US4023372A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means to seal-off portions of underground mines and the like
Assignee: OBERJUERGE RUBBER Co
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Filing: 1975-04-17
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Granted: 1977-05-17
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Expires: 1995-04-17
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for sealably closing off or separating portions of a mine for safety or other reasons including an inflatable member having a size and shape which corresponds substantially to the cross-sectional size and shape of a mine passage, tunnel or the like to be closed off, a device for attaching the inflatable member to the ceiling of the mine passage, said inflatable member having an inflatable peripheral portion with a closure wall or web portion extending across the space defined by the inflatable portion, a source of compressed gas and means connecting said source to the inflatable portion of the member, said source including a valve with an actuator operable to open the valve so that gas from the gas source can pass into the inflatable member when the inflatable member is suspended from the ceiling of the mine passage, and a slide fastener located in the web portion of the member and movable between a first position in which an opening is formed in the web portion for passage therethrough and a second position in which the web portion is closed to separate the portions of the mine passage on opposite sides thereof from each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald P. Presler
- 👤 Donald G. Didow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:14
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21F; E21F17/00; E21F17/103; E21F17/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
Means to form a barrier in a passageway comprising a member formed of a relatively flexible material including a continuous hollow peripheral portion forming a border thereof of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the passageway, said peripheral portion defining an enclosed space therewithin, and said member also including a web portion extending across and closing the space defined within the hollow peripheral portion, means to support the member in a suspended position extending across the passageway at a desired location, a source of gas pressure and means for communicating said source to the hollow peripheral portion of the member to inflate said portion whereby said portion expands outwardly and bears against the surfaces of the passageway in which it is installed, the hollow peripheral portion of said member being sufficiently flexible to relatively uniformly distribute the pressure produced during expansion thereof against the passage and to form a relatively airtight connection therebetween.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
Means to form a barrier in a passageway comprising a member formed of a relatively flexible material including a continuous hollow peripheral portion forming a border thereof of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the passageway, said peripheral portion defining an enclosed space therewithin, and said member also including a web portion extending across and closing the space defined within the hollow peripheral portion, means to support the member in a suspended position extending across the passageway at a desired location, a source of gas pressure and means for communicating said source to the hollow peripheral portion of the member to inflate said portion whereby said portion expands outwardly and bears against the surfaces of the passageway in which it is installed, the hollow peripheral portion of said member being sufficiently flexible to relatively uniformly distribute the pressure produced during expansion thereof against the passage and to form a relatively airtight connection therebetween.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The barrier forming means defined in claim 1 including means located in the web portion for forming an opening therein, said means including zipper-like means movable between a first position closing the opening and a second open position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The barrier forming means defined in claim 2 wherein the zipper-like means in the web portion have two connected angularly related portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
171 words
In combination with a mine passage or tunnel, means forming a barrier to prevent communication between tunnel portions on opposite sides thereof, said barrier comprising a flexible member having a continuous hollow tubular inflatable portion extending around the periphery thereof, said inflatable portion having an outer edge sized and shaped, which substantially conforms to the size and shape of the passage where the barrier is installed, said hollow tubular portion having an opposite continuous inner edge, a web of flexible material connected to said continuous inner edge of the hollow portion and extending across and closing the space defined thereby within the hollow tubular portion, means in said web operable to form an opening therethrough, means including a source of gas under pressure for use in inflating the hollow tubular portion, and means to controllably communicate the gas source to the hollow tubular portion during inflation thereof, said peripheral inflatable portion being constructed of a material capable of sealably engaging and conforming to the contour of the tunnel during inflation thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
171 words
