Patent ID: 9580161
Date: 2017-02-28
CPC Classifications: B29C,B29D,B29L,B64B

Claim:
1. A method of manufacturing a balloon envelope, the method comprising: preparing one or more gore panels on a work area, each gore panel comprising a film and having an upper portion and a lower portion and defining a longitudinal axis between an end of the upper portion and an end of the lower portion, the upper portion lying above an equator of the balloon envelope when inflated, and the lower portion lying below the equator of the balloon envelope when is inflated; for each gore panel, placing a segment of reinforcing tape across that gore panel along the upper portion thereof so that the segment of reinforcing tape is aligned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; securing the segment of reinforcing tape to the gore panel; and securing adjacent gore panels to one another to form the balloon envelop, a first end of each gore panel terminating at an apex of the balloon envelope, and a second end of each gore panel terminating at a base of the balloon envelope; wherein the segments of reinforcing tape align with one another to circumscribe the balloon envelope in a ring, the ring of reinforcing tape being configured as a ripstop to prevent a tear from extending upward to the apex of the balloon envelope.