The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the

Laura A Leybold

William R Doggett

Thomas C Jones

Bryan C Yount

William M Langford

Douglas A Litteken

Molly M Selig

Earl T Hall

Alberto Makino

Clarence E Stanfield

Winfred S Kenner

Timothy S Roach

Richard Keith Bird

Judith J Watson

Khadijah I Shariff

David F Moore

Danny J Lovaglio

James E Phelps

Arlon B Sullivan

Jerry E Warren

Fred M Whitehead

Vincenzo M Le Boffe

Lana P Hicks-Olson

Samuel James

An inflatable pressure structure includes an airtight flexible membrane having collapsed and inflated configurations. The inflatable pressure structure includes an elongated pressure-assisted seal that is configured to selectively seal an opening in the airtight flexible membrane. The pressure-assisted seal includes first and second seal components that sealingly engage one another and prevent escape of gas from inside the airtight flexible membrane. The airtight flexible membrane, when inflated, generates a force transverse to the pressure-assisted seal tending to pull the first and second seal components apart. Pressurized gas inside the airtight flexible membrane causes the first and second seal components to more securely engage one another whereby a force transverse to the pressure-assisted seal does not disengage the first and second seal components.

Pressure-assisted linear seal

Growing community of inventors

Hampton, VA, United States of America

Laura A Leybold