MEMBRANE

This in ention relates to m Inflatable exercise chamber for erfo ming exercise therein and particularly, but not exclusively, relates to inflatable exercise sharrsber S comprising one or mo e- wails compnelne, a gaa-per eabie inner membrane configured ^' to prevent the formation ef condensation on the Inner membrane. irslroPPCfion 0 Cur rent trends In the health and fitness sectors have shown a bee tn the number of people participatlne In 'oof exeeclse ciasses such as hot yog , hot plates and hot ballet In order to create e suitable environment for a hot exercise class, a fitness stud o would typically be heated to around 0* 0 wltn a relative humidity level of approximately 40 %...

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Such environmental conditions necessitate that the fitness studios be equipped with heaters and humidifiers, which can U the availability of such classes- The environmental requirements often mean that reubh condensation is formed on the wale and ceilings of the fitness studio during the exercise eiass _: hich may inadvertently0 reduce the humidit levels required for tbe classes and resell in tipple droplets falling on an ocoppaot As soo , it Is desirable to conduct the classes In a setf«eenta|ned chamber that may be specifically used fer hot exercise classes. Such a chamber may more readily control the Internal environment at optimum levels, o Fud ermpre, in order te meet the Increasing dema ds of the health and fitness sector, fitness class providers may wish to offer exercise classes at ipeauoes that would no! typically he equipped te meet the reoulrernenla of the dosses, for exam le: at Pffices and hotels. In tme way, it Is desirable to provide a portable exercise chamber tha ma he installed in a wide variety or locetlens,

0

The p sanf fnvontlon soak to address these Issues.,

Statement ef I vention 5 According: tp an aspect of the present Invention there is provided an Inflatable exercise chamber for erformlnp exercise therein, the inflatable exemlse chamber comprising: one or m re W defining m enclos d s ac , w ere n the ail comprises an inner rn mdrene a d m outer membrane defining a cavity, for example an inflatable cavity, therebetween, wherein the inner membrane of he wall Is a gas->permeabie membrane. The inflatable exercise ohamber may be heated.

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The heated Inflatable ®x®f<£i chamber may be configured to permit gas to flow between the environment external te the inf at ble exercise chamber and the erwlronmenf infernal to the Inflatable exercise chamber, for example by passage across the gae-eermeebfe membrane ef the wall The lo of gas acnsas the gae->0 permeable membrane of the wal ma prevent the form tion of condensation on the lone? sorface of the wall The gas-permaabia inner membrane may be configured with a permeabilit that Is just suf cien to prevent the formation of «0n«ten$srt¾»n on the inner membrarse of the wall. The Inner membrane may be fabricated from Rlpstop ylon,

b

The Inner r mbmm may be formed from a plurality of membrane portions joined together. The loins between the membrane podtona may be configured te permit gas to flow between the inflatable cavity and the environment Internal to the inflatable exercise chamber. The joins may be discontinuous. The loins ma comprise stitched seams,0 The joins may be configured to direct a flew of gas across the surface of the inner trmf e , for example to prevent the foenatton of condensation on the surface pf the Inner membrane which faces the environment Infsmai to the exercise chamber, The Inner membrane may be at least partially ribbed, for example the celling; and/or walls ef the Inner membrane may comprise a plurality of membrane portions joined fogethar to5 for a ribbed surface.

The heated inflatable exercise chamber may comprise at least, one opening configured to allo aecese into and out of the chamber. The opening may be provided with a cover.

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The heated Inflatable exercise chamber may comprise a light configured to llfeminate the environment Internal to the chamber. The light may be disposed within the cavity of the wall 5 The baated inflatable exercise ohamber ma eompd.se a neater configured to heat th environment Interna! t¾ the heated Inflatable exercise chamber. The heated Inflatable exer se chamber may comprise a humidifier configured to humidify the envfronmetf internal to the heated inflatable exorcise chamber. The heated inflatable exercise chamber may comprise a fee oonf igored to flow gas between the environment externa! to the heated Inflatable exercise chamber end ca ity of the wait, for example, the fan 5 may inflate, maintain or deflate the cavity.

The heated Inflatable exercise chambe may comprise one o more corstroi devices configured to eootroi the pressure and or mass flow rate of gas info and out of the cavity. The control devise may comprise ar a of more pressure sensors, mass flow 10 sensors, temperature sensors and/or humkf% sensors. The control devices may be configured to control utomatically the inflation and/or d f ation of the heated Inflatable exercise chamber. The control device may be configured to controt the temperatur andfof the humidity of the as lmnmant Internal to the heated Inflatable exercise chamber.

I S

According is anothe aspect of the present Invention there is provided a heated Inflatable exercise chambe for performing, exercise therein. The inflatable exercise chamb r composes one or mere walls at least partially defining an enclosed space. The walls comprise an Inner membrane and a«- utaf. ^m&r»¾ detlnipg an inflatable 20. cavity therebetween. The Inne membrane s formed from a plurality of membrane portions joined together, The Joins between the membrane portions are configured to permit ga to flow between the inflatable cavity sod the environment Internal to the inflatable exercise pbemher to prevent the fon¾atlon of condensation on the s rfaee of the inner membrane.

2S To avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and repetition of text In the specification, certain features am desonbed in relation to only one or several aspects or embodiments of the Invention, However, It Is to be understood that, where it is technically possible, features described in relaion to any sspeei or embodiment: of the invention may also he used with an other aspect or embodiment of the inven ion.

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Srtef Description ef the Dra iegs

For a better underatspdlng of the present disclosure, and to shew more clearly hew it may be carried Into effect, reference will now be made _: by way of example, to the 3b accompanying drawings. In which; Flgure 1 sho s m external view of an Inflatable exercise shamhor com ri ing opening;

Ft$u 2 shows a a tal cross section of a wall of the i flatable exercise chamber depleting a flow at a gas from the environment external to fha Inflatable exercise chamber to inflatable cavity defined y a ae ami an outer memfers se of the wail;

Figure 3 sho s a partial cross section of the est of the Inflatable exercise chambe depicting a flow of a gas from the Inflatable cavity fa the internal and externa! environment of the Inflatable exercis cham er;

Figure 4a shows a partial cross section af the wall of the Inflatabl exorcise chamber depleting a flo of a gas tram the Inflatable cavity fa the Internal environment of me inflatable exercise chambe by ass ge across a first type of Join between portions of the inner mem r ne: and

Figure 4b shows a parial cross section of the wall of the Inflatable exercise chamber depicting a flew of a gas torn the Inflatable cavity to the Infernal environment of the Inflatable exercise chambe by passage across a second type: of join between pa dons of the inner mem rane

Detailed Doaarfptloi?

An Inflafpble exercise chambe 100 a cording la m embodiment of the present invention la shown In figure 1. The Inflatable exercise chansbar 100 comprises one or more wails 102 that rje!!ne an enclosed space 104 within the Inflatable exercise sha ber 100.. The exercise cha :bet 1013 Is suitable far performing a variety of exerc ses therein , far example yoga ana ^' plfates, or vadaals such as " ot yoga, in the embodiment shown In figure the Inflatable exercise chamber 100 comprises a single wall 102 that defines the enclosed space 104 rlhin the inflatable exercise chamber 100. However, In another embodiment, the inflatable exercise chamber 100 may om rise y number of a!is 102 that are configured to define fha enclosed space 104 within the inflatable exercise chamber 100, Far example, in another. embodiment, the iai ^' isiable exercise chamber 100 may comprise a plurality of individual walls 102, which may form eide aits, a floor andfo a roof that may be arranged to define me enclosed space within t e inflatable exo cise ebamhar 100. in erobedimeni sh s-? so figure 1 , th inflatable exercis chamber 100 comprises S en opening 100 configured to allow access Into and eel of the inflatable exercise chamber 100. The speninf 106 Is p o ided with a cover 8 tha may be opened and efoaod usin one or m§m fastening: means IDS, lor example a zip o any ether appropriate fastening means,

