JPH0211918B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a balloon-like structure,
In particular, it relates to a balloon-like structure that is filled with pressurized fluid, maintains a certain shape, and can change its external shape by applying an external force. The present invention relates to a balloon-like structure that can be bent by pulling a string.

(Prior Art) Generally, when manufacturing a structure, a rigid body is used as the material. However, if a rigid body such as metal or resin is used as the material, if the structure is large, scaffolding or supports will be required for its manufacture and installation, which will incur additional costs. increases.

Furthermore, since the structure is heavy, it is extremely troublesome to transport it.

Furthermore, if said structures are installed especially for decorative, advertising, etc. purposes, their installation period is relatively short - i.e. their installation, dismantling and transport operations can be carried out within a relatively short period of time. Since it has to be repeated, the cost required for the decoration, advertising, etc. becomes enormous.

Furthermore, when configuring such a structure so that it can be moved in part or in its entirety, it requires a large-capacity drive source and a large-scale drive mechanism, which makes the structure extremely difficult to move. It is expensive, and its adjustment and maintenance are also difficult. Furthermore, in order to move a large and heavy structure, it is dangerous to approach the structure during operation.

In view of the above, the inventor of the present invention fabricated the outline (external shape) of the structure by sewing the structure using materials such as cloth and film, and fabricated the structure using pressurizing means such as a blower. By increasing the pressure inside the main body higher than atmospheric pressure, the main body is inflated into a balloon shape to shape the external shape of the structure, and further, by arranging a simple driving means inside the structure, They have already devised a balloon-like structure that can move part or all of the structure.
The above-mentioned invention is described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 54-124490 and Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 56-117788.

In the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 56-117788, an operating string fixed above the bending position inside the balloon-like structure is used as a driving means for moving a part or the whole of the balloon-like structure. .

Next, a method of bending the balloon-like structure using an operating string fixed to the inside thereof will be explained with reference to FIG. 16.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are schematic cross-sectional views of a balloon-like structure having the simplest structure.

In FIG. 16A, the balloon-like structure 1 is formed by sewing cloth or film-like material. In the illustrated example, the balloon-like structure 1
is approximately cylindrical in shape.

The end of the balloon-like structure 1 is fixed to a pedestal 2. In this state, for example, if air is sent into the balloon-like structure 1 in the direction of arrow A from the air hole 2A formed in the pedestal 2, the pressure inside will become higher than atmospheric pressure. , the balloon-like structure 1 gradually begins to inflate like a balloon.

Then, the balloon-like structure 1 finally assumes an outer shape (cylindrical shape) as shown in FIG. 16A.

A fixture 3 is fixed to the inner wall of this balloon-like structure 1 as shown in the figure, and an operating string 4 is further fixed to the fixture 3. Then, when the operating string 4 is pulled in the direction of arrow B, the balloon-like structure 1 is bent as shown in FIG. 16B.

Now, in this case, as is clear from the figure, the volume of the balloon-like structure 1 after being bent is significantly reduced compared to the balloon-like structure 1 before being bent. Therefore, during bending, the pressure inside the structure suddenly increases, and the force required of the operating string 4 increases.

If the balloon-like structure is small, it is possible to bend it in this way, but as the cross-sectional area of the bent portion of the structure increases, the force required of the operating string 4 gradually increases. This makes it virtually impossible to bend the structure. Furthermore, even if bending is possible, the angle of bending cannot be increased.

Furthermore, since the reduction in volume is visually apparent, the appearance and impression of the balloon-like structure are also significantly deteriorated.

In order to eliminate these various drawbacks, each of the above-mentioned publications discloses a technique of sewing extra fabric on the opposite side of the balloon-like structure to the bending direction.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The above-described conventional techniques had the following problems.

The above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 56-117788 merely describes sewing a surplus cloth, and does not describe conditions such as dimensions and placement of the surplus cloth.

However, in reality, if the size of the extra fabric is not specified, the shape of the balloon-like structure (in its bent state) under normal conditions, i.e., when the inside is simply filled with pressurized fluid and the operating string is not pulled. There is a risk that the structure may not be in a stretched state as expected or its shape may become unstable. There is a risk that you will not be able to perform the

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems.

(Means and effects for solving the problems) The present invention was developed through research and experiments after the application of the devices described in the above-mentioned Utility Model Publication No. 54-124490 and 56-117788. The reason why the attitude of the structure shown in is uncertain is that the length of the arc between the fulcrums of the margin is 1/2 the length of the outer circumference of the structure including each fulcrum, and By selecting the length of the arc to be smaller than 1/2 of the length of the outer circumference of the structure including each of its fulcrums, it is possible to reliably maintain the posture of the structure in a straight state in the initial state. This new discovery led to the creation of the present invention.

