Collapsible envelope for descent of balloon with envelope still attached
First Claim
1. A balloon, comprising:
- a balloon envelope having a top portion and a bottom portion;
a payload positioned beneath the balloon envelope;
a moveable plate positioned over the top portion of the balloon envelope;
a line attached to the moveable plate;
a control system configured to cause the line to be pulled to cause the moveable plate to be pulled towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope such that the top portion of the balloon envelope is moved towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope forcing gas out of the balloon envelope, such that the balloon envelope is collapsed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A balloon is provided having a balloon envelope having a top portion and a bottom portion, a payload positioned beneath the balloon envelope, a moveable plate positioned atop the balloon envelope, a line attached to the moveable plate, and a control system configured to cause the line to be pulled to cause the moveable plate to be pulled towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope such that the top portion of the balloon envelope is moved towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope forcing gas out of the balloon envelope such that the balloon envelope is collapsed. The balloon may further include a drag plate positioned beneath the balloon envelope that serves to slow the descent of the payload to the earth.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A balloon, comprising:
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a balloon envelope having a top portion and a bottom portion; a payload positioned beneath the balloon envelope; a moveable plate positioned over the top portion of the balloon envelope; a line attached to the moveable plate; a control system configured to cause the line to be pulled to cause the moveable plate to be pulled towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope such that the top portion of the balloon envelope is moved towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope forcing gas out of the balloon envelope, such that the balloon envelope is collapsed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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operating a control system for a balloon comprised of a balloon envelope having a top portion and a bottom portion positioned beneath the top portion, a payload positioned beneath the balloon envelope, a moveable plate positioned atop the balloon envelope, and a line attached to the moveable plate to cause the moveable plate positioned atop the balloon envelope to be pulled towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope; causing the top of the balloon envelope to be moved towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope forcing gas out of the balloon envelope to collapse the balloon envelope; and maintaining the collapsed balloon envelope beneath the moveable plate during balloon descent. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:
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operating a control system for a balloon comprised of a balloon envelope having a top portion and a bottom portion positioned beneath the top portion, a payload positioned beneath the balloon envelope, a moveable plate positioned atop the balloon envelope, and a line attached to the moveable plate to cause the moveable plate positioned atop the balloon envelope to be pulled towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope; causing the top portion of the balloon envelope to be moved towards the bottom portion of the balloon envelope forcing gas out of the balloon envelope to collapse the balloon envelope; and maintaining the collapsed balloon envelope beneath the moveable plate during balloon descent. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification