Patent ID: 7926225

Claim:
A pneumatic structural element comprising: an elongated gas-tight inflatable hollow body having a longitudinal axis extending between opposing ends of the inflatable hollow body; at least one compression member disposed on a longitudinal side of the inflatable hollow body and longitudinally extending the length of the hollow body substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the at least one compression member being subjected to axial compression responsive to an operational load applied to the pneumatic structural element; at least two flexible tension members wound around the inflatable hollow body and longitudinally extending between the ends of the hollow body, the at least two flexible tension members being subjected to axial tension and equal stresses responsive to the operational load; a rigid plate-shaped flange disposed at each end of the inflatable hollow body and connected to both the at least one compression member and the at least two flexible tension members, such that the at least one compression member is disposed between the at least two flexible tension members, the at least one compression member and the at least two flexible tension members being interoperably coupled to each other at the respective ends of the hollow body, each flange having an opening removably receiving a respective end of the hollow body and removably engaging a circumference of the hollow body, the flange operable to support a first compression force transmitted through and directed along a length of the compression member and a second tensile force transmitted through each of the at least two flexible tension members, the second tensile force being directed along a length of the at least two tension members; wherein each at least one compression member is securely fastened within a respective first hole in each flange, and wherein the at least two flexible tension members are each securely fastened within a respective second hole in each flange; and wherein the flange facilitates connection of the pneumatic structural element with a nodal connecting element for connecting the hollow body with other gas-tight inflatable hollow bodies.