Pneumatic Cushions with Reinforcing Members or Braces

Abstract

A pneumatic cushion having an inner pneumatic structure constructed from a casing and webs or a plurality of tubes. The webs produce a plurality of chambers. The inner pneumatic structure may be pressurised at a pressure p 1 . At least one reinforcing and stiffening means is present on or in the pneumatic structure and disposed in such a manner that the pneumatic cushion's dimensional stability is increased.

1 . A pneumatic cushion comprising: an inner pneumatic structure constructed from a casing and webs or a plurality of tubes; 
 wherein the webs produce a plurality of chambers;    wherein the inner pneumatic structure may be pressurised at a pressure p 1 ; and,    at least one reinforcing and stiffening means is present on or in the pneumatic structure and disposed in such a manner that the pneumatic cushion's dimensional stability is increased.    
   
   
       2 . The pneumatic cushion according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcing and stiffening means consists of a bar, a flexible bar, or a pneumatic web.  
   
   
       3 . The pneumatic cushion according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one reinforcing and stiffening means is disposed outside, inside or in the casing, on or in the webs or between two tubes of the plurality of tubes in the inner pneumatic structure.  
   
   
       4 . The pneumatic cushion according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one reinforcing and stiffening means is disposed in a chamber of the plurality of chambers and/or pocket formed by a double-walled area of the casing or the webs.  
   
   
       5 . The pneumatic cushion according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible bar is bent essentially crossways to its longitudinal axis and thereby becomes buckle-proof.  
   
   
       6 . The pneumatic cushion according to  claim 2 , wherein the characterised in that the at least one pneumatic web consists of a gas-tight, essentially cigar-shaped hollow body and at least one compression bar lying against the hollow body and can be subjected to a pressure p 2 , p 2 >p 1 .  
   
   
       7 . The pneumatic cushion according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one compression bar is flexible and is bent during pressurisation of the hollow body essentially crossways to its longitudinal axis, lying against the hollow body.  
   
   
       8 . The pneumatic cushion according to  claim 2 , wherein the pneumatic web is disposed in the pneumatic structure in such a manner that it fills a chamber of the plurality of chambers or a pocket in the pressurised state.  
   
   
       9 . The pneumatic cushion according to  claim 1 , wherein a framework is created from reinforcing and stiffening means, which supports the pneumatic structure from inside or outside.