Self-sealing pressure valve for inflatable splints and other devices

Claim 1

A SELF-SEALING PRESSURE VALVE COMPRISING FLEXIBLE IMPERVIOUS PANELS JOINED TO FORM A CHANNEL EXTENDING FROM THE OUTSIDE TO THE INSIDE OF A SEALED ZONE, SAID CHANNEL TERMINATING IN A PORTION IN WHICH SAID PANELS ARE IN SUBSTANTIAL CONTACT, THE INNER PORTION OF SAID VALVE INCLUDING FLEXIBLE TONGUES FREELY EXTENDING FROM SAID PANELS INWARDLY BEYOND THE END OF SAID CHANNEL, SAID TONGUES EACH BEING FORMED OF TWO INTEGRAL PANELS FORMING A COMMON LOOP AT THEIR INNER ENDS, SAID TONGUES BEING IN FLAT FACE-TO-FACE APPOSITION AT LEAST ACROSS THE WIDTH OF SAID CHANNEL TO THEREBY CLOSE AND SEAL SAID CHANNEL AT ITS INNER END, SAID VALVE ADAPTED TO BE OPENED BY INSERTION OF A TUBULAR ELEMENT INTO SAID CHANNEL SUFFICIENTLY FAR TO FORCE SAID TONGUES OUT OF APPOSITION, AND TO BE AUTOMATICALLY CLOSED BY SAID TONGUES RETURNING IN APPOSITION UPON REMOVAL OF SAID TUBULAR ELEMENT FROM SAID CHANNEL.