CA2210478A1 - Inflatable cushion and method of making same - Google Patents
Inflatable cushion and method of making sameInfo
- Publication number
- CA2210478A1 CA2210478A1 CA002210478A CA2210478A CA2210478A1 CA 2210478 A1 CA2210478 A1 CA 2210478A1 CA 002210478 A CA002210478 A CA 002210478A CA 2210478 A CA2210478 A CA 2210478A CA 2210478 A1 CA2210478 A1 CA 2210478A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- flexible
- aperture
- conduit
- inflation valve
- inflation
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D81/02—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage
- B65D81/05—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
- A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses or cushions
- A47C27/081—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K15/00—Check valves
- F16K15/14—Check valves with flexible valve members
- F16K15/144—Check valves with flexible valve members the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery
- F16K15/147—Check valves with flexible valve members the closure elements being fixed along all or a part of their periphery the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K15/00—Check valves
- F16K15/20—Check valves specially designed for inflatable bodies, e.g. tyres
- F16K15/202—Check valves specially designed for inflatable bodies, e.g. tyres and with flexible valve member
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
- Buffer Packaging (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention relates to an inflatable cushion including a pair of flexible walls (10) welded together at their edges (12), an inflation valve (20) including a pair of flexible sheets (21, 22) welded together, so as to form a conduit (23) opens at its two ends for insertion of an inflation tube (30) or for inflation by a directed net of air, which is opened at its two ends. According to the invention, the inflation valve is affixed to an internal face of one of said flexible walls at a distance from the welded edges of the cushion, and opens to the outside of the cushion through an aperture (11) provided in one of the flexible walls to which the inflation valve is affixed.
Description
CA 022l0478 l997-07-24 P 212 425 WO (MAIN REQUEST) INFLATABLE CUS~ION AND MET~OD OF MAKING SAME
The present invention relates to an inflatable cushion inclu-ding a pair of flexible walls welded together at their edges, an inflation valve including a pair of flexible sheets welded together along two weld lines, said inflation valve being af-fixed to an internal face of one of said flexible walls by a welding line at a distance from said welded edges of said ~
cushion, and opening to this outside of said cushion through ,,' -an aperture provided in said one flexible wall to which said inflation valve is affixed to permit inflation of the cushion by insertion of an inflation tube or by a directed jet of air, said welding line surrounding said aperture and welding said one flexible wall and a first flexible sheet being adja-cent thereto together.
AMENDE~ St~T
C ~ 1~ S~ J
'~'O
/.. .
INFLATABLE CUS~IION AND METIYOD OF MAKING SAME ~ . . '~
The present invention relates i ~ eral to inflatable cushions for pacXages, and ~ particular to an inflatabie '', cushion comprising ~ e~ible walls welded together at ri-~
their edges a ~ inflation valve comprising two flexible . ' sheets w ~ d together, so as to Cor~ a conduit open at its two ~ for insertion of an inflation tube or for lnflation di_ec'ed lct of _ir.
Such an inflatable cushicn may ~e used advant2geously for packing articles of different dimensions znd shapes by wedg-ing szme in a rigid box.
An inflatable cusAion o~ hc -bc~- k nd is already known -_om th~ ~t~t~ Oc thc _', n ?~r ~cula~ '~0~. FP~ 2 686 322, in which the inflation valve located bet~een two flexible walls forming the cushion is welded at: one of its ends to the two flexible walls at their edges, leaving an aperture of the conduit open to the outside for insertion of an inflation tube.
This known inflatable cushion com~rises two flexible guide tabs that are needed for insertion of an inflation tube into the conduit. These flexible guide tabs project from one edge of the cushion and are welded at inflation valve to the edges of the flexible walls forming the cushion.
However, this known cushion has several disadvantages.
To begin with, it is required that an inflation tube be inserted into the interior of the conduit of the inflation valve of this known cushion. To insert such an inflation AhlEN~ED SHE~T
~ CA 02210478 1997-07-24 (~a~l ~ Q~EQuEsT) , ... .
tube, it is necessar~ to first spread the flexible guide tabs. Thus, it becomes dif icult: to realize an automatic -' insertion of the tube into the valve and it is not possible to inflate the cushion without inserting the inflation tube.
Further, the insertion of the inflation tube into the cushion, via the conduit of the inflation valve, for inflat-ing or deflating it, produces at the level of the openlng to the outside of the conduit of the valve a tenslon, ~hich acts upon the welded edges of ~he flexible cushion walls, t.~is tension being capable of causing the ed5es to te2r at this level.
.;
Finally, the inflation valve of this cushion can be posi-tioned only on one edge of the latter, ~hich is sometimes difficult to reali~e, when the cushion has a complex shape, and which can become a disadvantage in the conception of z pack2ge with an inflatable cushion.
