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WO2005116496A1 - Valve pour produit gonflable - Google Patents

Valve pour produit gonflable Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2005116496A1
WO2005116496A1 PCT/US2004/015303 US2004015303W WO2005116496A1 WO 2005116496 A1 WO2005116496 A1 WO 2005116496A1 US 2004015303 W US2004015303 W US 2004015303W WO 2005116496 A1 WO2005116496 A1 WO 2005116496A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
inflatable product
tube
inflation tube
inflation
base
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2004/015303
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Andrew T. Metzger
Kimberly M. Reuter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Coleman Co Inc
Original Assignee
Coleman Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Coleman Co Inc filed Critical Coleman Co Inc
Priority to PCT/US2004/015303 priority Critical patent/WO2005116496A1/fr
Publication of WO2005116496A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005116496A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K15/00—Check valves
    • F16K15/20—Check valves specially designed for inflatable bodies, e.g. tyres
    • F16K15/202—Check valves specially designed for inflatable bodies, e.g. tyres and with flexible valve member
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K15/00—Check valves
    • F16K15/20—Check valves specially designed for inflatable bodies, e.g. tyres
    • F16K15/205—Check valves specially designed for inflatable bodies, e.g. tyres and with closure plug

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to inflatable products, and more specifically to a valve for an inflatable product .
  • An airbed is a large rectangular rubber or plastic bag that is filled with air so that it may be used as a bed.
  • An air mat is similar in construction to an airbed, but is used as a float so that an individual may lie on the, air mat in the water. Both products fall under the broad category of "inflatable" products.
  • Other nonlimiting examples of inflatable products include rafts, inflatable furniture, inflatable pools, and inflatable boats. (0003)
  • One thing inflatable products have in common is that they must be inflated for use. To this end, a valve or valves are supplied on an inflatable product for a user to provide air or another gas into the inflatable product.
  • the user may utilize his or her breath, i.e., by blowing into a valve or valves, may utilize a manual or electric pump, or may use an air compressor, as examples.
  • a variety of different valves are presently used for inflatable products. These valves have a common goal : to permit the user to easily inflate and deflate the product, while minimizing escaped air when the user tries to seal the product . Examples of present day valves are the pinch valve, the Boston valve, and a double lock valve sold by the assignee of the present invention, The Coleman Company, Inc .
  • valves While present valves work well for their intended purpose, very few valves are useful in both allowing simple inflation and deflation of the product and allowing quick closure so that air is not lost from the inflatable product after the inflatable product is full. That is, for most prior art valves, when a user has inflated a product, a cap or other structure must be placed over the valve before air is lost. Often, a substantial amount of air is lost before the valve is sufficiently closed. Additionally, the valve may be difficult to use for deflation of the inflatable product .
  • a valve is provided for an inflatable product that is easy to use for both inflation and deflation of the product and for quick closure after inflation.
  • the valve includes an inflation tube that moves in and out of the inflatable product.
  • the inflation tube may, for example, rotate in and out of the valve base.
  • the inflation tube includes a sealing structure, such as a gasket, that abuts against a seat when the inflation tube is fully inserted into the inflatable product .
  • This closure prevents the flow of air out of the inflatable product.
  • the user may provide air through the inflation tube and close the valve by inserting the inflation tube until the gasket is seated. To deflate the inflatable product, the user simply moves the inflation tube out, for example by rotating it outward, disengaging the gasket from the seat .
  • the seat is conically shaped so that the gasket ensures firm contact with the seat.
  • an additional air lock such as an 0- ring, is provided to fit the inflation tube against an outer surface of a base for the valve.
  • a rigid sleeve is provided that is in fluid communication with the outside and inside of the inflatable product.
  • a cap, plug, or other structure may be provided for closing the rigid sleeve.
  • a collapsible tube is attached to the inside of the rigid sleeve and extends inward into the inflatable product. During inflation, the collapsible tube remains open, allowing air to enter the inflatable product . When air flow into the inflatable product stops, the pressure inside the inflatable product collapses the collapsible tube, closing the opening of the rigid sleeve, and blocking the flow of air out of the rigid sleeve.
  • the structure provides easy inflation of an inflatable product, yet closes the valve without requiring manipulation by the user.
