Valve for vessel

Abstract

The innovation described herein generally pertains to a valve for use in allowing material to flow into a vessel. The valve can be constructed from a cylinder of thin-film plastic and can be inserted into and adhered to the inside of a neck of the vessel. Pressure inside of the vessel causes the outlet of the valve to constrict or collapse, preventing material from flowing back through the valve from within the vessel when inflation pressure is removed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve comprising:
 an inlet portion including a first opening at a first end of the valve, and extending along a first length, wherein at least a portion of the inlet portion is cylindrical;   a tapered portion that tapers along a second length from a first thickness to a second thickness; and   an outlet portion having the second thickness, and extending along a third length to a second opening at a second end of the valve; wherein   the valve is configured to allow a material to flow through the first opening, the inlet portion, the tapered portion, the outlet portion, and the second opening into a vessel when an inflation pressure is applied at the first opening, wherein the material flowing into the vessel increases pressure inside the vessel from a first pressure to a second pressure, and the second pressure causes the outlet portion to constrict and close the second opening to prevent material from flowing back through the valve from within the vessel when the inflation pressure is removed.   
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is constructed from a single piece of thin-film plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet portion has a width that tapers from a first width to a second width. 
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 3 , wherein the width of the outlet portion is at least partially defined by a heat weld. 
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive applied to an outside surface of the inlet portion. 
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 5 , wherein the adhesive attaches the valve to an inside surface of a neck of the vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a latex or nitrile balloon. 
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a ring disposed inside of the inlet portion and defining the first opening. 
     
     
         9 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet portion comprises a portion of material that is rolled upwards with a neck of the vessel to secure the valve in place within the neck. 
     
     
         10 . A vessel comprising:
 a neck; and   a valve disposed within the neck, the valve comprising:
 an inlet portion including a first opening at a first end of the valve, and extending along a first length, wherein at least a portion of the inlet portion is cylindrical; 
 a tapered portion that tapers along a second length from a first thickness to a second thickness; and 
 an outlet portion having the second thickness, and extending along a third length to a second opening at a second end of the valve; wherein 
 the valve is configured to allow a material to flow through the opening, the inlet portion, the tapered portion, the outlet portion, and the second opening into the vessel when an inflation pressure is applied at the first opening, wherein the material flowing into the vessel increases pressure inside the vessel from a first pressure to a second pressure, and the second pressure causes the outlet portion to constrict and close the second opening to prevent material from flowing back through the valve from within the vessel when the inflation pressure is removed. 
   
     
     
         11 . The vessel of  claim 10 , further comprising an adhesive applied to an outside surface of the inlet portion. 
     
     
         12 . The vessel of  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive attaches the valve to an inside surface of the neck. 
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the vessel is a latex or nitrile balloon. 
     
     
         14 . The vessel of  claim 10 , wherein the valve further comprises a ring disposed inside of the inlet portion and defining the first opening. 
     
     
         15 . The vessel of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the neck is stretched over the ring to secure the valve in place within the neck. 
     
     
         16 . The vessel of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the inlet portion of the valve is rolled upwards with a portion of the neck to secure the valve in place within the neck. 
     
     
         17 . A method of constructing a valve, comprising:
 providing a cylinder having a first end comprising an inlet portion having a first thickness, and a second end opposite the first end;   pinching the second end of the cylinder to form an outlet portion having an opening, wherein the outlet portion has a second thickness less than the first thickness; and   applying a pair of heat welds to a front face of the outlet portion to weld the front face of the outlet portion to a rear face of the outlet portion to taper a width of the outlet portion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising trimming excess material from outside the heat welds at the second end of the valve. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 applying an adhesive to at least one of an outer surface of the inlet portion or an inner surface of a neck of a vessel;   inserting the valve into the neck of the vessel; and   securing the valve within the neck of the vessel with the adhesive.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 inserting a tube through the valve so that a first end of the tube is within an interior of the vessel and a second end of the tube is outside of the vessel; and   compressing the vessel, after securing the valve and inserting the tube, to force material out of the vessel through the tube.