Methods and Apparatus for Shape Control
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising(a) an inflatable bladder;
- (b) one or more pumps; and
(c) one or more valves;
wherein(i) the inflatable bladder includes a wall and a cavity, and is configured to contain fluid in the cavity,(ii) the wall comprises a set of three or more layers, including a first layer, a second layer and a third layer,(iii) the first layer is stiffer than the second and third layers,(iv) there is a first set of one or more holes in the first layer,(v) the one or more pumps and one or more bladders are configured to control pressure of the fluid in the cavity, including to cause the pressure to increase and thereby to cause the bladder to undergo expansion, and(vi) the apparatus is configured such that, while the bladder undergoes expansion(1) an exterior surface of the wall changes shape to form a first protuberance, and(2) the first protuberance in the exterior surface then changes shape by forming a first set of one or more additional protuberances, such that each additional protuberance, respectively, in the first set of additional protuberances forms where a hole in the first set of holes is located.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In exemplary implementations of this invention, a shape controller controls the shape of a bladder as the bladder inflates. The shape controller includes a first set of regions and a second set of regions. The second set of regions is more flexible than the first set of regions. The shape controller is embedded within, or adjacent to, a wall of the bladder. When the bladder is inflated, the overall shape of the bladder bends in areas adjacent to the more flexible regions of the shape controller. For example, the shape controller may comprise paper and the more flexible regions may comprise creases in the paper. Or, for example, the more flexible regions may comprise notches or indentations. In some implementations of this invention, a multi-state shape display changes shape as it inflates, with additional bumps forming as pressure in the display increases.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising
(a) an inflatable bladder; -
(b) one or more pumps; and (c) one or more valves; wherein (i) the inflatable bladder includes a wall and a cavity, and is configured to contain fluid in the cavity, (ii) the wall comprises a set of three or more layers, including a first layer, a second layer and a third layer, (iii) the first layer is stiffer than the second and third layers, (iv) there is a first set of one or more holes in the first layer, (v) the one or more pumps and one or more bladders are configured to control pressure of the fluid in the cavity, including to cause the pressure to increase and thereby to cause the bladder to undergo expansion, and (vi) the apparatus is configured such that, while the bladder undergoes expansion (1) an exterior surface of the wall changes shape to form a first protuberance, and (2) the first protuberance in the exterior surface then changes shape by forming a first set of one or more additional protuberances, such that each additional protuberance, respectively, in the first set of additional protuberances forms where a hole in the first set of holes is located. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus comprising
(a) an inflatable bladder; -
(b) one or more pumps; and (c) one or more valves; wherein (i) the inflatable bladder includes a wall and a cavity, and is configured to contain fluid in the cavity, (ii) the one or more pumps and one or more bladders are configured to control pressure of the fluid in the cavity, including to cause the pressure to increase and thereby to cause the bladder to undergo expansion, and (iii) the apparatus is configured such that (1) during an expansion of the bladder, protuberances form in an exterior surface of the wall, and (2) the number of the protuberances in the exterior wall increases repeatedly during the expansion, including (A) by a first protuberance forming during a first period of the expansion and (B) by one or more additional protuberances forming during a second period of the expansion and not during the first period, the second period being after the first period. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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- 14. A method comprising increasing pressure of fluid in a cavity of an inflatable bladder, and thereby causing the bladder to undergo expansion, such that, during the expansion (i) an exterior surface of a wall of the bladder changes shape to form a first protuberance, and (ii) the first protuberance in the exterior surface then changes shape by forming a first set of one or more additional protuberances.
Specification