Volume element

Abstract

The invention relates to a volume element (10) comprising at least one inner chamber (12), which is bordered by an at least substantially flexible material and which can be inflated with a gas, and comprising at least one outer chamber (14), which is bordered by an at least substantially flexible material, which is fluidically separated from the at least one inner chamber (12), and which surrounds at least some regions of the outer circumference of the inner chamber (12). Granular material is received in the outer chamber (14) for absorbing pressure forces acting on the volume element (10) from the direction of the outer chamber (14).

Claims

1. A volume element comprising: a first body comprising a first inner chamber, the first body formed by at least two joined sheets of fiber-reinforced plastic, the first inner chamber inflatable with a gas, a second body comprising a second inner chamber, the second body formed by at least two joined sheets of fiber-reinforced plastic, the second inner chamber inflatable with a gas, an area element in the form of a sheet of fabric joined to a first side of the first body and a first side of the second body, the first body further joined to the second body to form an outer chamber located between a portion of the first body and a portion of the second body, the outer chamber bordered by the portion of the first body, the portion of the second body, and the area element, the outer chamber fluidically separated from the first and second inner chambers, the outer chamber substantially filled with granular material for absorbing pressure forces acting on the volume element from the direction of the outer chamber.

2. The volume element according to claim 1, further comprising a second area element in the form of a sheet of fabric, the second area element joined to a second side of the first body and a second side of the second body.

3. The volume element according to claim 1, wherein the outer chamber is completely filled with the granular material.

4. The volume element according to claim 1, wherein the volume element is formed as a water sports equipment.

5. The volume element according to claim 1, wherein the volume element comprises a third inner chamber.

6. The volume element according to claim 5, wherein each inner chamber of the plurality of inner chambers is joined to at least one other inner chamber.

7. The volume element according to claim 1, wherein the outer chamber is substantially evacuated of gas.

8. The volume element according to claim 1, further comprising a second outer chamber, the outer chamber and the second outer chamber positioned on opposite sides of the first inner chamber.

9. An inflatable element comprising: first and second sheets of fiber-reinforced plastic, the first and second sheets joined to one another at a plurality of locations to form a plurality of joined inner chambers; a third sheet comprising fiber-reinforced plastic, the third sheet joined to each of the inner chambers to form a first plurality of outer chambers on a first side of the plurality of inner chambers; and a fourth sheet comprising fiber-reinforced plastic, the fourth sheet joined to each of the inner chambers to form a second plurality of outer chambers on a second side of the plurality of inner chambers; wherein each outer chamber of the first plurality of outer chambers and second plurality of outer chambers is filled with a granular material and located between at least two inner chambers.

10. The volume element according to claim 9, wherein the first plurality of outer chambers are substantially evacuated of gas.

11. The volume element according to claim 9, wherein a ratio of an overall volume of the inner chambers and an overall volume of the outer chambers is at least 70:30.

12. The volume element according to claim 11, wherein the first, and second sheets are inelastic.

13. A volume element comprising: a first inner chamber surrounded by inelastic fiber-reinforced plastic, the first inner chamber inflatable with a gas, a second inner chamber surrounded by the inelastic fiber-reinforced plastic, the second inner chamber inflatable with a gas, a first outer chamber bordered at least in part by a first sheet of fiber-reinforced plastic, the first inner chamber, and the second inner chamber, the first sheet joined to the fiber-reinforced plastic surrounding the first inner chamber and also joined to the fiber-reinforced plastic surrounding the second inner chamber to form the first outer chamber, the first outer chamber fluidically separated from the first inner chamber and the second inner chamber, a second sheet of fiber-reinforced plastic joined to the fiber-reinforced plastic surrounding the first inner chamber and also joined to the fiber-reinforced plastic surrounding the second inner chamber to form a second outer chamber, the second sheet joined to the first and second inner chamber on sides opposite the first sheet, the second outer chamber fluidically separated from the first inner chamber and the second inner chamber, and the first and second outer chambers substantially filled with granular material for absorbing pressure forces acting on the volume element.

14. The volume element according to claim 13, wherein the outer chamber is evacuated of gas.

Description

(1) The drawing shows in:

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic plan view of a volume element with a plurality of inner chambers and a plurality of outer chambers, wherein the outer chambers are filled with granular material for absorbing pressure forces acting on the volume element from the direction of the outer chambers;

(3) FIG. 2 a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the volume element according to FIG. 1 along a sectional line A-A shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 a schematic exploded illustration in a cross-sectional view of the volume element according to FIG. 2 to exemplify the production of the volume element;

(5) FIG. 4 a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the volume element according to FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the volume element according to FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the volume element according to FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the volume element according to FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the volume element according to FIG. 7; and

(10) FIG. 9 a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the volume element.

(11) FIG. 1 shows a volume element 10 presently formed as a water sports equipment in the form of an inflatable surfboard. As is apparent in synopsis with FIG. 2, the volume element has a plurality of inner chambers 12 bordered by a flexible and inelastic material. The inner chambers 12 are inflatable with a gas, in particular air, such that overpressure with respect to the ambient pressure prevails in the inner chambers 12. Therefore, the inner chambers 12 are also referred to as pressure chambers. Presently, the inner chambers 12 are shown in their inflated state.

(12) For inflating the inner chambers 12, they each can have at least one connection. Alternatively, the inner chambers 12 can be combined to a connection common to the inner chambers 12, via which the inner chambers 12 are inflatable with the gas, in particular air.

(13) The volume element 10 further includes a plurality of outer chambers 14 bordered by a flexible and inelastic material. Presently, the outer chambers 14 are capable of being vented or evacuated such that a negative pressure with respect to the ambient pressure is adjustable in the outer chambers 14. To this, the outer chambers 14 for example have at least one connection, via which they are capable of being evacuated. Alternatively, the outer chambers 14 are combined to a common connection, via which the outer chambers 14 are capable of being evacuated.

(14) As is apparent from FIG. 2, the inner chambers 12 are bordered by respective volume bodies 16, which are formed of the flexible and inelastic material associated with the inner chambers 12.

(15) The outer chambers 14 are bordered partially by the volume bodies 16 and thus partially by the flexible material also bordering the inner chambers 12. Further, the outer chambers 14 are partially bordered by an area element 18, which is formed of the flexible and inelastic material bordering the outer chambers 14. Therein, the area element 18 surrounds the volume bodies 16 on a first side 20 of the volume element 10 as well as on a second side 22 of the volume element 10 facing away from the first side 20. Thereby, the outer chambers 14 are disposed both on the first side 20 and on the side 22 and surround the inner chambers 12 both on the first side 20 and on the second side 22.

(16) The area element 18 can be integrally formed. The area element 18 can also include a plurality of, i.e. at least two, area element parts, by means of which the outer chambers 14 are correspondingly bordered.

(17) The flexible material bordering the inner chambers 12 is for example an air-impermeable fabric of a fiber-reinforced plastic, in particular of a fiber-reinforced elastomer. Similarly, the area element 18 can be formed of an air-impermeable fabric, for example of a fiber-reinforced plastic.

(18) In FIG. 1, lines 24 are illustrated, which exemplify seams and/or adhesive beads, by means of which the area element 18 is stitched or adhered to the volume bodies 16.

(19) A bordering element 26 is associated with the center inner chamber 12 related to the image plane of FIG. 2, by means of which the center inner chamber 12 is divided into two partial chambers 28, 30.

(20) The outer chambers 14 serve for stiffening the structure of the volume element 10 and for establishing a finally desired shape of the volume element 10. To this, they are filled with a preferably very light granulate or powder and thus with a granular material. If the outer chambers 14 are evacuated, i.e. vented, thus, the outer chambers 14 are compressed by the higher ambient pressure and the flexible material abuts the granular material. Therein, the granular material prevents collapse of the outer chambers 14. Friction between individual particles of the granular material in the outer chambers 14 prevents slipping or other relative movement of the particles relative to each other. Thereby, the granular material and thereby the outer chambers 14 are hardened. By this hardening of the outer chambers 14, hard, stiff and stable partial areas of the volume element 10 can be generated, which are able to absorb pressure forces and therefore stiffen the volume element 10.

(21) Since the material correspondingly bordering the inner chambers 12 and the outer chambers 14 is flexible, but inelastic, the flexible material is not expanded in inflating the inner chambers 12 and in filling the outer chambers 14.

(22) Starting from a non-inflated, folded or collapsed state of the inner chambers 12, the inner chambers 12 can therefore be inflated up to a pressure with volume increase of the inner chambers 12, from which volume increase does no longer occur despite of optionally further pressure increase in the inner chambers 12.

(23) This pressure, from which volume increase does no longer occur, is referred to as reference pressure. If the inner chambers 12 are inflated to this reference pressure, while ambient pressure prevails in the outer chambers 14, thus, this state of the volume element 10 is defined as a reference state.

(24) In the reference state, therein, the outer chambers 14 filled with the granular material have a volume since they are spanned at least partially by inflating the inner chambers 12.

(25) In this reference state, the outer chambers 14 are preferably completely filled with the granular material. Hereby, the volume of the outer chambers 14 does not decrease or only very slightly decrease in evacuating such that the area element 18 is able to particularly well abut the granular material in particular without crinkling and folds.

(26) If the respective volumes of the inner chambers 12 are summed up in the reference state, thus, they have a first overall volume. If the respective volumes of the outer chambers 14 are correspondingly summed up in the reference state, thus, they also have a second overall volume. Therein, the ratio between the first overall volume and the second overall volume is preferably at least 70:30. Thereby, the volume element 10 has a particularly high stiffness in the inflated state. On the other hand, the pack size of the volume element 10 in its folded or collapsed state can thereby be kept particularly low.

(27) In order to again bring the volume element 10 into a shape beneficial for the transport after use, the outer chambers 14 are flooded with air, which allows relative displacement of the particles of the granular material.

(28) The granular material can include micro-balloons or foam glass beads as particles. They have a low bulk weight and are high-pressure resistant. Further, other particle materials, for example sand, rice, coffee etc., can also be used.

(29) Inflatable elements such as the volume bodies 16 have the property of seeking a round shape if they are charged with an internal overpressure. By inserting the bordering element 26, for example by means of a drop-stitch method, however, other shapes can also be established, which then have round shapes only in some places. This is in particular advantageous in the production of inflatable surfboards since they preferably have a flat or plane surface, on which a person can stand.

(30) According to application case, it can be advantageous that the volume element 10 has a high bending stiffness in first partial areas, but has a high bending elasticity in second partial areas different therefrom. The bending stiffness and the bending elasticity, respectively, can be adjusted via the area ratio or volume ratio of inner chambers 12 to outer chambers 14. Related to a corresponding cross-section of the volume element 10, a very great area portion of the inner chambers 12 with respect to a lower area portion of the outer chambers 14 results in a bending elastic structure. If the area portion of the outer chambers 14 is greater in comparison and the area portion of the inner chambers 12 is lower in comparison, thus, a bending stiff structure is provided. Furthermore, the stiffness of the volume element 10 can be adjusted via the corresponding overpressure in the inner chambers 12 or via the negative pressure in the outer chambers 14.

(31) FIG. 3 illustrates a method for producing the volume element 10 according to FIG. 2. As is apparent based on FIG. 3, the area element 18 includes area element parts 32, 34, wherein the area element part 32 is disposed on the first side 20 and the area element part 34 is disposed on the second side 22. The area element parts 32, 34 areas illustrated by the lines 24stitched and/or adhered to the volume bodies 16.

(32) The volume bodies 16 are formed by two further area elements 36, 38, which are for example formed as respective fabric layers. However, the fabric layers (area elements 36, 38) are also adhered and/or stitched to each other.

(33) FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the volume element 10, wherein a plurality of bordering elements 26 is provided. As it is recognizable based on a comparison to the volume element 10 according to FIG. 2, the outer circumference round shape of the volume bodies 16 can be kept low by the bordering elements 26. Moreover, the area portion of the inner chambers 12 is substantially larger than according to FIG. 2. Correspondingly, the area portion of the outer chambers 14 is smaller.

(34) According to FIG. 5, the area portion of the outer chambers 14 is substantially larger than according to FIG. 4. Correspondingly, the area portion of the inner chambers 12 is lower. Thereby, in comparison to FIG. 4, a relatively high bending stiffness of the volume element 10 is provided.

(35) FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the volume element 10. Therein, the area portion of the inner chambers 12 on the second side 22 is larger than on the first side 20. Thus, the volume element 10 is very bending stiff in one direction and bending elastic in the correspondingly opposite direction.

(36) According to FIG. 7, in a center area 40 of the volume element 10, the area portion of the outer chambers 14 is larger than in lateral outer areas 42. Thus, the volume element 10 has partially a high bending stiffness and partially a relatively high bending elasticity.

(37) Based on FIGS. 4 to 7, it is thus recognizable that the bending stiffness as well as the bending elasticity of the volume element 10 can also be adjusted by corresponding arrangement of the inner chambers 12 and the outer chambers 14 as well as by partial variation of the respective area portions.

(38) FIG. 8 shows a further possibility of adequately adjusting the bending stiffness such that the volume element 10 has at least one cross-section, wherein the at least one cross-section has at least two partial cross-sectional areas, in which the respective area ratios between the inner chambers 12 and the outer chambers 14 differ from each other.

(39) FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of the volume element 10. The volume element 10 has a substantially square cross-section with rounded corners in its reference state. The volume element 10 according to FIG. 9 is for example a table leg for a table.

(40) As is recognizable based on FIGS. 1 to 9, inflatable, substantially rod-shaped structures can be presented by the volume element 10, which have a particularly high stiffness, in particular with respect to pressure force loads, by the outer chambers 14 and in particular by the granular material received in the outer chambers 14, but have a very low pack size and thus a low installation space requirement by venting the inner chambers 12 and by folding or collapsing.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(41) 10 Volume element 12 Inner chamber 14 Outer chambers 16 Volume body 18 Area element 20 First side 22 Second side 24 Line 26 Bordering element 28 Partial chamber 30 Partial chamber 32 Area element part 34 Area element part 36 Area element 38 Area element 40 Center area 42 Outer area