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:
Feb. 07, 2017
Filed:
Sep. 20, 2012
Rite-hite Holding Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Frank Heim, Platteville, WI (US);
Kevin J. Gebke, Dubuque, IA (US);
Nicholas L. Kaufmann, Sherill, IA (US);
Nicolas B. Paschke, Mequon, WI (US);
Terry L. Bauer, Elizabeth, IL (US);
Rite-Hite Holding Corporation, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Abstract
Example inflatable air barriers are disclosed herein. Some example barriers disclosed herein include one or more inflatable tubes for maintaining a sealed airlock leading to an underground shelter. Such shelters provide miners with temporary refuge in the event of a mining incident involving the release of contaminated air. Some example barriers disclosed herein include one or more of the following: an inflatable tube with an air permeable section, a resiliently compressible foam body or other resilient member for supporting a deflated tube, a magnet for providing a secure seal, an inflatable tube with interchangeable end caps, elastic bands for securing the position of an inflatable tube, or an inflatable tube with one or more windows.