That is, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a margin portion having at least a pair of bending fulcrums on the balloon-like structure body on the opposite side to the bending direction, and each of the margin portions taking measures to make the length of the arc between the fulcrums shorter than 1/2 of the length of the outer circumference of the structure including each of the fulcrum sets,
As a result, the structure can be reliably maintained in an extended state under normal conditions, and furthermore, when the balloon-like structure is bent by an external force, the decrease in internal volume can be relatively suppressed. The feature is that the bending can be performed at a large angle and with a small force.

(Example) The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken along line C-C in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of section K in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 A , B are developed views of the balloon-like structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, FIG. 5A is a developed view of the main body 12, and FIG. 5B is a developed view of the extra cloth 14.

In addition, in FIGS. 1 to 3, air holes 2 formed in the base 2 by means not shown are shown.
From A, air is sent into the balloon-like structure 11 in the direction of arrow A, and the balloon-like structure 11 stands upright and has an outline (cylindrical in this case).

Furthermore, the seam 11A of the balloon-like structure 11 shown in FIG. 1 is omitted in FIGS. 2 and 3. Furthermore, in FIG. 5A, the stitching allowance necessary for sewing the main body 12 into a cylindrical shape is omitted.

Now, in each figure, the balloon-like structure 11
The main body 12 and the extra cloth 14 are made of cloth coated with resin or the like. As is clear from FIG. 5A, when the main body 12 is sewn into a cylindrical shape,
An opening 13 is formed in the circumferential direction and with a length less than 1/2 of the circumference.

Although the opening 13 is depicted as having a certain width in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5A, it is not limited to this, and may simply be a cut. It's okay if it's hot.

The balloon-like structure 11 is formed by sewing a main body 12 into a cylindrical shape and sewing an extra fabric 14 shown in FIG. 5B into the opening 13 of the main body 12. The margin cloth 14 has a margin portion 14 having a boat bottom shape.
B, and a suture margin 14A, which is sewn into the opening 13 of the main body 12.

In addition, in each figure, the extra cloth 14 is fixed to the inside of the main body 12, but it may be fixed to the outside of the main body 12.

An end of the balloon-like structure 11 is fixed to a base 2 in which an air hole 2A is formed. In addition, the main body 12
A fitting 3 is fixed to the inner side of the holder 3 on the distal end side of a portion substantially opposite to the portion where the extra fabric 14 is sewn, and an operating string 4 is fixed to the fitting 3.

Although the air is constantly blown, the pressure inside the balloon-like structure 11 is kept constant because the air leaks from the seam 11A of the balloon-like structure 11.

Now, as mentioned above, the opening 13 is located in the main body 1.
In other words, as shown in FIG. 2, both ends E of the opening 13 (both ends of the margin 14B) Since it is disposed closer to the opening 13 than the center line L of the surface, the balloon-like structure 11 stands upright due to the air blowing.

Here, when the operating string 4 fixed to the fixture 3 inside the balloon-like structure 11 is pulled in the direction of arrow B, the sixth
As shown in the figure, the extra fabric 14 is stretched, and the balloon-like structure 11 is bent in the direction of arrow D using both ends E of the opening 13 as fulcrums.

In this case, the opening 1 of the balloon-like structure 11
The volume of the balloon-like structure 11 from both ends E of the opening 13 on the side of the fitting 3 decreases, but conversely, the volume of the balloon-like structure 11 from both ends E of the opening 13 on the side of the extra cloth 14 decreases.
It increases by the amount that 4 is extended.

As a result, the degree of decrease in volume of the balloon-like structure 11 from the state before bending to after bending is smaller than when the extra fabric 14 is not provided, and the pressure inside the balloon-like structure 11 during bending is also reduced. , can be kept relatively small.

Therefore, the balloon-like structure 11 can be bent by only applying a small force to the operating string 4. Moreover, the angle of the bending can also be made relatively large. Furthermore, since there is little change in the volume of the balloon-like structure 11, the appearance of the balloon-like structure and the impression given to the audience are also good.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of the invention. In Fig. 7, the same symbols as in Fig. 6 are
Represents the same or equivalent parts. Further, FIG. 7 shows a state in which the operating string 4 is pulled in the direction of arrow B, and the balloon-like structure 21 is bent.

In FIG. 7, two extra fabrics 24A and 24B are sewn into the opening 13 provided in the main body 12. The extra fabrics 24A and 24B are extra fabrics having a boat bottom-shaped extra portion as shown in FIG. 5B.

In this way, when a balloon-like structure is constructed using two or more extra fabrics, the outline of the extra fabric portion of the balloon-like structure when bent becomes a polygon, close to an arc.

Therefore, assuming that the positions of both ends E of the opening 13 are the same, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the balloon-like structure is constructed using only one piece of extra fabric. Compared to the example, the degree of volume reduction of the balloon-like structure 21 during bending is further reduced.

Therefore, the balloon-like structure 2 can be
1 can be bent, and the outer shape of the balloon-like structure 21 when bent becomes even better.

8 and 9 are schematic side views of a third embodiment of the invention. More specifically, FIG. 8 is a side view showing the state in which the balloon-like structure 31 is bent by pulling the operating string 4 when internal pressure is applied, and FIG. 9 is a side view showing the balloon-like structure 31 bent when internal pressure is applied. It is a side view showing a state in which it stands upright and its outline shape is formed. In each figure, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 6 and 7 represent the same or equivalent parts.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the same effect as using the extra fabric described in the first and second embodiments can be obtained without using the extra fabric. That is, the balloon-like structures 31 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are similar to those shown in FIGS.
The first to third main body constituent cloths 31 shown by
A, 31B, 31C are formed by sewing together, and the second and third main body constituent fabrics 31B, 31C are formed so that the portion corresponding to the excess fabric is integrated with the fabric constituting the main body. It has been cut into .

In the following description, the term "3D cutting" means that the portion corresponding to the excess cloth is cut so that the main body is integrated with the constituent cloth. In addition,
In FIG. 10, the suture allowance is omitted.

Among the first to third main body constituent cloths 31A to 31C shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C, the first main body constituent cloth 31A is a fully developed view of the balloon-like structure 31 which forms a cylindrical shape when standing upright. It is approximately 1/2 the size of

The first main body constituent cloth 31A has an end E (flexion fulcrum E) shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
A protrusion 39A having a fulcrum F at its tip corresponding to
It is equipped with The second and third body-constituting cloths 31B and 31C are symmetrical with respect to each other, and, as described above, are provided with an allowance portion 38 corresponding to an allowance cloth.

Further, the second and third main body constituent cloths 31
B, 31C are the first main body constituent fabrics 3 during sewing.
A cutout portion 39B is provided so as to be able to fit into a protrusion 39A formed in 1A. The margin portion 38 is located at the fulcrum F of the cutout portion 39B.
It is almost fan-shaped, centered on the part corresponding to .

The first to third main body constituent fabrics 31A to 31C shown in FIGS.
Among the parts indicated by , the parts indicated by the same reference numerals are sewn together, thereby forming the balloon-like structure 31.

This third embodiment is used in normal times - i.e.
As shown in the figure, wrinkles occur in the margin 38 when it is standing upright, but when bent (FIG. 8), the profile of the vertical section of the margin 38 does not form part of the polygon. It looks very good because it is expressed as a curved line throughout.

Note that the characteristics of each main body composition cloth shown in FIG. 10 are as follows:
The main feature is that it is integrally provided with a margin.

Therefore, other changes and improvements may be made, such as changes in the numbers 32 and 3 of the second main body fabric 31B.
3 and the straight line portions 36 and 37 of the third main body constituent fabric 31C starting from point F of the notch 39B, that is, the second and third main body constituent fabrics 31B, 31
C is formed to be slender so that the notch portion 39B is not formed, and the first main body constituent fabric 31A
Changes and improvements such as increasing the width by the pair of protrusions 39A so that the protrusions 39A are no longer formed may be made at will.

FIG. 11A is a schematic side view of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the operating string 4 shown in FIG. 11A is pulled and the balloon-like structure 41 is bent. It is. In each figure, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 6 represent the same or equivalent parts.

The fourth embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the first embodiment.

As is clear from FIG. 11A, a plurality of extra fabrics 14 (six in the illustrated example) are arranged in the balloon-like structure 41. Then, when the attachment 3 fixed to the inner wall of the main body 42 is pulled using the operating string 4, the balloon-like structure 41 is bent as shown in FIG.

In this way, by arranging a plurality of extra fabrics 14 in succession, the balloon-like structure can be bent in multiple stages, and the angle of the bending can be increased.

