Air enclosure provided with cut hole type air lock valves and cut hole type air lock valve

A cut hole type air lock valve is disposed in an air chamber formed by allowing two outer films to be adhered to each other by means of hot sealing. A part of rims of both inner films folded together are adhered to each other and several portions of rims thereof are formed to be air inlets in the cut hole type air lock valve. Furthermore, the air inlet is connected to an air passageway between the inner films, and at least one cut hole is disposed on the inner films beside the air passageway. When outside air flows into the air passageway via the air inlet and is filled in an air chamber via the cut holes, the air chamber is caused to fill with air and inflate, and air inside air chamber thrusts the inner films so as to block the air passageway to cause the air to be locked.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 095220759 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Nov. 24, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air enclosure and air lock valves thereof, and more particularly to an air enclosure provided with cut hole type air lock valves and a cut hole type air lock valve.

BACKGROUND

A conventional buffering manner used on a packed article always uses a plastic sheet with a several small projecting air bag disposed thereon to cover the surroundings of the article to attain to the shock absorption and the buffering functions. But, shock absorption ability of the small air bags is limited; they cannot absorb larger shock or impulse such that the shock absorption and the buffering effects cannot be reached. Therefore, an air packing bag manufactured from a resin film material is developed.

Please refer toFIGS. 1A to 1C. A plurality of air inlets A11are disposed on an air packing bag A10, an air passageway is connected to each air inlet A11and a plurality of air chambers A13are respectively connected to two sides of the air passageway A13. An air valve constituted by a upper air valve film A141and a lower air valve film A142is disposed on each air chamber A13. Whereby, the air packing bag A10can be filled with air to bulge and taken as a buffer material after outside air flows through the air inlet A1, the passageway A12and into the air chamber A1, for example, The U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,912 entitled “Container for sealingly containing a fluid”, The U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,466 entitled “Process for continuously filling fluid into a plurality of closed bags”, The U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,830 entitled “Continuous, inflatable plastic wrapping material” and Japan utility model patent publishing No. H5-95851 entitled “Seal bag for fluids”. However, the multiple air Valves A14need be disposed on such kind of air packing bag A10such that the multiple air chambers A13can be filled with air; the dispositions of the air valves A14increase the production cost broadly for manufacturing processes. Moreover, such kind of structure allows the air chamber A13close to the air inlet A11to be filled with air to inflate first and the air chamber A13far away from the air inlet A11to be filled with air slower or inefficiently to cause the buffering effect of the air packing bag A10after being filled with air to be bad.

Therefore, for improving the structures of the air packing bag and the valve mentioned above to allow the multiple air chambers to be filled with air at the same time, and further to reduce the production cost of the manufacturing processes, the present invention is proposed.

SUMMARY

For improving the deficits mentioned above, the present invention proposes a cut hole type air lock valve assembled between two outer films which are adhered to each other by hot sealing to form a air chamber. The air lock valve comprises two inner films, an air inlet, an air passageway and at least one cut hole. The inner films folded to each other vertically, in which parts of rims of the inner films are adhered to each other. The air inlet is formed by other parts of rims of the inner films which are not adhered to each other. The air passageway is connected to the air inlet and formed between the inner films. The cut holes are disposed on the inner films and each cut hole is disposed on one side of the air passageway.

The present invention also proposes an air enclosure provided with air lock valve on which cut holes are disposed comprises two outer films, two inner films, a plurality of air chambers, a plurality of air passageways and a plurality of cut holes. The outer films are folded together vertically. The inner films are positioned between the outer films and lower sides of the inner films are adhered to each other. The air chambers are formed between the outer films by allowing the outer films to be adhered to each other by means of hot sealing. The air inlets are formed between the inner films and used for allowing outside air to be filled in. The air passageways are respectively connected to the air inlets and formed between the inner films. Furthermore, the cut holes are disposed on the inner films and each cut hole is disposed on one side of the air passageway.

After outside air flows into the air passageway through the air inlet, it can be filled in the air chamber through the cut holes to cause the air chamber to be inflated. In the meantime, the air in the air chamber presses the inner films so as to block the air passageway to cause the air in the chamber not to leak out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIGS. 2,3,4A and4B.FIG. 2is a schematic view, showing an outlook of an air chamber of a first preferred embodiment of a first embodiment according to the present invention.FIG. 3is a schematic view, showing an air chamber of an air enclosure of a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention n before being filled with air.FIGS. 4A and 4Bare cross sectional views, respectively showing an air chamber of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention after being inflated.

An air valve on which cut holes are disposed comprises two inner film1aand1b, an air inlet2e, an air passageway5and a plurality of cut holes8.

The inner films1aand1bare folded together vertically and hot sealing is processed along hot sealing lines3a,3b,3cand3dto cause parts of rims of the inner films1aand1bto be adhered to each other. Here, the hot sealing can be hot molding pressing.

The air inlet2cis formed by spreading a heat resistant material1cbetween the inner films1aand1b, for example, printing heat resistant resin or ink by means of printing and sticking films1aand1btogether by means of hot sealing, i.e. the air inlet2eis positioned between not-adhered-to-each-other parts of the rims of the inner films1aand1bthat are not adhered to each other.

The air passageway5is connected to the air inlet2e, formed between the inner films1aand1bby spreading a heat resistant material1cbetween the inner films1aand1bto allow them not to be adhered to each other even by means of hot sealing and taken as a passageway allowing outside air to flow through.

The cut holes8are positioned on the inner films1aand1band distributed on one side of the air passageway or two sides thereof. Furthermore, the cut hole8is an opening formed by tearing the inner films1aand1bor a through hole formed by using a sharp tool to pierce the inner films1aand1b.

The air lock valve is assembled on the chamber40formed by allowing the outer films2aand2bto be adhered to each other by means of hot sealing before being used. When air filling is processed, the inner films1aand1bare pulled apart outward to open the air inlet2eto allow outside air to enter the air passageway through the air inlet2e, and one part of air flows to the left side of the air passageway5and into the air chamber40through the cut holes8thereof, and another part of air flows to the right side of the air passageway5and into the chamber40through the cut holes8thereof to enable the air chamber40to be filled with air to inflate.

The air pressure inside the air chamber40presses the inner films1aand1bto attach onto the outer film2aor2bafter the air chamber40is filled with air and inflated, the air passageways5is blocked to seal the air chamber40to allow air in the air chamber40not to leak so as to attain to the air locking effect.

The structure according to the present invention, when the inner films1aand1bare thrust by the air pressure inside the air chamber40, they can be attached onto the outer film2aor2bclosely or cannot be side-attached onto the film2aor2bbut hang in the air chamber40.

The air passageway5mentioned above is curved by means of hot sealing, and the width of one end of the air passageway5connected to the air inlet2ewider than the one of another end thereof; this allows the air pressure in the curved portion of the air passageway5is larger than the air pressure in two sides thereof to cause air of the air inlet2eis easy to enter and not easy to flee out, the curved portion of the air passageway5is thrust closely to attain to the air locking effect when the pressure inside the air chamber40increases. Furthermore, the air passageway5can also be multiple points type, twin curves type or straight line type air flowing route.

Please refer toFIG. 5is a schematic view, showing an air enclosure before being filled with air of a second preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

In the embodiment, the air enclosure further comprises a plurality of branch passageways6; they are formed by spreading a heat resistant material1cbetween the inner films1aand1band allowing the inner films1aand1bnot to be adhered to each other even by hot sealing and disposed between the inner films1aand1b. The branch passageways6are used for connecting the air passageway5and the cut holes8.

When air filling is processed, the inner films1aand1bare pulled apart outward to open the air inlet2eto allow outside air to enter the air passageway5via the air inlet2e. Thereafter, the air respectively flows to the branch passageways6along the air passageway5and then into the air chamber40via the cut hole8at the end terminal of each branch passageway6to cause the air chamber40to be filled with air and inflated.

Please refer toFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a schematic view, showing an air enclosure of a third preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

Hot sealing is processed to allow the inner films1aand1bto be adhered to each other along hot sealing lines3a,3b,3cand3dto cause a part of rims the inner films1aand1bto be adhered to each other. Besides, a heat resistant material1cis spread between the inner films1aand1bto form a plurality of air inlets2e; each air inlet2eis connected to the air passageway5and a plurality of cut holes8are distributed on the sides of each air passageway5.

Please refer toFIGS. 7,8A and8B.FIG. 7is an air enclosure before being filled with air of a fourth preferred embodiment according to the present invention.FIGS. 8A and 8Bare cross sectional views, showing an air enclosure after being filled with air of a fourth preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

The air enclosure comprises two outer films2aand2b, two inner films1aand1b, an air filling passageway3, a plurality of air inlets2e, a plurality of air passageways5, a plurality of cut holes8and a plurality of air chambers40.

The outer films2aand2bare folded together vertically.

The inner films1aand1bare disposed between the outer films2aand2band both lower sides of the inner films1aand1bare adhered by means of hot sealing.

The air filling passageway3is a space formed by allowing the outer films2aand2bto be adhered to each other by means of hot sealing and disposed at one end of the outer films2aand2b. Besides, the air filling passageway3comprises an air filling entrance31.

The air inlets2care formed by spreading a heat resistant material1cbetween the inner films1aand1b, for example, printing heat resistant resin or ink by means of printing and allowing the films1aand1bto be adhered to each other by means of hot sealing and used for allowing outside air to be filled in.

Each air passageway5is connected to the air inlet2e, formed between the inner films1aand1bby spreading a heat resistant material1cbetween the inner films1aand1bto allow them not to be adhered to each other even by means of hot sealing and taken as a channel for allowing outside air to flow through.

The cut holes8are positioned on the inner films1aand1band distributed on one side of each air passageway5or two sides thereof. Furthermore, the cut hole8is an opening formed by tearing the inner films1aand1bor a through hole formed by using a sharp tool to pierce the inner films1aand1b.

The air chambers are formed by allowing the outer films2aand2bto be adhered to each other by means of hot sealing and used as spaces for storing air. Furthermore, the air chambers40are disposed in parallel beside the air filling passageway3.

When air filling is processed, outside air entering the air filling entrance31inflates the air filling passageway3to cause the inner films1aand1bto be pulled apart outward to open the air inlets2e. After the outside air enters the air passageways5via the air inlets2e, one part of the outside air flows to the left side of each air passageway5and then into each air chamber40via the cut holes8on the left side thereof. In the meantime, another part of the outside air flows to the right side of each air passageway5and then into each air chamber40via the cut holes on the right side thereof to cause each chamber40to be filled with air and inflated.

The air pressure inside the air chamber40presses the inner films1aand1bto attach onto the outer film2aor2bafter the air chamber40is filled with air and inflated, the air passageways5is blocked to seal the air chamber40to allow air in the air chamber40not to leak so as to attain to the air locking effect.

Because air pressure in each air passageway5can be identical, the air pressure in a front part of the air chamber40close to the air filling passageway3is equal to the one in a rear part of the air chamber40far away from the air filling passageway3; that the air filling effect is not good or the air filling can not be processed in the rear part of the air chamber40will not happen even the front part of the air chamber40is first filled with air and inflated. Each air chamber40according to the present invention can be filled with air at the same time to increase to air filling speed. Furthermore, an air locking valve need not be assembled on each air chamber40; it not only reduces the operation procedures and time, but also further lower the production cost.

The structure according to the present invention, when the inner films1aand1bare thrust by the air pressure inside the air chamber40, they can be attached onto the outer film2aor2bclosely or cannot be side-attached onto the film2aor2bbut hang in the air chamber40.

Please refer toFIG. 9is a schematic view, showing an air enclosure before being filled with air of a second preferred embodiment.

In the embodiment, the air enclosure further comprises a plurality of branch passageways6; they are formed by spreading a heat resistant material1cbetween the inner films1aand1band allowing the inner films1aand1bnot to be adhered to each other even by hot sealing and disposed between the inner films1aand1b. The branch passageways6are used for connecting each air passageway5and the cut holes8.

When air filling is processed, outside air entering the air filling entrance31inflates the air filling passageway3to allow the inner films1aand1bto be pulled apart outward to open the air inlets2eto allow outside air to enter each air passageway5via each air inlet2e. Thereafter, the air respectively flows to the branch passageways6along each air passageway5and then into each air chamber40via the cut hole8at the end terminal of each branch passageway6to cause each air chamber40to be filled with air and inflated.