To rem~dy to thc dra-~back3 of thc rreci~~d s'atc of _-t, .hc present invention proposes a new inflatable cushion in whi the inflation valve is located such that the inflation ~ e could be automatically inserted into the interior ~ he in-flat2ble cushion without producing tension upo ~ he welded edges of the flexible cushion walls. /
More particularly, according to ~ invention, the inflatable cushion includes a pair of ~ xible walls welded together at their edges, an inflatio ~ alve including a pair of flexible sheets welded toget ~ so as to form a conduit open at both ends, said inf ~ on valve being affixed to an internal face of one of ~ flexible walls at a distance from said welded edges ~ aid cushion, and opens to this outside of said cu ~ on through an aperture provided in said one flexible aai~ iL~ _o~ valvc ~cin~ af~i:~cd ~ pc~~
A~EN~D S~!E9 - 2a - (MAIN REQUEST) Another inflatable cushion is known from GB-A-1093212 in which the inflation valve comprises a pair of flexible plas-tic panels, one of which being welded to the inner face of one of the two flexible walls of the inflatable cushion, while the other one of said pair of flexible plastic panels being formed from a material which melts at a temperature higher than that of said wall or said one panel. The panels of the inflation valve are welded together at three of their , edges, defining one open end. The manufacture of this known inflatable cushion requires at least two kinds of material due to the different melting temperatures, resulting in in-creased costs for purchasing and storing. Moreover severals welding lines are necessary for sealing one end of the infla-tion valve and for affixing it to an internal face of one of the flexible walls of the inflatable cushion.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable cushion of the above-mentioned kind, the manu-facture of which is less complicated and less expensive.
To remedy to drawbac~s of the precited state of art, the pre-sent invention proposes a new in~latable cushion in which the inflation valve is located such that the inflation tube could be automatically inserted into the interior of the inflatable cushion without producing tension upon the welded edges of the flexible cushion walls.
More particularly, according to the invention, the above problem is solv~d in that said two weld lines form a conduit open at both ends and that said welding line covers said two weld lines and includes outside the conduit the second flex-ible sheet.
~.~E~D Sh~-~ CA 02210478 1997-07-24 _ ", _ (~A (~ Q~G~OES l ~ ~
inrla~i~n of _hc cu_hicn ~ r~ion of an infl~ 3 by a dir_c~~c jc~ o~
Also, advantageously, in accordance with the ccmplexity or shape of the cusAion and its use, the aperture provided in said flexible wall to which said infLation valve is affixed, is placed ln the appropriate reglon of said ~lexible wall. !
In particular, according to an embodiment of the cushion cb-ject of the lnvention said aperture in said one flexi~le wall to which said inflation wall is af~1xed is located in an , angle region of said cushion.
It is interesting to note that the insertion of the tube into the val-~e of the cushion according to the invention, for in-flating or deflating lt, acts in compression upon the welded edges of said flexible wall that contributes to held it ~ound.
~urther features, objets and advantages will ~e evident from the following detalled description o~ the pre~ered embodi-ments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, ln which :
- Figure 1 ls a partial plan vlew of a cushion in ac-cordance with the invention, in a deflated state, ., - Figure 2 ls an plan view o~ a first embodiment of the inflation valve of the inflatable cushion in accor-dznce with the invention, into which an inflation tube is inserted, - Figure 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the inflation valve of the in~1atable cushion in accord-AMENDED Sf~
W096/22926 PCT~P95/00271 ance with the invention, into which an inflation tube is inserted.
Shown in Figure 1 is an inflatable cushion comprising two walls 10 of a hot or high-frequency weldable, flexible plas-tic, which are welded together at their edges along a weld line 12 defining the peripheral edge of the cushion. This inflatable cushion comprises an inflation valve 20 consisting of two sheets 21, 22 of a hot or high-frequency weldable, flexible plastic (see Figures 2, 3), which are welded to-gether along two essentially parallel weld lines 24, so as to form a conduit 23 for an inflation tube 30 that is open at both ends. The inflation valve 20 is welded to one internal face of one of flexible cushion walls 10, at a distance from weld line 12 of the cushion, and opens to the outside of the latter through an aperture 11 which is provided in flexible wall 10, to which valve 20 is welded.
The weld seam 13 of inflation valve 20 on the flexible cushion wall 10 describes a circle, which surrounds aperture 11 that is provided in flexible wall 10, leaving flexible sheets 21, 22 of inflation valve 20 open at the level of con-duit 23, so as to permit the insertion of an inflation tube 30 into the interior of the cushion through aperture 11 and conduit 23.
