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:
Sep. 12, 2017
Filed:
Apr. 14, 2015
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE (US);
Carey V. Campbell, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Nathan L. Friedman, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
Benjamin M. Trapp, Flagstaff, AZ (US);
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE (US);
Abstract
The instant invention provides for a pivoting ring that can be used as a seal for an inflatable member. The pivoting ring seal offers a mechanical action which acts to tighten with increasing inflation and/or expansion of an inflatable member. As the inflatable member increases in pressure and/or size, one side of the ring is lifted and pivots around a fulcrum in the middle of the ring seal causing the opposite side of the ring seal to decrease in diameter. The pivot ring causes the opposite part of the seal to tighten about an inner member allowing for a higher-pressure seal. In addition to a higher pressure seal, the working length of the inflatable member can be adjusted by moving the ring along the length of the inflatable member.