Development of improved convolute section for pressurized suits to provide high degree of mobility in response to minimum of applied torqu

Marroni, M. A., Jr.

English

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G P / O f f i c e  of AssiFtaqt General Counsel for 
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Announcement of NASA-Owned U. S. Patents i n  STAR 
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th i s  patent  covers an invention made by 
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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710015254 2020-03-17T02:58:31+00:00Z
M. A. MARRONI, JR 07 
FORESHORTENED CONVOLUTE SECTION FOR A PRESSURIZED SUIT 
F i l e d  Dec. 20, 1968 
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3.537.157 
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UTE SECTION 
SUIT 
ishael A. Marroni. Jr.. Weatome, Conn., assignor, by 
esne assignments, to ‘the Unized .States of AGerica as 
resented by the A d ~ i ~ s ~ a t o r  of the National Aero- 
nautics and Space A a ~ ~ i s ~ r a t i o n  
Piled Dec. 20, 1968, Ser. No. 785,715 
Int. CI. A62b 17/00 us. 61. 2-2.1 2 Claims 
5 
10 
A 
In a first embodiment, root cords are laid on an ap- 
propriately shaped piece of flat cloth, and each cord is 15 
zigzag stitched to the clofh. Thereafter, a piece of re- 
straint tape stitched to the cloth over the root cords along 
the middle thereof, the restraint tape being perpendicular 
to the root cords. As the stitching of the restraint tape 
proceeds, the cloth, together with the root cords, are 20 
bunched underneath the restraint tape so as to foreshorten 
the entire piece by a desired amount. Thereafter, the piece 
is bent into a generally cylindrical shape and appropriate 
edges of the cloth are sewn together. The ends of the 
root cords are then fitted through appropriately positioned 
holes in a second restraint tape, and a plastic tube is laid 
along the seam with the restraint tape over it. Then the 
second restraint tape is sewn to the seam with bunching 
of material occurring as the sewing proceeds so as to fore- 
shorten the seam in the same fashion #as the midsection 
was foreshortened. The cords may tihen be drawn up 
somewhat and tied so as to form convolutes in the com- 
pleted assembly. 
In the second embodiment, a generally cylindrically 
shaped piece of restraint cloth has pre-sized root cords or 
rings. 
25 
30 
35 
~- 
The invention described herein was made in the per- 
formance of work under a NASA contract and is sub- 
ject to the provisions of Section 305 of the National Aero- 
nautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 85-568 (72 
Stat. 435; 42 U.S.C. 2457). 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Field of invention 
This invention relates to pressurized suits such as the 
type used in high altitude aviation and space exploration, 
and #more particularly to a foreshortened convolute sec- 
tion and methods of making the same. 
Description of the prior art 
In the art of pressurized suits, formation of convolutes 
utilizing restraint cloth with suitably disposed restraining 
root cords or rings is known. In accordance with the 
teachings of the art heretofore, such convolutes were 
made by having cords or rings of a preestablished diam- 
eter inserted over the cloth in which the convolutes are 
to be formed. Thereafter, with the application of pres- 
sure, the convoluted shape would be assumed. 
Such sections axe useful as convolute sections for por- 
tions of a space suit which do not undergo acute flexion, 
but merely require a small amount of rotation or minor 
flexion. Such sections may, for instance, be used in the 
thigh. On the other hand, convolute sections known to 
the prior art are not useful for portions of the suit sueh 
as knees and elbows which require vastly different 
amounts of cloth along one dimension when the joint is 
flexed in contrast with the amount of cloth which is re- 
quired when the joint is in the unflexed condition. In an 
attempt to overcome this, various solutions have been 
tried. One such solution is a formation of a convoluted 
section in which convolutions occur in one direction, but 
not in the transverse direction. For instance, with such a 
convolute section, the front and rear of the knee would be 
convoluted, but the sides of the knee would be substan- 
tially flat. However, this type of convolute section can 
be formed only of moldable materials, such as rubber and 
the like, and cannot be fashioned of cloth in accordance 
with the present teachings of the art. Furthermore, such 
sections are relatively stiff when under pressure, and do 
not provide the required degree of flexure and ease of 
flexure in order to permit maximal mobility with a mini- 
mum amount of fatigue as required in the utilization of 
pressurized suits. 
SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is to provide an 
improved convolute section for a pressurized suit, such 
section being capable of a high degree of mobility in- 
cluding acute flexure, in response to a minimum of ap- 
plied torque. 
According to the present invention, a cloth convolute 
section is provided with extra material so as to accom- 
modate large angles of flexure by foreshortening of the 
section by means of lateral restraints disposed on each 
side, the cloth to which the lateral restraints are affixed 
being puckered in order to foreshorten the assembly. 
The present invention not only provides a cloth con- 
volute section capable of a high degree of flexion as a re- 
sult of relatively low torque, but it is capable of manu- 
facture in accordance with an extremely simple method, 
and is capable of incorporating improved pressurized suit 
features. 40 The foregoing and other objects, features and ad- 
vantages of the present invention will become more ap- 
parent in the light of the following detailed description 
of preferred embodiments thereof as illustrated in the 
accompanying drawing. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a flat piece of restraint 
cl6th having root cords disposed thereon as a result of 
the fist steps of manufacture of a foreshortened con- 
50 volute in accordance with one embodiment of the present 
invention; 
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of the 
invention shown in FIG. 1 after an additional step of 
foreshortening the convolute assembly with a restraint 
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the embodiment 
of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 after being 
joined so as to assume a generally cylindrical shape; 
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the embodiment of the 
6o invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 after the cylinder- 
forming seam is foreshortened by being stitched with a 
restraint tape; 
FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; 
FIG. 6 is a perspective of a basic cloth section of a 
45 
55 tape; 
65 second embodiment of the’invention; 
3,537,107 
FIG. 7 is a perspective the embodiment of FIG. 6 or rings of a lesser circum ence than that of the cylin- 
after convolutes have been formed thereon; drical cloth 30 may be slipped over the cloth 30 so as 
FIG. 8 is a perspective of the embodiment illustrated to form convolutes 34 in the cloth 30. Thereafter, the 
in FIGS. 6 and 7 after it has been foreshortened by being convolute section illustrated in FIG. 7 may have a pair 
stitched with a restraint tape in accordance with the of mutually parallel restraint tapes 36 (FIG. 8) sewn on 
present invention. opposite sides thereof concurrently with puckering of the 
cloth so as to foreshorten the section as illustrated in 
FIG. 8. In this embodiment, the foreshortening of both DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED 
sides may preferably be performed after the cloth is EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIG,S. 1-5, one embodiment of the formed into a generally cylindrical section and the root 
invention utilizes a piece of flat cloth 10, which may be cords applied, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8. 
rectangular if a cylindrical convolute section is desired, The result of the present invention is to provide con- 
or may be slightly rhombic as shown in FIG. 1 in order volutes which are much deeper (that is, with the root be- 
to provide a somewhat tapered tubular section. As a first ing of a significantly lesser diameter than the outer diam- 
step in the preparation of a convolute section in accord- 15 eter of the section) than is obtainable with prior art con- 
ance with the present invention, a plurality of root cords volute sections. Sufficient material is thereby provided so 
12 are stitched to the restraint cloth PO by zigzag stitches that when the convolute assembly is flexed (such as bend- 
which are sufficiently loose to enable sliding of the ing the top to the right or left in FIG. 4 or 8) the degree 
cords 12 beneath the stitches 14, as is described more of flexure will not be limited by the ultimate amount of 
fully hereinafter. In FIG. 2, a restraint tape has been 20 available cloth along the long side of the bend. As an 
placed along the center of the cloth 10 over the cords example, in the case of a knee or an elbow, when the joint 
and substantially parallel to the edges is flexed, a large amount of cloth is required at the out- 
18, 19 of the cloth PO. The restraint tape 16 has been side of the bend. This cloth on the other hand must be 
sewed to the cloth PO as portions 17 of Cloth 10 are provided from a convolute section which is not too long 
upon itself so as to form a cylinder, the edges 18 and it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the 
19 (FIG. 2) have been joined at a seam 20 (FIG. 3) general shape (cylindrical or tapered) of the convolute 
so as to form a generally cylindrical or tubular tapered section made in accordance herewith, the size of the sec- 
section which is, however, skewed due to the fact that the 35 tion, or the precise method of manufacture of the section 
side underneath the restraint tape 16 has been fore- are not germane to the present invention. Also, it should 
