Temporary support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10082239-B2
Application number	US-201514711110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2015
Priority date	Jan 16, 2008
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

Equipment is temporarily supported above the ground by a self-supporting, readily erectable and transportable mast. The mast comprises a pneumatically inflatable elongate tube having a first end to which the equipment is coupled and a second end coupled to a ground support tripod. The mast is provided with bracing structure adapted to brace the tube when inflated and including respective flexible members extending from each tripod leg to the first end of the tube.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A support member comprising:
an elongate pneumatically inflatable tubular chamber defined by a flexible wall material extending along a longitudinal axis between an upper end and a lower end, the upper end, lower end, and flexible wall material defining a closed tubular chamber, wherein the tubular chamber is collapsed when deflated and is substantially inflexible when inflated;
wherein the flexible wall material includes a material selected from rubber and plastics, and has internal reinforcing strands in a helical orientation that extends along the longitudinal axis within the flexible wall material, the reinforcing strands defining openings between the strands;
wherein the strands are encapsulated in the flexible material;
wherein the flexible wall material extends through the openings between the strands;
a base at the lower end of the inflatable tubular chamber, the base configured to orient the support member vertically to the ground when the tubular chamber is inflated; and
an object supported at the upper end of the inflatable tubular chamber.

2. The support member of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing strands include reinforcing strands oriented helically in opposing senses about the longitudinal axis of the tubular chamber so as to cross.

3. The support member of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing strands include reinforcing strands oriented helically along the longitudinal axis of the tubular chamber, the reinforcing strands including a first portion of the reinforcing strands at a first angle to the longitudinal axis, and a separate second portion of the reinforcing strands at a second angle to the longitudinal axis.

4. The support member of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing strands are at an angle of 45 degrees or less to the longitudinal axis.

5. The support member of claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the reinforcing strands are at an angle of between 10 degrees and 15 degrees to the longitudinal axis and the separate second portion of the reinforcing strands are at an angle of about 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis.

6. The support member of claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing strands include further reinforcing strands extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular chamber.

7. The support member of claim 3 , wherein the first and second portions of the reinforcing strands define a woven textile reinforcing structure with the first and second portions in opposing senses within the flexible wall material.

8. The support member of claim 1 , wherein the object is a light assembly.

9. The support member of claim 1 , wherein the material is PVC plastic and the reinforcing strands include nylon.

10. A support member comprising:
a flexible wall extending along a longitudinal axis, the flexible wall enclosing and defining a pneumatically inflatable chamber, wherein the flexible wall defines an inner surface inside the inflatable chamber, and an outer surface outside the inflatable chamber; and
an inflation valve in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber and configured to pneumatically inflate the support member;
wherein the flexible wall includes a wall material selected from rubber and plastics;
wherein the wall material includes internal textile reinforcing strands in a helical orientation between the inner and outer surfaces, the wall material enveloping the internal reinforcing strands; and
wherein the support member is collapsed when deflated and is substantially inflexible supporting an object above the ground when inflated.

11. The support member of claim 10 , wherein the reinforcing strands include nylon reinforcing strands in opposing senses about the longitudinal axis of the support member so as to cross.

12. The support member of claim 11 , wherein a first portion of the reinforcing strands are at a first angle to the longitudinal axis, and a separate second portion of the reinforcing strands are at a second angle to the longitudinal axis.

13. The support member of claim 12 , wherein the first angle is 45 degrees or less, and the second angle is 30 degrees or less.

14. The support member of claim 12 , wherein the first angle is between 10 degrees and 15 degrees and the second angle is about 45 degrees.

15. The support member according to claim 10 , wherein the inflatable chamber is substantially inflexible when the inflatable chamber is inflated to a pressure of between 10 and 20 psi (6.89 to 13.79*10 4 pascals).

16. The support member of claim 1 , wherein the object supported above the ground is a light assembly.

17. A support member comprising:
a first end, a second end, and a flexible wall extending along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends, wherein the first end, second end, and flexible wall define a pneumatically inflatable chamber, the flexible wall having an inner surface inside the inflatable chamber, and an outer surface outside the inflatable chamber, wherein the flexible wall includes wall material of polyvinylchloride;
a textile reinforcing structure including helically oriented textile strands arranged in opposing senses, wherein the textile reinforcing structure is inside the wall material between the inner and outer surfaces, the textile reinforcing structure defining multiple interstices between the textile strands, and wherein the wall material extends through the interstices of the reinforcing structure; and
an inflation valve positioned at or near the second end of the support member, the inflation valve in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber and configured to pneumatically inflate the support member;
wherein the inflatable chamber is collapsed when deflated and is substantially inflexible supporting an object at the first end above the ground when inflated.

18. The support member of claim 17 , wherein the helically oriented textile strands include a first portion of the strands at a first angle to the longitudinal axis, and a separate second portion of the strands at a second angle to the longitudinal axis.

19. The support member of claim 17 , wherein the textile strands are at an angle of 45 degrees or less to the longitudinal axis.

20. The support member of claim 17 , wherein the textile strands in the textile reinforcing structure include reinforcing strands extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support member.

Assignees

• Indian Ind Inc

Inventors

• Caswell Tommy

Classifications

• F16M11/42

  with arrangement for propelling the support {stands on wheels} · CPC title

• B32B1/08

  Tubular products · CPC title

• Y10T428/1334

  Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.] · CPC title

• F16M11/34

  Members limiting spreading of legs {, e.g. "umbrella legs"} · CPC title

• F21V21/145

  for portable lighting devices · CPC title