Abstract:
An inflatable chamber is secured to the ground to provide both a collection point for snow and a resilient barricade. The chamber may contain a light-weight and flexible metal or plastic support frame to provide increased strength or to hold a desired shape upon inflation. One or more longitudinally disposed flaps are preferably used with attached means for aiding in the securement of the chamber to the ground. Snow collection methods and ski slopes involving one or more inflatable barricades are also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates in general to the field of recreational fences or barriers and more particularly to an inflatable barricade useful in collecting snow on a ski slope.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    According to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), 7.4 million skiers and 3.6 million snowboarders with a combined total of 52.2 million total visits to ski areas occurred in the United States during the 1999-2000 season. In order to meet this demand, ski areas obviously have a strong interest in providing good ski conditions for as long as possible during each season. Often, man-made snow is relied upon to provide coverage in many areas. Moreover, even when mother nature does provide ample snow, wind and terrain features will often lead to unequal distribution of snow or bare spots on a slope or along a trail.  
           [0005]    In addition to improving ski conditions and providing adequate snow coverage for slopes and trails, ski areas are constantly looking to improve safety and to prevent skiing-related injuries. In a typical year there are at least 135,000 “medically significant” (i.e., injuries requiring medical attention and the cessation of skiing for at least one day) snow sport injuries in the United States. However, because many studies estimate that up to 40% of all injuries go unreported, there may be as many as 500,000 skiing-related injuries each year. Many of these injuries involve collisions with trees or other obstacles. Thus, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus and method for improving the safety and snow coverage of ski areas.  
           [0006]    While several inventions have addressed one of these issues or the other, none are known to be employed for both slope safety and improved snow coverage. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,777 issued to Brochu et al. describes a method of covering snow such that it can be conserved and repositioned over a slope for skiing without the need for natural or man-made snow early in the skiing season.  
           [0007]    Essentially, the Brochu et al. method comprises the steps of closing the selected slope in the late winter or early spring while there is still adequate snow cover, concentrating existing snow by hand or machine into a series of piles over the entire length of the slope, covering the piles of snow with sheets of insulating material, uncovering the snow when the weather permits one to do so withing significant melting, and redistributing the conserved snow by hand and/or machine over the selected areas of the slope. While this method may allow one to improve snow coverage for early season skiing, it does nothing to prevent collision-related injuries. Moreover, this method can only preserve snow and is not practical to use for the collection or concentration of snow during the skiing season.  
           [0008]    Similarly, net-like recreation area boundaries, such as the fence disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,927 by Huebner, provide an apparatus that may be used to cordon off a trail from trees and other objects. However, Huebner&#39;s netting material does nothing to trap or conserve snow for redistribution over a skiing area. Moreover, fence-like barriers typically are rigid or do not absorb force well, potentially causing significant injuries that result from the impact of a collision. Thus, there is still a need in the art for an apparatus and method that traps or collects snow while also providing a barricade that lessens the risk of injury resulting from collisions with objects or leaving a safely maintained area.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The invention relates in general to an inflatable chamber that collects snow during a snowstorm or man-made snow from snow-making equipment. More specifically, the invention provides in one embodiment an inflatable chamber that is secured to the ground to provide both a collection point for snow and a resilient barricade. The chamber may then be deflated and removed to allow redistribution of the snow and use of the chamber elsewhere or kept in place as a safety barrier. Preferably, the chamber of the invention contains light-weight and flexible metal or plastic support frame to provide increased strength or to hold a desired shape upon inflation. The preferred chamber also possesses one or more longitudinally disposed flaps with attached means for securing the chamber to the ground.  
           [0010]    Thus, it is a primary objective of the invention to provide an inflatable chamber that traps or collects snow for redistribution or later use.  
           [0011]    Further, an object of the invention is to provide an inflatable chamber that acts as a safety barrier.  
           [0012]    Another object of the invention is to provide a snow collecting device and method that does not require the labor or material needed to cover snow with an insulating material.  
           [0013]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a snow collecting method that is adaptable to different weather conditions and terrain.  
           [0014]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a safety barricade/snow collecting device that is highly portable and easy to use with or without a towing vehicle, such as a snowmobile.  
           [0015]    An additional object of the invention is to provide a safety barricade/snow collecting device that is economical to produce and inexpensive to utilize.  
           [0016]    In accordance with these and other objects there is provided new and improved snow collecting apparatus and method for use in ski areas, which is also for use generally wherever a flexible yet resilient safety barrier would be desirable. Furthermore, a new and improved skiing area containing inflatable, snow-covered barricades is provided.  
           [0017]    Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention includes the features hereinafter fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such description discloses only some of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the invention being towed by an all-terrain vehicle.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 depicts the embodiment of FIG. 1 as it undergoes inflation.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 shows in cross-section the embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along line  3 - 3 .  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4A is a front perspective view of a preferred securing rod of the invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4B is a front perspective view of a stake-like securing rod placed through a loop attached to the inflatable chamber of the invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4C is a front perspective view of a flag pole-like securing rod of the invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 depicts in a partially cut-out perspective view a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a partially cut-out perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a partially cut-out perspective view of a multi-chambered embodiment of the invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a top perspective view illustrating a method of snow collection utilizing the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    The invention relates in general to an inflatable chamber that provides both a safety barrier and a method of collecting snow useful for a variety of purposes. More specifically, in one embodiment of the invention, an inflatable chamber having two air-tight seams is integrally formed from a single piece of material, such as rubber or vinyl. In other embodiments of the invention, an inflatable chamber containing a support frame to assist the chamber in forming and maintaining a particular geometric shape is provided. An additional embodiment features a multiple-chamber barricade. Means for securing the inflatable chamber to the ground is provided in the form of, for example, rods that fit through openings in belts or flaps attached to the chamber or separate components (such as cables) that are placed over the chamber.  
         [0029]    Turning to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the barricade  2  is shown being towed to a desired location by an all-terrain vehicle  4 . The barricade  2  includes an inflatable, elongated chamber  6  that is inflated through valve  7  and a means for securing chamber  6  to the ground  8 , which, in this particular embodiment, is a plurality of belts  10  having a grommet  12  at each end. A fastener (not shown), including but not limited to a variety of rods, poles, stakes, ice screws, hooks, and bolts, is then placed through the grommet  12  to secure the chamber in place. The belts  10  may be glued, bonded, sewn or otherwise attached to the chamber  6  as long as the chamber remains air tight.  
         [0030]    In FIG. 2, the barricade  2  of FIG. 1 is being inflated through valve  7  with a hose  14  attached to a compressor on the vehicle  4 . Inflating the chamber  6  serves at least two important functions. First, the resilient cushion of air that is formed upon inflation provides an improved safety barrier. Depending upon the size of the inflated chamber, this barrier may be used to redirect or soften the approach of one who strays “out-of-bounds” or into an area of danger. In a skiing context, such a barrier provides a practical way to gently “rein-in” children on beginner slopes as well as to lessen the chances of injuries resulting from skiers hitting barricades at high velocities. Second, the increased surface area of the inflated chamber coupled with the ability to deflate and remove the same provides an ideal method for collecting snow (as illustrated in FIG. 8 and described below).  
         [0031]    Turning to FIG. 3, the filly inflated barricade  2  of FIG. 2 is seen in cross-section along line  3 - 3  in the direction indicated by the arrows. As shown, the elongated chamber  6  assumes a substantially cylindrical shape upon inflation in this embodiment. The grommets  12  on belt  10  can then be easily fastened to the ground  8  with implements such as those pictured in FIGS.  4 A- 4 C.  
         [0032]    In FIG. 4A, a particularly preferred rod  16  for securing a barricade of the invention to the ground includes a shaft  18  that features a stop collar  20  and a threaded screw-like portion  22  at the bottom end. The top end  24  of shaft  18  is substantially flat, allowing rod  16  to be driven into the ground if desired. Alternatively, the rod  16  may also be turned into the ground by hand using cross-bar  26 . Preferably, the securing rod is made from a hard plastic, however any lightweight and durable material may be used. Depending on the application, the height and color of the securing rod may vary. For example, a rod that is brightly covered and taller than the barricade would be desirable in applications in which the barricade is collecting snow so its exact location can remain visible even after heavy snow fall. On the other hand, safety barrier applications would typically call for the securing rod to be very short in order to minimize injury resulting from accidental contact.  
         [0033]    In FIGS. 4B and 4C, alternative rods and means for securing an elongated, inflatable chamber to the ground are shown. One means for securing includes a stake  28  and loop  30  combination. The loop  30  is attached to the chamber  32  and provides a eye through which the stake  28  is placed to anchor chamber  32  to the ground. Another securing rod  34  features a flag-pole like design, with a shaft  36  having a pointed bottom end  38  and a flag  40  located near the top end. The flag-pole like rod  34  may be especially desirable for pinpointing the location of a barricade of the invention in heavy winter weather. However, it is important to recognize that, although not shown, other means for securing an inflatable barricade to the ground without using loops, belts with grommets, or flaps (e.g., chains or rope), may be used alone or in combination with the implements described above.  
