US 11,807,350 B2
Multi-layer bladder construct
Peter G. Berrang, Sidney (CA); and Richard K. Myerscough, Victoria (CA)
Filed by ALUULA COMPOSITES INC., Victoria (CA)
Filed on Jul. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/389,670.
Application 17/389,670 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/499,933, granted, now 11,084,560, previously published as PCT/CA2018/050529, filed on May 3, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/509,415, filed on May 22, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0354802 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B63H 9/067 (2020.01); B32B 5/02 (2006.01); B32B 27/36 (2006.01); B32B 7/022 (2019.01); B32B 1/08 (2006.01); D03D 1/02 (2006.01); D03D 3/02 (2006.01); B32B 27/12 (2006.01)
CPC B63H 9/0678 (2020.02) [B32B 1/08 (2013.01); B32B 5/024 (2013.01); B32B 7/022 (2019.01); B32B 27/12 (2013.01); B32B 27/36 (2013.01); D03D 1/02 (2013.01); D03D 3/02 (2013.01); B32B 2250/24 (2013.01); B32B 2262/02 (2013.01); B32B 2307/51 (2013.01); B32B 2307/518 (2013.01); B32B 2597/00 (2013.01); D10B 2507/04 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-layer bladder construct, comprising:
a non-stretchable outer covering having an inner surface, the outer covering is comprised of a woven polymer fabric having a warp direction and a weft direction;
a stretchable inner bladder having an outer surface, the inner bladder being comprised of a bi-axially oriented polymer film having opposed sides, the polymer film having a film machine direction and a film transverse direction orthogonal to the film machine direction, the polymer film having an elastic expansion range within which the inner bladder expands outwardly and then returns to it's uninflated size after inflation;
a sealing layer bonded to at least one of the opposed sides of the polymer film forming the inner bladder, thereby making the inner bladder heat sealable to itself to make it air-tight;
wherein one of the film machine direction or the film transverse direction of the polymer film forming the inner bladder is aligned with one of the warp direction or the weft direction of the woven polymer fabric forming the outer covering;
wherein a surface area of the outer surface of the inner bladder is smaller than a surface area of the inner surface of the outer covering, such that, upon inflation, the inner bladder stretches and expands outwardly within the elastic expansion range until the outer surface of the inner bladder engages the inner surface of the outer covering, whereby a portion of tensile force loading on the outer covering is shared with the inner bladder; and
wherein a stretchable flexible film is incorporated into the inner bladder in at least one selected location, the stretchable flexible film having an elastic expansion range which is greater that the elastic expansion range of the remainder of the inner bladder.