U.S. patent application number 10/926839 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-14 for material mover having a fluid film reservoir.
This patent application is currently assigned to Gray Tek, Inc.. Invention is credited to Johnson, Raynor A..
Application Number | 20050076437 10/926839 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32313036 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050076437 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnson, Raynor A. |
April 14, 2005 |
Material mover having a fluid film reservoir
Abstract
A material mover includes substantially rectangular top and
bottom sheets connected to perimeter side walls. The width of the
bottom sheet which is perforated with orifices at least in a
central portion, is greater than the width of the top sheet at
least in middle and lower regions of the top and bottom sheets. A
plurality of partition members connect at least portions of the top
and bottom sheets to one another, and extend parallel with lateral
edges of the top and bottom sheets and are spaced in from the
perimeter side walls. A fluid weir is defined at an outer periphery
of the bottom sheet to provide a fluid film reservoir under at
least the central portion of the bottom sheet having the plurality
of orifices formed therein. The dispersion of the fluid from
underneath the material mover is inhibited by the fluid weir.
Inventors: |
Johnson, Raynor A.; (Newark,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BURR & BROWN
PO BOX 7068
SYRACUSE
NY
13261-7068
US
|
Assignee: |
Gray Tek, Inc.
Newark
DE
|
Family ID: |
32313036 |
Appl. No.: |
10/926839 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10926839 |
Aug 26, 2004 |
|
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PCT/US03/35709 |
Nov 10, 2003 |
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60425673 |
Nov 12, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
5/81.1R |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 7/16 20130101; B60V
1/06 20130101; B66F 3/35 20130101; B65G 7/06 20130101; A61G 7/1021
20130101; A61G 7/1028 20130101; A61G 7/103 20130101; A61G 2200/32
20130101; B60P 7/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
005/081.10R |
International
Class: |
A61G 007/10 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A disposable air mattress configured for single patient use, the
air mattress comprising: a first longitudinal air distribution
channel; a second longitudinal air distribution channel positioned
in laterally spaced relation to the first air distribution channel;
and a plurality of laterally extending air tunnels, the air tunnels
positioned adjacent to and parallel with each other, each of the
air tunnels including opposing first and second ends, the first end
of at least some of the air tunnels configured to be in
communication with the first longitudinal air distribution channel
and the second end of at least some of the air tunnels configured
to be in communication with the second longitudinal air
distribution channel, wherein the first longitudinal air
distribution channel, the second longitudinal air distribution
channel, and the air tunnels being formed of polymeric sheet
material configured to be incinerated without releasing toxic
gases.
2. The air mattress of claim 1, further comprising an air source
coupled to the first longitudinal air distribution channel and the
second longitudinal air distribution channel.
3. The air mattress of claim 1, wherein the polymeric sheet
material comprises a polyolefin film.
4. An air mattress, comprising: a fluid weir; and a plurality of
laterally extending partition members surrounded by said fluid
weir, said partition members positioned adjacent to and parallel
with one another and including first and second ends, said first
end of at least one of said partition members being configured to
be in communication with said air weir, and said second end of at
least one of said partition members being configured to be in
communication with said air weir, wherein said fluid weir and said
partition members being defined by a polymeric sheet material.
5. The air mattress of claim 4, further comprising an air source
coupled to said fluid weir.
6. The air mattress of claim 4, wherein said polymeric sheet
material comprises a polyolefin film.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/US2003/035709, having an international filing
date of Nov. 10, 2003, which designated the United States, and
which in turn claims the benefit under 35 USC .sctn. 19(e) of U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/425,673, filed Nov. 12, 2002,
the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to a fluid-elevated
material mover, and more particularly to a fluid-elevated material
mover providing enhanced control of a fluid film contained
underneath the material mover, at least at a central portion
thereof, to facilitate easy transfer of a wide variety of
objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The need to translocate objects without damaging the object
or the transfer surfaces, while conserving electric power and
manpower resources, spans the gamut of practical applications. From
industrial to medical settings, it is often extremely difficult to
easily and practically move an object, even with the aid of a
transfer device to assist in the transport.
