초록 ▼

A multi-channel flat valve assembly comprises multiple fluid channels which are effectively defined within the multi-channel flat valve assembly by means of laterally or transversely spaced heat-sealed regions. Accordingly, when the dunnage or cargo air bag is inflated, whereby the forces acting up

A multi-channel flat valve assembly comprises multiple fluid channels which are effectively defined within the multi-channel flat valve assembly by means of laterally or transversely spaced heat-sealed regions. Accordingly, when the dunnage or cargo air bag is inflated, whereby the forces acting upon the oppositely disposed plastic sheets defining or comprising the flat valve assembly would tend to cause separation of the oppositely disposed plastic sheets with respect to each other and cause the flat valve assembly to attain an OPENED state, the disposition or presence of the heat sealed regions defining the multiple fluid channels effectively intercepts the propagation of such forces whereby the flat valve assembly tends to remain in its CLOSED state so as to effectively preserve the INFLATED state of the dunnage or cargo air bag, or considered alternatively, the dunnage or cargo air bag does not undesirably or inadvertently achieve a DEFLATED state.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A multi-channel flat valve assembly for use within an inflatable structure in order to control the inflation and deflation of a single internal space defined within the inflatable structure, comprising: a pair of members disposed in surface-to-surface contact with respe

The invention claimed is: 1. A multi-channel flat valve assembly for use within an inflatable structure in order to control the inflation and deflation of a single internal space defined within the inflatable structure, comprising: a pair of members disposed in surface-to-surface contact with respect to each other, wherein each one of said pair of members has a predetermined lateral width dimension, a predetermined longitudinal length dimension, oppositely disposed side edge portions, and oppositely disposed end edge portions; means for sealing together said oppositely disposed side edge portions of said pair of members such that said multi-channel flat valve assembly has an open upstream entrance end portion which is adapted to be accessible externally of the inflatable structure for receiving a supply of a pressurized fluid to be conducted into the inflatable structure, and an open downstream exit end portion which is adapted to be disposed within the inflatable structure so as to conduct the pressurized fluid into the inflatable structure; and a plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels, connected together along their longitudinal extents, defined between said pair of members disposed in surface-to-surface contact with respect to each other, wherein said plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels have downstream open end portions which are all adapted to fluidically communicate together with the single internal space defined within the inflatable structure so as to enable the inflation of the inflatable structure, and upstream open end portions which are located downstream from said open upstream entrance end portion of said multi-channel flat valve assembly so as to prevent the propagation of forces, attendant the inflation of the inflatable structure and tending to undesirably open said multi-channel flat valve assembly, toward said open downstream exit end portion of said multi-channel flat valve assembly whereby said multi-channel flat valve assembly will not be undesirably opened once the inflatable structure has been inflated. 2. The multi-channel flat valve assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said pair of members disposed in surface-to-surface. contact with respect to each other comprise a pair of thermo-plastic sheet members. 3. The multi-channel flat valve assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said oppositely disposed side edge portions of said pair of thermoplastic sheet members are heat-sealed with respect to each other so as to close said oppositely disposed side edge portions of said pair of thermo-plastic sheet members; and said pair of thermoplastic sheet members are heat-sealed with respect to each other along at least one longitudinally extending location interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions such that said plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels comprise at least one pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels. 4. The multi-channel flat valve assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said multi-channel flat valve assembly has a predetermined length dimension and comprises a first upstream section which is adapted to be disposed externally of the inflatable structure and which has said open entrance end portion defined therein for accommodating a source of pressurized fluid for inflating the inflatable structure, and a second downstream section which is adapted to be disposed internally within the inflatable structure and which has said open exit end portion defined therein so as to permit pressurized fluid, flowing through said at least one pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels, to inflate the inflatable structure. 5. The multi-channel flat valve assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said at least one longitudinally extending heat-sealed location, interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions of said pair of thermoplastic sheet members and defining said at least one pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels, extends upstream from said open exit end portion of said multi-channel flat valve assembly to a location downstream from said open entrance end portion of said multi-channel flat valve assembly, which is adapted to be disposed externally of the inflatable structure, such that when said forces, attendant the inflation of the inflatable structure, tend to separate said pair of thermoplastic sheet members from each other and thereby undesirably open said multi-channel flat valve assembly, said at least one longitudinally extending heat-sealed location, interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions of said pair of thermoplastic sheet members and defining said at least one pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels, will prevent said propagation of said forces so as to prevent said separation of said pair of thermoplastic sheet members from each other and said undesirable opening of said multi-channel flat valve assembly. 6. An inflatable assembly, comprising: an inflatable structure; and a multi-channel flat valve assembly disposed within said inflatable structure in order to control the inflation and deflation of a single internal space defined within said inflatable structure; said multi-channel flat valve assembly comprising a pair of members disposed in surface-to-surface contact with respect to each other, wherein each one of said pair of members has a predetermined lateral width dimension, a predetermined longitudinal length dimension, oppositely disposed side edge portions, and oppositely disposed end edge portions; means for sealing together said oppositely disposed side edge portions of said pair of members such that said multi-channel flat valve assembly has an open upstream entrance end portion which is adapted to be accessible externally of said inflatable structure for receiving a supply of a pressurized fluid to be conducted into said inflatable structure, and an open downstream exit end portion which is adapted to be disposed within said inflatable structure so as to conduct the pressurized fluid into said inflatable structure; and a plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels, connected together along their longitudinal extents, defined between said pair of members disposed in surface-to-surface contact with respect to each other, wherein said plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels have downstream open end portions which are all adapted to fluidically communicate together with said single internal space defined within said inflatable structure so as to enable the inflation of said inflatable structure, and upstream open end portions which are located downstream from said open upstream entrance end portion of said multi-channel flat valve assembly so as to prevent the propagation of forces, attendant the inflation of said inflatable structure and tending to undesirably open said multi-channel flat valve assembly, toward said open downstream exit end portion of said multi-channel flat valve assembly whereby said multi-channel flat valve assembly will not be undesirably opened once said inflatable structure has been inflated. 