The invention relates to an automatic inflatable structure deflation system and method of deflating an inflatable structure using said system.
Inflatable structures such as bounce houses or other occupant inflatable structures can have large surface area that catches the wind causing the inflatable structure to be displaced. An inflatable structure can become airborne and travel a considerable distance or to a dangerous height, and then drop abruptly. In some cases, an inflatable structure may be carried into the path of traffic onto power lines or into or in contact with other potential dangerous locations. High winds can cause tie-down lines to break or anchors to fail leaving the inflatable structures at the mercy of the wind.
The invention is directed to an automatic inflatable structure deflation system and method of deflating an inflatable structure using said system. An exemplary automatic inflatable structure deflation system comprises a cover panel that is sealed over a deflation opening and is tied to a tie-down element by a deflation line. When the inflatable structure is displaced, the deflation line pulls the cover panel from the inflatable structure to expose the deflation opening and to quickly deflate the inflatable structure. The deflation opening may be relatively large to enable quick deflation and prevent the inflatable structure from large displacements or from rising off of the ground to an unsafe height.
An exemplary automatic inflatable structure deflation system comprises a seal feature to seal the cover panel over the deflation opening and to the outside surface of the inflatable structure or to a seal panel attached to the outside surface of the inflatable structure. The seal feature may comprise a hook-and-loop fastener wherein one portion of the hook-and-loop fastener, the hook for example, is configured on the cover panel and the opposing portion of the hook-and-loop fastener, the loop, is configured on the outside of the inflatable structure, such as on the seal panel coupled to the inflatable structure and around the deflation opening. The seal feature may comprise a press-seal feature comprising a press-seal protrusion and a press-seal slot, wherein the press-seal protrusion is retained within the press seal slot to create a seal, like that of the zip-seals on many resealable plastic bags. A first portion of the press-seal feature is configured on the cover panel and the opposing portion of the press-seal feature is configured on the inflatable structure, such as on the seal panel. The press-seal feature may be in a continuous loop around the deflation opening and may have rounded corners to enable easy attachment of the press-seal protrusion into the press-seal slot. A seal may be substantially air-tight, wherein there is no more air lost through the seal than about 0.05 liter per minute per meter (lpm/m) of length of seal, no more than about 0.1 lpm/m, no more than about 0.5 lpm/m, no more than about 1 lpm/m and any range between and including the rates of air lost provided. A hook-and-loop seal feature may have higher air loss rates than a press-seal feature. The combination of the press-seal feature and hook-and-loop seal feature may provide low air loss rates and a secure fastening configuration. A hook-and-loop feature may be configured along the inside area, between the press-seal feature and the deflation opening and/or along an outside area, or outside of the press-seal feature. A hook-and-loop feature on the inside area may prevent force on the press-seal feature and prevent it from opening due to inflation pressure of the inflatable structure.
The deflation opening may be large to enable quick deflation of the inflatable structure and may be rectangular in shape, square in shape, circular in shape, oval in shape or irregularly shaped. The shape of the deflation opening may depend on the shape of the inflatable structure. A deflation opening may be configured on any of the sides of an inflatable structure, a top or a bottom of an inflatable structure. A deflation opening may have a largest dimension, such as length or diameter of about 25 cm or more, about 50 cm or more, about 100 cm or more, about 150 cm or more, about 200 cm or more any range between and including the deflation opening dimensions provided. The inflatable structure may comprise a deflation opening that has a deflation opening area ratio, or ratio of the surface area of the deflation opening to the volume of air within the inflatable structure, or cm2/cc that is large enough to enable quick deflation of the inflatable structure and may be about 0.01 cm2/cc or more, about 0.05 cm2/cc or more, about 0.05 cm2/cc or more, about 0.05 cm2/cc or more and any range between and including the deflation opening area ratios provided. The deflation opening area ratio may be calculated as a function of the entire volume of the inflatable structure or of a single bladder element of an inflatable structure, should the bladder elements be separated and filled separately.
An inflatable structure may be modified to include an automatic inflatable structure deflation system as descried herein. A kit may be provided having all the required components to convert an existing inflatable structure into an inflatable structure having an automatic inflatable structure deflation system. An exemplary automatic inflatable structure deflation system kit may comprise a cover panel having a seal feature on the inside surface and a deflation anchor attached thereto, a structure seal feature for attachment to the inflatable structure, a deflation line and a cutting template for marking the deflation opening on the inflatable structure. A user of the kit may place the cutting template on the inflatable structure and mark the deflation opening with a marker. A user may then cut the deflation opening through a wall of the inflatable structure. A user may then attach the structure seal feature around the deflation opening and to the outside surface of the inflatable structure, or wall of the inflatable structure. A user may then attach the cover panel to the structure seal and attach the deflation line to the deflation anchor and extend the line to a tie-down element, such as a stake in the ground. The inflatable structure is now equipped with an automatic inflatable structure deflation system. Note that the structure seal feature may be attached to a seal panel that is attached to the outside surface of the inflatable structure, such as with an adhesive.
An inflatable structure may have bladders comprising flexible fabrics, such as polymer coated woven fabric and may have one or more blowers that operate to keep the inflatable structure inflated. An inflatable structure may be an occupant inflatable structure having an interior configured for one or more occupants to enter. An inflatable structure may be an advertisement, such as a waving arm advertisement.
The summary of the invention is provided as a general introduction to some of the embodiments of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Additional example embodiments including variations and alternative configurations of the invention are provided herein.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the figures. The figures represent an illustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, use of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.
Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications, combinations and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, combinations, modifications, improvements are within the scope of the present invention.
Inflatable structures, as used herein, refers to inflatable structures that are tied to the ground by a tie line and are configured to remain in contact with the ground. Some inflatable structures are configured for people to go inside, such as bounce houses and temporary structures and are referred to herein as occupant inflatable structures. An occupant inflatable structure has an interior large enough for one or more persons to enter and in some cases has a floor 29. These structures are particularly dangerous as displacement will also displace the people inside.
Length of the deflation opening, as used herein may be the largest straight-line dimension across a deflation opening and may be the diameter of a circular shaped deflation opening.
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It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Specific embodiments, features and elements described herein may be modified, and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications, combinations and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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