[0004] The range of applications desiring an improved transport
device is vast. Examples of objects which require occasional,
careful and economically feasible transport include artistic
sculptures or other museum exhibits, and large animals, examples of
which are horses, cattle, deer or elephants, in need of medical
attention at farms, zoos, conservation sites or veterinary
hospitals. Moving objects in the shipping industry such as, for
example, transferring loads from shipping vessels, which include
air, truck and cargo ship freight, to storage facilities (e.g.,
warehouses, docks) is yet another application in which it would be
highly desirable to employ an improved transfer mechanism having
decreased electric power consumption requirements.
[0005] One application example includes moving persons, such as
accident victims, the elderly, or comatose, paralyzed or otherwise
immobilized patients, who are frequently difficult to transfer or
move in a safe, comfortable manner from one support surface, such
as a bed, to another support surface, such as a gurney or wheeled
hospital cart. Patients who cannot by themselves sit up or move can
be particularly difficult to move from a stretcher to a bed or vice
versa, and repositioning such patients frequently requires two or
three nurses, orderlies or other attendants.
[0006] Prior art patient transfer devices frequently take the form
of "floating" or air-elevated air mattress-type movers. Examples of
such air mattress-type movers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,073,291 issued to David T. Davis on Jun. 13, 2000 and entitled
"INFLATABLE MEDICAL PATIENT TRANSFER APPARATUS" and U.S. Pat. No.
5,561,873 issued to Robert E. Weedling on Oct. 8, 1996 and entitled
"AIR CHAMBER-TYPE PATIENT MOVER AIR PALLET WITH MULTIPLE CONTROL
FEATURES," the entireties of which are incorporated herein by
reference. These air mattress-type transfer devices include small
perforations in the bottom and are inflated with air to obtain and
at least temporarily maintain the mattress in an inflated state.
During such inflation, a continuous supply of pressurized air is
expelled from the bottom of the transfer device through the
perforations to form an air film which supports the inflated
transfer device or mat on any reasonably flat, semi-continuous
surface, in the same manner as an air pallet used for industrial
applications within shops and plants.
[0007] The prior art inflatable transfer devices operate by
continuously supplying enough air under pressure into a plenum
chamber, which is defined by the transfer structure itself, to
maintain inflation of the plenum chamber. A serious drawback of
such prior art inflatable transfer devices is that there is no way
of controlling the air which exits perforations in the bottom of
the transfer apparatus. As such, the air blowers used to inflate
these types of inflatable transfer structures tend to inefficiently
consume relatively large amounts of electric power during use,
because no attempt has been made to control or inhibit the random
dispersion of the air film expelled from underneath the bottom
portion of the transfer apparatus. That is, since the air film
dissipates at a high and steady rate, a relatively large amount of
electric power is required to drive the blower to maintain
inflation of the plenum chamber.
[0008] FIG. 2 of the '291 patent appears to show that outer
peripheral portions 17a-17c of bottom sheet 17 are raised or
elevated with respect to central portion 17x. This, however, is
merely an artist's rendition of the mat when it is free-standing.
The outer peripheral portions of the bottom sheet are not raised or
elevated with respect to a central portion when the transfer
apparatus is put into actual use. For example, the '291 patent
discloses that when the transfer apparatus is resting on a more or
less level surface as in actual use, the bottom also assumes a more
or less planar configuration and the raised side portions of the
top become even more pronounced (as is clear from the views of the
transfer apparatus shown in FIGS. 5-7 of the '291 patent).
Consequently, the '291 patent provides no structure that actually
controls the rate of air film dispersion from underneath the
transfer apparatus, and thus, increased operating costs result from
the higher demand for electric power, which is needed to operate
the air blower used to drive the transfer apparatus and to
counter-balance the high and steady rate of air film dissipation
from underneath the transfer apparatus.
