Inflatable skating rink

• US 5,937,586 A
• Filed: 08/14/1996
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scherba Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Scherba Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Scherba, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US08/696,485
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 52/2.11, 52/2.13, 52/2.17-2.24, 52/6, 472/92, 472/94, 472/134, 472/136, 405/5, 405/51, 5/710-713
• US Class Current: 52/2.23
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/10 Ice-skating or roller-skating rinks; Slopes or trails for skiing, ski-jumping or tobogganing chutes A63G21/00; ski-lifts B61B11/00; making or maintaining surfaces of snow or ice suitable for traffic or sporting purposes E01H4/00; removing snow or ice E01H5/00; production of ice or snow F25C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 17/18 Corrals, i.e. easily transportable or demountable enclosures
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2015/201 with inflatable tubular framework, with or without tent cover

Abstract

An inflatable skating rink made up of a plurality of base modules positioned adjacent to one another to define a perimeter of the skating rink. Base modules are made of a flexible material which is substantially impermeable to air. The base modules can be conveniently inflated and deflated. The adjacent base modules include air portals for providing a fluid passageway between the interior of the two adjacently positioned base modules so that the base modules can be mutually inflated and deflated. The adjacent base modules may be connected together in a manner so that they may be separated from one another during disassembly of the skating rink.

Claims

1. An inflatable skating rink comprising of a plurality of base modules positioned adjacent of one another to define a perimeter of said skating rink, each of said base modules comprising a flexible material which is substantially non-permeable to air, air communication means for providing air passage between at least one pair of adjacently positioned base modules, and modular connection means for connecting together said at least one pair of adjacently positioned base modules.

2. A skating rink as defined in claim 1, wherein said air communication means includes an air port positioned on a side of one said base module for communication with an air port of an adjacent base module.

3. A skating rink as defined in claim 2, wherein said modular connection means encircles said air communication means thereby forming a secondary seal about said air ports.

4. A skating rink as defined in claim 3, wherein at least one base module includes a blower port and blower port connection means for connecting a blower outlet to said blower port.

5. A skating rink as defined in claim 3, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable base guard attached to the front bottom of said at least one base module.

6. A skating rink as defined in claim 3, wherein at least one base module includes air vacating means for providing air passage to deflate said skating rink.

7. A skating rink as defined in claim 3, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable pillar section connected to a top of said at least one base module, said pillar section in air communication with an interior of said at least one base module.

8. A skating rink as defined in claim 3, wherein at least one base module includes a pole support.

9. A skating rink as defined in claim 3, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable door connected to a side of said at least one base module, the inflatable door in air communication with an interior of said at least one base module.

10. A skating rink as defined in claim 3, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable base section connected to a bottom side of said at least one base module, said inflatable base section in air communication with an interior of said at least one base module.

11. A skating rink as defined in claim 2, including air port connection means for connecting together two air ports of two adjacent base modules thereby forming a substantially air tight seal.

12. A skating rink as defined in claim 11, wherein said air port connection means includes a connection arrangement selected from the group consisting of a zipper, hook and loop fastener and combinations thereof positioned about the peripheral edge of said ports.

13. A skating rink as defined in claim 12, wherein said modular connection means encircles said air communication means thereby forming a secondary seal about said air ports.

14. A skating rink as defined in claim 13, wherein said modular connection means includes a zipper.

15. A skating rink as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable base guard attached to the front bottom of said at least one base module.

16. A skating rink as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one base module includes air vacating means for providing an air passage to deflate said skating rink.

17. A skating rink as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable pillar section connected to a top of said at least one base module, said pillar section in air communication with an interior of said at least one base module.

18. A skating rink as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one base module includes a pole support.

19. A skating rink as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable door connected to a side of said at least one base module, the inflatable door in air communication with an interior of said at least one base module.

20. A skating rink as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable base section connected to a bottom side of said at least one base module, said inflatable base section in air communication with an interior of said at least one base module.

21. A skating rink as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one base module includes a blower port and blower port connection means for connecting a blower outlet to said blower port.

22. A skating rink as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one base module includes a blower port and blower port connection means for connecting blower outlet to said blower port.

23. A skating rink as defined in claim 22, wherein said blower port connection means includes a zipper which is adapted to form a connection between blower and said blower port.

24. A skating rink as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable base guard attached to the front bottom of said at least one base module.

25. A skating rink as defined in claim 24, wherein said inflatable base guard is in air communication with an interior of said at least one base module.

