GB2094396A

GB2094396A - Sealing device

Info

Publication number: GB2094396A
Application number: GB8205681A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-03-06
Filing date: 1982-02-26
Publication date: 1982-09-15
Also published as: IT8212457A0; FR2501020A1; IT1157646B; FR2501020B1; JPS57160404A; DE3208026A1

Abstract

For the releasable fluidtight sealing together of adjacent edges of flexible sheet material (19) in for example a diving dress or inflatable construction, a sealing device has a pair of part-envelopes 1,2 secured each to a respective edge and open towards each other and each containing a resiliently deformable sealing element 5, 6. A pair of slide fasteners 7-12 are mounted on opposed edges of the part-envelopes and, when the slide fasteners are in fastened condition, the deformable sealing elements are pressed and deformed against each other to form a fluidtight seal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sealing device The present invention relates to a flexible and deformable fluidtight sealing device, its object being to provide an improved device particularly intended for the equipping of protective clothing and diving dress, and which can be applied to inflatable structures for boats, tents and the like.

In a known device, the closure means seeks to obtain fluidtightness along the length of the tape elements of slide fasteners, and also to the rear of the slider which itself serves as a closure at the end of its closing run. As a result there is uncertainty of the fluid-tightness about the slide.

Furthermore the operation of the slider is difficult because it must assure the forcible joining of the two tapes to be brought together and usually constituted of materials which are stiff or rigid.

Further, during bending deformations, the surfaces tend to separate.

The device of the present invention eliminates these inconveniences and permits the obtaining of a total and flexible closure, and easier operation.

According to the present invention, a device, for the releasable fluidtight sealing together of adjacent edges of flexible sheet material, comprises a pair of part-envelopes for securing each to a respective sheet edge so as to be open towards each other, a respective resiliently deformable sealing element positioned along within each part-envelope, and a pair of slide fasteners each mounted on respective opposed edges of the part-enevelopes, the arrangement being such that with each of the slide fasteners in fastened condition the two deformable sealing elements are pressed and deformed one against the other to form a fluidtight seal between the edges of sheet material.

In a preferred construction, each deformable sealing element includes an enclosing sheath of deformable sheet material connected in fluidtight manner to its part-envelope.

Longitudinal connector means may be provided to position the deformable sealing elements within the part-envelopes and provide fluidtight sealing between the part-envelopes and the sheet material.

Further in accordance with the invention, an article such as piece of clothing incorporates flexible sheet material and has such a sealing device secured at edges of the sheet material, the part-envelopes being secured in fluidtight manner to the sheet material at each end of the sealing device.

Further, the sealing elements are advantageously secured together in fluidtight manner at each end of the sealing device.

In order that the nature of the invention may be readily ascertained, an embodiment thereof is hereinafter particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows the sealing device, seen in transverse section in open condition; Fig. 2 shows the device in closed condition; Fig. 3 is a perspective of the device in closed condition.

The sealing device is constituted by a sleeve formed by two part-envelopes 1 and 2, the connector means 3, 4 of which support the sealing elements 5, 6.

Each edge of the part-envelopes of the sleeve is fast to the tape elements 7, 8 and 9, 10 of slide fasteners with external sliders 11, 12.

The sealing elements include cylindrical envelopes 5', 6', in the example given, fixed along all of the length of the device and formed by a flexible sheet of synthetic resinous plastics. The chamber within the envelopes can be filled with materials such as expanded foam, fluids, liquids or gases or be constituted by a one-piece element integrated with or independent from the envelope.

These envelopes can be glued or welded in position.

In order to facilitate use of the sliders, spacers 13,'14 are provided at the upper part of the elements 5, 6, and 13', 14' at the lower part, to space away the spiders 11, 12.

Upon bringing together the tape element 9, 10 and 7, 8, the sheath, closed at its ends 17, 18, locks the elements 5, 6 very strongly together along their entire length 1 5. These elements 5, 6 by their continuous contact over a large surface area 1 6 will assure an absolute fluidtightness along all of the length denoted by arrow 1 5, Fig. 3.

The fluidtight elements 5, 6 are not filled with the filling material at their ends, such that their envelopes 5', 6' can be assembled by glueing or welding with each end of the sleeve.

The sleeve, Fig. 3, is connected to the sheets 1 9 to be made fluidtight. This flexible and resilient sealing device retains its fluidtightness no matter what bending deformations it may undergo. The slide fasteners are likewise protected against tearing and forces which might be greater than their strength.

1. A device, for the releasable fluidtight sealing together of adjacent edges of flexible sheet material, comprising a pair of part-envelopes for securing each to a respective sheet edge so as to be open towards each other, a respective resiliently deformable sealing element positioned along within each part-envelope, and a pair of slide fasteners each mounted on respective opposed edges of the part-envelopes, the arrangement being such that with each of the slide fasteners in fastened condition the two deformable sealing elements are pressed and deformed one against the other to form a fluidtight seal between the edges of sheet material.

2. A device, as claimed in ciaim 1, wherein each deformable sealing element includes an enclosing sheath of deformable sheet material connected in fluidtight manner to its part-envelope.

3. A device, as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, comprising longitudinal connector means serving to position the deformable sealing elements within the part-envelopes and providing

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Sealing device The present invention relates to a flexible and deformable fluidtight sealing device, its object being to provide an improved device particularly intended for the equipping of protective clothing and diving dress, and which can be applied to inflatable structures for boats, tents and the like. In a known device, the closure means seeks to obtain fluidtightness along the length of the tape elements of slide fasteners, and also to the rear of the slider which itself serves as a closure at the end of its closing run. As a result there is uncertainty of the fluid-tightness about the slide. Furthermore the operation of the slider is difficult because it must assure the forcible joining of the two tapes to be brought together and usually constituted of materials which are stiff or rigid. Further, during bending deformations, the surfaces tend to separate. The device of the present invention eliminates these inconveniences and permits the obtaining of a total and flexible closure, and easier operation. According to the present invention, a device, for the releasable fluidtight sealing together of adjacent edges of flexible sheet material, comprises a pair of part-envelopes for securing each to a respective sheet edge so as to be open towards each other, a respective resiliently deformable sealing element positioned along within each part-envelope, and a pair of slide fasteners each mounted on respective opposed edges of the part-enevelopes, the arrangement being such that with each of the slide fasteners in fastened condition the two deformable sealing elements are pressed and deformed one against the other to form a fluidtight seal between the edges of sheet material. In a preferred construction, each deformable sealing element includes an enclosing sheath of deformable sheet material connected in fluidtight manner to its part-envelope. Longitudinal connector means may be provided to position the deformable sealing elements within the part-envelopes and provide fluidtight sealing between the part-envelopes and the sheet material. Further in accordance with the invention, an article such as piece of clothing incorporates flexible sheet material and has such a sealing device secured at edges of the sheet material, the part-envelopes being secured in fluidtight manner to the sheet material at each end of the sealing device. Further, the sealing elements are advantageously secured together in fluidtight manner at each end of the sealing device. In order that the nature of the invention may be readily ascertained, an embodiment thereof is hereinafter particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows the sealing device, seen in transverse section in open condition; Fig. 2 shows the device in closed condition; Fig. 3 is a perspective of the device in closed condition. The sealing device is constituted by a sleeve formed by two part-envelopes 1 and 2, the connector means 3, 4 of which support the sealing elements 5, 6. Each edge of the part-envelopes of the sleeve is fast to the tape elements 7, 8 and 9, 10 of slide fasteners with external sliders 11, 12. The sealing elements include cylindrical envelopes 5', 6', in the example given, fixed along all of the length of the device and formed by a flexible sheet of synthetic resinous plastics. The chamber within the envelopes can be filled with materials such as expanded foam, fluids, liquids or gases or be constituted by a one-piece element integrated with or independent from the envelope. These envelopes can be glued or welded in position. In order to facilitate use of the sliders, spacers 13,'14 are provided at the upper part of the elements 5, 6, and 13', 14' at the lower part, to space away the spiders 11, 12. Upon bringing together the tape element 9, 10 and 7, 8, the sheath, closed at its ends 17, 18, locks the elements 5, 6 very strongly together along their entire length 1 5. These elements 5, 6 by their continuous contact over a large surface area 1 6 will assure an absolute fluidtightness along all of the length denoted by arrow 1 5, Fig. 3. The fluidtight elements 5, 6 are not filled with the filling material at their ends, such that their envelopes 5', 6' can be assembled by glueing or welding with each end of the sleeve. The sleeve, Fig. 3, is connected to the sheets 1 9 to be made fluidtight. This flexible and resilient sealing device retains its fluidtightness no matter what bending deformations it may undergo. The slide fasteners are likewise protected against tearing and forces which might be greater than their strength. CLAIMS

3. A device, as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, comprising longitudinal connector means serving to position the deformable sealing elements within the part-envelopes and providing fluidtight sealing between the part-envelopes and the sheet material.

4. An article incorporating flexible sheet material and having a sealing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 secured at edges of the sheet material, the part-envelopes being secured in fluidtight manner to the sheet material at each end of the sealing device.

5. An article, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sealing elements are secured together in fluidtight manner at each end of the sealing device.

6. A sealing device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. An article, incorporating a sealing device, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.