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US 8,782,957 B2Granted
Foldable pneumatic support
AssigneeProspective Concepts AG
InventorsRolf Luchsinger, Rene Crettol
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a pneumatic support (1) which can be folded together as a result of joints (10) in the pressure member (3) and has a flexible web (12) that is connected to the tractive member (4) over the entire length of the latter and is connected to the pressure member (3) only in the region of the joints of said member (10). This allows the joints (10) to be fixed in such a way that the pressure member (3) does not buckle at the site of the joints and thus remains stable.
Claims12
A pneumatic support for receiving a load, the pneumatic support comprising:
- an inflatable, elongate base body;
- a pressure member having at least one joint;
- at least one tension member;
- wherein the pressure member and the at least one tension member run longitudinally along the inflatable, elongate base body and are connected to one another at respective ends of the pneumatic support in a node;
- a flexible web, wherein the flexible web passes longitudinally through the inflatable, elongate base body and is stretched upon inflation of the inflatable, elongate base body;
- and
- wherein the flexible web connects the pressure member and the at least one tension member operatively to one another, in a substantially linear fashion, and fixes the at least one joint of the pressure member in an operational position when the inflatable, elongate base body is inflated.
4 more elements
A pneumatic structure comprising:
- a first pneumatic support for receiving a load, the first pneumatic support comprising:
- a first inflatable, elongate base body;
- a first pressure member having at least one first joint;
- at least one first tension member;
- wherein the first pressure member and the at least one first tension member run longitudinally along the first inflatable, elongate base body and are connected to one another at respective ends of the first pneumatic support in a first node;
- a first flexible web, wherein the first flexible web passes longitudinally through the first inflatable, elongate base body and is stretched upon inflation of the first inflatable, elongate base body;
- and
- wherein the first flexible web connects the first pressure member and the at least one first tension member operatively to one another, in a substantially linear fashion, and fixes the at least one first joint of the first pressure member in an operational position when the first inflatable, elongate base body is inflated;
- and
- a second pneumatic support for receiving a load, the second pneumatic support comprising:
- a second inflatable, elongate base body;
- a second pressure member having at least one second joint;
- at least one second tension member;
- wherein the second pressure member and the at least one second tension member run longitudinally along the second inflatable, elongate base body and are connected to one another at respective ends of the second pneumatic support in a second node;
- a second flexible web, wherein the second flexible web passes longitudinally through the second inflatable, elongate base body and is stretched upon inflation of the second inflatable, elongate base body;
- and
- wherein the second flexible web connects the second pressure member and the at least one second tension member operatively to one another, in a substantially linear fashion, and fixes the at least one second joint of the second pressure member in an operational position when the second inflatable, elongate base body is inflated.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.