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US 7,395,833 B2Granted
Check-valve for reduction of leakage caused by valve flapping
OwnerAkira Nakamurainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A check valve that reduces leakage caused by flapping is disclosed. The shape of the heat seals focus the flow of gas in the valve so that the flapping that results from using elongated parallel heat seals is reduced. Alternative embodiments also enable tying of balloons while reducing the risk of leaking. Balloons can also be inflated at a greater rate without risk of leakage thereby reducing labor costs and the reduction in leaks also reduces the return of faulty products.
Claims26
A check valve comprising:
- first and second sheets of material having peripheral edges;
- an outlet portion formed by a first non-parallel set of heat-seals between said first and second sheets of material, wherein said first non parallel set of heat-seals begins at a first location and ends at a second location, and the distance from said peripheral edges to said second location is greater than the distance from said peripheral edges to said first location;
- an outlet located at said second location;
- a bonding area spanning the peripheral edges;
- an inlet portion formed by a second set of heat-seals between said first and second sheets of material;
- and an inlet located on said inlet portion.
3 more elements
A check valve comprising:
- first and second sheets of material having peripheral edges;
- an outlet portion formed by a first set of parallel heat-seals between said first and second sheets of material;
- an outlet located at a distal end of said outlet portion,
- an inlet portion formed by a second set of heat-seals between said first and second sheets of material;
- an inlet located on said inlet portion;
- and
- a plurality of reinforcing heat-seals between said first and second sheets of material formed at locations outside of said inlet portion and said outlet portion.
4 more elements
A method for reducing flapping in a balloon comprising the steps of:
- providing a device requiring a check valve;
- placing a check valve in said device wherein said check valve comprises;
- first and second sheets of material having peripheral edges;
- an outlet portion formed by a first non-parallel set of heat-seals between said first and second sheets of material, wherein said first non parallel set of heat-seals begins at a first location and ends at a second location, and the distance from said peripheral edges to said second location is greater than the distance from said peripheral edges to said first location;
- an outlet located at said second location;
- an inlet portion formed by a second set of heat-seals between said first and second sheets of material;
- a bonding area spanning the peripheral edges;
- and an inlet located on said inlet portion;
- and inflating said balloon.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.