Container sealing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9776744-B2
Application number	US-201715407985-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 17, 2017
Priority date	Jun 19, 2015
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a fluid. The apparatus including a connector configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source, a flow path providing fluid communication between the fluid source and a plurality of containers coupled to the apparatus, a sealing element disposed within each of the plurality of containers, the sealing element configured to couple the container to the apparatus and automatically seal the container when the container is decoupled from the apparatus, and a retaining member affixed to each of the plurality of containers to position the sealing element in a neck of each of the plurality of containers.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
a connector configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source;
a flow path providing fluid communication between the fluid source and a plurality of containers coupled to the apparatus;
a sealing element disposed within each of the plurality of containers, the sealing element configured to couple the container to the apparatus and automatically seal the container when the container is decoupled from the apparatus; and
a retaining member including a sleeve affixed to each of the plurality of containers, the sleeve being configured to prevent radial expansion of the containers to position the sealing element in a neck of each of the plurality of containers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sealing element includes a valve.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the valve includes a channel and a sealing member.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the valve includes at least one of a reed valve, a duckbill valve, and a bullet valve.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the sealing member includes a flap.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the sealing member includes a first wall of a slit and a second wall of the slit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining member includes substantially rigid rings configured to prevent radial expansion of the container.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining member is affixed to an exterior surface of the container.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of containers includes balloons.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is reusable.

11. An apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
a connector configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source;
a flow path providing fluid communication between the fluid source and a plurality of containers coupled to the apparatus;
a plurality of conduits;
a valve within each of the plurality of containers, the valve including sealing members and a channel through which one of the plurality of conduits is received, the sealing members being configured to be maintained in an open position by the conduit received in the channel while coupled to the apparatus and to automatically seal the container when the container is decoupled from the apparatus; and
a retaining member including a sleeve affixed to each of the plurality of containers, the sleeve being configured to prevent radial expansion of the containers to position the valve in a neck of each of the plurality of containers.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the retaining member is affixed to an exterior surface of the container.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the valve includes at least one of a reed valve, a duckbill valve, and a bullet valve.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of containers includes balloons.

15. An apparatus for filling a plurality of containers with a fluid, the apparatus comprising:
a connector configured to removably couple the apparatus to a fluid source;
a flow path providing fluid communication between the fluid source and a plurality of containers coupled to the apparatus;
a plurality of conduits;
a valve within each of the plurality of containers, the valve including sealing members and a channel through which one of the plurality of conduits is received, the sealing members being configured to be maintained in an open position by a flow pressure of the fluid while coupled to the apparatus and to automatically seal the container when the container is decoupled from the apparatus; and
a retaining member including a sleeve affixed to each of the plurality of containers, the sleeve being configured to position the valve in a neck of each of the plurality of containers.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the valve is positioned in a neck of the container.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the valve includes at least one of a reed valve, a duckbill valve, and a bullet valve.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of containers includes balloons.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sealing member includes a flap.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sealing member includes a first wall of a slit and a second wall of the slit.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the sealing member includes a flap.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the sealing member includes a first wall of a slit and a second wall of the slit.

Assignees

• Telebrands Corp

Inventors

• Khubani Ajit
• Dowd Paul
• Kelly Ryan

Classifications

• A63H27/10 Primary

  Balloons (connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; {other than toy aspects B64B1/40}) · CPC title

• B65B3/17 Primary

  for filling valve bags · CPC title

• B65B7/025

  Closing valve bags · CPC title

• A63H37/00

  Jokes; Confetti, streamers, or other dance favours {; Cracker bonbons or the like} · CPC title

• A63H2027/1033

  Inflation devices or methods for inflating balloons · CPC title