26. A skating rink as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one base module includes air vacating means for providing air passage to deflate said skating rink.

27. A skating rink as defined in claim 26, wherein said vacating means includes a zipper positioned on a back of at least one base module, said zipper moveable between an open and a closed position, said closed position inhibiting air from flowing through said vacating means.

28. A skating rink as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable pillar section connected to a top of said at least one base module, said pillar section in air communication with an interior of said at least one base module.

29. A skating rink as defined in claim 28, wherein at least one base module includes a pillar air port in a top of said at least one base module which provides an air passage between said at least one base module and said pillar section, said pillar air port having a cross-section area which is less than the cross-section area of said pillar section.

30. A skating rink as defined in claim 28, wherein at least one base module having a pillar section includes air vacating means for providing an air passage to deflate said skating rink.

31. A skating rink as defined in claim 28, wherein said pillar section includes a net connection means for attaching netting to said pillar section.

32. A skating rink as defined in claim 31, wherein said connection means includes a zipper positioned on the front side edge of said pillar section and extending substantially the full length of said front side edge.

33. A skating rink as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one base module includes a pole support.

34. A skating rink as defined in claim 33, wherein said pole support includes a pole hole in a top of at least one base module and seal means for forming a substantially air tight seal between said pole hole and the interior of said at least one base module.

35. A skating rink as defined in claim 34, wherein said seal means includes a pole liner extending from the top to a bottom of at least one base module, said pole liner connected to the peripheral edges of said pole hole.

36. A skating rink as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable door connected to a side of said at least one base module, the inflatable door in air communication with an interior of said at least one base module.

37. A skating rink as defined in claim 36, wherein said inflatable door includes a plurality of air chambers in air communication with one another, said air chambers being substantially the same size.

38. A skating rink as defined in claim 37, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable base section connected to a bottom side of said at least one base module, said inflatable base section in air communication with an interior of said at least one base module.

39. A skating rink as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one base module includes an inflatable base section connected to a bottom side of said at least one base module, said inflatable base section in air communication with an interior of said at least one base module.

40. An inflatable structure comprising a base module and an adjacent inflatable module, said base module made of a flexible material that is substantially non-permeable to air, said base module including an air portal which provides an air passageway between said base module and an adjacent inflatable module, an air portal seal to form a substantially air tight seal between said base module and said adjacent inflatable module, and a connector to connect said base module to said adjacent inflatable module, said base inflatable module and said adjacent inflatable module each including a side wall and said air portal forming an opening in each of said side walls, said air portal having a size to impede air flow between both said base module and said adjacent inflatable module.

41. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 40, wherein said air portal seal means includes a seal selected from the group consisting of a melted seam, a glued seam, a stitched seam, a zipper seam, a snap seam, a button seam, a hook and loop fastener, a tongue &

groove seam, a laced seam and combinations thereof.

42. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 41, wherein said base module includes an inflatable step section connected to a bottom side of said base module, said inflatable step section in air communication with an interior of said base module.

43. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 42, wherein said inflatable step section is connected between two base modules.

44. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 42, wherein said base module includes a protective cover for said step section.

45. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 41, wherein said air portal seal means includes a zipper seam.

46. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 41, wherein said air portal seal means includes a stitched seam.

47. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 40, wherein said connector includes a connector selected from the group consisting of a stitched connection, a zipper connection, a melted seam connection, a snap connection, a button connection, a glued connection, a hook and loop fastener, a laced seam, a tongue and groove connection and combinations thereof, said connection means forming a secondary seal about said air portal.

48. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 47, wherein said connector is positioned substantially adjacent to the peripheral edge of said side walls.

49. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 40, wherein a plurality of base modules are connected together to form a skating rink.

50. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 47, wherein said base module includes an inflatable door connected to a side of said base module, said inflatable door in air communication with an interior of said base module.

51. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 47, wherein said base module includes a blower port and blower port connection means for connecting a blower outlet to said blower port, said blower port connection means including a connection selected from the group consisting of a zipper connection, a laced seam, a tongue and groove connection, a hook and loop fastener, a snap connection, a button connection and combinations thereof.

52. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 47, wherein said base module includes an inflatable step section connected to a bottom side of said base module, said inflatable step section in air communication with an interior of said base module.

53. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 47, wherein said base module includes air vacating means for depressurizing said base module, said air vacating means providing a passageway between an interior and exterior of said base module, said vacating means including closure means for opening and closing said passageway wherein the closure of said passageway inhibits passage of air from the interior of said base module.

54. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 47, wherein said base module includes an inflatable base guard connected to a front base of said base module and in air communication with an interior of said base module.

55. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 47, wherein said base module includes an inflatable pillar connected to a top of said base module, said inflatable pillar in air communication with an interior of said base module.

56. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 47, wherein said base module includes a pole support.

57. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 56, wherein said pole support includes a pole opening in a the top of said base module and pole sealing means for forming a substantially air tight seal between said pole opening and an interior of said base module.

58. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 40, wherein said base module includes a blower port and blower port connection means for connecting a blower outlet to said blower port, said blower port connection means including a connection selected from the group consisting of a zipper connection, a laced seam, a tongue and groove connection, a hook and loop fastener, a snap connection, a button connection and combinations thereof.

59. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 40, wherein said base module includes an inflatable base guard connected to a front base of said base module and in air communication with an interior of said base module.

60. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 40, wherein said base module includes air vacating means for depressurizing said base module, said air vacating means providing a passageway between an interior and exterior of said base module, said vacating means including closure means for opening and closing said passageway wherein the closure of said passageway substantially seals air in the interior of said base module.

61. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 40, wherein said base module includes an inflatable pillar connected to a top of said base module, said inflatable pillar in air communication with an interior of said base module.

62. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 51, wherein said inflatable pillar includes net connection means for connecting netting to said inflatable pillar.

63. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 61, including a net support cable in a tension arrangement between two pillars for supporting a net between said pillars.

64. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 40, wherein said base module includes a pole support.

65. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 64, wherein said pole support includes a pole opening in a top of said base module and pole sealing means for forming a substantially air tight seal between said pole opening and an interior of said base module.

66. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 65, wherein said pole seal means includes a pole liner connected around and substantially adjacent to the interior peripheral edge of said pole hole.

67. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 66, wherein said pole liner extends from a top interior to a bottom interior of said base module.

68. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 64, including a net support cable in a tension arrangement between two pole supports for supporting a net between said pole supports.

69. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 45, wherein said air portal being a substantially tubular member.

70. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 69, including an air flow constrictor being attached to said air portal.

71. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 70, wherein said air flow constrictor includes a mesh material.

72. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 40, including an air flow constrictor being attached to said air portal.

73. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 72, wherein said air flow constrictor includes a mesh material.

74. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 40, wherein said base module includes an inflatable door connected to a side of said base module, said inflatable door in air communication with an interior of said base module.

75. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 74, wherein said inflatable door includes a plurality of interior chambers, said interior chambers in air communication with one another.

76. An inflatable structure comprising a base module and an adjacent structure, said base module made of a substantially non-air permeable material, said base module including an air portal which provides an impeded air passageway between said base module and said adjacent structure, a connector to connect said base module to said adjacent structure, and an inflatable base guard connected to a front base of said base module, said inflatable base guard in air communication with an interior of said base module substantially at said front base of said base module and including an air constrictor being positioned between said base module and in flatable base guard, said base module an said adjacent structure share a common wall and said air portal being positioned in said common wall, said air portal impeding air by a construction which includes an air flow constrictor attached to said air portal.

77. An inflatable structure comprising a base module and an adjacent structure, said base module made of a flexible material that is substantially non-permeable to air, said base module including an air portal which provides an air passageway between said base module and said adjacent structure, an air flow constrictor, and a connector to connect said base module to said adjacent structure, said air flow constrictor being attached to said air portal, said connector forming a substantially air tight seal between said base module and said adjacent structure.

78. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, including an air portal seal to form a substantially air tight seal between said base module and said adjacent structure.

79. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 78, wherein said air portal seal includes a seal selected from the group consisting of a melted seam, a glued seam, a stitched seam, a zipper seam, a snap seam, a button seam, a hook and loop fastener, a tongue &

groove seam, a laced seam and combinations thereof.

80. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, wherein said base module is a first base module and said adjacent structure is a second base module, said first and said second base module including a side wall wherein each side wall has a substantially the same size surface area, said air portal has a cross-sectional area which is substantially smaller than said surface area of at least one of said side walls.

81. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, wherein said base module includes a blower port and a blower port connector to connect a blower outlet to said blower port, said blower port connector including a connection selected from the group consisting of a zipper connection, a laced seam, a tongue and groove connection, a hook and loop fastener, a snap connection, a button connection and combinations thereof.

82. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, wherein said base module includes an inflatable base guard connected to a front base of said base module and in air communication with an interior of said base module.

83. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, wherein said base module includes an air vacator to depressurize said base module, said air vacator providing a passageway between an interior and exterior of said base module, said vacator including a closure to open and close said passageway wherein the closure of said passageway substantially seals air in the interior of said base module.

84. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, wherein said base module includes an inflatable pillar connected to a top of said base module, said inflatable pillar in air communication with an interior of said base module.

85. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 84, wherein said inflatable pillar includes a net connector to connect netting to said inflatable pillar.

86. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, wherein said base module includes a pole support.

87. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 86, wherein said pole support includes a pole opening in the top of said base module and a pole seal to form a substantially air tight seal between said pole opening and an interior of said base module.

88. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, said base module including a pole seal having a pole liner connected around and substantially adjacent to the interior peripheral edge of a pole hole.

89. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, wherein said base module includes an inflatable door connected to a side of said base module, said inflatable door in air communication with an interior of said base module.

90. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, wherein said base module includes an inflatable step section connected to a bottom side of said base module, said inflatable step section in air communication with an interior of said base module.

91. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, wherein a plurality of base modules are connected together to form a skating rink.

92. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, wherein said air portal being a substantially tubular member.

93. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, wherein said air flow constrictor includes a mesh material.

94. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 77, where base module and said adjacent structure share a common wall, said air portal located in the common wall.

95. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 94, wherein said air portal has a cross-sectional area which is substantially smaller than the surface area of said common wall.

96. An inflatable structure comprising a base module and an adjacent structure, said base module made of a substantially non-air permeable material, said base module including an air portal which provides an impeded air passageway between said base module and said adjacent structure, a connector to connect said base module to said adjacent structure, an inflatable pillar connected to a top of said base module and a flow constrictor, said inflatable pillar in air communication with the interior of said base module and said flow constrictor impeding air flow at least from said base module to said inflatable pillar, said base module and said adjacent structure sharing a common wall and said air portal being positioned in said common wall, said air portal impeding air flow at least from said base module to said adjacent module.

97. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 96, wherein said inflatable pillar includes a net connector to connect netting to said inflatable pillar.

98. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 96, wherein said air portal impeding air by a construction which includes an arrangement selected from the group consisting of an air flow constrictor attached to said air portal, an air portal having a surface area smaller than the surface area of said common wall, and combinations thereof.

99. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 96, including an air constrictor being positioned between said base module and inflatable pillar.

100. An inflatable structure comprising a base module and an adjacent structure, said base module made of a substantially non-air permeable material, said base module including a pole support, an air portal which provides an impeded air passageway between said base module and said adjacent structure, a connector to connect said base module to said adjacent structure, said pole support including opening in a top of said base module and a pole seal to form a substantially air tight seal between said pole opening and the interior of said base module.

101. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 100, wherein said base module and said adjacent structure share a common wall and said air portal being positioned in said common wall, said air portal impeding air by a construction which includes an arrangement selected from the group consisting of an air flow constrictor attached to said air portal, an air portal having a surface area smaller than the surface area of said common wall, and combinations thereof.

102. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 100, wherein said pole support is at least partially positioned within said base module.

103. An inflatable structure comprising a base module and an adjacent structure, said base module made of a substantially non-air permeable material, said base module including an air portal which provides an impeded air passageway between said base module and said adjacent structure, a connector to connect said base module to said adjacent structure, and an inflatable door connected to a side of said base module, said inflatable door in air communication with an interior of said base module.

104. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 103, wherein said base module and said adjacent structure share a common wall and said air portal being positioned in said common wall, said air portal impeding air by a construction which includes an arrangement selected from the group consisting of an air flow constrictor attached to said air portal, an air portal having a surface area smaller than the surface area of said common wall, and combinations thereof.

105. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 103, including an air constrictor being positioned between said base module and said inflatable door.

106. An inflatable structure comprising a base module and an adjacent structure, said base module made of a substantially non-air permeable material, said base module including an air portal which provides an, impeded air passageway between said base module and said adjacent structure, a connector to connect said base module to said adjacent structure, and an inflatable step section connected to a bottom side of said base module, said inflatable step section in air communication with an interior of said base module.

107. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 106, wherein said base module and said adjacent structure share a common wall and said air portal being positioned in said common wall, said air portal impeding air by a construction which includes an arrangement selected from the group consisting of an air flow constrictor attached to said air portal, an air portal having a surface area smaller than the surface area of said common wall, and combinations thereof.

108. An inflatable structure as defined in claim 106, including an air constrictor positioned between said base module and said inflatable step section.