7. The inflatable assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said pair of members disposed in surface-to-surface contact with respect to each other comprise a pair of thermo-plastic sheet members. 8. The inflatable assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said oppositely disposed side edge portions of said pair of thermoplastic sheet members are heat-sealed with respect to each other so as to close said oppositely disposed side edge portions of said pair of thermoplastic sheet members; and said pair of thermoplastic sheet members are heat-sealed with respect to each other along at least one longitudinally extending location interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions such that said plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels comprise at least one pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels. 9. The inflatable assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said multi-channel flat valve assembly has a predetermined length dimension and comprises a first upstream section which is disposed externally of said inflatable structure and which has said open entrance end portion defined therein for accommodating a source of pressurized fluid for inflating said inflatable structure, and a second downstream section which is disposed internally within said inflatable structure and which has said open exit end portion defined therein so as to permit pressurized fluid, flowing through said at least one pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels, to inflate said inflatable structure. 10. The inflatable assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said at least one longitudinally extending heat-sealed location, interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions of said pair of thermoplastic sheet members and defining said at least one pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels, extends upstream from said open exit end portion of said multi-channel flat valve assembly to a location downstream from said open entrance end portion of said multi-channel flat valve assembly, which is disposed externally of said inflatable structure, such that when said forces, attendant the inflation of said inflatable structure, tend to separate said pair of thermoplastic sheet members from each other and thereby undesirably open said multi-channel flat valve assembly, said at least one longitudinally extending heat-sealed location, interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions of said pair of thermo-plastic sheet members and defining said at least one pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels, will prevent said propagation of said forces so as to prevent said separation of said pair of thermoplastic sheet members from each other and said undesirable opening of said multi-channel flat valve assembly. 11. The inflatable assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said multi-channel flat valve assembly is disposed within a side edge portion of said inflatable structure adjacent to a corner region of said inflatable structure. 12. The inflatable assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said multi-channel flat valve assembly has a longitudinal axis which is disposed substantially perpendicular to said side edge portion of said inflatable structure. 13. The inflatable assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said multi-channel flat valve assembly has a longitudinal axis which is disposed at a predetermined angular orientation with respect to said side edge portion of said inflatable structure. 14. The multi-channel flat valve assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said pair of thermoplastic sheet members, heat-sealed with respect to each other along said at least one longitudinally extending location interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions, are heat-sealed along two longitudinally extending locations interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions such that said plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels comprise three laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels. 15. The multi-channel flat valve assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein: said three longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels comprise a first longitudinally extending fluid channel defined between a first heat-sealed side edge portion and a first one of said two longitudinally extending heat-sealed locations interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions, a second longitudinally extending fluid channel defined between said two longitudinally extending heat-sealed locations interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions, and a third longitudinally extending fluid channel defined between a second one of said two longitudinally extending heat-sealed locations interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions and a second heat-sealed side edge portion. 16. The inflatable assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said longitudinal axis of said multi-channel flat valve assembly is disposed at an angular orientation of 450째 with respect to said side edge portion of said inflatable structure. 17. The inflatable assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said pair of thermoplastic sheet members, heat-sealed with respect to each other along said at least one longitudinally extending location interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions, are heat-sealed along two longitudinally extending locations interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions such that said plurality of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels comprise three longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels. 18. The multi-channel flat valve assembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein: said three longitudinally extending, laterally spaced, fluidically separated fluid channels comprise a first longitudinally extending fluid channel defined between a first heat-sealed side edge portion and a first one of said two longitudinally extending heat-sealed locations interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions, a second longitudinally extending fluid channel defined between said two longitudinally extending heat-sealed locations interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions, and a third longitudinally extending fluid channel defined between a second one of said two longitudinally extending heat-sealed locations interposed between said oppositely disposed heat-sealed side edge portions and a second heat-sealed side edge portion.