US3854253A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Joint construction between supported and supporting members
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-22
•
Granted: 1974-12-17
•
Expires: 1993-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A joint structure and method are disclosed for interconnecting a marginal edge portion of an inflatable panel component with a supporting member. The panel is constructed of walls of flexible material interconnected interiorly so as to limit the lateral spacing therebetween when the panel is inflated. One or more of the marginal edges of the panel is disposed in or adjacent the recess, and the panel is filled with a settable material whereby the marginal edge portion of the panel is interconnected with the support member. Walls of the panel are provided with covers of sheet material having marginal edges in the form of flaps adhesively bondable to the support member to initially preposition the panel relative thereto. The panel and support member are assembled by partially inflating the panel, positioning the panel relative to the support member with the marginal edge of the panel disposed in or adjacent the recess thereof, bonding the flaps of the panel to the support member to hold the panel in place relative thereto, further inflating the panel for the marginal edge portion to fill the recess, introducing filler material into the panel while at the same time evacuating the air therefrom, and then allowing the filling material to set.
Inventors
- 👤 J Slowbe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:42
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B1/00; E06B1/02; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/56; E04F; E04F21/00; E04F21/0007; E04F21/0015; E06B1/56; E06B1/60; E06B1/6069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A joint structure comprising, an elongated support component having a bottom wall and laterally spaced apart sidewalls, said bottom wall and sidewalls defining a recess, flange means on said sidewalls and extending laterally inwardly thereof to define a restricted entrance to said recess, said flange means having inner surfaces with respect to said recess, and panel means interengaged with said support component, said panel means including an inflatable body of flexible sheet material, a portion of said body extending through said restricted entrance and into said recess, means filling said body and forcing the sheet material of said portion of said body in said recess to extend laterally behind said flange means to interengage said panel means and support component against separation outwardly of said restricted entrance, and means prepositioning and supporting said panel means with respect to said support comPonent, said side walls of said support component having outer surfaces with respect to said recess and said prepositioning and supporting means including flap means on said panel means adhesively bonded to said outer surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A joint structure comprising, an elongated support component having a bottom wall and laterally spaced apart sidewalls, said bottom wall and sidewalls defining a recess, flange means on said sidewalls and extending laterally inwardly thereof to define a restricted entrance to said recess, said flange means having inner surfaces with respect to said recess, and panel means interengaged with said support component, said panel means including an inflatable body of flexible sheet material, a portion of said body extending through said restricted entrance and into said recess, means filling said body and forcing the sheet material of said portion of said body in said recess to extend laterally behind said flange means to interengage said panel means and support component against separation outwardly of said restricted entrance, and means prepositioning and supporting said panel means with respect to said support comPonent, said side walls of said support component having outer surfaces with respect to said recess and said prepositioning and supporting means including flap means on said panel means adhesively bonded to said outer surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The joint structure according to claim 1, wherein said panel means further includes a substantially rigid member disposed adjacent said support component and having a side overlying said recess, and said inflatable body of flexible material is attached to said side of said substantially rigid member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The joint structure according to claim 2, wherein said prepositioning and supporting means is sheet means attached to said rigid member and having portions adhesively bonded to the outer surfaces of said side walls of said support component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The joint structure according to claim 1, and a second support component identical to said first named support component, said first named and second support component being spaced apart and disposed with the recesses thereof opening toward one another, and said inflatable body of said panel means including a second portion extending through the restricted entrance and into the recess of said second support component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The joint structure according to claim 1, wherein said means filling said body of flexible material is set filler material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The joint structure according to claim 5, wherein said body of flexible material includes spaced apart walls, and means between said walls to limit the spacing therebetween by said filler material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
An inflatable panel member mountable on a rigid channel-shaped supporting component having a bottom wall and sidewalls defining an elongated recess, comprising: said panel member including a body portion and a marginal edge portion, said edge portion being received in said recess in said supporting component, and flap means attached to said body portion outside said recess and adjacent said marginal edge, said flap means extending in overlying relationship with said marginal edge and the outer surface of the corresponding one of said sidewalls of said supporting component and adhesive means on said flap means for connecting said flap means with said one of said sidewalls for prepositioning and supporting said panel member relative to said supporting component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
An inflatable panel member mountable on a rigid channel-shaped supporting component having a bottom wall and sidewalls defining an elongated recess, comprising: said panel member including a body portion and a marginal edge portion, said edge portion being received in said recess in said supporting component, and flap means attached to said body portion outside said recess and adjacent said marginal edge, said flap means extending in overlying relationship with said marginal edge and the outer surface of the corresponding one of said sidewalls of said supporting component and adhesive means on said flap means for connecting said flap means with said one of said sidewalls for prepositioning and supporting said panel member relative to said supporting component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
The panel member according to claim 7, wherein said body portion and marginal edge include a pair of panel walls having end edges and an end wall transversely interconnecting said panel walls along said end edges, said end wall and a portion of said panel walls defining said marginal edge, sheets of flexible material covering the outer surfaces of said panel walls, said sheets each having an end overlying said portion of the corresponding panel wall and a remaining portion bonded to the corresponding panel wall, said ends of said sheets defining said flap means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
232 words
A joint structure comprising, an elongated support component having a bottom wall and laterally spaced apart sidewalls, said bottom wall and sidewalls defining a recess, flange means on said sidewalls and extending laterally inwardly thereof to define a restricted entrance to said recess, said flange means having inner surfaces with respect to said recess, and panel means interengaged with said support component, said panel means including an inflatable body of flexible sheet material, a portion of said body extending through said restricted entrance and into said recess, means filling said body and forcing the sheet material of said portion of said body in said recess to extend laterally behind said flange means to interengage said panel means and support component against separation outwardly of said restricted entrance, and means prepositioning and supporting said panel means with respect to said support component, said inflatable body further including sidewalls integral with said portion in said recess and extending parallel to said sidewalls of said support component, and a cover sheet of flexible material secured on the Outer side of at least one of said sidewalls of said inflatable body, said cover sheet having an edge flap overlying said portion of said inflatable body in said recess, said edge flap defining said prepositioning and supporting means and being adhesively bonded to the outer surface of the corresponding one of said sidewalls of said support component
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
232 words
A joint structure comprising, an elongated support component having a bottom wall and laterally spaced apart sidewalls, said bottom wall and sidewalls defining a recess, flange means on said sidewalls and extending laterally inwardly thereof to define a restricted entrance to said recess, said flange means having inner surfaces with respect to said recess, and panel means interengaged with said support component, said panel means including an inflatable body of flexible sheet material, a portion of said body extending through said restricted entrance and into said recess, means filling said body and forcing the sheet material of said portion of said body in said recess to extend laterally behind said flange means to interengage said panel means and support component against separation outwardly of said restricted entrance, and means prepositioning and supporting said panel means with respect to said support component, said inflatable body further including sidewalls integral with said portion in said recess and extending parallel to said sidewalls of said support component, and a cover sheet of flexible material secured on the Outer side of at least one of said sidewalls of said inflatable body, said cover sheet having an edge flap overlying said portion of said inflatable body in said recess, said edge flap defining said prepositioning and supporting means and being adhesively bonded to the outer surface of the corresponding one of said sidewalls of said support component
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The joint structure according to claim 9, and a second cover sheet on the outer side of the other of said sidewalls of said inflatable body, said second cover sheet having an edge flap overlying said portion of said inflatable body in said recess and adhesively bonded to the outer surface of the other one of said sidewalls of said support component.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |