Inflatable connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10000937-B2
Application number	US-201414907441-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2014
Priority date	Jul 31, 2013
Publication date	Jun 19, 2018
Grant date	Jun 19, 2018

Abstract

An inflatable connector comprising a bladder having at least two pipe securing areas formed as at least two separate cylindrical voids, respectively, in said bladder, wherein said at least two separate cylindrical voids are completely separated by a portion of said bladder and are configured to at least partially encompass at least two pipe portions, respectively, wherein said bladder is configured, when deflated, to enable insertion of said at least two pipe portions into said at least two pipe securing areas, respectively, and wherein said bladder is configured, when inflated, to secure said at least two pipe portions in said at least two pipe securing areas, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable connector comprising:
a bladder having at least two pipe securing areas formed as at least two separate cylindrical voids, respectively, in said bladder, wherein said at least two separate cylindrical voids are completely separated by a portion of said bladder and are configured to at least partially encompass at least two pipe portions, respectively,
wherein said bladder is configured, when deflated, to enable insertion of said at least two pipe portions into said at least two pipe securing areas, respectively, and
wherein said bladder is configured, when inflated, to secure said at least two pipe portions in said at least two pipe securing areas, respectively.

2. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , further comprising a harness configured to encircle said bladder together with said at least two pipe portions, so as to secure said bladder and said at least two pipe portions together.

3. The inflatable connector according to claim 2 , wherein said harness comprises a mesh.

4. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , further comprising an inflation nipple.

5. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , wherein said at least two pipe securing areas are each substantially cylindrical.

6. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , wherein said at least two pipe securing areas are substantially parallel, such that, when said bladder is inflated, said at least two pipe portions are secured substantially parallel to one another.

7. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , wherein said at least two pipe securing areas are non-parallel, such that, when said bladder is inflated, said at least two pipe portions are secured non-parallel to one another.

8. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , wherein said at least two pipe securing areas comprise at least three pipe securing areas.

9. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , wherein said at least two pipe securing areas comprise at least four pipe securing areas.

10. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , wherein said at least two pipe portions are rims of fish cages.

11. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , wherein said at least two pipe portions are scaffoldings.

12. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , wherein said bladder is made of an elastomeric material.

13. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , wherein said bladder is filled with a gas.

14. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , wherein said bladder is filled with a liquid.

15. The inflatable connector according to claim 1 , wherein said bladder is buoyant when inflated.

Assignees

• Technion Res & Dev Foundation

Inventors

• Drimer Nitai

Classifications

• E04G1/12 Primary

  comprising members of special, e.g. composite, cross-section or with lugs or the like or lateral apertures for supporting or attaching other members · CPC title

• E04G7/24

  Couplings involving arrangements covered by more than one of the subgroups E04G7/08, E04G7/12, E04G7/20, E04G7/22 · CPC title

• F16L33/223

  the sealing surfaces being pressed together by means of a member, e.g. a swivel nut, screwed on or into one of the joint parts · CPC title

• A01K61/60

  Floating cultivation devices, e.g. rafts or floating fish-farms · CPC title

• F16L3/085

  for pipes being in an angled relationship to each other · CPC title