[0009] In addition to the lack of control over the fluid film
randomly expelled from the plenum chamber, prior art inflatable
transfer apparatuses are plagued by plenum chamber air loss due to
the effects of certain types of stresses, such as stress from
maintaining the plenum chamber in an inflated state or vertical or
lateral pulling stresses, being placed on the stitched seam lines,
which connect the various sheets of the transfer device. FIG. 9
illustrates such a prior art seam line structure in which portions
of top sheet 100 and bottom sheet 200 are folded under to form a
double layer of top and bottom sheets 100 and 200, respectively,
and the double layers are placed parallel to one another and
stitched to form the seam line junction. Due to the stretching
motion imposed on the sheets during inflation of the mattress, a
separation or gap between top sheet 100 and bottom sheet 200 tends
to develop during use. Air loss from the plenum chamber through
such separations or gaps in the seam lines yields an even more
inefficient transfer apparatus due to even a higher level of
electric power required by the blower unit to maintain an inflated
plenum chamber. The cumulative effect between air loss through the
seam lines and lack of air retention beneath the air mattress not
only negatively affects the safe and easy transfer of an object
using the transfer apparatus, but also requires a relatively high
power blower that is more costly, bulky and disadvantageously
consumes a large amount of electricity.
[0010] Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide a
material mover employing a structure for obtaining and maintaining
a fluid film reservoir beneath a bottom portion of the material
mover, in addition to providing an improved, fluid retaining seam
line junction between the sheets forming the material mover.
[0011] Yet another problem associated with prior art air
mattress-type movers is that the air inlet for receiving the hose
from the blower is positioned in the side wall of the air mattress,
typically at the head-end. Although some prior art movers include
air inlets at both sides of the head-end in an effort to improve
access, it is still often inconvenient to connect the blower hose
to the air mattress at this location. Specifically, since the
blower hose typically will extend perpendicularly out of the air
mattress, substantial clearance must be provided at the side of the
air mattress to allow this connection.
[0012] In addition, the blower hose is usually simply inserted into
the air inlet in the side of the air mattress, without any means
for retaining the hose in the air mattress. If there is a sudden
shift of the load on the air mattress, or if the patient is obese,
there is the possibility that the blower hose will be forced back
out of the air mattress due to the increased air pressure within
the air mattress plenum chamber. If the blower is of sufficient
power, the loose blower hose flailing about could cause a
significant threat of injury to the patient or the medical
personnel operating the air mattress.
[0013] In view of the foregoing, it would also be desirable to
provide an improved connection mechanism between the air mattress
and the blower hose that is both more convenient and safe to
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the
drawbacks of the prior art.
[0015] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
a material mover includes a plenum chamber, which is divided into a
plurality of smaller, open-ended chambers through the use of
partition members, defined by substantially rectangular top and
bottom sheets, and perimeter side walls connecting the top and
bottom sheets. Easy, safe and efficient movement of a load placed
upon the material mover is achieved by controlling the dispersion
of a fluid film formed under the material mover, which is formed by
fluid exiting from a plurality of orifices in the bottom sheet.
Specifically, a fluid film weir is provided along the bottom
periphery of the material mover to inhibit the escape of the fluid
film from underneath the material mover. The fluid film weir
effectively defines a fluid reservoir under the material mover for
maintaining the position of the fluid film and preventing the fluid
from randomly and easily escaping from underneath the material
mover. Accordingly, by maintaining and controlling a sufficient
fluid film beneath a portion of the material mover, substantially
less manual effort and electric power is required to move the
load.
[0016] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the material mover includes a substantially rectangular
top sheet having longitudinal and lateral edges, and upper, middle
and lower regions. A substantially rectangular bottom sheet
includes longitudinal and lateral edges, and upper, middle and
lower regions. The bottom sheet has a greater width than a width of
the top sheet at least in the middle and lower regions of the top
and bottom sheets. A portion of the bottom sheet is perforated with
a plurality of orifices at least in a central portion thereof.
