Self-sealing refillable plastic balloon valve

• US 5,188,558 A
• Filed: 11/06/1991
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fleet National Bank (Bank of America Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew J. Barton, Leslie W. Barton
• Inventors: Barton, Leslie W., Barton, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US07/787,772
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 446/220, 446/221, 446/222, 446/223, 446/224, 446/225, 446/226, 137/223, 137/246, 137/843, 137/844, 137/846, 137/850, 137/853
• US Class Current: 446/224
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1025 Fabrication methods or special materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1041 Holding or sealing means, e.g. handling rods, clamps or plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1083 Valves or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-sealing refillable plastic balloon valve produced from at least two sheets of plastic film of equal size and shape, cut and heat sealed to form an elongated plastic fill having an operable channel between an inlet and outlet end. The elongated plastic fill valve being affixed to a plastic balloon stem interior and being capable of cyclic self-sealing and reinflation operation of the balloon body. The plastic balloon valve which is capable of multiple self-sealing and refilling cycles, functions through the use of internal self-sealing means either singly or in combinatoin. The self-sealing refillable plastic balloon valve is mounted within a balloon neck with the outlet end extending into the body of the balloon. During assembly of the balloon, the valve can be mounted within the neck in a manner such that the heat bonding does not close the interconnecting channel from inlet to outlet ends of the valve. Optionally, the balloon valve can be inserted into the balloon neck after the manufacture of the balloon and bonded to the interior balloon neck creating a fixed relationship and a sealable balloon neck to valve combination once the valve self-seals.

Claims

1. A self-sealing balloon valve capable of multiple self-sealing and refillable cycles, for use with a non-latex balloon having a neck portion and a body, said valve comprising:

an elongated, flexible plastic valve, the valve formed by register and overlay of at least two sheets of flexible plastic material of equal length having sealed edges, said flexible plastic sheets being formed to define a two sided valve channel from an inlet end portion to an outlet end poriton, said inlet end poriton being sealed at its outermost end and having an inlet opening in one side of the valve for fluid intake, said inlet opening being positioned inwardly from the outermost sealed end of the inlet portion end, and said outlet end poriton having an outlet opening;

the valve channel having at least one interior surface portion coated with a non-sealable material which prevents the sheets from sealing together and closing the channel when the valve is positioned and heat sealed onto the neck portion of the balloon, said non-sealable material extending longitudinally and inwardly from the inlet opening;

the valve having at least one self-sealing means along the channel between the inlet opening and outlet opening comprised of a coating of a reusable adhesive element to at least one of the interior surfaces of the said channel which, when compressed together, seals said channel interior surfaces, the adhesive seal capable of multiple reopen and closure modes between the adhesive element and the opposite interior channel surface;

the self-sealing means being adapted to be sealed by filled fluid pressure from the balloon upon withdrawal of fill pressure from the valve.

2. The valve of claim 1 wherein said valve is adapted to be positioned and secured in the neck portion of a balloon and said inlet opening of the valve is positioned in the outer end of the neck portion and the outlet end of the valve is positioned in the body of the balloon.

3. The self-sealing balloon valve according to claim 1 wherein the adhesive is comprised of a resin emulsion water-based adhesive.

4. The self-sealing balloon valve according to claim 1 wherein the adhesive is comprised of a distilled monoglyceride-based adhesive.

5. A self-sealing balloon valve capable of multiple self-sealing and refillable cycles, for use with a non-latex balloon having a neck portion and a body, said valve comprising:

an elongated, flexible plastic valve, the valve formed by register and overlay of at least two sheets of flexible plastic material of equal length having sealed edges, said flexible plastic sheets being formed to define a two sided valve channel from an inlet end portion to an outlet end portion, said inlet end portion being sealed at its outermost end and having an inlet opening in one side of the valve for fluid intake, said inlet opening being positioned inwardly from the outermost sealed end of the inlet portion end, and said outlet end portion having an outlet opening;

the valve channel having at least one interior surface portion coated with a non-sealable material which prevents the sheets from sealing together and closing the channel when the valve is positioned and heat sealed onto the neck portion of the balloon, said non-sealable material extending longitudinally and inwardly from the inlet opening;

the valve having at least one self-sealing means along the channel between the inlet opening and outlet opening, said self-sealing means comprising a tapered restriction channel forming a zone of reduced cross-sectional opening which allows the valve to self-seal through a creasing action near the outlet end portion, said zone of reduced cross-sectional opening being positioned between the inlet end portion and the outlet end portion wherein the channel cross-section is reduced providing additional self-sealing means upon compression;

the self-sealing means being adapted to be sealed by filled fluid pressure from the balloon upon withdrawal of fill pressure from the valve.

6. The valve of claim 5 wherein said valve is adapted to be positioned and secured in the neck portion of the balloon and said inlet opening of the valve is positioned in the outer end of the neck portion and the outlet end is positioned in the body of the balloon.

7. A self-sealing balloon valve capable of multiple self-sealing and refillable cycles, for use with a non-latex balloon having a neck portion and a body, said valve comprising:

an elongated, flexible plastic valve, the valve formed by register and overlay of at least two sheets of flexible plastic material of equal length having sealed edges, said flexible plastic sheets being formed to define a two sided valve channel from an inlet end portion to an outlet end portion, said inlet end portion being sealed at its outermost end and having an inlet opening in one side of the valve for fluid intake, said inlet opening being positioned inwardly from the outermost sealed end of the inlet portion end for direct fluid intake, and said outlet end portion having an outlet opening;

the valve channel having at least one interior surface portion coated with a non-sealable material which prevents the sheets from sealing together and closing the channel when the valve is positioned and heat sealed onto the neck portion of the balloon, said non-sealable material extending longitudinally and inwardly from the inlet opening;

the valve having a first and second self-sealing means along the channel between the inlet opening and outlet opening, said first self-sealing means comprising a tapered restriction channel forming a zone of reduced cross-sectional opening which allows the valve to self-seal through a creasing action near the outlet end portion, said zone of reduced cross-sectional opening being positioned between the inlet end portion and the outlet end portion wherein the channel cross-section is reduced providing additional self-sealing means upon compression, said second self-sealing means comprising a coating of a reusable adhesive element to at least one of the interior surfaces of the said channel which, when compressed together, seals said channel interior surfaces, the adhesive seal capable of multiple reopen and closure modes between the adhesive element and the opposite interior channel surface;

the self-sealing means being adapted to be sealed by filled fluid pressure from the balloon upon withdrawal of fill pressure from the valve.

8. The valve of claim 7 wherein said valve is adapted to be positioned and secured in the neck portion of the balloon and said inlet opening of the valve is positioned in the outer end of the neck portion and the outlet end is positioned in the body of the balloon.

9. The self-sealing balloon valve according to claim 7 wherein the adhesive is comprised of a resin emulsion water-based adhesive.

10. The self-sealing balloon valve according to claim 7 wherein the adhesive is comprised of a distilled monoglyceride-based adhesive.