Patent US3815650A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3815650A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protection of aircraft
Assignee: Airflex Containers Ltd
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Filing: 1972-06-22
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1992-06-22
Abstract
Abstract An envelope made wholly or partly of flexible impermeable material, and adapted to enclose an aircraft, there being an access opening in the envelope, the envelope including a reusable airtight fastener, operable to close and seal the opening against ingress of air into the envelope, the envelope also having apertures through which wheels of an aircraft can protrude, together with sealing means for sealing said apertures to parts of the aircraft''s undercarriage, and valve means controlling an outlet for air from the interior of the envelope whereby suction may be applied to and maintained within the envelope to collapse said envelope into closely fitting engagement with the aircraft.
Inventors
- 👤 C Hickey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:16
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64F; B64F1/00; B64F1/005; B65; B65B; B65B31/00; B65B31/04; B65B31/046; B65B31/047; B65B33/00; B65B33/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An enclosure for an aircraft comprising: a. An envelope formed at least partly of flexible impermeable material and having an access opening, an outlet, and also apertures positioned and sized for the protrusion of aircraft wheels therethrough; b. A re-usable air tight fastener disposed in said envelope for closing and sealing said access opening against ingress of air into the envelope; c. Means for sealing said apertures to parts of an enclosed aircraft under carriage; and d. Valve means in said envelope for controlling said outlet and for allowing air only to escape from said outlet, whereby suction can be applied to and maintained within the envelope to collapse said envelope into closely fitting engagement with an aircraft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An enclosure for an aircraft comprising: a. An envelope formed at least partly of flexible impermeable material and having an access opening, an outlet, and also apertures positioned and sized for the protrusion of aircraft wheels therethrough; b. A re-usable air tight fastener disposed in said envelope for closing and sealing said access opening against ingress of air into the envelope; c. Means for sealing said apertures to parts of an enclosed aircraft under carriage; and d. Valve means in said envelope for controlling said outlet and for allowing air only to escape from said outlet, whereby suction can be applied to and maintained within the envelope to collapse said envelope into closely fitting engagement with an aircraft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An envelope as claimed in claim 1 in which the fastener is also arranged to seal said opening against passage of air out of the envelope through the opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An envelope as claimed in claim 1 in which there are clamps which Fit around the wheel apertures and secure the envelope to the undercarriage oleo struts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An envelope as claimed in claim 1 including a pressure safety relief valve to prevent the pressure in the envelope falling to such a low level that the aircraft might be crushed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An envelope as claimed in claim 1 including means to replace at least some of the air in the envelope with an inert gas or with dried air.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An envelope as claimed in claim 1 having a plurality of aircraft wheel apertures to accommodate a plurality of undercarriage configurations, there being means to seal any apertures not in use.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An envelope as claimed in claim 1 in which the airtight fastener comprises one or more airtight sliding clasp fasteners.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An envelope as claimed in claim 7 in which the clasp fastener or fasteners are arranged so that the envelope can be opened out into a substantially flat sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An envelope as claimed in claim 7 in which two or more clasp fastener ends are adjacent, there being means to seal any gap between said adjacent ends.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for the protection of aircraft which comprises the steps of placing an aircraft in an envelope made wholly or partly of flexible impermeable material, the envelope having a re-usable openable airtight fastener, and closable apertures for the aircraft''s undercarriage; closing the fastener and sealing the apertures to make the envelope airtight; and withdrawing air from the interior of the envelope.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for the protection of aircraft which comprises the steps of placing an aircraft in an envelope made wholly or partly of flexible impermeable material, the envelope having a re-usable openable airtight fastener, and closable apertures for the aircraft''s undercarriage; closing the fastener and sealing the apertures to make the envelope airtight; and withdrawing air from the interior of the envelope.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 in which at least some of the air withdrawn from the envelope is replaced by dried air or an inert gas (e.g. nitrogen).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2168913A
Cited
GB586304A
Cited
US2717017A
Cited
US2814382A
Cited
US3101109A
Cited
US3610516A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |