Reinforced inflatable packer

An inflatable packer comprising:

• an elastomeric tubular body adapted for radial expansion and having a longitudinal axis;
• an elastic outer cover surrounding said tubular body;
• coupling members disposed on each end of said tubular body;
• and
• a plurality of substantially concentric reinforcing layers stacked atop each other and sandwiched between said body and said cover, each said layer including spirally wound reinforcing members extending the length of said body between said coupling members, with alternating layers having alternating right and left hand wound members, respectively, the reinforcing members in each said layer having a uniform lay angle at any cross-sectional circumferential position along the length of said body, with the lay angle of the members in one said layer differing from the lay angle of the same hand members of the remaining layers at the same cross-sectional circumferential position along the length of said body, the difference between the lay angles of the same hand members of said layers being an effective amount that upon inflation of said packer, the same hand members of all said layers achieve a substantially common equilibrium angle at the same cross-sectional circumferential position along the length of said body.