Shown in Figure 2 is a first embodiment of an inflation valve 20. According to this embodiment, the flexible sheets 21, 22 forming the inflation valve 20 are of different lengths.
These sheets 21, 22 are arranged side by side and welded to-gether along weld lines 24, so that at one end of conduit 23 of inflation valve 20, the transverse edges 21a, 22a of fle-xible sheets 21, 22 are offset from one another in the axial direction of the valve. At the other end, the edges 21b, 22b SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) W 096/22926 PCTAEr95i'C~271 of sheets 21,22 overlie one another. This inflation valve is .
positioned in the interior of the inflatable cushion (see Figure 1), so that the flexible sheet 22 of inflation valve 20 with its edge 22a set back from edge 21a of the other fle-xible sheet 21, is positioned adjacent to the internal face of flexible cushion wall 10, to which the inflation valve is affixed, the offset edge 22a being adjacent to an edge of aperture 11 that is provided in said flexible wall 10.
The weld seam 13 of inflation valve 20 on wall 10 is such that on one portion of circle 13a, wall 10 and sheet 21 in-cluding forward edge 21a are welded together, that on two portions of circle 13b arranged on both sides of conduit 23, ~1exible wall 10 and thin sheets 21, 22 are welded together, and that over the width 13c of conduit 23, only wall 10 and adjacent sheet 22 are welded together, while leaving the other sheet 21 forming the valve detached, so as leave the conduit open.
To make an inflatable cushion in accordance with the inven-tion, as shown in Figure 1, which comprises an inflation valve as shown in Figure 2, and in which two flexible walls 10 are peripherally welded together, the following steps are carried out:
a) - A resist 26 is provided in conduit 23 Qf inflation valve 20 at its end which corresponds with transverse edges 21a,22a of offset flexible sheets 21, 22;
~ b) - The inflation valve 20 is placed against the inter-nal face of flexible cushion wall 10, so that fle-xible sheet 22 with its set back edge 22a is posi-tioned adjacent to the internal face of flexible wall 10, and that the end of conduit 23 provided with re-SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) W096/22926 PCT~P95/00271 sist 26 is positioned at the aperture 11 provided in flexible wall 10;
c) - The inflation valve 20 is welded to flexible wall 10 along welding line 13, which surrounds aperture 11 of flexible wall 10, and which covers resist 26.
The resist 26 may be made in the form of an individual tab of silicon or even paper. In this instance, the resist 26 is pulled out of conduit 23 through aperture 11 in flexible wall 10, after the welding step (c) of the foregoing process.
According to a variant of this method, the resist 26 is formed by printing an insulating material, such as, for example, a fast-drying varnish, on one of the opposite inter-nal faces of sheets 21, 22 forming the inflation valve. This printing occurs in step (a) of the above-described method.
When welding valve 20 to flexible wall 10, this resist 26 allows, in an advantageous manner, to leave the two sheets 21, 22 of the valve separated from one another at conduit 23, so as to thus permit the insertion of a flexible inflation tube into the interior of this valve. A major feature of this invention is that the construction of valve 20 is such that a directed let of air from an air nozzle (not shown) can be aimed at the outer end of the conduit 23 and this jet of air will open the conduit 23 and inflate the cushion without the necessity of inserting an inflation tube into the conduit 23.
This feature permits automatic inflation or very fast manual inflation.
Shown in Figure 3 is another embodiment of an inflation valve of the inflatable cushion in accordance with the invention.
In this embodiment, the flexible sheets 21, 22 forming this valve have the same dimensions. These sheets 21, 22 are su-SUBSTITUTE SH EET (RULE 26) W 096/22926 PcT/~9s/~27l perposed and welded together along welding lines 24, so as to form conduit 23. One of these flexible sheets 22 includes here a circular opening 25, which is located at one end of conduit 23 between the two welding lines 24. This inflation ~ valve is located in the interior of the flexible cushion in ~ .accordance with the invention, so that flexible sheet 22 with opening 25 is adjacent to the internal face of ~1exible wall lO, to which the inflation valve is attached, with opening 25 being opposite aperture 11 provided in flexible wall 10. In this instance, the thin sheets 21, 22 and flexible wall 10 are welded along a circular portion surrounding the two over-laid apertures 11, 25, and covering the two welding lines 24 that form conduit 23. It should be noted that at conduit 23, only the flexible wall 10 and thin wall 22 adjacent to the inflation valve are welded together, whereas the other thin sheet 21 remains detached, so that an inflation tube 30 can be inserted or a directed air jet can pass therethrough.
As one will note, a common characteristic of the inflation valves shown in Figures 2 and 3 is that the welding lines 24 of flexible sheets 21, 22 are locally spaced apart from one another, so that the conduit 23 of flexible inflation tube 30 that is created by welding lines 24 has a widening, which is located at a distance from the free end of the conduit placed in the interior of the cushion. This has the advantage that, when the inflation of the cushion is stopped and the tube 30 is still partially engaged in conduit 23, the two flexible sheets 21, 22 rest against one another duç to a distortion that is caused in the vicinity of the free end of the cond~it in the widening, so as to obstruct immediately the conduit and to thus prevent a partial deflation of the cushion.
Once inflated, the inflatable cushion of this invention has - advantageously a double seal at aperture ll in flexible wall 10 .
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) CA 022l0478 l997-07-24 W096/22926 PCT/~l5~ 271 A first seal is formed by the valve itself, which is self-closing by the two flexible sheets 21, 22 overlying one an-other.
A second seal is ensured by sealingly applying flexible sheet ~ 21 of the inflation valve, which is outermost with respect to flexible wall 10, to aperture 11, so as to obstruct same.
It is understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described and illustrated therein, but that a person skilled in the art will be able to conceive any variant within its scope.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
The present invention relates to an inflatable cushion inclu-ding a pair of flexible walls welded together at their edges, an inflation valve including a pair of flexible sheets welded together along two weld lines, said inflation valve being af-fixed to an internal face of one of said flexible walls by a welding line at a distance from said welded edges of said ~
cushion, and opening to this outside of said cushion through ,,' -an aperture provided in said one flexible wall to which said inflation valve is affixed to permit inflation of the cushion by insertion of an inflation tube or by a directed jet of air, said welding line surrounding said aperture and welding said one flexible wall and a first flexible sheet being adja-cent thereto together.
AMENDE~ St~T
C ~ 1~ S~ J
'~'O
/.. .
INFLATABLE CUS~IION AND METIYOD OF MAKING SAME ~ . . '~
The present invention relates i ~ eral to inflatable cushions for pacXages, and ~ particular to an inflatabie '', cushion comprising ~ e~ible walls welded together at ri-~
their edges a ~ inflation valve comprising two flexible . ' sheets w ~ d together, so as to Cor~ a conduit open at its two ~ for insertion of an inflation tube or for lnflation di_ec'ed lct of _ir.
Such an inflatable cushicn may ~e used advant2geously for packing articles of different dimensions znd shapes by wedg-ing szme in a rigid box.
An inflatable cusAion o~ hc -bc~- k nd is already known -_om th~ ~t~t~ Oc thc _', n ?~r ~cula~ '~0~. FP~ 2 686 322, in which the inflation valve located bet~een two flexible walls forming the cushion is welded at: one of its ends to the two flexible walls at their edges, leaving an aperture of the conduit open to the outside for insertion of an inflation tube.
This known inflatable cushion com~rises two flexible guide tabs that are needed for insertion of an inflation tube into the conduit. These flexible guide tabs project from one edge of the cushion and are welded at inflation valve to the edges of the flexible walls forming the cushion.
However, this known cushion has several disadvantages.
To begin with, it is required that an inflation tube be inserted into the interior of the conduit of the inflation valve of this known cushion. To insert such an inflation AhlEN~ED SHE~T
~ CA 02210478 1997-07-24 (~a~l ~ Q~EQuEsT) , ... .
tube, it is necessar~ to first spread the flexible guide tabs. Thus, it becomes dif icult: to realize an automatic -' insertion of the tube into the valve and it is not possible to inflate the cushion without inserting the inflation tube.
Further, the insertion of the inflation tube into the cushion, via the conduit of the inflation valve, for inflat-ing or deflating it, produces at the level of the openlng to the outside of the conduit of the valve a tenslon, ~hich acts upon the welded edges of ~he flexible cushion walls, t.~is tension being capable of causing the ed5es to te2r at this level.
.;
Finally, the inflation valve of this cushion can be posi-tioned only on one edge of the latter, ~hich is sometimes difficult to reali~e, when the cushion has a complex shape, and which can become a disadvantage in the conception of z pack2ge with an inflatable cushion.
To rem~dy to thc dra-~back3 of thc rreci~~d s'atc of _-t, .hc present invention proposes a new inflatable cushion in whi the inflation valve is located such that the inflation ~ e could be automatically inserted into the interior ~ he in-flat2ble cushion without producing tension upo ~ he welded edges of the flexible cushion walls. /
More particularly, according to ~ invention, the inflatable cushion includes a pair of ~ xible walls welded together at their edges, an inflatio ~ alve including a pair of flexible sheets welded toget ~ so as to form a conduit open at both ends, said inf ~ on valve being affixed to an internal face of one of ~ flexible walls at a distance from said welded edges ~ aid cushion, and opens to this outside of said cu ~ on through an aperture provided in said one flexible aai~ iL~ _o~ valvc ~cin~ af~i:~cd ~ pc~~
A~EN~D S~!E9 - 2a - (MAIN REQUEST) Another inflatable cushion is known from GB-A-1093212 in which the inflation valve comprises a pair of flexible plas-tic panels, one of which being welded to the inner face of one of the two flexible walls of the inflatable cushion, while the other one of said pair of flexible plastic panels being formed from a material which melts at a temperature higher than that of said wall or said one panel. The panels of the inflation valve are welded together at three of their , edges, defining one open end. The manufacture of this known inflatable cushion requires at least two kinds of material due to the different melting temperatures, resulting in in-creased costs for purchasing and storing. Moreover severals welding lines are necessary for sealing one end of the infla-tion valve and for affixing it to an internal face of one of the flexible walls of the inflatable cushion.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable cushion of the above-mentioned kind, the manu-facture of which is less complicated and less expensive.
To remedy to drawbac~s of the precited state of art, the pre-sent invention proposes a new in~latable cushion in which the inflation valve is located such that the inflation tube could be automatically inserted into the interior of the inflatable cushion without producing tension upon the welded edges of the flexible cushion walls.
More particularly, according to the invention, the above problem is solv~d in that said two weld lines form a conduit open at both ends and that said welding line covers said two weld lines and includes outside the conduit the second flex-ible sheet.
~.~E~D Sh~-~ CA 02210478 1997-07-24 _ ", _ (~A (~ Q~G~OES l ~ ~
inrla~i~n of _hc cu_hicn ~ r~ion of an infl~ 3 by a dir_c~~c jc~ o~
Also, advantageously, in accordance with the ccmplexity or shape of the cusAion and its use, the aperture provided in said flexible wall to which said infLation valve is affixed, is placed ln the appropriate reglon of said ~lexible wall. !
In particular, according to an embodiment of the cushion cb-ject of the lnvention said aperture in said one flexi~le wall to which said inflation wall is af~1xed is located in an , angle region of said cushion.
It is interesting to note that the insertion of the tube into the val-~e of the cushion according to the invention, for in-flating or deflating lt, acts in compression upon the welded edges of said flexible wall that contributes to held it ~ound.
~urther features, objets and advantages will ~e evident from the following detalled description o~ the pre~ered embodi-ments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, ln which :
- Figure 1 ls a partial plan vlew of a cushion in ac-cordance with the invention, in a deflated state, ., - Figure 2 ls an plan view o~ a first embodiment of the inflation valve of the inflatable cushion in accor-dznce with the invention, into which an inflation tube is inserted, - Figure 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the inflation valve of the in~1atable cushion in accord-AMENDED Sf~
W096/22926 PCT~P95/00271 ance with the invention, into which an inflation tube is inserted.
Shown in Figure 1 is an inflatable cushion comprising two walls 10 of a hot or high-frequency weldable, flexible plas-tic, which are welded together at their edges along a weld line 12 defining the peripheral edge of the cushion. This inflatable cushion comprises an inflation valve 20 consisting of two sheets 21, 22 of a hot or high-frequency weldable, flexible plastic (see Figures 2, 3), which are welded to-gether along two essentially parallel weld lines 24, so as to form a conduit 23 for an inflation tube 30 that is open at both ends. The inflation valve 20 is welded to one internal face of one of flexible cushion walls 10, at a distance from weld line 12 of the cushion, and opens to the outside of the latter through an aperture 11 which is provided in flexible wall 10, to which valve 20 is welded.
The weld seam 13 of inflation valve 20 on the flexible cushion wall 10 describes a circle, which surrounds aperture 11 that is provided in flexible wall 10, leaving flexible sheets 21, 22 of inflation valve 20 open at the level of con-duit 23, so as to permit the insertion of an inflation tube 30 into the interior of the cushion through aperture 11 and conduit 23.
Shown in Figure 2 is a first embodiment of an inflation valve 20. According to this embodiment, the flexible sheets 21, 22 forming the inflation valve 20 are of different lengths.
These sheets 21, 22 are arranged side by side and welded to-gether along weld lines 24, so that at one end of conduit 23 of inflation valve 20, the transverse edges 21a, 22a of fle-xible sheets 21, 22 are offset from one another in the axial direction of the valve. At the other end, the edges 21b, 22b SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) W 096/22926 PCTAEr95i'C~271 of sheets 21,22 overlie one another. This inflation valve is .
positioned in the interior of the inflatable cushion (see Figure 1), so that the flexible sheet 22 of inflation valve 20 with its edge 22a set back from edge 21a of the other fle-xible sheet 21, is positioned adjacent to the internal face of flexible cushion wall 10, to which the inflation valve is affixed, the offset edge 22a being adjacent to an edge of aperture 11 that is provided in said flexible wall 10.
The weld seam 13 of inflation valve 20 on wall 10 is such that on one portion of circle 13a, wall 10 and sheet 21 in-cluding forward edge 21a are welded together, that on two portions of circle 13b arranged on both sides of conduit 23, ~1exible wall 10 and thin sheets 21, 22 are welded together, and that over the width 13c of conduit 23, only wall 10 and adjacent sheet 22 are welded together, while leaving the other sheet 21 forming the valve detached, so as leave the conduit open.
To make an inflatable cushion in accordance with the inven-tion, as shown in Figure 1, which comprises an inflation valve as shown in Figure 2, and in which two flexible walls 10 are peripherally welded together, the following steps are carried out:
a) - A resist 26 is provided in conduit 23 Qf inflation valve 20 at its end which corresponds with transverse edges 21a,22a of offset flexible sheets 21, 22;
~ b) - The inflation valve 20 is placed against the inter-nal face of flexible cushion wall 10, so that fle-xible sheet 22 with its set back edge 22a is posi-tioned adjacent to the internal face of flexible wall 10, and that the end of conduit 23 provided with re-SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) W096/22926 PCT~P95/00271 sist 26 is positioned at the aperture 11 provided in flexible wall 10;
c) - The inflation valve 20 is welded to flexible wall 10 along welding line 13, which surrounds aperture 11 of flexible wall 10, and which covers resist 26.
The resist 26 may be made in the form of an individual tab of silicon or even paper. In this instance, the resist 26 is pulled out of conduit 23 through aperture 11 in flexible wall 10, after the welding step (c) of the foregoing process.
According to a variant of this method, the resist 26 is formed by printing an insulating material, such as, for example, a fast-drying varnish, on one of the opposite inter-nal faces of sheets 21, 22 forming the inflation valve. This printing occurs in step (a) of the above-described method.
When welding valve 20 to flexible wall 10, this resist 26 allows, in an advantageous manner, to leave the two sheets 21, 22 of the valve separated from one another at conduit 23, so as to thus permit the insertion of a flexible inflation tube into the interior of this valve. A major feature of this invention is that the construction of valve 20 is such that a directed let of air from an air nozzle (not shown) can be aimed at the outer end of the conduit 23 and this jet of air will open the conduit 23 and inflate the cushion without the necessity of inserting an inflation tube into the conduit 23.
This feature permits automatic inflation or very fast manual inflation.
Shown in Figure 3 is another embodiment of an inflation valve of the inflatable cushion in accordance with the invention.
In this embodiment, the flexible sheets 21, 22 forming this valve have the same dimensions. These sheets 21, 22 are su-SUBSTITUTE SH EET (RULE 26) W 096/22926 PcT/~9s/~27l perposed and welded together along welding lines 24, so as to form conduit 23. One of these flexible sheets 22 includes here a circular opening 25, which is located at one end of conduit 23 between the two welding lines 24. This inflation ~ valve is located in the interior of the flexible cushion in ~ .accordance with the invention, so that flexible sheet 22 with opening 25 is adjacent to the internal face of ~1exible wall lO, to which the inflation valve is attached, with opening 25 being opposite aperture 11 provided in flexible wall 10. In this instance, the thin sheets 21, 22 and flexible wall 10 are welded along a circular portion surrounding the two over-laid apertures 11, 25, and covering the two welding lines 24 that form conduit 23. It should be noted that at conduit 23, only the flexible wall 10 and thin wall 22 adjacent to the inflation valve are welded together, whereas the other thin sheet 21 remains detached, so that an inflation tube 30 can be inserted or a directed air jet can pass therethrough.
As one will note, a common characteristic of the inflation valves shown in Figures 2 and 3 is that the welding lines 24 of flexible sheets 21, 22 are locally spaced apart from one another, so that the conduit 23 of flexible inflation tube 30 that is created by welding lines 24 has a widening, which is located at a distance from the free end of the conduit placed in the interior of the cushion. This has the advantage that, when the inflation of the cushion is stopped and the tube 30 is still partially engaged in conduit 23, the two flexible sheets 21, 22 rest against one another duç to a distortion that is caused in the vicinity of the free end of the cond~it in the widening, so as to obstruct immediately the conduit and to thus prevent a partial deflation of the cushion.
Once inflated, the inflatable cushion of this invention has - advantageously a double seal at aperture ll in flexible wall 10 .
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) CA 022l0478 l997-07-24 W096/22926 PCT/~l5~ 271 A first seal is formed by the valve itself, which is self-closing by the two flexible sheets 21, 22 overlying one an-other.
A second seal is ensured by sealingly applying flexible sheet ~ 21 of the inflation valve, which is outermost with respect to flexible wall 10, to aperture 11, so as to obstruct same.
It is understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described and illustrated therein, but that a person skilled in the art will be able to conceive any variant within its scope.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
Claims
An inflatable cushion including a pair of flexible walls (10) welded together at their edges (12), an inflation valve (20) including a pair of flexible sheets (21, 22) welded together along two weld lines (24) said inflation valve (20) being affixed to an internal face of one of said flexible walls by a welding line (13) at a distance from said welded edges (12) of said cushion, and opening to this outside of said cushion through an aperture (11) provided in said one flexible wall (10) to which said inflation valve is affixed to permit inflation of the cushion by insertion of an inflation tube or by a directed jet of air, said welding line (13) surrounding said aperture (11) and welding said one flexible wall and a first flexible sheet (22) being adjacent thereto together, characterized in that said two weld lines (24) form a conduit (23) open at both ends, one end of which communicating with the aperture (11) and that said welding line (13) covers said two weld lines (24) and includes outside the conduit (23) the second flexible sheet (21).
9a (MAIN REQUEST) 2 .
An inflatable cushion according to claim 1, characterized in that at one end of said conduit (23) of said inflation valve (20), the transverse edges (21a, 22a) of said flexible sheets (21, 22) forming said valve are shifted from each other, said flexible sheet (22) including the inner edge (22a) being adjacent to the internal face of said one flexible wall to which said inflation valve (20) is affixed, said inner edge being located in the vicinity of the edge of said aperture (11) provided in said one flexible wall (10).
3.
An inflatable cushion according to claim 1 characterized in that said inflation valve (20) includes an aperture (25) formed in one of said flexible sheets (22) which is located adjacent to the internal face of said one flexible wall (10) to which said inflation valve is affixed, said aperture (25) being located at one end of said conduit (23), between the welding lines (24) forming said conduit, and facing said aperture (11) provided in said one flexible wall (10) to which said inflation valve (20) is affixed.
4.
An inflatable cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said aperture in said one flexible wall to which said inflation wall is affixed is located in an angle region of said cushion.
5.
An inflatable cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, in the inflated condition, it provides at said aperture (11) provided in said one flexible wall (10) a first seal established by the mutual engagement of said pair of flexible sheets (21, 22) of said inflation valve, and a second seal established by the engagement of one of said flexible sheets of said inflation valve with said aperture (11) so as to obstruct same.
6.
A method for manufacturing an inflatable cushion according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible walls, positioned one against the other, are peripherally welded together, characterized in that it includes the steps consisting in :
6.
A method for manufacturing an inflatable cushion according to claim 2, wherein a) the flexible walls (10), positioned one against the other, are peripherally welded together, b) the flexible sheets (21, 22) are welded together along two weld lines (24) to form an inflation valve (20), having a conduit (23) open at both ends, c) providing an interference member (26) in said conduit (23) of said inflation valve (20), at the end of said conduit (23) corresponding to the shifted transverse edges (21a, 22a) of said flexible sheets (21, 22), d) positioning said inflation valve (20) against the internal face of one of said flexible walls (10) provided with an aperture (11) in such manner that said flexible sheet (22) of said valve including the inner edge (22a) is located adjacent to the internal face of said flexible wall (10), and that the open end of the conduit (23), comprising said inner edge (22a) and said interference member (26), is located at said aperture (11) and communicates therewith, e) welding said inflation valve (20) to said flexible wall (10) along a welding line (13) which surrounds that aperture (11) of said flexible wall (10) and extends across said interference member (26), said welding line (13) including outside the conduit (23) the second flexible sheet (21) and said interference member (26) preventing inside the conduit (23) the two flexible sheets (21, 22) from being welded together.
a) providing an interference member (26) in said conduit (23) of said inflation valve (20), at the end of said conduit (23) corresponding to the shifted transverse edges (21a, 22a) of said flexible sheets (21, 22), b) positioning said inflation (20) against the internal face of one of said flexible walls (10) provided with an aperture (11) in such manner that said flexible sheet (22) of said valve including the inner edge (22a) is located adjacent to the internal face of said flexible wall (10), and that said interference member (26) is located at said aperture (11), c) welding said inflation valve (20) to said flexible wall (10) along a welding line (13) which surrounds said aperture (11) of said flexible wall (10) and extends across said interference member (26).
7.
A method according to claim 6, characterized in that said interference member (26) is made of an individual tab in an insulating material, and it further includes a final step of extracting said interference member (26) from said conduit (23) via said aperture (11) of said flexible wall (10).
