DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENT

[0024] While the improved inflatable article has been specifically shown and described herein as being embodied in a rectangular bag-like article formed of heat-sealable sheet material such as low density polyethylene, with the seals formed by application of heat and pressure, it is not desired or intended to thereby unnecessarily limit the invention by reason of such restricted disclosure. It is furthermore contemplated that certain descriptive terms used herein shall be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

[0025] Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 - 9 thereof, the improved inflatable article 8 shown therein is fabricated of flexible heat-sealable sheet material. In the particular embodiment shown, the article 8 includes side walls 10 , 11 being formed by folding a single sheet along a medial line to form a first marginal edge 12 . Second, third and fourth marginal edges 13 , 14 and 15 , respectively, are joined, preferably by heat sealing, such that a closed compartment is formed with the exception that the fourth marginal edge 15 is locally interrupted so that a flexible valve 16 may provide restricted access to the interior of the inflatable article 8 .

[0026] As best shown by comparing FIGS. 3 and 5 , flexible valve 16 passes through marginal edge 15 to lie between side walls 10 , 11 . In a preferred embodiment, flexible valve 16 is preferably made up of two valve side portions 18 , 20 of flexible material (which may be the same material as that forming the side walls 10 , 11 ), bonded together by seals between points 30 and 32 , points 30 and 34 , points 36 and 38 , and points 36 and 40 , as best shown in FIG. 2 . The valve 16 may be constructed from tube stock, negating the need to actually create a seal between points 30 and 32 , and points 36 and 40 .

[0027] Flexible valve 16 is fixedly supported in the inflatable article by fastening at a first valve end such that side wall 10 is sealed to valve side portion 18 and side wall 11 is sealed to valve side portion 20 . A first duct opening 22 is thusly formed between points 30 and 36 . A passageway 28 formed between the seals from points 30 to 34 and points 36 to 38 extends to a second duct opening 24 located between points 34 and 38 . Valve 16 may be mounted flush to the marginal edge 15 as seen in FIG. 3 , or valve 16 may protrude from marginal edge 15 as seen in the most preferred embodiment of FIG. 2 . There may be instances when locating or manipulating valve 16 is made more convenient for the user when it protrudes from the marginal edge.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 4 , in a preferred embodiment, flexible valve 16 is formed such that the width or cross-sectional area of the first duct opening 22 formed between points 30 and 36 is approximately equal to the width or cross-sectional area between points 32 and 40 . In contrast, the width or cross-sectional area of the second duct opening 24 formed between points 34 and 38 is smaller than the width or cross-sectional area of the first duct opening 22 between points 30 and 36 . Furthermore, the width or cross-sectional area of the passage 28 formed between the seals from points 30 to 34 and points 36 to 38 decreases gradually from the first duct opening 22 to the second duct opening 24 in a preferred embodiment. Moreover, the seal lines between points 30 and 32 , points 30 and 34 , points 36 and 38 , and points 36 and 40 , respectively, while shown as straight lines, may also be curved.

[0029] The portion of flexible valve 16 within the inflatable article 8 forms a reliable check valve. Juxtaposed inner surfaces of the valve side portions 18 , 20 operate as a check valve due to the mutual adherence of said surfaces when flattened and pressed one against the other under the action of the pressure of a gas or liquid contained within the inflatable article. Since valve side portions 18 , 20 are in physical engagement or contact with each other, a spontaneous escape of the contents of the inflatable article 8 through valve 16 is practically impossible. The pressure prevailing in the inflatable article tends to maintain the valve side portions 18 , 20 in physical engagement and opposing side portions 18 , 20 are unable to move apart. In addition, the seals formed between points 30 to 32 and 36 to 40 provide structural strength and stability to flexible valve 16 and preclude valve 16 from folding over upon itself under the action of pressure prevailing in the inflatable article 8 .

