316X. In addition, the length of the thick portion 417X in the vertical direction in FIG. 16(B) is equal to the length to the bottom of the locking jaw 317X of the body 316X.

[0049] The first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X are detachably fixed to each other in the following manner. To fix the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X, the second outer member 410X is pushed toward the first outer member 310X with the inside of the annular thick portion 417X of the second outer member 410X positioned outside the cylindrical body 316X of the first outer member 310X. The locking jaw 317X is slightly elastically deformed, and the thick portion 417X of the second outer member 410X fits under the locking jaw 317X on the outside of the cylindrical body 316X of the first outer member 310X and is locked by the locking jaw 317X. In this way, the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X are fixed so as to be freely detachable. Of course, the fixation between the first outer member 310X and the second outer member 410X can be released by carrying out the process reverse to that described above, somewhat forcibly, by moving the second outer member 410X away from the first outer member 310X and making the thick portion 417X climb over the locking jaw 317X.

[0050] In the above example, both the plate portion 311X and the plate portion 411X have the holes 312X, 412X, but it goes without saying that a configuration in which the plate portion 311X and the plate portion 411X do not have the holes 312X, 412X can be adopted. In other words, as in the second modification, in the third modification, it is possible to select whether or not to communicate the main air chamber in the main beam 100 with the sub-air chamber in the sub-beam 200 at the connection portion between the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200.

[0051] <Modification 4> Modification 4 is applicable to all of the embodiments and modifications 1 to 3 described above. As described above, in the air beam structure X in this embodiment, the end of the sub-beam 200 is connected to the main beam 100. The end of the sub-beam 200 is attached to the main beam 100 by detachably fixing the first member 300 attached to the main beam 100 and the second member 400 attached to the sub-beam 200. The fourth modification relates to a technique that has an effect of assisting the connection between the main beam 100 and the sub-beams 200 and, as a secondary effect, further improves the appearance of the air beam structure X.

[0052] The air beam structure X of the fourth modification will be described with reference to Figs. FIG. 17 is an enlarged perspective view showing the connection portion between the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200. As shown in FIG. As already described, the main beam 100 includes an outer membrane material 110 and an inner membrane material 120. A first member 300 (not shown) is attached to a specific position of the outer membrane material 110. A cover portion 150 is provided around each first member 300 so as to surround the first member 300. The cover part 150 includes a cover film material 151 which is a main component of the cover part 150. The cover film material 151 is a cylindrical film material whose base end is fixed to the main beam 100. The first member 300 is positioned on the axis of the cylindrical shape formed by the cover film material 151. The inner diameter of the cylindrical shape formed by the cover part 150 or the cover film material 151 is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the sub-beam 200. The cover film material 151 is, as its name suggests, a film material, and is made of, for example, the same material as the outer film material 110. The method of fixing the cover film material 151 to the main beam 100 or the outer film material 110 constituting the main beam 100 may be any method, and may be achieved by, for example, well-known or publicly known techniques such as sewing, bonding, welding, etc. Also, the cover film material 151 may be removably fixed to the main beam 100. For example, if a hook-and-loop fastener, or a button and a buttonhole, etc. is used, such removably fixing can be achieved by well-known or publicly known techniques. The cover portion 150 can be provided at all specific positions of the main beam 100, and for example, the cover portion 150 should be provided at all specific positions of Y1 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. On the other hand, if the cover portion 150 is provided at the specific position of Y2, the cover portion 150 may move, which may result in poor appearance. Considering such a point, it may be better to allow the cover portion 150 to be attached to any specific position of the main beam 100 that is required. Alternatively, two types of main beams 100 can be prepared: a main beam 100 placed at both ends in Figures 1 and 2 (with a sub-beam 200 connected to only one of the ends, either before or after it), and a main beam 100 placed in the middle in Figures 1 and 2 (with a sub-beam 200 connected to both the front and rear of it). In the former main beam 100, the specific position indicated by Y2 in Figures 1 and 2 is not designated as a specific position, and neither the first member 300Y nor a cover portion 150 is attached to that position.

