Inflatable multi-tube structure

Abstract

An inflatable frame using, in each beam of the structure twinned tubes or otherwise multiple adjacent parallel tubes in each beam. The frame may be used for a sport ball arresting structure for supporting a mesh netting to enclose a player using full-swing, full power hitting of a sport ball into the mesh.

1 . A pneumatically inflatable structure:
 a plurality of spaced apart pneumatic multi-tube support beams, each of said support beams having first and second opposite ends mountable to a base surface wherein each of said support beams form an arch having an apex when said structure is inflated and erect;   wherein each of said multi-tube support beams includes a plurality of adjacently mounted parallel inflatable tubes mounted to one another along their length.   
   
   
       2 . The structure of  claim 1  further comprising at least two opposed pairs of bowed criss-crossed pneumatic multi-tube bracing beams mounted substantially diagonally across said support beams, and wherein said arches form a parallel spaced apart array. 
   
   
       3 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein said support beams are radially spaced apart about a vertical axis. 
   
   
       4 . An inflatable beam truss frame comprising:
 at least three, that is, first, second and third, separate inflatable arcuate beam trusses each comprising at least a pair of parallel adjacent inflatable tubes, said trusses mounted or mountable at vertices thereof to one another and having, respectively, first, second and third lengths and a substantially constant diameter among all said tubes of said three beam trusses, wherein each tube of said three separate beam trusses includes an outer flexible substantially non-resilient sleeve along the entire length of said tube and an inner inflatable bladder extending substantially entirely along and in said entire length of said sleeve;   wherein said each beam truss is substantially linear when unconstrained and inflated, and wherein said each beam truss is flexible so as to form an arch-shape when opposite ends of said each beam truss are constrained by anchoring of said opposite ends on the ground at a distance between said ends which is less the length of said each beam truss;   and wherein said tubes in each said beam truss are of substantially equal length and are mounted adjoined to one another in side-by-side parallel relation so as to be co-extensive with one another along said arch-shape;   and wherein said beam trusses are adapted for mounting a completely enclosing mesh netting thereto so as to completely enclose the space within said frame in said netting.