Quick-Closure Air Inlet for Flat Inflatable Pouches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inflatable objects, such as air bags and mattresses, face challenges in maintaining a sealed state without bending the opening neck, which restricts their ability to be presented in a flat form.
Innovation Solution
A device with a large air inlet opening and a closure mechanism using flexible strips linked by rigid, pivotally connected parts that press against each other to prevent air leakage, allowing for quick sealing without bending the bag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the closure mechanism requires the bag's opening to be rolled up and curved to ensure a watertight seal, then air leakage is prevented, but the bag cannot lie perfectly flat
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism is divided into separate functional components: rigid rods for structural support, flexible strips for sealing, and coupling devices for connection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without requiring the entire opening to be curved, enabling the bag to remain flat while maintaining a watertight seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted from the overall opening structure and implemented through dedicated flexible strips positioned between the rods. This extraction allows the sealing mechanism to operate independently without requiring the bag's opening to be rolled or curved, thus preserving the bag's flat shape while ensuring reliable sealing.
2Reliability
If a closure mechanism with flexible rods is used to prevent air escape, then air retention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism merges multiple functions into a compact assembly: the rigid rods provide structural support and positioning, the flexible strips provide sealing, and the coupling devices provide connection and locking. This merging of functions into an integrated system achieves reliable air retention while minimizing overall device complexity compared to separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using flexible rods that require curving the opening, the invention inverts the approach by using rigid rods with flexible sealing strips. The rigid components maintain structural integrity and simple geometry, while the flexible strips adapt to ensure sealing, thereby simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining air retention.
3Productivity
If the opening is closed quickly with a simple mechanism, then inflation speed is improved, but the seal reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible strips are pre-positioned between the rigid rods in a ready state before inflation begins. When the coupling devices are engaged, the sealing action occurs automatically and immediately without requiring additional manual manipulation or time-consuming adjustments. This preliminary positioning enables quick closure while ensuring reliable sealing from the moment the mechanism is activated.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure mechanism is designed to self-seal through the elastic deformation of the flexible strips when the coupling devices are engaged. The strips automatically conform to the rod surfaces and create a watertight seal without requiring external intervention or complex adjustment procedures, thereby achieving both quick operation and reliable sealing.
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
Enables the inflatable object to maintain a sealed state without bending, allowing it to be used in various forms, including a flat mattress, while ensuring air retention and ease of inflation.
Implementation Method 1
The two rods are then bent so that the neck of the bag's opening has a curved profile. The two rods, held tightly together by the elastic action of their curvature, prevent air from escaping the bag.
Implementation Method 2
the movable part can be positioned around the rods in a closed position in which the two rods are held tightly together so as to prevent air from escaping from the device
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
Device (10, 110, 210) comprising at least one flexible pouch (12, 21, 22) delimiting an interior volume, one air inlet opening (13) per flexible pouch to allow air to pass into the interior volume of the pouch, a closure means for closing the air inlet in a sealed manner, the closure means comprising two flexible strips (14, 16) situated at the periphery of the air inlet opening, the strips being connected at their ends and intended to be pressed against one another. According to the main feature, the device comprises at least one rigid movable part (24, 25, 26) connected in a pivoting manner to one of the ends of the strips such that the movable part can be positioned around the strips in a closed position in which the two strips are kept clamped together so as to prevent air from escaping from the device when the latter is filled with air.