US3288235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system for ground effect vehicles
Assignee: Westland Group PLC
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Filing: 1963-11-01
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Granted: 1966-11-29
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Expires: 1983-11-01
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Jones Richard Stanton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60V; B60V1/00; B60V1/06; B60V1/11; B60V1/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
IN A GROUND MACHINE INCLUDING A BASE PLATFORM STRUCTURE, MEANS DEFINING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS SERIES OF DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED JET PASSAGES AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PLATFORM STRUCTURE, MEANS FOR PROPELLING THE MACHINE, AND MEANS FOR GENERATING PRESSURIZED AIR TO BE DISCHARGED THROUGH SAID JET PASSAGES TO PROVIDE A PRESSURIZED SUPPORTING AIR CUSHION UNDER SAID PLATFORM STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING THE PLATFORM STRUCTURE CLEAR OF THE SURFACE BY ITS PRESSURE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE SKIRT SURROUNDING THE PLATFORM AND THE JET PASSAGE MEANS AND EXTENDING BELOW THE LOWEST POINT OF SAID PLATFORM TO RETARD THE ESCAPE OF THE AIR CUSHION WHICH IS BOUNDED BY THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BASE PLATFORM STRUCTURE, AT LEAST PARTIALLY BY THE FLEXIBLE SKIRT, AND BY THE SURFACE OVER WHICH THE MACHINE OPERATES, THE FLEXIBLE SKIRT EXTENDING AROUND SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE PERIPHERY OF THE BASE PLATFORM, AND CONTROLLED DEFLECTING MEANS FOR MECHANICALLY DEFLECTING THE FLEXIBLE SKIRT AT SELECTED POINTS THEREOF TO ATTENUATE THE AIR CUSHION AT THE SELECTED POINTS AND INDUCE A CHANGE IN DIRECTION OF THE MACHINE TOWARD THE SELECTED POINT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
IN A GROUND MACHINE INCLUDING A BASE PLATFORM STRUCTURE, MEANS DEFINING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS SERIES OF DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED JET PASSAGES AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PLATFORM STRUCTURE, MEANS FOR PROPELLING THE MACHINE, AND MEANS FOR GENERATING PRESSURIZED AIR TO BE DISCHARGED THROUGH SAID JET PASSAGES TO PROVIDE A PRESSURIZED SUPPORTING AIR CUSHION UNDER SAID PLATFORM STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING THE PLATFORM STRUCTURE CLEAR OF THE SURFACE BY ITS PRESSURE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE SKIRT SURROUNDING THE PLATFORM AND THE JET PASSAGE MEANS AND EXTENDING BELOW THE LOWEST POINT OF SAID PLATFORM TO RETARD THE ESCAPE OF THE AIR CUSHION WHICH IS BOUNDED BY THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BASE PLATFORM STRUCTURE, AT LEAST PARTIALLY BY THE FLEXIBLE SKIRT, AND BY THE SURFACE OVER WHICH THE MACHINE OPERATES, THE FLEXIBLE SKIRT EXTENDING AROUND SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE PERIPHERY OF THE BASE PLATFORM, AND CONTROLLED DEFLECTING MEANS FOR MECHANICALLY DEFLECTING THE FLEXIBLE SKIRT AT SELECTED POINTS THEREOF TO ATTENUATE THE AIR CUSHION AT THE SELECTED POINTS AND INDUCE A CHANGE IN DIRECTION OF THE MACHINE TOWARD THE SELECTED POINT.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1969-11-28 | 1970-05-30 | 1970-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1973-11-28 | 1974-05-30 | 1974-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1977-11-28 | 1978-05-30 | 1978-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |