Patent US5603647A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5603647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Inflatable life preserving floatation device formed from double woven textile fabrics
Assignee: Reeves Brothers Inc
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Filing: 1995-02-28
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Granted: 1997-02-18
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Expires: 2015-02-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is related to a novel inflatable floatation device and a method of forming the same. The device is formed of a one piece double woven fabric having first and second layers which are separable from each other to form a chamber capable of accepting and retaining a gas from an inflation device. The first and second layers are formed by using warps and wefts of yarn that interlace with each other in such a manner as to form separate layers of fabric. The two separate layers of fabric are joined at the periphery of the device via an alteration of the warp and weft interlacing sequence which forms an outer margin. The fabric may be coated with an elastomeric or thermoplastic material to ensure the device is air and water tight.
Inventors
- 👤 Aad Van Adrichem
- 👤 Chris P. Kavanagh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:41
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63C; B63C9/00; B63C9/08; B63C9/11; B63C9/125; B63C9/1255; D; D03; D03D; D03D1/00; D03D1/02; D03D11/00; D03D11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An inflatable floatation device comprising a double cloth woven fabric having separable, opposed first and second fabric layers having outer and inner surfaces which are woven together at an outer margin to define a chamber for accepting an inflation medium, and a coating on the outer surface of the fabric layers and the outer margin in an amount sufficient to prevent air from passing therethrough to thus retain the inflation medium in the chamber; wherein said fabric includes an aperture and the chamber is inverted through the aperture to place the coating in contact with the inflation medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
An inflatable floatation device comprising a double cloth woven fabric having separable, opposed first and second fabric layers having outer and inner surfaces which are woven together at an outer margin to define a chamber for accepting an inflation medium, and a coating on the outer surface of the fabric layers and the outer margin in an amount sufficient to prevent air from passing therethrough to thus retain the inflation medium in the chamber; wherein said fabric includes an aperture and the chamber is inverted through the aperture to place the coating in contact with the inflation medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the coating is an elastomeric or thermoplastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said aperture is configured and dimensioned for accommodating an inflating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 which further comprises at least one strap member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 which further comprises a plurality of lug members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 5 wherein each lug member includes an aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said woven fabric comprises a plain, hopsack or twill weave using yarns having a denier of between about 200 and 1200 so that the fabric has a strength of at least about 300 pounds per square inch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the coating is present in an amount of between about 2 and 12 ounces per square yard of fabric.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
An inflatable floatation device comprising a double cloth woven fabric having separable, opposed first and second fabric layers having outer and inner surfaces which are woven together at an outer margin to define a chamber for accepting an inflation medium, a plurality of straps woven onto the outer margin, and a coating on the outer surface of the fabric layers and the outer margin in an amount sufficient to prevent air from passing therethrough to thus retain the inflation medium in the chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
An inflatable floatation device comprising a double cloth woven fabric having separable, opposed first and second fabric layers having outer and inner surfaces which are woven together at an outer margin to define a chamber for accepting an inflation medium, a plurality of straps woven onto the outer margin, and a coating on the outer surface of the fabric layers and the outer margin in an amount sufficient to prevent air from passing therethrough to thus retain the inflation medium in the chamber.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for making an inflatable floatation device which comprises: weaving first and second fabric layers which are separated from other; interlacing the layers in predetermined portions representative of a desired shape to form an outer margin around a portion of the first and second fabric layers to define a chamber having inner and outer surfaces formed by the fabric layers; applying a coating upon the outer surfaces of the chamber and the outer margin in an amount sufficient to prevent air or water from passing through the fabric layers; and cutting the chamber adjacent to the outer margin to obtain an inflatable floatation device which is capable of retaining an inflation in the chamber.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for making an inflatable floatation device which comprises: weaving first and second fabric layers which are separated from other; interlacing the layers in predetermined portions representative of a desired shape to form an outer margin around a portion of the first and second fabric layers to define a chamber having inner and outer surfaces formed by the fabric layers; applying a coating upon the outer surfaces of the chamber and the outer margin in an amount sufficient to prevent air or water from passing through the fabric layers; and cutting the chamber adjacent to the outer margin to obtain an inflatable floatation device which is capable of retaining an inflation in the chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 which further comprises weaving strap members onto the outer margin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 which further comprises providing lug members on the outer margin of the device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 which further comprises attaching strap members to the lug members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the lug members are provided with apertures.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the coating comprises a thermoplastic resin or an elastomer and is applied by spread coating, dipping, impregnating, knife coating, spraying or calendering the fabric.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the chamber is cut out using a die cutting, laser cutting, water-jet or ultrasonic cutting process.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 which further comprises providing the chamber with an aperture for allowing entry of an inflation medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17, which further comprises inverting the device through the aperature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the fabric is woven in a plain hopsack or twill weave using yarns having a denier of between about 200 and 1200 so that the fabric has a strength of at least about 300 lbs. per square inch.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for making an inflatable floatation device which comprises: weaving first and second fabric layers which are separated from each other; interlacing the layers in predetermined portions representative of a desired shape to form an outer margin around a portion of the first and second layers to define a chamber having inner and outer surfaces formed by the fabric layers; applying a coating upon the outer surfaces of the fabric layers and the outer margin in an amount sufficient to prevent air or water from passing through the fabric layers; cutting the chamber adjacent to the outer margin; providing an aperture in one of the coated fabric layers; and inverting the chamber through the aperture to form an inflatable floatation device with a coating on the internal surfaces of the chamber.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for making an inflatable floatation device which comprises: weaving first and second fabric layers which are separated from each other; interlacing the layers in predetermined portions representative of a desired shape to form an outer margin around a portion of the first and second layers to define a chamber having inner and outer surfaces formed by the fabric layers; applying a coating upon the outer surfaces of the fabric layers and the outer margin in an amount sufficient to prevent air or water from passing through the fabric layers; cutting the chamber adjacent to the outer margin; providing an aperture in one of the coated fabric layers; and inverting the chamber through the aperture to form an inflatable floatation device with a coating on the internal surfaces of the chamber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The inflatable floatation device produced by the method of claim 20.
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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) | 2000-02-18 | 2000-08-19 | 2001-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-18 | 2004-08-19 | 2005-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-18 | 2008-08-19 | 2009-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |