Inflatable Cargo Carrier For A Vehicle Roof
Patent No. US11976487 (titled "Inflatable Cargo Carrier For A Vehicle Roof") was filed by Flated Llc on Sep 22, 2021.
What is this patent about?
’487 is related to the field of vehicle accessories, specifically inflatable structures designed to attach to vehicles for cargo carrying, sleeping platforms, or truck shell applications. The background acknowledges the challenges of storing and mounting traditional rigid cargo carriers and truck shells, which are bulky and can be difficult to handle.
The underlying idea behind ’487 is to use drop-stitch inflatable material to create rigid, yet collapsible, vehicle accessories. This material, when inflated to high pressure, provides structural integrity comparable to rigid materials like plastic or fiberglass. The key insight is that these inflatable structures can be deflated and rolled or folded for compact storage when not in use, addressing the storage and handling issues of conventional accessories.
The claims of ’487 focus on an inflatable device for attaching to a vehicle roof, comprising a base and a top, each formed of drop-stitch material; a rear support formed of drop-stitch material connecting the base and the top; a front section formed of drop-stitch material connecting the base and the top, the front section having two sections, a bottom section attached to the base and an angled section extending from the bottom section to the top; a valve at at least one intersection between the base and the rear support, the rear support and the top, the top and the front section and the base and the front section, wherein air passes through the valve to inflate the base, the rear support, the top and the front section; wherein the base, the top, the rear support, and the front section form a continuous structure when inflated; wherein the base is a flat base for attaching to a vehicle roof; and wherein a bottom surface of the base includes structure for attaching the flat base to the vehicle roof.
In practice, the device is inflated through a valve system that allows air to flow throughout the entire structure, creating a rigid cargo carrier. The base is designed to be flat for easy attachment to a vehicle roof, and it includes specific structures like straps and clamps to secure it in place. The use of drop-stitch material ensures that the inflated structure maintains its shape and can withstand significant loads, similar to a hard-shell carrier.
This design differentiates itself from traditional rigid carriers by offering a collapsible solution. When deflated, the device can be rolled up and stored in a small space, unlike bulky plastic or fiberglass carriers. The patent also envisions the use of this inflatable drop-stitch technology for other vehicle accessories, such as truck bed platforms and truck shells, providing versatile and space-saving alternatives to conventional designs.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2020s when ’487 was filed, vehicle accessories were at a time when attaching cargo carriers to vehicles often required roof racks, and storage of these carriers was typically implemented using rigid materials, creating space constraints when not in use. Truck shells commonly relied on rigid structures with flexible flaps for openings, and sleeping comfortably in truck beds was non-trivial due to the hard surface and limited space.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application after an amendment was filed. Claims 1-3 and 14-20 were cancelled, and the title of the invention was changed to "INFLATABLE CARGO CARRIER FOR A VEHICLE ROOF". The examiner considered the prior art of record pertinent to the applicant's disclosure but did not rely upon it to reject the claims. Claims 4, 5, 7-9 and 13 were allowed.
Claims
This patent contains 6 claims, with claim 1 being the only independent claim. Independent claim 1 is directed to an inflatable device for attachment to a vehicle roof, detailing its structural components and inflation mechanism. The dependent claims elaborate on specific features and variations of the inflatable device described in the independent claim, such as the drop-stitch material construction, enclosed volume formation, sidewall attachments, openings for access, and fastening mechanisms for roof attachment.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11976487
- Application Number
- US17481901
- Filing Date
- Sep 22, 2021
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Jul 15, 2042
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents