US2014020306A1PendingUtilityA1

Inflatable structure with internal support

39
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Feb 13, 2006Filed: Sep 25, 2013Published: Jan 23, 2014
Est. expiryFeb 13, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Wieslaw K. Binienda
E04H 15/20E06B 9/00
39
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Claims

Abstract

The subject invention relates to an inflatable structure that can be inflated and deployed by being pressurized with a fluid, said inflatable structure comprising: a plurality of cell members having an inner space and walls, wherein the walls of the cell members enclose the inner space within the cell members, wherein the walls of the cell members include at least two rows of fibers wherein the rows of fibers extend through the walls of the cell members at an angle that is offset by 15° to 75°, wherein the plurality of cell members are affixed together to provide the desired shape of the inflatable structure, and wherein there is at least one orifice in each cell member through which said fluid can be added to inflate the inflatable structure into the desired shape.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inflatable structure that can be inflated and deployed by being pressurized with a fluid, said inflatable structure comprising: a plurality of cell members having an inner space and walls, wherein the walls of the cell members enclose the inner space within the cell members, wherein the walls of the cell members include at least two rows of fibers wherein the rows of fibers extend through the walls of the cell members at an angle that is offset by 15° to 75°, wherein the plurality of cell members are affixed together to provide the desired shape of the inflatable structure, and wherein there is at least one orifice in each cell member through which said fluid can be added to inflate the inflatable structure into the desired shape. 
     
     
         2 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 1  wherein the fibers extend through the walls of the cell members at an angle that is offset by 30° to 60°. 
     
     
         3 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 1  wherein the fibers extend through the walls of the cell members at an angle that is offset by 40° to 50°. 
     
     
         4 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 1  wherein the fibers are glass fibers or carbon fibers. 
     
     
         5 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of cell members are affixed together by an adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of cell members are affixed together by stitching. 
     
     
         7 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 1  wherein the inflatable structure takes the form of a building upon being inflated, wherein the building includes walls and a roof. 
     
     
         8 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 9  wherein the building is a floating structure adapted for covering a watercraft. 
     
     
         9 . A method for erecting an inflatable building which comprises situating the inflatable structure of  claim 1  in the desired location for the building and inflating the inflatable structure with a foam forming liquid composition. 
     
     
         10 . An erected building made by the method of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         11 . An erected building as specified in  claim 10  wherein the foam is a polyurethane foam or a polyester foam. 
     
     
         12 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 1  wherein the cell members are rectangular blocks. 
     
     
         13 . An inflatable protective structure for conventional buildings having exterior walls, said inflatable protective structure comprising a plurality of cell members having an inner space and walls, wherein the walls of the cell members enclose the inner space within the cell members, wherein the walls of the cell members include at least two rows of fibers wherein the rows of fibers extend through the walls of the cell members at an angle that is offset by 15° to 75°, wherein the plurality of cell members are affixed together to extend around the perimeter of the conventional building in a trough in their un-inflated state, wherein the plurality of cell members are affixed together cover at least one exterior surface of the conventional building in their inflated state, and wherein there is at least one orifice in each cell member through which said fluid can be added to inflate the inflatable structure into the desired shape. 
     
     
         14 . An inflatable protective structure as specified in  claim 13  wherein the inflatable protective structure is inflated with air. 
     
     
         15 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 1  wherein the inflatable structure takes the form of a highway sound barrier wall upon being inflated. 
     
     
         16 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 1  wherein the inflatable structure takes the form of a dam or levee upon being inflated. 
     
     
         17 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 1  wherein the inflatable structure takes the form of a runway or helicopter landing pad upon being inflated. 
     
     
         18 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 1  wherein at least one of the orifices can be sealed with a snap-on cap, a threaded cap, a check valve, or a zipper. 
     
     
         19 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 18  wherein the orifices that can be sealed include a check valve. 
     
     
         20 . An inflatable structure as specified in  claim 19  wherein the cell members that include orifices with check valves further valves include a deflation valve.

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