Inflatable structures

Abstract

A method of forming a building structure in a desired contoured configuration. An inner supporting fabric is inflated into at least one form. An outer finishing fabric is draped over the inflated form. A coating is applied to the outer finishing fabric and a hardening shell is formed. The inner supporting fabric may be removed. Alternately, inflatable bags, posts, cables and other devices are disposed under the outer finishing fabric to produce the desired contoured configuration. These devices are removed after the coating has cured.

1 . The method of erecting a building structure above the ground including a roof and side walls having a desired contoured configuration to provide an esthetic effect comprising the steps of:
 providing a first inner supporting fabric having an inner and outer surface;   providing a plurality of spaced-apart supporting means to elevate selected portions of the outer finishing fabric higher above the ground than other portions of the outer fabric thereby forming a desired contoured configuration of the outer finishing fabric;   coating the outer surface of the outer finishing fabric with a stiffener thereby assuring rigidity of the desired contoured configuration in the building structure;   allowing the stiffener to cure; and   removing the supporting means to elevate the selected portions thereby forming a single structure having the desired contoured configuration.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the means to elevate the selected portions of the outer finishing fabric is at least one inflatable bag disposed on the inner surface of the outer finishing fabric. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of inflatable bags are provided, each inflatable bag being inflated to a different extent. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the inflatable bag may be filled with water. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the means to elevate the selected portions of the outer finishing fabric is a plurality of posts disposed between the ground and inner surface of the outer finishing fabric. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein each post has an adjustable length such that the elevation of selected portions of the outer finishing fabric may be at a desired height. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a bladder having water therein is placed on the outer surface of the outer finishing fabric thereby creating a depression in the outer finishing fabric between the elevated selected portions of the outer finishing fabric. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a cable disposed on the outer surface of the outer finishing fabric, the cable being drawn downwardly thereby forming a depression in the outer finishing fabric and forming the desired contoured configuration. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a cable disposed against the inner surface of the outer finishing fabric, the cable being elevated thereby elevating the outer finishing fabric and forming the desired configuration. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cable being attached to the outer surface of the outer finishing fabric, the at least one cable being raised, thereby forming at least one peak in the outer finishing fabric subsequent to applying the stiffener. 
   
   
       11 . The method of erecting a building structure including a roof and side walls having a desired configuration to provide an esthetic effect comprising the steps of:
 providing a first inner supporting fabric;   inflating the first inner supporting fabric forming a first domed structure;   providing at least a second inner supporting fabric, laterally spaced from the first inner supporting fabric, and inflating the at least second inner supporting fabric forming at least a second domed structure spaced apart from the first domed structure;   varying the respective heights of the at least first and at least second laterally spaced-apart inner supporting fabrics;   draping an outer finishing fabric over the at least one first domed structure and over the at least second domed structure wherein the outer finishing fabric is supported substantially throughout by the inflated first inner supporting fabric and the inflated second inner supporting fabric and the outer finishing fabric assumes the desired contoured configuration, forming a unitary covering all of the domed structures;   coating a surface of the outer finishing fabric with a stiffener thereby assuring rigidity of the desired contoured configuration in the building structure;   allowing the stiffener to cure;   deflating the first inner supporting fabric and the at least second inner supporting fabric thereby forming a single layered structure having the desired contoured configuration.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of removing the first inner supporting fabric and the at least second inner supporting fabric from the building structure. 
   
   
       13 . An intermediary building structure, comprising an inflated first inner supporting fabric, and a laterally spaced-apart inflated second inner supporting fabric, means for varying the respective heights of at least one of the first and second laterally spaced-apart inner supporting fabrics, an outer finishing fabric draped over the inflated first inner supporting fabric and over the inflated second inner supporting fabric and arranged to obtain a unitary covering over the inflated first inner supporting fabric and over the spaced-apart inflated second inner supporting fabric in a desired configuration to achieve an architecturally pleasing esthetic effect and further including a hardening coating on the outer finishing fabric. 
   
   
       14 . An intermediary building structure erected above the ground, comprising an outer finishing fabric having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer finishing fabric having selected laterally spaced-apart portions higher above the ground than other portions of the outer finishing fabric, the structure having removable means disposed under the outer finishing fabric to elevate selected portions of the outer finishing fabric to form a desired contoured configuration. 
   
   
       15 . The structure of  claim 14 , wherein the removable means are at least one inflatable bag disposed against the inner surface of the outer finishing fabric. 
   
   
       16 . The structure of  claim 14 , wherein the removable means are a plurality of posts having adjustable lengths, the posts being disposed between the ground and the inner surface of the outer finishing fabric. 
   
   
       17 . The structure of  claim 14 , wherein the removable means is a cable disposed on the outer surface of the outer finishing fabric, the cable being drawn downwardly thereby forming a depression in the outer finishing fabric. 
   
   
       18 . The structure of  claim 14 , wherein the removable means is a cable disposed against the inner surface of the outer finishing fabric, the cable being elevated thereby forming the desired contoured configuration. 
   
   
       19 . The structure of  claim 14 , wherein the removable means is at least one cable attached to the outer surface of the outer finishing fabric, the at least one cable being raised to form at least one peak or depression in the outer finishing fabric. 
   
   
       20 . The intermediary building structure of  claim 14 , further including a hardening coating on the outer finishing fabric.