  • the cap or plug is closed over the outer portion of the rigid sleeve to ensure that air does not flow out of the inflatable product .
  • this valve is deflated by inserting a rigid hollow structure, such as a tube, through the rigid sleeve and through the collapsible tube so that the tube is in fluid communication with the internal portion of the inflatable product.
  • the tube prevents the flexible sleeve from collapsing to close the opening in the valve. Air is permitted to flow through the tube, - allowing easy deflation.
  • FIG. 1 is side perspective view of an airbed incorporating a valve that may utilize one of the embodiments of the invention;
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of a valve for an inflatable product such as the airbed in
  • FIG. 1; (0014) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section lines 3--3 of FIG. 2; (0015) FIG. 4 is an exploded side perspective view of the valve of FIG. 2 ; (0016) FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a valve, showing an adapter just prior to insertion in the valve; (0017) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the valve of FIG. 5, showing the valve closed when the inflatable product is filled with air; and (0018) FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the valve of FIG. 5, shown with the attachment inserted and the valve in a deflation state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION (0019) In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described.
  • FIG. 1 shows an airbed 20 incorporating a valve 22 that may utilize features in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows a valve 122 in accordance with an embodiment.
  • the valve 122 includes an inflation tube 24 having a gripping section 26 at an upper end.
  • the gripping section 26 includes knurls 28 and is concave in configuration to aid in gripping.
  • External threads 30 extend along the outside of the inflation tube 24 down to a bottom portion of the inflation tube 24.
  • the inflation tube 24 threads into a base, which, in the embodiment shown, includes an outer flange 34 and an inner flange 36.
  • the outer flange 34 may be formed, for example, of polyvinylchloride (PVC) or another suitable structure for ease of attachment to the airbed 20 or another inflatable product.
  • the inner flange 36 is positioned against the outer flange 34, and may be made of the same material or a different material, but preferably is rigid, and may be made of, for example, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) , or another rigid plastic.
  • a rigid sleeve 38 is attached to or is formed integral with the bottom of the inner flange 36.
  • Flanges 39 extend downward from the bottom of the sleeve 38.
  • a conical seat 40 extends upward from the juncture of the bottom of the flanges 39.
  • An 0-ring 42 is positioned on the outside of the inflation tube 24 just below the gripping section 26.
  • a gasket 44 is attached to the bottom of the inflation tube 24.
  • the inflation tube 24 In use, to inflate the inflatable product to which the valve 122 is attached, the inflation tube 24 is rotated upward to the position shown in FIG. 2. The user then supplies air or another gas into the inflatable product by either blowing on the outside of the inflation tube 24 or attaching a pump (not shown) or other inflation device to the inflation tube 24.
  • a pump adapter 46 may be supplied with a pump and may be configured to fit into the inflation tube 24.
  • the pump adapter 46 includes an elongate tube 48 that may be fitted inside the inflation tube 24, and may fit, for example, by friction fit. (0025)
  • the air flows downward through the inflation tube and out of the inflation tube 24.
  • the air hits the conical seat 40, it is directed outward and into the inflatable product by the conical shape of the conical shape 40. The user may continue to provide air through the inflation tube until the inflatable product is inflated.
  • the user rotates the inflation tube 24 by gripping the gripping section 26 and rotating the inflation tube so that the external threads 30 drive the inflation tube downward.
  • This movement of the inflation tube 24 may be done while the pump adapter 46 is still connected to the pump and, if desired, while the pump is still blowing air into the inflatable product.
  • the inflation tube 24 is rotated downward until the gasket 44 engages the conical seat 40, closing the air flow between the inflatable product and the inflation tube.
  • the O-ring 42 engages the top of the outer flange 34, providing another stop for potential loss of air.
  • the pump adapter 46 may then be removed .
  • the valve 122 provides a simple manner of inflation for an inflatable product.
  • the easy locking feature of the inflation tube 24 permits a user to close the valve 122 with little or no loss of air.
  • the user simply grips the gripping portion 26 and turns the inflation tube 24 in the opposite direction, releasing the engagement of the O-ring 42 with the outer surface of the outer flange 34 and the engagement of the gasket 44 with the conical seat 40. Air may then flow out through the inflation tube 24, allowing deflation of the inflatable product.
  • the pump adapter 46 may be connected to the inflation tube 24, and a pump may be operated in reverse to aid in deflation of the inflatable product .
  • a different shape may be used for the conical seat 40.
  • the conical shape of the conical seat 40 aids in air flow into and out of the inflatable product, and ensures that the gasket 44 is properly seated. That is, because of the conical shape of the conical seat 40, if the inflation tube 24 is misaligned, the conical gasket 44 will hit the outer surface of the conical seat and the tapered surface will press the inflation tube towards being centered, forcing the inflation tube into alignment. (0030) Although the embodiment shown in the drawings utilizes external threads 30 to insert the inflation tube 24, the inflation tube 24 may be inserted in another manner. For example, the inflation tube 24 may be friction fit into the sleeve 38 and may be pressed against the friction fitting into the closed position and pulled against the friction fitting into the open position.
  • FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of a valve 222.
  • the valve 222 includes an opening 52 that extends to a rigid sleeve 54 (FIG. 6) .
  • a flange 56 attaches to the rigid sleeve 54.
  • the rigid sleeve 54 is made of a suitable material, such as ABS, PVC, or another rigid plastic.
  • the flange 56 is preferably formed of a material that can easily be attached to an inflatable product.
  • the material may be, for example, polyvinylchloride (PVC) .
  • PVC polyvinylchloride
  • the rigid sleeve 54 and the flange 56 may be made of the same material, and may be integral .
  • a plug 58 is provided that is attached by a tab 60 to the rigid sleeve 54.
  • another suitable cap or closure device may be provided for the top of the valve 222.
  • the valve 222 includes a collapsible tube 62.
  • the collapsible tube 62 is attached to the rigid sleeve 54 and extends into the inflatable product .
  • the collapsible tube 62 is attached to the rigid sleeve 54 in a suitable manner, such as by an O-ring, gluing, welding, or a mechanical attachment.
  • the collapsible tube 62 is highly flexible so that it may collapse with little effort.
  • a thin polyvinylchloride may be used.
  • the material for the collapsible tube 62 may be chosen so that it may collapse in a desire direction or to a certain degree.
  • the collapsible tube 62 is made from four panels that are attached along seams to form the sleeve.
  • the collapsible tube 62 may be formed in other manners, such as by attaching two panels, forming a sleeve out of a single panel, utilizing a tubular sleeve, and other variations .
  • a user blows air through the opening 52. This may be done by blowing with the user's mouth or utilizing a pump or other inflation device.
  • the pump adapter 46 may be used, wherein the tube 48 is inserted into the opening 52 and the rigid sleeve 54.
  • Air is free to enter the inflatable product through the collapsible tube 62, because the air flow causes the collapsible tube to remain open.
  • the pump adapter 46 may extend past the collapsible tube 62, directing air beyond the collapsible tube. This arrangement can be seen in FIG. 7, for example. (0039) After inflating the inflatable product, the pump adapter 46 is removed (if relevant) , and air pressure within the inflatable product causes the collapsible tube 62 to fold into itself, closing the opening formed by the collapsible tube 62.
  • the manner in which the collapsible tube 62 collapses depends upon the rigidity of the material used for the collapsible tube and the shape of the collapsible tube.
  • the sidewalls of the collapsible tube 62 may simply collapse inward to the position shown in FIG. 6.
  • the collapsible tube 62 may completely collapse over the rear portion of the rigid sleeve 54, for example into the position shown in phantom in FIG. 6. In either event, air pressure causes the collapsible tube 62 to close, preventing air from flowing out of the inflatable product.
  • the collapsible tube 62 therefore provides an immediate closure of air flowing out of the opening 52 after a pump or other inflation device stops providing air through the opening 52.
  • valve 222 Although a tube is described for deflating an inflatable product through the valve 222, another structure may be used that opens the collapsible tube and permits air flow therethrough. For example, a pair of separated rods may be inserted through the opening 52 to spread and open the collapsible tube and permit air to flow therethrough.
  • the valves 122 and 222 provide easy inflation and deflation of an inflatable product. They also provide a structure in which the valve may be easily closed after inflation with the loss of little or no air.
  • Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pipe Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne une valve (222) permettant d'une part d'effectuer à la fois le gonflage et le dégonflage et d'autre part d'obtenir une fermeture rapide après le gonflage. Un manchon rigide (54) est utilisé, lequel est en communication fluidique avec l'extérieur et l'intérieur du produit gonflable. Un bouchon (58) peut être utilisé pour fermer le manchon rigide. Un tube souple (62) est fixé à l'intérieur du manchon rigide (54) et s'étend vers l'intérieur dans le produit gonflable.
PCT/US2004/015303 2004-05-14 2004-05-14 Valve pour produit gonflable Ceased WO2005116496A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2004/015303 WO2005116496A1 (fr) 2004-05-14 2004-05-14 Valve pour produit gonflable

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2004/015303 WO2005116496A1 (fr) 2004-05-14 2004-05-14 Valve pour produit gonflable

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005116496A1 true WO2005116496A1 (fr) 2005-12-08

Family

ID=35450964

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2004/015303 Ceased WO2005116496A1 (fr) 2004-05-14 2004-05-14 Valve pour produit gonflable

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2005116496A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2483939A (en) * 2010-09-27 2012-03-28 Andrew John Sanderson Pump adapter
WO2019246154A1 (fr) * 2018-06-18 2019-12-26 Cascade Designs, Inc. Valve pour objets gonflables
US11221082B2 (en) * 2017-05-04 2022-01-11 Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. 3-in-1 air valve assembly

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US670725A (en) * 1900-12-13 1901-03-26 W H Gratwick Valve for inflating bodies.
US1419471A (en) * 1920-06-04 1922-06-13 Charles J Reynolds Inflation valve
US1702974A (en) * 1928-05-12 1929-02-19 Spalding & Bros Ag Collapsible valve and method of making same
US2807085A (en) * 1955-03-07 1957-09-24 William H B Combs Container opening device
US2824570A (en) * 1953-04-07 1958-02-25 Bernard R Silverman Flush type topping-off valve
US3032311A (en) * 1958-01-23 1962-05-01 Brinkman Earl William Drain cock
US5203831A (en) * 1992-10-05 1993-04-20 Survival Engineering, Inc. Topping and dumping valve for inflatable structures
US6446658B1 (en) * 2000-08-21 2002-09-10 Bic Corporation Bleed member and bleed valve assembly

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US670725A (en) * 1900-12-13 1901-03-26 W H Gratwick Valve for inflating bodies.
US1419471A (en) * 1920-06-04 1922-06-13 Charles J Reynolds Inflation valve
US1702974A (en) * 1928-05-12 1929-02-19 Spalding & Bros Ag Collapsible valve and method of making same
US2824570A (en) * 1953-04-07 1958-02-25 Bernard R Silverman Flush type topping-off valve
US2807085A (en) * 1955-03-07 1957-09-24 William H B Combs Container opening device
US3032311A (en) * 1958-01-23 1962-05-01 Brinkman Earl William Drain cock
US5203831A (en) * 1992-10-05 1993-04-20 Survival Engineering, Inc. Topping and dumping valve for inflatable structures
US6446658B1 (en) * 2000-08-21 2002-09-10 Bic Corporation Bleed member and bleed valve assembly

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2483939A (en) * 2010-09-27 2012-03-28 Andrew John Sanderson Pump adapter
US11221082B2 (en) * 2017-05-04 2022-01-11 Bestway Inflatables & Material Corp. 3-in-1 air valve assembly
WO2019246154A1 (fr) * 2018-06-18 2019-12-26 Cascade Designs, Inc. Valve pour objets gonflables

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