IPR 2016-01794
`American Vehicular Sciences
`Exhibit 2038
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 5, 1978
`
`Sheet 1 of 2
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`4,127,909
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`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 5, 1978
`
`Sheet 2 of2
`
`4,127,909
`
`
`
`

`

`1
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`4,1-27,909 ,
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`INFLATABLE mm éONSTRUCI‘ION‘AND "
`--
`.METHOD
`._
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`,
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Inflatable life raft construction in the past: has fre-
`quently employed the use of several tubes joined to-
`gether and particularly of the-end of one tube, such as
`an arch tube, being joined to the side of a second tube,
`such as a buoyancy tube. In the past suchconstruction
`has been accomplished by cutting a sufficiently large
`opening in the buoyancy tube to permit passage of the
`end of the arch tube therethrough. The end of the arch
`tube is pre-cut longitudinally to form a series of axially
`directed fingers which are folded back radially inside
`the buoyancy tube and glued along the periphery of the
`large Opening. The junction is sealed by userof seam
`tapes.. Not only does such a manner of construction
`provide a relatively leak prone seam but it is also ex-
`tremely tedious to formuMoreover, due to the large
`opening in the buoyancy tube the junction is an ex-
`tremely weak area in the overall construction.»
`'
`
`SUMMARY OETHE INVENTION'AND
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`‘
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`OBJECTS;
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`..
`In accordance with the invention both the-first and
`second tubes which may be an archtube and» a buoy-
`ancy tube, respectively are joined together as complete
`tubes each being totally integral. The only opening at
`the junction of the two tubes includes a pair. of small
`vent openings which do not structurally weaken the
`construction to any serious extent. The sealed end of the
`arch-tube is abutted against the side of the buoyancy
`tube and cemented thereto over the complete area of
`their intersection rather than merely at the periphery .of
`their intersection as inthe priOr art; ‘
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`’
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`The actual construction is begun with both tubes still
`in the. form of a‘flat sheet of fabric. When completed
`one tube is only Partially-formed'and the other islstill in
`the form of a flat sheet of fabric. First, a length of seam
`tape is folded to form a hinge. One outside surface of the
`hinge is secured tonne-half of the end margin of the
`arch tube fabric. The arch atube fabric is_ then folded
`longitudinally and the tube is partiallyformed by ce-
`menting the longitudinal edges together at said end..The
`remainder'ofthe'end margin is‘then. cemented to the
`other outside surface .of thevhinge. The hing'edend of
`the arch tube is then cemented to the face of the buoy-
`ancy tube one side at' a time‘ after which vent holes are
`punched in the tubes where they are cemented together.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inflatable raft con-
`struction showing the junction of an arch tube with a
`buoyancy tube in accordance with the invention.
`FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the lines 2—2 of FIG.
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`1.
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`FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hinge section used in
`accordance with the invention.
`FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an arch tube in accor-
`dance with the invention shown in its flattened condi-
`tion.
`FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the
`hinge section cemented to the arch tube.
`FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the ends of the
`arch tube being partially formed as an open ended tube.
`FIG. 7 is an end view of the arch tube shown with the
`hinge section cemented in place.
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`10
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`15
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`35
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`45
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`2
`FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the arch tube
`partially formed and overlying the flattened fabric of
`the buoyancy tube for cementing one side of the arch
`tube to the’buoyancy tube;
`,
`FIG. 9 is a partial top plan view showing the arch
`tube cemented 'within the fold of the buoyancy tube
`fabric and with vent holes punched therethrough.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`' PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`' Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is partially shown a
`buoyancy tube 11 to which an arch tube 13 is attached.
`While the buoyancy tube serves as the name implies, to
`provide buoyancy to the raft itself the arch tube may be
`utilized to support a canopy over the raft to protect
`occupants from the elements.
