Patents Assigned to Air Cruisers Company, LLC
-
Patent number: 11964463Abstract: Air-holding fabrics and improvements to reinforced tape used to join multiple fabric panels. Specifically disclosed is a joining system and method for securing two air-holding panels to one another, while eliminating air leakage through the seam tape. The disclosed reinforced tapes find particular use in connection with evacuation slides, evacuation slide/rafts, life rafts, life vests, and other life-saving inflatable devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2019Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: AIR CRUISERS COMPANY, LLCInventors: Christian W. Thomson, Thomas W. Swierkocki
-
Patent number: 11890821Abstract: Air- or gas-holding fabrics and improvements to welded seam tapes used to join multiple fabric panels and/or to join accessories to one or more fabric panels. Specifically disclosed is a joining system and method for securing air- or gas-holding panels to one another and/or to joining accessories to one or more panels without causing damage due to overheating the seam area. This disclosure has been found particularly useful with improved lightweight fabrics that would otherwise be more susceptible to damage during welding processes. The disclosed seam tapes and accessory fabrics find particular use in connection with inflatable devices, but may be used in other applications. This disclosure relates to a dedicated seam tape or dedicated accessory fabric that (a) utilizes specialized coatings with a lower melt temperature compared to coatings that are used on inflatable fabric material and/or (b) is manufactured from material that has not been treated to have substantial reflective properties.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: AIR CRUISERS COMPANY, LLCInventor: Deepak Duggal
-
Patent number: 11780186Abstract: Methods for fabricating inflatable devices made from air- or gas-holding fabrics. Specific embodiments relate to seam tapes, films, structural components or accessories welded to one or more fabric panels. Specifically disclosed is a fabrication system and method that reduces potential damage due to overheating seam areas. This disclosure has been found particularly useful with improved lightweight fabrics that would otherwise be susceptible to damage during welding processes.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2019Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: AIR CRUISERS COMPANY, LLCInventors: Thomas W. Swierkocki, Christian W. Thomson, Stanley J. Pawlowski, Jr, Sean M. Blazick
-
Patent number: 11767088Abstract: Systems to prevent water ingestion during use of an electrically powered inflation system for an inflatable device in order to ensure that the inflatable device remains either upright in the water during the inflation process, or that prevents water from entering the inflation system air intake during the inflation process, or combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2019Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: AIR CRUISERS COMPANY, LLCInventors: Christian W. Thomson, Thomas W. Swierkocki
-
Patent number: 11390392Abstract: A lighting system for use with evacuation systems for aircraft during emergency situations. The lighting system has a chasing or running light rhythm that provides the image of lights moving down the system to help provide clarity to the evacuees about the direction of descent.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: AIR CRUISERS COMPANY, LLCInventors: Thomas A. Jurlina, Kelly Svihla, Robert W. Hentges
-
Patent number: 11287088Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for controlling the temperature of inflatable evacuation systems. Specific examples provide a system that heats at least one portion of an inflation system of the evacuation system in order to regulate the temperature of the inflation gas.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2018Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: AIR CRUISERS COMPANY, LLCInventor: Christian Thomson
-
Patent number: 11009140Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to valves that provide controlled inflation. The valves are designed to allow inflation of one or more inflatable devices and to stop inflation once a desired inflation level has been reached. This can allow the valve to be used with a single inflation source in order to inflate a plurality of inflatable devices. In a specific example, this disclosure provides systems and methods for inflating an ejector bag for door-mounted or fuselage-mounted inflatable evacuation slides or slide/rafts used for evacuating passenger vessels, such as aircraft. Other examples relate to sustaining the inflation of individual tubes that communicate with one another in evacuation slides, evacuation slide/rafts, life rafts and/or other inflatable devices.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: AIR CRUISERS COMPANY, LLCInventor: Agapito J. Santiago
-
Patent number: 10858084Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a raft carrying case that allows deployment of a life raft while also securing a survival kit for access by the life raft passengers. The case includes two parts, a detachable survival kit and a raft enclosure portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventors: Andrew Mahlon Harlow, Robert Host, Whitney Bender, Raphael Petit
-
Patent number: 10766625Abstract: Described is a release system for inflatable life saving devices, such as evacuation slides, evacuation slide/rafts, emergency floats, emergency flotation systems, and life rafts. The release system incorporates an energy storing device and a securement system that can be released upon activation. Once the release system is activated, the securement system is opened to allow deployment of the inflatable.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventor: Agapito J. Santiago
-
Patent number: 10654575Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to slide ramps designed for use with an aircraft exit door positioned near or over a wing of the aircraft. The embodiments provide a plurality of tubular structures comprising differing diameters and tapering lengths. The tubular structures form a ramp that transitions aircraft evacuees from the wing to the evacuation slide. The resulting ramp helps provide an even exit surface along a sloped/angled wing, and with respect to the angled wing/fuselage connection.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventor: Robert J. Biro
-
Patent number: 10195791Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide reinforcements for inflatable device assemblies. Specific embodiments provide a welded reinforcement for crotch areas of inflatable devices. Particular benefits may be achieved when the areas to be reinforced with the reinforcement system described are non-linear, defining a geometry with at least one curve or angle. Specific aspects of the reinforcement system provide one or more precut gusset elements that are configured to be secured with respect to a crotch area of a base substrate and welded.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventors: Joseph D. Reeves, Jr., Enrique Soto Delgado, Ruben Salinas, Adrian Marquez, Haithum Salem
-
Patent number: 10106925Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for using nonwoven materials for evacuation slides, life rafts, life vests, and other life-saving inflatable devices. The nonwoven materials have a substrate layer with continuous filaments formed in various directions.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventors: Deepak Duggal, Mark Jeffers, Thomas W. Swierkocki
-
Publication number: 20180210483Abstract: Described is a release system for inflatable life saving devices, such as evacuation slides, evacuation slide/rafts, emergency floats, emergency flotation systems, and life rafts. The release system incorporates an energy storing device and a securement system that can be released upon activation. Once the release system is activated, the securement system is opened to allow deployment of the inflatable.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventor: Agapito J. Santiago
-
Patent number: 9989166Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for an actuating system for inflating an inflatable structure in which a pressurized fluid piston is coupled directly to the valve an inflatable structure. The coupling of actuator to valve is such that the pairing will remain rigid and secure until the deliberate act of operating the actuator. When the actuator is operated, the actuator displaces a translating chock. This activation simultaneously (a) decouples the valve from actuator, allowing the inflatable to deploy without impedance and (b) activates the inflation of the structure via the valve.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventors: Andrew Mahlon Harlow, Robert Host
-
Patent number: 9797086Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for using nonwoven materials for evacuation slides, life rafts, life vests, and other life-saving inflatable devices. The nonwoven materials have a substrate layer with continuous filaments formed in various directions.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventors: Deepak Duggal, Mark Jeffers, Thomas W. Swierkocki
-
Publication number: 20170174298Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to nonwoven substrate materials that find particular use in connection with evacuation slides, evacuation slide/rafts, life rafts, life preservers/vests, or other emergency flotation devices. Such devices are typically formed from woven substrates, but the present inventors have determined that using nonwoven substrates in connection with such devices can provide improved benefits. The nonwoven substrates further have a gas barrier formed thereon by using layer-by-layer (LBL) nanocoating technology.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2017Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventor: Deepak Duggal
-
Patent number: 9527249Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for using nonwoven materials for evacuation slides, life rafts, life vests, and other life-saving inflatable devices. The nonwoven materials have a substrate layer with continuous filaments formed in various directions. The substrate layer then has a layer (e.g., a coating or a film or both) on one or both surfaces of the substrate of nonwoven material.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2016Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventors: Deepak Duggal, Mark Jeffers, Thomas W. Swierkocki
-
Patent number: 9481144Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for using nonwoven materials for evacuation slides, life rafts, life vests, and other life-saving inflatable devices. The nonwoven materials have a substrate layer with continuous filament fibers formed in various directions. The substrate layer then has a first and second layer of polyurethane. The first and second layers of polyurethane may be laminated or coated to a nonwoven substrate of the filament fibers. An isocyanate-based adhesive or primer may be particularly useful in causing cross-linking of the materials to one another.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventors: Deepak Duggal, Mark Jeffers, Thomas W. Swierkocki
-
Patent number: 9458641Abstract: Ballast systems for, particularly, inflatable decontamination shelters are described. The systems may be integrated into the overall structures of the shelters so as to avoid need for sand bags or other discrete weight-providing objects. They additionally may use liquids (rather than or in addition to solids) for weight-providing purposes, with the liquids including water supplied by the same plumbing system that supplies a shower of a shelter.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Air Cruisers Company, LLCInventor: Andrew Mahlon Harlow
-
Patent number: D920714Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: AIR CRUISERS COMPANY, LLCInventor: Robert William Hentges