Inflatable insulative covering

• US 6,442,903 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olive Tree Patents 1 LLC
• Original Assignee: Global Energy Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Hebert, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KATCHEVES, BASIL S
• Application Number:
  US09/711,764
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 52/21.8, 52/21.1, 52/64, 47/291, 47/17
• US Class Current: 52/2.11
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/1415 with double or multiple walls
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/225 Inflatable structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor

Abstract

An apparatus for regulating the transmission of energy through an energy transmissive structure having at least one energy transmissive panel comprising in combination at least one elongated support adjacent to the energy transmissive panel of the energy transmissive structure. A polymer bag made of polyethylene terephthalate encapsulates the elongated support which allows the polymer bag to be inflated or deflated around the elongated support. The outer surface of the polymer bag has a reflective coating for reflecting energy through the energy transmissive structure. There is at least one elongated weight attached to the polymer bag to ensure that the polymer bag is maintained in its optimum position. There is at least one air distribution header attached to the elongated support to inflate or deflate the polymer bag. In an inflated state, the polymer bag blocks the transmission of energy and in a deflated state, the polymer bag allows the transmission of energy through the transmissive energy panel of the energy transmissive structure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for regulating the transmission of energy through an energy transmissive structure having at least one energy transmissive panel comprising in combination:

at least one elongated support adjacent to the energy transmissive panel of the energy transmissive structure;

at least one polymer bag having an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface of said polymer bag encapsulating said elongated support, said outer surface of said polymer bag having a reflective coating;

at least one elongated weight attached to said polymer bag; and

at least one air distribution header attached to said elongated support, said air distribution header controlling an airflow into said elongated support, through a hole in said elongated support and into said inner surface of said polymer bag, whereby said polymer bag is inflated and deflated to regulate the transmission of energy through the transmissive energy panel of the energy transmissive structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reflective coating downwardly reflects light energy into the energy transmissive structure during daylight.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said reflective coating is made from the group consisting of aluminum paint, nickel paint and silver paint.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said polymer bag is made from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride and acrylate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elongated weight is connected to a tension spring.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable tee through which said airflow flows into said elongated support, said adjustable tee allowing the angular orientation of said elongated support, whereby said elongated support is adjusted to properly fit said energy transmissive structure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of said holes along the length of said elongated support; and

a slot positioned at an end of said elongated support for installation and removal of said elongated support from said air distribution header.

8. An apparatus for regulating the transmission of energy through an energy transmissive structure having at least one energy transmissive panel comprising in combination:

a support structure adjacent to the energy transmissive panel of the energy transmissive structure, said support structure having a plurality of connection ports, said support structure allowing an airflow to communicate to said plurality of connection ports;

a plurality of elongated supports being attached to said connection ports;

a plurality of polymer bags encapsulating respective said elongated supports, each of said polymer bags having an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface of each of said polymer bags encapsulating respective said elongated supports, said outer surface of each of said polymer bags having a reflective coating;

a plurality of elongated weights attached to each of said polymer bags; and

a plurality of air distribution headers attached to each of said elongated supports, said air distribution headers supplying said airflow into said elongated support, through a hole in said elongated support and into respective said polymer bags, whereby said polymer bags are inflated and deflated to regulate the transmission of energy through the transmissive energy panel of the energy transmissive structure.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of polymer bags being aligned with said energy transmissive panel to allow light energy to pass through the energy transmissive structure during daylight.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said reflective coating of said plurality of polymer bags downwardly reflects light energy into the energy transmissive structure during daylight.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of polymer bags being aligned with one another to block the transmission of heat energy from said energy transmissive structure through said energy transmissive panel during nighttime.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said reflective coating is made from the group consisting of aluminum paint, nickel paint and silver paint.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said polymer bag is made from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride and acrylate.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said elongated weight is connected to a tension spring.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of adjustable tees through which said airflow flows into said elongated support, said adjustable tees allowing the angular orientation of respective said elongated supports, whereby said elongated supports are adjusted to properly fit said energy transmissive structure.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of said holes along the length of each of said elongated supports; and

a slot positioned at an end of each of said elongated supports for installation and removal of each of said elongated supports from each of said connection ports.

17. A method for regulating the transmission of energy through an energy transmissive structure having at least one energy transmissive panel, the method comprising:

providing a support structure adjacent to the energy transmissive panel of the energy transmissive structure, said support structure having a plurality of connection ports,

providing a plurality of elongated supports being attached to said connection ports;

providing a plurality of polymer bags encapsulating respective said elongated supports, each of said polymer bags having an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface of each of said polymer bags encapsulating respective said elongated supports, said outer surface of each of said polymer bags having a reflective coating;

providing a plurality of elongated weights attached to each of said polymer bags;

creating an airflow to communicate to said plurality of connection ports through a plurality of air distribution headers attached to respective said elongated supports, said air distribution headers supplying said airflow through at least one hole in said elongated supports into respective said polymer bags;

inflating said polymer bags to decrease the transmission of energy through the transmissive energy panel of the energy transmissive structure; and

deflating said polymer bags to increase the transmission of energy through the transmissive energy panel of the energy transmissive structure.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said plurality of polymer bags are aligned with said energy transmissive panel to increase light energy into the energy transmissive structure during daylight.