Patent ID: 7610929
Filing Date: 2009-11-03
Classification: B60P,B65D,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An inflation-deflation valve member and closure member assembly for use in connection with the inflation and deflation of an inflatable container, comprising: a valve member comprising a tubular housing portion, disposed around an axis and defining an air passageway having a predetermined diametrical extent and through an open end of which air can be supplied into an inflatable container and exhausted from the inflatable container so as to respectively inflate and deflate the inflatable container, and a radially outwardly extending flange portion integrally mounted upon a lower end portion of said tubular housing portion for sealed fixation to an interior surface portion of the inflatable container such that when said radially outwardly extending flange portion is fixed to the interior surface portion of the inflatable container, said tubular housing portion of said valve member projects outwardly from the inflatable container so as to be accessible to a source of pressurized air whereby said air passageway of said tubular housing portion will be fluidically connected to the interior of the inflatable container; a valve element movably mounted upon said radially outwardly extending flange portion of said valve member and having a predetermined diametrical extent which is slightly greater than said predetermined diametrical extent of said air passageway such that when said valve element is disposed at a first CLOSED position at which said valve element substantially closes said air passageway defined within said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to effectively prevent inflation and deflation of the inflatable container, said valve element will abut a portion of said radially outwardly extending flange portion of said valve member which defines a peripheral portion of said air passageway defined within said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as not to be capable of being disposed internally within said air passageway defined within said tubular housing portion of said valve member, and a second OPENED position at which said valve element substantially uncovers said air passageway defined within said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to effectively permit inflation and deflation of the inflatable container; a closure member removably mountable upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to permit the passage of air through said tubular housing portion of said valve member in connection with an inflation operation and a deflation operation for the inflatable container when said closure member is dismounted from said tubular housing portion of said valve member, and to prevent the passage of air through said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to in turn prevent the inflation and deflation of the inflatable container when said closure member is mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member, said closure member comprising radially spaced radially inner and radially outer wall members for respectively engaging radially inner and radially outer wall surface portions of said tubular housing portion of said valve member when said closure member is mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member; and means for connecting said radially outer wall member of said closure member to said tubular housing portion of said valve member at an axial position remote from said open end of said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to permit said closure member to be mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member, and removed from said tubular housing portion of said valve member, while maintaining the connection of said closure member to said tubular housing portion of said valve member.