초록 ▼

A pressure relief valve (10) includes a housing ( 20) defining an air flow passage (34). A flap (90) overlies the air flow passage (34). At least a portion (92, 94) of the flap (90) is movable, in response to an air pressure differential acting on opposite portions of the flap, between an open condi

A pressure relief valve (10) includes a housing ( 20) defining an air flow passage (34). A flap (90) overlies the air flow passage (34). At least a portion (92, 94) of the flap (90) is movable, in response to an air pressure differential acting on opposite portions of the flap, between an open condition venting air from one side (18) of the valve ( 10) to a closed condition blocking flow of air from a second side ( 19) of the valve. The flap (90) has a plurality of mounting openings (104, 106). The housing (20) has a plurality of generally T-shaped mounting posts (70, 72) projecting from the housing. A snap connection is provided between the flap (90) and the mounting posts (70, 72) to secure the flap to the housing ( 20) with the mounting posts extending through the openings (104, 106). The mounting posts (70, 72) are the only structure holding the flap (90) on the housing (20).

대표청구항 ▼

Having described the invention, I claim: 1. A pressure relief valve for venting air from a first side of said valve to a second side of said valve and for blocking flow of air from the second side of said valve to the first side of said valve, said valve comprising: a housing having a base portion

Having described the invention, I claim: 1. A pressure relief valve for venting air from a first side of said valve to a second side of said valve and for blocking flow of air from the second side of said valve to the first side of said valve, said valve comprising: a housing having a base portion defining an air flow passage; and a flap positioned to overlie said air flow passage, at least a portion of said flap being movable relative to said base portion of said housing in response to an air pressure differential acting on a first surface of said flap and a second opposite surface of said flap, said at least a portion of said flap being movable between an open condition for venting air from the first side of said valve to the second side of said valve and a closed condition for blocking flow of air from the second side of said valve to the first side of said valve; said flap having a plurality of mounting openings, said mounting openings each defining an elongated slot, said slots each defining a longitudinal axis extending parallel to both said first surface of said flap and said second surface of said flap, said housing having a plurality of generally T-shaped mounting posts projecting from said base portion of said housing, said mounting posts each having a planar configuration defined by a first planar surface and an opposite second planar surface, said first and second planar surfaces extending away from said housing through said flap, said first and second planar surfaces of each mounting post extending perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis defined by each said mounting opening, said flap having portions adjacent said openings that cooperate with said mounting posts to provide a snap connection between said flap and said mounting posts to secure said flap to said housing with said mounting posts extending through said openings; said mounting posts being the only structure holding said flap on said housing. 2. A valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flap is made from Mylar. 3. A valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base portion of said housing includes a base wall having a flap engagement surface against which said flap portions lie when closed, each one of said T-shaped mounting posts includes first and second laterally projecting arms, each one of said arms having an engagement surface facing said base wall of said housing, said flap having first and second opposite major side surfaces between which said mounting openings extend, said engagement surfaces of said arms of said mounting post being engageable with said first major side surface of said flap to block movement of said flap away from said housing, said second major side surface of said flap being engageable with said flap engagement surface on said base wall of said housing to close said air flow passage. 4. A valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flap has material portions surrounding and defining said openings, said material portions being deformable from a first condition to a second condition in response to engagement with said T-shaped mounting posts to enable movement of said flap over said posts in a direction toward said flap engagement surface of said housing, said material portions of said flap substantially returning from the second condition to the first condition after said flap is mounted on said mounting posts of said housing. 5. A valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base portion of said housing includes a base wall having said flap engagement surface, said mounting posts of said housing base portion projecting from recessed areas of said base wall. 6. A valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing is free of through holes other than said flow passage between said first side of said valve and said second side of said valve. 7. A valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flap is made from Mylar; said base portion of said housing has a flap engagement surface against which said flap portions lie when closed; each one of said T-shaped mounting posts includes first and second laterally projecting arms, each one of said arms having an engagement surface facing said base portion of said housing; said flap having first and second opposite major side surfaces between which said mounting openings extend; said engagement surfaces of said arms of said mounting posts being engageable with said first major side surface of said flap to block movement of said flap away from said housing, said second major side surface of said flap being engageable with said flap engagement surface of said base portion of said housing to close said air flow passage; and said flap has material portions surrounding and defining said openings, said material portions being deformable from a first condition to a second condition in response to engagement with said T-shaped mounting posts to enable movement of said flap over said posts in a direction toward said flap engagement surface of said housing, said material portions of said flap substantially returning from the second condition to the first condition after said flap is mounted on said mounting posts of said housing. 8. A pressure relief valve for venting air from a first side of said valve to a second side of said valve and for blocking flow of air from the second side of said valve to the first side of said valve, said valve comprising: a housing having a base portion defining an air flow passage, said housing having a plurality of generally T-shaped mounting posts projecting from said base portion of said housing in a direction toward said second side of said valve, and a Mylar flap having portions positioned to overlie said flow passage, said flap having a plurality of mounting openings through which said T-shaped mounting posts extend, said mounting openings being disposed along a centerline of said flap such that said flap comprises a first cover portion on one side of said mounting openings and a second cover portion on another opposite side of said mounting openings, said T-shaped mounting posts having portions holding said flap on said housing, at least a portion of said first and said second cover portions of said flap being movable relative to said base portion of said housing in response to an air pressure differential acting on opposite portions of said flap, said at least a portion of said flap being movable between an open condition for venting air from the first side of said valve to the second side of said valve and a closed condition for blocking flow of air from the second side of said valve to the first side of said valve, wherein said flap has material portions surrounding and defining said mounting openings, said material portions being deformable from a first condition to a second condition in response to engagement with said T-shaped mounting posts to enable movement of said flap over said posts in a direction toward said flap engagement surface of said housing, said material portions of said flap substantially returning from the second condition to the first condition after said flap is mounted on said mounting posts of said housing. 9. A valve as set forth in claim 8 wherein said base portion of said housing includes a wall having a flap engagement surface against which said flap portions lie when closed, each one of said T-shaped mounting posts includes first and second laterally projecting arms, each one of said arms having an engagement surface facing said wall on said base portion of said housing, said flap having first and second opposite major side surfaces between which said mounting openings extend, said engagement surfaces of said arms of said mounting posts being engageable with said first major side surface of said flap to block movement of said flap away from said housing, said second major side surface of said flap being engageable with said flap engagement surface of said base portion of said housing to close said air flow passage. 10. A valve as set forth in claim 8 wherein said base portion of said housing includes a base wall having said flap engagement surface, said mounting posts of said housing base portion projecting from recessed areas of said base wall. 11. A valve as set forth in claim 8 wherein said housing is free of through holes other than said flow passage between said first side of said valve and said second side of said valve.