Abstract:
An Inflatable Shelter is disclosed. The shelter includes a plurality of arched tubes designed to rest directly upon the ground or other surface. In order to provide cooling to occupants of the shelter, the shelter may include an attachable misting mesh for dispensing a fine mist of water or other fluid from the top of the shelter. The misting mesh may also be incorporated within the inflatable tubes of the shelter. Furthermore, the shelter may be attachable to an inflation air source as well as a liquid source for pressurizing the misting mesh. Still further, the structure may include tie-down loops extending from the feet of the arched tubes; these tubes being provided to accept stakes therethrough.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to utility structures and, more specifically, to an Inflatable Shelter  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    A myriad of temporary structures are available for a variety of specialty and general purposes. Many times these structures are lightweight tent-type structures that provide protection from the sun and weather as well as providing some measure of privacy. These structures are generally collapsible in order to make them easy to transport from location to location. The problem with tent structures is that their frames are many times fairly heavy and/or difficult to handle in cases where above-average durability or stability is required. Furthermore, the frame members are generally constructed from metal (again, for durability), which can corrode over time. None of these tent-type structures provides a lightweight, durable and easily-erected protective structure.  
           [0005]    One specialty application area for temporary outdoor structures that has exploded in recent years is that of the play toy known as the “bounce house.” FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional inflatable “bounce house.” The conventional bounce house is a completely collapsible structure that can be erected in minutes by a single person. As shown in the FIG. 1 example, the house  10  consists of two or more inflatable frame members  16  interconnected by wall skins  20  and a roof skin  18 . As is indicated by their name, the bounce house  10  has an inflatable floor pad  12  upon which children can bounce to their hearts&#39; content without harm.  
           [0006]    The houses  10  are generally transported to and from the locations of use in a tote bag (albeit a fairly large bag); upon arrival at the site, an electric (or gas-powered) blower  22  is first connected to the house  10  with an air fill tube  24 , and then turned on. Subject to the sizing of the blower  22  and house  10 , the typical inflation of the house  10  will take less than an hour. Furthermore, the transport, inflation and deflation of the house  10  can typically be accomplished by a single person. If we turn to FIG. 2, we can examine how the conventional bounce house is constructed.  
           [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of the bounce house  10  of FIG. 1. As can be seen, the roof and wall skins  18  and  20 , respectively, are stretched between the inflated frame members  16 . The frame members  16  themselves are essentially long tubes made from rubber-impregnated canvas (much like an inflatable boat) and defined by a hollow frame chamber  32  into which air from the blower (see FIG. 1) is blown.  
           [0008]    Similarly, the floor pad  12  consists of a floor chamber  30  enclosed between a floor pad bottom surface  28  (resting against the ground), and a floor pad top surface  26  (upon which the children bounce). The frame chambers  32  and floor chamber  30  are in fluid communication with one another such that when one is inflated (or deflated), the others are inflated or deflated as well. Because of the durability of the material used for the frame members  16  and floor pad  12 , the house  10  can be inflated to a fairly high pressure where exceptional structural integrity is necessary—this does not really add to the structural weight of the house  10  (at least when compared to the tent-type structures previously described).  
           [0009]    Bounce houses  10  are constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes, including forms simulating animals, famous buildings, or even sinking cruise ships (the “Titanic”), with the intent being to provide the most entertainment for the children bouncing around inside of them. Common to all of these various shapes and sizes are the inflatable frame members  16  and inflatable floor pad  12 .  
           [0010]    While the design for the bounce house  10  is interesting, it does not really provide the utility necessary for it to serve as a utility structure for temporary utilitarian use rather than as a child&#39;s play area. What is needed is an inflatable utility structure that provides the benefits of the bounce house  10  plus additional usefulness.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide an Inflatable Shelter. The shelter should include a plurality of arched tubes designed to rest directly upon the ground or other surface. In order to provide cooling to occupants of the shelter, the shelter may include an attachable misting mesh for dispensing a fine mist of water or other fluid from the top of the shelter. It is a further object that the misting mesh may also be incorporated within the inflatable tubes of the shelter. It is another object that the shelter be attachable to an inflation air source as well as a liquid source for pressurizing the misting mesh. It is a still further object that the structure include tie-down loops extending from the feet of the arched tubes; these tubes being provided to accept stakes therethrough.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional inflatable “bounce house;” 
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of the bounce house of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an inflatable shelter of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a rafter tube of the shelter of FIG. 3;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a cutaway perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a rafter tube of the shelter of FIG. 3;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred misting mesh used with the shelter of FIG. 3;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the shelter of the present invention; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an assembly including an alternate embodiment of a water source for use with the shelters of FIG. 3 or  7 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an Inflatable Shelter.  
         [0022]    The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an inflatable shelter  40 A of the present invention. Unlike the conventional bounce house described above, the shelter of the present invention eliminates the floor pad; this is for at least two reasons: (1) the floor pad provides unwanted cushioning, and (2) any floor covering (i.e. over the ground) in a utility environment will invariably become soiled, will wear out, and perhaps may be a safety hazard.  
         [0023]    The structure  40 A comprises a plurality of hollow, inflatable arched tubes  42  interconnected by hollow rafter tubes  44 . The arched tubes  42  and rafter tubes  44  are in fluid communication with one another such that when one is inflated or deflated, all others are inflated or deflated as well. Of course, in larger or specialty designs, the tubes  42  and  44  may be grouped together so that they might be inflated separately (e.g. from separate blowers  22 ).  
         [0024]    In this embodiment, the arched tubes  42  comprise a pair of vertical portions  46 A each terminating at the ground in feet  52 . At the opposite ends of the vertical portions  46 A are sloped portions  48 A; these then transition into a horizontal portion  50  (which interconnects the two sides).  
         [0025]    As depicted, the vertical portions  46 A each terminate in a foot  52  at their ends. In close proximity to, or actually extending from each foot  52  are tie-down loops  54  or flaps for securing the shelter  40 A to the ground. The shelter  40 A is preferably secured to the ground with stakes  56  or the like pounded through one or more of the tie-down loops.  
         [0026]    Similar to the bounce house discussed previously, the shelter  40 A is erected by inflating with a blower  22  forcing air through an air fill hose  24 . The hose  24  may be connected to any suitable connection point provided on any of the members of the shelter  40 A—here it is shown connected to the bottom of one of the vertical portions  46 A of the third arched tube  42 C.  
         [0027]    In this embodiment, five arched tubes,  42 A- 42 D, respectively, are employed, however in other embodiments either more or fewer tubes  42  may be used, depending upon the desired length of the shelter  40 A.  
         [0028]    In addition to those novel aspects previously discussed, one notable aspect of the shelter  40 A is that it can be configured to dispense a water mist downwardly in order to cool off persons that are under the shelter  40 A. The misting system obtains its water for misting from a water source  60 A, such as the outdoor hose bib shown. Water dispensed by the source  60 A is carried to the shelter  40 A by a water supply hose  62 , which then connects to the shelter at a water supply port  58 . Misting can be turned on or off either at the source  60 A or some other internal system valve. Examples of the entire misting system will be discussed below in connection with other drawing figures.  
         [0029]    Also shown is a display panel  64  extending across the top section of the first arched tube  42 A. This panel  64  may be used to advertise or to otherwise display indicia thereon. The panel  64  is preferably made from the same flexible material as the tubes  42  and  44 .  
         [0030]    Although not depicted here, it should be understood that the shelter may be configured with rollable or removable wall or roof panels for providing privacy, environmental protection, or even insect protection (such as by screens). One embodiment may comprise a permanently-attached solid vinyl sheet covering over the top portion of the shelter  40 A, and one or more vinyl sheets removably attached in between the vertical portions  46 , such as by hook-and-loop fasteners. Now turning to FIG. 4, we can examine the invention in more detail.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a rafter tube  44  of the shelter of FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the rafter tube  44  includes an internal water distribution hose  70 A running through the rafter tube chamber  72  for distributing water from the supply system (see FIG. 3) and out to the individual misting nozzles  66 A. Under normal household pressure, the misting nozzles  66 A will provide a fine water mist  68  which serves to evaporatively cool the air in the general vicinity of the nozzles (i.e. inside the shelter). In this embodiments, the misting nozzles  66 A protrude through the tube wall  45  from the internal water distribution hose  70 A. If we turn to FIG. 5, we can review another embodiment of the nozzle arrangement.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 is a cutaway perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a rafter tube  44  of the shelter of FIG. 3. In this embodiment, there are one or more hose clips  74  attached to (or molded into) the outside of the tube wall  45 . The hose clips  74  are configured to securely grasp the external water distribution hose  70 B therein. The benefits of this externally-mounted version is that the rafter tube  44  air-tight integrity is not jeopardized by the through-penetration of the nozzles, and furthermore, there is greater flexibility and control by the user of the positioning of the misting nozzles  66 B—in fact, the nozzles  66 B might be re-positionable from location to location on the shelter. It should further be understood that while FIGS. 4 and 5 depict the nozzles  66  extending from the rafter tube  44 , they may also be positioned in other locations (e.g. from the arched tubes). Now turning to FIG. 6, we can examine how the individual misting nozzles are interrelated.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred misting mesh  76  used with the shelter of FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the misting mesh  76  refers to a matrix of interconnected piping or tubes  78  that distribute water from the water supply port  58  and out to the individual misting nozzles  66 . As discussed above, the tubes  78  may be retained within the inflated structural tubes, or they may be attached to the outer surfaces of the structural tubes, or the may the positioned in a way that is a combination of the two. Furthermore, although not depicted here, a shutoff valve and/or pressure regulator may be included in the first branch tube  78 A; provided to control the water pressure and flow. The material used for the tubes  78  is extremely flexible and durable in order to permit the structure to be collapsed and packed into a single bag without damage to either the shelter or the mesh  76 . Similarly, the nozzles  66  are constructed in a way to prevent their cutting into any of the other portions of the shelter (i.e. from plastic with no sharp edges). Having completed the review of a first embodiment of the shelter of the present invention, we will now turn to FIG. 7.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the shelter  40 B of the present invention. In this embodiment  40 B, alternate arched tubes  43  are employed. These alternate arched tubes  43  comprise vertical portions  46 B and long sloped portions  48 B, with the sloped portions  48 B meeting at the peak  80  of the shelter  40 B. This design provides more headroom than the previously-described embodiment, while retaining the benefits of light weight and ease of erection and packing. Although only three rows of rafter tubes  44  are shown here, it should be understood that additional rows may be added in alternate embodiments. Another optional element in this present invention is the second row of rafter tubes  47 ; these second rafter tubes  47 , if included, are essentially the same construction as those previously discussed (tubes  44 ).  
         [0035]    Similar to the previous shelter embodiment, another embodiment of the instant shelter  40 B may comprise a permanently-attached solid vinyl sheet covering over the top portion (i.e. over the sloped portions  48  and peaks  80 ) of the shelter  40 A, and one or more vinyl sheets removably attached in between the vertical portions  46 , such as by hook-and-loop fasteners. Finally turning to FIG. 8, we can evaluate yet another alternate embodiment of a component of the present invention.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an assembly including an alternate embodiment of a water source  60 B for use with the shelters of FIG. 3 or  7 . In some remote locations, for example construction sites or remote holes on golf courses, there may not be a permanent water supply available; there may, however be electrical power available (e.g. from generators or inverters). In such cases, an alternate water source  60 B may be utilized. This alternate source includes a water pump  82  and a portable water reservoir  84  (although a lake or pond may be used, if it is clean enough). In this example, the water pump  82  and blower  22  are both being run from the same motor  88 . In other embodiments, the pump  82  and blower might be separate. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the portable water reservoir  84  shown here is simply an theoretical example to demonstrate functional relations between the components; it is not intended to restrict the potential form of the reservoir  84  in any way.  
         [0037]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit, of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.