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US 2011/0297247 A1Published application
Vent Seal for Inflatable Devices
AssigneeThe Deutsch Company
InventorsRobert Deutsch, Shane Spruill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A seal for vent openings of inflatable structures is provided that includes an interior and an exterior component that can be affixed to each other and to the inflatable structure and allows for higher pressures to be maintained within the inflatable structure.
Claims19
A vent seal for inflatable devices comprising:
- a first component for covering a vent opening of an inflatable device, the first component including hook and loop fastener material and being attached to an outer wall of the inflatable device near the vent opening, with hook and loop fastener material included on an area of the outer wall of the inflatable device around the vent opening;
- and
- a second component for covering the vent opening of the inflatable device from the inside of the inflatable device, the second component including hook and loop fastener material and being attached to an inner wall of the inflatable device near the vent opening;
- wherein the first and second component are designed and positioned so that in a closed position the first component covers the vent opening and is affixed to the area of the outer wall of the inflatable device and the first component covers the vent opening and is affixed to the second component.
1 more element
An inflatable device comprising:
- an inflatable structure including an inlet and an outlet;
- a fastener material on an area of an outer wall of the inflatable structure around the outlet;
- and
- a sealable closure including:
- a first component for covering the outlet attached to an outer wall of the inflatable device near the outlet and including fastener material on at least one side such that the first component is affixed to the area of the outer wall of the inflatable device around the outlet when positioned to cover the outlet;
- a second component for covering the outlet attached to an inner wall of the inflatable device near the outlet and including fastener material on at least one side such that the second component is affixed to the first component when the first component and the second component are positioned to cover the outlet.
3 more elements
A method for sealing vents of inflatable structures comprising the steps of:
- inflating an inflatable structure;
- closing an inner component of a seal over a vent opening, the inner component including hook and loop fastener material and being attached to an inner wall of the inflatable structure next to the vent opening;
- and
- closing an outer component of the seal over the vent opening, the outer component and an outer wall of the inflatable structure around the vent opening having hook and loop fastener material whereby the outer component is affixed to both the inner component and the outer wall of the inflatable structure around the vent opening.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.