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US 9,956,745 B2Granted
Rigidized inflatable structures
AssigneesPresident and Fellows of Harvard College, Soft Robotics, Inc.
InventorsKevin C. Galloway, Ryan Knopf, Joshua Aaron Lessing
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Abstract
A composite structural element is described, including: a first laminate layer comprising a plurality of first material layers; a second laminate layer comprising a plurality of second material layers; and an inflatable bladder configured for connection with a fluid inflation or deflation source and disposed in-between the first and second laminate layers.
Claims45
A composite structural element, comprising:
- a first laminate layer comprising a plurality of first material layers;
- a second laminate layer comprising a plurality of second material layers, wherein at least one of the first and second laminate layers is housed in a flexible sleeve;
- and
- an inflatable bladder configured for connection with a material infusion or vacuum source and disposed between the first and second laminate layers;
- wherein the composite structural element is configured to rigidize when the bladder is inflated.
2 more elements
A composite structural element comprising:
- a first laminate layer comprising a plurality of first material layers;
- a second laminate layer comprising a plurality of second material layers;
- an inflatable bladder configured for connection with a material infusion or vacuum source and disposed between the first and second laminate layers;
- and
- one or more internal reinforcements in the bladder spanning between the first and second laminate layers and configured to define the separation distance between the first and the second laminate layers when the bladder is inflated,
- wherein the composite structural element is configured to rigidize when the bladder is inflated.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.