Membrane assembly for vacuum bagging and method of vacuum bagging

A membrane assembly for vacuum bagging, comprising:

• a generally rectangular elongate sheet of flexible, non-gas permeable material having opposed first and second distal ends, opposed first and second longitudinal edges extending generally parallel with each other between the first and second distal ends, and a roll axis defined at the second distal end and oriented generally perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal edges, wherein the elongate sheet is capable of being rolled up about the roll axis into a cylindrical configuration and unrolled from the cylindrical configuration into a flattened-out configuration defining a longitudinal direction parallel to the first and second longitudinal edges;
• a bistable tape spring attached to or captured by the elongate sheet and disposed along the longitudinal direction, wherein the bistable tape spring has a first stable state which is a straightened-out state, a second stable state which is a rolled-up state, and a transition state between the first and second stable states;
• a manifold disposed proximate the first distal end and extending transverse to the longitudinal direction, the manifold having a fitting therein configured for admission of a fluid into the manifold;
• and
• a first inflatable tube attached to or captured by the elongate sheet and disposed along the longitudinal direction, the first inflatable tube having a first tube end in fluid communication with the manifold and a second tube end disposed proximate the second distal end and being sealed.

A method of vacuum bagging, comprising:

• positioning a membrane assembly on an elongate work surface, the membrane assembly being rolled up about a roll axis thereof from a previous flattened-out configuration into a cylindrical configuration and including:
• an elongate sheet of flexible material having opposed first and second distal ends and opposed first and second longitudinal edges extending generally parallel with each other between the first and second distal ends, with the roll axis being defined at the second distal end and being oriented generally perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal edges, and with a longitudinal direction being defined parallel to the first and second longitudinal edges;
• a bistable tape spring attached to or captured by the elongate sheet and disposed along the longitudinal direction, wherein the bistable tape spring has a first stable state which is a straightened-out state, a second stable state which is a rolled-up state, and a transition state between the first and second stable states;
• and
• a first inflatable tube attached to or captured by the elongate sheet and disposed along the longitudinal direction, the first inflatable tube having a first tube end disposed proximate the first distal end and a second tube end disposed proximate the second distal end, wherein the first inflatable tube is sealed at the second tube end and has an orifice proximate the first tube end;
• and
• admitting a fluid into the orifice so as to inflate the first inflatable tube and to urge the membrane assembly to unroll from the cylindrical configuration and onto the elongate work surface.