Self-sealing valve, a self-sealing, non-latex balloon, and a method for producing such a balloon

Claim 2

A self-sealing valve, for use with a non-latex balloon having a stem and a body, comprising, in combination: a first flexible plastic valve sheet having a first inlet end and a first outlet end; a second flexible plastic valve sheet having a second inlet end and a second outlet end; said first and second flexible plastic valve sheets being secured together and defining a valve inlet and a valve outlet; and barrier means for providing a bonding barrier between said first and second flexible plastic valve sheets at said valve inlet; said second inlet end of said second flexible plastic valve sheet extending beyond said first inlet end of said first flexible plastic valve sheet to provide a positioning tab to be secured within said stem of said non-latex balloon; said self-sealing valve extending from said stem into said body and lying entirely within said non-latex balloon when said self-sealing valve is secured within said stem.

Claim 3

A self-sealing valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second flexible plastic valve sheets further define a valve passageway between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, said valve passageway including an offset section.

Claim 4

A self-sealing valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said barrier means is a coating of heat-resistant ink.

Claim 5

A self-sealing valve as claimed in claim 3 wherein said coating of heat-resistant ink is applied to said second flexible plastic valve sheet.

Claim 6

A self-sealing, non-latex balloon having a body and a stem comprising, in combination: a first balloon sheet having an interior surface; a second balloon sheet bonded to said first balloon sheet so as to define said body and said stem; and a self-sealing valve having a first floating portion within said body and a second portion bonded to said first and second balloon sheets within said stem, said self-sealing valve including a first flexible plastic valve sheet bonded to a second flexible plastic valve sheet so as to provide a positioning tab and a valve inlet defining said second portion, said positioning tab being initially bonded to said interior surface of said first balloon sheet at a predetermined position and orientation with respect thereto; said valve inlet being bonded to said first and second balloon sheets within said stem; said self-sealing valve further including barrier means for providing a bonding barrier between said first and second flexible plastic valve sheets at said valve inlet.

Claim 7

A self-sealing, non-latex balloon having a body and a stem comprising, in combination: a first balloon sheet having an interior surface; a second balloon sheet bonded to said first balloon sheet so as to define said body and said stem; and a self-sealing valve having a first floating portion within said body and a second portion bonded to said first and second balloon sheets within said stem, said self-sealing valve including a first flexible plastic valve sheet bonded to a second flexible plastic valve sheet so as to provide a positioning tab and a valve inlet defining said second portion, said positioning tab being initially bonded to said interior surface of said first balloon sheet at a predetermined position and orientation with respect thereto; said valve inlet being bonded to said first and second balloon sheets within said stem; said self-sealing valve further including barrier means for providing a bonding barrier between said first and second flexible plastic valve sheets at said valve inlet.

Claim 8

A self-sealing, non-latex balloon as claimed in claim 5 wherein said self-sealing valve includes a valve passageway having an inlet section, an outlet section, and an offset section.

Claim 9

A self-sealing, non-latex balloon as claimed in claim 5 wherein said barrier means is a coating of heat-resistant ink.

Claim 10

A self-sealing, non-latex balloon as claimed in claim 7 wherein said coating of heat-resistant ink is applied to said second flexible plastic valve sheet.

Claim 11

A self-sealing, non-latex balloon as claimed in claim 5 wherein said second portion of said self-sealing valve is fused to said stem by heat sealing.

Claim 14

A method as claimed in claim 10 further including the step of forming a valve passageway between said valve inlet and said valve outlet, said valve passageway having an offset section.

Claim 15

A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the step of treating said first and second flexible plastic valve sheet includes coating thereof with a heatresistant ink.

Claim 16

A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said steps of bonding include applying heat to form a fused heat seal.

Claim 17

A self-sealing, non-latex balloon having a body and a stem comprising, in combination: a first balloon sheet having an interior surface; a second balloon sheet bonded to said first balloon sheet so as to define said body and said stem; and a self-sealing valve having a first floating portion within said body and a second portion heat-fused to said first and second balloon sheets within said stem, said self-sealing valve including a first flexible plastic valve sheet, having a thickness in the range of one (1.0) to two (2.0) mil, bonded to a second flexible plastic valve sheet, having a thickness in the range of one (1.0) to two (2.0) mils, so as to provide a positioning tab and a valve inlet defining said second portion, said positioning tab being initially bonded to said interior surface of said first balloon sheet at a predetermined position and a predetermined orientation with respect thereto; said valve inlet being bonded to said first and second balloon sheets within said stem; said self-sealing valve further including a bonding barrier of heat-resistant ink applied to at least one of said first and second flexible plastic valve sheets at said valve inlet; said self-sealing valve further defining a valve passageway having an inlet section, an outlet section and an offset section, such that said inlet section has a width greater than said outlet section.

Claim 18

A self-sealing, non-latex balloon having a body and a stem comprising, in combination: a first balloon sheet having an interior surface; a second balloon sheet bonded to said first balloon sheet so as to define said body and said stem; and a self-sealing valve having a first floating portion within said body and a second portion heat-fused to said first and second balloon sheets within said stem, said self-sealing valve including a first flexible plastic valve sheet, having a thickness in the range of one (1.0) to two (2.0) mil, bonded to a second flexible plastic valve sheet, having a thickness in the range of one (1.0) to two (2.0) mils, so as to provide a positioning tab and a valve inlet defining said second portion, said positioning tab being initially bonded to said interior surface of said first balloon sheet at a predetermined position and a predetermined orientation with respect thereto; said valve inlet being bonded to said first and second balloon sheets within said stem; said self-sealing valve further including a bonding barrier of heat-resistant ink applied to at least one of said first and second flexible plastic valve sheets at said valve inlet; said self-sealing valve further defining a valve passageway having an inlet section, an outlet section and an offset section, such that said inlet section has a width greater than said outlet section.