U.S. patent number 3,801,093 [Application Number 05/309,530] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-02 for air supported enclosure for a jogging track.
Invention is credited to Richard M. Jones, III.
United States Patent |
3,801,093 |
Jones, III |
April 2, 1974 |
AIR SUPPORTED ENCLOSURE FOR A JOGGING TRACK
Abstract
An air supported enclosure for a jogging track consists of an
inflatable structure having walls and roof formed of air impervious
material adapted to enclose a volume of air under pressure slightly
in excess of atmospheric. Pressure sealing access means in one of
said walls communicating with a service building and peripheral
anchoring means at the lower edge of said walls for sealing said
structure against the escape of air, said structure taking the form
of a jogging track oval and providing a continuously extending
circular enclosure.
Inventors: |
Jones, III; Richard M.
(Youngstown, OH) |
Family
ID: |
23198600 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/309,530 |
Filed: |
November 24, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
472/94;
52/2.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H
15/22 (20130101); A63B 2208/053 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04H
15/22 (20060101); E04H 15/20 (20060101); E04h
003/14 (); E04b 001/345 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/3 ;52/2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Perham; Alfred C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harpman; Webster B.
Claims
I claim:
1. An air supported circuitous continously extending enclosure for
a circuitous jogging track defined by said circuitous continuously
extending air supported enclosure, said air supported enclosure
having walls and roof formed of air impervious material adapted to
enclose a volume of air under pressure slightly in excess of
atmospheric, pressure means providing a substantially continuous
flow of air into the interior of said air supported enclosure,
pressure sealing access means in at least one of said walls and
peripheral anchoring means at the lower edges of said walls
defining said jogging track and sealing said enclosure against the
escape of air.
2. The air supported enclosure for a jogging track set forth in
claim 1 and wherein the peripheral anchoring means at the lower
edges of said walls consists of evenly spaced peripheral body
members partially embedded in a supporting surface, anchor members
partially embedded in said peripheral body members and extending
outwardly thereof and continuously extending members secured to
said anchor members, the peripheral edges of said impervious
material being secured to said continuously extending members in
sealing relation.
3. The air supported enclosure for a jogging track set forth in
claim 1 and wherein the circuitous track and enclosure takes the
form of a rectangle with the four corners thereof rounded.
4. The air supported enclosure and jogging track set forth in claim
1 and wherein the circuitous track and enclosure takes the form of
a rectangle with the four corners thereof rounded and the access
means is located in one end thereof.
5. The air supported enclosure and jogging track as set forth in
claim 1 and wherein said peripheral anchoring means consists of
water filled tubes continuously joined to the peripheral edges of
said walls.
6. The air supported enclosure and jogging track set forth in claim
1 and wherein said peripheral anchoring means consists of water
filled tubes continuously joined to the peripheral edges of said
walls, bands positioned transversely of said walls and roof, ropes
attached to said bands and stakes holding said ropes.
7. The air supported enclosure and jogging track set forth in claim
1 and wherein a service building is in communication with said
access means.
8. The air supported enclosure and jogging track set forth in claim
1 and wherein a service building is in communication with said
access means and said pressure means is located in said service
building.
9. The air supported enclosure and jogging track set forth in claim
1 and wherein a service building is in communication with said
access means and said track includes evenly spaced lines defining a
plurality of jogging tracks.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to inflatable structures for air support and
defining a continuous oval-shaped enclosure for a jogging
track.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior structures of this type have related to air inflated
structures for storage buildings and swimming pool enclosures. See
for example U.S. Pat. No. 2,910,994 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,657.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,472 shows a swimming pool enclosure and U.S.
Pat. No. 2,939,467 discloses an air supported structure
incorporating a loading dock or a port and a novel access means in
communication therewith.
This invention comprises an air supported circuitous enclosure for
a jogging track with the means defining the jogging track acting to
support the air enclosure in air sealing relation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An inflatable cross sectionally arcuate structure defining walls
and a roof formed of an air impervious material such as polyvinyl
chloride and taking the shape of an oval or annular structure
having air sealing means along its peripheral edges defining a
jogging track together with access means communicating with a
service building and means for maintaining air pressure in the
enclosure slightly in excess of atmospheric.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts broken away and parts in
cross section illustrating the air supported enclosure for a
jogging track.
