Inflatable unit load device
AssigneeS.W.O.R.D. International Inc.
InventorsChristopher Collin Klaftenegger, Jeremy Allen Elrod
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Abstract
An inflatable unit load device that is used to deploy cargo from an aircraft is described herein. In some instances, the inflatable unit load device may include a bladder having one or more inflatable interior bladder cells and a top surface, the top surface of the bladder forming a rigid support surface when the bladder is inflated on which cargo can be loaded, an outer material that positions the one or more inflatable interior bladder cells of the bladder, and a cargo retaining system that retains the cargo on the top surface.
Claims20
An inflatable unit load device comprising:
- a bladder having one or more inflatable interior bladder cells and a top surface, the top surface of the bladder forming a rigid support surface when the bladder is inflated and the one or more inflatable interior bladder cells including one or more pressure relief valves;
- an outer material that positions the one or more inflatable interior bladder cells;
- and
- a cargo retaining system configured to retain a cargo on the top surface.
A method of deploying an inflatable unit load device comprising:
- positioning a cargo retaining system around a deflated outer material of an inflatable unit load device that includes a bladder with one or more inflatable interior bladder cells, the one or more inflatable interior bladder cells including one or more pressure relief valves;
- inflating the one or more interior bladder cells of the bladder of the inflatable unit load device until a top surface of the inflatable unit load device is sufficiently stable to support a cargo;
- loading the cargo onto the top surface that is sufficiently stable to support the cargo;
- and
- securing the cargo using attachment mechanisms of the cargo retaining system.
An inflatable unit load device system comprising:
- a bladder having one or more inflatable interior bladder cells disposed between a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the bladder forming a rigid support surface on which cargo can be loaded when the bladder is inflated;
- a cargo retaining system that retains the cargo on the top surface;
- and
- an impact pillow with a separate inflatable bladder system, the impact pillow being positioned between the top surface and at least a portion of the cargo to provide additional protection to the cargo.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.