Air support structures and methods of erecting same

Abstract

In an inflatable structure, comprising a first inflatable beam, upon inflation the first inflatable beam extends from a first point of ground contact at a first point along the perimeter of the structure to a first position at a first elevation, from the first position at the first elevation to a second position at a second elevation and from the second position at the second elevation to a second point of ground contact at a second point along the perimeter of the structure. A second inflatable beam is coupled to the first inflatable beam, and upon inflation the second inflatable beam extends from a third point of ground contact at a third point along the perimeter of the structure to a third position at a third elevation, from the third position at the third elevation to a fourth position at a fourth elevation and from the fourth position at the fourth elevation to a fourth point of ground contact at a fourth point along the perimeter of the structure. Sheeting is coupled to the first inflatable beam and the second inflatable beam, wherein the sheeting provides shade, camouflage, protection from ultraviolet radiation, protection from extreme temperatures, or protection from solar loading for objects located under or within the inflatable structure.

1 . An inflatable structure, comprising:
 a first inflatable beam, wherein upon inflation the first inflatable beam extends from a first point of ground contact at a first point along the perimeter of the structure to a first position at a first elevation, from the first position at the first elevation to a second position at a second elevation and from the second position at the second elevation to a second point of ground contact at a second point along the perimeter of the structure;   a second inflatable beam coupled to the first inflatable beam, wherein upon inflation the second inflatable beam extends from a third point of ground contact at a third point along the perimeter of the structure to a third position at a third elevation, from the third position at the third elevation to a fourth position at a fourth elevation and from the fourth position at the fourth elevation to a fourth point of ground contact at a fourth point along the perimeter of the structure; and   sheeting coupled to the first inflatable beam and the second inflatable beam, wherein the sheeting provides shade, camouflage, protection from ultraviolet radiation, protection from extreme temperatures, or protection from solar loading for objects located under or within the inflatable structure.   
   
   
       2 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling is a flexible coupling. 
   
   
       3 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling is a truss. 
   
   
       4 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling is a strap assembly. 
   
   
       5 . The inflatable structure of  claim 4 , wherein the strap assembly comprises a plurality of color coded straps. 
   
   
       6 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling is a knuckle assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first elevation is substantially the same as the second elevation. 
   
   
       8 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the third elevation is substantially the same as the fourth elevation. 
   
   
       9 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first elevation is substantially the same as the third elevation. 
   
   
       10 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second elevation is substantially the same as the fourth elevation. 
   
   
       11 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sheeting is coupled to the upper portions of the first inflatable beam and the second inflatable beam. 
   
   
       12 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sheeting comprises netting. 
   
   
       13 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sheeting comprises camouflage material. 
   
   
       14 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sheeting comprises a tarp. 
   
   
       15 . The inflatable structure of  claim 14 , wherein the sheeting is waterproof. 
   
   
       16 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sheeting is coupled to the first inflatable beam and the second inflatable beam using one from the group comprising ties, hook and loop fasteners, and snaps. 
   
   
       17 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first inflatable beam includes a first vertical leg and a second vertical leg and wherein the third inflatable beam includes a third vertical leg and a fourth vertical leg. 
   
   
       18 . The inflatable structure of  claim 17 , wherein a portion of the first inflatable beam extends from the first vertical leg to the second vertical leg in substantially an arc and a portion of the second inflatable beam extends from the third vertical leg to the fourth vertical leg in substantially an arc. 
   
   
       19 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first inflatable beam extends from the first point of ground contact to the second point of ground contact in substantially an arc and wherein the second inflatable beam extends from the third point of ground contact to the fourth point of ground contact in substantially an arc. 
   
   
       20 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first inflatable beam and the second inflatable beam include a plurality of standoffs and wherein the sheeting is coupled to the plurality of standoffs. 
   
   
       21 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable beams comprise an air bladder covered by woven three dimensional fabric. 
   
   
       22 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sheeting comprises a plurality of smaller sheets that are coupled together to form the sheeting. 
   
   
       23 . The inflatable structure of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of smaller sheets are coupled one to the other using one from the group comprising zippers, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, and ties. 
   
   
       24 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a third inflatable beam and a fourth inflatable beam coupled to the third inflatable beam, wherein the third inflatable beam is located adjacent to at least a portion of the second inflatable beam, and wherein the sheeting is further coupled to the third inflatable beam and the fourth inflatable beam to form an unobstructed expanse within the inflatable structure. 
   
