Polyethelene inflatable tube construction device

• US 5,546,707 A
• Filed: 01/05/1995
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vincent C. Caruso
• Original Assignee: Vincent C. Caruso
• Inventors: Caruso, Vincent C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Application Number:
  US08/368,860
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 52/211, 52/2.13, 52/2.21, 52/720.1, 52/730.1, 52/732.1, 52/736.3, 52/737.4, 52/738.1, 52/653.2, 52/2.18, 285/179
• US Class Current: 52/2.13
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/004 Goals of the type used for football, handball, hockey or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 63/008 Goals for rugby or American football
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/29 built-up from parts of different material, i.e. composite structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 3/36 of materials not covered by groups E04C3/32 or E04C3/34; of a combination of two or more materials
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/20 inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2015/201 with inflatable tubular framework, with or without tent cover

Abstract

The invention is an inflatable tube system, having an inflatable tube in the shape of a cylinder having two ends and a shaft. The tube includes a bladder, made of an elastometer in the shape of a cylinder, and a fabric covering made of woven polyethylene, the fabric covering enclosing the bladder. A pair of end closures sealing the fabric covering at the ends of the cylinder. An air valve extends into the bladder through one of the end closures.

Claims

1. An inflatable tube, comprising:

a) a cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder having a pair of ends and containing an internal cavity, said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores;

b) a cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing having a pair of ends, said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores, said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing covering said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder can expand to a high pressure in the range of 50 psi and 500 psi within the confines of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing without breaking due to the inherent strength of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing;

c) a pair of end closures covering said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, each of said pair of end closures having a face corresponding to an end of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing and a lip extending perpendicularly from said face of each of said pair of end closures and along said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, said lip of each of said pair of end closures having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of each of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing and aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of each of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder;

d) an air valve extending through said face of one of said pair of end closures and in to said internal cavity of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder and being in fluid communication therewith;

e) a plurality of rivets having a plurality of rivet heads, said plurality of rivet heads of said plurality of rivets disposed in said internal cavity of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, said plurality of rivets passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said lip of each of said pair of end closures, passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, and passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said pair of end closures, said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, and said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder are fastened together simultaneously; and

f) a plurality of washers disposed between said plurality of rivet heads and said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said plurality of rivet heads are prevented from pulling through said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder.

2. The tube as defined in claim 1 wherein said inflatable tube has a longitudinal axis to which at least one of said pair of end closures is angled 45 degrees, so that when said at least one 45 degree angled end closure of said pair of end closures of one said inflatable tube is joined to said at least one 45 degree angled end closure of said pair of end closures of another said inflatable tube said one inflatable tube is perpendicular to said another inflatable tube.

3. An inflatable football goal post, comprising:

a) a lower vertically-oriented inflatable tube having an upper end;

b) inflating means for inflating said lower vertically-oriented inflatable tube;

c) a horizontally-oriented inflatable crossbar tube being perpendicular to said lower vertically-oriented inflatable tube, said horizontally-oriented inflatable crossbar tube having a midpoint disposed on said upper end of said lower vertically-oriented inflatable tube and a pair of 45 degree angle ends;

d) inflating means for inflating said horizontally-oriented inflatable crossbar tube;

e) a pair of upper vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable upright tubes, each of said pair of upper vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable upright tubes having a 45 degree angle end disposed on each of said pair of 45 degree angle ends of said horizontally-oriented inflatable crossbar tube, so that said pair of upper vertically-oriented inflatable upright tubes are perpendicular to said horizontally-oriented inflatable crossbar tube and parallel to said lower vertically-oriented inflatable tube; and

f) inflating means for inflating said pair of upper vertically-oriented and spaced-apart inflatable upright tubes;

wherein said lower vertically-oriented inflatable tube, said horizontally-oriented inflatable crossbar tube, and each of said pair of upper vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable upright tubes including;

i) a cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder having a pair of ends and containing an internal cavity, said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores;

ii) a cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing having a pair of ends, said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores, said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing covering said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder can expand to a high pressure in the range of 50 psi and 500 psi within the confines of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing without breaking due to the inherent strength of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing;

iii) a pair of end closures covering said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, each of said pair of end closures having a face corresponding to an end of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing and a lip extending perpendicularly from said face of each of said pair of end closures and along said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, said lip of each of said pair of end closures having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of each of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing and aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of each of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder;

iv) a plurality of rivets having a plurality of rivet heads, said plurality of rivet heads of said plurality of rivets disposed in said internal cavity of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, said plurality of rivets passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said lip of each of said pair of end closures, passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, and passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said pair of end closures, said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, and said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder are fastened together simultaneously; and

v) a plurality of washers disposed between said plurality of rivet heads and said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said plurality of rivet heads are prevented from pulling through said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder.

4. An inflatable fence section, comprising:

a) a pair of vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable post tubes;

b) inflating means for inflating said pair of vertically-oriented and spaced-apart inflatable post tubes;

c) a pair of horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable rail tubes being perpendicular to and connecting said pair of vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart post inflatable tubes; and

d) inflating means for inflating said pair of horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced apart inflatable rail tubes;

wherein each of said pair of vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable post tubes and each of said pair of horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable rail tubes including;

i) a cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder having a pair of ends and containing an internal cavity, said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores;

ii) a cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing having a pair of ends, said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores, said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing covering said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder can expand to a high pressure in the range of 50 psi and 500 psi within the confines of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing without breaking due to the inherent strength of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing;

iii) a pair of end closures covering said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, each of said pair of end closures having a face corresponding to an end of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing and a lip extending perpendicularly from said face of each of said pair of end closures and along said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, said lip of each of said pair of end closures having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of each of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing and aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of each of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder;

iv) a plurality of rivets having a plurality of rivet heads, said plurality of rivet heads of said plurality of rivets disposed in said internal cavity of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, said plurality of rivets passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said lip of each of said pair of end closures, passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, and passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said pair of end closures, said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, and said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder are fastened together simultaneously; and

v) a plurality of washers disposed between said plurality of rivet heads and said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said plurality of rivet heads are prevented from pulling through said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder.

5. An inflatable soccer goal, comprising:

a) a pair of long top horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes having ends;

b) inflating means for inflating said pair of long top horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes;

c) a pair of short top horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes connecting said ends of said pair of long top horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes so as to form a hollow top;

d) inflating means for inflating said pair of short top horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes;

e) netting covering said hollow top;

f) a pair of short front vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes extending vertically-downwardly from said ends of a forwardmost of said pair of long top horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes and having lower ends;

g) inflating means for inflating said pair of short front vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes;

h) a pair of short rear substantially vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes extending vertically-downwardly and rearwardly from said ends of a rearwardmost of said pair of long top horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes and having lower ends;

i) inflating means for inflating said pair of short rear substantially vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes;

j) a long lower rear horizontally-oriented inflatable tube connecting said lower ends of said pair of short rear substantially vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes and together with said rearwardmost of said pair of long top horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes and together with said pair of short rear substantially vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes form a hollow rear;

k) inflating means for inflating said long lower rear horizontally-oriented inflatable tube;

l) netting covering said hollow rear;

m) a pair of short lower side horizontally-oriented inflatable tubes connecting said lower ends of said pair of short rear substantially vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes to said lower ends of said pair of short front vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes and together with said pair of short top horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes and together with said pair of short rear substantially vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes, and together with said pair of short front vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes form a pair of hollow sides;

n) inflating means for inflating said pair of short lower side horizontally-oriented inflatable tubes; and

o) netting covering said pair of hollow sides;

wherein each of each of said pair of long top horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes, each of said pair of short top horizontally-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes, each of said pair of short front vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes, each of said pair of short rear substantially vertically-oriented, parallel, and spaced-apart inflatable tubes, said long lower rear horizontally-oriented inflatable tube, and each of said pair of short lower side horizontally-oriented inflatable tubes including;

i) a cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder having a pair of ends and containing an internal cavity, said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores;

ii) a cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing having a pair of ends, said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores, said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing covering said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder can expand to a high pressure in the range of 50 psi and 500 psi within the confines of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing without breaking due to the inherent strength of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing;

iii) a pair of end closures covering said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, each of said pair of end closures having a face corresponding to an end of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing and a lip extending perpendicularly from said face of each of said pair of end closures and along said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, said lip of each of said pair of end closures having a plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of each of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing and aligning with said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of each of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder;

iv) a plurality of rivets having a plurality of rivet heads, said plurality of rivet heads of said plurality of rivets disposed in said internal cavity of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, said plurality of rivets passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said lip of each of said pair of end closures, passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, and passing through said plurality of circumferencially disposed throughbores of said pair of ends of said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said pair of end closures, said cylindrically-shaped woven polyethylene fabric casing, and said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder are fastened together simultaneously; and

v) a plurality of washers disposed between said plurality of rivet heads and said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder, so that said plurality of rivet heads are prevented from pulling through said cylindrically-shaped elastomer bladder.