Patent US3837171A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3837171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable underwater structure
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-04-10
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Granted: 1974-09-24
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Expires: 1993-04-10
Abstract
Abstract An inflatable underwater structure for providing an artificial environment around a work area, for example, at the sub-sea base of an off-shore oil platform, permitting such work as welding and the like; the structure is made up of one integral sheet of material for a custom job or a series of selected sheets fastened together about the structural support members; the material includes zippered sections so that the material can be placed about and around the structural members; in order to insure a substantially air-tight system, neck sealing means are included about the structural members at their intersection with the sheet material as well as air-tight means within the zippered sections; although the system could be used on land, it is particularly applicable to sub-sea situations.
Inventors
- 👤 J Scurlock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:28
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B41/00; E21B41/06; B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An inflatable, inverted bag-like enclosure structure of flexible material for fastening about and to a rigid structure, at least a part of which is in water, to define an enclosed work space, at least a portion of which is below the water, about said rigid structure, and having an internal, gaseous environment which supports by its pressure said enclosure structure, said internal environment being different from that on the outside of said enclosure structure, said enclosure structure comprising a multiple number of separate but joinable extended sheet sections of flexible material, and joining means mounted at the edges of said sections for joining them together, said sections when joined together having at least one aperture therein, which is fitted around said rigid structure, and a relatively large bottom opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
An inflatable, inverted bag-like enclosure structure of flexible material for fastening about and to a rigid structure, at least a part of which is in water, to define an enclosed work space, at least a portion of which is below the water, about said rigid structure, and having an internal, gaseous environment which supports by its pressure said enclosure structure, said internal environment being different from that on the outside of said enclosure structure, said enclosure structure comprising a multiple number of separate but joinable extended sheet sections of flexible material, and joining means mounted at the edges of said sections for joining them together, said sections when joined together having at least one aperture therein, which is fitted around said rigid structure, and a relatively large bottom opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein there is further included sealing means along said aperture for at least substantially sealing said enclosure about said rigid structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein said joining means comprises a zipper structure located along the periphery of said sections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The enclosure structure of claim 3 wherein said joining means includes dual wall sections each joined together along their edges by means of zipper structures, one being a strong, heavy duty, structural type of zipper structure which can withstand high stress, and the other being a water-tight zipper structure, the later including slack portions in its wall sections, thereby avoiding any great structural stresses from being placed on said water-tight zipper structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
The enclosure structure of claim 3 wherein said joining means includes two wall sections each joined together along their edges by means of zipper structures which define between themselves an enclosed housing, one of said wall sections including a flap layer of water-impervious material extending out therefrom within said housing and having sealing section means at its distal end for mating with the opposing part of the wall section from which it extends and for forming a water-tight seal between said flap layer and said opposing part, pressure means being included within said housing for pressing said sealing section means against said opposing part.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The enclosure structure of claim 5 wherein said pressure means comprises an inflatable bag.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The enclosure structure of claim 5 wherein there is included a projecting, longitudinal bead on said opposing part where it mates with said sealing section means for enhancing the sealing action.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The enclosure structure of claim 5 wherein said sealing section means comprises a section of low density clOsed cellular foam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The enclosure structure of claim 5 wherein there is included a multiple number of flap layers of water-impervious material having sealing section means at their distal ends for mating with opposing parts of the wall section(s) from which they extend, thereby providing a multitude of water-tight seals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein the rigid structure includes a multiple number of diverging members, said sections when joined together having a like number of apertures which are formed about the diverging members, said joining means intersecting with said apertures.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein said sheet sections include a series of floation pockets along their upper areas to assist in properly positioning said sheet sections when they are joined together about the rigid structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein said joining means also includes a series of stress belt means for positioning across the joining means for pulling said sheet sections together to take up the lateral stress in those areas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
The enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein there is further included an outer enclosing net of mesh material following the general configuration of said sheet sections when joined together but defining substantially less enclosed volume than said sheet sections when joined together and when fully extended, said net being placed on the exterior of said sheet sections when joined together, thereby preventing the creation of any substantial, damaging lateral or surface stresses on said joining means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein said sheet sections are made of a composite material made up of an inner layer of heat and fire resistant material such as an abestos material, a film layer that is water-impervious, a strain resistant layer, and an abrasive resistant outer layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The enclosure structure of claim 2 wherein said sealing means includes a layer of foam material placed in juxtaposition to the sheet material which forms said aperture and clamping means for clamping said sheet section and said layer of foam material tightly to the rigid structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The enclosure structure of claim 15 wherein said clamping means has on its inner work surface a series of projections to enhance and localize its clamping capabilities.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein there is included a series of tie down line means connected to said sheet sections around said relatively large bottom opening formed when said sheel sections are joined together for tying and holding the bottom of said sheet sections down.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The enclosure structure of claim 1 wherein the rigid structure includes irregular sections which provide less than a completely rounded surface, the enclosure structure further including a multiple number of relatively small, inflatable filler bag means inflated to a high pressure for placing in and around the irregular surface contours for producing a generally rounded surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-23 | 1978-03-25 | 1978-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-23 | 1982-03-25 | 1982-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-23 | 1986-03-25 | 1986-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |