TRIANGULAR INFLATABLE EVACUATION SLIDE

• US 20110259668A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Grainger
• Original Assignee: Michael Grainger
• Inventors: Grainger, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,376,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 182/48
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 1/20 by making use of sliding-ropes, sliding-poles or chutes, e.g. hoses, pipes, sliding-grooves, sliding-sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2027/145 Inflatable ramps
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/143 Ramps
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/14 Inflatable escape chutes
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 15/122 Inflatable or unreelable bridges inflatable or unreelable girders in general E04C3/005; Bridges with main load-supporting structure consisting only of non-rigid elements, e.g. cables

Abstract

An inflatable evacuation slide, substantially triangular in cross-section, includes a base and lateral sides. The sides are formed from interlocking components, so that the slide is straight, when deployed. The inflatable evacuation slide may be used, for example, as a marine evacuation slide.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. An inflatable evacuation slide, comprising:

a base; and

,

lateral sides extending from said base and comprised of interlocking components for maintaining said inflatable evacuation slide substantially straight when said inflatable evacuation slide is in a deployed position, said inflatable evacuation slide being substantially triangular in cross-section.

9. The inflatable evacuation slide according to claim 8, wherein said inflatable evacuation slide has an arcuate shape along its length, when not under load, prior to placement into the deployed position.

10. The inflatable evacuation slide according to claim 8, wherein said interlocking components of said lateral sides have a shape so that said interlocking components prevent said inflatable evacuation slide from sagging, when inflated.

11. The inflatable evacuation slide according to claim 8, wherein said interlocking components comprise a series of adjacent substantially triangular and inverted triangular inflated members.

12. The inflatable evacuation slide according to claim 11, where said substantially triangular and inverted triangular inflated members are frame members.