초록 ▼

A material mover includes substantially rectangular top and bottom sheets connected to perimeter sidewalls defining at least one chamber. The bottom sheet is perforated with orifices at least in a central portion and has a greater width than that of the top sheet at least in middle and lower regions

A material mover includes substantially rectangular top and bottom sheets connected to perimeter sidewalls defining at least one chamber. The bottom sheet is perforated with orifices at least in a central portion and has a greater width than that of the top sheet at least in middle and lower regions of the top and bottom sheets. A plurality of partition members connect at least portions of the top and bottom sheets to one another within the chamber, extend parallel to lateral edges of the top and bottom sheets, and are spaced from the perimeter sidewalls. A fluid weir is defined along an outer periphery of the bottom sheet to provide a fluid film reservoir at least under the central portion of the bottom sheet including the orifices. Fluid in the fluid reservoir is substantially contained by the fluid weir.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A material mover for transferring a load, comprising: a substantially rectangular top sheet defining an uppermost support surface of said material mover and having longitudinal edges extending in a length direction of said material mover and defining a length dimension, lateral edges ex

I claim: 1. A material mover for transferring a load, comprising: a substantially rectangular top sheet defining an uppermost support surface of said material mover and having longitudinal edges extending in a length direction of said material mover and defining a length dimension, lateral edges extending in a width direction of said material mover and defining a width dimension that is less than said length dimension, an upper region, a middle region and a lower region; a substantially rectangular bottom sheet having longitudinal edges extending in a length direction of said material mover and defining a length dimension, lateral edges extending in a width direction of said material mover and defining a width dimension that is less than said length dimension, an upper region, a middle region, a lower region, said width dimension of said bottom sheet being greater than said width dimension of said top sheet in said upper, middle and lower regions of said top and bottom sheets, and a plurality of orifices perforating at least a central portion of said bottom sheet; lateral and longitudinal perimeter sidewalls respectively connecting at least portions of said lateral and longitudinal edges of said top sheet and said bottom sheet to one another and defining a plenum chamber between said perimeter sidewalls and said top and bottom sheets; a plurality of partition members disposed within said plenum chamber and directly connecting at least central portions of said top sheet and said bottom sheet to one another, said partition members extending in a generally parallel direction with respect to said lateral edges of said top sheet and said bottom sheet and being spaced a distance from said lateral and said longitudinal perimeter sidewalls, wherein a height of each said lateral and longitudinal perimeter sidewalls is less than a height of said partition members along at least a portion of respective ones of said lateral and longitudinal edges of said top sheet and said bottom sheet; and a fluid weir defined at least along an outer peripheral portion of said bottom sheet and substantially surrounding said plurality of orifices in said bottom sheet, said fluid weir defining a fluid reservoir at least at said central portion of said bottom sheet; wherein a fluid is supplied to said fluid reservoir from said plenum chamber via said orifices, a fluid film is formed at least between said central portion of said bottom sheet and a surface in contact with said bottom sheet, and wherein the fluid in said fluid film is substantially inhibited from dissipating from said fluid reservoir and is substantially contained in said fluid reservoir by said fluid weir. 2. The material mover of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle attached to a portion of said material mover. 3. The material mover of claim 2, wherein said at least one handle includes first and second ends, each said first and second ends being attached to one of said lateral and longitudinal perimeter sidewalls. 4. The material mover of claim 2, wherein said at least one handle comprises a plurality of said handles, and wherein said first and second ends of said plurality of handles are each attached to a respective one of each said lateral and longitudinal perimeter sidewalls. 5. The material mover of claim 1, wherein said lateral and longitudinal perimeter sidewalls respectively extend substantially the entire length of each said lateral and longitudinal edges of said top sheet and said bottom sheet. 6. The material mover of claim 5, further comprising a joining portion defined between said top sheet and each said lateral and longitudinal perimeter sidewalls, and a connecting junction defined between said bottom sheet and each said lateral and longitudinal perimeter sidewalls. 7. The material mover of claim 6, wherein end portions of any one of said top and bottom sheets are folded over end portions of said perimeter side walls and looped around terminal ends of said perimeter side walls such that terminal ends of said top and bottom sheets are interposed between portions of said end portions of said perimeter side walls and said terminal ends of said perimeter side walls. 