Shoring device

Claim 1

An inflatable member of flexible material for shoring merchandise in a storage compartment, said member comprising: A. a body formed of opposed plies of pressure retaining flexible material with the peripheral outer edges thereof sealed to form a pressure-tight seam therearound, said body including: 1. at least two pneumatic chambers therein, 2. at least one crossover connecting any two such chambers, each crossover having an opening therein so as to provide for a free flow of an inflating medium between the pneumatic Chambers, and 3. a generally V-shaped strip extending substantially around the entire interior periphery of the inflatable member and fitting into the crotch-like contour formed by said body adjacent said sealed outer edges thereof to provide reinforcement therefor; and B. valve means operably connected with said body and extending through the seam and beyond the edge thereof to provide a readily accessible connection to the source of the inflating medium for inflating or deflating particularly when said inflatable member is in the operative position, said valve means comprising: 1. a pair of sleeve patches, each having a portion attached to one of said body plies and another portion thereof extending outwardly of the sealed edge portion with the sleeve patches lying in superposed relation and joined together to form a passage therebetween to provide an opening into the interior of the body, 2. a sleeve element in said opening attached to said V-shaped strip with an elongated portion thereof extending into the passage formed by said sleeve patches, and 3. a wrap layer surrounding at least the elongated portion of said sleeve element and joined to each said sleeve patch at least in the portion extending beyond the sealed edge portion, said valve means thereby providing a single location for controlling the inflation and deflation of the inflatable member.