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. 29, 2016
Filed:
Apr. 03, 2014
Google Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Kyle Brookes, Redwood City, CA (US);
Ytai Ben-tsvi, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Google Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
A system for terminating flight of a balloon having a balloon envelope is provided. The system includes an apparatus attached to the balloon. The apparatus includes a flexible tube that has first and second ends with a hollow tube portion disposed there between and a device attached to the flexible tube. The first end of the tube is sealed around a preconfigured opening in a balloon envelope and the second end is sealed shut. The device includes a main body that has an opening holding an actuating member that has a cavity and a cutting element. The cavity is arranged to hold at least a portion of the flexible tube. When activated, the device causes contact between the actuating member and the cutting element so as to cut open the partial portion of the flexible tube for allowing lift gas to escape the balloon envelope through the hollow tube portion.