US3936984A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Insulated air inflated structures
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-10-28
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Granted: 1976-02-10
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Expires: 1991-10-28
Abstract
Abstract An air inflated structure, the outer shell walls of which have a surface geometry consisting of one or more concave sections. Heat flow from or into the enclosed volume is drastically curtailed by thin plastic films, which are secured to the outer boundaries of the concave surface sections, and are joined to the shell wall at locations within the boundaries of its curved surface section by direct attachment or via flexible anchor tie strips. The surface area of each film is less than that of the surface geometry encompassed within the boundary to which it is secured, whereby in its inflated state, the outer shell wall extends the films in a taut fashion across its curved surface geometries to define a thin, uniform and dimensionally stable insulating air space between the shell wall and the plastic films. Additional sets of plastic films, spaced approximately parallel, may be utilized to further curtail the said heat flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Yando
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:50
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H15/00; E04H15/20; E04H2015/202; E04H2015/203; E04H2015/209
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
An air inflated shell-like structure for enclosing a volume of space therein, said structure having insulated walls which curtail heat flow from or into said enclosed volume, comprising: a flexible outer skin defining the exterior shell of said structure; means for providing positive air pressure within said enclosed volume of said structure for maintaining said skin in a fully expanded condition, the geometry of said skin being such that in said expanded condition, concavities are formed by said skin defining said shell wall; and a thin plastic film secured at the outer surface boundaries of said concavity, and secured to the shell wall within said boundary, said thin film being continuous across said boundary and the surface area of the film being less than surface of said concavity within said boundary, the space between said outer skin and thin plastic film communicating by openings in said plastic film with the said enclosed volume of said structure and being at the pressure of said enclosed volume, whereby said flexible outer skin is expanded by said positive pressure in said enclosed volume, whereby in the inflated structure, the said film is extended in taut fashion across the concavity to define an insulating air space between wall and film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
An air inflated shell-like structure for enclosing a volume of space therein, said structure having insulated walls which curtail heat flow from or into said enclosed volume, comprising: a flexible outer skin defining the exterior shell of said structure; means for providing positive air pressure within said enclosed volume of said structure for maintaining said skin in a fully expanded condition, the geometry of said skin being such that in said expanded condition, concavities are formed by said skin defining said shell wall; and a thin plastic film secured at the outer surface boundaries of said concavity, and secured to the shell wall within said boundary, said thin film being continuous across said boundary and the surface area of the film being less than surface of said concavity within said boundary, the space between said outer skin and thin plastic film communicating by openings in said plastic film with the said enclosed volume of said structure and being at the pressure of said enclosed volume, whereby said flexible outer skin is expanded by said positive pressure in said enclosed volume, whereby in the inflated structure, the said film is extended in taut fashion across the concavity to define an insulating air space between wall and film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A structure according to claim 1 wherein said film is restrained within said boundary at points offset from said wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A structure according to claim 2 wherein said film is restrained by attaching said film to flexible anchor tie strips which are secured to the wall of said shell at intermediate points within said boundary.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A structure according to claim 3 including a plurality of said thin films, said films being in substantially parallel overlying relationship with one another whereby additional insulating air space is defined between said thin films.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein said thin films comprise a thermoplastic material which is secured by heat sealing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A structure according to claim 5 wherein said anchor ties comprise a thin thermoplastic material, said anchor ties being secured to said shell skin and to said thin film by heat sealing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A structure according to claim 1, wherein said communication to said space between said skin and thin plastic film is enabled by perforations in said film for permitting air movement into and out of said air space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A structure according to claim 1, further including a plurality of shroud lines drawn about the external wall of said shell skin for reducing strain in said structure, said concavities being defined by the billowing portions of said skin between successive shroud lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A structure according to claim 8, further including a plurality of film-shroud line anchor strips secured to the inner side of said shell skin and extending in parallel fashion with said shroud lines, said thin film being secured to said concavities by attachment thereof to the side of said film-shroud line anchor strips non-adjacent to said shroud lines.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A structure according to claim 9 wherein said film-shroud line anchor strip comprises a resilient plastic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A structure according to claim 10 wherein said thin film and anchor tie strips comprise a polyvinyl chloride film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A structure according to claim 9 wherein said anchor tie strips comprise strips of flexible thermoplastic material, one edge of said strip being secured to said shell skin by heat sealing; the opposite edge of said strip being secured to said thin film by heat sealing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A structure according to claim 12 wherein said anchor tie strips comprise polyvinyl chloride sheet material.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for insulating an air inflatable structure for enclosing a volume of space, said structure being of the type including a flexible fabric shell defined by a flexible outer skin, said shell possessing a geometry such that when said structure is inflated, said skin is expanded to define concavities at said shell interior, comprising: securing a thin plastic film to said concavities of the interior wall of said shell by securing said thin film to the boundaries of said concavity and to points on said wall within said boundary, the area of said secured film being less than the area of said concavity; and providing by openings in said thin film a path of gas communication between the space defined between the said skin and thin plastic film and said enclosed volume of said structure, to enable pressure equalization between said enclosed volume and said space, whereby when said flexible outer skin is expanded by positive air pressure within to enable said inflation, the said film is stretched taut across the concavity to define an insulating air space between wall and film.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for insulating an air inflatable structure for enclosing a volume of space, said structure being of the type including a flexible fabric shell defined by a flexible outer skin, said shell possessing a geometry such that when said structure is inflated, said skin is expanded to define concavities at said shell interior, comprising: securing a thin plastic film to said concavities of the interior wall of said shell by securing said thin film to the boundaries of said concavity and to points on said wall within said boundary, the area of said secured film being less than the area of said concavity; and providing by openings in said thin film a path of gas communication between the space defined between the said skin and thin plastic film and said enclosed volume of said structure, to enable pressure equalization between said enclosed volume and said space, whereby when said flexible outer skin is expanded by positive air pressure within to enable said inflation, the said film is stretched taut across the concavity to define an insulating air space between wall and film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the said film is restrained at points offset from said wall by attaching the said film to flexible connecting means extending between said wall and said film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
98 words
A structure according to claim 1, further including at least a second thin film secured at said boundary at radial points which with respect to said concavity are inwardly displaced, said second film being continuous across said boundary and having a smaller surface area than said first film, and said second film being secured to said first film at intermediate points within said boundary, whereby in the inflated structure, said second film is drawn taut between said boundary and the points of securing to said second film to thereby define air spaces between said first and second films.
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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) | 1979-02-09 | 1979-08-11 | 1980-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-09 | 1983-08-11 | 1984-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-09 | 1987-08-11 | 1988-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |