Inflatable escape slide

Claim 2

An inflatable structure arranged for attachment to a generally fixed structure, comprising: a. a first inflatable structure member of generally elongate configuration from one end to another thereof when said first member is inflated; b. a second inflatable structure member having a bearing surface extending between spaced apart locations on said second member; c. attaching means adjacent one of said ends of said first member and adjacent one of said locations thereby joining said first and second members together; d. means for securing said second inflatable structure member to said fixed structure, said securing means being at said bearing surface and spaced from the point of attachment of said members whereby portions of said bearing surface on opposite sides of said securing means are in position to engage said fixed structure when said second member is inflated; and e. means for inflating said structure members whereby said bearing surface engages said fixed structure when said inflatable structure is attached thereto by said securing means, and positions said one end of said first member firmly above said second member.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 in which said inflating means includes a fluid pressure source at said fixed structure.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 1 in which said attaching means extends transversely of said first member and said securing means extends substantially parallel to said attaching means whereby said attaching means and said securing means allow relative pivoting movement between said first and second members.

Claim 5

An inflatable structure arranged for attachment to a generally fixed structure, comprising: a. a first inflatable structure member of generally elongate construction from one end to another thereof when said first member is inflated; b. a second inflatable structure member attached adjacent one of said ends of said first member; c. means for securing said second inflatable structure member to said fixed structure, said securing means being distally disposed from the point of attachment of said members whereby said one end of said first member is distally disposed in spaced relation from said securing means when said second member is inflated; and d. means for inflating said structure members with said one end of said first member thereupon disposed adjacent said fixed structure and supported thereat by inflation fluid pressure in said second member; said fixed structure being an aircraft and said inflatable structure being an egress slide structure which in normal or uninflated condition is stored in an exteriorally disposed compartment of said aircraft distally disposed from an egress opening in said aircraft, said storage compartment being below said egress opening, and said second inflatable structure member deploying said one end of said first inflatable structure member from said compartment to the lower sill area of said egress opening upon inflation of said second member.

Claim 6

An inflatable structure arranged for attachment to a generally fixed structure, comprising: a. a first inflatable structure member of generally elongate construction from one end to another thereof when said first member is inflated; b. a second inflatable structure member attached adjacent one of said ends of said first member; c. means for securing said second inflatable structure member to said fixed structure, said securing means being distally disposed from the point of attachment of said members whereby said one end of said first member is distally disposed in spaced relation from said securing means when said second member is inflated; and d. means for inflating said structure members with said one end of said first member thereupon disposed adjacent said fixed structure and supported thereat by inflation fluid pressure in said second member; said fixed structure being an aircraft and said inflatable structure being an egress slide structure which in normal or uninflated condition is stored in an exteriorally disposed compartment of said aircraft distally disposed from an egress opening in said aircraft, said storage compartment being below said egress opening, and said second inflatable structure member deploying said one end of said first inflatable structure member from said compartment to the lower sill area of said egress opening upon inflation of said second member.

Claim 7

An inflatable structure arranged for attachment to a generally fixed structure, comprising: a. a first inflatable structure member of generally elongate configurAtion from one end to another thereof when said first member is inflated; b. a second inflatable structure member attached adjacent one of said ends of said first member; c. means for securing said second inflatable structure member to said fixed structure, said securing means being distally disposed from the point of attachment of said members whereby said one end of said first member is distally disposed in spaced relation from said securing means when said second member is inflated; and d. means for inflating said structure members with said one end of said first member thereupon disposed adjacent said fixed structure and supported thereat by inflation fluid pressure in said second member; said second inflatable structure member being comprised of a plurality of generally columnar portions in side-by-side relationship when inflated, with said securing means forming a part of one of said portions, the attachment point of said second inflatable member to said first inflatable member forming a part of another of said portions.

Claim 8

An inflatable structure arranged for attachment to a generally fixed structure, comprising: a. a first inflatable structure member of generally elongate configurAtion from one end to another thereof when said first member is inflated; b. a second inflatable structure member attached adjacent one of said ends of said first member; c. means for securing said second inflatable structure member to said fixed structure, said securing means being distally disposed from the point of attachment of said members whereby said one end of said first member is distally disposed in spaced relation from said securing means when said second member is inflated; and d. means for inflating said structure members with said one end of said first member thereupon disposed adjacent said fixed structure and supported thereat by inflation fluid pressure in said second member; said second inflatable structure member being comprised of a plurality of generally columnar portions in side-by-side relationship when inflated, with said securing means forming a part of one of said portions, the attachment point of said second inflatable member to said first inflatable member forming a part of another of said portions.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 5 in which said securing means is formed along the columnar axis of said one of said portions and said attachment point is formed along the columnar axis of said another of said portions.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 5 in which said securing means spans each of said portions between the ends thereof and said attachment point spans each of said portions at one end thereof.

Claim 11

In combination in an aircraft provided with an egress and a sill thereat and having an equipment storage compartment distally disposed from the egress and openable to the exterior of the aircraft, an inflatable structure stowed uninflated within said compartment, said inflatable structure comprising: a. an elongate inflatable slide member; b. an inflatable positioning member having means securing said positioning member to a wall of said aircraft compartment, one end of said slide member being hingedly coupled with a connecting portion of said positioning member, said connecting portion being distal of said securing means; and c. means for inflating said members to a pressurized condition wherein said one end of said slide member is deployed out of said compartment by said positioning member to a position such that the slide surface of said slide member is substantially located at said egress sill.

Claim 12

In combination in an aircraft provided with an egress and a sill thereat and having an equipment storage compartment distally disposed from the egress and openable to the exterior of the aircraft, an inflatable structure stowed uninflated within said compartment, said inflatable structure comprising: a. an elongate inflatable slide member; b. an inflatable positioning member having means securing said positioning member to a wall of said aircraft compartment, one end of said slide member being hingedly coupled with a connecting portion of said positioning member, said connecting portion being distal of said securing means; and c. means for inflating said members to a pressurized condition wherein said one end of said slide member is deployed out of said compartment by said positioning member to a position such that the slide surface of said slide member is substantially located at said egress sill.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 8 in which said aircraft compartment is located below said sill, and inflation of said positioning member deploys said one end of said slide member upwardly out of said compartment.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 9 in which said inflation means comprises a fluid source in said aircraft.