[0053] Further, a main hook-and-loop fastener 152 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cover film material 151. The main hook-and-loop fastener 152 is a hook-and-loop fastener for detachable fixation with a sub-hook-and-loop fastener described below. In this embodiment, both the main hook-and-loop fastener 152 and the sub-hook-and-loop fastener are Velcro. The main hook-and-loop fastener in this embodiment is in the form of a tape, and is attached to the cover film material 151 at a position somewhat recessed from the tip of the cover film material 151 so as to go around the inner peripheral surface of the cover film material 151, although this is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 18, the cover membrane material 151 has a notch at a predetermined position extending from a predetermined position at the tip of the cylindrical material toward the base end, so that the cover membrane material 151 can be opened at that position. A first back surface fastener 154A is attached to the back surface of one edge of the cut in the cover film material 151, and a first front surface fastener 154B is attached to the front surface of the other edge. The first back surface fastener 154A and the first front surface fastener 154B are hook-and-loop fasteners for removably fastening the cover film material 151 to each other, and are made of, for example, Velcro. When the cut is closed, the first back surface fastener 154A and the first front surface fastener 154B are fixed to each other, so that the cover film material 151 can maintain the cylindrical shape shown in FIG. 17 even if the cut is present. In addition, an auxiliary film material 153 is attached near the cutout portion to cover the cutout portion when the cover film material 151 is closed at the cutout portion. The auxiliary film material 153 is rectangular, but not limited to this, and one side is fixed to the cover film material 151 near the cutout portion. In contrast, the opposite side is not fixed to the cover film material 151. A second backside fastener 155A is attached to the back side of the opposite side of the auxiliary film material 153, and a second surface fastener 155B is attached to the side of the auxiliary film material 153 fixed to the outer film material 110 of the main beam 100 and to the front side of the cover film material 151 at the opposite position across the cutout. The second backside fastener 155A and the second surface fastener 155B are hook-and-loop fasteners for removably fastening the two films to each other, and are made of, for example, Velcro. With the above-mentioned slits closed, first back surface fastener 154A and first front surface fastener 154B are fixed to each other. Furthermore, in this state, the above-mentioned slits are covered with auxiliary film material 153, and second back surface fastener 155A and second front surface fastener 155B are fixed, so that the slit portion of cover film material 151 can be kept covered with auxiliary film material 153. This state is shown in Figure 17. The hook and loop fasteners described above are used for the purpose of removably fastening the multiple membrane materials. It goes without saying that the hook and loop fasteners described above can be replaced with other configurations as long as the purpose can be achieved.

[0054] The sub-beam 200 will now be described. As already described, the sub-beam 200 includes the outer membrane material 110 and the inner membrane material 120. In addition, a second member 400 is attached to the end of the sub-beam 200. A sub-hook-and-loop fastener 252 is attached to a portion of the outer membrane material 110 of the sub-beam 200 at a predetermined distance from the end of the sub-beam 200. The sub-hook-and-loop fastener 252 is, but is not limited to, tape-shaped and is arranged to go around the outer periphery of the outer membrane material 110.

[0055] In the fourth modification, the sub-beam 200 is connected to the main beam 100 in the following manner. First, in the main beam 100, the second back surface fastener 155A and the second front surface fastener 155B are released from the fastening, so that the auxiliary film material 153 is in the open state as shown in Fig. 18. Next, the first back surface fastener 154A and the first front surface fastener 154B are released from the fastening, and the cut portion of the cover film material 151 is opened. This makes it easier to insert the end of the sub-beam 200 on the side connected to the main beam 100 into the inside of the cover part 150. In this state, the end of the sub-beam 200 is inserted into the cover portion 150, and the second member 400 attached to the sub-beam 200 is detachably fixed to the first member 300 attached to a position corresponding to the back of the cover portion 150 of the main beam 100. The method of fixing the first member 300 and the second member 400 is as described in the embodiment and the first to third modifications. With the first member 300 and the second member 400 fixed together, the main hook-and-loop fastener 152 attached to the inner peripheral surface of the cover film material 151 and the sub hook-and-loop fastener 252 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the sub-beam 200 are positioned in positions corresponding to each other. The main hook-and-loop fastener 152 and the sub-hook-and-loop fastener 252 are fixed together. This makes the detachable fixation between the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200 even more stable. Next, first back surface fastener 154A and first front surface fastener 154B are fastened together with the cut in cover film material 151 closed. Furthermore, in this state, the above-mentioned cut is covered with auxiliary film material 153, and second back surface fastener 155A and second front surface fastener 155B are fastened together, thereby fastening auxiliary film material 153 with the cut in cover film material 151 covered. This completes the detachable fixing of the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200. The end of the sub-beam 200 is covered with the cover film material 151, and the connection portion between the main beam 100 and the sub-beam 200 becomes smooth, improving the aesthetic appearance of the air beam structure X. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 100 Main Beam 110 Outer membrane material 120 Intimal material 131 Connection port 150 Cover part 151 Cover membrane material 152 Main hook and loop fastener 252 Sub hook and loop fastener 200 Sub Beam 300, 300X, 300Y First component 300A O-ring 300B Joint Piece 300C Retaining Ring 310X, 310Y 1st external material 311X, 311Y plate part 312X hole 313X, 313Y protrusion 314X Outer barrel 315X Engagement groove 316X cylinder 317X Locking Jaw 320 1st internal material 321 Circular Ring 322 holes 323 Cylinder part 400, 400X, 400Y Second component 410X 2nd external material 411X plate part 412X hole 413X Protrusion 414X Inner Cylinder 415X fastening protrusion 416X Cylinder 417X Thick part 420 2nd internal material 421 yen ring part 422 holes 423 Cylinder

Claims

1. The bag is provided with a main bag made of a membrane material that divides a main air chamber, which is an air chamber that can be filled with air, and the main air chamber is configured to maintain a predetermined shape by filling the main air chamber with air. At least two main beams are arranged parallel to each other in a plan view and are arched when the main air chamber is filled with air. a sub-bag made of a membrane material that divides a sub-air chamber, which is an air chamber that can be filled with air, and a predetermined shape is maintained by filling the sub-air chamber with air; and a plurality of sub-beams that connect adjacent main beams and become straight when the sub-air chamber is filled with air; An air beam structure having Both ends of the sub-beam connected to the main beam are configured to be detachably fixed to the main beam, a first member is attached to a specific position of the main beam that is a position where the sub-beam is to be connected, and a second member is attached to both ends of the sub-beam, and the first member and the second member are configured to be detachably fixed to each other; a hole is provided in the main bag at a position corresponding to the specific position of the main beam, and the first member includes a plate-like first outer member whose outer periphery surrounds the hole in the main bag, and a first inner member fixed to the first outer member in a state in which an edge of the hole is sandwiched between the first outer member and the first inner member from the inside of the main bag, a hole is provided in the sub-bag at a position corresponding to both ends of the sub-beam, and the second member includes a plate-shaped second outer member whose outer periphery surrounds the hole in the sub-bag, and a second inner member fixed to the second outer member with the edge of the hole sandwiched between the second outer member and the second inner member from the inside of the sub-bag, The first external member and the second external member are configured to be detachably fixed to each other. Air beam structure.

2. The bag is provided with a main bag made of a membrane material that divides a main air chamber, which is an air chamber that can be filled with air, and the main air chamber is configured to maintain a predetermined shape by filling the main air chamber with air. At least two main beams are arranged parallel to each other in a plan view and are arched when the main air chamber is filled with air. a sub-bag made of a membrane material that divides a sub-air chamber, which is an air chamber that can be filled with air, and a predetermined shape is maintained by filling the sub-air chamber with air; and a plurality of sub-beams that connect adjacent main beams and become straight when the sub-air chamber is filled with air; An air beam structure having Both ends of the sub-beam connected to the main beam are configured to be detachably fixed to the main beam, Both ends of the sub-beam connected to the main beam are configured to be detachably fixed to the main beam in a state in which either a communication state in which a sub-air chamber of the sub-beam connected to each other communicates with the main air chamber of the main beam, or a non-communication state in which the sub-air chambers are not communicated with each other, can be arbitrarily selected. Air beam structure.

3. The first external member and the second external member are configured to be detachably fixed to each other by engaging with each other.

2. The air beam structure of claim 1.

4. The first external member and the second external member are configured to be detachably fixed to each other by using a third member that engages both of them, and are engaged with each other via the third member.

2. The air beam structure of claim 1.

5. The first external member and the second external member have a circular outer shape when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plate.

5. An air beam structure according to claim 1, 3 or 4.

6. the first inner member has an annular shape that fits along an edge of the hole of the main bag, The second inner member has an annular shape that fits along the edge of the hole of the sub-bag.

6. An air beam structure according to claim 1, 3 or 5.

7. A first member is attached to a specific position of the main beam that is a position where the sub-beam is to be connected, and a second member is attached to both ends of the sub-beam, and the first member and the second member are configured to be detachably fixed to each other, a hole is provided in the main bag at a position corresponding to the specific position of the main beam, and the first member includes a plate-like first outer member whose outer periphery surrounds the hole, and a first inner member fixed to the first outer member in a state in which an edge of the hole is sandwiched between the first outer member and the first inner member from the inside of the main bag, holes are provided at both ends of the sub-beam, and the second member includes a plate-shaped second outer member whose outer periphery surrounds the holes, and a second inner member fixed to the second outer member in a state in which the edge of the hole is sandwiched between the second outer member and the second inner member from the inside of the sub-bag, The first external member and the second external member are configured to be detachably fixed to each other, the first outer member and the second outer member in the portion in communication with each other have holes communicating with the hole of the main bag and the hole of the sub bag, The first outer member and the second outer member in the non-communicating portion are configured to close the hole of the main bag and the hole of the sub bag, respectively.

3. The air beam structure according to claim 2.

Images