Patents by Inventor Donald E. Bixler

Donald E. Bixler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4607655
    Abstract: An inflatable, self-supporting shelter particularly suited for survival use in remote, rugged terrain and evacuating injured victims includes inflatable floor and side panels and two opposing multi-layered, noninflatable end panels which cooperate to form an enclosed shelter. The floor and side panels each include an inner wall, outer wall and plurality of parallel, longitudinally extending strips therebetween. The strips, which are connected to both the inner and outer walls, have an "I" shaped cross section and serve to divide the air space between the walls into a series of pneumatically interconnected cells and to rigidify the shelter when it is inflated. In one embodiment, the shelter is provided with pole receiving means to facilitate transporting the shelter as a litter, and fastening means securing the side panels and end panels to one another such that the shelter can be "opened up" to provide quick and easy access to the victim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Inventors: David L. R. Wagner, Donald E. Bixler