Fluid Inflatable Member

Abstract

A fluid inflatable member that includes a pliable body having a membrane defining an expandable interior space and a porous material enclosed within the membrane of the pliable body. In response to the porous material being compressed, the porous material receives incompressible fluid from a fluid source and distributes the incompressible fluid throughout the interior space to increase a rigidity of the pliable body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid inflatable member, comprising:
 a pliable body having a membrane defining an interior space; and   a porous material enclosed within the membrane of the pliable body,   wherein, in response to the porous material being compressed, the porous material receives incompressible fluid from a fluid source and distributes the incompressible fluid throughout the interior space to increase a rigidity of the pliable body.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve coupled to the pliable body and communicating with the porous material to allow ingress and egress of the incompressible fluid to the pliable body to selectively inflate and uninflate the pliable body. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 1 , wherein interior space is defined by a membrane. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 3 , wherein the membrane comprises at least one of an impermeable material or a semi-permeable material. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 3 , wherein the pliable body further comprises at least a first portion and a second portion, and the membrane defines the first portion. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion has a predefined shape. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 6 , wherein the predefined shape is cylindrical. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 5 , wherein a second membrane defines the second portion, and the first portion and the second portion have a similar predefined shape. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 8 , wherein the similar predefined shape is cylindrical. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 9 , wherein the first portion and the second portion have a same length. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 1 , wherein the porous material comprises an open-cell foam having a pore size between approximately 0.1 mm and approximately 4 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 1 , wherein the rigidity of the pliable body depends on a cellular structure of the porous material and an amount of the incompressible fluid enclosed within the porous material. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a compressible member coupled with the pliable body, the compressible member configured to expand as the porous material receives the incompressible fluid and to retract as the incompressible fluid is expelled from the porous material.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 13 , wherein the compressible member comprises a coiled spring. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 14 , wherein the coiled spring extends a longitudinal length of the pliable body. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 13 , wherein the compressible member is configured to exert a force that acts to return the pliable body to an uninflated configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 16 , wherein the compressible member retracts and returns the pliable body to the uninflated configuration as the incompressible fluid is expelled from the porous material. 
     
     
         18 . A fluid inflatable member, comprising:
 a pliable body having a membrane defining an interior space; and   a porous material enclosed within the membrane of the pliable body,   wherein to increase a rigidity of the pliable body, air within the porous material is forced across the membrane into a surrounding environment by incursion of incompressible fluid into pores dispersed throughout the porous material.   
     
     
         19 . A fluid inflatable member, comprising:
 a pliable body having a membrane defining an interior space; and   a porous material enclosed within the membrane of the pliable body,   wherein compression of the porous material increases a rigidity of the pliable body by replacing air within the porous material with an incompressible fluid from a fluid source.   
     
     
         20 . The fluid inflatable member of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an eversion valve that allows ingress of the incompressible fluid into the interior space when a first pressure condition exists, prevents loss of the incompressible fluid at moderate differential pressure when a second pressure condition exists, and everts to allow egress of the incompressible fluid from the interior space when a third pressure condition exists.