Flexible inflatable and fluid fillable container

Abstract

A flexible inflatable container that includes a flexible inflatable core having opposing first and second panel members, each with an interior side. A plurality of longitudinally oriented stringers is disposed on at least one interior side of one of the opposing first and second panel members. Each stringer has at least one edge. Zippers join stringers portions to one another or to the panel members or both. An inflation valve on one of the panel members is provided for introducing fluid into the flexible inflatable core. The core is covered by a flexible outer skin.

What is claimed as invention is: 
     
         1 . A flexible inflatable container, comprising:
 a flexible inflatable core having opposing first and second panel members, each with an interior side;   a plurality of longitudinally oriented stringers disposed on at least one interior side of one of said opposing first and second panel members, each of said stringers having at least one edge;   a plurality of first zipper members, one each disposed on said at least one edge of each of said stringers;   a plurality of second zipper members, complementary to each of said first zipper members, and disposed either on an interior side of one of said opposing panel members or on an edge of a stringer attached to one of said opposing panel member, said second zipper member;   an inflation valve disposed on one of said opposing first and second panel members for introducing fluid into said flexible inflatable core; and   a flexible outer skin having a selectively closeable opening for insertion of said flexible inflatable core to tightly cover said core.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of stringers include at least one stringer having an I-beam configuration when viewed on end. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of stringers include at least one stringer having a Y-beam configuration when viewed on end. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of stringers include at least one stringer having an X-beam configuration when viewed on end. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of stringers include at least one stringer having a bifurcated Y-beam configuration when viewed on end. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of stringers include at least one stringer having a semi-bifurcated X-beam configuration when viewed on end. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of stringers include at least one stringer having a bifurcated X-beam configuration when viewed on end. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein each stringer of said plurality of stringers is permanently connected to one of said interior sides of one of said opposing first and second panel members and an edge having a zipper member aligned for mating with a complementary zipper member affixed to the other of said interior sides of said opposing first and second panel members. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein each stringer includes a first half permanently connected to said interior side of said first panel member and a second half permanently connected to said interior side of said second panel member, said first half and said second half each including zipper members complementary to one another and which form a unified stringer when zipped together. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 9 , wherein each of said first and second half of said stringers is symmetrical with its complementary half. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein each stringer of said plurality of stringers includes first and second edges, each having zipper members on first and second edges, each zipper member configured to align and zip together with a zipper member affixed to an interior side of one of said first and second panel members. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , further including a pressure release valve. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , further including a manometer. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein said outer skin is watertight. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second panel members are permanently coupled to one another with a staggered overlapping seam configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , further including attachment structure for connecting auxiliary articles on an exterior surface of at least one of said first and second panel members. 
     
     
         17 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 16 , wherein said auxiliary article is a foot traction pad having a zipper member on a circumferential edge and said attachment structure is a zipper member complementary to said zipper member on said foot traction pad. 
     
     
         18 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 16 , wherein said auxiliary article is a replaceable fin, and said attachment structure is a lock-in placement mechanism that includes cord passages through said flexible inflatable core, and said fin includes a base having a plurality of cords formed in loops that pass through said cord passages, and further including a pin to lock said cords in said cord passages. 
     
     
         19 . The flexible inflatable container of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible inflatable container is configured as an article selected from the group consisting of surf boards, kite boards, sail boards, wake boards, boats, flotation safety devices, tents, hangers, thermostatic chambers, inflatable base pads, wall dividers, inflatable wing structures, and turbine rotors. 
     
     
         20 . A structural container defining an interior volume, comprising: a plurality of flexible fabric panels joined edge-to-edge in a staggered overlapping configuration, wherein each of said panels includes a seam reference line and said staggered overlapping configuration includes a plurality of lateral cuts defining a plurality of seam allowance flaps having an edge, each of said seam allowance flaps overlapping and bonded to a complementary seam allowance flap on an adjoining panel such that the edges of said seam allowance flaps align precisely with said seam reference line on the adjoining panel.