FIG. 2 is a cross section of an enlarged detail taken on line 2--2
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross section of a modified air supported enclosure for
a jogging track.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In its simplest form the air supported enclosure for a jogging
track consists of an oval or annular circuitous track 10 defined by
spaced parallel peripheral border members 11 and 12 arranged to
support an air impervious roof and wall structure 13 the peripheral
edges of which are secured to continuously extending members 14
such as wooden 2.times.6's positioned on their narrow edges and
held by metal anchors 15 portions of which are embedded in the
peripheral border members 11 and 12 which are preferably formed of
concrete.
As best seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the air supported enclosure
for a jogging track provides an inflated, arcuate structure
enclosing the jogging track and having a communicating branch 16
preferably at one end communicating with a service building 17
which includes lockers, showers and similar facilities as
necessary. A blower system 18 incorporating heating and cooling
means is preferably positioned on the service building 17 and
arranged to communicate with the air supported enclosure as best
seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The air impervious material from
which the roof and wall structure 13 is formed is preferably
polyvinyle chloride film which may be transparent or translucent or
a combination of such films as will be understood by those skilled
in the art. Air pressure slightly in excess of atmospheric
introduced into the air supported enclosure by the blower means 18
will maintain the same in the desirable shape illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 2 of the drawings. Suitable means, not shown, is incorporated
in the blower systems for controlling the volume of air introduced
into the air supported enclosure so as to maintain the same at a
desirable pressure.
The jogging track 10 is preferably provided with a suitable
surfacing material and may be lined as seen in FIG. 1 of the
drawings to indicate a plurality of continuously extending parallel
jogging tracks.
In FIG. 1 of the drawings the lines defining the individual jogging
tracks are indicated by the numerals 19.
Still referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that an
auxiliary access means 20 has been provided and includes a normally
closed door and that an auxiliary blower means 21 is also provided
and preferably located at a point on the air supported enclosure
remote with respect to the service building 17 and the blower means
18 heretofore described.
In forming the air supported enclosure for a jogging track the site
is graded, the spaced, parallel peripheral body members 11 and 12
poured and the metal anchor members 15 installed in spaced
longitudinal relation therein. The continuously extending members
14 are then bolted or otherwise attached to the metal anchors 15
and the lower peripheral edges of the wall portion of the air
impervious structure are secured thereto in an air-tight manner.
Either before or after installation of the air supported wall and
roof structure 13 the track surfacing material is positioned and
upon inflation the air supported enclosure is sealingly affixed to
the service building 17 and inflated by operation of the blower 18
and/or supplemental blower 21.
Those skilled in the art will observe that modifications in the
structure of the air supported enclosure hereinbefore described are
possible and one such modification is illustrated in FIG. 3 of the
drawings.
By referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that a
jogging track 23 is indicated with an air supported enclosure
defining the same and consisting of peripheral continuously
extending impervious tubular members 24 and 25 attached to the
peripheral edges of longitudinally extending transparent wall
sections 26 which are in turn secured along their upper edges to
opaque air impervious material 27 defining the roof portion of the
air supported enclosure. Transversely extending reinforcing bands
of similar material 28 are secured to the roof portion 27 and their
opposite outer lower ends 29 secured to flexible tie-downs 30 which
in turn are secured to stakes 31 spaced with respect to the tubular
borders 24 and 25.
It will be observed that the structure of the modification can be
installed at less expense and at a considerably time savings as
compared with the preferred embodiment of the invention
hereinbefore described. The modified structure of FIG. 3 of the
drawings will preferably take the same shape as the structure of
the preferred embodiment as seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings and will
include the joining section communicating with a service building
all as disclosed in FIG. 1 of the drawings.
It will thus be seen that an air supported enclosure for a jogging
track has been disclosed which will provide a relatively
inexpensive, attractive and entirely suitable weather-tight
enclosure capable of being cooled or heated and in which jogging on
conveniently designated tracks may be enjoyed.
Although but two embodiments of the present invention have been
illustrated and described it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *