INFLATION DOME

DOME GONFLABLE

English Abstract

ABSTRACT
The invention disclosed an inflatable pool enclosure
that is formed of arcuate ribs, juxtaposed adjacent to each
other to form a continuous longitudinal arch-like structure.
The terminal ends of each arch are affixed to the ground by
convenient means more particularly in the preferred embodiment
by a weight. Each rib of the arch is composed of a
circumscribing impervious sheet material that forms a cell the
cell defining a plenum in which compressed air may be
entrapped so as to inflate the cell and hence the rib. Each
rib is inflated in a similar manner so that the longitudinal
continuous arch-like structure is formed.

Claims

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The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
l. An inflatable covering for a swimming pool or the like
comprising;
(a) a plurality of air inflated rib sections, each
section including;
(i) at least two hollow rib members, with opposite
closed ends, formed from flexible air impervious
sheet material, so that each member is hollow and
the material is formed to surround the hollow and
to define thereby an air impervious longitudinally
formed plenum;
(ii) valve means communicating with each air
impervious plenum for inflating the plenum with
air;
(iii) each distal margin of each rib member
defining a linear connection means as a radially
disposed flange therealong; and,
(b) an attachment means for attaching radially disposed
flange of two juxtaposed rib sections, together, whereby
adjacent rib sections are attached one to the other, to
spacially dispose them into the inflatable covering.
2. The pool covering as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rib
sections and rib members, are arcuately formed.
3. The pool covering as claimed in claim 2 wherein the
opposite closed ends lie in the same plane.
4. The pool covering as claimed in claim 2 wherein near
opposite closed ends there is a second impervious sheet member
extending through the plenum thereby to define the air
impervious plenum into a first and into second and third
plenums, said second and third plenums located at said
opposite ends each with a drain means and a valve means
communicating with each of said second and third plenums
whereby the said second and third plenums may be filled with

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water or other fluid by the valve means, and drained off by
the drain means.
5. The pool covering as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein
the attachment includes a U shaped channel with opposite arms
that overengage the flanges of the adjacently disposed rib
sections, and means for holding the U-shaped channel against
the flanges whereby adjacent rib sections are held together.
6. The pool covering as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein
the attachment means includes a pair of U shaped channels with
opposite arms that overengage, one U shaped channel, over
adjacent disposed outside flanges; the other U shaped channel
likewise over opposite radially disposed inside flanges the
two U shaped channel members disposing their opposite arms
toward each other, and means for holding said pair of U shaped
channels in proximity one to the other and hence against the
flanges whereby the adjacent rib sections are held together.

Description

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This invention releates to an inflatable dome and
particularily to a dome that is inflatable and may be used as
a light transparent housing over swimming pools and the like.
In North America and in Europe, domes-tic swimming pools
are popular. In the upper latitudes of the midwestern United
States and Canada and in similiar latitudes in Europe, a
swimming pool may not be used year round because of inclement
cold weather.
I have perceived of an inflatable pool enclosure which
may be mounted over a swimming pool or even a tennis court to
enclose the environment oE the swimming pool and to form a
closed housing.
Such enclosure is formed of arcuate ribs, juxaposed
adjacent to each other to form a longtudinal continous arch-
like structure. The terminal ends of the arch are aEfixed to
the ground by convenient means. Each rib of -the arch is
composed of an impervious sheet material forming cells for
entrapment of compressed air that i5 injected into them, to
inflate the same and to hence create rigidity to the
structure.
The invention therefore comtemplates an inElatable
covering Eor a swimming pool or the like comprising;
(a) a plurality of air inflated rib sections, each
section including;
(i) at least two hollow rib members, w:ith opposite
closed ends, Eormed Erom Elexible air impervious
sheet material~ so that each member is hollow and
3() the material is formed to surround the hollow and
to deEine thereby an air impervious longitudinally
formed plenum;
(ii) valve means communicating with each air
impervious plenum for inflating the plenum with
air;
(iii) each distal margin of each rib member defining
a linear connection means therealong;
(b) the attachment means for attaching connection means
of two juxtaposed rib sections, together, whereby
adjacent rib sections are attached one to the other, to

spacially dispose them into the inflatable covering.
The invention will now be described by way oE example
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
Figure 1 is cross section through a swimming pool
showing -the rib structure of the invention.
Figure 2 is a side longitudinal elevation of a
inflatable enc]osure in figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end view of the enclosure of figure 2.
Figure 4 is a section through a single rib, and
partially through adjacent ribs thereof, along lines IV-IV oE
Eigure 2.
Figure 5 is a section along lines V-V of Eigure 2.
Figure 6 is an exploded view of the inter-rib connecting
device.
Referring to figure 1 the swimming pool 10 is an
inground pool located in the soil 15, and has a
circumferential patio 17 thereabout. The pool is fi:Lled with
water 1~.
An inflatable enclosure 30 extends over the poo:L 10 and
the patio 17. The enclosure 30 consists of a plurality of rib
sections ~enerally indicated as 35. Each rib section 35
comprises three juxtaposed rib members 36. A centre rib
member 36' and two lateral rib members 36''. ~etween the
lateral rib members 36'' and the centre rib member is an
interior wall 40 formed from an air impervious membrcllle
rnaterial such as impre~nated fabric or plastic. Each o the
lateral rib members 36'' have exterior end walls 41 forrned of
similar material and the outside surfaces 4~ and 43 of each
rib is oE like material. As such, each rib section 35 deEines
three rib~like plenums 45 in~o which compressed air is
in~ected. It is the compressed air that adds rigidity to the
rib structure 35.
As seen in figure 4, the outside and inside surfaces 43
and 44 are smooth planes, but when the plenums 45 are
overinflated they tend to buldge as shown in phan-tom in figure
4 and hence the rib like structure of figure 2 is achieved.
For the sake of clarity, in the drawings and in further
discussion of this invention, the side panels 43 and 44 of

each rib member will be shown as indicated in the drawings, as
flat surfaces. Referring to figures 4 and 6, each adjacent
rib section 35 is held in juxtaposition by a U type clamp
generally shown as 50 in figure 6. Thus, reviewing :Eigure 6
it will seen that the inside and ou-tside surface sheets 43 and
44 extend past the ou-tside marginal wall 41 each into an
upstanding flange 46 and 46' respectively. An upper U shaped
channel 58 overlays the adjacent flanges 46 of adjacent rib
sections 35 while a lower U shaped channel 58' overlays the
adjacent lower f].anges 46'. A spacing I member 55 constrains
the .Elanges 46 and 46' as shown in figure 6, and on the end
Eaces o:E the I member 55 is a socket 56 into whlch threads a
bolt 59 so as to secure the U shaped channels 58 and 58' over
the flanges 46 or ~6' as the case might be. In this way,
adjacent rib sections 35 are held in juxtaposition.
The structure is secured to the ground by weighing the
bottom terminus of each plenum 45 with water as shown at 60.
The water is shown as 65 and the rib member or plenum 45 may
have a drain 63 at the outside bottom thereof, and an upper
:Eill port 62 ~or fillinc~ the base of each plenum 45 with the
water 65. It is convenient to ensure a given quantity of
water in each base portion of the plenum 45 to have the water
carryin~ base region enclosed with an upper impervious s.kln or
sheet 61 as shown.
In order to fi:ll the plenum 45 with air a conventional
a.Lr valve 33 is located at the base of each rib just above the
water partitioning membrane 610
Since the water 65 i.s located in the base o:E each rib
mcmb~r the bottom profile of the rib, generally indicated as
70, will conform to the surface irregularities of the ground
15.