Inflatable Boundary System for Sports Pitches

Abstract

An inflatable boundary system includes at least one boundary element having the form of a hollow closed container formed from a flexible heavy duty material that is substantially air tight; at least one valve located so as to allow air to be pumped into or out of the container to inflate and deflate the boundary element; the boundary element having first, second, and third central sections extending from a central point at which their inner ends are connected to one another so as to form a Y-shape; the first one of the central sections further having two short end pieces extending from the outer end, the first section end pieces aligned at an angle to each other and to the first central section 61 a ; the second and third central sections each having second and third section end pieces at the outer ends of the second and third central sections respectively, the second and third section end pieces aligned at an angle to the central section to which they are connected.

1 . An inflatable boundary system for sports pitches, comprising:
 a boundary element having the form of a hollow closed container formed from a flexible heavy duty material that is substantially air tight, the container having a substantially uniform cross-section, the container formed so as to have an overall length substantially greater than that of the cross-section;   an HR-style valve located in the wall of the container so as to allow air to be pumped into or out of the container to inflate and deflate the boundary element.   
     
     
         2 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the boundary element comprises first, second, and third central sections extending from a central point at which their inner ends are connected to one another so as to form a Y-shape;
 the first one of the central sections further comprising two short end pieces extending from the outer end, the first section end pieces aligned at an angle to each other and to the first central section; 
 the second and third central sections each comprising second and third section end pieces at the outer ends of the second and third central sections respectively, the second and third section end pieces aligned at an angle to the central section to which they are connected. 
 
     
     
         3 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the three central sections are connected at an angle of substantially 120 degrees to one another. 
     
     
         4 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the two short end pieces on the first one of the central sections are aligned so as to point outwards. 
     
     
         5 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the two short end pieces on the first one of the central sections are aligned so as to point outwards at an angle of substantially 120 degrees to the first one of the central sections. 
     
     
         6 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the second and third section end pieces at the outer ends of the second and third central sections are aligned to point inwards. 
     
     
         7 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein each of the second and third section end pieces are aligned at an angle of substantially 120 degrees to the second and third central sections. 
     
     
         8 . An inflatable boundary system for sports pitches as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the boundary element comprises a central section and shorter end cross-sections at each end extending perpendicular to the central section across the end of the central section. 
     
     
         9 . An inflatable boundary system for sports pitches as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the boundary element comprises two arms connected at their inner ends so as to form an L-shape. 
     
     
         10 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the two arms of the L-shape are arranged at substantially 90 degrees to one another. 
     
     
         11 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the two arms are substantially the same length. 
     
     
         12 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein one of the two arms is longer than the other. 
     
     
         13 . An inflatable boundary system for sports pitches as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the boundary element comprises a central section and two end arms connected at each end of the central section at an angle, each of the two end arms angled towards the same side of the central section so that the boundary system has a U-shape. 
     
     
         14 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein each of the two end arms is arranged at an angle of substantially 90 degrees to the central section. 
     
     
         15 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the end arms are substantially the same length. 
     
     
         16 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the end arms are between one third and one half the length of the central section. 
     
     
         17 . An inflatable boundary system for sports pitches, comprising:
 a boundary element having the form of a hollow closed container formed from a flexible heavy duty material that is substantially air tight, the container having a substantially uniform cross-section, the container formed so as to have an overall length substantially greater than that of the cross-section;   an HR-style valve located in the wall of the container so as to allow air to be pumped into or out of the container to inflate and deflate the boundary element;   the boundary element comprising a central element formed from two subsections aligned at an angle to one another, and two end arms connected at each end of the central section at an angle, each of the two end arms angled towards the same side of the central section so that the boundary system has a C-shape.   
     
     
         18 . An inflatable boundary system as claimed in claim  19  wherein the angle between the two central subsections is substantially 120 degrees, the subsections ore of substantially equal length, and the two end arms are aligned to extend substantially parallel to one another and in the same plane. 
     
     
         19 . An inflatable boundary system for sports pitches, comprising:
 a boundary element having the form of a hollow closed container formed from a flexible heavy duty material that is substantially air tight, the container having a substantially uniform cross-section, the container formed so as to have an overall length substantially greater than that of the cross-section;   an HR-style valve located in the wall of the container so as to allow air to be pumped into or out of the container to inflate and deflate the boundary element;   the boundary element comprising a straight elongate member having a central sector and two end sectors, each of the end sectors separated from the central sector by a substantially U-shaped diversion, the U-shape formed with two straight side sections at each side substantially in parallel with one another, and a central connecting section aligned substantially perpendicular to the side sections.