Diaphragm
First Claim
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1. A diaphragm that flexes in a direction generally normal to said diaphragm in response to a pressure differential across the diaphragm, comprising:
- a generally thin diaphragm member formed of a structural material that is substantially inelastic, said diaphragm member including a low energy collapse pattern of wrinkles that extend over a substantial portion of the diaphragm, each of said wrinkles being elongated over a short length in any one direction and having an amplitude greater than the thickness of the diaphragm but not projecting substantially from the plane of said diaphragm, said low energy collapse pattern also being such that the angular orientation of said elongated wrinkles varies over said diaphragm member and any axis lying in the plane of said diaphragm intersects at least one wrinkle to thereby relieve stresses induced in said diaphragm member by said pressure differential, whereby said diaphragm is both radially and tangentially expandable with respect to any reference point in the central portion thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A diaphragm having a pattern of wrinkles adapted so that the diaphragm is both radially and tangentially expandable with respect to a reference point in that central portion.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A diaphragm that flexes in a direction generally normal to said diaphragm in response to a pressure differential across the diaphragm, comprising:
- a generally thin diaphragm member formed of a structural material that is substantially inelastic, said diaphragm member including a low energy collapse pattern of wrinkles that extend over a substantial portion of the diaphragm, each of said wrinkles being elongated over a short length in any one direction and having an amplitude greater than the thickness of the diaphragm but not projecting substantially from the plane of said diaphragm, said low energy collapse pattern also being such that the angular orientation of said elongated wrinkles varies over said diaphragm member and any axis lying in the plane of said diaphragm intersects at least one wrinkle to thereby relieve stresses induced in said diaphragm member by said pressure differential, whereby said diaphragm is both radially and tangentially expandable with respect to any reference point in the central portion thereof.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A diaphragm that flexes in a direction generally normal to said diaphragm in respnse to a pressure differential across the diaphragm, comprising:
- a generally thin diaphragm member formed of a structural material that is substantially inelastic, said diaphragm member including a low energy collapse pattern of wrinkles that extend over a substantial portion of the diaphragm, each of said wrinkles being elongated over a short length in any one direction and having an amplitude greater than the thickness of the diaphragm but not projecting substantially from the plane of said diaphragm, said low energy collapse pattern being such that the angular orientation of said elongated wrinkles varies over said diaphragm member in a random manner and any axis lying in the plane of said diaphragm intersects at least one wrinkle to thereby relieve stresses induced in said diaphragm member by said pressure differential, whereby said diaphragm is both radially and tangentially expandable with respect to any reference point in the central portion thereof.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A diaphragm that flexes in a direction generally normal to said diaphragm in response to a pressure differential across the diaphragm, comprising:
- a generally thin diaphragm member formed of a structural material that is substantially inelastic, said diaphragm member including a low energy collapse pattern of wrinkles that extend over a substantial portion of the diaphragm, each of said wrinkles being elongated over a short length in any one direction, straight and discontinuous, and having an amplitude greater than the thickness of the diaphragm but not projecting substantially from the plane of said diaphragm, said low energy collapse pattern being such that the angular orientation of said elongated wrinkles varies over said diaphragm member with the principal axes of said wrinkles being aligned generally with one of a plurality axes in the plane of said diaphragm such that any axis lying in the plane intersects at least one wrinkle to thereby relieve stresses induced in said diaphragm member by said pressure differential, whereby said diaphragm is both radially and tangentially expandable with respect to any reference point in the central portion thereof.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A diaphragm that flexes in a direction generally normal to said diaphragm in response to a pressure differential across the diaphragm, comprising:
- a generally thin diaphragm member formed of a structural material that is substantially inelastic, said diaphragm member including a low energy collapse pattern of wrinkles that extend over a substantial portion of the diaphragm, each of said wrinkles being elongated over a short length in any one direction and having an amplitude greater than the thickness of the diaphragm but not projecting substantially from the plane of said diaphragm, said low energy collapse pattern being such that the angular orientation of said elongated wrinkles varies over said diaphragm member in a plurality of concentric zig-zag ring patterns where each of said wrinkles is a short, straight portion of one of said rings such that any axis lying in the plane of said diaphragm intersects at least one wrinkle to thereby relieve stresses induced in said diaphragm member by said pressure differential, whereby said diaphragm is both radially and tangentially expandable with respect to any reference point in the central portion thereof.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A diaphragm that flexes in a direction generally normal to said diaphragm in response to a pressure differential across the diaphragm, comprising:
- a generally thin diaphragm member formed of a structural material that is substantially inelastic, said diaphragm member including a low energy collapse pattern of wrinkles that extend over a substantial portion of the diaphragm, each of said wrinkles being elongated over a short length in any one direction, straight and having an amplitude greater than the thickness of the diaphragm but not projecting substantially from the plane of said diaphragm, said low energy collapse pattern being such that the angular orientation of said elongated wrinkles varies over said diaphragm member with the principal axes of said wrinkles being aligned generally with one of a plurality axes in the plane of said diaphragm such that any axis lying in the plane intersects at least one wrinkle to thereby relieve stresses induced in said diaphragm member by said pressure differential, whereby said diaphragm is both radially and tangentially expandable with respect to any reference point in the central portion thereof.
- View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
Specification