Balloon with flat film valve and method of manufacture
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Balloon apparatus, comprising:
- a pair of overlying balloon films having neck and body portions and peripheral edges, with the neck portions extending from the body portions along a neck axis, the peripheral edges of the neck and body portions joined together by peripheral seam means to form a pressure vessel with corners in the peripheral seam means at the juncture of the neck and body portions;
an elongate valve member between the balloon films, comprising a pair of overlying valve film strips having first and second generally opposed elongate side edges extending at an angle to the neck axis, from the peripheral seam means adjacent the neck portions into the body portions, with at least one side edge extending between both neck and body portions of said balloon films;
double ended valve seam means joining said valve film strips together so as to form a passageway therebetween with an entrance opening at said at least one side edge, said valve seam means further having a first end adjacent said peripheral seam means and said neck portion and a second end between the body portions forming an exit opening; and
neck seal means extending across said neck portions, joining the balloon film neck portions to adjacent valve film strips such that the passageway between the valve film strips remains open.
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Abstract
A balloon includes a pair of overlying valve film strips disposed between a pair of overlying balloon films, which include neck and body portions. The valve film strips extend at an angle to a central axis of the neck portions, and valve seals formed in the valve film strips direct incoming gas from an inlet adjacent the neck, to an outlet between the body portions. Methods of assembling the balloons by forming the valve seams and neck seams without moving the balloon films or valve film strips is also disclosed.
103 Citations
54 Claims
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1. Balloon apparatus, comprising:
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a pair of overlying balloon films having neck and body portions and peripheral edges, with the neck portions extending from the body portions along a neck axis, the peripheral edges of the neck and body portions joined together by peripheral seam means to form a pressure vessel with corners in the peripheral seam means at the juncture of the neck and body portions; an elongate valve member between the balloon films, comprising a pair of overlying valve film strips having first and second generally opposed elongate side edges extending at an angle to the neck axis, from the peripheral seam means adjacent the neck portions into the body portions, with at least one side edge extending between both neck and body portions of said balloon films; double ended valve seam means joining said valve film strips together so as to form a passageway therebetween with an entrance opening at said at least one side edge, said valve seam means further having a first end adjacent said peripheral seam means and said neck portion and a second end between the body portions forming an exit opening; and neck seal means extending across said neck portions, joining the balloon film neck portions to adjacent valve film strips such that the passageway between the valve film strips remains open. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Balloon apparatus, comprising:
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a pair of overlying balloon films having neck and body portions and peripheral edges, with the neck portions extending from the body portions along a neck axis, the peripheral edges of the neck and body portions joined together by peripheral seam means to form a pressure vessel with corners in the peripheral seam means at the juncture of the neck and body portions; an elongate valve member between the balloon films, comprising a pair of overlying valve film strips having a first side edge facing toward a central portion of the balloon and a second side edge facing away from the central portion of the balloon, with at least the second side edge extending between the neck and body portions at an angle to the neck axis; double ended valve seam means joining said valve film strips together so as to form a passageway therebetween with an entrance opening at said second side edge, said valve seam means further having a first end adjacent said peripheral seam means and said neck portion and a second end between the body portions forming an exit opening; and neck seal means extending across said neck portions, joining the balloon film neck portions to adjacent valve film strips such that the passageway between the valve film strips remains open. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. Balloon apparatus, comprising:
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a pair of overlying balloon films having neck and body portions and peripheral edges, with the neck portions extending from the body portions along a neck axis, the peripheral edges of the neck and body portions joined together by peripheral seam means to form a pressure vessel with corners in the peripheral seam means at the juncture of the neck and body portions; an elongate valve member between the balloon films, comprising a pair of overlying valve film strips having first and second aid e edges facing toward and away from a central portion of the balloon, respectively, with at least the second side edge extending at an angle to the neck axis, the valve films joined together at the first side edges; double ended valve seam means joining said valve film strips together so as to form a passageway therebetween with an entrance opening at said second side edge, said valve seas means further having a first end adjacent said peripheral seas means and said neck portion and a second end between the body portions forming an exit opening; and neck seal means extending across said neck portions, joining the balloon film neck portions to adjacent valve film strips such that the passageway between the valve film strips remains open. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. Balloon apparatus, comprising:
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a pair of overlying balloon films having neck and body portions and peripheral edges, with the neck portions extending from the body portions along a neck axis, the peripheral edges of the neck and body portions joined together by peripheral seam means to form a pressure vessel with corners in the peripheral seam means at the juncture of the neck and body portions; an elongate valve member between the balloon films, comprising a pair of overlying valve film strips having first and second generally opposed elongate side edges extending at an angle to the neck axis, from the peripheral seam means adjacent the neck portions into the body portions; double ended valve seam means joining said valve film strips together so as to form a passageway therebetween with entrance and exit openings formed in at least one of said side edges; and neck seal means extending across said neck portions, joining the balloon film neck portions to adjacent valve film strips such that the passageway between the valve film strips remains open. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification