INFLATED ESCAPE RAMPS
First Claim
1. An inflatable ramp for attachment to an aircraft which comprises an elongated, wide, and relatively flat ramp made from dual wall inflatable fabric, means connecting the fabric, and a plurality of spaced raised curvate steps of sufficient size and spacing to conform for use by human beings, said steps extending transversely to the length of the ramp and formed integrally into the top surface of said ramp by controlling the length and position of the means connecting the walls of the fabric, means for attaching one end of the ramp to an aircraft fuselage adjacent an exit thereof, and inflatable sidewalls attached along the lateral edges of the ramp and extending upwardly to provide support for the ramp and human beings using same.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention comprises an inflatable ramp particularly designed to serve as an escape or a discretionary ramp for association with aircraft usage in an emergency type situation. The convex shaped lobes on the ramp serve as omniangle steps regardless of the angle of the ramp with the relationship to the horizontal, wherein the entire ramp is packageable within the aircraft structure. The specific construction of the ramp utilizing dual wall thread connected inflatable fabric is important to the operational structure of the invention, and to the fabrication of the ramp which will have sufficient strength to withstand passenger traffic or other loading when deplaning without collapsing, and in addition permit reentry into the plane cabin. It can further be used for deplaning injured people confined to stretchers and so forth.
6 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An inflatable ramp for attachment to an aircraft which comprises an elongated, wide, and relatively flat ramp made from dual wall inflatable fabric, means connecting the fabric, and a plurality of spaced raised curvate steps of sufficient size and spacing to conform for use by human beings, said steps extending transversely to the length of the ramp and formed integrally into the top surface of said ramp by controlling the length and position of the means connecting the walls of the fabric, means for attaching one end of the ramp to an aircraft fuselage adjacent an exit thereof, and inflatable sidewalls attached along the lateral edges of the ramp and extending upwardly to provide support for the ramp and human beings using same.
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2. An inflatable ramp according to claim 1 where attaching means are provided at one end thereof to connect the ramp to a structure from which it can extend, and includes reinforcing means at the other end of the ramp to support that end of engagement with the surface of the ground.
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3. An inflatable ramp according to claim 2 which includes sides made from a dual wall inflatable fabric extending vertically from each edge of the ramp and running substantially the full length thereof, said sides being connected to the ramp by connections allowing transfer loading from the ramp to the sides.
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4. A ramp according to claim 3 where the sides are not as thick when inflated as the ramp but have a widened and strengthened top edge to prevent buckling thereof.
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5. A ramp according to claim 4 where the top edge of each side curls back on itself to provide the widened and strengthened relationship.
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6. A ramp according to claim 4 where threads connect the dual wall fabrics of the sides and the dual wall fabrics of the ramp and are appropriately varied in length to achieve a gradual and symmetrical change of contour from the ramp to the sides and between the raised steps of the ramp without putting undue strain on any of the threads.
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7. A ramp according to claim 4 where the sides are connected to the ramp with short connecting dual wall thread connected flanges with the fabric thereof overlapping the fabric of the walls and ramp and adhesively secured thereto, and where the threads of the flanges are appropriately varied in length to provide a contour between the fabrics thereof and a smooth contour between the sides and the ramp.
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8. An inflatable ramp according to claim 1 which includes a top connecting the sides and holding the sides in spaced and stabilized relation to the ramp.
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9. An inflatable ramp according to claim 1 which includes additional smaller convex inflatable lobes attached to the surface of each step to provide a larger stepping surface for use by human beings.
Specification