         [0034]    Turning to FIG. 5, a semi-cylindrical barricade  42  implementation of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, the elongated, inflatable chamber  44  includes a first flap  46  and a second flap  47  disposed longitudinally along edges  48  and  49 , respectively. The flaps  46  and  47  preferably contain holes  50  through which a securing rod  52  is placed to anchor barricade  42  to the ground. A stop collar  54  on securing rod  52  helps to keep the flaps  46  and  47  (and thereby chamber  44 ) flush with the ground. While this embodiment may be transported to a desired location in its fully spread-out state, it is ideally suited to be rolled on a hub such that deployment is accomplished simply by unrolling the deflated chamber over a desired location. Preferably, a hand, mechanical, or electrical winch is employed to carry out the rolling and unrolling process.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6 illustrates a triangular section barricade  56  of the invention especially suitable for collecting snow. This embodiment includes an inflatable chamber  58  having a longitudinally disposed flap  60  attached along a bottom edge  61 . As in previous embodiments, the chamber  58  is secured to the ground through one or more securing rods (not shown) placed in one or more holes  62 . Although it is possible to construct a chamber that forms a triangular shape upon inflation, preferably the chamber is reinforced by a support frame, such as carbon-fiber poles  64 , to help maintain its shape in windy conditions or under the weight of snow. The carbon poles  64  may be of the flexible type commonly used to support smaller tents (e.g., backpacking tents). Moreover, the poles may be bonded to the surface of the chamber  58  or held in place through sleeves, pockets, and the like.  
         [0036]    In FIG. 7, an inflated, multiple-chamber embodiment of the invention is depicted. A first semi-cylindrical chamber  66  having longitudinally disposed edge flaps  68  and  69  provides the foundation for a second triangular chamber  70 . The two chambers  66  and  70  may either be independently sealed from each other or segmented such that air flow in or out is shared. Of course, any number of individual chambers may be used to form a “single” elongated barricade. A flexible support frame including ribs  72  is formed by bonding ribs  72  to the surface of chambers  66  and  70 . Preferably, the ribs are composed of metal (such as aluminum) strips. Thus, the ribs  72  assist in maintaining a desired geometric shape upon inflation of the chambers and collapse upon deflation of the same.  
         [0037]    Turning to FIG. 8, a preferred method of collecting snow using barricades of the invention is illustrated. Two barricades,  75  and  76 , are positioned in parallel fashion. The elongated, inflatable chambers  78  and  80  of each barricade are then inflated and secured to the ground with securing rods  82  placed through holes  83  in flaps  84 - 87 . While not shown, the flaps could be placed at the ends of the inflatable chambers in addition to, or instead of, along the length. Moreover, certain embodiments (e.g., cylindrical barricades) may have one or more flaps disposed along one or more sides (rather then along edges).  
         [0038]    While the weather conditions at the collection location may require one to first secure each inflatable chamber in place before inflation, it should be recognized that the order in which the inflation and securing steps occur is not important. As a winter storm progresses, snow  90  is collected between chambers  78  and  80 . For simplicity, only snow collected between the barricades is shown. However, snow can also accumulate atop and on all sides of each barricade, forming a snow bank that may be used in conjunction with the barricades as a barrier or harvested for grooming purposes upon barricade deflation and removal.  
         [0039]    The invention, having been described above, may be better understood by reference to an example. The following example is intended for illustration purposes only, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way.  
         [0040]    A SNOWCAT™-brand all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile transports the deflated barricade along the surface of a ski slope to a desired location. The deflated barricade is then deployed by positioning it on the ground, installing the securing rods (or other means for securing) through holes in a flap attached to the inflatable chamber such that the barricade is held in place. The number and type of rods installed would be determined by the anticipated weather conditions—the windier the conditions, the more rods should be used. The tension of the barricade can also be set by controlling how stretched the barricade is. A hose is then connected to a valve of the inflatable chamber such that air can be pumped inside. Upon inflation of the chamber (or chambers), the hose is removed and the valve sealed.  
         [0041]    As natural snow falls (or as man-made snow is blown) across the ski slope, the barricade(s) force snow to stop on its surface or drop nearby, creating a bank of snow that can partially or completely cover the barricade. The end of the inflatable chamber can then be located so that the valve is opened for deflation. After deflation, the means for securing are taken out and the barricade is removed from the snow bank. The accumulated snow is now ready to be groomed over bare spots or left for future use.  
         [0042]    The invention is particularly well suited for snow collection because snow tends to accumulate upon the inflated chamber (as well as between multiple inflated barriers). Otherwise, wind and other conditions tend to disperse falling snow. Thus, snow that has been concentrated upon the inflated chamber can be “harvested” for covering wind-swept bare spots as described above or protect structures (e.g., doorways) from becoming obstructed by banks of snow. Moreover, the snow may be left covering the inflated chamber to form an unique ski slope boundary or barrier.  
         [0043]    The inflatable chambers of the invention may be manufactured using existing tooling and technology as employed in, for example, the waterbed industry. First, two flexible polyvinyl sheets (or a doubled-over single sheet) may be cut into any desirable shape for a barricade. Next, an electrically heated iron is used to seal the polyvinyl in accordance with the desired shape. The temperature of the iron can be precisely controlled such that the vinyl pieces are fused together, creating an air-tight seam so that the chamber may be inflated through an added valve.  
         [0044]    Various changes in the details and components that have been described may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention herein described in the specification and defined in the appended claims. Therefore, while the present invention has been shown and described herein in what is believed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures can be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent processes and products.