Balloons and balloon valves
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A balloon comprising:
- a pair of overlapping balloon film layers joined together so as to form a vessel for containing a pressurized gas;
first and second valve layers of flexible valve material disposed between the balloon film layers in at least partially overlapping relationship;
means for joining said first and said second valve layers together to form a double-ended hollow tubular valve having an inlet end communicating outside the balloon and an outlet end in the vessel interior, for passing pressurized gas to the vessel interior;
said valve layers having free ends at the inlet end of the valve, with at least one free end including a free edge divided into at least two unconnected parts, each with a portion of said free edge, to form a layer with at least two adjacent free edge portions at the inlet end of the valve; and
said valve layers being joined to respective balloon film layers adjacent the inlet end of the valve to fix the inlet end of the valve in position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Balloon assemblies and valves for balloons have improved inflation capabilities. The inlet ends of the balloon valves are disrupted either with a slit or a portion of material removal to prevent the inlet end from being folded back into the valve passageway during insertion of an inflation probe. With the inlet end slit, the slit portions are readily folded back by the inflation probe, thus preventing potential blockage of the valve inlet.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A balloon comprising:
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a pair of overlapping balloon film layers joined together so as to form a vessel for containing a pressurized gas; first and second valve layers of flexible valve material disposed between the balloon film layers in at least partially overlapping relationship; means for joining said first and said second valve layers together to form a double-ended hollow tubular valve having an inlet end communicating outside the balloon and an outlet end in the vessel interior, for passing pressurized gas to the vessel interior; said valve layers having free ends at the inlet end of the valve, with at least one free end including a free edge divided into at least two unconnected parts, each with a portion of said free edge, to form a layer with at least two adjacent free edge portions at the inlet end of the valve; and said valve layers being joined to respective balloon film layers adjacent the inlet end of the valve to fix the inlet end of the valve in position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A balloon comprising:
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a pair of overlapping balloon film layers joined together so as to form a vessel for containing a pressurized gas; first and second valve layers of flexible valve material disposed between the balloon film layers in at least partially overlapping relationship; means for joining said first and said second valve layers together to form a double-ended hollow tubular valve having an inlet end for communication outside the balloon and an outlet end in the vessel interior, for passing pressurized gas to the vessel interior; a valve seal joining parts of said valve layers adjacent the inlet end of said valve to respective ones of said balloon film layers so as to form free ends of said valve layers which extend beyond the valve seal; and at least a part of one valve layer free end having a free edge which is divided into at least two unconnected parts, each with a free edge, to form at least two adjacent free edges at the inlet end of the valve. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification