Inflatable partition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12247394-B2
Application number	US-202318496109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2023
Priority date	Jan 6, 2021
Publication date	Mar 11, 2025
Grant date	Mar 11, 2025

Abstract

An inflatable partition includes a flexible membrane, an inflatable frame, and a support member coupled to the inflatable frame. The inflatable frame extends along a periphery of the flexible membrane and has an inner edge adjacent to the flexible membrane and an outer edge. The inflatable frame further includes a sealing mechanism extending along at least a portion of the outer edge and the inflatable frame is inflatable between a first state and a second state. The inflatable partition includes a first structural member and a second structural member. Each of the first and second structural members is coupled to the inflatable frame and extends vertically from the upper portion to the bottom portion of the inflatable frame and the first and second structural members define an opening in the inflatable partition.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of manufacturing an inflatable partition for a vehicle, the vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior surface, the method comprising:
forming a flexible membrane configured to be disposed within the vehicle body;
attaching an inflatable frame to an outer periphery of the flexible membrane, the inflatable frame having an inner edge adjacent the flexible membrane, an outer edge opposite the inner edge, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, an upper portion connected to the first and/or second sides, and a bottom portion opposite the upper portion, the inflatable frame being inflatable between a first state and a second state;
attaching a sealing mechanism to the outer edge of the inflatable frame, the sealing mechanism being configured to press against and attach to the interior surface of the vehicle body, the sealing mechanism including a first flexible flap projecting in a first direction from a front side of the inflatable frame and a second flexible flap projecting in a second direction, distinct from the first direction, from a back side of the inflatable frame; and
attaching first and second structural members to the inflatable frame such that the first and second structural members extend between the upper portion and the bottom portion, the first and second structural members defining an opening in the inflatable partition.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism includes a first sealing mechanism section extending along the first side of the inflatable frame and a second sealing mechanism section extending along the second side of the inflatable frame.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sealing mechanism further includes a third sealing mechanism section extending along the upper portion of the inflatable frame and connected to the first and second sealing mechanism sections.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first flexible flap is spaced apart from the second flexible flap.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second flexible flaps are configured to frictionally engage with the interior surface to thereby releasably secure the inflatable partition to the vehicle body when the inflatable frame is inflated to the second state.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the first and second flexible flaps with a silicone rubber.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first flexible flap is spaced apart from the second flexible flap, and wherein the first and second flexible flaps are configured to frictionally engage with the interior surface when the inflatable frame is inflated to the second state and thereby create a negative pressure condition in which a first air pressure inside a zone between the inflatable frame and the interior surface is less than a second air pressure inside the vehicle body.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane includes a first membrane section extending from the inner edge of the first side of the inflatable frame to the first structural member, a second membrane section extending from the first structural member, a third membrane section extending from the second structural member, and a fourth membrane section extending from the inner edge of the second side of the inflatable frame to the second structural member.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first state is an uninflated state and the second state is an inflated state.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching a support member to the inflatable frame, the support member being inflatable and fluidly coupled to the inflatable frame.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the support member includes a first inflatable support leg spaced from a second inflatable support leg, wherein each of the first and second inflatable support legs projects perpendicular from the bottom portion of the inflatable frame.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second inflatable support legs includes a plurality of inflatable support legs fluidly coupled to the inflatable frame and projecting from opposing front and back sides of the bottom portion of the inflatable frame.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable frame has a first portion with a first width and a second portion with a second width, smaller than the first width, when the inflatable frame is inflated to the second state.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching an inflation mechanism to the inflatable frame, the inflation mechanism including a battery, a motor coupled to the battery, and a turbine coupled to the motor and fluidly connected to the inflatable frame, wherein the inflation mechanism is configured to inflate the inflatable frame.

15. A method of installing an inflatable partition into a vehicle, the vehicle having a vehicle body with an interior surface, the method comprising:
disposing the inflatable partition inside the vehicle body, the inflatable partition including:
a flexible membrane;
an inflatable frame attached to an outer periphery of the flexible membrane, the inflatable frame having an inner edge adjacent to the flexible membrane, an outer edge opposite the inner edge, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, an upper portion connected to the first and second sides, and a bottom portion opposite the upper portion and connected to the first and second sides;
a sealing mechanism extending along at least a portion of the outer edge of the inflatable frame, the sealing mechanism including a first flexible flap projecting in a first direction from a front side of the inflatable frame and a second flexible flap projecting in a second direction, distinct from the first direction, from a back side of the inflatable frame; and
first and second structural members attached to the inflatable frame and extending between the upper portion and the bottom portion of the inflatable frame, the first and second structural members defining an opening in the inflatable partition; and
inflating the inflatable frame from a first state to a second state such that the sealing mechanism presses against and thereby attaches to the interior surface of the vehicle body.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the sealing mechanism includes a first sealing mechanism section extending along the first side of the inflatable frame and a second sealing mechanism section extending along the second side of the inflatable frame.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sealing mechanism further includes a third sealing mechanism section extending along the upper portion of the inflatable frame and connected to the first and second sealing mechanism sections.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first flexible flap is spaced apart from the second flexible flap, and wherein the first and second flexible flaps are configured to frictionally engage with the interior surface when the inflatable frame is inflated to the second state and thereby create a negative pressure condition in which a first air pressure inside a zone between the inflatable frame and the interior surface is less than a second air pressure inside the vehicle body.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising attaching an inflatable support member to the inflatable frame, the support member being fluidly coupled to and inflatable with the inflatable frame.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the support member includes a first inflatable support leg spaced from a second inflatable support leg, wherein each of the first and second inflatable

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Weiqiang Liu
• Dong Zhongzhe
• Long Long
• Wei Daniel

Classifications

• B64D11/0023 Primary

  Movable or removable cabin dividers, e.g. for class separation · CPC title

• A47G5/00

  Screens (shutters closing an opening E06B9/02; fly-screens E06B9/52); Draught-deflectors · CPC title

• E04B2/7416 Primary

  with free upper edge, e.g. for use as office space dividers · CPC title

• B60R13/08 Primary

  Insulating elements, e.g. for sound insulation {(sound insulating linings for trains B61D17/185; drivers' cabs for load-carrying vehicles insulated against vibrations or noise B62D33/0604; thermal or acoustic insulation of engines F02B77/11; damping of sounds using compensation by electro-acoustic methods G10K11/178)} · CPC title