Patent Application
20240229499
The present invention relates to structures used to protect matter from the environment. More particularly, the present invention relates to structures that utilize air pressure to hold their form and maintain themselves as erect.
Generally, the present invention may provide a positive pressure structure. A “positive pressure structure” is defined herein as any structure that utilizes pressure from a gas (typically air) to maintain its form. The positive pressure structure of the present invention may be provided as a modular system, which may include one or more base unit sections, wherein each base unit section has an attachment section on each side of the base unit section. In this manner, a plurality of base unit sections may be connected to each other by the attachment sections.
A film may then be attached to the base unit sections. While not meant to be limiting, the film may be attached to the base unit sections using straps, flaps, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, snaps, buttons, hook and eye fasteners, hooks, eyelets, awning cord and rail, clips, lock channels, magnets including magnets with mating surfaces, and combinations thereof. One or more blowers may additionally be provided, wherein one or more blowers may create positive air pressure within the positive pressure structure that in turn may cause the positive pressure structure to maintain its form as erect.
The positive pressure structure may further include one or more structural supports. These structural supports may be attached to one or more of the base unit sections, the film, and combinations thereof. A blower may then be directed into the structural supports, the positive pressure structure, and combinations thereof. Alternatively, and not meant to be limiting, multiple blowers may be employed such that one or more blowers may be directed into the structural supports and one or more blowers may also be directed into the positive pressure structure. In this manner, positive pressure may be generated in the structural supports, the positive pressure structure, and combinations thereof, and support for the positive pressure structure may thus be created to maintain the positive pressure structure as erect. The structural supports may also be inflated and then sealed, such that the structural supports then provide support without the need for ongoing pressure provided by a blower.
The positive pressure structure may further include one or more doors interposed between two adjacent base unit sections. If a door is opened, it may thereby allow the release of positive pressure within the positive pressure structure. In such a circumstance, the structural supports may maintain the integrity of the positive pressure structure as the structural supports may be configured such that they do not lose positive pressure when the door is opened.
One or more rigid members may be positioned along the perimeter of the base unit sections. In this manner, the positive pressure may be imparted with additional structural rigidity around its base. One or more bladder sections may also be placed in communication with the base unit sections, for example, and not meant to be limiting, by placing the bladder sections within the base unit sections. The bladder sections may be filled with materials to produce properties desired by a user. For example, and not meant to be limiting, the bladders may be filled with sand, water, air, and combinations thereof. As a further example, and not meant to be limiting, by filling the bladders with sand, water, and combinations thereof, the bladders may provide a mass that may allow the entire structure to resist displacement by, for example, wind. As a further example, and not meant to be limiting, by filling the bladders with air, the bladders may provide a stiff structure that will maintain the structural shape, while also allowing the positive pressure structure to float on a body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a variety of suitable means for communication between the base unit sections and the bladder sections may be used. These include, without limitation, configuring the base unit sections to have a bladder sleeve in which the bladder may be placed, straps, a flap, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, snaps, buttons, hook and eye fasteners, hooks, eyelets, awning cord and rail, clips, lock channels, magnets including magnets with mating surfaces, snaps and combinations thereof.
The base unit sections may simply be placed on top of the rigid members. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a variety of suitable means for communication between the base unit sections and the rigid members may also be used. These include, without limitation, configuring the base unit sections to have a rigid member sleeve in which the rigid member may be placed, straps, a flap, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, snaps, buttons, hook and eye fasteners, hooks, eyelets, awning cord and rail, clips, lock channels, magnets including magnets with mating surfaces, snaps and combinations thereof.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that a variety of attachment sections between adjacent base unit sections may also be used. These also include, without limitation, straps, a flap, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, snaps, buttons, hook and eye fasteners, hooks, eyelets, awning cord and rail, clips, lock channels, magnets including magnets with mating surfaces, snaps and combinations thereof. The attachment sections between adjacent base unit sections may also be utilized to hold the bladder sections in proximity with one and another, and in turn hold the base sections and bladders in proximity with the rigid members, which may in turn give the entire positive pressure structure additional structural integrity around the positive pressure structure's lower perimeter.
The base unit sections may be selected as wall sections, corner sections, and combinations thereof. Further, the wall sections may be curved. Curved wall sections may be convex or concave, and may be curved about any radius desired by a user. By selecting appropriate base unit sections, a user may then configure a positive pressure structure to have any shape, or footprint, desired by a user. For example, and not meant to be limiting, by selecting appropriate base unit sections, the user may construct a positive pressure structure shaped as a square, a rectangle, an oval, a circle, or any other shape desired by a user.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitations of the inventive scope is thereby intended, as the scope of this invention should be evaluated with reference to the claims appended hereto. Alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
One exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in
As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
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One or more rigid members 8 may be positioned along the perimeter of the base unit sections. In this manner, the positive pressure structure may be imparted with additional structural rigidity.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a variety of suitable means for communication between the base unit sections 2 and the bladder sections 9 may be used such as a bladder sleeve 10, as shown in
A means for communication between the base unit sections 2 and the rigid members 8 may also be utilized to hold the base unit sections 2 in proximity with the rigid members 8, such as a rigid member sleeve 11, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. Only certain embodiments have been shown and described, and all changes, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention described herein are desired to be protected. Any experiments, experimental examples, or experimental results provided herein are intended to be illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered limiting or restrictive with regard to the invention scope. Further, any theory, mechanism of operation, proof, or finding stated herein is meant to further enhance understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way to such theory, mechanism of operation, proof, or finding.
Thus, the specifics of this description and the attached drawings should not be interpreted to limit the scope of this invention to the specifics thereof. Rather, the scope of this invention should be evaluated with reference to the claims appended hereto. In reading the claims it is intended that when words such as “a”, “an”, “at least one”, and “at least a portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claims to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claims. Further, when the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used, the claims may include a portion and/or the entire items unless specifically stated to the contrary. Likewise, where the term “input” or “output” is used in connection with an electric device or fluid processing unit, it should be understood to comprehend singular or plural and one or more signal channels or fluid lines as appropriate in the context. Finally, all publications, patents, and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure as if each were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth in its entirety herein.