`Bothpthe buoyancy tube 11 and the arch tube 13 are
`cylindrical in form such that the surface of their inter-
`section is a cylindrical segment having, in a projection
`axial to the arch tube, a circular periphery. Such a
`bounded surface shall be referred to herein as a surface
`
`of cylindrical intersection. Referring still to FIGS. 1
`and 2, the surface of cylindrical intersection 15 is de-
`fined by surfaces 17 of the buoyancy tube 11 and 19
`which forms the end of the arch tube 13. The end of the
`arch tube 13 is cemented closed with the help of seam
`tape 21 and seam tapes 23 and 25 serve to complete the
`closure of the arch tube 13 as a cylinder. The surfaces 17
`and 19 are cemented together across the entire surface
`of cylindrical intersection 15 and a flange tape 27 is
`cemented about the outside of that intersection for rein-
`forcement. Reinforcement patch 29 is cemented across
`the longitudinal seam of the arch tube 13 at its junction
`with the buoyancy tube 11. A pair of gas passage open-
`ings 31%and 33 are provided through the surfaces 17 and
`19 whereby inflating gases may pass between the buoy-
`ancy and the arch tube. '
`r Referring to FIGS. 3 through 9 the method of con-
`struction can be seen. FIG. 3 shows a seam tape 21
`folded and formed as a hinge having leaves 35 and 37
`the ends of which 39 and 41 are cemented together to
`provide a pocket 43. The arch tube 13 is formed of an
`elongated length of fabric 13’ as shown in FIG. 4 and an
`inner seam tape 23 is cemented along one longitudinal
`edge thereof. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, one outer
`surface of the hinged seam tape 21 is secured to one end
`margin of the fabric 13’. positioned to extend slightly
`beyond the center line 43 thereof and one edge. 'Al-
`though not specifically shown in FIG. 5 the pocket 43
`of the hinged shaped seam tape 21 has its opening di-
`rected away from the end of the fabric 13’. After one
`surface-of the hinged seam tape 21 is secured, the fabric
`13' is longitudinally folded upon itself as shown in FIG.
`6 and at least a short portion of the longitudinal seam 45
`is cemented together at that end to which the seam tape
`21 is secured. (For clarity the hinged seam tape 21 is not
`shown in FIG. 6).
`After the end of the seam 45 is cemented together
`that entire end of the arch tube 13 is completely sealed
`by cementing the other outer surface of the hinged
`section 21 (the upper side as shown in FIG. 7) to the
`remainder of the end margin of the arch tube 13. The
`next step is to lay the partially assembled arch tube 13
`onto the surface of the buoyancy tube fabric 11’, as
`shown in solid lines in FIG. 8. The end of the incom-
`plete arch tube 13’ is cemented to the fabric 11’ across
`one-half of the surface of cylindrical intersection 15
`after which the fabric 11' is folded back over the par-
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`4, 127,909
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`10
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`15
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`35
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`4
`margin after said first sheet of fabric is formed into at
`least a partially formed tube.
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`4. In a method of constructing an inflatable raft, the
`steps comprising folding a first length of seam tape
`‘ longitudinally and cementing its ends together forming
`a pocket therebetween and thereby creating a hinge
`section, cementing a second length of scam tape along '
`one longitudinal edge of a first flat sheet of fabric, ce-
`menting one outer surface of the hinge section to one
`end margin of said first flat sheet of fabric positioned to
`extend slightly beyond the center line of the fabric and
`one longitudinal edge and with the poCket of the hinge
`section opening away from said end of the fabric, form-
`ing said first flat sheet of fabric into at least a partially
`formed tube by cementing together the longitudinal
`edges of the fabric and said second length of seam tape
`: at that end of the fabric to which the hinge section is
`cemented, cementing the other outer surface of the
`hinge section to the remainder of said end margin to
`thereby seal the end of the at least partially formed tube,
`placing the at least partially formed tube on a second
`flat sheet of fabric, cementing the sealed end of the
`partially formed tube to said second flat sheet of fabric
`across one half a surface of cylindrical intersection,
`folding said second flat sheet over the end of the par-
`tially formed tube, cementing the partially formed tube
`to the second sheet of fabric across the remainder of
`said surface of cylindrical intersection and. punching
`vents through the fabric within said surface of cylindri-
`cal intersection.