[0017] Perimeter side walls connect at least portions of the
longitudinal edges of the top and bottom sheets to one another. The
perimeter side walls have a lesser height than the height of the
partition members along at least a portion of the longitudinal
edges of the top and bottom sheets. The perimeter side walls
preferably extend along substantially the entire length of the
longitudinal edges in the middle region of each of the top and
bottom sheets. A plurality of partition members connect at least
portions of the top and bottom sheets to one another. The partition
members extend generally parallel with the lateral edges of the top
and bottom sheets and are spaced from the perimeter side walls. A
fluid weir is defined along an outer periphery of the bottom sheet
to provide a fluid film reservoir under at least the central
portion of the bottom sheet having the plurality of orifices. The
fluid weir advantageously inhibits the dispersion of the fluid film
from underneath the central portion of the bottom sheet.
Accordingly, the fluid exiting the orifices in the bottom sheet is
retained for a longer duration within the fluid film reservoir,
thus enhancing the performance and efficiency of the material
mover.
[0018] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, a seam line junction is formed between any one of the
top sheet, the bottom sheet and the perimeter side walls. The seam
line junction between the top and bottom sheets includes an end
portion of the top sheet being folded over an end portion of the
bottom sheet and looped around a terminal end of the bottom sheet,
such that a terminal end of the top sheet is interposed between a
region of the end portion of the bottom sheet and the terminal end
of the bottom sheet.
[0019] Preferably, the seam line junction between the top and
bottom sheets and the perimeter side walls includes end portions of
any one of the top and bottom sheets being folded over an end
portion of the perimeter side walls and looped around a terminal
end of the perimeter side walls. The terminal ends of the top and
bottom sheets are interposed between portions of the end portion of
the perimeter side walls and the terminal end of the perimeter side
walls.
[0020] In this manner, the seam line junction between the sheets of
the material mover is reinforced and does not easily separate due
to stretching motion imposed on the sheets during inflation of the
mattress. Accordingly, the fluid retaining seam line junction
allows for the use of a relatively lower power blower because air
loss at the seam lines is prevented.
[0021] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present
invention, a fluid inlet arrangement includes at least one
fastener, such as, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener (e.g.,
Velcro.RTM.) or a mating surface for a snap-button, positioned on
an upper surface portion of the substantially rectangular top
sheet. The hook-and-loop fastener includes a first mating surface
having a fluid inlet orifice located in a portion thereof and a
second mating surface corresponding to the first mating surface to
provide a flap covering for the first mating surface. The first and
second mating surfaces can also include a mating surface for a
snap-button and a corresponding snap-button, respectively, in
addition to or in place of the hook and loop fastener. The first
mating surface also corresponds to a hook-and-loop fastener and/or
snap-button fastener mating surface of a coupler from a fluid
provider system to provide coupling between the fluid inlet orifice
of the first mating surface and the hook-and-loop and/or
snap-button fastener mating surface of the coupler from the fluid
provider system.
[0022] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, a material mover for transferring a load includes a
substantially rectangular top sheet having longitudinal and lateral
edges, and upper, middle and lower regions. A substantially
rectangular bottom sheet has longitudinal and lateral edges, and
upper, middle and lower regions. The bottom sheet has a greater
width than a width of the top sheet at least in the middle and
lower regions of the top and bottom sheets. A portion of the bottom
sheet is perforated with a plurality of orifices at least within
the mass of the footprint of the load.
[0023] Perimeter side walls connect at least portions of the
longitudinal edges of the top and bottom sheets to one another. A
plurality of partition members connect at least portions of the top
and bottom sheets to one another. The partition members extend
generally parallel with the lateral edges of the top and bottom
sheets and are spaced from the perimeter side walls.
[0024] A fluid weir is defined along an outer periphery of the
bottom sheet to provide a fluid film reservoir under at least the
central portion of the bottom sheet having the plurality of
orifices. The dispersion of the fluid film from underneath the
central portion of the bottom sheet is advantageously inhibited by
the fluid weir.