shortened, whereas the side along the Seam 20 has not be understood that other changes and omissions in the 
been foreshortened. form and detail thereof may be made therein without de- 
In FIG. 4, an additional restraint tape 22 has been parting from the spirit and the scope of the invention. 
sewn over the seam 26) so as to foreshorten the assembly 40 Having thus described typical embodiments of my in- 
along the seam 20. In this case, the restraint tape 22 is vention, that which I claim as new and desire to secure by 
provided with a plurality of holes 24, one for each of the Letters Patent of the United States is: 
root cords 12. In a restraint tape made of woven nylon, 1. In the method of manufacturing a cloth convolute 
or other plastic-like material, the holes 24 are conveniently section capable of flexure through large angles, the steps 
formed by burning, such as with a soldering iron; this of: 
not only is an easy way to form a hole, but fuses the 45 disposing a plurality of root cords on a cloth; 
edges of the hole so as to prevent ravelling of the cloth. positioning a first restraint tape adjacent to said cloth 
In the process of securing the restraint tape 22 to the substantially perpendicularly with respect to said root 
convolute assembly, the root cords 12 are fed through cords; 
appropriate holes, and then a tube of polfluorocarbon simultaneously stitching said first restraint tape to said 
(such as that sold under the trade name “Teflon”) or other 5o cloth and bunching said cloth underneath said stitch- 
suitable plastic tube 26 may be positioned along the seam ing so as to foreshorten the cloth in its dimension 
20 as shown more clearly in FIG. 5. Thereafter, the parallel with said restraint tape; 
restraint tape 22 can be sewn (21) to the seam 20 thus joining together the two edges of said cloth which are 
capturing the tube 26. Note that the seam 21 along the parallel with said first restraint tape so as to form said 
restraint tape 22 is intermittant, SO that the root cords 12 5s cloth into a generally cylindrical section; 
are not stitched down as a result of stitching the restraint positioning a second restraint tape adjacent to said cloth 
tape 22 to the seam 20. This permits the cords 12 to be substantially parallel with respect to said first re- 
drawn up tightly, sliding underneath the portions of the straint tape, and substantially diametrically opposite 
restraint tape 22 and sliding within the zig-zag stitching to said first restraint tape; and 
14. To complete the convolute assembly utilizing the 60 simultaneously stitching said second restraint tape to 
method outline with respect to FIGS. 1-5 herein, said cloth and bunching said cloth underneath said 
each of the root cords may be drawn until it is the proper stitching so as to foreshorten the cloth in its dimen- 
length, and a square knot tied therein. The tubing 26 is sion parallel with said second restraining tape. 
disposed underneath the restraint tape 22 in order to 2. A foreshortened cloth convolute section for a pres- 
permit sliding a restraint cable, which may comprise 
plastic coated stainless steel or other suitable material, a generally cylindrical cloth member; 
through the tube 26. This cable may terminate at opposite a plurality of root cords causing said cloth to form 
ends of the convolute assembly in accordance herewith, convolutes; 
or may be part of a longer restraint system that termi- a plurality of restraint members on opposite sides of 
nates remotely from the convolute assembly in accord- 70 said cloth member and disposed parallel to the axis 
ance herewith, as necessary to suit any utilization of the thereof, said cloth member being puckered under- 
present invention. neath said restraining members; 
A second embodiment of the invention may include and means securing the puckered portions of said cloth 
a basic cylindrical structure 30 formed of a piece of flat member to said restraining members to shorten said 
cloth as illustrated in FIG. 6. Thereafter, root cords 32 75 generally cylindrical cloth member in a direction 
surized suit comprising: 
3,537, 
parallel to the axis thereof, thereby forming the fore- 2,967,305 1/1%1 White et al. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  2-2.1 
shortened cloth convolute section. 2,989,324 6/1961 OHalloran _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  2-2.1 XR 
3,411,157 11/1968 Rabenhorst _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  2-2.1 
References Cited 
2,391,282 12/1945 Van Orman _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  2-2.1 
2,392,992 1/1946 Martin _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  2-2.1 U.S. C1. X.R. 
2,939,148 6/1960 Hart et al. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  2-2.1 285-235 
JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner 
G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner 
UNITED STATES PATENTS I 


Foreshortened convolute section for a pressurized suit Patent

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