# US 2019/0322346 A1 · Tendon sleeve for high-altitude balloon and system for making the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0322346 A1 - Document ID: US20190322346A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/457,366 - Filed: 2019-06-28 - Published: 2019-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-02 - Assignees: Raven Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Raven Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Derek Lee Bohannon; Mary Jane Palmer; Michael William Zimmerman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190322346A1 ## CPC - B29C 66/53261: {Enclosing tubular articles between substantially flat elements} - B29C 65/7433: {the tool being a wire} - B29C 65/7439: {for continuously and longitudinally welding and severing webs (B29C65/7435 takes precedence)} - B29C 65/7894: {of continuously moving sheets or webs} - B29C 66/133: {Fin-type joints, the parts to be joined being flexible (the parts to be joined being rigid B29C66/1312)} - B29C 66/137: {Beaded-edge joints or bead seals (for sealing or securing package folds or closures B65B51/24)} - B29C 66/4326: {for making hollow articles or hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells} - B29C 66/433: {Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam (for bookbinding B42C11/06; for packaging B65B; by laminating B32B37/00; enclosing tubular articles between substantially flat elements B29C66/53261)} - B29C 66/53: {Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars} - B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics} - B64B 1/40: Balloons (B64B1/58 takes precedence; toy balloons A63H27/10) - B64B 1/58: Arrangements or construction of gas-bags; Filling arrangements - B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)} - B29C 66/71: {characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125)} - B29C 66/723: {being multi-layered (B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence)} - B29C 66/83423: {cooperating bands or belts} - B29L 2022/022: {Balloons} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B64B: LIGHTER-THAN AIR AIRCRAFT - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A system for forming a tendon sleeve on an atmospheric balloon is described herein, the system comprising a coupling assembly including a seam coupling mechanism that forms a seam joint between a first gore panel and a second gore panel, the seam joint is spaced from respective first and second lateral edges of the first and second gore panels to form first and second edge flanges, and an edge coupling mechanism that forms an edge joint between the first and second edge flanges and closes a tendon sleeve, the edge joint spaced from the seam joint, the tendon sleeve includes a tendon sleeve passage between the seam joint and the edge joint and between the first and second edge flanges. The system also includes a tendon positioning mechanism that positions a tendon within the tendon sleeve passage. A tendon sleeve formed by this system is also described herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for forming a tendon sleeve on an atmospheric balloon, the method comprising: coupling a first gore panel having a first lateral edge to a second gore panel having a second lateral edge at a seam joint spaced from the first and second lateral edges to form respective first and second edge flanges from the first and second gore panels; coupling the first and second edge flanges together at an edge joint spaced from the seam joint to form the tendon sleeve with a tendon sleeve passage between the seam joint and between the edge joint and the first and second edge flanges; and positioning a tendon within the tendon sleeve passage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the first and second gore panels, coupling the first and second edge flanges, and positioning the tendon are substantially simultaneous. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the seam joint includes a seam joint, and coupling the first and second gore panels seam joint includes sealing the first panel to the second panel to form the seal seam. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the first and second edge flanges together at the edge joint includes coupling the first and second edge flanges near the first and second lateral edges. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising cutting the tendon to a specified length before positioning the tendon in the tendon sleeve passage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the first and second gore panels is performed with a seam coupling mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the first and second edge flanges is performed with an edge coupling mechanism. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising cutting excess portions of the first and second edge flanges, wherein the edge coupling mechanism cuts excess portions of the first and second edge flanges while coupling the first and second edge flanges together at the edge joint. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the tendon in the tendon sleeve passage is performed with a tendon positioning guide, wherein the tendon positioning guide guides the tendon into position between the first and second edge flanges and between the seam joint and the edge joint to secure the tendon within the tendon sleeve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein coupling the first and second gore panels is performed with a seam coupling mechanism and coupling the first and second edge flanges is performed with an edge coupling mechanism; and wherein the tendon positioning guide is positioned relative to the seam coupling mechanism and the edge coupling mechanism so that at least a portion of the tendon positioning guide is within the tendon sleeve passage when the seam joint and the edge joint are formed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising separating the first gore panel and the second gore panel adjacent to a location of the seam joint while coupling the first gore panel to the second gore panel. ### Claim 12 A system for securing a tendon on an atmospheric balloon, the system comprising: a coupling assembly comprising: a seam coupling mechanism that forms a seam joint between a first gore panel and a second gore panel, the seam joint is spaced from respective first and second lateral edges of the first gore panel and the second gore panel to form first and second edge flanges; and an edge coupling mechanism that forms an edge joint between the first and second edge flanges and closes a tendon sleeve, the edge joint spaced from the seam joint, the tendon sleeve including a tendon sleeve passage between the seam joint and the edge joint and between the first and second edge flanges; and a tendon positioning mechanism that positions the tendon within the tendon sleeve passage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the seam coupling mechanism comprises a seam sealing mechanism that forms a seam seal between the first gore panel and the second gore panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the edge coupling mechanism comprises an edge sealing mechanism to form an edge seal between the first and second edge flanges. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the tendon positioning mechanism comprises a tendon positioning guide, wherein the tendon positioning guide guides the tendon into position between the first and second edge flanges and between the seam joint and the edge joint to secure the tendon within the tendon sleeve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the seam coupling mechanism is adjacent to the edge coupling mechanism and at least a portion of the tendon positioning guide is between the seam coupling mechanism and the edge coupling mechanism. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the edge coupling mechanism cuts excess portions of the first and second edge flanges while coupling the first and second edge flanges together at the edge joint. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the coupling assembly comprises a gore panel divider that separates a portion of the first gore panel and a corresponding portion of the second gore panel adjacent to the seam coupling mechanism. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the gore panel divider separates the first gore panel and the second gore panel adjacent to the edge coupling mechanism. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the tendon positioning mechanism extends from the gore panel divider between the seam coupling mechanism and the edge coupling mechanism.