Straight line gore, method for making the same and assemblies including the same

Abstract

An atmospheric balloon includes an upper apex and a lower apex and a balloon membrane. The balloon membrane includes a plurality of balloon gores. The balloon gores extend between the upper and lower apexes. One or more of the balloon gores includes upper straight line gore edges and lower straight line gore edges. The upper and lower straight line gore edges are coupled along one or more corresponding upper and lower straight line gore edges of adjacent balloon gores of the plurality of balloon gores. The one or more balloon gores are formed with cutting the gore material along a straight line cutting edge to form the upper and lower straight line gore edges.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An atmospheric balloon comprising:
 an upper apex;   a lower apex; and   a balloon membrane, the balloon membrane includes a plurality of balloon gores, each of the plurality of balloon gores extends between the upper and lower apexes, and one or more of the balloon gores of the plurality of balloon gores includes:
 upper straight line gore edges, 
 lower straight line gore edges, wherein the upper and lower straight line gore edges are coupled along corresponding upper and lower straight line gore edges of adjacent balloon gores of the plurality of balloon gores, and 
 an equator between the upper and lower straight line gore edges.