FIG. 12A is a schematic side view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the operating string 4 shown in FIG. 12A is pulled and the balloon-like structure 51 is bent. be. In each figure, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 11 represent the same or equivalent parts. Further, 51D is a seam.

The fifth embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the fourth embodiment.

As is clear from FIG. 12, the balloon-like structure 5
In No. 1, by sewing the three-dimensionally cut fabric constituting the main body, substantially the same effect as provided by providing a plurality of extra fabrics can be obtained without providing a plurality of extra fabrics.

Balloon-like structure 51 shown in FIGS. 13 and 12
FIG. In FIG. 13, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 12A represent the same or equivalent parts. Furthermore, the stitching margins necessary for stitching the respective main body fabrics are omitted in FIG. 13.

First, the first main body constituent cloth 51A shown in FIG. It also has a portion with a large Y.

The second and third body-constituting fabrics 51B and 51C shown in FIGS. 13B and 13C are curved symmetrically with respect to each other, and are provided with an allowance portion 58 corresponding to an allowance fabric.

The first to third main body constituent fabrics 51A to 51
In C, portions indicated by the same reference numerals among the reference numerals 52 to 54 have the same length and are sewn together. Then, the balloon-like structure 51 is formed by the suturing.

If the balloon-like structure 51 is fixed to the base 2 and air is sent into the balloon-like structure 51 from the air hole 2A, the balloon-like structure 51 becomes approximately cylindrical as shown in FIG. 12A. Stand upright in shape.

Then, when the operating string 4 is pulled in the direction of the arrow B, the balloon-like structure 51 is bent into an arc shape using the portions 52 and 54 as fulcrums, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 14A is a schematic side view of the sixth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14B shows the balloon-like structure 61 in a state where the balloon-like structure 61 is bent by pulling the operating string 4.
FIG. In each figure, the 11th
The same reference numerals as in the figures represent the same or equivalent parts.

The sixth embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the fourth embodiment.

In the fourth embodiment, the balloon-like structure 41 had a cylindrical shape, but in this sixth embodiment, the balloon-like structure 61 has a conical shape.

A plurality of openings 63 inside the balloon-like structure 61
The fitting 3 is fixed further to the tip of the extra cloth 64A to 64F provided on A to 63F, and the fitting 3 is
When the operating string 4 provided at the side is pulled, the bending starts gradually from the area where the cross-sectional area of the portion where the extra fabric is provided is small.

That is, when the operating string 4 is pulled in the direction of arrow B, the extra fabric 64A is first stretched, and then the extra fabrics 64B and 6 are stretched.
4C, . . . , the extra fabric is stretched in sequence, and the balloon-like structure 61 gradually curves from its tip.

Since the balloon-like structure 41 shown in FIG. 11 has a cylindrical shape, from which of the plurality of allowance cloths 14 should it be stretched? In other words, from which part of the balloon-like structure 41 should it be bent? Although it cannot be clearly defined whether the balloon-like structure 61 is bent or not, in this sixth embodiment, it is guaranteed that the balloon-like structure 61 is gradually bent from the tip.

FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 15, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 11A represent the same or equivalent parts.
The seventh embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the fourth embodiment.

In FIG. 15, inside a cylindrical balloon-like structure 71 provided with a plurality of extra cloths 14, two
Two fittings 3A and 3B are fixed. The fittings 3A and 3B have operating strings 4A and 4B, respectively.
is fixed. And the operation strings 4A, 4
The end of B is tied together with the end of the operating string 4 at a portion indicated by C.

In the seventh embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration, when the balloon-like structure 71 is bent by pulling the operating string 4 in the direction of arrow B, when the operating string 4 is pulled, the operating string If the lengths of the operating strings 4A and 4B are adjusted so that the operating string 4A stretches before the operating string 4B, force is applied to the attachment 3A before the attachment 3B, so that the balloon-like structure 71 can be reliably bent from its tip side.

In addition, in FIG. 15, two fittings to which operating strings are attached are fixed to the balloon-like structure 71 on which six pieces of extra cloth 14 are provided, but the number of fittings is particularly limited to these. No, it doesn't matter how many pieces there are.
Further, each operation string does not need to be combined into one string. That is, the balloon-like structure may be configured such that each operating string is pulled at different timings.

Now, in the above description, the allowance cloth or the allowance part corresponding to the allowance cloth is provided in a cylindrical or conical balloon-like structure, but it is not particularly limited to this.

