Abstract:
Flabby spherical, ellipsoidal and paraboloidal fabric and material envelopes, in particular for balloons, umbrellas, tents and roof-like structures/objects, are produced, in particular machine produced, from helical flat curved strips (S1) progressively brought into their final shape. The edges (1, 2) of the strip are bonded flush with themselves, with or without folding, at the surface of the structure along the stretch of the curve. The continuously curved bond may also be bridged by a further reinforcing band (Bv) that follows the same curved path, so that the flat curved strip (S1) which forms the envelope is detachably or non-detachably bonded to itself. The flat curved strip (S1) is further characterised in that it contains the centre (A) of the spiral at an end of the strip, as both parallel curved strip edges (1, 2) meet in the proximity of the centre (A) of the spiral at point (B). The whole flat curved stretch thus formed by the curved strip edges (1, 2) represents a single curve which turns back on itself at the singular point (B). Points (A) and (B) lie in the same area or coincide with each other.
Abstract:
A high-altitude balloon having prestrained gores (12) made from an asymmetrical gore pattern. The invention includes the balloon, the method of assembling the balloon, and a table (20) specially designed to implement the method. The method can be used to assemble balloons of varying shapes and sizes, with a determinable range of ratios of gore width to gore length. The method involves cutting and sealing edges of a pair of flexible plastic sheets along a straight edge (28) of a table, then inverting the seam so formed until it is aligned with a curved index line (40) on the surface of the table (20). The curved index line (40) is longer than the seam created along the straight edge so stretching is required during inverting. Successively cutting, joining and inverting pairs of sheets in this manner produces a balloon with a plurality of symmetrical gores that give the balloon a predetermined shape when inflated.
Abstract:
The balloon basket (1) of the invention essentially consists of several pneumatic components: an upper ring (2) and a lower ring (3), both preferably segmented, are joined by a number of braces (4). The number of said braces (4) preferably corresponds to the number of corners of the polygonal rings (2, 3) and the number of their segments. Side-wall components (5) are fitted between the rings (2, 3) and the braces (4) in such a way that they seal off the balloon basket (1) laterally as far as holes (7) made therein. A floor (6) is fitted in the lower ring (3). The side-wall components (5) and the floor (8) are double-skinned and consist at least partly of spacer fabric in such a way that the two mating walls of the side-wall components (5) and the floor (6) are held together by a plurality of cables and thus retain their flat form when affected by compressed air.
Abstract:
An inflatable balloon-advertiser (10) having a reflective, mirror-like finish and comprised of two non-elastic thermoplastic sheets (11, 12) heat sealed first along their peripheral edges (13, 14) in the configuration of the balloon-advertiser and then again at a distance from about 1/32 to about 1/2 inches from the first heat seal, the balloon-advertiser having at least one tab-like extension (16) that is provided with an opening through which the balloonadvertiser may be inflated.