Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A hollow body device for displacing masses by filling the device with pressurized fluid comprising: a pair of like upper and lower planar segments, the periphery of said segments including rectilinear side portions, the like side portions being aligned and the shape of the segments being substantially unvarying as the device is pressurized; a plurality of wall segments, each of said wall segments interconnecting respective ones of said aligned side portions of the planar segments, said wall segments varying in shape as the device is pressurized for providing a lift between the upper and lower segments and the wall segments developing part of a curved wall surface of a circular cylinder when the device is pressurized, the axis of the cylinder being orthogonal to the operational direction of the lift; and corner segments interconnecting adjoining ones of said wall segments, said corner segments varying in shape without substantial kinking as the device is pressurized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A hollow body device for displacing masses by filling the device with pressurized fluid comprising: a pair of like upper and lower planar segments, the periphery of said segments including rectilinear side portions, the like side portions being aligned and the shape of the segments being substantially unvarying as the device is pressurized; a plurality of wall segments, each of said wall segments interconnecting respective ones of said aligned side portions of the planar segments, said wall segments varying in shape as the device is pressurized for providing a lift between the upper and lower segments and the wall segments developing part of a curved wall surface of a circular cylinder when the device is pressurized, the axis of the cylinder being orthogonal to the operational direction of the lift; and corner segments interconnecting adjoining ones of said wall segments, said corner segments varying in shape without substantial kinking as the device is pressurized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the planar segments are square actuating surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as defined in claim 2, characterized in that the corner segments, when not inflated, so complement the wall segments that the overall topview of the device is geometrically similar to the shape of the actuating surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as defined in claim 2, characterized in that the corner segments are of such design that the outer edges of adjoining wall segments are smoothly joined by convex arc of a circle when the cell is not pressurized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as defined by claim 2, characterized in that the corner segments are so designed that the outer edges of adjoining wall segments are joined by concave lines when the cell is not pressurized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device as defined in claim 2, characterized in that the corner segments are of such design that the outer edges of adjoining wall segments are joined by at least two rectilinear lines set meeting at an obtuse angle when the cell is not pressurized and wherein the overall topview of the device, when pressurized, is substantially square but with rounded corners.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as defined by claim 6, including at least two flexible sheets imperviously connected to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as defined in claim 1, comprising two flexible sheets imperviously interconnected along their rims.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that wall segments jeopardized by stresses in the wall due to the displacement of masses are reinforced.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as defined in claim 9, characterized in that wall segments jeopardized by stresses in the wall due to the displacement of masses are reinforced by adhesive tape reinforced by glass fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as defined in claim 9, characterized in that wall segments jeopardized by stresses in the wall due to the displacement of masses are reinforced by fabric-reinforced rubber foil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the device is substantially a plane when the device is not pressurized.