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:
Dec. 13, 2005
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2001
John Mezits, Las Vegas, NV (US);
Russell J. Common, Henderson, NV (US);
John A. Rusi, Las Vegas, NV (US);
John Mezits, Las Vegas, NV (US);
Russell J. Common, Henderson, NV (US);
John A. Rusi, Las Vegas, NV (US);
Bigelow Aerospace, North Las Vegas, NV (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a sealing and restraint apparatus to establish a pressure boundary for inflatable or expandable spacecraft. The apparatus is capable of connecting the flexible pressure boundary of an inflatable spacecraft to the rigid structure of the spacecraft. The flexible pressure boundary of the present invention comprises a gas membrane and a restraint layer. The gas membrane minimizes air leakage. The restraint layer carries the forces created by the internal pressurization of the spacecraft. This apparatus provides a hermetic seal and the structural integrity necessary to resist internal pressurization forces.