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Apparatus for Simulating a High Five

A self-righting hand-arm configuration which is adapted to pivot when struck by a user, thereby simulating a "high five."

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Class 244/31 - Balloons


Subclass of Class 244 - Aeronautics and astronautics
Definition: Aircraft sustained by their buoyancy relative to the air,
No. of patents: 148
Last issue date: 04/12/2011


1        
NumberTitleIssue Date
7922116Device and method for sealing and lighting a balloon
An apparatus for sealing and illuminating a balloon includes a housing for sealing insertion into a neck of a balloon. A flow path within the housing conducts an inflation gas from an inlet to an outlet of the housing, and a flow control system disposed in the flow ...
04/12/2011
7648102Balloonsonde launcher
An automated balloonsonde launcher and a method for an automated balloonsonde launch are disclosed. The automated balloonsonde launcher, for example, may comprise a collapsible protective cover forming an inner region for receiving a balloon, a gas inlet for receivi...
01/19/2010
7571875Device and method for sealing and lighting a balloon
An apparatus for sealing and illuminating a balloon includes a housing for sealing insertion into a neck of a balloon. A flow path within the housing conducts an inflation gas from an inlet to an outlet of the housing, and a flow control system disposed in the flow ...
08/11/2009
7552894Assembly method for tethered or free flight blimp with collapsible tail fins
A lighter than air blimp which has either an aerodynamically shaped or a round envelope of flexible sheet material, and a plurality of stabilizing fins mounted in a circumferentially spaced apart arrangement about the tail end portion of the envelope. The tail fins ...
06/30/2009
7478779Device and method for sealing and lighting a balloon
An apparatus for sealing and illuminating a balloon includes a housing for sealing insertion into a neck of a balloon. A flow path within the housing conducts an inflation gas from an inlet to an outlet of the housing, and a flow control system disposed in the flow ...
01/20/2009
7438261Stratospheric balloon utilizing electrostatic inflation of walls
The high-altitude balloon has a skin made of nearly evacuated electrostatically inflated cells which provide thermal insulation to minimize heat loss from the gas in the balloon, while transmitting heat from the sun to heat the gas. The lower surface of the balloon ...
10/21/2008
7356951Inflatable dancing toy with music
An inflatable toy may include a housing, a balloon-like structure, a blower mechanism, a drive mechanism, and a motor. The balloon-like structure may include a base, an inflatable portion, and an inlet. The base and the inflatable portion may define an air storage a...
04/15/2008
7356390Systems and applications of lighter-than-air (LTA) platforms
Innovative new methods in connection with lighter-than-air (LTA) free floating platforms, of facilitating legal transmitter operation, platform flight termination when appropriate, environmentally acceptable landing, and recovery of these devices are provided. The n...
04/08/2008
7354636Flexible laminate material for lighter-than-air vehicles
A laminate material for lighter-than-air vehicles includes a liquid crystal polymer fiber layer, a polyimide layer secured to the liquid crystal polymer fiber layer; and a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) layer secured to the polyimide layer. The layers are secured to...
04/08/2008
7341224Miniature expendable surveillance balloon system
A miniature surveillance balloon system is described that can be used in military and public safety situations for real-time observations. They are as small as feasibly possible, low-cost and expendable, and typically are deployed in clusters. Balloons may act indiv...
03/11/2008
7334757Airship retrieval system
An airship retrieval system comprises a plurality of aerodynamic pods releasably mounted in suitable locations about the external surface of the airship. Within the pod is a handling or a tether line that is attached at one end to the airship and at the other end to...
02/26/2008
7287723Tethered or free flight blimp with collapsible tail fins
A lighter than air blimp which has either an aerodynamically shaped or a round envelope of flexible sheet material, and a plurality of stabilizing fins mounted in a circumferentially spaced apart arrangement about the tail end portion of the envelope. The tail fins ...
10/30/2007
7284461Colored razor blades
Colored razor blades are provided. Methods for manufacturing such blades are also provided, including methods involving subjecting a blade material to a hardening process; and, during the hardening process, oxidizing the blade material to form an oxide layer on the ...
10/23/2007
7275496Balloonsonde launcher
An automated balloonsonde launcher and a method for an automated balloonsonde launch are disclosed. The automated balloonsonde launcher, for example, may comprise a collapsible protective cover forming an inner region for receiving a balloon, a gas inlet for receivi...
10/02/2007
7213496Illuminated aircraft countermeasures
A countermeasure device for negating a guidance seeking system is provided. The countermeasure device includes a membrane defining an internal chamber, a gas disposed in the chamber, and an illuminating device. The illuminating device includes a light source produci...
05/08/2007
7203491Unmanned lighter-than-air safe termination and recovery methods
Innovative new methods in connection with lighter-than-air free floating platforms, of facilitating legal transmitter operation, platform flight termination when appropriate, environmentally acceptable landing, and recovery of these devices are provided. Especially,...
04/10/2007
7173649Video airship
The video airship is a lighter-than-air airship, preferably spherical, including a video display disposed with substantially all of the craft's outer surface, a nearly invisible computerized electric propulsion-control system, speakers, microphones, video cameras, c...
02/06/2007
7156203Device and method for evacuating persons, for example from a multi-storey building on fire
Device for evacuating persons, for example from a multi-storey building on fire, from an evacuating location to a secure location, comprising: a balloon provided to be filled with a gas lighter than air for moving the balloon between the secure location and the evac...
01/02/2007
7077553Lighted balloons
A balloon apparatus includes a balloon having an inflation opening that can be closed for keeping the balloon inflated. The apparatus also includes a light source inside the balloon, wiring connecting a power source to the light source, and a tube through which the ...
07/18/2006
7055778Apparatus and method for lighter-than-air aircraft
An apparatus and associated method for launching and recovering a lighter-than-air aircraft are provided. The aircraft includes an envelope that is substantially filled before launch with a lift gas and a second gas. The lift gas and second gas are substantially sep...
06/06/2006
7036958Lighting balloon
A lighting balloon is filled with a buoyant gas, such as helium, and carries a light source. To enable the balloon to withstand the rigours of field application and to be rapidly deployable, the light source may be installed in a cage and/or the ballon may be aerody...
05/02/2006
7025304Helicopter messenger cable illumination
An apparatus for illuminating the messenger cable of a helicopter includes a helicopter having a floor and including a RAST system; the RAST system comprising a messenger cable with a connector attached to one end for lowering to a landing deck of a ship, the RAST s...
04/11/2006
7021008Inflatable structure with inflatable interior frame
An inflatable device with an outer inflatable structure, inflatable interior frame, an interior opening and an outer opening. The frame has a plurality of side rods, a center wall, a plurality of interconnected ribs and a plurality of air passages. The interior open...
04/04/2006
6974109Apparatus for sealing and restraining the flexible pressure boundary of an inflatable spacecraft
The present invention provides a sealing and restraint apparatus to establish a pressure boundary for inflatable or expandable spacecraft. The apparatus is capable of connecting the flexible pressure boundary of an inflatable spacecraft to the rigid structure of the...
12/13/2005
6966523Airship and method of operation
An airship has a generally spherical shape and has an internal envelope for containing a lifting gas such as Helium or Hydrogen. The airship has a propulsion and control system that permits it to be flown to a desired loitering location, and to be maintained in that...
11/22/2005
6953194Expandable band and locking mechanism
The expandable band is used to secure a sealing element within a generally cylindrical structure, such as a pipe or manhole, or other round hole. The expandable band includes a band body having a first band end portion and a second band end portion. The first band e...
10/11/2005
6925949Elevated sailing apparatus
An elevated sailing apparatus that includes one or more wings, tethered to a conveyance, and suspended from beneath a streamlined, lighter-than-air blimp. The wings generate both propulsive and lifting forces from the wind. The propulsive force is used to propel a c...
08/09/2005
6811115Method and system for setting hull parameter of airship and method of adjusting ascension rate of the same
A method comprises: launching observation means configured to observe upper air environment immediately before launching an airship to acquire ambient air data on the actual conditions of the upper ambient air including altitude, pressure, wind direction, wind speed...
11/02/2004
6739549Dirigible balloon rigidified by helium tanks
A variable-lift device using a helium to fly. The device comprises a balloon (1) composed of an outer flexible envelope (3) supported by a rigid structure. The rigid structure comprises a plurality of hollow toruses (4) of inside volume that act...
05/25/2004
6698686Airship
A plurality of bulkheads (23a to 23d) are installed in a hull (21) so as to divide the interior space of the hull (21) into a plurality of compartments (ƊS1 to ƊS5) successively arranged along the axis (22) of the hull (21). The compartments (ƊS1 to Ɗ...
03/02/2004
6685136Pressure-resistant balloon
A pressure-resistant balloon includes a gasbag and a volume changing mechanism which deforms the gasbag in a fully inflated state to change a volume of the gasbag. The gasbag includes spindle-shaped gores of an airtight film material, adjacent gores joine...
02/03/2004
6641083Balloon
A balloon comprising an envelope, wherein the envelope has a multilayered structure comprising a gas-impervious sheet, and a liquid absorbent sheet overlaid on the inner surface of the gas-impervious sheet....
11/04/2003
6588702Lighter-than-air device having a flexible usable surface
A lighter-than-air device comprises a buoyant element containing lighter-than-air gas, and a flexible surface having a length and height forming a usable area. The flexible surface has a bottom edge that is not connected to the buoyant element. The length...
07/08/2003
6575403Personnel lift device with automatic ascent and descent control
The present invention is an apparatus to counter normal gravitational force in order to provide a personnel lifting device. The personnel lifting device is a lighter-than-air gas-filled balloon having a harness to suspend a user therefrom. The balloon fur...
06/10/2003
6571815Sun shield
A sun shield uses a canopy that has a plurality of first openings located around its outer periphery and a second centrally located opening. A plurality of first balloons are tethered to the first openings while a second balloon is tethered to a plurality...
06/03/2003
6550413Stabilizer ring for a sea anchor
The present invention is a stabilizer ring for a sea anchor, in particular a parachute sea anchor. The preferred embodiment of the stabilizer ring comprises a ring supporting a domed arch. The domed arch has two arch supports that divide the ring into a p...
04/22/2003
6523778Illuminated emergency signaling device and flying balloon
A process for creating a flying light source including the steps of providing an inflatable balloon and associating a light source therewith. A retaining filament is attached to the inflated balloon. The light source may be a chemiluminescent lighting dev...
02/25/2003
6499695Balloon kite
A balloon kite is formed with a plurality of sized sheets of gas impervious sheet material that form one or more fillable interior chambers. The balloon kite is capable of being flown and deployed in the presence or absence of a critical level of wind. Wh...
12/31/2002
6422506Towed airborne array system
A towed airborne array system has a balloon that supports appropriate instrumentation packages overhead and is tethered to a towing ship to improve line-of-sight sensing and communication capabilities to up to about 100 nautical miles. These improved capa...
07/23/2002
6402090Balloon trajectory control system
A device to provide control of the trajectory of a lighter than air vehicle, such as a balloon, is provided. A lifting device, such as a wing on end, is suspended on a tether well below the balloon to take advantage of the natural variation in winds at di...
06/11/2002
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