Air cushion support space defining structure and stocksheet fabrication therefor

Claim 2

In an air cushion supported vehicle such as an airplane, air cushion vehicle, or the like, having a hull carrying an air cushion support generating means thereunder; said means comprising an air pressure inflatable trunk system including a generally cylindrically shaped straight run portions joined by spherically curved corner portions; said trunk system comprising a flexible stocksheet cut to a prescribed pattern and including means for allowing said straight run portions to expand only in girthwise direction and for allowing said corner portions to expand bi-directionally; said cut sheet being attached to the vehicle hull along the perimetral edges thereof.

Claim 3

A sheet fabrication for attachment to a vehicle to provide therebelow an air-expandable trunk adapted to establish an air cushion space below the vehicle for vertical support thereof above a reaction surface; said fabrication being in the form of a band circumscribing said space and having straight run portions on opposite sides of said space, whiCh extend longitudinally of the vehicle and transverse portions joining opposite ends of said straight run portions and merging at corner portions with such straight run portions; said straight run portions being elastic only in the girthwise direction of the trunk transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and said corner portions being bi-directionally elastic.

Claim 4

A sheet fabrication for attachment to a vehicle to provide therebelow an air-expandable trunk adapted to establish an air cushion space below the vehicle for vertical support thereof above a reaction surface; said fabrication being in the form of a band circumscribing said space and having straight run portions on opposite sides of said space, whiCh extend longitudinally of the vehicle and transverse portions joining opposite ends of said straight run portions and merging at corner portions with such straight run portions; said straight run portions being elastic only in the girthwise direction of the trunk transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and said corner portions being bi-directionally elastic.

Claim 5

A sheet fabrication as defined in claim 2 wherein the longitudinal and transverse straight run portions and said corner portions are provided with at least one series of slits located to be in the bottom footprint of the air-expanded trunk, the slits of said series being spaced apart to circumscribe the air cushion space and each slit being aligned in the circumscribing direction so as to be opened up into substantially circular aperture form when the trunk is inflated.

Claim 6

A sheet fabrication for attachment to a vehicle to provide therebelow an air-expandable trunk adapted to establish an air cushion space below the vehicle for vertical support thereof above a reaction surface; said fabrication being in the form of a band circumscribing said space an having straight run portions on opposite sides of said space which extend longitudinally of the vehicle and transverse portions joining opposite ends of said straight run portions and merging at corner portions therewith; said fabrication being formed of elastic material to allow said band to be expanded from a condition substantially conforming to the contour of said vehicle to said air-expanded trunk configuration; and means in said elastic material for allowing the straight run portions to stretch only in the girthwise direction of the trunk for allowing said corner portions to stretch bi-directionally whereby the bottom of the air-expanded trunk defining the footprint thereof lies substantially in a single plane to preserve the integrity of the air cushion.

Claim 7

A sheet fabrication for attachment to a vehicle to provide therebelow an air-expandable trunk adapted to establish an air cushion space below the vehicle for vertical support thereof above a reaction surface; said fabrication being in the form of a band circumscribing said space an having straight run portions on opposite sides of said space which extend longitudinally of the vehicle and transverse portions joining opposite ends of said straight run portions and merging at corner portions therewith; said fabrication being formed of elastic material to allow said band to be expanded from a condition substantially conforming to the contour of said vehicle to said air-expanded trunk configuration; and means in said elastic material for allowing the straight run portions to stretch only in the girthwise direction of the trunk for allowing said corner portions to stretch bi-directionally whereby the bottom of the air-expanded trunk defining the footprint thereof lies substantially in a single plane to preserve the integrity of the air cushion.

Claim 8

A sheet fabrication as defined in claim 4 wherein the longitudinal and transverse straight run portions and said corner portions are provided with at least one series of slits located to be in the bottom footprint of the air-expanded trunk, the slits of said series being spaced apart to circumscribe the air cushion space and each slit being aligned in the circumscribing direction so as to be opened up into substantially circular aperture form when the trunk is inflated.

Claim 9

A sheet fabrication for attachment to a vehicle hull to provide therebelow an air-expandable trunk adapted to establish an air cushion space below the vehicle for vertical support thereof above a reaction surface, said sheet fabrication being cut to a prescribed pattern so as to be adapted to be laid flatwise and attached in fluid-pressure sealing relation along its peripheral edges to the vehicle, whereby air under pressure may be applied so as to cause said cut sheet to balloon out and provide an inflated trunk extending from the vehicle, said sheet being uni-directionally elastic throughout one portion thereof and bi-directionally elastic throughout another portion thereof, the cut sheet fabrication being of rectangular-toroidal planform and the sheet fabrication comprising the straight-run portions of the trunk system being elastic in girthwise directions only.

Claim 10

A sheet fabrication for attachment to a vehicle hull to provide therebelow an air-expandable trunk adapted to establish an air cushion space below the vehicle for vertical support thereof above a reaction surface, said sheet fabrication being cut to a prescribed pattern so as to be adapted to be laid flatwise and attached in fluid-pressure sealing relation along its peripheral edges to the vehicle, whereby air under pressure may be applied so as to cause said cut sheet to balloon out and provide an inflated trunk extending from the vehicle, said sheet being uni-directionally elastic throughout one portion thereof and bi-directionally elastic throughout another portion thereof, the cut sheet fabrication being of rectangular-toroidal planform and the sheet fabrication comprising the straight-run portions of the trunk system being elastic in girthwise directions only.

Claim 11

A sheet fabrication as set forth in claim 6 wherein the planform corner portions of the sheet fabrication comprising the trunk system are omni-directionally elastic.

Claim 12

A sheet fabrication as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sheet fabrication comprises multiple layers of fabric each comprising interwoven strands of Nylon or the like, and an air sealing layer of omni-directionally elastic material.

Claim 13

A sheet fabrication as set forth in claim 6 wherein said sheet fabrication comprises multiple layers of fabric each comprising interwoven strands of Nylon or the like and an air sealing layer of omni-directionally elastic material.