Patent ID: 8820000

Claim:
A pneumatic support comprising: a gas-tight elongated hollow body of a flexible material adapted to be pressurized with compressed gas; at least one compression bar which, responsive to application of a transverse operational load, is axially compressed; at least one tension element which, responsive to application of the transverse operational load, is axially tensioned; wherein the hollow body has a tapered shape toward both of ends of the hollow body; wherein the at least one compression bar and the at least one tension element are connected to one another at a common node located at respective ends of the hollow body; wherein, when the hollow body is inflated, the at least one compression bar and the at least one tension element lie on a generator line of the hollow body; and wherein, relative to the application of the transverse operational load, the at least one substantially rigid compression element lies on a near side of the hollow body and the at least one tension element lies on a far side of the hollow body.