Vacuum inlet valve assembly with a closeable seal

Abstract

A closure flap on a vacuum inlet valve assembly or housing pivots between an open first position and a closed second position. When the closure flap is in the open first position, it is offset from a central longitudinal axis of the vacuum inlet valve housing. When the closure flap is in the closed second position, it intersects the central longitudinal axis. The closure flap has a resilient and compressible protrusion that releasable locks the closure flap in each position.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A closure flap comprising:
 a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, wherein the first major surface has a surface area that is larger than a surface area of the second major surface, and at least a portion of the first major surface is not parallel to the second major surface;   a tapered edge extending between the first major surface and the second major surface at an angle relative to a first axis, wherein the first axis perpendicularly intersects one of the first major surface and the second major surface, and the tapered edge defines a minor surface that extends substantially circumferential around the first major surface and the second major surface;   a boss extending outward from the tapered edge having two parallel sidewalls that are orthogonal to at least one of the first major surface and the second major surface, and the boss defining an aperture extending between the two parallel sidewalls orthogonal to the first axis;   a second axis extending centrally through the aperture, wherein the second axis is offset orthogonal to the first axis, wherein the first major surface and the second major surface are adapted to pivot about the second axis to move the closure flap between an open position and a closed position;   a convex surface on the boss extending between the two parallel sidewalls;   a protrusion on the boss, and the protrusion extending radially outward from the convex surface on the boss relative to the second axis, wherein the protrusion is convexly curved and has a radius of curvature less than that of the convex surface on the boss; and   a cantilevered pull tab having a first end and a free second end, wherein the first end is connected to first major surface adjacent an outer circumferential edge thereof and wherein the free second end is closer to the first axis than the first end and the free second end is spaced apart from the first major surface.   
     
     
         2 . A closure flap comprising:
 a first major surface and an opposing second major surface;   a first axis extending centrally through the closure flap;   an annular sidewall extending between the first major surface and the opposing second major surface, wherein the annular sidewall defines a minor surface having an area less than one of the first major surface and the second major surface; and   a cantilevered pull tab having a first end and a free second end, wherein the first end is connected to first major surface adjacent an outer circumferential edge thereof and wherein the free second end is closer to the first axis than the first end and the free second end is spaced apart from the first major surface.   
     
     
         3 . The closure flap of  claim 2 , wherein the closure flap is formed from a resilient material as a unitary unibody monolithic member. 
     
     
         4 . The closure flap of  claim 3 , wherein the first major surface has a surface area that is larger than a surface area of the second major surface, and at least a portion of the first major surface is not parallel to the second major surface; 
     
     
         5 . The closure flap of  claim 3 , wherein the annular sidewall is tapers between the first major surface and the second major surface at an angle relative to the first axis. 
     
     
         6 . The closure flap of  claim 5 , wherein the first axis perpendicularly intersects one of the first major surface and the second major surface. 
     
     
         7 . The closure flap of  claim 5 , wherein the tapered annular sidewall that defines the minor surface extends substantially circumferential around the first major surface and the second major surface. 
     
     
         8 . The closure flap of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a boss extending outward from the annular sidewall having two sidewalls, wherein at least one of the two sidewalls is orthogonal to at least one of the first major surface and the second major surface.   
     
     
         9 . The closure flap of  claim 8 , wherein the two sidewalls are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The closure flap of  claim 9 , wherein the boss defines an aperture extending between the two parallel sidewalls, and further comprising:
 a second axis extending centrally through the aperture, wherein the second axis is offset orthogonal to the first axis, wherein the first major surface and the second major surface are adapted to pivot about the second axis to move the closure flap between an open position and a closed position.   
     
     
         11 . The closure flap of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a convex surface on the boss extending between the two parallel sidewalls.   
     
     
         12 . The closure flap of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a protrusion on the boss, and the protrusion extending radially outward from the convex surface on the boss relative to the second axis, wherein the protrusion is convexly curved and has a radius of curvature less than that of the convex surface on the boss.   
     
     
         13 . The closure flap of  claim 12 , wherein the protrusion is compressible as the closure flap moves between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The closure flap of  claim 13 , wherein the protrusion resiliently expands after being compressed when the closure flap is in closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The closure flap of  claim 14 , wherein the closure flap has a weight, and the weight of the closure flap is insufficient to overcome a rigidity of the resilient material when in the closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The closure flap of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a boss extending outward from the annular sidewall;   a protrusion on the boss, and the protrusion extending radially outward from the boss, wherein the protrusion is convexly curved;   wherein the protrusion is compressible as the closure flap moves between an open position and a closed position.   
     
     
         17 . The closure flap of  claim 16 , wherein the protrusion resiliently expands after being compressed when the closure flap is in closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The closure flap of  claim 16 , wherein the closure flap has a weight, and the weight of the closure flap is insufficient to overcome a rigidity of material forming the closure flap when in the closed position.