# US 11,306,834 B1 · Flapper valve

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- Number: US 11,306,834 B1
- Document ID: US11306834B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/217,066
- Filed: 2021-03-30
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-30
- Assignees: Essex Industries, Inc.
- Applicants: Essex Industries, Inc.
- Inventors: Ryan Chase; Phil Hampton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306834B1

## CPC

- F16K 15/031: {the hinge being flexible}
- F16K 27/0209: {Check valves or pivoted valves}
- B64D 37/005: {Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28}
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT

## Abstract

A flapper valve comprising a generally rigid flap which is mounted within a flexible body coating. The hinge in the flexible body is formed by using an internal reinforcement material having a permeated structure which allows for the body material to penetrate through the reinforcement material during the valve formation. This provides for a more sturdy hinge which better resists wear.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flapper valve comprising:
a flapper;
a sheet of reinforcement material, said reinforcement material having a permeable structure; and
a body, the body enclosing said reinforcement material and a portion of said flapper around a periphery of said flapper, said body forming a ring which extends over a portion of each major surface of said flapper, said body material permeating through said permeable structure of said reinforcement material;
wherein, said body extending around said periphery of said flapper forms a connector portion spaced from said flapper, said body also forming a trough between said periphery of said flapper and said connector portion which extends across the sheet of reinforcement material; and
wherein said trough forms a natural hinge for said flapper to rotate relative to said connector portion of said body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1 wherein said flapper is in the shape of a disk.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1 further comprising an opening through said connector portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The valve of claim 3 further comprising at least one additional opening through said connector portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The valve of claim 3 wherein said opening extends through said body and said reinforcement material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1 wherein said flapper is formed from at least one of metal, fiberglass, or plastic.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1 wherein said reinforcement material comprises a woven fabric.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1 wherein said reinforcement material comprises a formed mesh.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1 wherein said reinforcement material is formed from at least one of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyester, nylon, or poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1 wherein said body is formed from at least one of rubber or plastic.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The valve of claim 1 wherein, a portion of said body is between said reinforcement material and said flapper.