Valveless self sealing fluid or gas container

• US 5,727,270 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Airceltec Incorporated
• Inventors: Cope, Dennis Allen, McGrath, John Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUU, TUYET PHUONG PHAM
• Application Number:
  US08/477,431
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 141/10, 141/114, 141/313, 5/449, 5/451, 5/453, 5/455, 5/456, 5/706, 5/710, 5/712, 5/655.3, 206/522, 206/591, 206/592
• US Class Current: 5/710
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/24 Arrangements of inflating valves or of controls thereof connecting inflating valves to elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/052 filled with fluid, e.g. inflatable elements

Abstract

The invention is an inflatable self sealing valveless fluid or gas container useable for a wide variety of applications including cushioning, package filler, mattresses, rafts and the like. The container is formed from one or more inflatable self sealing elements, each inflatable element being formed from a pair of inflatable cells. Each cell is formed from an inner and outer sheet of thermoplastic or other impermeable material, the sheets being sealed together at boundaries which define the inflatable cell. The inner sheets of each cell in the pair are sealed together such that the boundaries of the seal define a fill channel through which fluid or gas may pass between the cells. Apertures in the inner sheets of both cells within the fill channel allow fluid or gas to pass from the fill channel into both cells to cause inflation. Upon the cells being inflated to capacity, internal gas pressure and lateral stretching forces cause the inner sheets of the cells to come into contact, which causes the fill channel to close, thereby isolating the apertures from the external environment and effectuating the self sealing action of the container. The container may further be created using arrays of such self sealing elements that can be individually inflated or inflated from a single source feeding a common manifold.

Claims

1. A fluid container comprising at least one self sealing inflatable element, each element comprising:

(a) first and second inflatable cells, each cell comprising an outer and inner layer of fluid impermeable material sealed together such that the seal between the outer and inner layers defines boundaries of each inflatable cell, the inner layer of the first and second cell being sealed together to form a pair of cells;

(b) a fill channel between the pair of cells defined by the seal between the inner layers of the first and second cells, said channel having an opening such that fluid may be injected through the opening into the fill channel and said seal between the inner layers of the first and second cells defining the fill channel being separate from and inward of the seals defining the boundaries of each cell in each pair of cells; and

(c) a first and second aperture within the fill channel spaced from the opening, said first aperture being formed in the inner layer of the first cell, said second aperture being formed in the inner layer of the second cell, such that fluid injected through the opening into the fill channel may pass through the apertures to inflate the inflatable cells, the fill channel being forced to close as the cells are inflated, thereby effectuating a self sealing action by preventing fluid from exiting or entering the cells.

2. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein the inner and outer layers of the cells of each array are a thermoplastic material.

3. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein the outer layer of the first and second cell of each element have a pleated or waffle design to restrict a cross-section of the cells upon inflation.

4. The fluid container of claim 1, wherein a viscous fluid is deposited within the fill channel of each element to further restrict fluid flow within each fill channel after inflation of the cells.

5. The fluid container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of self sealing elements arranged in parallel wherein the cells of each element have substantially identical dimensions.

30. The self sealing container of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 9, 12, 13, 10, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 19, 23, 24, 16, 25, 26, 27, 28 or 29, wherein the first and second aperture within each fill channel are spatially coincident to allow for communication of fluid between cells in each pair of cells following inflation.

6. A self sealing container for holding a fluid comprising:

(a) a first and second array of inflatable cells, each array formed from an outer and inner sheet of fluid impermeable material, said outer and inner sheets being sealed together such that the seal between the outer and inner sheets defines boundaries of the inflatable cells, the inner sheets of the first and second arrays being sealed together such that such inflatable cell in the first array is sealed to a corresponding cell in the second array forming pairs of cells;

(b) a common fluid manifold comprising,

a fill channel between each pair of cells defined by the seal between the inner layers of each pair of cells, each of said channels having an opening through which fluid may be injected and said seal between the inner layers of each pair of cells defining the fill channel being separate from and inward of the seals defining the boundaries of each cell in each pair of cells; and

a common fluid channel connecting the openings of the fill channels and having an external opening such that fluid injected into said external opening passes through the common fluid channel and into the fill channels;

(c) first and second apertures within each fill channel spaced from the common fluid channel, said first aperture being formed in the inner sheet of the first array, said second aperture being formed in the inner sheet of the second array, such that fluid injected into the common fluid channel will flow into each fill channel and through each aperture to fill each inflatable cell, each fill channel being forced to close upon inflation of each pair of cells.

7. The self sealing container of claim 6, wherein the inner and outer sheets of each array are constructed from thermoplastic material.

8. The self sealing container of claim 6, wherein the common fluid channel defines a passage running extending substantially straight across the container and the arrays of inflatable cells extend perpendicular from the common fluid channel.

9. The self sealing container of claim 6, wherein the common fluid channel includes means for inflating the container.

10. The self sealing container of claim 9, wherein the container is stored in an uninflated configuration and may be dispensed in any longitudinal length.

11. The self sealing container of claim 6, wherein the common fluid channel defines a passage running down a central portion of the container and the arrays of inflatable cells are arranged in parallel, extending on both sides of the common fluid channel with the cells perpendicular to the common fluid channel.

12. The self sealing container of claim 11, wherein the common fluid channel has a means for inflating the container.

13. The self sealing container of claim 11, wherein the container is stored in an uninflated configuration and may be dispensed in any longitudinal length.

14. A self sealing container for holding a fluid comprising:

(a) a first and second array of inflatable cells, each array formed from an outer and inner sheet of fluid impermeable material, said outer and inner sheets being sealed together such that the seal between the inner and outer sheets defines boundaries of the inflatable cells, the inner sheets of the first and second array being sealed together such that each inflatable cell in the first array is sealed to a corresponding cell in the second array forming pairs of cells;

(b) a fill channel between each pair of cells, each channel defined by the seal between the inner sheets between each pair of cells, wherein the channel has an opening through which fluid may be injected into the fill channel and said seal between the inner sheets of each pair of cells defining the fill channel being separate from and inward of the seals defining the boundaries of each cell in each pair of cells; and

(c) a first and second aperture within each fill channel spaced from the opening, said first aperture being in the inner sheet of the first array, said second aperture being in the inner sheet of the second array, such that fluid injected into the fill channel may pass through each aperture to fill each inflatable cell, each fill channel being forced to close upon inflation of each pair of cells thereby preventing each pair of cells from discharging or receiving fluid.

15. The self sealing container of claim 14, wherein the inner and outer sheets of each array are constructed from thermoplastic material.

16. The fluid container of claim 15, wherein a viscous fluid is deposited within the fill channel of each element to further restrict fluid flow within each fill channel after inflation of the cells.

17. The self sealing container of claim 14, where in:

(a) the cells of each array are arranged in parallel, with the perimeter of each array being sealed and the cells being separated by longitudinal seals running the length of the cells, the longitudinal seals intersecting the perimeter seal at opposite ends of each cell; and

(b) the opening of each fill channel is adjacent to a first side of the container perpendicular to the longitudinal seals, with each fill channel running longitudinally between each pair of cells.

18. The self sealing container of claim 17, further comprising a fluid manifold defined by the fill channels between each pair of cells and a common passage running adjacent to the opening of every fill channel, the common passage being substantially sealed except for an external opening through which external fluid may be injected into the fluid manifold and the openings leading to each fill channel, such that fluid injected into the common passage is forced to flow into every fill channel, subsequently inflating each pair of cells.

19. The self sealing container of claim 18, further comprising a means for inflating the container adjacent to the external opening in the common passage through which fluid may be injected.

20. The self sealing container of claim 18, wherein the common passage is located along the first side of the container adjacent to the openings of the fill channels and extends the width of the container perpendicular to the longitudinal seals.

21. The self sealing container of claim 20, wherein the common passage is defined by:

(a) a widthwise seal between the inner sheets of the first and second arrays adjacent to the first perimeter and extending the width of the container;

(b) seals between the inner sheets of the first and second arrays between openings of neighboring fill channels; and

(c) end seals between the inner sheets of the first and second arrays connecting the widthwise seal ends to the openings of the fill channels of the outermost cells in the array.

22. The self-sealing container of claim 21, wherein the external opening in the common passage is located adjacent to an end seal.

23. The self sealing container of claim 20, wherein the common passage is formed using additional thermoplastic material extending substantially straight across the container adjacent to the first side of the container, the common passage being defined by:

(a) a widthwise seal between an edge section of the additional thermoplastic material and an inner side of the inner sheet of a chosen array substantially parallel to the first side of the container and extending substantially straight across the container;

(b) seals between the additional thermoplastic material and the inner side of the inner sheet of the chosen array between openings of neighboring fill channels; and

(c) end seals between the additional thermoplastic material and the inner side of the inner sheet of the chosen array connecting the widthwise seal ends to the opening of the fill channels of outermost cells of the arrays.

24. The self sealing container of claim 23, wherein the additional thermoplastic material extends into each fill channel, but does not extend to the apertures, such that upon inflation of the cells the fill channel is forced to close and the additional thermoplastic material provides a barrier which further assists in preventing the discharge of fluid.

25. The self sealing container of claim 14, further comprising:

(a) a circumferential seal between the outer and inner sheets of both arrays along the container perimeter, such that all four sheets are sealed together around the circumferential seal of the container; and

(b) an opening between the inner layers of the first and second array, such that fluid injected through the opening between the arrays will be restricted by the circumferential seal and forced into each fill channel to inflate each pair of cells.

26. The self sealing container of claim 25, wherein the inner and outer sheets of each array are constructed from thermoplastic material.

27. The self sealing container of claim 25, wherein a viscous fluid is deposited within each fill channel to further restrict fluid flow within each fill channel after inflation of the cells.

28. The self sealing container of claim 25, wherein the opening between the inner layers is provided with a check valve to restrict the egress of fluid.

29. The self sealing container of claim 25, wherein the opening between the inner layers is provided in the circumferential seal.

31. A fluid container comprising at least one self sealing inflatable element, each element comprising:

(a) first and second inflatable cells, each cell comprising an outer and inner layer of fluid impermeable material sealed together such that the seal between the outer and inner layers defines the boundaries of each inflatable cell, the inner layer of the first and second cell being sealed together to form a pair of cells;

(b) a fill channel between the pair of cells defined by the seal between the inner layers of the first and second cells, said channel having an opening such that fluid may be injected through the opening into the fill channel; and

(c) a first and second aperture within the fill channel spaced from the opening, said first aperture being formed in the inner layer of the first cell, said second aperture being formed in the inner layer of the second cell, such that fluid injected through the opening into the fill channel may pass through the apertures to inflate the inflatable cells and wherein the first and second apertures are spatially coincident to allow for communication of fluid between cells in each pair of cells following inflation, the fill channel being forced to close as the cells are inflated, thereby effectuating a self sealing action by preventing fluid from exiting or entering the cells.

32. A fluid container comprising at least one self sealing inflatable element, each element comprising:

(a) first and second inflatable cells, each cell comprising an outer and inner layer of fluid impermeable material sealed together such that the seal between the outer and inner layers defines the boundaries of each inflatable cell, the inner layer of the first and second cell being sealed together to form a pair of cells;

(b) a fill channel between the pair of cells defined by the seal between the inner layers of the first and second cells, said channel having an opening such that fluid may be injected through the opening into the fill channel and said channel having a viscous fluid deposited within it to restrict fluid flow within the channel after inflation of the cells; and

(c) a first and second aperture within the fill channel spaced from the opening, said first aperture being formed in the inner layer of the first cell, said second aperture being formed in the inner layer of the second cell, such that fluid injected through the opening into the fill channel may pass through the apertures to inflate the inflatable cells, the fill channel being forced to close as the cells are inflated, thereby effectuating a self sealing action by preventing fluid from exiting or entering the cells.

34. The self sealing container of claim 32, wherein the additional fluid impermeable material extends into each fill channel, but does not extend to the apertures, such that upon inflation of the cells the fill channel is forced to close and the additional fluid impermeable material provides a barrier which further assists in preventing the discharge of fluid.

33. A self sealing container for holding a fluid comprising:

(a) a first and second array of inflatable cells, each array formed from an outer and inner sheet of fluid impermeable material, said outer and inner sheets being sealed together such that the seal between the inner and outer sheets defines the boundaries of the inflatable cells, the inner sheets of the first and second array being sealed together such that each inflatable cell in the first array is sealed to a corresponding cell in the second array forming pairs of cells with the cells of each array arranged in parallel, the perimeter of each array being sealed and the cells being separated by longitudinal seals running the length of the cells, the longitudinal seals intersecting the perimeter seal at opposite ends of each cell;

(b) a fill channel between each pair of cells, each channel defined by the seal between the inner sheets between each pair of cells, wherein the channel has an opening through which fluid may be injected into the fill channel;

(c) a first and second aperture within each fill channel spaced from the opening, said first aperture being in the inner sheet of the first array, said second aperture being in the inner sheet of the second array, with the opening of each fill channel being adjacent to a first side of the container perpendicular to the longitudinal seals, with each fill channel running longitudinally between each pair of cells such that fluid injected into the fill channel may pass through each aperture to fill each inflatable cell, each fill channel being forced to close upon inflation of each pair of cells thereby preventing each pair of cells from discharging or receiving fluid;

(d) a fluid manifold defined by the fill channels between each pair of cells and a common passage running adjacent to the opening of every fill channel, the common passage being substantially sealed except for an external opening through which external fluid may be injected into the fluid manifold and the openings leading to each fill channel, wherein the common passage is located along the first side of the container adjacent to the openings of the fill channels and extends the width of the container perpendicular to the longitudinal seals, such that fluid injected into the common passage is forced to flow into every fill channel, subsequently inflating each pair of cells; and

(e) wherein the common passage is formed using additional fluid impermeable material extending substantially straight across the container adjacent to the first side of the container, the common passage being defined by;

(i) a widthwise seal between an edge section of the additional fluid impermeable material and an inner side of the inner sheet of a chosen array substantially parallel to the first side of the container and extending substantially straight across the container;

(ii) seals between the additional fluid impermeable material and the inner side of the inner sheet of the chosen array between openings of neighboring fill channels; and

(iii) end seals between the additional fluid impermeable material and the inner side of the inner sheet of the chosen array connecting the widthwise seal ends to the opening of the fill channels of outermost cells of the arrays.

35. A self sealing container for holding a fluid comprising:

(a) a first and second array of inflatable cells, each array formed from an outer and inner sheet of fluid impermeable material, said outer and inner sheets being sealed together such that the seal between the inner and outer sheets defines the boundaries of the inflatable cells, the inner sheets of the first and second array being sealed together such that each inflatable cell in the first array is sealed to a corresponding cell in the second array forming pairs of cells;

(b) a fill channel between each pair of cells, each channel defined by the seal between the inner sheets between each pair of cells, wherein the channel has an opening through which fluid may be injected into the fill channel and a viscous fluid is deposited within the fill channel of each element to further restrict fluid flow within each fill channel after inflation of the cells; and

(c) a first and second aperture within each fill channel spaced from the opening, said first aperture being in the inner sheet of the first array, said second aperture being in the inner sheet of the second array, such that fluid injected into the fill channel may pass through each aperture to fill each inflatable cell, each fill channel being forced to close upon inflation of each pair of cells thereby preventing each pair of cells from discharging or receiving fluid.

36. The self sealing container for holding a fluid of claim 35 further comprising:

(a) a circumferential seal between the outer and inner sheets of both arrays along the container perimeter, such that all four sheets are sealed together around the circumferential seal of the container; and

(b) an opening between the inner layers of the first and second array, such that fluid injected though the opening between the arrays will be restricted by the circumferential seal and forced into each fill channel to inflate each pair of cells.