Envelope Pouch Inflatable Chamber Valveless Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible pouches with inflatable chambers often experience total or partial deflation during shipment due to valve issues, such as plugs coming off or poor sealing, which compromises the protection of items being shipped.
Innovation Solution
A flexible envelope-type shipping pouch design featuring an internal pocket with an external pocket forming an inflatable chamber, where the inflation deforms the pockets to create folds that seal a duct, preventing air from escaping, and a flap with adhesive means ensures the duct remains closed after inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional valves with plugs or caps are used for inflation, then the pouch can be inflated, but the valves may become dislodged or fail to seal properly during shipping, causing deflation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional valve component entirely from the system. Instead of using a separate valve with plugs or caps that can become dislodged, the inflation access is integrated directly into the sealed barrier layer through a valveless inflation design. This extraction of the problematic valve component eliminates the risk of valve failure while maintaining inflation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the inflation access function directly into the sealed barrier layer by creating an integrated inflation port that is permanently sealed within the barrier structure. This combining of the inflation access with the sealed barrier eliminates the need for separate valve components and ensures reliable sealing through the integrated design.
2Reliability
If flattened flexible valves are used that collapse under inflation pressure, then inflation is possible, but improper sealing or insufficient pressure causes deflation during shipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the traditional flexible valve mechanism entirely from the system. By eliminating the valve component and using a valveless inflation design where air is introduced through a sealed access point that is then permanently closed, the system removes the reliability issues associated with flexible valve sealing while maintaining ease of inflation operation.
3Reliability
If conduits are sealed by chamber pressure compressing the pouch faces, then the conduit closes to prevent air escape, but this requires precise pressure control and proper inflation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pressure-dependent conduit sealing mechanism entirely. By using a valveless design with a permanently sealed integrated access point in the barrier layer, the system eliminates the need for pressure control to maintain sealing. The seal is structurally inherent rather than pressure-dependent, removing manufacturing precision requirements for inflation pressure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pouch effectively maintains inflation and protects items by ensuring the duct remains sealed, preventing deflation and ensuring the item is properly immobilized within the chamber, thus providing reliable protection during transportation.
Implementation Method 1
the inflation of said chamber ensures the formation of at least one fold on the pouch, said fold ensuring the closure of said conduit
Implementation Method 2
a flap with adhesive means ensures the duct remains closed after inflation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an envelope-type flexible shipping pouch (1), which comprises an inner pouch (2) defining a compartment (6) for receiving an item (16), an outer pouch (3) incorporating the inner pouch, and an opening (5) arranged on the inner and outer pouches in order to access the compartment. The inner pouch and the outer pouch are secured together so as to define an inflatable chamber (4) around said inner pouch. The pouch comprises a channel (10) extending into the chamber, the channel including an outlet (10b) opening into the chamber and an inlet (10a) opening onto the pouch. The channel (10) extends in the lengthwise direction of the pouch and is implemented directly between a face of the outer pouch and a face of the inner pouch.