INFLATABLE VENTILATION LIFE CURTAIN

Abstract

An inflatable ventilation curtain includes a curtain portion and an inflatable portion provided around a perimeter of the curtain portion. The inflatable portion includes an inner layer and an outer layer attached together, wherein the inner layer is provided immediately adjacent to the perimeter of the curtain portion and wherein the outer layer is provided around at least a part of an outer perimeter of the inner layer, thereby providing two distinct inflatable areas.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1A is an exemplary embodiment of the inflatable ventilation life curtain after inflation;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view along lines I-I of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 illustrates the inner layer of the inflatable portion of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the outer layer of the inflatable portion of the invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the inner and outer layers of the inflatable portion during various phases of inflation;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the present invention including a door;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an alternative embodiment of the inflatable ventilation life curtain;

FIGS. 7A and 7B, respectively, illustrate the inflatable ventilation life curtain during inflation and after inflation is completed; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a plurality of inflatable ventilation life curtains used for barricading.

Claims

1. An inflatable ventilation curtain, comprising: a curtain portion; andan inflatable portion provided around a perimeter of the curtain portion,wherein the inflatable portion includes an inner layer and an outer layer attached together, wherein the inner layer is provided immediately adjacent to the perimeter of the curtain portion and wherein the outer layer is provided around at least a part of an outer perimeter of the inner layer, thereby providing two distinct inflatable areas.

2. The inflatable ventilation curtain according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are gas inflatable.

3. The inflatable ventilation curtain according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer is gas inflatable and the outer layer is foam filled.

4. The inflatable ventilation curtain according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable portion is integrally provided with the curtain portion.

5. The inflatable ventilation curtain according to claim 1, wherein, when inflated, the inflatable portion has a thicker width, as viewed in cross-section, than the curtain portion.

6. The inflatable ventilation curtain according to claim 1, wherein a valve is provided between the inner layer and the outer layer to facilitate the inflation of the outer layer via the inner layer.

7. The inflatable ventilation curtain according to claim 6, wherein three valves are provided between the inner layer and the outer layer, at the top and sides of the inner layer.

8. The inflatable ventilation curtain according to claim 1, wherein the inner layer includes at least two support columns connecting the top and bottom sides of the inner layer, and substantially parallel with the sides of the inner layer.

9. The inflatable ventilation curtain according to claim 1, wherein an inflate/deflate valve is provided on the inner layer for inflating the inflating portion.

10. The inflatable ventilation curtain according to claim 1, wherein a door is provided on the curtain portion.

11. The inflatable ventilation curtain according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of inflatable ventilation curtains are provided to create a barricaded area.

12. A method of setting up an inflatable ventilation curtain which includes a curtain portion and an inflatable portion provided at a periphery of the curtain portion, comprising: spreading out the inflatable ventilation curtain in a predetermined area;raising sides of the inflatable ventilation curtain with raising means;inflating the inflatable portion.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the inflatable portion has an inner layer and an outer layer, thereby providing two distinct inflatable areas, and the inner layer is completed inflated before the outer layer begins to inflate.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein, when inflated, the inflatable portion has a thicker width, as viewed in cross-section, than the curtain portion.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the inner layer is provided immediately adjacent to the perimeter of the curtain portion and wherein the outer layer is provided around at least a part of an outer perimeter of the inner layer.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein a valve is provided between the inner layer and the outer layer to facilitate the inflation of the outer layer via the inner layer.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the inner layer includes support columns extending between top and bottom sides of the inner layer, and wherein all portions of the inner layer including the support columns inflate at substantially the same time.