Ted M OneySpring Glen, WA

6454220, Sep 24, 2002

Oct 11, 2001

09/976479

Ted H. Oney - Gilbert AZ

Goodrich Coporation - Charlotte NC

B64D 2500

244905, 182 48, 193 25 B

An inflatable evacuation slide includes a feature to ensure against buckling of the sliding surface under load. In one embodiment, the slide is made from a fabric sliding surface stretched between two lateral side rail tubes. The lateral side rail tubes are supported by a plurality of transverse tubes and transverse trusses such that the side rail tubes maintain the sliding surface in a taut condition suitable for use as a slide. The foot end of the slide includes an additional longitudinal tube extending from the toe end partway toward the head end of the slide. This toe end longitudinal tube acts as a pneumatic spring to support a sliding passenger as he or she reaches the extreme toe end of the evacuation slide.

6581334, Jun 24, 2003

Nov 2, 2001

10/003689

Ted H. Oney - Gilbert AZ
Haiwen Meng - Tempe AZ

Goodrich Corporation - Charlotte NC

B64D 2514

52 218, 52 211, 2851335, 138120, 182 48, 244905

A high strength T-joint for inflatable tubular is formed by forming a butt joint between the end of a first two tubular member and the side wall of a second tubular member. The opening in the side wall of the second tubular member is sized to match the end of the transverse support member so that a sealing flange can be applied to the inner surface of the joint to provide an airtight seal. A reinforcing flange comprising a disk-shaped piece of fabric having a center opening, is then bonded over the opening in the second tubular member. The center opening in the reinforcing flange is substantially smaller than the opening in the side rail member. Therefore the reinforcing flange substantially reduces the size of the discontinuity in the side wall of side rail member, thereby substantially increasing the circumferential (âhoopâ) load capacity of the side wall of the side rail member and substantially increasing the rupture pressure of the joint.

6443259, Sep 3, 2002

Oct 11, 2001

09/976478

Ted H. Oney - Gilbert AZ
Paul Zonneveld - Phoenix AZ

Goodrich Corporation - Charlotte NC

A62B 120

182 48, 182 18, 2441372

The present invention comprises an inflatable over-the-wing evacuation slide having a readiness indicator the meaning of which is intuitively obvious to an untrained person. In one embodiment, the slide is provided with an inflatable guard rail attached to the side margins of the inflatable walking surface. Attached to the side of the inflatable guard rail in a position that is clearly visible from the aircraft exit doorway is a visual readiness indicator. In one embodiment, the visual readiness indicator comprises a conventional red, octagonal âstopâ sign that is releasably mounted to the guard rail. The stop sign is removed (to indicate that it is safe to proceed) when the evacuation slide has properly deployed by means of a connected to toe end of the evacuation slide. As the evacuation slide unfurls, the lanyard is paid out until, at the last stage, when the toe end unfolds the lanyard pulls the stop sign off the guard rail, so that it is no longer visible to a disembarking passenger.