The present invention relates to a shelter intended for outdoor use, particularly at sporting events. The shelter is used to protect people from adverse weather conditions. The shelter is inflatable, which makes it relatively portable such that it can be moved from one location to another.

Brief Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shelter having an outer shell comprising an inflatable member and a seating portion contained within and attached to said outer shell.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a shelter according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of part of the seating portion shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a detail of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a shelter as shown in Figure 1 with an apron attached;

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a cross-section through seating portion 503; and

Figure 7 shows a further view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5.

Written Description of the Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention Figure 1

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A shelter 101 is provided, comprising an outer shell 102 and a seating portion 103. Shelter 101 is configured to protect its occupants from unfavourable weather conditions, such as wind and rain. The outer shell 102 is made up of sections of inflatable tubing, such as tubes 104 and 105, which are connected

by sheeting at the rear 106 and sides 107. The outer shell 102 has a large opening at the front to allow people to enter and exit the shelter 101. The rear sheeting 106 forms the roof portion 108 that is joined to the front of the outer shell 109. In the present embodiment, the outer shell measures approximately 2.5 metres high, 2.5 metres deep, and 4 metres wide. It is intended that the present embodiment accommodates approximately six people. The shelter is constructed such that there is space between the front of the outer shell 102 and the front of the seating portion 103 for people to stand in whilst still under shelter 101. Seating portion 103 is configured to support people is a seated position.

An air inlet 110 is provided to allow the shelter 101 to be inflated. In this embodiment, all of the tubing sections such as 104 and 105, the front of the shell 109, and the seating portion 103 are inflatable and are connected such that they may all be inflated via air inlet 110. In this embodiment the base of seating portion 103 is connected to outer shell 102 at tube 104. The shelter

101 is inflatable by a standard battery operated air pump, or a pump attached to a generator. In the present embodiment, shelter 101 is inflated and then air inlet 110 is closed off, for example by means of a screw cap. In alternative embodiments shelter 101 is constantly being topped up with air from a fan, throughout its use. In an alternative embodiment, seating portion 103 may be inflatable separately, or may be non inflatable.

In the present embodiment the tubing sections such as 104 which are at the base of the shelter would be of a larger diameter than the higher tubing sections such as 105, to provide extra stability. In a preferred embodiment, the side sheeting 107 is transparent but the rear sheeting 106 is not. A fastening device 111 is provided which in the preferred embodiment would be a hook and loop fastener, but could be press studs or another type of fastener. This is to allow an apron portion to be attached to the front of the shell 109, as shown in Figure 4. In the present embodiment the whole shelter is constructed from the same material ,(with the exception of fastening device 111), although it is

possible that different thicknesses of material would be used for different portions. This material comprises plastics materials, of the type that is well known for use in bouncy castles and other similar inflatables. The shelter is constructed by sewing, gluing or welding the plastic together. In a preferred embodiment there is space for illustrations such as advertisements on the outer shell, for example on the front of the shell 109, the rear sheeting 106, or any of the inflatable tubing sections such as 104 and 105. In this embodiment handles 112 are provided to allow for ease of transportation of the shelter 101.

Figure 2

One of the modules which makes up seating portion 103 is shown in an exploded view in Figure 2. Each module as shown in Figure 2 would accommodate one person in a seated position. The module consists of a shaped portion 201 and a support portion 202. The shaped portion has a raised lip 203 at the rear to provide back support to a person seated on it. The shaped portion 203 has an underneath air inlet 204 and two side air inlets 205. The shaped portion 201 is divided into chambers 206, 207, 208 and 209. The internal structure of shaped portion 201 is detailed in Figure 3. Support portion 202 has a foot 210 upon which sit four large cylinders

211, 212, 213 and 214, and a small central cylinder 215. The large cylinders 211 to 214 are held together by support straps such as strap 216 which joins cylinders 212 and 213. Foot 210 has an air inlet at 217.

Upon inflation, air enters the support portion 202 through air inlet 217. Air flows up through central cylinder 215, and then enters large cylinders 211 to 214. Air also passes from central cylinder 215 through air inlet 204 to fill the shaped portion 201. Air inlets 205 allow air to flow between adjacent modules, thus linking the modules to form seating portion 103.

Figure 3

Shaped portion 201 is detailed in Figure 3. Inner walls such as wall 301

can be seen on Figure 3, which divide shaped portion 201 into chambers 206, 207, 208 and 209. These inner walls provide support to the structure but allow air to pass through. There is also provided webbing 302 to help to prevent the shaped portion from bowing outwards when it is inflated.

Figure 4

Figure 4 shows shelter 101 with an apron portion 401 attached. It is attached by fastening device 111 shown in Figure 1. The apron portion has an opaque outer frame 402 and transparent window 403. There is space for illustrations such as advertisements on the outer frame 402. The shelter is constructed to provide space 404 behind the apron for persons to stand in whilst still receiving protection from the shelter.

Figure 5 An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure

5. A shelter 501 is shown which comprises an outer shell 502 and a seating portion 503. In this embodiment, seating portion 503 comprises substantially a pair of tubes parallel alongside each other, as further detailed in Figure 6.

Seating portion 503 is, in this embodiment, attached to outer shell 502 via hook and loop fasteners on seating portion 503 and spine 504 of outer shell

502. In this embodiment, seating portion 503 is inflatable separately from outer shell 502.

In this embodiment, mesh 505 is provided in each of the side panels of outer shell. 502. This mesh helps to prevent shelter 501 from becoming uncomfortably hot or humid, by allowing air to enter and exit the shelter. Loops

506 and 507 are provided at the sides of outer shell 502, to allow shelter 501 to be anchored to the ground.

In the present embodiment, and apron 508 is provided which is attached to outer shell 502 by sewing, gluing or welding. This apron can be used to cover the front opening of shelter 501 , as shown in Figure 7. When not in use, apron 508 can be either simply thrown over the top of shelter 501 such

that it lays over the roof portion and the back of shelter 501 , or can be rolled up and restrained by tapes such as tape 509 and tape 510.

Panels 511 and 512 are provided which comprise hook and loop fasteners for attachment of material for graphical display, such as advertising. In alternative embodiments, further panels may be provided at other locations on shelter 501.

Figure 6

Figure 6 shows a cross-section through seating portion 503. Seating portion 503 is seen to comprise substantially a pair of tubes 601 and 602.

These tubes are attached to spine 504 of the outer shell, in this embodiment by hook and loop fasteners along the length of spine 504. Tubes 601 and 602 are joined at point 603, and in a preferred embodiment holes are present at point 603 along the length of tubes 601 and 602, to allow air to flow between the two tubes.

In the present embodiment webbing is provided at 604 and 605. This webbing causes tube 602 to distort to have a relatively flat top and bottom portion. Webbing 604 and 605 has holes such as hole 606 in to allow air to circulate throughout tube 602. In the present embodiment webbing 604 and 605 is welded to tube 602. In alternative embodiments different arrangements of tubes and webbing would be used, configured to provide a relatively flat seat which has minimal bowing when inflated.

Figure 7 Figure 7 shows the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, with apron 508 extended to cover the front of shelter 501. Apron 508 is, in this embodiment, substantially transparent and therefore allows occupants of shelter 501 to observe events outside the shelter, without being exposed to weather conditions.