In combination with a mine passage or tunnel, means forming a barrier to prevent communication between tunnel portions on opposite sides thereof, said barrier comprising a flexible member having a continuous hollow tubular inflatable portion extending around the periphery thereof, said inflatable portion having an outer edge sized and shaped, which substantially conforms to the size and shape of the passage where the barrier is installed, said hollow tubular portion having an opposite continuous inner edge, a web of flexible material connected to said continuous inner edge of the hollow portion and extending across and closing the space defined thereby within the hollow tubular portion, means in said web operable to form an opening therethrough, means including a source of gas under pressure for use in inflating the hollow tubular portion, and means to controllably communicate the gas source to the hollow tubular portion during inflation thereof, said peripheral inflatable portion being constructed of a material capable of sealably engaging and conforming to the contour of the tunnel during inflation thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The barrier defined in claim 4 wherein the flexible member is formed of a fiber reinforced rubber-like material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The barrier defined in claim 4 wherein the flexible member is relatively non-resilient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The barrier defined in claim 4 wherein said means capable of forming an opening in said web include means movable in one direction to open the opening in the web, and movable in an opposite direction to close the opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The barrier defined in claim 7 including a flap normally positioned overlapping the movable means in the web when the opening therein is closed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The barrier defined in claim 4 including means to anchor the outer edge of the flexible member to the adjacent walls of the passage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The barrier defined in claim 4 including means to maintain the flexible member in a rolled up inoperative position adjacent to one of the walls of the passage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The barrier defined in claim 4 wherein the means to controllably communicate the gas source to the hollow tubular portion include a gas fitting located on one side of the hollow tubular portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The barrier defined in claim 4 wherein the gas source is capable of inflating the hollow tubular portion to a pressure between approximately 3 and approximately 10 psi.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
172 words
Means to form a barrier in a passageway comprising a member formed of a relatively flexible material including a hollow peripheral portion forming a border thereof of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the passageway, said peripheral portion defining an enclosed space therewithin, said member also including a web portion extending across and closing the space defined within the hollow peripheral portion, means to support the member in a position extending across the passageway at a desired location, a source of gas pressure and means communicating said source to the hollow peripheral portion of the member to inflate said portion whereby said portion expands outwardly and bears against the surfaces of the passageway in which it is installed, the expansion of the hollow peripheral portion itself causing the member to bear against the surfaces of the passageway to hold the member in place, said passageway having a ceiling, and means for attaching a preselected side edge of the member to the ceiling of the passageway.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
172 words
Means to form a barrier in a passageway comprising a member formed of a relatively flexible material including a hollow peripheral portion forming a border thereof of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the passageway, said peripheral portion defining an enclosed space therewithin, said member also including a web portion extending across and closing the space defined within the hollow peripheral portion, means to support the member in a position extending across the passageway at a desired location, a source of gas pressure and means communicating said source to the hollow peripheral portion of the member to inflate said portion whereby said portion expands outwardly and bears against the surfaces of the passageway in which it is installed, the expansion of the hollow peripheral portion itself causing the member to bear against the surfaces of the passageway to hold the member in place, said passageway having a ceiling, and means for attaching a preselected side edge of the member to the ceiling of the passageway.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
183 words
Means to form a barrier in a passageway comprising a member formed of a relatively flexible material including a hollow peripheral portion forming a border thereof of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the passageway, said peripheral portion defining an enclosed space therewithin, and said member also including a web portion extending across and closing the space defined within the hollow peripheral portion, means to support the member in a position extending across the passageway at a desired location, a source of gas pressure and means communicating said source to the hollow peripheral portion of the member to inflate said portion whereby said portion expands outwardly and bears against the surfaces of the passageway in which it is installed, the expansion of the hollow peripheral portion itself causing the member to bear against the surfaces of the passageway to hold the member in place, said member having pairs of opposed outer side edges on the hollow peripheral portion and means for attaching the outer side edges of the member to the corresponding surfaces of the passageway.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
183 words
Means to form a barrier in a passageway comprising a member formed of a relatively flexible material including a hollow peripheral portion forming a border thereof of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the passageway, said peripheral portion defining an enclosed space therewithin, and said member also including a web portion extending across and closing the space defined within the hollow peripheral portion, means to support the member in a position extending across the passageway at a desired location, a source of gas pressure and means communicating said source to the hollow peripheral portion of the member to inflate said portion whereby said portion expands outwardly and bears against the surfaces of the passageway in which it is installed, the expansion of the hollow peripheral portion itself causing the member to bear against the surfaces of the passageway to hold the member in place, said member having pairs of opposed outer side edges on the hollow peripheral portion and means for attaching the outer side edges of the member to the corresponding surfaces of the passageway.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
174 words
Means to form a barrier in a passageway comprising a member formed of a relatively flexible material including a hollow peripheral portion forming a border thereof of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the passageway, said peripheral portion defining an enclosed space therewithin, and said member also including a web portion extending across and closing the space defined within the hollow peripheral portion, means to support the member in a position extending across the passageway at a desired location, a source of gas pressure and means communicating said source to the hollow peripheral portion of the member to inflate said portion whereby said portion expands outwardly and bears against the surfaces of the passageway in which it is installed, the expansion of the hollow peripheral portion itself causing the member to bear against the surfaces of the passageway to hold the member in place, and means forming a frame for attaching extending around the walls of the passageway, and means mounting the flexible member in the frame.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
174 words
Means to form a barrier in a passageway comprising a member formed of a relatively flexible material including a hollow peripheral portion forming a border thereof of a size and shape to generally conform to the size and shape of the passageway, said peripheral portion defining an enclosed space therewithin, and said member also including a web portion extending across and closing the space defined within the hollow peripheral portion, means to support the member in a position extending across the passageway at a desired location, a source of gas pressure and means communicating said source to the hollow peripheral portion of the member to inflate said portion whereby said portion expands outwardly and bears against the surfaces of the passageway in which it is installed, the expansion of the hollow peripheral portion itself causing the member to bear against the surfaces of the passageway to hold the member in place, and means forming a frame for attaching extending around the walls of the passageway, and means mounting the flexible member in the frame.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The means defined in claim 13 including means to maintain said member in an inoperative collapsed and folded condition attached to the ceiling of the passageway.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a mine passage or tunnel, means to construct a barrier to prevent communication between tunnel portions on opposite sides thereof, said barrier comprising a flexible member having a hollow tubular inflatable portion extending around the periphery thereof, said inflatable portion having an outer edge sized and shaped to substantially conform to the size and shape of the passage where the barrier is to be installed, said hollow tubular portion having an opposite continuous inner edge, a web of flexible material connected to said continuous inner edge of the hollow portion and extending across the space defined thereby within the hollow tubular portion, means in said web capable of forming an opening therethrough, means including a source of gas under pressure for use in inflating the hollow tubular portion, means to controllably communicate the gas source to the hollow tubular portion during inflation thereof, and means forming a frame for mounting in the passage extending around the outer edge of the hollow tubular portion of the flexible member between said member and the adjacent walls of the passage.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a mine passage or tunnel, means to construct a barrier to prevent communication between tunnel portions on opposite sides thereof, said barrier comprising a flexible member having a hollow tubular inflatable portion extending around the periphery thereof, said inflatable portion having an outer edge sized and shaped to substantially conform to the size and shape of the passage where the barrier is to be installed, said hollow tubular portion having an opposite continuous inner edge, a web of flexible material connected to said continuous inner edge of the hollow portion and extending across the space defined thereby within the hollow tubular portion, means in said web capable of forming an opening therethrough, means including a source of gas under pressure for use in inflating the hollow tubular portion, means to controllably communicate the gas source to the hollow tubular portion during inflation thereof, and means forming a frame for mounting in the passage extending around the outer edge of the hollow tubular portion of the flexible member between said member and the adjacent walls of the passage.
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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) | 1980-05-16 | 1980-11-15 | 1981-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-16 | 1984-11-15 | 1985-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-16 | 1988-11-15 | 1989-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |