US3818487A — Soft control materials

Claim 1

Independent Claim 220 words

A soft control structure comprising: a. a multiplicity of bladders disposed adjacent each other in a three dimensional array, b. a multiplicity of tubes passing through the array for carrying cooling or warming fluid for the bladders, c. a compressible, porpous medium surrounding and supporting the bladders and the tubes in position, d. low boiling point fluid contained within each of the bladders, e. pressure sensing, heat sensing, and heating means interspersed among the (a), (b), and (c) elements f. self organizing control means having a multiplicity of command input ports and control signal output ports, a predetermined number of command input ports connected to said sensing elements within a predetermined volume of said array extending through the array to one surface thereof, the remaining command input ports being connected to said sensing elements disposed in a second volume of said structure coaxial with the first volume, decreasing in connection frequency radially outward from the centre of the surface of said predetermined volume; a predetermined number of control signal output ports being connected to said heating elements in said predetermined volume of said array extending through the array to the surface, the remaining control output ports being connected to said heating elements disposed in the second volume of said array, decreasing in connection frequency radially outward from said predetermined volume.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 220 words

A soft control structure comprising: a. a multiplicity of bladders disposed adjacent each other in a three dimensional array, b. a multiplicity of tubes passing through the array for carrying cooling or warming fluid for the bladders, c. a compressible, porpous medium surrounding and supporting the bladders and the tubes in position, d. low boiling point fluid contained within each of the bladders, e. pressure sensing, heat sensing, and heating means interspersed among the (a), (b), and (c) elements f. self organizing control means having a multiplicity of command input ports and control signal output ports, a predetermined number of command input ports connected to said sensing elements within a predetermined volume of said array extending through the array to one surface thereof, the remaining command input ports being connected to said sensing elements disposed in a second volume of said structure coaxial with the first volume, decreasing in connection frequency radially outward from the centre of the surface of said predetermined volume; a predetermined number of control signal output ports being connected to said heating elements in said predetermined volume of said array extending through the array to the surface, the remaining control output ports being connected to said heating elements disposed in the second volume of said array, decreasing in connection frequency radially outward from said predetermined volume.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 49 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 1, in which the elements are arranged with the smallest bladders in a surface cutaneous layer, and larger bladders in a subcutaneous layer disposed under the cutaneous layer, each of the bladders containing a predetermined amount of low boiling point fluid.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 42 words

A structure as defined in claim 2, in which the compressible porous medium in the cutaneous layer is comprised of elastic, porous foam material, and the compressible porous material in the subcutaneous layer is comprised of loose, fibrous, generally nonelastic foam material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 59 words

A structure as defined in claim 3, in which said tubes extend through both the cutaneous and subcutaneous layers to the surface of the cutaneous layer, branching into a larger number of tubes in the cutaneous layer than in the subcutaneous layer, and further comprising means for pumping air through the tubes to the surface of the cutaneous layer.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 97 words

A structure as defined in claim 4, further comprising a muscle layer disposed under the subcutaneous layer, having predetermined numbers of muscle means, each of said numbers being disposed under said predetermined volume, adapted to expand against and pulse the subcutaneous layer within said predetermined volume; a gill layer disposed under the muscle layer adapted to supply air to said tubes and to cool the muscle means; pump means adapted to pump air through the gill layer connected to the gill layer; and a compressible porous material disposed between the muscle means, and filling the gill layer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 43 words

A structure as defined in claim 5, in which the pressure and heat sensing and heating elements are disposed adjacent and on the surface of predetermined numbers of bladders and tubes, and on the surface of the cutaneous layer in a regular array.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 6, in which the low boiling point fluid is comprised of Freon.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 170 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second structure isolated from the first comprising: a. a second multiplicity of bladders arranged in a second three dimensional array, b. a second multiplicity of tubes passing through the array for carrying cooling or warming fluid, c. a compressible porous medium surrounding the bladders and the tubes, d. low boiling point fluid contained within the bladders, e. pressure sensing temperature sensing, and heating means interspersed among the latter (a), (b), and (c) elements, f. the predetermined and remaining numbers of command inputs being connected in parallel to the sensing elements in the predetermined and second volumes of the first structure and respective similar predetermined and second volumes of the second array in a similar manner, and the predetermined and remaining numbers of control signal outputs being connected in parallel to the heating elements disposed in said predetermined and second volumes of the first and respective similar predetermined and second volumes of the second structure, in a similar manner.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 64 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 8, further including rigid structural support means disposed against and holding the surface of said structure opposite the cutaneous layer, whereby a person may be supported upon the surface of the cutaneous layer, heat and pressure from his body being applied and blocking air flow on the surface of the structure, thereby interacting with the structure.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 124 words

A soft control structure comprising: a. a pair of housings b. a multiplicity of bladders containing an expandable fluid, less than 1/2 inch in diameter when expanded, generally filling each of the housings, c. a multiplicity of heat and pressure sensing elements regularly disposed among and on the surface of the bladders, d. a self organizing control means having a multiplicity of command input and control signal output ports, having its command input ports connected to individual heat and pressure sensing elements in parallel with corresponding ones of said elements in each of the housings, e. means connected to the control signal output ports for causing expansion of said bladders as determined by said control means in parallel duplication in each of said housings.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 124 words

A soft control structure comprising: a. a pair of housings b. a multiplicity of bladders containing an expandable fluid, less than 1/2 inch in diameter when expanded, generally filling each of the housings, c. a multiplicity of heat and pressure sensing elements regularly disposed among and on the surface of the bladders, d. a self organizing control means having a multiplicity of command input and control signal output ports, having its command input ports connected to individual heat and pressure sensing elements in parallel with corresponding ones of said elements in each of the housings, e. means connected to the control signal output ports for causing expansion of said bladders as determined by said control means in parallel duplication in each of said housings.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 41 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 10, in which the expandable fluid is comprised of Freon, and in which the (e) means is comprised of heating elements disposed among said bladders in parallel correspondence in each of said housings.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 94 words

A soft control structure comprising: a. a first bladder, b. a second flexible-walled bladder disposed contiguous with the first bladder, c. low boiling point fluid held within the first and second bladders, d. means for applying heat or cold to the fluid, whereby the fluid above its boiling point will be caused to condense and the fluid below its boiling point will be caused to boil, the first and second bladders thus individually contracting or expanding and acting against each Other, and e. means for sensing the combined surface change of both said bladders.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 94 words

A soft control structure comprising: a. a first bladder, b. a second flexible-walled bladder disposed contiguous with the first bladder, c. low boiling point fluid held within the first and second bladders, d. means for applying heat or cold to the fluid, whereby the fluid above its boiling point will be caused to condense and the fluid below its boiling point will be caused to boil, the first and second bladders thus individually contracting or expanding and acting against each Other, and e. means for sensing the combined surface change of both said bladders.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 12 in which the low boiling point fluid is comprised of Freon.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 106 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 13, further including a flexible pipe-shaped and inexpandable member, a multiplicity of alternating donut shaped second bladders coaxially and contiguously disposed inside said pipe-shaped member, each of said bladders containing predetermined amounts of low boiling point fluid; a carrier fluid contained within the inner regions of said pipe-shaped member within the donut holes of said bladders, and means for applying heat to limited lengths of said pipe-shaped member for transmission to the low boiling point fluid, whereby the underlying bladders are caused to expand and constrict inwardly, forcing the carrier fluid to flow away from the constricted region.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 88 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 14, in which the pipe-shaped member is comprised of flexible material adapted to form coaxial bulges when said bladders are expanded; further including erectile flaps having one edge of each attached to said pipe-shaped member along a line on it''s periphery to one side of the peak of the bulges, said flaps being adapted to erect when the second bladders are inflated, and to lie flat upon the surface of the pipe-shaped member when the second bladders are not inflated.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 53 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 15, in which the flaps are disposed on the surface of the pipe shaped member facing the means for applying heat or cold; the outer surface of the flaps having an upper surface of heat absorbing material, and an under surface of heat reflecting material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 74 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 12, in which the first and second bladders and additional numbers thereof are in the form of closed tubes connected so as to form a sheet of tubes, the sheet being storable in a flat, folded or rolled configuration, which upon being raised in temperature, is adapted to erect into a self supporting structure predetermined in shape by the physical relationship and location of said bladders.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 180 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 12, in which the first and second bladders are in the form of closed tubes connected in parallel along their respective edges so as to form a sheet of tubes, further including a first erectile group of flaps having one of each of their edges connected to the tubes along similarly facing sides of the tubes adjacent the line of connection between each of the tubes, and a second group of flaps connected along one of their edges to the tubes adjacent the line of connection between the tubes, and connected along the other edges to the other edges of the first group of flaps, the second set of flaps being apapted to stretch taut upon erection of the first group of flaps by inflation of the second bladder, and fold under the first group of flaps upon recumbence thereof, the first or second group of flaps having an outer surface of heat absorbing material, and the remaining second or first group of flaps having an outer surface of heat reflecting material.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 96 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 18, in which the surface of the tubes opposite the sides covered by the first and second flaps forms a continuous membrane, and further including means for interconnecting the junctions between the flaps so as to define a predetermined plane area supported by the flaps in their erected mode, the predetermined plane being larger in area than the area of the continuous membrane, such that when the flaps are in their erected mode, the entire second bladder structure forms a bowed shape due to the differential bending thereof.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 54 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 12 further including a narrow opening between the first and second bladders of predetermined size such as to allow passage of the fluid in its gaseous phase at a predetermined rate, the (d) means comprIsing means for heat or cold pulsing each said bladder in sequence.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 42 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 12, in which the second bladder is of the form of a fluid-carrying compressible tube passing through two walls of the first bladder, the walls of the first bladder being comprised of non-elastic material.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 21, further including fluid heating means disposed within the first bladder.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 92 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 12, in which the first bladder is of the form of a thick hollow-walled cylinder, comprised of an inner cylindrical wall joined and sealed at its ends to an outer cylindrical wall, and in which the second bladder is in the form of a narrow fluid-carrying tube passing through the sealed ends of said cylinder between the inner and outer walls, whereby fluid at one temperature can pass through said cylinder within the inner cylindrical wall, and fluid at another temperature through said tube.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 52 words

A soft control structure as defined in claim 12, in which the first bladder is in the form of a tube, and the second bladder is in the form of a Klein Bottle disposed contiguous with the tube, further comprising means for applying fluid pressure to the mouth of the Klein Bottle.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 26 words

A structure as defined in claim 24, further including a fluid outlet valve connected through the wall of the larger diameter section of the Klein Bottle.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-06-17	1977-12-17	1978-06-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-06-17	1981-12-17	1982-06-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-06-17	1985-12-17	1986-06-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Soft control materials

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