Inflation valve assembly for a dunnage or cargo air bag

Abstract

An inflation valve assembly for use in a liner or cargo air bag includes an annular flange member heat sealable on an inner surface portion of one of the multiple layers of the inflatable bladder of the air bag, and for fluid connection to a compressed gas Source to inflate the male connector portion of the liner or the bladder of the cargo air bag. The inflation valve assembly also has a generally C-shaped upstanding ring member integrally disposed on the upper surface portion of the annular flange member, and a generally planar, disc-shaped tongue valve member having a generally circular shape, which There is an end portion which can be fixedly pressed against the arcuate segment of the upper surface portion of the annular flange member by means of a retaining strip extending along the chord of the annular flange member. The two opposite ends of the retaining strip project radially inwardly from each other, and in effect define a pair of face-to-face claws which hold the flap valve member in its open position. Accordingly, the height dimension and depth distribution of the new and improved inflation valve assembly of the present invention can be significantly reduced, thereby greatly facilitating the sealing of the inflatable bladder during manufacture.

Description

technical field [0001] This invention relates generally to liner air bags and, more particularly, to a new and improved inflation valve assembly for facilitating the securing or securing of cargo to, for example, railroad cars, aircraft, boats, trucks, etc. Inflation of inflatable bladders in, or as part of, liner bags used in cargo holds. Background technique [0002] In the cargo shipping or transportation industry, cargo or liner bags are used as a means of conveniently securing or securing cargo within the cargo compartment of, for example, railroad cars, ships, aircraft, and truck trailers. Such dunnage or cargo airbags generally comprise an inflatable bladder enclosed in an outer bag or envelope, usually made of multiple layers of paper. Air bags are generally constructed and sized such that they can be easily inserted between spaced cargo, or into a gap or compartment defined between a cargo and a side or end of a cargo container or hold, and the air bag is subsequen...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, it should be noted that with respect to the second conventional prior art inflation valve assembly 10, more specifically, given the previously mentioned rather large height dimension or depth distribution of the inflation valve assembly 10, it is not sufficient that the valve assembly 10 It is impossible to arrange at the corners closer to the inflatable bladder, because it is impossible to make the two opposite layers of the inflatable bladder fully contact to achieve the required sealing requirements

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