Collapsible shelter
OwnerJean-Pierre Masseinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inflatable structural member and a structure employing such inflatable members. The structural members each comprise an inner, air-impermeable inflatable tube made from an inexpensive, extruded, thermoplastic material; and an outer flexible sheath restraining the inner tube when it is inflated. The sheath is also constructed to shape the tube to a desired curved shape.
Claims5
A collapsible shelter having a flexible outer wall structure and an inflatable tubular armature structure fixed to said wall structure and capable, when inflated, of causing erection of said wall structure as well as collapse thereof when deflated, said armature structure being made of a plurality of structural rib members having, when inflated, a predetermined curvature, each of said structural members comprising:
- an inner air-impermeable inflatable elastic tube and means, at the ends thereof, for closing said tube;
- at least one outer non-expandible flexible sheath containing said inner tube snugly when the latter is inflated into said predetermined curvature, whereby to restrain its outward expansion and prevent it from rupturing,
- wherein said sheath is formed from a pair of elongated strips of like sizes precut according to said predetermined curvature whereby to provide uniform stress concentration in said sheath when said inner tube is inflated, and
- means joining said strips along the longitudinal edges thereof to form said sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.