US 11,673,674 B2
Evacuation slide having drop stitch inflatable structure
Skandan Berikai Kuppan, Bangalore (IN); Jeffrey Martin Werbelow, Phoenix, AZ (US); Satya Swaroop Panda, Bangalore (IN); and Rohan Rajiv Motewar, Bangalore (IN)
Assigned to Goodrich Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Goodrich Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Dec. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/134,308.
Claims priority of application No. 202041040542 (IN), filed on Sep. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0089290 A1, Mar. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B64D 25/14 (2006.01); B32B 7/09 (2019.01); B32B 5/02 (2006.01); B32B 27/12 (2006.01); B32B 27/30 (2006.01); D03D 11/00 (2006.01); D03D 15/283 (2021.01); D03D 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 25/14 (2013.01) [B32B 5/024 (2013.01); B32B 7/09 (2019.01); B32B 27/12 (2013.01); B32B 27/304 (2013.01); D03D 1/02 (2013.01); D03D 11/00 (2013.01); D03D 15/283 (2021.01); B32B 2262/0284 (2013.01); B32B 2307/7242 (2013.01); D10B 2331/04 (2013.01); D10B 2505/12 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An evacuation slide, comprising:
a first side rail extending from a head end of the evacuation slide to a toe end of the evacuation slide;
a second side rail extending from the head end of the evacuation slide to the toe end of the evacuation slide; and
a sliding structure located between the first side rail and the second side rail, the sliding structure comprising a first drop stitch fabric,
wherein the first drop stitch fabric comprises a first layer, a second layer, and a plurality of drop stitch yarns extending between the first layer and the second layer,
wherein the first layer forms a sliding surface of the evacuation slide,
wherein the first layer comprises a first fabric layer and a first skin attached to the first fabric layer,
wherein the second layer comprises a second fabric layer and a second skin attached to the second fabric layer,
wherein the first layer and the second layer are each woven using yarn woven in two orthogonal yarn directions,
wherein the two orthogonal yarn directions include a warp direction and a weft direction, and
wherein the first skin and the second skin each comprises a gas impermeable material.