Positive Inner Bladder Locator for Inflatables

Abstract

A positive locating patch system and method, and associated structure, is disclosed for maintaining a positive location between respective outer covers and inner bladders which combine to create an inflatable structure or object. The locking patches are respectively attached to inner surfaces of an outer cover for an inflatable that are positioned in an opposed manner to cooperating patches located on the outer surfaces of the inner bladder. Once these respective opposed patches are associated by face-to-face contact, the respective outer cover and inner bladder of the inflatable maintain an approximate alignment such that inflation and deflation of the inflatable are readily achieved owing to consistent access to the bladder gas valve inside the outer cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A positive location system for maintaining alignment of an outer cover and an inner bladder of an inflatable object, comprising:
 a first patch of a fastener attached to an outer surface of said inner bladder proximate a cuff structure of a gas valve associated with said inner bladder;   a second patch of a complementary cooperating fastener attached to an inner surface of said outer cover opposed to the position of the first patch when said inner bladder is positioned within said outer cover, wherein when the inflatable object is inflated, the first and second patches make contact during inflation, owing to air rising pressure within the inner bladder, and establish a positive alignment and attachment between said first and second patches and when the object is thereafter deflated, the inner bladder and outer cover maintain such attachment and alignment in the location of the first and second patches.   
     
     
         2 . A location system as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third patch attached to said inner bladder remote from said cuff structure, and a fourth patch attached to said inner surface of said outer cover in a position opposed to said third patch.   
     
     
         3 . A location system as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said fourth patch attachment to said outer cover is a flexible attachment and enables movement between said fourth patch and third patch with respect to said outer cover.   
     
     
         4 . A location system as in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said flexible attachment is a pair of complimentary loops wherein a first one of said loops is discontinuous and is looped into an opposed second loop of said loops.   
     
     
         5 . A location system as in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said discontinuous loop is a pair of small diameter tie elements.   
     
     
         6 . A method of providing positive location and alignment between an outer cover and an inner bladder of an inflatable object, comprising the steps of:
 providing said inner bladder equipped with a cuff structure including an inflation gas valve;   attaching a first positive location patch to an outer surface of said bladder proximate said cuff structure;   providing an outer cover surrounding and containing said inner bladder and including a through passage for accessing said cuff structure;   attaching a second positive location patch to an inner surface of said outer cover proximate said through passage and opposing said first patch when said respective through passage and said cuff structure are aligned;   inflating said bladder to force contact between said outer surface and inner surface and contact between said first and second patches thereby attaching said first and second patches.   
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 6 , wherein:
 prior to said inflating step, attaching a third patch attached to said inner bladder remote from said cuff structure, and attaching a fourth patch attached to said inner surface of said outer cover in a position opposed to said third patch.   
     
     
         8 . An inflatable object equipped with a positive location structure for maintaining the relative position of an outer cover and an inner bladder of the inflatable object, comprising:
 an inflatable inner bladder, having an inflation cuff including a gas valve;   an outer cover enveloping and surrounding said inner bladder, having a through passage for aligning with and enabling access to said inflation cuff;   a first patch of a fastener attached to an outer surface of the inner bladder proximate said cuff structure associated with the inner bladder;   a second patch, comprising a complementary cooperating fastener to said first patch fastener, attached to an inner surface of said outer cover opposed to the position of the first patch when said inner bladder is positioned within said outer cover, wherein when the inflatable object is inflated, the first and second patches make contact owing to rising pressure within the inner bladder and establish a positive alignment between said first and second patches and when the object is thereafter deflated, the inner bladder and outer cover maintain attachment and alignment in the location of the first and second patches.   
     
     
         9 . An inflatable object, as in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a third patch attached to said inner bladder remote from said cuff structure, and a fourth patch attached to said inner surface of said outer cover in a position opposed to said third patch.   
     
     
         10 . An inflatable object, as in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said fourth patch attachment to said outer cover is a flexible attachment and enables movement between said fourth patch and third patch with respect to said outer cover.   
     
     
         11 . An inflatable object, as in  claim 10  wherein:
 said flexible attachment is a pair of complimentary loops wherein a first one of said loops is discontinuous and is looped into an opposed loop. 
 
     
     
         12 . An inflatable object, as in  claim 11  wherein:
 said discontinuous loop is a pair of small diameter tie elements.