US 5,097,548 A · Inflatable self-supporting cover

Abstract

An inflatable, self-supporting cover suitable for placement over a body and comprising a top sheet, a bottom sheet and ribs extending between such sheets to form a plurality of compartments extending transverse to the length of the cover. The ribs are formed in the shape of a flattened oval and then fastened between such sheets. A duct extending longitudinally of the length of the cover connects with the compartments and with a source of pressurized air which inflates the compartments, causing them to assume an arch-like shape extending transverse to the length of the cover and spanning said body. An alternative embodiment includes a second cover section fastened to the cover bottom sheet and having a plurality of compartments, each with at least one port therein. The second cover section compartments connect with the duct whereby pressurized air passes to the second cover section compartments and from each port therein to circulate air about the body beneath the cover.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A free standing inflatable, open-ended, self-supporting cover suitable for placement, independent of any external support, over a body, comprising:

(A) an inflatable cover support portion comprising:
(a) a top sheet,
(b) a bottom sheet, and
(c) a plurality of spaced ribs formed by cutting the shape of a flattened oval from a single sheet of material extending transverse to the length of said cover between said top and bottom sheets and separating said cover support portion into a plurality of compartments;
and
(B) a duct connecting with said cover support portion compartments and having an opening therein for admitting pressurized gas thereto for circulation to and through said cover support portion compartments for inflation thereof, whereby said cover support portion assumes an arch-like shape transverse to said cover and spanning said body independent of any external support.

3 more elements

A free-standing, inflatable, open-ended, self-supporting cover suitable for placement, independent of any external support, over a body, comprising:

(A) a first inflatable cover section having a width extending transverse to said cover, comprising:
(a) a top sheet having:
(i) a length extending longitudinally of the width of said cover section,
(ii) a first-outer edge,
(iii) a first end portion extending inwardly from the first outer edge and having a first inner end, and
(iv) a central portion connecting with the first inner end of the first end portion;
(b) a bottom sheet having:
(i) a length extending longitudinally of the width of said cover section,
(ii) a first outer edge,
(iii) a first-end portion extending inwardly from the first outer edge and having a first inner end, and
(iv) a central portion connecting with the first inner end of the first-end portion;
(c) a plurality of spaced ribs formed in the shape of a flattened oval and fastened longitudinally of a portion of the length of said top and bottom sheets and separating said first cover section into a plurality of compartments;
and
(d) a duct, extending longitudinally of said first cover section and connecting with each compartment thereof, formed by fastening the first end portion of said top sheet, adjacent the first outer edge thereof, to the first end portion of said bottom sheet, adjacent the first outer edge thereof, and having an end for connection with a source of pressurized gas for circulation to and through said duct and the compartments for inflation of said first cover section whereby said first cover section assumes an arch-like shape transverse to said cover and spanning said body, independent of any external support.

11 more elements

A free-standing, inflatable, open-ended, self-supporting cover suitable for placement, independent of any external support, over a body, comprising:

(A) a first inflatable cover section comprising:
(a) a top sheet having:
(i) a length extending longitudinally of the length of said first inflatable cover section and a width extending transversely thereof,
(ii) a first outer edge and a second outer edge,
(iii) a first end portion extending inwardly from the first outer edge thereof and having a first inner end,
(iv) a second end portion extending inwardly from the second outer edge thereof and having a second inner end, and
(v) a middle portion extending between the inner end of the first end portion and the inner end of the second end portion;
(b) a bottom sheet having:
(i) a length extending longitudinally of the length of said first inflatable cover section and a width extending transversely thereof,
(ii) a first outer edge and a second outer edge,
(iii) a first end portion extending inwardly from the first outer edge thereof and having a first inner end,
(iv) a second end portion extending inwardly from the second outer edge thereof and having a second inner end, and
(v) a middle portion extending between the inner end of the first end portion and the inner end of the second end portion;
(c) a plurality of spaced ribs formed in the shape of a flattened oval and fastened to extend longitudinally of the width of said bottom sheet and separating said first inflatable cover section into a plurality of first compartments;
(d) a first duct extending longitudinally of said first inflatable cover section and formed by joining the first end portion of said top sheet, adjacent the first outer edge thereof, to the first end portion of said bottom sheet, adjacent the first outer edge thereof, connecting with each first compartment and having an end for connection with a source of pressurized gas for passage to and through the duct and first compartments for inflation of said first inflatable cover section whereby said first inflatable cover section assumes an arch-like shape transverse to said cover and spanning said body;
(e) a second duct extending longitudinally of said first inflatable cover section and formed by joining the second end portion of said top sheet, adjacent the second outer edge thereof, to the second end portion of said bottom sheet, adjacent the second outer edge thereof, and connecting with each first compartment.

13 more elements

A free-standing, inflatable, open-ended, self-supporting cover suitable for placement over a body and for circulating a pressurized gas thereabout, comprising:

(A) a first inflatable cover section extending transverse to the length of said cover, comprising:
(a) a top sheet,
(b) a bottom sheet,
(c) a plurality of spaced ribs extending longitudinally of the width of said cover between said top and bottom sheets and separating said first cover section into a plurality of first compartments,
(d) a supplemental sheet fastened to said bottom sheet along seams spaced apart a greater distance on said supplemental sheet than on said bottom sheet causing said supplemental sheet to sag between adjacent seams thereof and form at least one second compartment between the underside of said bottom sheet and the top side of said supplemental sheet,
(e) at least one port in said supplemental sheet between each pair of adjacent seams, and
(f) a first duct extending for about the length of said first cover section, having an end for connection with a source of pressurized gas for passage thereto and through said first compartments whereby said first cover section assumes an arch-like shape transverse to said cover and spanning said body;
(B) a second inflatable cover section extending transverse to the length of said cover, comprising:
(a) a top sheet,
(b) a bottom sheet,
(c) a plurality of spaced ribs extending longitudinally of the width of said cover between said top and bottom sheets and separating said second cover section into a plurality of second compartments,
(d) a supplemental sheet fastened to said bottom sheet along seams based apart a greater distance on said supplemental sheet than on said bottom sheet causing said supplemental sheet to sag between adjacent seams thereof and form at least one second compartment between said underside of said bottom sheet and the top side of said supplemental sheet,
(e) at least one port in said supplemental sheet between each pair of adjacent seams, and
(f) a second duct connecting with an adjacent end of said first duct of said first cover section whereby pressurized gas from said first cover section first duct passes to said cover section second duct and through each second compartment thereof to cause said second cover section to assume an arch-like shape transverse to said cover and spanning said body.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Inflatable self-supporting cover

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Inflatable self-supporting cover

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36