Patent attributes
An inflatable panel for use as an inflatable airfoil in aerodynamic fairing assemblies that uses a blower that provides a continuous airflow to the inflated panel to maintain it in the deployed position. The inflatable panel is constructed from sheets of PVC vinyl that are cut, assembled and sewn together. The sewn seams act as an air vent that allow air to bleed from the panel, thereby eliminate the need for a separate air vent to bleed off the continuous airflow from the blower. The inflatable panel includes a blower port with an internal vent end designed to prevent the port from becoming obstructed by the body of the panel collapsing on itself as the panel deflates. The inflatable panel also includes a retraction unit oriented so that the internal cable not only retracts the deflating panel uniformly into the panel housing but also laterally urges the panel slightly in one direction to ensure that the deflating panel does not splay outward creating a road hazard.