`5. In a method of constructing an inflatable raft, the
`steps comprising forming at least a partially formed
`tube, sealing one end of the tube, cementing the sealed
`end of the at least partially formed tube across one half
`a surface of cylindrical intersection on the surface of a
`fabric to be employed as a second tube, folding the
`second tube over the end of the partially formed tube
`and cementing the partially formed tube to the remain-
`der of said surface of cylindrical
`intersection, and
`punching a vent through the two tubes within said
`surface of intersection.
`6. An inflatable raft constructed by forming at least a
`partially formed tube, sealing one end of the tube, ce-
`menting the sealed end of the at least partially fornied
`tube across one half a surface of cylindrical intersection
`on the surface of a fabric to be employed as a second
`tube, folding the second tube over the end of the par-
`tially formed tube and cementing the partially fort'ned
`tube to the remainder of said surface of cylindrical inter-
`section, and punchingva vent through the two tubes
`within said surface of intersection.
`.
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`3T
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`tially completed arch tube 13’ to the position shown in
`phantom lines in FIG. 8. The incomplete arch tube 13’
`is then cemented to the buoyancy tube fabric over the
`remainder of the surface of cylindrical
`intersection.
`With the fabric 11" still in its folded position over the
`end of the arch tube 13’, gas vents 31, 33 are punched
`through all four thicknesses of fabric.
`The fabric 11’ is thereafter unfolded and the hinged
`seam tape 21 opens over the surface of cylindrical inter-
`section to a flat condition, as shown in FIG. 1. The
`buoyancy tube fabric 11’ is formed into a tube by ce-
`menting a seam along its longitudinal edges. If the seam
`45 of the arch tube has only been partially formed it is
`now completed. Outside seam tape 25, flange tape 27
`and reinforcing patch 29 are secured by cement and the
`construction is complete.
`It is therefore seen that a construction, as shown in
`FIG. 1 is provided whereby each of the individual
`tubes, thebuoyancy tube 11 and the arch tube 13, main-
`tain their integrety. The skin strength, particularly of 20
`the buoyancy tube 11, is maintained since it is not neces—
`sary to cut a large opening therein to insert and secure
`the arch tube. Moreover, the construction can be ac-
`complished without the need of complicated jigs and a
`25
`clamps and an overall improved product is provided.
`What is claimed is:
`’
`1. In a method of constructing an inflatable raft, the
`steps comprising forming a firSt flat sheet of fabric into
`at least a partially formed tube by cementing together
`the longitudinal edges of the fabric at one end thereof,
`sealing said one end of the tube, placing the partially
`formed tube on a second flat sheet of fabric, cementing
`the sealed end of the at least partially formed tube to
`said second flat sheet of fabric across one-half a surface
`of cylindrical intersection, folding said secdnd flat sheet
`over the end of the partially formed tubeand cementing
`the partially formed tube to the second sheet of fabric
`across the remainder of said surface of cylindrical inter-
`section.
`-
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`2. The method of, constructing an inflatable raft as
`defined in claim 1 together with the step of punching
`vents through the fabric within said surface of cylindri-
`cal intersection after said second‘sheet of fabric is ce-
`mented to both sides of the partially formed tube.
`3. The method of constructing an inflatable raft as
`defined in claim 1 together with the steps of folding a
`length of seam tape and cementing the ends together to
`form a hinge section, cementing one outer surface of the
`hinge section to a portion of one end margin of said first
`flat sheet of fabric prior to forming it into at least a
`partially formed tube and cementing the other outer
`surface of the hinge section to the remainder of said end
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`30
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`45
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`50
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