Jacket having an access section for insertion and removal of an inflatable bladder
First Claim
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1. A jacket for an inflatable bladder comprising:
- (a) a woven fabric cover sized to encase the bladder in an inflated condition; and
(b) an access section in said cover having;
(i) a woven fabric inner panel secured to said cover reinforcing said cover and defining an opening for insertion and removal of the bladder, the woven fabric inner panel comprising a weave oriented to resist stretch perpendicular to the closure; and
(ii) a woven fabric outer closure overlying said inner panel, said outer closure having at least first and second panels each having an outer edge secured to said cover and having flaps extending across said opening being provided with cooperating fasteners to secure the outer panels over said opening which, in an open position, provide access for removal and insertion of the bladder within the cover and which in a closed position reinforces the closure to resist distorsional forces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A jacket for an inflatable bladder such as an exercise ball. The jacket has a durable cover with an access section having an inner panel defining an access opening. Outer panels overlie the inner panel and have edges which extend across the opening and are provided with closures. In use, the outer panels may be separated at fasteners so a bladder may be removed or inserted through the access opening. The inner panel and the outer panels may be a woven material with their weave oriented to resist distortion when the bladder is inflated and to assist in securing the closure. The cover may be any suitable material such as a coated nylon providing durability.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A jacket for an inflatable bladder comprising:
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(a) a woven fabric cover sized to encase the bladder in an inflated condition; and (b) an access section in said cover having; (i) a woven fabric inner panel secured to said cover reinforcing said cover and defining an opening for insertion and removal of the bladder, the woven fabric inner panel comprising a weave oriented to resist stretch perpendicular to the closure; and (ii) a woven fabric outer closure overlying said inner panel, said outer closure having at least first and second panels each having an outer edge secured to said cover and having flaps extending across said opening being provided with cooperating fasteners to secure the outer panels over said opening which, in an open position, provide access for removal and insertion of the bladder within the cover and which in a closed position reinforces the closure to resist distorsional forces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A jacket for an inflatable ball bladder comprising:
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(a) a cover having the shape of a truncated icosahedron comprised of a plurality of hexagonal and pentagonal panel sections; (b) an access section in said cover in place of one of said panel sections having; (i) an inner panel of woven material having edges secured to adjacent panel sections at a seam in said cover and defining a generally polygonal shape, said inner panel having a generally curvilinear opening for insertion and removal of the bladder, the inner panel reinforcing said cover; (ii) an outer closure overlying said inner panel, said outer closure having first and second generally trapezoidal outer panels each having outer edges secured to the cover at adjacent panel sections and having flaps extending across said opening being provided with cooperating fasteners to secure the outer panels over said opening in a closed position and having an open position to provide access for removal and insertion of the bladder within the cover. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A jacket for an inflatable bladder comprising:
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(a) a woven fabric cover sized to encase the bladder in an inflated condition; and (b) an access section in said cover having; (i) a woven fabric inner panel secured to said cover reinforcing said cover and defining an opening for insertion and removal of the bladder; and (ii) a woven fabric outer closure overlying said inner panel, said outer closure comprising a weave oriented to stretch in a direction to assist in securing the outer closure panels over the opening and having at least first and second panels each having an outer edge secured to said cover and having flaps extending across said opening being provided with cooperating fasteners to secure the outer panels over said opening which, in an open position, provide access for removal and insertion of the bladder within the cover and which in a closed position reinforces the closure to resist distorsional forces. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification