Inflatable surface-covering device

A device (1) for covering a substantially rectangular surface (3) delimited by first and second longitudinal sides linked to one another by first and second transverse sides, the device comprising,

• a cover (10) which is substantially airtight and watertight and that allows the surface (3) to be covered, the cover being delimited by first and second longitudinal edges (10L) that are substantially parallel and linked to one another by a movable end (10m) and by a static end (10s) fixed to the first transverse side in a substantially airtight manner,
• a drum (2) that is rotatably mounted and capable of winding and unwinding the cover (10) over its first and second longitudinal edges (10L) by displacement of the movable end (10m) of the cover along the first and second longitudinal sides of the surface, between,
• an uncovered position, in which the movable end (10m) is adjacent to the first transverse side, the surface not being covered by the cover, and
• a covering position, in which the movable end (10m) is adjacent to the second transverse side, the surface being thus covered by the cover,
• first and second rails (6) fixed along the first and second longitudinal sides of the surface, each of the first and second rails comprising an opening (6o) allowing the first and second longitudinal edges (10L) of the cover to be locked in a substantially airtight manner over a length corresponding to the portion of cover covering the surface when the cover is unwound,
• wherein the static end (10s) of the cover is fixed to the surface (3) in an airtight manner along the first lateral edge and the movable end (10m) is fixed to an axle (2a) of the drum (2) which is mounted on a longitudinal translation mechanism, comprising a trolley (21) transversely overhanging the surface (3) to be covered and supporting the axle of the drum (2), said trolley (21) comprising, at each of its ends, at least two rollers (33) resting on the first and second rails (6) allowing the longitudinal translation of the trolley (21),
• characterized in that the device comprises
• a blower system (51) capable of blowing air (51a) between the surface and an internal surface (10i) of the cover facing the surface (3) when the movable end of the cover is in covering position, and
• a flap (41) having
• a sealed end (41s) extending substantially parallel to, and over an entire length of, the second transverse side of the surface and mounted so as to follow the displacements of the movable end (10m) of the cover along the first and second longitudinal sides (10L), and
• a free end (41L) opposite the sealed end (41s), such that when the movable end (10m) is in covering position, the free end (41L) of the flap is in contact with the surface, and in that,
• with its sealed end (41s) and its free end (41L) which is in contact with the surface (3), the flap (41) forms an airtight seal between the cover and the surface along its second transverse side, allowing a substantially airtight volume to be defined between the surface and the internal surface of the cover when the movable end is in covering position and to create an overpressure in this volume by the blowing of air by the blower system (51).