Valves and valve actuation – With correlated flow path – Valve operated by joining flow path sections
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-19
2004-03-30
Bastianelli, John (Department: 3754)
Valves and valve actuation
With correlated flow path
Valve operated by joining flow path sections
C206S524800, C383S103000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06712334
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust valve which is mounted to a bag for keeping bedding such as blankets, comforters or the like, or clothes, and is used to deaerate the bag by using a suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner or the like to compress contents of the bag to make the same compact.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, when a comforter, clothes or the like are stored in a closet or a chest, after being placed in a bag which is flat and is made of synthetic resin, the contents have been compressed by removing the air in the bag by using a vacuum device such as an electric vacuum cleaner in order to accommodate as many comforters, clothes or the like as possible in a limited closet space. Compression of the contents of the bag as mentioned above has been done not only in general homes but also by traders and manufacturers engaged in bedding. Further, compression of such bags has been done when a traveler put clothes and so forth in a suitcase.
In general, in order to compress the bag containing a comforter or the like, part of an open portion of the bag is opened by a fastener, which is provided at the open portion of the bag, through which a suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner is inserted to have the bag deaerated. However, when the suction nozzle is inserted directly into the bag, the contents of the bag are sucked into an open end of the nozzle by a force of suction of the suction nozzle, which may not only cause damage to the contents but also stops up the suction nozzle, which further makes deaeration of the bag difficult, and may cause a failure of the electric vacuum cleaner because of a heavy load applied on a motor of the electric vacuum cleaner.
Therefore, the exhaust valve is mounted to the bag, through which the air in the bag is exhausted by the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner from outside to compress the bag, without inserting the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner into the bag.
The exhaust valve as mentioned above comprises a valve body and a cylindrical member. The valve body is mounted to a proper location of one side of the bag, and an exhaust opening portion, which is provided at a center part of the valve body, goes through into the bag. The cylindrical member is screwed to a threaded cylinder, which is provided to project at a center part of an upper surface of the valve body. The cylindrical member is provided with a valve plate to be integrated, which works to open and close the above-mentioned exhaust opening portion. The exhaust opening portion is opened by having the cylindrical member turned to have the valve plate distanced from the above-mentioned exhaust opening portion, and after a suction opening portion of the suction nozzle of the electric vacuum cleaner is fit to the cylindrical member, the air in the bag is suctioned and removed through the exhaust opening portion.
However, according to the exhaust valve structure as mentioned above, as suction of the air through the suction nozzle works only in the bag intensively, the vacuum (deaeration) continuous to be applied to the bag even after the bag is completely deaerated. Consequently, as in the above-mentioned case, a heavy load is applied on the motor of the electric vacuum cleaner, which causes a failure of the same. In addition, after the deaeration, the cylindrical member have to be turned to a direction of closure, it may happen that the air comes into the bag from outside through the exhaust opening portion during the turning operation. Consequently, there are such problems that the bag swells, and that it is difficult for elderly persons to handle the bag.
Further, in case the diameter of the suction nozzle of the vacuum cleaner is different, it may happen that the suction nozzle can not fit to the cylindrical member, and suction and deaeration of the air in the bag can not be effectively carried out. Furthermore, when deaerated bags are piled one on the other, a corner of opening end of the cylindrical member or the like dips into a lower surface of a bag placed thereon and it is possible that contents of the bag may be damaged. Still further, when the cylindrical member unexpectedly turns in a direction, allowing the exhaust opening to partially open, there is a problem that the air comes into the bag from outside and the bag swells.
Moreover, the valve body is mounted to a proper location of one side of the bag by having the lower surface of the valve body adhered to the bag to be integrated by means of welding or the like so that the opening portion provided in the bag and the exhaust opening portion of the valve body can be communicated. Therefore, not only a mounting operation of the valve to the bag is complicated and requires time and effort but also it is possible that the air may come into the bag from outside after the deaeration is finished, in case adhesion of the valve body to the bag becomes deteriorated.
SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. An object of the invention is to provide an exhaust valve structure, in which a valve is automatically opened only by pressing a suction nozzle of an electric vacuum cleaner, whereby a bag can be deaerated without applying a heavy load on the electric vacuum cleaner, the valve is automatically closed upon releasing a pressing force of the suction nozzle after the deaeration is finished, a state of the closure of the valve can be locked, the exhaust valve can be used for deaeration of the bag irrespective of a diameter of the suction nozzle, and a mounting of the valve to the bag can be done easily and without fail.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the exhaust valve of the bag according to this invention comprises a valve body provided with an exhaust opening portion at a center of the lower part thereof to be communicated with a bag, a movable lid provided with an air intake going through from an upper surface to a lower surface thereof; said movable lid being mounted on the valve body movably in up-and-down directions, a valve plate for open and close of the exhaust opening portion, spring means for pressing the valve plate from the up position to fit the exhaust opening portion closely, and a valve plate operational mechanism for opening the valve plate by moving the valve plate upwards against a spring force of the spring means; said valve plate, spring means and valve plate operational mechanism being arranged in a chamber formed between the opposite surfaces of the movable lid and the valve body, wherein the valve plate operational mechanism is operated by pressing the movable lid down so as to open the valve plate and the air in the bag is exhausted from the air intake.
In the exhaust valve as structured above, the invention according to one embodiment has a structure wherein a plurality of leg members of a spring holder, which is arranged above the exhaust opening portion, are fixed on the upper surface of the valve body around a periphery of the exhaust opening portion and the spring means is held between the spring holder and the valve plate and each of opening portions between the adjacent leg members of the spring holder is communicated with the air intake of the movable lid.
Further, the invention may include a structure of the valve plate operational mechanism wherein the valve operating mechanism comprises a plurality of lever members which are integrated with the outer periphery of the valve plate at the inner ends of the lever members that the lever members radially project outwardly between each of the leg members of the spring holder, with fulcrum members projecting from the upper surface of the valve plate to receive the under surfaces of the middle of the length of the lever members in longitudinal direction thereof, and pressing projecting strips each projecting downwardly towards the under surface of the periphery of the movable lid so as to press the outer portion of the upper surface of the lever me
Motonaka Hiroshi
Shiozaki Yoshio
Bastianelli John
Greigg Ronald E.
Taiyo Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha
LandOfFree
Exhaust valve for a bag does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Exhaust valve for a bag, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Exhaust valve for a bag will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3229029