Patent ID: 6929021
Filing Date: 2005-08-16
Classification: B65D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An inflation/deflation valve for filling a bag with air comprising: a sleeve for insertion into an opening in a wall of a bag to be inflated; the sleeve being at least partly open therethrough defining a channel through which inflation air can pass from an outer end through an inner end into the bag and through which deflation air can pass from the inner end through the outer end from the bag; a mounting flange on the sleeve for engaging an inner surface of the wall of the bag; a separate locating ring for mounting on the sleeve and surrounding the sleeve for engaging an outer surface of the wall such that the sleeve is held in place in the opening by the mounting flange and the locating ring; a cap for closing the sleeve having an outer end wall arranged to be exposed outside the bag at an end of the sleeve and a generally cylindrical wall surrounding the sleeve; the cylindrical wall of the cap having a female thread therein and the sleeve having a cooperating male thread thereon by which the cap can be engaged onto the sleeve and by which the cap can be removed from the sleeve for allowing escape of the deflation air; the cap having an opening extending axially therethrough through which the inflation air can pass; a valve mounted in the opening in the cap so as to removable with the cap; the cylindrical wall of the cap having mounting elements thereon arranged for engagement with co-operating elements of an inflation head by which the inflation head is in use attached to the cap so as to be located at the outer end thereof for supply of inflation air from the outer end through the opening of the cap into the bag; the valve having a valve seat on the cap, a valve member moveable generally axially of the cap from a closed position sealing against the seat on the cap to an open position pushed away from the seat and a spring biasing the movement of the valve member in the axial direction towards the valve seat; the valve member having an abutment surface thereof exposed in the opening of the cap at the outer end of the cap for engagement with an abutment member of the inflation head by which the valve member is pushed axially from the valve seat against the spring bias for passage through the cap of the inflation air.