[0030] In some applications a larger amount of pressure may be applied to the pillow, such as when the pillow is sat upon, or when an especially heavy limb or object is placed thereon. Such high pressure may cause valve 16 to invert through duct opening 22 , thereby deflating the article 8 . To prevent such unintended deflation, the bond either between points 30 and 32 or points 36 and 40 may coincide with any seal placed along a marginal edge of article 8 , such as a first marginal edge 12 seal or second marginal edge 14 seal, respectively. One example of the resulting article 8 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . This embodiment is most preferred because it may be used in applications that require a higher factor of safety.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , to fill an inflatable article according to the present invention, a tube may be inserted in the flexible valve 16 at first duct opening 22 and the filling gas or fluid may be made to flow through this tube into the inflatable article, see reference arrow 23 . During the filling operation, the side portions 18 , 20 of flexible valve 16 will stand apart due to the presence of the tube to allow introduction of the gas or fluid. However, upon withdrawal of the tube, side portions 18 , 20 will engage each other along a substantial portion and therefore prevent escape of the contents introduced into the compartment of the inflatable article. In an alternative method of inflation, sufficient pressure is applied to the first duct opening 22 such that the pressure applied is greater than the pressure of the article contents causing a flow of gas or fluid through valve 16 until the pressure inside the article is equal to or greater than the pressure applied to first duct opening 22 .

[0032] Deflation of the article may be achieved by inserting, for example, the same tube used for inflation such that side portions 18 , 20 are parted and the article's contents are allowed to flow outward until the pressure within the article has equalized with the surrounding environment. The article may then be reused if desired. Fast deflation may be achieved by instead puncturing the inflatable article.

[0033] For convenience, the tube may be a straw 44 , and attached to the exterior surface of article 8 for ease of access, see FIG. 1 . The attachment may be achieved with a tape or sticker 46 or the like, that preferably sticks only to the article or surface, and not the straw 44 . This way, a user may simply slide straw 44 away from the sticker 46 . In another embodiment, the tape or sticker 46 is easily removable without tearing article 8 .

[0034] In an alternate embodiment, an inflatable article according to the present invention may be formed by bonding two separate sheets along their entire periphery without the step of folding a single sheet at a medial line. Thusly, marginal edge 12 would be sealed and not folded over in nature. Likewise, flexible valve 16 may be constituted by a single sheet of suitable material folded over itself and bonded together at the two aligned or registered edges of the sheet or, alternatively, by two separate sheets of flexible material joined along opposing edges.

[0035] When creating the bonds between side walls 10 and valve side portions 18 and side wall 11 and valve side portion 20 , respectively, it may be necessary to place an intermediary sheet, for instance, a sheet of cellulose acetate or metallic foil, between the internal walls of the flexible valve 16 in order to prevent these portions 18 , 20 from being bonded together during the sealing process. Examples of such sealing technology are well known in the art, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,332,415 to Ericson. Use of such an intermediary sheet or spacer may be dispensed with if the portions of the valve side portions 18 , 20 are coated with a suitable material forming a separable bond by precluding the formation of a permanent bond. Examples of such a alternate sealing approaches are well known in the art as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,646 to Kieves in which a heat resistant nitrocellulose ink is applied between side portions 18 , 20 to preclude bond formation.

[0036] Flexible valve 16 , as well as side walls 10 , 11 , may be made from a wide variety of materials including, for example, polyethylene, Mylar, nylon and polyvinyl chloride. This list is meant to be illustrative and further equivalent materials based on flexibility and resiliency are certainly contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, low density polyethylene forms both the side walls 10 , 11 and valve 16 . The polyethylene may range in thickness from about 0.001 inches to 0.050 inches with 0.003 inches being the preferred thickness.

[0037] Materials forming side walls 10 , 11 and flexible valve 16 may be joined in the present invention by any conventionally available means which would not unduly restrict the operation of the inflatable article including, most particularly, the operation of the flexible valve 16 . It is preferred that material layers be bonded by a heat sealing technique such as thermal impulse heating or hot bar heating. Among presently available bonding techniques, thermal impulse heating has been found to be particularly desirable. The temperatures, pressures and other perimeters used in bonding the respective members will depend upon the material of the materials, their thicknesses, the length and width of the article side walls 10 , 11 and valve 16 , and the desired flexible valve 16 crack resistance and reflux sensitivity.

[0038] A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6 - 7 , wherein an outer covering 26 is provided which substantially envelops the inflatable article 8 described above. In one embodiment, the outer covering 26 is provided with a first flexible wall member 26 a and a second flexible wall member 26 b each having marginal edges substantially co-extensive with and coupled to the marginal edges of at least one of the marginal edges 12 , 13 , and 14 of the side walls 10 , 11 .