8. The material mover of claim 6, further comprising a storage pouch defined between a portion of an outer surface of said lower region of said bottom sheet and another sheet disposed on said portion of said bottom sheet. 9. The material mover of claim 8, wherein a first lateral end of said another sheet is connected to said bottom sheet at said joining portion between said bottom sheet and one of said lateral perimeter sidewalls in said lower region of said bottom sheet, wherein a second lateral end of said another sheet is spaced a distance from said first lateral end in a longitudinal direction of said bottom sheet such that opposed first and second longitudinal edges of said another sheet extend toward said middle region of said bottom sheet, wherein said second lateral end of said another sheet is releasably fastened to a portion of said bottom sheet via fastening means. 10. The material mover of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said first and said second longitudinal ends of said another sheet are connected to said bottom sheet at said joining portion between said bottom sheet and each said longitudinal perimeter sidewall in said lower region of said bottom sheet. 11. The material mover of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of straps at least in said middle region of said top sheet, each said strap having a first end that is fixed at said joining portion between said top sheet and one of said longitudinal perimeter sidewalls, and an opposed second end, said second end of each said strap including fastening means. 12. The material mover of claim 11, wherein said fastening means comprises one of a pair of mating fasteners, and wherein laterally opposed ones of said straps have corresponding ones of said mating fasteners. 13. The material mover of claim 6, wherein a portion of said top sheet proximate an end thereof is folded over a portion of said bottom sheet proximate an end thereof and looped around a terminal end of said bottom sheet such that a terminal end of said top sheet is interposed in a region between said end portion of said bottom sheet and said terminal end of said bottom sheet. 14. The material mover of claim 1, further comprising at least one fastener having a first mating surface comprising a fluid inlet orifice in communication with said chamber and adapted to be connected to a fluid provider unit such that fluid is supplied to said chamber, and a second mating surface corresponding to said first mating surface and adapted to provide a flap to cover said first mating surface. 15. The material mover of claim 14, wherein said at least one fastener is positioned in at least one location on at least one of said top sheet, said bottom sheet, and said lateral perimeter sidewalls and said longitudinal perimeter sidewalls. 16. The material mover of claim 14, wherein only two said fasteners are provided, each said fastener being positioned on an opposing portion of a respective one of said longitudinal perimeter sidewalls. 17. The material mover of claim 14, further comprising an internal conduit in fluid communication with said fluid inlet orifice and extending a distance therefrom toward a central portion of said plenum chamber such that said internal conduit is in fluid communication with said plenum chamber. 18. The material mover of claim 14, wherein said at least one fastener comprises any one of a fastener selected from the group consisting of a hook-and-loop fastener, a snap-button fastener, a magnetic thread fastener, a magnetic tape fastener and an adhesive fastener. 19. A material mover for transferring a load positioned thereon, said material mover comprising: a substantially rectangular top sheet defining an uppermost support surface of said material mover and having longitudinal edges extending in a length direction of said material mover and defining a length dimension, lateral edges extending in a width direction of said material mover and defining a width dimension that is less than said length dimension, and upper, middle and lower regions; a substantially rectangular bottom sheet having longitudinal edges extending in a length direction of said material mover and defining a length dimension, lateral edges extending in a width direction of said material mover and defining a width dimension that is less than said length dimension, and upper, middle and lower regions, said width dimension of said bottom sheet being greater width than said width dimension of said top sheet at least in said middle and lower regions of said top and bottom sheets, and a plurality of orifices provided on a portion of said bottom sheet at least in a location corresponding to a footprint of the load positioned on said top sheet; perimeter sidewalls connecting at least portions of said longitudinal edges of said top and bottom sheets to one another and having a perimeter sidewall height; a plurality of partition members directly connecting at least central portions of said top and bottom sheets to one another, said partition members extending generally parallel to said lateral edges of said top and bottom sheets and being spaced from said perimeter sidewalls, said partition members having a height that is greater than said perimeter sidewall height at least along a portion of respective ones of said lateral and longitudinal edges of said top sheet and said bottom sheet; a fluid weir defined along an outer periphery of said bottom sheet to provide a fluid film reservoir at least under said central portion of said bottom sheet, wherein said fluid film underneath said central portion of said bottom sheet is substantially contained by said fluid weir; and at least one fastener positioned on at least one peripheral side surface of said material mover and having a first mating surface including a fluid inlet orifice and corresponding to a fastener mating surface of a coupler from a fluid provider system to matably connect said fluid inlet orifice of said first mating surface and the coupler of the fluid provider system, and a second mating surface corresponding to said first mating surface and adapted to provide a flap to cover said first mating surface. 20. A material mover, comprising: a substantially rectangular top sheet defining an uppermost support surface of said material mover, a substantially rectangular bottom sheet, each said top and bottom sheets having lateral edges extending in a width direction of said material mover and defining a width dimension and longitudinal edges extending in a length direction of said material mover and defining a length dimension that is greater than said width dimension, wherein said width dimension of said bottom sheet is greater than said width dimension of said top sheet at least in middle and lower regions of said top and bottom sheets, a plurality of orifices provided on a portion of said bottom sheet at least in a location corresponding to a footprint of a load positioned on said top sheet, and lateral and longitudinal perimeter sidewalls respectively connecting at least a portion of said lateral and longitudinal edges of each said top sheet and said bottom sheet to one another; at least one inflatable chamber defined between said top and bottom sheets and said lateral and longitudinal sidewalls, said inflatable chamber having a plurality of partition members directly connecting at least a central portion of said top sheet and said bottom sheet to one another positioned therewithin, said partition members extending parallel to said lateral edges of said top sheet and bottom sheet and being spaced a distance from said lateral and longitudinal sidewalls, wherein a height of each said lateral and longitudinal sidewalls is less than a height of said partition members along at least a portion of respective ones of said lateral and longitudinal edges of said top sheet and said bottom sheet; at least one fastener having a first mating surface comprising a fluid inlet orifice in communication with said inflatable chamber and adapted to be connected to a fluid provider unit to enable fluid supply to said inflatable chamber, and a second mating surface corresponding to said first mating surface and adapted to provide a flap to cover said first mating surface; and means defining a fluid reservoir at least under a central portion of said bottom sheet and substantially containing a fluid film present in said fluid reservoir. 21. An inflatable support device, comprising: a substantially rectangular top sheet defining an uppermost support surface of said inflatable support device and having opposed longitudinal edges defining a length dimension, opposed lateral edges defining a width dimension that is less than said length dimension, an upper region, a middle region and a lower region; a substantially rectangular bottom sheet having opposed longitudinal edges defining a length dimension substantially corresponding to said length dimension of said top sheet, opposed lateral edges defining a width dimension that is less than said length dimension of said bottom sheet, an upper region, a middle region, a lower region, wherein said width dimension of said bottom sheet is greater than that of said top sheet, said bottom sheet being connected to said top sheet about the outer periphery thereof to define opposed longitudinal and opposed lateral sides of said material mover and to define a plenum chamber between said top and said bottom sheets; one or more peripheral sidewalls disposed between and connecting at least a part of at least one of (1) said lateral edges of said top sheet and said lateral edges of said bottom sheet to define said lateral sides of said material mover and (2) said longitudinal edges of said top sheet and said longitudinal edges of said bottom sheet to define said longitudinal sides of said material mover; a plurality of orifices perforating at least a central portion of said bottom sheet, said orifices being in fluid communication with said plenum chamber and with the atmosphere on said at least one of said top and aid bottom sheets; means for directly connecting said top and said bottom sheets to one another in a height direction of said material mover within at least a central portion of said plenum chamber comprising at least one partition member extending in a generally parallel direction with respect to said lateral sides of said top and said bottom sheets and being laterally spaced a distance from said longitudinal and said lateral sides of said material mover, wherein a height dimension of said at least one partition member is greater than a height dimension of said one or more peripheral sidewalls; and at least one fluid weir defined at least along an outer peripheral portion of said bottom sheet and surrounding a fluid reservoir including said orifices on said bottom sheet; wherein a fluid supplied to said plenum chamber is provided to said fluid reservoir from said plenum chamber via said orifices and a fluid film is formed in said reservoir at least in said central portion of said bottom sheet; and wherein the fluid in said fluid film is (1) substantially contained in said fluid reservoir by said fluid weir and (2) substantially inhibited from dissipating from said fluid reservoir by said fluid weir. 22. The inflatable support device of claim 21, further comprising one or more fluid inlets in fluid communication with said plenum chamber positioned on at least one of said opposed longitudinal and opposed lateral sides of said material mover.