Claims
- 1. A self-supporting, inflatable dome greenhouse structure comprising:
- a first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material having a peripheral edge, and
- a second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material having a peripheral edge,
- wherein said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material and said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material are made of a transparent plastic or polymeric sheet material,
- the peripheral edge of said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material being sealed to the peripheral edge of said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material to create an inflation chamber between said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material and said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material,
- said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material being joined directly to said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material at a multiplicity of attachment points to form a multiplicity of interconnected inflated panels upon inflation of the inflation chamber between said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material and said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material,
- wherein the multiplicity of attachment points are arranged in a triangular pattern defining a geodesic dome, having the multiplicity of interconnected inflated panels triangular shaped, upon inflation of the inflation chamber between said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material and said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material,
- an inflation fitting in fluid communication with said inflation chamber,
- an inflatable lower ring connected to the peripheral edge of said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material and the peripheral edge of said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material, wherein said lower ring is sealed from said inflation chamber and is separately inflatable therefrom,
- a second inflation fitting in fluid communication with said lower ring,
- a vertical slit-shaped access door through said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material and said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material into an interior space within the inflatable dome structure,
- the inflatable dome greenhouse structure having an open bottom thereby permitting cultivating and protecting pants within the inflatable dome greenhouse structure when inflated.
- 2. The inflatable dome structure of claim 1 wherein said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material and said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material are made of a plastic or polymeric sheet material chosen from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, and fiber reinforced plastic materials.
- 3. The inflatable dome structure of claim 1 wherein said inflation fitting further comprises a one way valve.
- 4. The inflatable dome structure of claim 3 further comprising a pressure relief valve being in fluid communication with said inflation chamber.
- 5. The inflatable dome structure of claim 1 wherein said access door has a double-opening zipper-type closure.
- 6. The inflatable dome structure of claim 1 wherein said second inflation fitting further comprises a one way valve.
- 7. The inflatable dome structure of claim 6 further comprising a second pressure relief valve being in fluid communication with said lower ring.
- 8. The inflatable dome structure of claim 1 wherein said second inflation fitting is configured for attachment to a water hose.
- 9. The inflatable dome structure of claim 1 wherein, upon inflation of the inflation chamber, the inflatable dome structure has a diameter of approximately 4 to 30 feet and a height of approximately 2 to 15 feet.
- 10. The inflatable dome structure of claim 1 wherein, upon inflation of the inflation chamber, the inflatable dome structure has a diameter of approximately 15 feet and a height of approximately 7.5 feet.
- 11. The inflatable dome structure of claim 1 wherein said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material and said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material have a thickness of approximately 0.002 to 0.010 inches.
- 12. The inflatable dome structure of claim 1 wherein said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material and said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material have a thickness of approximately 0.004 to 0.008 inches.
- 13. The inflatable dome structure of claim 1 wherein said first substantially dome-shaped sheet of material and said second substantially dome-shaped sheet of material are parts of a continuous generally spherical sheet and wherein said peripheral edges are created by inverting one of said first and said second substantially dome-shaped sheets of material into the other of said first and second substantially dome-shaped sheets of material.
CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/036,962 filed Feb. 11, 1997.
US Referenced Citations (6)