Computational design of inflatable deformable balloons
US9056404B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jun 16, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T17/205
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An automated process facilitates the fabrication-oriented design of a mold for an inflatable, deformable balloon. The automated process comprises a computational balloon design process that, given a desired shape of an inflated balloon, computes an optimal rest shape of the balloon that, when inflated, approximates the desired shape as closely as possible. In such a design process, the optimal rest shape of the balloon is solved for numerically using a physics-driven shape optimization method combining physical simulation of inflatable elastic membranes with a dedicated constrained optimization algorithm. Once the optimal rest shape is determined, a dip mold can be fabricated that is suitable for manufacturing balloons having such a rest shape.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.