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US 2004/0055640 A1Published application
Valves and methods for manufacturing the valves
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsFrederick J. Dojan, Klaas P. Hazenberg, Joel L. Passke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Valves and methods for manufacturing the valves are disclosed. The valves are formed from a plurality of flexible polymer layers. A radio frequency bonding process, or the like, is utilized to form welds between the various layers. In general, a sub-assembly is formed that includes a valve layer bonded to a substrate layer. The sub-assembly is bonded to a second element such that a channel is formed between the valve layer and the second element. The channel includes an inlet, an outlet, and a pair of weld beads located in the inlet that place the inlet in an open configuration.
Claims74
A method of manufacturing a valve from a plurality of flexible polymer layers, the method comprising steps of:
- constructing a first sub-assembly by forming a first substrate weld between a first valve layer and a first substrate layer, said first valve layer having an inlet portion and an outlet portion;
- aligning said first sub-assembly with a second element such that said first valve layer is positioned between said first substrate layer and said second element;
- and
- bonding said first valve layer with said second element by forming a pair of spaced channel welds between said first valve layer and said second element, said channel welds defining a channel located between said first valve layer and said second element and between said channel welds, said channel having an inlet adjacent to said inlet portion and an outlet adjacent to said outlet portion.
1 more element
A method of manufacturing a valve from a plurality of flexible polymer layers, including a first valve layer, a first substrate layer, a second valve layer, and a second substrate layer, the method comprising steps of:
- constructing a first sub-assembly by forming a first substrate weld between said first valve layer and said first substrate layer, said first valve layer having a first inlet portion and a first outlet portion;
- constructing a second sub-assembly by forming a second substrate weld between said second valve layer and said second substrate layer, said second valve layer having a second inlet portion and a second outlet portion;
- aligning said first sub-assembly with said second sub-assembly such that said first valve layer is overlaying and adjacent to said second valve layer and said substrate layers encompass said valve layers;
- and
- bonding said first valve layer with said second valve layer by forming a pair of spaced channel welds between said valve layers, said channel welds defining a channel located between said valve layers and between said channel welds, said channel having an inlet adjacent to said inlet portions and an opposite outlet adjacent to said outlet portions.
2 more elements
A method of manufacturing a valve from a plurality of flexible polymer layers, including a first valve layer, a first substrate layer, a second valve layer, and a second substrate layer, the method comprising steps of:
- constructing a first sub-assembly by forming a first substrate weld between said first valve layer and said first substrate layer, said first valve layer having a first inlet end and an opposite first outlet end;
- constructing a second sub-assembly by forming a second substrate weld between said second valve layer and said second substrate layer, said second valve layer having a second inlet end and an opposite second outlet end;
- aligning said first sub-assembly with said second sub-assembly such that said first valve layer is overlaying and adjacent to said second valve layer and said substrate layers encompass said valve layers;
- and
- bonding said first valve layer with said second valve layer by forming a pair of spaced channel welds between said valve layers and forming a pair of inlet weld beads, said channel welds defining a channel located between said valve layers and between said channel welds, said channel having an inlet adjacent to said inlet ends and an opposite outlet adjacent to said outlet ends, said inlet weld beads being located within said inlet to place said inlet in an open configuration.
2 more elements
A method of manufacturing a valve from a plurality of flexible polymer layers, including a first valve layer, a first substrate layer, a second valve layer, and a second substrate layer, the method comprising steps of:
- constructing a first sub-assembly by forming a first substrate weld between said first valve layer and said first substrate layer with a first RF die that includes a first weld flow director to inhibit formation of weld beads adjacent to said first substrate weld, said first valve layer having a first inlet end and an opposite first outlet end;
- constructing a second sub-assembly by forming a second substrate weld between said second valve layer and said second substrate layer with a second RF die that includes a second weld flow director to inhibit formation of weld beads adjacent to said second substrate weld, said second valve layer having a second inlet end and an opposite second outlet end;
- aligning said first sub-assembly with said second sub-assembly such that said first valve layer is overlaying and adjacent to said second valve layer and said substrate layers encompass said valve layers;
- and
- bonding said first valve layer with said second valve layer by forming a pair of spaced channel welds between said valve layers and forming a pair of inlet weld beads, said channel welds and said inlet weld beads being formed by a pair of RF dies having a pair of weld flow directors, said channel welds defining a channel located between said valve layers and between said channel welds, said channel having an inlet adjacent to said inlet ends and an opposite outlet adjacent to said outlet ends, said inlet weld beads being located within said inlet to place said inlet in an open configuration.
2 more elements
A valve comprising:
- a first valve layer and a second valve layer, each said valve layer having an inlet portion and an outlet portion;
- a pair of spaced channel welds located between said valve layers, said channel welds bonding said valve layers to each other;
- a channel located between said valve layers and between said channel welds, said channel having an inlet located adjacent to said inlet portions and an outlet located adjacent to said outlet portions;
- and
- a pair of weld beads located in said inlet and adjacent said channel welds, said weld beads placing said inlet in an open configuration.
2 more elements
A valve comprising:
- a first valve layer having a first inlet end and an opposite first outlet end, said first valve layer defining an outlet aperture in said first outlet end;
- a second valve layer having a second inlet end and an opposite second outlet end;
- a pair of spaced channel welds located between said valve layers, said channel welds bonding said valve layers to each other, and said channel welds being joined at said outlet ends;
- a channel located between said valve layers and between said channel welds, said channel having an inlet located adjacent to said inlet ends and an outlet, said outlet aperture forming said outlet;
- and
- a pair of weld beads located in said inlet and adjacent said channel welds, said weld beads placing said inlet in an open configuration.
3 more elements
A method of manufacturing a valve from a plurality of flexible polymer layers, including a valve layer, a first substrate layer, and a second substrate layer, the method comprising steps of:
- constructing a sub-assembly by forming a substrate weld between said valve layer and said first substrate layer, said valve layer having an inlet portion and an outlet portion;
- aligning said sub-assembly with said second substrate layer such that said valve layer is positioned between said substrate layers;
- and
- bonding said valve layer with said second substrate layer by forming a pair of spaced channel welds between said valve layer and said second substrate layer, said channel welds defining a channel located between said valve layer and said second substrate layer and between said channel welds, said channel having an inlet adjacent to said inlet portion and an opposite outlet adjacent to said outlet portion.
1 more element
A method of manufacturing a valve from a plurality of flexible polymer layers, including a valve layer, a first substrate layer, and a second substrate layer, the method comprising steps of:
- constructing a sub-assembly by forming a substrate weld between said valve layer and said first substrate layer, said valve layer having an inlet end and an opposite outlet end;
- aligning said sub-assembly with said second substrate layer such that said valve layer is positioned between said substrate layers;
- and
- bonding said valve layer with said second substrate layer by forming a pair of spaced channel welds between said valve layer and said second substrate layer and forming a pair of inlet weld beads, said channel welds defining a channel located between said valve layer and said second substrate layer and between said channel welds, said channel having an inlet adjacent to said inlet end and an opposite outlet adjacent to said outlet end, said inlet weld beads being located within said inlet to place said inlet in an open configuration.
1 more element
A valve comprising:
- a valve layer having an inlet portion and an outlet portion;
- a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer, said valve layer being positioned between said substrate layers;
- a substrate weld formed between said first substrate layer and said valve layer, said substrate weld bonding said valve layer with said first substrate layer;
- a pair of spaced channel welds located between said valve layer and said second substrate layer, said channel welds bonding said valve layer with said second substrate layer;
- a channel located between said valve layer and said second substrate layer and between said channel welds, said channel having an inlet located adjacent to said inlet portion and an outlet located adjacent to said outlet portion;
- and
- a pair of weld beads located in said inlet and adjacent said channel welds, said weld beads placing said inlet in an open configuration.
4 more elements
A valve comprising:
- a valve layer having an inlet end and an opposite outlet end, said valve layer defining an outlet aperture in said outlet end;
- a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer, said valve layer being positioned between said substrate layers;
- a substrate weld formed between said first substrate layer and said valve layer, said substrate weld bonding said valve layer with said first substrate layer;
- a pair of spaced channel welds located between said valve layer and said second substrate layer, said channel welds bonding said valve layer with said second substrate layer, and said channel welds being joined at said outlet end;
- a channel located between said valve layer and said second substrate layer and between said channel welds, said channel having an inlet located adjacent to said inlet end and an outlet, said outlet aperture forming said outlet;
- and
- a pair of weld beads located in said inlet and adjacent said channel welds, said weld beads placing said inlet in an open configuration.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.