   
       25 . The inflatable structure of  claim 1 , further comprising an inflatable cross support beam positioned between a first leg of the first inflatable beam and a first leg of the second inflatable beam. 
   
   
       26 . The inflatable structure of  claim 25 , further comprising an inflatable cross support beam positioned between a second leg of the first inflatable beam and a second leg of the second inflatable beam. 
   
   
       27 . A kit for an inflatable structure, comprising:
 a first deflated beam, wherein upon inflation the first beam extends from a first point of ground contact at a first point along the perimeter of the structure to a first position at a first elevation, from the first position at the first elevation to a second position at a second elevation and from the second position at the second elevation to a second point of ground contact at a second point along the perimeter of the structure;   a second deflated beam, wherein upon inflation the second beam extends from a third point of ground contact at a third point along the perimeter of the structure to a third position at a third elevation, from the third position at the third elevation to a fourth position at a fourth elevation and from the fourth position at the fourth elevation to a fourth point of ground contact at a fourth point along the perimeter of the structure;   sheeting for coupling to the first inflatable beam with the second inflatable beam, wherein the sheeting provides at least one of shade, camouflage, protection from ultraviolet radiation, protection from extreme temperatures, and protection from solar loading, for objects located under or within the inflatable structure;   a strap assembly for coupling the first deflated beam to the second deflated beam; and   a case for storing the first deflated beam, the second deflated beam, the sheeting and the strap assembly.   
   
   
       28 . A method for erecting an inflatable structure, comprising:
 laying a deflated first beam in a first position;   laying a deflated second beam in a second position;   partially inflating the first beam and the second beam;   coupling the partially inflated first beam to the partially inflated second beam;   inflating the first beam and the second beam such that upon inflation the first beam extends from a first point of ground contact at a first point along the perimeter of the structure to a first position at a first elevation, from the first position at the first elevation to a second position at a second elevation and from the second position at the second elevation to a second point of ground contact at a second point along the perimeter of the structure, and the second beam extends from a third point of ground contact at a third point along the perimeter of the structure to a third position at a third elevation, from the third position at the third elevation to a fourth position at a fourth elevation and from the fourth position at the fourth elevation to a fourth point of ground contact at a fourth point along the perimeter of the structure;   coupling sheeting to the first beam and the second beam, wherein the sheeting provides protection from solar loading; and   adjusting the plurality of beams to define a predetermined footprint.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the coupling is a flexible coupling. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the coupling is a truss. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the coupling is a strap assembly. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the strap assembly comprises a plurality of color coded straps. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the coupling is a knuckle assembly. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first elevation is substantially the same as the second elevation. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the third elevation is substantially the same as the fourth elevation. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first elevation is substantially the same as the third elevation. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the second elevation is substantially the same as the fourth elevation. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the sheeting is coupled to the upper portions of the first beam and the second beam. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the sheeting comprises netting. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the sheeting comprises a camouflage material. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the sheeting comprises a tarp. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the sheeting is waterproof. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising coupling the sheeting to the first beam and the second beam using one from the group comprising ties, hook and loop fasteners, and snaps. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first inflatable beam includes a first vertical leg and a second vertical leg and wherein the third inflatable beam includes a third vertical leg and a fourth vertical leg. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein a portion of the first inflatable beam extends from the first vertical leg to the second vertical leg in substantially an arc and a portion of the second inflatable beam extends from the third vertical leg to the fourth vertical leg in substantially an arc. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first inflatable beam extends from the first point of ground contact to the second point of ground contact in substantially an arc and wherein the second inflatable beam extends from the third point of ground contact to the fourth point of ground contact in substantially an arc. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first inflatable beam and the second inflatable beam include a plurality of standoffs and further comprising coupling the sheeting to the plurality of standoffs. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the inflatable beams comprise an air bladder covered by woven three dimensional fabric. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the sheeting comprises a plurality of smaller sheets and further comprising coupling the plurality of smaller sheets to form the sheeting. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising coupling the plurality of smaller sheets one to the other using one from the group comprising zippers, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, and ties. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising coupling a third inflatable beam to a fourth inflatable beam, and wherein the third inflatable beam is located adjacent to at least a portion of the second inflatable beam, and further comprising coupling the sheeting to the third inflatable beam and the fourth inflatable beam to form an unobstructed expanse within the inflatable structure. 
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning an inflatable cross support beam between a first leg of the first beam and a first leg of the second beam. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising positioning an inflatable cross support beam between a second leg of the first beam and a second leg of the second beam.