In other words, there is a cloth inside the balloon-like structure that defines the contour shape when the inside is pressurized.
Alternatively, by providing a string or the like, the balloon-like structure can be made into a shape other than a cylindrical or conical shape, and the present invention may be applied to such a structure.

Furthermore, although the balloon-like structure has been described as having air constantly blown into the inside of the balloon-like structure as indicated by arrow A in each figure, in the present invention, the increase in internal volume after bending is not so large. Therefore, even if the balloon-like structure is sealed after its seams are post-treated to make the seams airtight and the internal pressure is made higher than atmospheric pressure, the bending action can be performed satisfactorily. Therefore, the present invention provides balloons, airships,
It can also be applied to ad balloons, etc.

In addition, in the above explanation, the main body and extra cloth of the balloon-like structure were assumed to be cloth coated with resin, etc., but they are not particularly limited to cloth, and may be made of a material that does not stretch or contract very much, such as a film. It may be made of other materials.

Further, although the bending means of the balloon-like structure has been described as being an operating string whose one end is fixed inside the balloon-like structure, it is not limited to this in particular; for example, an air hole cylinder etc. may be used as the bending means, or the bending may be performed by pressing the outer wall of the structure.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

In other words, when a balloon-like structure filled with pressurized fluid is bent by applying a force in one direction, the length of the arc between its two ends is equal to the outer circumference of the cross-section of the balloon-like structure. Since a margin is provided on the opposite side of the bending direction of the balloon-like structure so that the reduction rate of the internal volume of the balloon-like structure during bending is at least 1/2,
In other words, the increase in internal pressure becomes less large.

Therefore, the balloon-like structure can be bent with a relatively small force, and the angle of this bending can also be increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken along line C-C in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of section K in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 A, B are from Figure 1 to Figure 4.
FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the balloon-like structure in FIG. 1 is bent when the operating string of the balloon-like structure is pulled, and FIG. 7 is a developed view of the balloon-like structure shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the third embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the balloon-like structure in FIG. Schematic side view showing a bent state, No. 10
Figures A, B, and C are developed views of the balloon-like structure shown in Figures 8 and 9, Figures 11A and B are schematic side views of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 12A. , B is a schematic side view of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13A,
B and C are developed views of the balloon-like structure shown in FIGS. 12A and B, FIGS. 14A and B are schematic side views of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 15 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. A schematic side view of the seventh embodiment, and FIGS. 16A and 16B are schematic sectional views of a balloon-like structure having the simplest structure. 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71...
Balloon-like structure, 12, 42...Main body, 13, 63A
~63F...Opening, 14, 24A, 24B, 64
A to 64F... Surplus cloth, 14B, 38, 58... Surplus portion, 31A, 51A... First body constituent fabric, 31
B, 51B...Second body composition cloth, 31C, 51C
...Third body composition cloth.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A balloon-like structure whose contour is formed by filling the inside with pressurized fluid, the main body having an allowance portion having at least one pair of bending fulcrums; A balloon-like structure characterized in that the length of the arc between the fulcrums of the margin portion is selected to be smaller than 1/2 of the length of the outer circumference of the structure including each of the fulcrums. 2. The balloon-like structure according to claim 1, wherein the allowance portion is at least one allowance member fixed to an opening formed in the main body. 3. The balloon-like structure according to claim 1, wherein the extra portion is obtained by fixing a main body component obtained by three-dimensional cutting. 4 A balloon-like structure whose outline is formed by filling the inside with pressurized fluid, the main body having a margin having at least one pair of bending fulcrums; and a driving means disposed on the tip side of the portion where the margin is formed and the opposing portion, and the length of the arc between the fulcrums of the margin is equal to the length of the outer circumference of the structure including each of the fulcrums. A balloon-like structure characterized by being selected to be smaller than 1/2 of the size. 5. The balloon-like structure according to claim 4, wherein the driving means is an operating string whose one end is fixed to the inner wall of the main body. 6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein there are a plurality of operating strings, and one end of each of the operating strings is fixed to a plurality of locations on the inner wall at different positions in the axial direction. Balloon-like structure. 7. The balloon-like structure according to claim 6, wherein each of the operating strings is pulled at different timings. 8. The balloon-like structure according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the margin portion is at least one margin member fixed to an opening formed in the main body. body. 9. The balloon-like structure according to any one of items 4 to 7, wherein the extra portion is obtained by fixing a main body component obtained by three-dimensional cutting.