Please refer toFIGS. 10,11A and11B.FIG. 10is an air enclosure before being filled with air of a sixth preferred embodiment according to the present invention.FIGS. 11A and 11Bare cross sectional views, showing an air enclosure after being filled with air of a sixth preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

An air filling passageway3is a space formed by allowing the outer films2aand2bto adhere to each other by means of hot sealing and disposed at one end of the outer films2aand2b. Besides, the air filling passageway3comprises an air filling entrance31. Here, a hot sealing line in the same direction as the air filling passageway3is formed by allowing the outer films2aand2band the inner films1aand1bto be adhered to each other at the lower side of the air filling passageway3and a plurality of air inlets2eare formed at places that a heat resistant material1cis spread between the inner films1aand1b.

When air filling is processed, outside air entering the air filling entrance31inflates the air filling passageway3to cause the inner films1aand1bto be pulled apart outward to open the air inlets2e. After the outside air enters the air passageways5via the air inlets2e, one part of the outside air flows to the left side of each air passageway5and then into each air chamber40via the cut holes8on the left side thereof. In the meantime, another part of the outside air flows to the right side of each air passageway5and then into each air chamber40via the cut holes on the right side thereof to cause each chamber40to be filled with air and inflated. The air pressure inside the air chamber40presses the inner films1aand1bto be attached onto the outer film2aor2bafter the air chamber40is filled with air and inflated, the air passageways5is blocked to seal the air chamber40to allow air in the air chamber40not to leak so as to attain to the air locking effect.

The structure according to the present invention, when the inner films1aand1bare thrust by the air pressure inside the air chamber40, they can be attached onto the outer film2aor2bclosely or cannot be side-attached onto the film2aor2bbut hang in the air chamber40.

Please refer toFIGS. 12,13A and13B.FIG. 12is an air enclosure before being filled with air of a seventh preferred embodiment according to the present invention.FIGS. 13A and 13Bare cross sectional views, showing an air enclosure after being filled with air of a seventh preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

An air filling passageway3is a space formed by allowing the outer films2aand2bto be adhered to each other by means of hot sealing and disposed at one end of the outer films2aand2b. Besides, the air filling passageway3comprises an air filling entrance31. Here, a hot sealing line in the same direction as the air filling passageway3is not formed by allowing the outer films2aand2band the inner films1aand1bto be adhered to each other at the lower side of the air filling passageway3.

When air filling is processed, outside air entering the air filling entrance31inflates the air filling passageway3to cause the inner films1aand1bto be pulled apart outward to open the air inlets2e. After the outside air enters the air passageways5via the air inlets2e, one part of the outside air flows to the left side of each air passageway5and then into each air chamber40via the cut holes8on the left side thereof. In the meantime, another part of the outside air flows to the right side of each air passageway5and then into each air chamber40via the cut holes on the right side thereof to cause each chamber40to be filled with air and inflated. The air pressure inside each air chamber40presses the inner films1aand1bto block the air filling passageway3and each air passageway5after each air chamber40is filled with air and inflated. Whereby, the air chambers40are respectively sealed to allow air in the air chambers40not to leak so as to attain to the air locking effect.

The air passageway5mentioned above is curved by means of hot sealing, and the width of one end of the air passageway5connected to the air inlet2ewider than the one of another end thereof; this allows the air pressure in the curved portion of the air passageway5is larger than the air pressure in two sides thereof to cause air of the air inlet2eto be easy to enter and not to be easy to flee out, the curved portion of the air passageway5is thrust closely to attain to the air locking effect when the pressure inside the air chamber40increases. Furthermore, the air passageway5can also be multiple points type, twin curves type or straight line type air flowing route.

Please refer toFIG. 14is an air enclosure before being filled with air of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

An air filling passageway3is positioned at a place in the middle of two inner films1aand1band other two inner films1aand1b, and a plurality of air chambers40are formed at two ends of the air filling passageway3. When air is filled, air in the air filling passageway3is filled into the air chambers40at the both ends thereof at the same time to attain to the air filling time reduction purpose.

Furthermore, a cutting line9is disposed on the air filling passageway3to allow the air chambers40at the both ends of the air filling passageway3to be separated by cutting along the cutting line9after air is filled; this allows the product output of the air chambers40to be double. Furthermore, the cutting line can be added on the air filling passageway3by line puncturing so as to be convenient for a user to tear the air chambers40apart along the cutting line9to enable each air chamber40to be used independently and the independently utilized air enclosures can be produced on large scale through the disposition of the cutting line9.