Patent Publication Number: US-2007117658-A1

Title: Inflatable barrier

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      There are no related applications.  
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
      The inventions described and claimed in this application were not made under federally sponsored research and development.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to a portable barrier as used in combat sports games. More specifically, this invention relates to a freestanding inflatable barrier.  
      The sport of paintball is one of the fastest growing sports among teenagers and young adults. It is a combat type game in which players suitably attired in padded clothing and face shields shoot paint filled balls at each other through compressed air guns. On impact, the paintball typically breaks open to leave a splotch of water soluble, colored liquid. During game play, paintball field operators typically have a variety of barriers or obstacles behind which competitors may hide while shooting at members of an opposing team. Barriers can include solid structures such as wooden panels, large drums, culvert pipes, discarded tires and the like.  
      In order to have more portable barriers for setting up a playing field, inflatable barriers have been developed in different shapes and sizes. The shapes include pyramids, cubes, and both vertical and horizontal cylinders. Once inflated, the barriers must be tied or staked to the ground. Although a player can impact the inflated barrier itself without harm, the stakes and ropes associated with these inflatables can be a cause of injury as players run from one barrier or obstacle to the next.  
      Therefore, a need exists in the sports industry to provide a safe, portable and inflatable barrier which is freestanding without the aid of tiedown ropes or ground stakes. The primary objective of this invention is to meet this need.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an inflatable barrier which is compact in storage and easily transportable.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide a barrier which, when inflated, is freestanding and resists displacement during normal impacts from combat sports players.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide a barrier of the character described which can be fabricated in a wide range of shapes and sizes.  
      An additional object of the invention is to provide a barrier of the character described which can be filled with readily available resources for prompt assembly.  
      A further object of the invention is to provide a barrier of the character described which can be weighted with water and still resist displacement during normal impacts from combat sports players.  
      In summary, an inflatable barrier with an integral, triple chamber construction. An upper air chamber of relatively greater volume may be configured in any convenient shape such as pyramids, cylinders, cubes and barricades as suitable for use at combat sports venues. A centrally disposed, water-filled chamber provides sufficient weight to resist displacement of the barrier to normal impacts. A peripheral lower air chamber surrounds the water-filled chamber to stabilize lateral support and to maintain an upright orientation of the barrier.  
      Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the detailed description of the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the following description of the drawings, in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views:  
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a barrier constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  in the direction of the arrows; and  
       FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view illustrating the resistance of the barrier to impacts. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Referring to the drawings in greater detail, it should be understood that the barrier of this invention is fabricated of durable, water and air impermeable fabric material for containing a volume of air or water as appropriate. The barrier is constructed of at least three separate chambers  10 ,  12  &amp;  14  and are integrally joined. An upper air chamber  10  is joined to a lower air stabilizer tube  12  which surrounds a central water bladder  14 .  
      Exteriorly, the upper air chamber  10  is fitted with a fill valve  16  for introducing air to inflate the chamber  10  and is equipped with a carrying handle  18 . Likewise, stabilizer tube  12  is fitted with a fill valve  20  and the water bladder  14  is fitted with a fill valve  22  as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
      The upper air chamber  10  occupies the largest volume of the three chambers  10 ,  12  &amp;  14  and may be configured in virtually any convenient form such as a pyramid, cube, cylinder, cone, or some amorphous structure. This main chamber  10  may also be formed with internal support baffles or by joining two or more subchambers.  
      The ground supporting base for the upper air chamber  10  is formed by the stabilizer tube  12  and the water bladder  14  in combination. The water bladder  14  must be of sufficient capacity or volume, based on water weighing approximately 8 pounds per gallon, so as to hold the barrier in place and to resist displacement on the ground  24  once the barrier is fully inflated. It is also important that the water bladder  14  be centrally positioned beneath the centroid of the upper chamber  10 . The shape of the water bladder  14  may be constructed as appropriate for the particular shape of the upper chamber  10 . In the drawings, the shape of the upper chamber  10  is an elongate horizontal dome and the corresponding water bladder  14  is generally rectangular in shape to correspond proportionally with the length and width of the domed upper chamber  10 . In the event a pyramidal form is selected for the upper chamber  10 , then a triangularly shaped water bladder  14  might be most appropriate. If, on the other hand, a vertically cylindrical form is selected for the upper chamber  10 , then a circularly shaped water bladder  14  would be a logical choice.  
      A barrier constructed of a single air chamber with only a water bladder for weight does not provide sufficient resistance to displacement during combat sports play. With such a structure the barrier is frequently distorted in shape and the water alone does not provide sufficient response to return the barrier upright and in its intended shape after an impact.  
      We have discovered that by placing an integrally formed air tube  12  around the periphery of the water bladder  14  significantly stabilizes the structure and improves the barrier&#39;s ability to return to its original, intended shape and upright orientation after normal impact. The shape of the stabilizer tube  12  is therefore determined by the shape selected for the water bladder  14 . If the water bladder  14  is circular in form, then the stabilizer tube  12  would be formed in a toroid or doughnut shape. Where the shape of the water bladder  14  is substantially rectangular as illustrated in the drawings, then the stabilizer tube  12  is likewise generally rectangular in form in order to surround the water bladder at the outer periphery thereof.  
      The air tube  12  must be of sufficient capacity or volume as compared to the volume of the water bladder  14  in order to achieve a stabilizing effect. Generally, the volume of the air tube  12  should be in the range of 80 to 130% of the volume of the water bladder  14 . In the case of a vertically cylindrical bag, for example, where the upper air chamber  10  is approximately 4 feet high and 2 feet in diameter, a circular bladder  14  of sufficient capacity to contain about 10 pounds of water can be effectively stabilized by a toroid shaped tube  12  having a volume of approximately 90% of the volume of the water bladder  14 .  
      In operation, and assuming the barrier is in its collapsed condition for the purposes of storage and transport, it is probably easiest to first fill the stabilizer tube  12  which frames the water bladder  14 . This can be accomplished with the aid of an air source such as the discharge from a household vacuum cleaner or from an air compressor connected to the fill valve  20 . Then the water bladder  14  may be filled with a hose or faucet introducing water through the fill valve  22 . Lastly, the upper air chamber  10  may be filled with air through the fill valve  16 .  
      The barrier so erected will remain in its intended shape and position after experiencing normal impacts as is common in combat field play. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the stabilizer tube  12  acts to contain the water bladder  14  and to influence the barrier to return to an upright position on the ground  24  after side impact, for example, as shown by the arrows.  
      Importantly, the barrier constructed in accordance with this invention provides a barrier or obstacle that is completely freestanding and does not require injurious ropes or ground stakes for its intended use. This results in safer conditions for players of combat field sports such as paintball.  
      It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.  
      Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.