[0025] At least one fastener, such as, for example, a hook-and-loop
and/or snap-button fastener, is positioned on a side surface
portion of the material mover. The hook-and-loop and/or snap-button
fastener includes a first mating surface having a fluid inlet
orifice located in a portion thereof and a second mating surface
corresponding to the first mating surface provides a flap adaptable
to cover the first mating surface. The first mating surface
corresponds to a hook-and-loop and/or snap-button fastener mating
surface of a coupler from a fluid provider system to provide
coupling between the fluid inlet orifice of the first mating
surface and the coupler.
[0026] Providing a fastener on a side surface portion of the
material mover allows the material mover to easily function as a
means for jacking a load positioned thereon to a desired height.
For example, the material mover, having a patient placed thereon,
can be positioned adjacent to a bed mattress and inflated to
elevate the patient to an appropriate height for safely
transferring the patient from the material mover onto the bed
mattress.
[0027] The fluid inlet arrangement can be positioned on portions of
the side or the upper surface of the material mover. Preferably,
the fluid inlet arrangement is positioned only on the upper surface
portion of the material mover.
[0028] Since at least one fluid inlet orifice is provided on the
surface of the top sheet, attachment and detachment of the fluid
provider system can be accomplished in the Z-axis direction of the
material mover. This "top sheet only" arrangement of the fluid
inlet orifice eliminates the requirement of (and drawbacks
associated with) connecting/disconnecting the fluid provider system
to a port located on a side surface of the material mover.
Accordingly, the ability to attach/detach the fluid provider system
to inlet orifices in the Z-axis direction advantageously allows for
attachment/detachment in tight or cramped conditions, such as at an
accident scene, small cargo container or the like, where it may be
practically difficult or even impossible to access the side
portions of the material mover.
[0029] In addition, by using a fastener at the junction between the
fluid provider coupler and the fluid inlet of the material mover,
safety is enhanced by assuring a secure connection between the
fluid provider and the material mover.
[0030] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, a fluid mattress for supporting a patient includes a
substantially rectangular top sheet having longitudinal and lateral
edges, and upper, middle and lower regions, and a substantially
rectangular bottom sheet having longitudinal and lateral edges, and
upper, middle and lower regions. The top sheet has a greater width
than a width of the bottom sheet at least in the middle and lower
regions of the top and bottom sheets. A portion of the top sheet is
perforated with a plurality of orifices through which fluid exits
to provide therapy to the patient. The orifices are located at
least in a central portion of the top sheet. A patient restraint is
defined by the extra width of the top sheet along an outer
periphery of the top sheet to facilitate keeping the patient
centered on the fluid mattress.
[0031] Perimeter side walls connect at least portions of the
longitudinal edges of the top and bottom sheets to one another. A
plurality of partition members connect at least portions of the top
and bottom sheets to one another. The partition members extend
generally parallel with the lateral edges of the top and bottom
sheets and are spaced from the perimeter side walls.
[0032] Providing orifices in the top sheet of the fluid mattress
suppresses decubitis ulcer formation because a fluid film exists
between the patient and the upper surface of the fluid mattress.
Accordingly, the fluid film lessens the severity of damage
occurring at pressure areas on the patient's body, which often
occur on bony prominences and cause, for example, sacral
decubitus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be made to the following detailed
description read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an inflated material
mover according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line B-B of the
material mover of FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of the
material mover of FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 4 is a top view of an uninflated material mover
according to the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 5 is bottom view of the material mover of FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a fold-over seam line
junction between top, bottom and perimeter side wall sheets of the
material mover according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0040] FIG. 7 is a top view of a fluid inlet arrangement according
to the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the coupling
between a fluid provider and the fluid inlet arrangement of FIG. 7;
and
[0042] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a conventionally known
seam line junction between two sheets of an inflatable transport
apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0043] FIGS. 1-3 show a material mover 10 that includes a plenum
chamber 302 (seen more clearly in FIG. 3), from which a fluid, such
as air, oil, water or the like, exits through a plurality of
orifices 207 to produce a fluid film 303 underneath at least a
central portion of material mover 10. The plenum chamber 302 is
defined by substantially rectangular top and bottom sheets 100 and
200, respectively, and perimeter side walls 107 connecting portions
of the top and bottom sheets to one another.
[0044] FIGS. 4 and 5 show that portions of longitudinal edges 102
of top sheet 100 are connected to perimeter side walls 107, which,
in turn, are connected to portions of longitudinal edges 201 of
bottom sheet 200. The perimeter side walls 107 extend substantially
the entire longitudinal length of lower and middle regions 106 and
105, respectively, of top sheet 100, and lower and middle regions
203 and 204, respectively, of bottom sheet 200. Lateral edges 103
are located in upper region 104 and lower region 106 of top sheet
100 and are connected to lateral edges 202 in upper region 205 and
lower region 203 of bottom sheet 200. In this manner, plenum
chamber 302 is defined by top sheet 100, bottom sheet 200 and
perimeter side walls 107.
[0045] A plurality of partition members 108, which form a plurality
of smaller, open-ended chambers in the interior of plenum chamber
302, connect at least portions of top and bottom sheets 100 and
200, respectively, to one another, along seam lines 108a and 108b,
respectively. The partition members 108, which extend parallel with
respect to lateral edges 103 of top sheet 100 and lateral edges 202
of bottom sheet 200, are spaced from perimeter side walls 107, as
seen most clearly in FIG. 2. Partition members 108 have a height
that is greater than the height of perimeter side walls 107, again,
as seen most clearly in FIG. 2.
[0046] Bottom sheet 200 provides a surface from which a fluid is
expelled to create a fluid film reservoir 301 (seen most clearly in
FIG. 3) between a portion of bottom sheet 200 and a surface over
which material mover 10 is to be moved. At least a central portion
206 of bottom sheet 200 is perforated with a plurality of orifices
207 (seen more clearly in FIG. 5) to provide openings in bottom
sheet 200 from which fluid exits. Accordingly, the fluid film
accumulates to form fluid film reservoir 301 between central
portion 206 of bottom sheet 200 and the surface over which the
material mover, having a load or object positioned thereon, is to
be moved.
[0047] To control or inhibit the dispersion of the fluid film
expelled from plenum chamber 302, a fluid weir 300 is defined at an
outer periphery of bottom sheet 200 and surrounds central portion
206 of bottom sheet 200. No orifices are provided in the outer
peripheral portion of bottom sheet 200 defining fluid weir 300. The
provision of fluid weir 300 is made possible because bottom sheet
200 has a greater width than the width of top sheet 100, at least
in lower and middle regions 203 and 204, respectively. As fluid
exits orifices 207 in central portion 206 of bottom sheet 200,
fluid film reservoir 301 is created and maintained due to the
entrapment of fluid under at least central portion 206 of bottom
sheet 200. That is, fluid weir 300 provides a physical structure
which inhibits the dispersion of fluid from underneath central
portion 206 of bottom sheet 200.
[0048] The inventor discovered that by providing fluid weir 300 to
control the rate that the fluid film disperses from underneath the
central portion of material mover 10, substantially less air blower
power, in addition to a decrease in pulling efforts, manually or
automated, is required to translocate a load or object placed on
the material mover. In addition, material mover 10 can be easily
adapted to move heavier loads, such as, for example, an obese
patient, by increasing the lateral dimension of the fluid weir.
This is accomplished by adding material to lateral edges 103 and
202 of top and bottom sheets 100 and 200, respectively, while
maintaining the other dimensional relationships between the top and
bottom sheets, the perimeter side walls and the partition members.
That is, the partition members have a greater height than the
height of the perimeter side walls and the width of the bottom
sheet remains larger than the width of the top sheet.
[0049] FIGS. 4 and 5 show that load securing straps 109 extend
parallel with lateral edges 103 across the surface of top sheet 100
to furnish a mechanism by which the load can safely be secured on
the surface of top sheet 100. One end of each load securing strap
109 is securely fixed to material mover 10 by being attached
between the seam line (e.g., seam line junction 400 shown in FIG.
6) joining top sheet 100 and bottom sheet 200.
[0050] Load pulling straps 110 and 111 are provided to supply
gripping members for pulling material mover 10 over the terrain
which the load is to be transported. Load pulling straps 110
provided in middle region 105 of top sheet 100 have two ends of a
loop-type structure attached between the seam line joining top
sheet 100 and perimeter side wall 107. Load pulling straps 111
formed in upper region 104 and lower region 106 of top sheet 100
and upper region 205 and lower region 203 of bottom sheet 200 have
one end of a loop-type structure attached between the seam line
joining top sheet 100 and perimeter side walls 107, and an opposite
end of the loop-type structure is attached between the seam line
joining perimeter side walls 107 and bottom sheet 200.
[0051] With reference to FIG. 6, a fold over seam line junction 400
is used between any one of top sheet 100, bottom sheet 200 and
perimeter side walls 107. FIG. 6 is exemplary of seam line junction
400 in existence between longitudinal and/or lateral edges of top
and bottom sheets 100 and 200, respectively (only a single seam
line is present along lateral edges 103 and 202). An end portion
401 of top sheet 100 is folded over an end portion 402 of bottom
sheet 200, and is looped around terminal end portion 403 of bottom
sheet 200. In this manner, portions of end portion 402 of bottom
sheet 200 are sandwiched between folded over portions of end
portion 401 of top sheet 100. A terminal end portion 404 of top
sheet 100 is interposed between a portion of end portion 402 and
terminal end portion 403 of bottom sheet 200.
[0052] FIG. 7 shows that a fluid inlet arrangement 500 includes at
least one inflatable chamber between substantially rectangular top
and bottom sheets having lateral and longitudinal edges. Fluid
inlet arrangement 500 includes at least one fastener, such as a
hook-and-loop fastener 501 (e.g., Velcro.RTM.) positioned on a
portion of substantially rectangular top sheet 508. A fluid inlet
orifice 503 is located in a portion of a first mating surface 502
and corresponds to a second mating surface 505 of flap covering
504, which provides a closure for first mating surface 502 and
fluid inlet orifice 503. The first and second mating surfaces 502
and 505, respectively, can also include other fastener structures,
such as, for example, a snap-button mating structure.
[0053] The fluid inlet first mating surface 502 corresponds to a
fluid provider system hook-and-loop fastener mating surface 506 to
provide easy coupling between fluid inlet orifice 503 and an
opening of fluid providing coupler 507, which is positioned on a
portion of fluid provider hook-and-loop fastener mating surface
506. This quick coupling mechanism between fluid inlet arrangement
500 and the fluid provider system (not shown), an example of which
is disclosed in copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 60/425,674, entitled "FLUID PROVIDER ASSEMBLY AND PORTABLE
FLUID PROVIDER SYSTEM INCLUDING SAME," filed on Nov. 12, 2002
(Attorney Docket No. 877.sub.--022), the entirety of which is
incorporated herein by reference, provides efficient and secure
attaching and detaching of the fluid provider system from fluid
inlet arrangement 500. Similar to the fluid inlet arrangement first
and second mating surfaces discussed above, the fluid provider
system fastener mating surface can be a snap-button mating surface
corresponding to the fluid inlet first mating surface on the
material mover.
[0054] The individual components of the invention as described
above may be formed from a variety of known materials. For example,
top and bottom sheets 100 and 200, respectively, and perimeter side
walls 107 can be formed from any flexible, non-permeable material,
for example 2-3 mm plastic (e.g., polyethylene), tyvek and coated
nylon. Partition members 108 can be formed from the same materials
used to form the top and bottom sheets and the perimeter side
walls, except that partition members 108 are not required to be
impermeable. Load securing and load pulling straps 109 and 110,
respectively, can be formed from any relatively inelastic
material.
[0055] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to the drawings, it will be understood by
one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be
effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the claims.
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