US3661693A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reinforced seam for sheet material
Assignee: Environmental Structures Inc
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Filing: 1969-08-18
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1989-08-18
Abstract
Abstract A seam for joining together the marginal edges of two sheets of flexible material, such as plastic or fabric, in which the edges are wrapped around a cable or other reinforcing member and clamped in the wrapped position to provide a leak-proof seam without the use of adhesives, sewing, heat sealing or other conventional fastening means. The sheets may, as an alternative, be wrapped around a filler member, then clamped to a reinforcing member. This seam is useful on inflatable buildings and other similar structures.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M Pierson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 18:37
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H15/00; E04H15/20; E04H15/22; B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/56; B29C65/565; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/13; B29C66/131; B29C66/1312; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/433; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/44; Y10T24/44641; Y10T24/44769; Y10T24/44778; Y10T24/44855; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24008; Y10T428/2419; Y10T428/24207; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A flexible reinforced seam for joining together sheets of flexible material comprising: A. a pair of sheets each having one of their marginal edges positioned contiguous to the adjacent marginal edge of the other; B. an elongated flexible reinforcing member positioned in the area of contiguity and running longitudinally therewith; C. both said sheets being folded around the reinforcing member to encase the member therein; D. elongated pressure strips placed on each side of the folded portion of the sheets; and E. resilient gripping means extending around the reinforcing member and the folded portion of the sheets and bearing laterally inwardly against the pressure strips to hold the sheets in the folded position around the reinforcing member; F. the pressure strips having a groove therein to receive a portion of the gripping means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A flexible reinforced seam for joining together sheets of flexible material comprising: A. a pair of sheets each having one of their marginal edges positioned contiguous to the adjacent marginal edge of the other; B. an elongated flexible reinforcing member positioned in the area of contiguity and running longitudinally therewith; C. both said sheets being folded around the reinforcing member to encase the member therein; D. elongated pressure strips placed on each side of the folded portion of the sheets; and E. resilient gripping means extending around the reinforcing member and the folded portion of the sheets and bearing laterally inwardly against the pressure strips to hold the sheets in the folded position around the reinforcing member; F. the pressure strips having a groove therein to receive a portion of the gripping means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A reinforced seam as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member is a metallic cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A reinforced seam as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing material is a fibrous rope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A reinforced seam as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second elongated flexible reinforcing member is held by the gripping means adjacent to the first reinforcing member which is encased in the folded flexible sheets, said second reinforcing member being separated by the sheet material from direct contact with the encased reinforcing member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A reinforced seam as claimed in claim 4 wherein the second reinforcing member has greater tensile strength than the first reinforcing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A reinforced seam as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gripping means is a plurality of spring clamps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US897594A
Cited
US1183962A
Cited
US1755718A
Cited
US1898650A
Cited
US2064432A
Cited
US2213912A
Cited
US2350235A
Cited
FR1437179A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |