US 12,084,163 B2
Method and apparatus for lighter-than-air airship with improved structure and delivery system
Rinaldo S. Brutoco, Santa Barbara, CA (US); Robert H. Shelton, Santa Barbara, CA (US); and Shawn Merritt, Redondo Beach, CA (US)
Assigned to H2 Clipper, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Filed by H2 Clipper, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/486,615.
Application 18/486,615 is a continuation of application No. 17/848,644, filed on Jun. 24, 2022, granted, now 11,820,482.
Application 17/848,644 is a continuation of application No. 17/350,168, filed on Jun. 17, 2021, granted, now 11,396,356, issued on Jul. 26, 2022.
Application 17/350,168 is a continuation of application No. 17/005,628, filed on Aug. 28, 2020, granted, now 11,066,145, issued on Jul. 20, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0116621 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. B64B 1/08 (2006.01); B64B 1/14 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 10/30 (2023.01); B64U 70/30 (2023.01); B64U 101/20 (2023.01); B64U 101/30 (2023.01)
CPC B64B 1/08 (2013.01) [B64B 1/14 (2013.01); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64U 10/30 (2023.01); B64U 70/30 (2023.01); B64U 2101/20 (2023.01); B64U 2101/30 (2023.01); B64U 2201/10 (2023.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An airship containing a lighter-than-air gas, the airship comprising:
an exoskeleton defined by a plurality of spokes of varying length and a plurality of hubs, each spoke coupled, at opposing ends, to one of the hubs, and each hub coupled to six spokes, wherein the spokes are connected to the hubs to form isosceles triangles between adjacent spokes; and
a skin coupled to the exoskeleton and defining an exterior of the airship; wherein
each hub comprises six separate multi-pronged sockets extending from the center portion of the hub;
each insert comprises a protrusion at a first end adjacent to the center portion of the hub; and
each protrusion is seated within, and hingedly connected to, one of the multi-pronged sockets to hingedly connect the insert to the hub.