Hovering Inflatable Fort Structure for Easy Entry and Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable structures are difficult to enter and exit, maintain shape, and are not easily movable on a flat surface without deflating or relocating weights.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable housing with an open base and aperture for air flow, combined with a connecting panel and cord to provide lift and structure, allowing easy entry and movement over a surface using a fan for inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If anchor weights are used to secure the inflatable structure on a flat surface, then the structure maintains its desired configuration, but the structure cannot be moved or relocated easily without moving each weight or deflating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an inflatable base that hovers above the ground using air pressure from a fan, creating a counterbalancing effect against gravity. The air pressure lifts the structure's weight, allowing it to hover without anchor weights, thus enabling easy movement while maintaining stability during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using a fan to force air into the inflatable base, creating air pressure that lifts and hovers the structure above the ground. This pneumatic lifting mechanism replaces the need for anchor weights and enables easy relocation of the structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the inflatable structure is secured with anchor weights at the perimeter, then it maintains shape stability, but entry and exit becomes difficult depending on weight location
Solution Approach 1:
The hovering inflatable base eliminates the need for perimeter anchor weights by using air pressure to lift and stabilize the structure. This removes the obstruction caused by weights at the perimeter, allowing easy entry and exit from any location around the structure while maintaining shape stability through the hovering mechanism.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the structure is fully inflated to maintain shape, then it provides structural stability, but it cannot be moved or relocated easily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic air pressure from a fan to lift the fully inflated structure above the ground, creating a hovering effect. This allows the structure to maintain full inflation for structural stability while being easily moved by tilting or rolling the entire assembly, as the air cushion reduces friction with the ground.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The structure maintains its shape and can be easily entered and moved on a flat surface, providing a stable hovering effect with minimal contact to the ground.
Implementation Method 1
air flow through the aperture provides structure and lift for the inflatable housing
Data Source
AI summary
A hovering air fort containing an inflatable housing having an open base defined by a periphery surrounding the opening, one or more apertures, wherein one of the apertures is for receiving air flow for inflation and wherein the other aperture is for connecting a second hovering air fort and a cord hemmed into the periphery of the open base forming a hemmed opening or at least one connecting panel is affixed to at least two side walls about the open base periphery of the inflatable air fort, wherein the air flow through the aperture provides structure and lift for the inflatable housing when the periphery of the open base is positioned against an external surface to create the hovering air fort.