US20020044825A1

US20020044825A1 - Device for delimiting the course of a circuit

Info

Publication number: US20020044825A1
Application number: US09/911,200
Authority: US
Inventors: Sergio Gallardo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-24
Filing date: 2001-07-23
Publication date: 2002-04-18
Also published as: DE20111687U1; ES1046737Y; ITMI20010415U1; FR2812672A1; ITMI20010415V0; ES1046737U

Abstract

A device for delimiting the course of a circuit includes an inflatable structure formed of tubular pieces. The tubular pieces are made of a flexible material and can be interconnected as to form exterior sections, interior sections and interconnecting bridges therebetween. The device further includes means for fastening the inflatable structure to the ground.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a device for delimiting the course of a circuit. The said device is composed of an inflatable structure that is made up of tubular pieces of a flexible material that can be interconnected and is made up of a means of fastening the said inflatable structure to the ground.

ANTECEDENTS TO THE INVENTION

When certain events are held such as go-cart races, traffic education courses, driving courses, or similar events, it is necessary to define a circuit, thereby delimiting the course of the same using fencing, hay bales, or any other element that can be removed once the event has concluded.

The elements normally used to delimit the course of these circuits pose a series of problems, highlighted among which are the cost of acquisition or rental of the same, the transport difficulties due to the volume and weight of the same, and the installation and removal costs, especially when holding events with a short duration.

INVENTION DESCRIPTION

In order to solve the mentioned problems, the device for delimiting the circuit course, the object of this invention, has been conceived, which device presents a series of construction features that are designed to considerably simplify the transportation and installation tasks and which allow defining various circuits adapted in each case to the needs of the event to be held.

In accordance with the invention, this device includes an inflatable structure made up of tubular pieces of flexible material that can be interconnected and which form interior and exterior sections and interconnecting bridges between the exterior and interior sections. The circuit course is thereby delimited between the said sections. This device additionally includes a means of fastening the inflatable structure to the ground so that it cannot be moved by the wind.

This device, as previously mentioned, provides considerable advantages regarding the ease of installation and transportation, given that, once deflated, the inflatable structure takes up a minimal volume. Another advantage that it presents is that since it is made up of tubular pieces, a variable number of the same can be connected together in order for the circuit to be conformed to the size and characteristics necessary in each case.

The said tubular pieces are each provided with the corresponding openings at each end for the longitudinal connection of the same and, optionally, they are provided with radial openings in order to connect tubular pieces perpendicular to the longitudinal pieces. These pieces thereby form interconnecting bridges between the exterior and interior sections.

In order to inflate the structure, at least one of the tubular pieces has been provided with an inflation opening through which air will be continuously introduced while the device is being used.

In accordance with the invention, the end openings and the radial openings defined in the tubular pieces will be provided with a means for them to be interconnected. Said means are composed, preferably, of perimeter strips that are fastened around the mentioned openings and removable strips designed to externally grip the said perimeter strips. The perimeter strips and the removable strips thereby form the complimentary parts of a contact seal, for example of the “Velcro type.”

Although these connection means are mentioned as preferable, they could be made up of other, similar means, for example a zipper. In this case, the toothed edges of the zipper would be fastened at the openings to be joined.

In accordance with the invention, the tubular bodies have fastening loops on the sides that are aligned in order to hook the means in charge of fastening the inflatable structure to the ground. These fastening means are composed of a strong cable or rope that passes through the interior of the fastening loops, and the desired position is set by using lateral tensors anchored to the ground.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order to compliment that description that is being provided, and in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention's characteristics, this descriptive report is accompanied by a set of drawings in which, as an illustration and not thereby limiting, the following has been represented: [0012]
FIG. 1 shows the ground view of an example of a circuit delimited by the device that is the object of this invention. [0013]
FIGS. 2 and 3 each show the execution of an interconnection for two tubular bodies where they are abutted at the ends and where one end of a tubular body is connected to the radial opening of another, respectively. [0014]
FIG. 4 shows a perspective detail of the means of fastening the inflatable structure, and the fastening cable can be observed therein, which cable has been passed through the interior of the fastening loops corresponding to a tubular piece. [0015]