10 Figure 2 shows a partial cross section of the wall 102 of the inflatable exercise chamber 00, The wall 102; oomptlaos an Inner membrane 110 end an outer membrane 112, The wa l 102 comprises m inflatable cavity 4 tbatis defined by the inner membrane 1 0 and an outer membrane 112, The wail Is configured such thai hen a gas, for example air, is pumped Into the cavity 1 14 the wait Inflates, The air

I S pressure generated I the cavit 1 14 of the wall 102 provides strostyral rigidity to the inflatable exercise chamber 100. Aa such,, the i tafabje exercise chamber 100 may be lightweight and easy to e ect: The inflatable exercise chamber 100, upon deflation, may be rolled and pached into a suitable container, which allows the intsiabte exercise chamber 1013 to be easily am ered between locations.

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Tfee Inflatable exercise chamber 100 comprises orse or mare fans 110 configured: flow air between the environment external to the Infiatable exercise chamber 100 and cavity 4 of the wall 102.. In the embodiment shown in figure 2. the fan 1 0 is provided in the oute membrane 112 and is configured to flew air 13 Into th cavity 1 14 from 2S the environment external to the inflatable exercise chamber 100. In another embodirnetrt, however, the fan 1 16 may be provided In any other location en or near the Inflatable exercise chamber 100.. The an may be configured to flow air mam the cavly 1: 14 Into the en onnsenf internal sndfor external to the Inflatable exercise chamber 100,

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in the mbodiment shewn In figure 3 the waif 102 comprises a gas-mar eable inner membrane 210. h may be appreciated, however that the: wall 02 may comprise a gas- permeable outer membrane, The Inflatable exercise chamber 100 is configured to permit air 1 0 to flow between the inflatable cavit 11 and the environment internal to 35 the inflatable exercise chamber 10 by passage across the gas-permeable Inner membrane 210, 8

During hot exercise classes, the temperature and the humidity of the environment internal to the inflatable exercise chamber 100 is usually much warmer and more Humid that those conditions external to the inflatable exercise chamber 100. Such conditions promote the formation of condensation on the inner surface of the wall 102 of the inflatable exercise chamber 100. A boJd-Mp of condensation is unsightly and unpleasant to the users of the inflatable exercise chamber 100. The flow of air 1 5 across the gas-permeable in er membrane 210 of the wall 1 2 prevents the formation of condensation on the inner surface of the wall 102 by creating an air barrie between the gas-permeable inner membrane 210 and the ^■ environment infernal to the inflatable exercise chamber 100.

The gas-permeabie Inne membrane 210 may be fabricated from an materia! that permits the passage of gas across its surface, for example Rlpstop Nylon. In order to maintain the necessary pressure within the cavit 1 14, the mass flow rate of the air 115 across the gas-permeable inner membrane 210 may be controlled. Furthermore, if the mass flow rate of the air 115 across the gas-permeable inner membrane 210 Is too great, the environment Internal to the inflatabl exercise chamber 100 may be disturbed. Consequently, once the inflatable exercise chamber 100 has been erected, the flow o air 113 into the cavity is approximately balanced with the flow of air 115 across the gas~permeahie Inner membrane 210, The gas-pe ieable inner membrane 210 may be configured with a permeability that Is just sufficient to prevent the formation of condensation on the gas-permeable inner membrane 210 of the wail 1 2, Furthermore, ihe mass flow rate of air 115 across the gas-permeable inner membrane 21 ma be dependent upon the air pressure within the cavity 104.

Figures 4a and 4b show partial cross sections of the wall 102 of the inflatable exercise chamber 100. As depicted m figure 4a, the inner membrane 110, 210 may comprise a plurality of membrane portions 11? joined, together. Joins 119 between the membrane portions 117 are configured to permit air 115 to flow between the inflatable cavity 1 4 and the enclosed spac 1 4 within the inflatable exercise chamber 100. The membrane portions 117 ma be joined by any appropriate means, for example by the use of stitching, welding, adhesive and/or any othe Joining technique. The Joins 119 between the membrane portions 117 may be discontinuous, e.g. with one -or more gaps such that air 115 may flow between gaps in the Join 119. In those examples where the inner membrane 110, 210 is made from a fabric, the Join may comprise stitched seams and t e g m ma be between neighbouring ≠wi$ m - groups of stitches. The gaps may he configured 4lf air flow 11S In a desired direction so ss to pre en the formation of cond ns ion on the Inner membrane 110, 210,

§ The configuration of the Jains 11$ may be such t at the flow rate of air 11 § Is different at different portions 11? of the lnner norribrane 110, 210, fcr example the Joins 9 in celling of the inner marob ana 1 f0, 210 may be eonflgored to allow more a r to to acroes the soffaoe of the Ipppr oi¾p-ib ene 110, 210 than the Joins 19 In a s!dews!! of the inner membrane 110, 210, a.g, by virtue of more and/pr bigger gaps in the ceiling 0 joins. In this manner, the fo!ns may be configured to prpvent the formation of condensation In those areas of the heated inflatable exercise chamber fOO which are mere susceptible to he fbrmefion of condensation o e e condensation ma be more fobtemetlo, .§. on the celling, Sy contrast, one or mere of the lolne 110 may ho configured to not .permit the flow of air Ho between the inflatable cavity 114 and the b encloipd space 104 within the inflatable exercise chamfe 100, e g. In planes where condensation is less likely to occur or is less likely to bp undesirable, suoh as on the sioewol!s, figure 4a shows an example of the wall 102 of th inflatable exercise chamber ISO 20 where the Inner m« nbr ts 110, 210 composes membrane portions 117 joined toge her to■ f rm a ribbed inne membrane m 21:0, The Joins 11 § between the membrane portions 117 are configured to direct air flow across the serf ace of e oh of the ribs of the Inner membrane,

25 §ure ¾ shows another example of the well 02 of the inflatable exercise chamb r 100 ^he e the Inner membrane 1 10, 210 comprises membrane portions 11? Joined together to, form a genes-ally fat Inner membrane 110, 21 , The Joins 1 0 between the membrane portions 1 7 are contoured to direct air flew In a direction parallel to the surface of the Inner membrane 110, 210,!n another embodiment (not shown), the

38 inflatable exercise chamber 100 may further comprise one or more heaters and/or humidifiers configured respectively to heat and humidify the erwlmnment inte nal to the Inflatable exercise cnamher 100 to the na ulred favets, The air barrier created between the gas~pern;eabie inner membrane 210 and the ei honmerit internal to the Inflatable exercise hamber 100 helps to maintain the required conditions, The heaters and/or

3S humidifiers may he disposed inside the inflatable exercise chamber 100. Additionally anchor ahemaf!ve!y, the heaters and/or humidifiers may be dispose outside the !nW ^e exercise crra ber 10O, he Ian 118 and/or o« or mors additional fans may be used to flow warm and/or hismid air from Ila Hmtsm n&¾f humidifers disposed outside he Inflatable exercise chamber 100 the -envr nment Internal to the i lata ta exercise e amfcsr 100, For xemple, warm and/ar humid air may ba provided to the d environment internal to the inflatable ex clae Oihamhar 100 t raugh the g o-peiwe ble inner mem rane 210,

The inflatable am$$ 114 ! soista the i ternal etfv!fo s ii ihe outside. This insolation educes th heat loss to the e ironment and thereby reduces the heat inpu0 f^ ¾ct to rrsaPb the desired temperature insi e the eisetsiae cbambef 100. furthermore, the tempeature differential across the Inflatable cavity 11 also serves to prevent condensation fet lng an iha inner membmne 1 l0 _t 2 , Cendensatlon tenda to form an cold surfaces and the insulating effect of iha oosiy 114 hel s to increase the temperature of the Inner membrane surface, t ereby reducing the likelihood oft condensation fcming, in another embodiment (not shown) _} the inflatable exercise cha ber 100 may fu ha compose one or moro lights configured to illuminate toe environment internal to the •nflatshle oxer-Qiao ohameer 100, The lights may be disposed witin the cevdy 11 of0 the all 102.