Patent ID: 9086162
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: A47C,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A self-sealing valve for providing fluid to and releasing fluid from an inflatable bladder, the self-sealing valve comprising a valve housing having a fluid conduit, a valve seat, an attachment member, and a flexible diaphragm; the valve housing being configured to pass fluid through the fluid conduit; and the flexible diaphragm having a periphery that engages against the valve seat in a closed position to provide a seal of the fluid conduit in the closed position; wherein the attachment member secures a part of the flexible diaphragm to the valve housing; wherein the attachment member and the flexible diaphragm are configured to suspend a portion of the periphery of the flexible diaphragm in a floating position in absence of sufficient fluid pressure against a first side of the flexible diaphragm, to position the flexible diaphragm against the valve seat with sufficient fluid pressure against the first side of the flexible diaphragm so that the flexible diaphragm forms the seal of the fluid conduit in the closed position of the flexible diaphragm, and so that the portion of the periphery of the flexible diaphragm pivotally moves-in a first direction away from the valve seat to an open position under a fluid bias against a second side of the diaphragm; wherein the valve housing, the attachment member, and the flexible diaphragm are arranged so that a part of the flexible diaphragm can be directly contacted by a finger of a user to allow for the pivotal movement of the periphery of the flexible diaphragm in the first direction so as to purge the inflatable bladder; and wherein the attachment member and the flexible diaphragm are arranged to provide for the pivotal movement of the portion of the periphery of the flexible diaphragm in the first direction away from the valve seat to the open position and in the second direction to the closed position.