GB2044315A

GB2044315A - Inflatable Frame Tent

Info

Publication number: GB2044315A
Application number: GB7909070A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Curless R S & Curless S M
Current assignee: Curless R S & Curless S M
Priority date: 1979-03-14
Filing date: 1979-03-14
Publication date: 1980-10-15
Also published as: IT7953548V0; GB2044315B; DE7920029U1; IT7953548U1

Abstract

A shelter for use on beaches, in gardens or in the countryside and made of flexible material includes a tripod frame formed from inflatable frame members and has panels extending between the frame members. The frame members are in the form of substantially linear tubes which may be interconnected so as to provide independently inflated entrance frame and rear leg. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shelter This invention relates to shelters, especially to wind shelters to be used on beaches, in gardens or in the countryside.

According to the present invention there is provided a wind shelter made of flexible material and including a frame formed from inflatable frame members, and wall members extending between the frame members.

Accordingly a wind shelter in accordance with the present invention is made substantially entirely of flexible material and in its inflated condition is self-supporting.

Preferably the frame members are, in the inflated condition, in the form of linear tubes, which may be inter-connected at the corners of the frame. Preferably the diameter of the tubes is from 10 to 30 cm, more preferably about 20 cm.

Preferably the frame comprises five such linear tubes, three of these tubes defining an entrance to the shelter and the other two tubes forming a rearward support leg. Preferably the three tubes defining the entrance are inter-connected so that, if desired, only a single air inlet need be provided for these three tubes. In the same way it is preferred that the two tubes forming the rearward support leg are inter-connected. Preferably the rearward support leg is attached to a central region of the tubes defining the entrance but without there being fluid communication between the two sets of tubes.

Preferably the wall members are formed from a single sheet of plastics material attached along its edge to the three tubes which define the entrance to the shelter.

Preferably the shelter is provided with a base formed from plastics material, said base being attached along its edge to the wall members.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of a shelter in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view from the side of the shelter of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a shelter in accordance with the present invention is made entirely of flexible material and comprises a frame 1, wall members 3 and base 5.

Frame 1 is formed from five frame members made of flexible air impermeable plastics material.

These frame members may be inflated to form substantially linear tubes of diameter about 20 cm. Three of the frame members 7, 9 and 11 define an entrance to the shelter, frame members 7 and 11 forming inclined sides of the entrance and frame member 9, extending between the upper ends of members 7 and 1 forming the horizontal top of the entrance. In fact frame member 9 is not quite of uniform diameter having a slightly increased diameter in a central region indicated by arrow 13.

The frame members 7, 9 and 11 are interconnected at seams 1 5 and 17 so that there is fluid communication between these frame members. A single closable air inlet nozzle (not shown) is provided near the base of one of the tubes 7 and 11.

The frame includes two further frame members 19 and 21. These frame members are also in the form of linear tubes, in their inflated condition, and are inter-connected at seam 23 so that there is fluid communication between these frame members. A single closable air inlet nozzle 25 is provided near the base of frame member 21.

Frame member 1 9 is connected to the centre of frame member 9 and extends substantially horizontally and rearwardly therefrom. However, there is a dividing wall between frame members 9 and 1 9 so that fluid communication between these frame members does not occur. Frame member 21 extends downwardly from the other end of frame member 19 so that the two frame members 19 and 21 together form a rearward support leg for the shelter.

The wall members 3 are formed from a single sheet of flexible, transparent, tinted plastics material. This sheet is made from two panels 21 and 29 connected together at seam 31. The sheet forming the wall members 3 is connected along its edge to the entire length of frame members 7, 9 and 1 1, as shown in Figure 2 at 31. The sheet forming wall members 3 is not connected to the support leg formed from tubes 19 and 21 but, as shown in the drawings, is supported by this support leg.

The sheet forming wall members 3 is also connected to the base 5, the latter being made of flexible plastics material. Base 5 is substantially triangular in shape and the connection with the sheet forming wall members 3 along two sides of base 5 close to the edges thereof. Accordingly there is a narrow border 33 of base 5 extending outwardly from its line of connection with sheet forming wall members 3. Located at spaced apart position along this border are stiff plastics rings through which pegs or the like may be inserted to hold the shelter in position.

Attached close to the positions interconnection between tube 9 and each of tubes 7 and 11 are small plastics cleats 37 to which strings 39 may be attached and pegged to the ground to form stays. A further cleat (not shown) is attached to the position of inter-connection between tubes 19 and 21.

With the frame members in their inflated condition, as shown in the drawings, the shelter forms a self-supporting structure and may easily accommodate two persons sitting on garden chairs. A smaller version may be for use by only one person.

The shelter is easily erected by attaching a conventional manual or electrically operated pump to each of the air inlet nozzles so as to inflate the frame members. When the frame members are deflated the shelter may be folded up to a compact form so that it may easily be located in a small container or bag.

Claims

1. A shelter made of flexible material and including a frame formed from inflatable frame members, and panels extending between the frame members, each frame member being, in its inflated condition, in the form of a substantially linear tube.

2. A shelter according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of each tube is from 10 to 30 cm.

3. A shelter according to claim 2 wherein the diameter of each tube is 20 cm.

4. A shelter according to any of the preceding claims wherein each frame member is connected to and in fluid communication with at least one other frame member.

5. A shelter according to any of the preceding claims wherein the frame comprises five linear tubes, three of the tubes defining an extrance to the shelter and the other two tubes forming a rearward support leg.

6. A shelter according to claim 5 wherein the three tubes defining the entrance are in fluid communication and are provided with a single air inlet for inflating these tubes.

7. A shelter according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the two tubes defining the rearward support leg are in fluid communication and are provided with a single air inlet for inflating these tubes.

8. A shelter according to any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the panels are in the form of a single sheet of plastics material attached at an edge or edges thereof to the three tubes which define the entrance to the shelter.

9. A shelter substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A shelter according to any of the preceding claims and provided with a base in the form of a flexible sheet, the base being attached at an edge or edges thereof to said panels.

10. A shelter according to claim 1 and substantially as described herein.

1 A shelter substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

New Claims or Amendments to Claims filed on 1 9 September 1979.

Superseded Claims 1, 4, 5 a 6.

Claims 9, 10 8 1 11 renumbered 7,8 and 9.

New or Amended Claims:

1. A shelter made of flexible material and including a frame formed from five inflatable tubes, each of which is linear in its inflated condition, three of the tubes defining an entrance to the shelter and the other two tubes forming a rearward support leg, the shelter further including a single sheet of plastics material attached at an edge or edges thereof to the three tubes which define the entrance to the shelter, and extending around said other two tubes.

4. A shelter according to any of the preceding claims wherein each tube is connected to and in fluid communication with at least one other frame tube.

5. A shelter according to any of the preceding claims wherein the three tubes defining the entrance are in fluid communication and are provided with a single air inlet for inflating these tubes.

6. A shelter according to any of the preceding claims wherein the two tubes defining the rearward support leg are in fluid communication and are provided with a single air inlet for inflating these tubes.

7. A shelter according to any of the preceding claims and provided with a base in the form of a flexible sheet, the base being attached at an edge or edges thereof to said panels.

8. A shelter according to claim 1 and substantially as described herein.