PREFERENTIAL EXECUTION OF THE INVENTION

As it can be observed in the referenced figures, this device is made up of an inflatable structure referenced in its entirety as ([0016] 1), and made up of a series of tubular pieces (2) that can be interconnected and that, in the example shown, make up an exterior section (3), two interior sections (4), and interconnecting bridges (5) between the interior and exterior sections (3 and 4).
The tubular pieces ([0017] 2) each have end openings (2 a) that are provided with the means for the longitudinal connection of the same. As it can be observed in FIGS. 1 and 3, some of the tubular pieces have a radial opening (2 b) in order to connect the pieces that form the bridges (5) and which connect the exterior sections (3) to the interior sections (4).
In order to connect the tubular pieces ([0018] 2), both the end openings (2 a) as well as the radial openings (2 b) have been provided with perimeter strips (6) fastened around them and that make up one of the parts of the contact seal. The said connecting means are completed by a removable strip (7) that forms the other part of the contact seal and that keeps the perimeter strips joined together (6) that are positioned around the openings to be connected.
As it can be observed in FIG. 1, one of the tubular pieces has an inflation opening ([0019] 2 c) through which air will be permanently introduced in order to keep the structure inflated (1) while the circuit is being used.
In the example shown in FIG. 4, the means used for fastening the inflatable structure ([0020] 1) to the ground are made up of a strong cable (8) that goes through fastening loops defined on the tubular pieces that make up the exterior and interior sections (3 and 4), and the cable is thereby immobilised by means of lateral tensors (9) anchored to the ground using nails, screws, staples, or similar elements.
The layout of the lateral tensors ([0021] 9) allows the inflatable structure (1) to shift slightly towards the side when it receives an impact, thereby reducing the risk that the fastening loops (2 d) break.
Having hereby sufficiently described the nature of the invention as well an example of its preferential use, it is hereby stated for the appropriate purposes that the materials, shape, size, and layout of the elements described may be modified, as long as this does not involve an alteration of the essential characteristics of the invention that are claimed below. [0022]

Claims

1. A device for delimiting the course of a circuit, thereby characterized by including an inflatable structure (1) made up of tubular pieces (2) of flexible material that can be interconnected and that make up exterior sections (3), interior sections (4), and interconnecting bridges (5) between the exterior and interior sections (3 and 4). They thereby delimit the circuit course between the mentioned sections. The device includes a means of fastening the inflatable structure (1) to the ground.

2. A device, in accordance with the preceding independent claim, characterized by tubular pieces (2) that each present end openings (2 a) for the longitudinal connection of successive tubular pieces and, optionally, that present radial openings (2 b) for connecting tubular pieces perpendicular to the longitudinal ones.

3. A device, in accordance with the preceding independent claims, characterized by at least one of the tubular pieces (2) presenting an inflation opening (2 c).

4. A device, in accordance with the preceding independent claims, characterized by the end openings (2 a) and the radial openings (2 b) having a means for interconnection.

5. A device, in accordance with independent claim number 4, characterized by the means of interconnecting the tubular pieces (2) being made up of perimeter strips (6) set around the openings (2 a and 2 b) and by a removable strip (7) designed to externally grip the perimeter strips (6). The perimeter strips (6) and the removable strips (7) thereby make up the complimentary parts of a contact seal.

6. A device, in accordance with the preceding independent claims, characterized by the tubular pieces (2) presenting fastening loops (2 d) that are aligned along the sides for hooking the means for fastening the inflatable structure (1) to the ground.

7. A device, in accordance with the preceding independent claims, characterized by the means of fastening the inflatable structure (1) to the ground being made up of a strong cable or rope (8) that passes through the fastening loops (2 d) and which is fastened in the desired position using lateral tensors (9) anchored to the ground.