A fluid container apparatus, inflatable by a compressed inert gas, for protecting a product therein, comprising:
- first and second flexible membranes superposed with each other, each of said first and second flexible membranes including
- an outer surface having an outer channel portion, an outer chamber portion, and an outer valve portion disposed therebetween, and
- an inner surface having an inner channel portion, an inner chamber portion, and an inner valve portion disposed therebetween,
- wherein each of said outer channel, outer chamber, and outer valve portions of said outer surface correspond to said inner channel portion, said inner chamber portion, and said inner valve portion of said inner surface, each of said inner surfaces of said first and second flexible membranes are oriented to face each other,
- and wherein said first and second flexible membranes are sealed along a periphery having a channel inlet configured to receive the compressed inert gas;
- a third flexible membrane including
- an upper surface having upper and lower chamber portions, and a middle chamber portion disposed therebetween, and
- a lower surface having upper and lower valve portions, and a middle channel portion disposed therebetween, said upper valve portion having an upper interior edge, said lower valve portion having a lower interior edge disposed opposite said upper interior edge,
- wherein said upper valve portion of said third flexible membrane couples to said inner valve portion of said first flexible membrane, said third flexible membrane being folded so that either said lower valve portion or said lower chamber portion faces and couples to said inner valve portion of said second flexible membrane;
- at least one chamber formed at least partially by said inner chamber portions of said first and second flexible membranes and said upper and middle chamber portions, and either said lower chamber portion or said lower valve portion, said at least one chamber having a width,
- a channel formed at least partially by said outer and inner channel portions of said first and second flexible membranes, said middle channel portion of said third flexible membrane, and said channel inlet;
- and
- at least one first check valve assembly formed by said upper valve portion of said third flexible membrane, and said inner valve portion of said first flexible membrane, said at least one first check valve assembly extending across said width, said at least one first check valve assembly further characterized by a plurality of misaligned and arrayed upper bonded portions disposed along at least a portion of said upper valve portion, such that the plurality of misaligned and arrayed upper bonded portions form a plurality of flow paths formed within said width, for the compressed inert gas to move therealong,
- wherein said at least one first check valve assembly is configured to allow compressed inert gas to flow from said channel to said at least one chamber when the fluid container apparatus is being inflated,
- and wherein said at least one first check valve assembly inhibits the flow of compressed inert gas from said at least one chamber to said channel once the fluid container apparatus is inflated.