US3291241A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible understructures for ground effect vehicles
Assignee: Westland Group PLC
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Filing: 1964-07-15
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Granted: 1966-12-13
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Expires: 1984-07-15
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Jones Richard Stanton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:53
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V1/00; B60V1/06; B60V1/11; B60V1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A GROUND EFFECT MACHINE FOR THE TYPE WHICH, DURING AT LEAST ONE MODE OF OPERATION, IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUPPORTED BY A PRESSURIZED GASEOUS CUSHION FORMED AND CONTAINED BENEATH THE MACHINE, SAID MACHINE HAVING AT LEAST ONE KEEL WHICH COMPRISES AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE CONTAINER DEPENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE MACHINE WITHIN THE CUSHION AREA, THE VERTICAL CROSS-SECTION OF SAID KEEL BEING BULBOUS OVER AT LEAST A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE KEEL, THE BULBOUS CROSS-SECTION PRESENTING TWO OR MORE SUPERIMPOSED BUBBLES, ADJACENT BUBBLES BEING SEPARATED BY A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL WEB, AND EACH BUBBLE EXCEPT THE UPPERMOST ONE HAVING A SMALLER CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THAN THE ONE IMMEDIATELY ABOVE, SAID FLEXIBLE CONTAINER BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO BE INFLATED BY GASEOUS FLUID UNDER PRESSURE, AND BEING PROVIDED WITH REARWARDLY OPENING AND CONTINUOUSLY OPEN VENTS FOR THE ESCAPE OF SAID GASEOUS FLUID AND OF ANY WATER THAT MAY FIND ITS WAY INTO THE CONTAINER.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A GROUND EFFECT MACHINE FOR THE TYPE WHICH, DURING AT LEAST ONE MODE OF OPERATION, IS WHOLLY OR PARTLY SUPPORTED BY A PRESSURIZED GASEOUS CUSHION FORMED AND CONTAINED BENEATH THE MACHINE, SAID MACHINE HAVING AT LEAST ONE KEEL WHICH COMPRISES AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE CONTAINER DEPENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE MACHINE WITHIN THE CUSHION AREA, THE VERTICAL CROSS-SECTION OF SAID KEEL BEING BULBOUS OVER AT LEAST A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE KEEL, THE BULBOUS CROSS-SECTION PRESENTING TWO OR MORE SUPERIMPOSED BUBBLES, ADJACENT BUBBLES BEING SEPARATED BY A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL WEB, AND EACH BUBBLE EXCEPT THE UPPERMOST ONE HAVING A SMALLER CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THAN THE ONE IMMEDIATELY ABOVE, SAID FLEXIBLE CONTAINER BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO BE INFLATED BY GASEOUS FLUID UNDER PRESSURE, AND BEING PROVIDED WITH REARWARDLY OPENING AND CONTINUOUSLY OPEN VENTS FOR THE ESCAPE OF SAID GASEOUS FLUID AND OF ANY WATER THAT MAY FIND ITS WAY INTO THE CONTAINER.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1969-12-12 | 1970-06-13 | 1970-12-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1973-12-12 | 1974-06-13 | 1974-12-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1977-12-12 | 1978-06-13 | 1978-12-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |