The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 28, 2023
Filed:
Sep. 10, 2019
GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);
The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Wonhee M. Kim, Royal Oak, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Jonathan E. Luntz, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Diann Brei, Milford, MI (US);
Laura Alejandra Giner Munoz, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Kunj P. Patel, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Adeline Emily Wihardja, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Noah Luntzlara, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
An inflatable structure includes a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a bladder, a nozzle, a loop, and a first tether. The bladder is attached to the top and bottom end caps and is configured to hold pressurized fluid therebetween. The nozzle is configured to allow fluid to enter and exit the bladder. The loop is attached to one of the top and bottom end caps. A tether is disposed within the bladder, coupled to the other one of the top and bottom end caps, and extends through the at least one loop. The top end cap assumes a first position when the bladder is inflated. When the top end cap is adjusted from the first position to a second position, the first tether is configured to maintain the top end cap in the second position.