8.
A method according to claim 6, characterized in that said step a) further includes the printing of an insulating material on one of said opposite internal faces of said flexible sheets (21, 22) forming said inflation valve (20) at the end of said conduit (23) corresponding to said shifted transverse edges (21a, 22a), in order to form said interference member (26).
9a (MAIN REQUEST) 2 .
An inflatable cushion according to claim 1, characterized in that at one end of said conduit (23) of said inflation valve (20), the transverse edges (21a, 22a) of said flexible sheets (21, 22) forming said valve are shifted from each other, said flexible sheet (22) including the inner edge (22a) being adjacent to the internal face of said one flexible wall to which said inflation valve (20) is affixed, said inner edge being located in the vicinity of the edge of said aperture (11) provided in said one flexible wall (10).
3.
An inflatable cushion according to claim 1 characterized in that said inflation valve (20) includes an aperture (25) formed in one of said flexible sheets (22) which is located adjacent to the internal face of said one flexible wall (10) to which said inflation valve is affixed, said aperture (25) being located at one end of said conduit (23), between the welding lines (24) forming said conduit, and facing said aperture (11) provided in said one flexible wall (10) to which said inflation valve (20) is affixed.
4.
An inflatable cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said aperture in said one flexible wall to which said inflation wall is affixed is located in an angle region of said cushion.
5.
An inflatable cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, in the inflated condition, it provides at said aperture (11) provided in said one flexible wall (10) a first seal established by the mutual engagement of said pair of flexible sheets (21, 22) of said inflation valve, and a second seal established by the engagement of one of said flexible sheets of said inflation valve with said aperture (11) so as to obstruct same.
6.
A method for manufacturing an inflatable cushion according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible walls, positioned one against the other, are peripherally welded together, characterized in that it includes the steps consisting in :
6.
A method for manufacturing an inflatable cushion according to claim 2, wherein a) the flexible walls (10), positioned one against the other, are peripherally welded together, b) the flexible sheets (21, 22) are welded together along two weld lines (24) to form an inflation valve (20), having a conduit (23) open at both ends, c) providing an interference member (26) in said conduit (23) of said inflation valve (20), at the end of said conduit (23) corresponding to the shifted transverse edges (21a, 22a) of said flexible sheets (21, 22), d) positioning said inflation valve (20) against the internal face of one of said flexible walls (10) provided with an aperture (11) in such manner that said flexible sheet (22) of said valve including the inner edge (22a) is located adjacent to the internal face of said flexible wall (10), and that the open end of the conduit (23), comprising said inner edge (22a) and said interference member (26), is located at said aperture (11) and communicates therewith, e) welding said inflation valve (20) to said flexible wall (10) along a welding line (13) which surrounds that aperture (11) of said flexible wall (10) and extends across said interference member (26), said welding line (13) including outside the conduit (23) the second flexible sheet (21) and said interference member (26) preventing inside the conduit (23) the two flexible sheets (21, 22) from being welded together.
a) providing an interference member (26) in said conduit (23) of said inflation valve (20), at the end of said conduit (23) corresponding to the shifted transverse edges (21a, 22a) of said flexible sheets (21, 22), b) positioning said inflation (20) against the internal face of one of said flexible walls (10) provided with an aperture (11) in such manner that said flexible sheet (22) of said valve including the inner edge (22a) is located adjacent to the internal face of said flexible wall (10), and that said interference member (26) is located at said aperture (11), c) welding said inflation valve (20) to said flexible wall (10) along a welding line (13) which surrounds said aperture (11) of said flexible wall (10) and extends across said interference member (26).
7.
A method according to claim 6, characterized in that said interference member (26) is made of an individual tab in an insulating material, and it further includes a final step of extracting said interference member (26) from said conduit (23) via said aperture (11) of said flexible wall (10).
8.
A method according to claim 6, characterized in that said step a) further includes the printing of an insulating material on one of said opposite internal faces of said flexible sheets (21, 22) forming said inflation valve (20) at the end of said conduit (23) corresponding to said shifted transverse edges (21a, 22a), in order to form said interference member (26).
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002210478A CA2210478A1 (en) | 1995-01-25 | 1995-01-25 | Inflatable cushion and method of making same |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002210478A CA2210478A1 (en) | 1995-01-25 | 1995-01-25 | Inflatable cushion and method of making same |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2210478A1 true CA2210478A1 (en) | 1996-08-01 |
Family
ID=4161070
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002210478A Abandoned CA2210478A1 (en) | 1995-01-25 | 1995-01-25 | Inflatable cushion and method of making same |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2210478A1 (en) |
-
1995
- 1995-01-25 CA CA002210478A patent/CA2210478A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |