US 12,104,672 B2
Inflatable with elastic constraint tethers
Wonhee Michael Kim, Royal Oak, MI (US); Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US); Diann Brei, Milford, MI (US); Jonathan E. Luntz, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Koray Benli, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US); and Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (US)
Filed on May 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/825,218.
Prior Publication US 2023/0383811 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. F16F 9/04 (2006.01)
CPC F16F 9/04 (2013.01) [F16F 2222/126 (2013.01); F16F 2236/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inflatable structure comprising:
a top end cap;
a bottom end cap;
a bladder attached to the top and bottom end caps and configured to hold pressurized air between the top and bottom end caps;
a plurality of tethers disposed within the bladder, each tether in the plurality of tethers having a first end coupled to the top end cap and a second end coupled to the bottom end cap, wherein when the bladder is inflated, the bladder expands axially forcing the top end cap and the bottom end cap away from one another, the plurality of tethers adapted to restrict movement of the top end cap and the bottom end cap away from one another and limit axial expansion of the bladder, at least one of the plurality of tethers having an ultimate length that is different than an ultimate length of the remaining of the plurality of tethers;
wherein, at least one of the plurality of tethers is elastic, and the inflatable structure is adapted to provide multiple support profiles that are capable of supporting compressive loading.