[0039] Alternatively, outer covering 26 may, in similar fashion to the inflatable article, be formed from a single sheet folded at a medial line and thusly partially wrapped around the inflatable article. In a preferred embodiment, outer covering 26 completely envelops the inflatable article described above and is joined to side walls 10 , 11 of the inflatable article along, specifically, marginal edges 12 , 13 and 14 . The coupling of the first flexible wall member 26 a and the second flexible wall member 26 b , as described above, define a pocket which is closed at three sides and open at a fourth. In addition, one of the flexible wall members (e.g., flexible wall member 26 a ) may be coupled to a marginal edge of one of the side walls 10 , 11 along edge 15 such that the inflatable article may not be easily removed from the pocket formed by the outer covering 26 .

[0040] Outer covering 26 may be formed of a soft material and or an absorbent material such as a loosely woven cotton fabric, nonwoven, paper or other equivalent material presenting at least a soft pliant surface on which a human may comfortably rest a body part such as an arm, foot or head. Coupling of the outer covering 26 to the side walls 10 , 11 may be accomplished by any suitable means known in the art including heat sealing, as described above, or adhesive glues and the like. The outer covering may be attached to one or both surfaces of the inflatable article.

[0041] Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 . FIG. 8 in particular shows a valve 50 that is similar to valve 16 with respect to the materials from which valve 50 is made, and with respect to its flat profile. However, the valve 50 is configured so that a tube or straw is not necessary for inflation or deflation. Similar to valve 16 , flexible valve 50 is made from two valve side portions 18 , 20 of flexible material (which may be the same material as that forming the side walls 10 , 11 ), bonded together by seals between points 52 and 54 , points 56 and 58 , points 60 and 62 , and points 64 and 66 , as best shown in FIG. 8 . Like valve 16 , valve 50 may be constructed from tube stock so that sides are pre-formed, negating the need to create a seal between points 52 and 54 , and points 60 and 62 .

[0042] Referring to FIG. 9 , valve 50 is preferably positioned on the inflatable article so that it extends roughly about 2 inches (5.1 cm) beyond the marginal edge 15 of inflatable article 8 . Further valve 50 may be positioned so that an edge between points 52 and 54 coincides with marginal edge 14 as shown, or may be positioned similar to valve 16 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 .

[0043] In operation, a user gathers the extension 68 so that it is pursed together, and blows air into the inflatable article 8 . The mutual cohesion occurring between the plastic valve side portions 18 , 20 help maintain the valve seal. To open the valve 50 to fully or partially deflate the inflatable article 8 , one inserts an elongated article into open end 70 to separate the valve side portions 18 , 20 . A finger is a very convenient elongated article to use toward this end, but tubes, pencils, sticks or the like may also be used.

[0044] Referring again to FIG. 8 , in a most preferred embodiment of valve 50 , the following dimensions are desirable for optimum performance. The width “W” of valve 50 is preferably about 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) or greater. This provides enough material between points 52 and 60 so that one can purse the valve end together and blow up the inflatable article 8 by mouth. The width W may vary from this preferred dimension; however, if this particular dimension becomes too small, it is difficult to purse the material, and if the particular dimension is too large, it becomes overly cumbersome to blow into the valve.

[0045] The length “L” of valve 50 is preferably about 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) and most preferably about 5 inches (12.7 cm). If length L is too long, it becomes difficult to insert a finger into valve 50 to selectively deflate the inflatable article 8 . If length L is too short, it will not seal adequately and the pillow could inadvertently deflate. This length L also takes into account that valve 50 preferably extends beyond a marginal edge of the inflatable article 8 by about 2 inches (5.1 cm).

[0046] The distance “D” between points 58 and 66 is preferably about 1 inch (2.54 cm). If distance D is too small, then it becomes difficult for an average-size finger to deflate the inflatable article 8 . If distance D is too large, a seal may not reliably form and the inflatable article 8 could inadvertently deflate.

[0047] While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and, therefore, it is intended in subsequent claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the pillow may be used in spas, on the beach, on planes, trains and buses or in many other industries where a clean and easy to use pillow is desired. In addition, the inflatable article could be made into various shapes, including novelty shapes.