The invention relates to a small or a large balloon canopy, a barrier, a shielding structure.

There are many situations when a large canopy is required to shield and protect the general public from disasters, and natural every day elements, such as for example SUN, RAIN, SNOW,

SANDSTROMS, BLIZZARDS, INSECT INFESTATION, WILD LIFE ANIMAL CONTROL, etc, etc, etc.

The invention seeks to provide a small or large shielding structure up and over any area, horizontally or vertically in a very quick time, such as a disaster zone, any sports event, any large public gathering, rock concerts, cricket ground, Football ground, and any open arena.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a stretchable inflatable balloon, an inflation device, or a inflation system for inflating the balloon, connector members having first end and second ends, said first end being attached, tied, clicked to the rings on the balloon embedded within the structure of the balloon, and said second end being attached to the winding spools on the transport vehicle, or tied to the rings on the transport vehicle, or attached firmly on the ground, or anchored anywhere suitable safe and secure. The connector members can be a cord, a rope, metal cable, plastic rope, twisted nylon string, or a carbon fibre string having rings on both ends to be connected to the rings on the balloon and on the ground to the transport vehicle with hook and click like members, clicked or tied together with a string or plastic ties. The connector members on the transport vehicle wound onto spring loaded spools and when the balloon is deployed the connector members unwind automatically from the spools. Extra strength members attached onto the embedded rings all over the balloon for extra stability when suspended in the air. Also the carbon fibre string strength members of the balloon structure extend beyond the outer surface of the balloon to tiny spools and all the way down to the ground.

Advantageously the stretchable balloon is a layered structure and the balloon includes an inner skin and outer skin. The inner skin is made from material that is substantially impervious to an inflation gas, such as rubber or rubber compound and the outer skin is made from plastic or plastic material or fabric and preferably a synthetic fabric such as nylon, polyester, or a combination of synthetic materials. Alternatively the stretchable balloon can be of a single layer structure.

The balloon include metal rings, plastic rings, fabric rings, carbon fibre rings, nylon rings, or any rings of any material distributed all around across the balloon, said annular members as a first linkage, and a second linkage compromise a hook - and - click like member, such as a carabineer, or a similar mechanical connector, plastic ties, nylon string, plastic string, a cord, metal clips, key rings, slide in rings, clicked in rings and any similar to attach the rings of the connector members to the rings of the balloon. The rings are also used to tie the interconnected balloons together to extend the shielding structure vertically or horizontally to any height, any width, and any length. Advantageously the inflatable balloons are joined and interconnected together by tylng the rings together from one balloon to the rings of the next balloon vertically or horizontally to form a large canopy, a barrier, a shield, a large energy producing structure with solar strips and power fans.

Advantageously with a fully automatic adjusting system with the aid of light sensors, electric motors, electronics, hydraulics, will keep a certain area under shade at all times of the day, or will keep a certain area sunny at all times of day with reflection mirrors on the balloon apparatus.

Advantageously the whole apparatus is portable mounted on a transport vehicle and transported to the location and launched from the vehicle.

The stretchable balloon is rolled out from the spool on the transport vehicle in its closed and flat position and laid out on the ground at the desired location along with all the necessary connections such as gas hose, electric cable, connector members from the their individual spools. Open the gas actuating valve on the hose connected between the balloon and inflation system, and the gas will start to flow into the balloon and stop valve preventing the gas escaping from the balloon thereby inflating the balloon, which will start to rise and stretch upwards further and further from its flat and closed position. As the balloon is stretching upwards,, all the other equipment is secured, attached, tied and connected to the embedded rings on the balloon.

A single balloon fully inflated and suspended in the air to unlimited height will have all the necessary connection such as gas, power source, fibre optic cables, electrical cables to maintain lighter then air gas pressure and power source to maintain all light elements and equipment.

To extend the shielding structure the next balloon is rolled out to the first fully inflated balloon and rings are tied, clicked, connected together linking the two balloons and to complete the process all the necessary small interconnecting gas, electric, fibre optic connections are made between the two interconnected balloons and the main inflation hose, power source cables will be unplugged from the first balloon and plugged into the second balloon.

Each single one balloon does have a insertion valve, release valve, and power point, at the upper end and lower end of the balloon therefore all the balloons being interconnected only one insertion valve, one release valve, one power point, will be required on the last balloon joined on the ground or the balloon closet to the ground if the balloon is suspended in the air to maintain the gas pressure and power source in the whole shielding structure. All valves are dual purpose inlet / outlet for easy connections either side of the balloon and for easy released gas refilling.

Advantageously any number of balloons can be joined together to form a very large canopy, barrier, emergency shelter, a shield, a roof, a floating platform in extreme emergency situation, and most of all with solar strips, solar panels, wind power fans producing alternative energy.

Additionally, or alternatively, the carbon fibre strength members are embedded within the skin and / or adhered thereto or woven into the outer skin and / or to form lines of latitude and / longitude. Embodiments of the invention will now be described in the way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure la - c is a schematic view of the embodiment in close and deployed state;

Figure 1 Shows the shielding structure apparatus in accordance with the invention. The apparatus includes a transport vehicle 1, a stretchable balloon 3, a flexible nylon or plastic hose 16, with coupling valves on both ends of the hose, inflation system 5, joining rings 6, connector members 7, spring loaded winding in and winding out spools 12, actuator system 11, small interconnecting gas tube 10, with twist & turn coupling valves from 4 to 4, small gas release tube 25, from 22 to 22, small power source cable 26, connecting power points 17 to 17, completing all gas and power circuits between the two interconnected balloons tied or clicked together by the rings 6, with a conventional string, plastic ties, or click together members 23, optional extra strength members 15, optional light elements L E D,S 8, wind power fan 9, solar strips & panels 13, connecting members 21, 21a, 21b, pressure vessels and / or a pressure tank 20, coupling gas valve24, actuator valve 11, and the hose valve 2, to supply gas to the interior of the balloon, and a sheath means 18, housing, electrical cables, fibre optic cables. Overlapping canvas 27 protection from rain and snow. Tiny spools 28, storage batteries 29, external power points 30, to sub station 31, national grid 32.

The stretchable balloon 3 comprises inner rubber and outer skin made from nylon fabric. The outer skin is reinforced with flexible strength members 15, such as carbon fibres. The strength members 15 are woven into the nylon fabric and / or attached thereto. The strength members 15 extend beyond the lower extremity of the balloon to tiny spools 28 and if required extend all the way down for extra stability and extra strength when the balloon is up in the air.

The rings 6, all over across, and on the outer ends of the balloon are for joining and for extending and to tie extra strength members 15, and for attaching any extra equipment such as a camera, cctv, dish, slogans, advertisement material, light elements and similar.

The stretchable balloon 3 is rolled off the transport vehicle 1 at the desired location and laid on the ground. The hose 16 is connected to valve 4 in the balloon 3 and connected to valve 2 which is coupled with actuator means 11 and valve 24 connected to inflation system 5 and pressure cylinders 20. The sheath means 18 housing all cables connected to power point 17. Connector members 7 connected to rings 6 on the balloon and connected to spools 12 on the transport vehicle. The balloon 3 will start to stretch upwards when valve 2 & 24 are coupled together and to tie the next balloon onto the first balloon the rings 6 are joined, attached, clicked, or tied together, hose 16 and sheath means 18 taken out from first balloon and inserted into second balloon and small interconnecting tube 10 connected to valves 4 to 4 and small gas releasing interconnecting tube 25 connected from valve 22 to 22 and small power interconnecting cable 26 connected to point 17 to 17 completing all connections interconnecting the two balloons together having a single inlet 4 outlet 22 power point 17 on the last balloon on the ground or nearest to the ground if suspended in the air. Adding on as many balloons as required. Typically the balloon is sun reflecting material but can be sun obsorbing, moisture obsorbing, thin glass sunlight reflecting mirrors. The apparatus includes at least one light element or plurality l.e.ds 8 power generating fan 9, solar strips/panels 13, producing great amount of energy. Dual purpose valves 4 and 22.