A system for supporting a camera during aerial photography or videography includes a gimbal, a platform, a first flywheel, an onboard electronics module and a link rod with a longitudinal axis. The gimbal includes an inner ring external to and concentric with the link rod and coupled thereto for relative rotation about the longitudinal axis, a middle ring external to and concentric with the inner ring and coupled thereto for relative pivoting about a second axis nearly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and an outer ring external to and concentric with the middle ring and coupled thereto for relative pivoting about a third axis perpendicular to the second axis. The platform is provided to the outer ring. The first flywheel is mounted at a first position on the platform so as to balance with a camera at a second position and an onboard electronics module at a third position.

A balloon system includes a balloon having a balloon membrane extending between an upper apex and a lower apex opening. The lower apex opening extends through the balloon membrane at a balloon lip. A ballonet is within the balloon. The ballonet is coupled with the balloon membrane at the lower apex opening. The ballonet includes a lower ballonet panel having a lower perimeter edge and a ballonet orifice extending through the lower ballonet panel at a ballonet lip and an upper ballonet panel having an upper perimeter edge. The upper and lower ballonet panels are coupled along the respective upper and lower perimeter edges. A lower apex fitting couples the ballonet with the balloon at the balloon lip of the lower apex opening.

A balloon system includes a balloon having a balloon membrane extending between an upper apex and a lower apex opening. The lower apex opening extends through the balloon membrane at a balloon lip. A ballonet is within the balloon. The ballonet is coupled with the balloon membrane at the lower apex opening. The ballonet includes a lower ballonet panel having a lower perimeter edge and a ballonet orifice extending through the lower ballonet panel at a ballonet lip and an upper ballonet panel having an upper perimeter edge. The upper and lower ballonet panels are coupled along the respective upper and lower perimeter edges. A lower apex fitting couples the ballonet with the balloon at the balloon lip of the lower apex opening.

A balloon apparatus is provided having (1) a cage structure that includes (a) a plurality of vertical tendons, where each of the vertical tendons includes a first end and second end, where the first ends of the vertical tendons are all connected to one another and where the second ends of the vertical tendons are all connected to one another and (b) one or more horizontal tendons, where each horizontal tendon is attached to each of the vertical tendons at a corresponding level of the cage structure and (2) a balloon envelope, where the balloon envelop is arranged inside the cage structure and inflatable within the cage structure.

A balloon apparatus is provided having (1) a cage structure that includes (a) a plurality of vertical tendons, where each of the vertical tendons includes a first end and second end, where the first ends of the vertical tendons are all connected to one another and where the second ends of the vertical tendons are all connected to one another and (b) one or more horizontal tendons, where each horizontal tendon is attached to each of the vertical tendons at a corresponding level of the cage structure and (2) a balloon envelope, where the balloon envelop is arranged inside the cage structure and inflatable within the cage structure.

A balloon system including a balloon envelope and a ballonet positioned within the balloon envelope, and a plurality of internal panels extending within the balloon envelope between the ballonet and the balloon envelope, wherein the plurality of internal panels are attached to an outside of the ballonet and attached to an inside of the balloon envelope to support the ballonet within the balloon envelope during inflation of the ballonet.

A method for sheltering a balloon, a blimp, or airship. The method includes obtaining a first guideway by detachably attaching a first plurality of detachable rings to a first side of an outer surface of the balloon, placing a first rope into the first guideway by passing the first rope through the first plurality of detachable rings, attaching a first end of the first rope to a first point of a blanket, and pulling the blanket over the balloon by pulling a second end of the first rope in a first direction pulling the blanket over the balloon by pulling a second end of the first rope in a first direction.

A method for sheltering a balloon, a blimp, or airship. The method includes obtaining a first guideway by detachably attaching a first plurality of detachable rings to a first side of an outer surface of the balloon, placing a first rope into the first guideway by passing the first rope through the first plurality of detachable rings, attaching a first end of the first rope to a first point of a blanket, and pulling the blanket over the balloon by pulling a second end of the first rope in a first direction pulling the blanket over the balloon by pulling a second end of the first rope in a first direction.

A laminated load ring for a balloon assembly includes a plurality of ring stacking units stacked one on top of the other. Each of the ring stacking units can include a main body having a central opening, a plurality of arms, and at least one weld line. The plurality of arms may each extend away from the main body around a circumference of the main body. The at least one weld line can be formed on the main body. The plurality of arms of the plurality of ring stacking units may be aligned with one another. The weld line of each of the plurality of ring stacking units may be offset from the weld line of a directly adjacent ring stacking unit in a direction extending around the circumference of the laminated load ring.

The present invention provides a means of easily attaching and detaching a member that reinforces an envelope of a balloon to and from the envelope. Balloon 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises Inner Member 121 and Outer Member 123. Each of Inner Member 121 and Outer Member 123 is a disk-shaped member made of a plastic, a light metal, or other lightweight material. Inner Member 121 and Outer Member 123 are attached to Envelope 11 by tightening Bolts 125 and Nuts 126, with Envelope 11 therebetween. A donut-shaped Rubber Seal 122 is located on the surface of Inner Member 121 in contact with Envelope 11, and a donut-shaped Rubber Seal 124 is located on the surface of Outer Member 123 in contact with Envelope 11. Rubber Seal 122 and Rubber Seal 124 are pressed tightly against Envelope 11 as Bolts 125 and Nuts 126 are tightened, and Holes H2 provided in Envelope 11 to accommodate Bolts 125 are sealed.