Combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way

• US 7,302,908 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roger Bieberdorf
• Original Assignee: Roger Bieberdorf
• Inventors: Bieberdorf, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US11/504,440
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 116/63.P, 116/63.R, 116/209, 116/DIG.7, 116/DIG.16, 402/17, 405/84, 406/03, 406/04, 406/10, 406/12, 52/21.1, 52/22.4, 273/457, 404/9, 404/10
• US Class Current: 116/63.00P
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/18 Visual or acoustic landing aids
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/594 movable for reuse at different locations

Abstract

A combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way comprises broad, substantially coextensive first and second sheets of pliant material each having a perimeter edge formed with a fluid ballast bladder formed with a fluid inlet for permitting intake and outtake of fluid relative to the bladder for filling and relieving the bladder, and a relief vent for relieving pressure in the bladder during the filling of the bladder with fluid and the relieving of the bladder of fluid. The first sheet is splayed out onto an airport traffic way, and the second sheet is splayed out onto the airport traffic way overlying the first sheet of pliant material, whereby the first and second sheets cooperate forming a marker for the airport traffic way. A charge of fluid fills each of the bladders fluid ballasting the marker relative to the airport traffic way.

Claims

1. A combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way, comprising:

broad, substantially coextensive first and second sheets of pliant material each having a perimeter edge;

a fluid ballast bladder formed in the perimeter edge of each of the first and second sheets of pliant material, each of the bladders formed with a fluid inlet for permitting intake of fluid relative to the bladder for filling the bladder with fluid and outtake of fluid relative to the bladder for relieving the bladder of fluid, and a relief vent for relieving pressure in the bladder during the filling of the bladder with fluid and the relieving of the bladder of fluid;

the first sheet of pliant material splayed out onto an airport traffic way;

the second sheet of pliant material splayed out onto the airport traffic way overlying the first sheet of pliant material;

the first and second sheets of pliant material cooperating forming a marker for the airport traffic way; and

a charge of fluid filling each of the bladders fluid ballasting the marker relative to the airport traffic way.

2. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 1, wherein the inlets are each formed with a fluid valve movable between an open position opening the inlet permitting fluid flow through the inlet relative to the bladder and a closed position closing the inlet preventing fluid flow through the inlet relative to the bladder.

3. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 1, wherein the inlets are exposed relative to the perimeter edges of the first and second sheets, respectively.

4. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 3, wherein the vents are exposed relative to the perimeter edges of the first and second sheets, respectively.

5. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 1, wherein the sheets are each approximately 600 square feet in size, and the bladders each weigh approximately 420 pounds filled with water.

6. A combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way, comprising:

broad, substantially coextensive first and second sheets of pliant material having first and second perimeter edges, respectively;

first and second perimeter sleeve structures formed in the first and second perimeter edges, respectively;

first and second fluid ballast bladders held by the first and second sleeve structures, respectively;

the first bladder formed with a first fluid inlet for permitting intake of fluid relative to the first bladder for filling the first bladder with fluid and outtake of fluid relative to the first bladder for relieving the first bladder of fluid, and a first relief vent for relieving pressure in the first bladder during the filling of the first bladder with fluid and the relieving of the first bladder of fluid;

the second bladder formed with a second fluid inlet for permitting intake of fluid relative to the second bladder for filling the second bladder with fluid and outtake of fluid relative to the second bladder for relieving the second bladder of fluid, and a second relief vent for relieving pressure in the second bladder during the filling of the second bladder with fluid and the relieving of the second bladder of fluid;

the first sheet of pliant material splayed out onto an airport traffic way;

the second sheet of pliant material splayed out onto the airport traffic way overlying the first sheet of pliant material;

the first and second sheets of pliant material cooperating forming a marker for the airport traffic way; and

a charge of fluid filling each of first and second bladders fluid ballasting the marker relative to the airport traffic way.

7. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 6, wherein the first inlet is formed with a first fluid valve movable between an open position opening the first inlet permitting fluid flow through the first inlet relative to the first bladder and a closed position closing the first inlet preventing fluid flow through the first inlet relative to the first bladder.

8. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 7, wherein the second inlet is formed with a second fluid valve movable between an open position opening the second inlet permitting fluid flow through the second inlet relative to the second bladder and a closed position closing the second inlet preventing fluid flow through the second inlet relative to the second bladder.

9. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 6, wherein the first and second inlets are exposed relative to the first and second perimeter edges of the first and second sheets, respectively, and relative to the first and second sleeve structures of the first and second sheets, respectively.

10. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 9, wherein the first and second vents are exposed relative to the first and second perimeter edges of the first and second sheets, respectively, and relative to the first and second sleeve structures of the first and second sheets, respectively.

11. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 6, wherein the first and second sheets are each approximately 600 square feet in size, and the first and second bladders each weigh approximately 420 pounds filled with water.

12. A combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way, comprising:

broad, substantially coextensive first and second sheets of pliant material having first and second perimeter edges, respectively;

the first perimeter edge defining first sides that meet at first corners, which cooperate defining a first shape of the first sheet;

the second perimeter edge defining second sides that meet at second corners, which cooperate defining a second shape of the second sheet;

first and second perimeter sleeve structures formed in the first and second perimeter edges, respectively;

first gaps formed in the first sleeve structure at the corners of the first sheet;

second gaps formed in the second sleeve structure at the corners of the second sheet;

first and second flexible fluid ballast bladders held by the first and second sleeve structures, respectively;

segments of the first bladder exposed at the gaps in the first sleeve structure at the corners of the first sheet;

segments of the second bladder exposed at the gaps in the second sleeve structure at the corners of the second sheet;

the first bladder formed with a first fluid inlet for permitting intake of fluid relative to the first bladder for filling the first bladder with fluid and outtake of fluid relative to the first bladder for relieving the first bladder of fluid, and a first relief vent for relieving pressure in the first bladder during the filling of the first bladder with fluid and the relieving of the first bladder of fluid;

the second bladder formed with a second fluid inlet for permitting intake of fluid relative to the second bladder for filling the second bladder with fluid and outtake of fluid relative to the second bladder for relieving the second bladder of fluid, and a second relief vent for relieving pressure in the second bladder during the filling of the second bladder with fluid and the relieving of the second bladder of fluid;

the first sheet of pliant material splayed out onto an airport traffic way;

the second sheet of pliant material splayed out onto the airport traffic way overlying the first sheet of pliant material;

the first and second sheets of pliant material cooperating forming a marker for the airport traffic way;

a first charge of fluid filling the first bladder causing the first bladder to apply a stretching force to the first sheet maintaining the first shape of the first sheet;

a second charge of fluid filling the second bladder causing the second bladder to apply a stretching force to the second sheet maintaining the second shape of the second sheet; and

the first and second charges of fluid ballasting the marker relative to the airport traffic way.

13. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 12, wherein the first inlet is formed with a first fluid valve movable between an open position opening the first inlet permitting fluid flow through the first inlet relative to the first bladder and a closed position closing the first inlet preventing fluid flow through the first inlet relative to the first bladder.

14. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 12, wherein the second inlet is formed with a second fluid valve movable between an open position opening the second inlet permitting fluid flow through the second inlet relative to the second bladder and a closed position closing the second inlet preventing fluid flow through the second inlet relative to the second bladder.

15. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 12, wherein the first and second inlets are exposed relative to the first and second perimeter edges of the first and second sheets, respectively, and relative to the first and second sleeve structures of the first and second sheets, respectively.

16. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 15, wherein the first and second vents are exposed relative to the first and second perimeter edges of the first and second sheets, respectively, and relative to the first and second sleeve structures of the first and second sheets, respectively.

17. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 12, wherein the first shape of the first sheet is a rectangular shape, whereby the first sides comprise opposed minor sides of the rectangular shape and opposed major sides of the rectangular shape, and the first corners comprise points at which ends of the minor sides meet ends of the major sides.

18. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 12, wherein the second shape of the second sheet is a rectangular shape, whereby the second sides comprise opposed minor sides of the rectangular shape and opposed major sides of the rectangular shape, and the second corners comprise points at which ends of the minor sides meet ends of the major sides.

19. The combination airport air and ground transportation marker and airport traffic way according to claim 12, wherein the first and second sheets are each approximately 600 square feet in size, and the first and second bladders each weigh approximately 420 pounds filled with water.