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:
- an outer material that positions two or more inflatable interior bladder cells;
- a top surface, the top surface forming a rigid support surface when the two or more inflatable interior bladder cells are inflated on which cargo can be loaded and the two or more inflatable interior bladder cells being positioned adjacent to each other within the outer material and extending horizontally under the top surface;
- and
- a cargo retaining system that retains the cargo on the top surface, the cargo retaining system being configured to attach to a parachute and be deployed from an aircraft.
A method of deploying an inflatable unit load device comprising:
- positioning a cargo retaining system around a deflated inflatable unit load device that includes two or more inflatable interior bladder cells positioned within an outer material, the two or more inflatable interior bladder cells being positioned adjacent to each other and extending horizontally;
- inflating the two or more interior bladder cells of the inflatable unit load device until a top surface of the inflatable unit load device is sufficiently stable to support a cargo;
- loading a cargo onto the top surface;
- and
- securing the cargo using attachment mechanisms of the cargo retaining system, the cargo retaining system including parachute attachment mechanisms.
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, the cargo retaining system including parachute attachment mechanisms;
- 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.