Abstract:
A locking mechanism for a nozzle in an inflatable object includes a membrane member having a ledge extending outward for securely engaging with the inflatable object, a nozzle seat having a flange to firmly engage with the ledge, a positioning element having two arms, a cap having a lifting mechanism to elevate location of the positioning element, a descending mechanism to descend the location of the positioning element and a sealing part integrally formed and a sealing part integrally extending from the flange and a core having a directing rod securely connected to the positioning element so as to move with the positioning element accordingly and a sealing flange formed with the directing rod such that movement of the core together with the positioning element allows the sealing flange to selectively and sealingly engage with the sealing part of the nozzle seat to block airflow.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority and benefit of Chinese patent application, CN 103104725A, filed on Jan. 15, 2013. The content thereof is herein incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention is related to a locking mechanism, and more particularly, to a locking mechanism for nozzle in an inflatable object. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An inflatable object has many applications. People use it in normal daily lives, such as, in leisure times or in special circumstances. Despite all the applications and variety of functions, all the users of the inflatable device want the inflatable device to be durable and strong. To meet the requirements, numerous designs applied to the inflatable device have been developed to prolong the life span of the inflatable device. 
     With all the readily available designs to prolong the lifespan of the inflatable devices, one major problem for the inflatable device is that the air must pass a nozzle device to go into the inflatable object and the quality of the nozzle device direct affects the operation of the inflatable object. That is, should the sealing effect of the nozzle device to the inflatable object be defected, user&#39;s confidence to the object is lost. 
     Currently, the sealing effect is achieved by a check-valve related device to seal the nozzle. In order to completely seal the nozzle and to prolong the inflated status of the inflatable object, a sealing cap is either directly inserted or threadingly inserted into the nozzle, which inevitably increase the manufacture cost and brings inconvenience to the operator. On the other hand, when the air inside the inflatable object is required to escape, an additional accessory, such as a rod or even a finger, is needed to help release the air. With the assistance of the additional rod or finger to escape the air inside the inflatable object is both troublesome to the operator and the lifespan of the nozzle is shortened. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a locking mechanism for a nozzle in an inflatable object. The locking mechanism includes a membrane member having a ledge extending outward for securely engaging with the inflatable object, a nozzle seat having a flange formed to engage with a face of the ledge of the membrane member and a sealing part integrally extending from the flange, a positioning element movably received at least partially inside the nozzle seat and having at least one arm extending outward, a cap rotatably connected to a portion of the nozzle seat and having a lifting mechanism to elevate location of the positioning element, a descending mechanism to descend the location of the positioning element and a core received inside the nozzle seat and having a directing rod extending in a first direction and connected to the positioning element so as to move with the positioning element accordingly and a sealing flange formed with the directing rod such that movement of the core together with the positioning element allows the sealing flange to selectively engage with the sealing part of the nozzle seat to block airflow. 
     Another objective of the embodiment of the present invention is that the cap has a passage for airflow to flow into and escape from the inflatable object. 
     Another objective of the embodiment of the present invention is the cap has a holding part, a neck axially extending from an inner face of the cap and a cavity defined between the holding part and the neck, the nozzle seat has a collar integrally and axially extending in a first direction from the flange to securely fit into the cavity of the cap so as to engage the nozzle seat with the cap. 
     Another objective of the embodiment of the present invention is the lifting mechanism of the cap is composed of a first inclined face to lift the arms of the positioning element and a first locking face formed with the first inclined face to sustain the positioning element in an elevated position. 
     Another objective of the embodiment of the present invention is the descending mechanism of the cap is composed of a second inclined face to descend the arm of the positioning element and a second locking face formed with the second inclined face to sustain the positioning element in a descended position. 
     Another objective of the embodiment of the present invention is the positioning element together with the core is maintained at the descended position by the second locking face of the descending mechanism such that the sealing flange is separated from engagement with the sealing part of the nozzle seat to allow airflow inside the inflatable object to escape when deflation to the inflatable object is necessary. 
     Another objective of the embodiment of the present invention is that a recovery element is mounted around the directing rod of the core to provide resilience force when compressed. 
     Another objective of the embodiment of the present invention is that the at least one arm of the positioning element is positioned between a free space between the lifting mechanism and a lower portion of the cap such that the recovery element biases the sealing flange to be engaged with the sealing part by the recovery element to prevent airflow inside the inflatable object to escape, whereby when inflation to the inflatable object is necessary, compressed air from the cap overcomes the resilience of the recovery element and forces the positioning element to the descended position such that the sealing flange is separated from engagement with the sealing part of the nozzle seat to allow airflow to flow inside the inflatable object. 
     Another objective of the embodiment of the present invention is the directing rod has a slit defined in a free end thereof and an engaging hook formed on the free end of the directing rod and the positioning element has a hole so that the engaging hook is able to deform when passing through the hole of the positioning element and securely engage with a side face defining the hole of the positioning element to secure engagement between the positioning element and the core. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a locking mechanism of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the assembled locking mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cap of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side plan view of the cap shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the cap shown by line A-A in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of a membrane member of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a positioning element of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an end view of the nozzle seat of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial exploded perspective view of the nozzle seat shown by line B-B in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side plan view of a core of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of the core shown in  FIG. 10  by line C-C; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view of a sealing ring used by the cap; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view of a sealing member of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a top plan view showing the inflating status of the locking mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic cross sectional view showing the inflating status of the locking mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a top plan view showing the sealing status of the locking mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic cross sectional view showing the sealing status of the locking mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a top plan view showing the deflating status of the locking mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic cross sectional view showing the deflating status of the locking mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present teachings, applications, or uses. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the following description is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, which may be applied in various ways to provide many different alternative embodiments. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a locking mechanism constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is used for a nozzle in an inflatable object has a cap  1 , a sealing ring  2 , a positioning element  3 , a nozzle seat  4 , a membrane member  5 , an airtight ring  6 , a recovery element  7  and a core  8 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , it is noted that the cap  1  is provided with a holding part  11 , preferably threaded on the outer periphery thereof for easy holding, a neck  15  axially, for example, downward from an inner face of the holding part  11 , a cavity  14  defined between an inner face of the neck  15  and an inner face of the holding part  11 , a centrally defined passage  16  through the entire cap  1 , a limiting element  12  integrally formed on a bottom end of the neck  15  and having a first inclined face  120  formed on a side face of the limiting element  12  and a first locking face  121  formed on top of the first inclined face  120 , a driving element  13  integrally formed on the bottom end of the neck  15  and spaced apart from the limiting element  12 . The driving element  13  has a second inclined face  130  formed on a side face of the driving element  13  and a second locking face  131  formed on top of the second inclined face  130 . Integrally, the limiting element  12  and the driving element  13  may be called a limiting mechanism. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  7   8  and  9 , it is noted that the positioning element  3  is equipped with a body  30 , two arms  31 , preferably, horizontally stretching out from two opposed directions of the body  30  to selectively interact with either the limiting element  12  or the driving element  13  and a hole  32  defined through the body  30  of the positioning element  3 . 
     The nozzle seat  4  has a channel  44 , a deflector  42  formed on a periphery defining the channel  44  with the assistance of ribs  41  integrally extending toward an inner periphery defining the channel  44 , a directing hole  43  defined through the deflector  42 , an annular flange  45  extending out from the nozzle seat  4  and having multiple bosses  451  integrally formed on a face of the flange  45 , a sealing part  46  formed on an outer periphery of the channel  44  and a collar  47 , preferably, axially extending together with the sealing part  46  upward to be fitted into the cavity  14  of the cap  1 . 
     The membrane member  5  is to sealingly fit with the flange  45  of the nozzle seat  4  and has a ledge  52  annularly formed with the membrane member  5  for sealingly engaging with the inflatable object and rooms  51  defined in a face of the membrane member  5  to accommodate the bosses  451  of the flange  45  of the nozzle seat  4 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the core  8  has a directing rod  81  to be inserted into the hole  32  of the positioning element  3 , a sealing flange  82  formed on a distal end of the directing rod  81  to be sealingly engaged with the sealing part  46  of the nozzle seat  4  and a positioning space  83  annularly defined in the sealing flange  82  to receive therein the sealing ring  6 . The directing rod  81  has an engaging hook  84  formed on the other distal end thereof in contrast to the sealing flange  82  and a slit  85  extending from a free end of the directing rod  81  to a certain depth to allow the engaging hook  84  to deform when necessary. 
     When the locking mechanism of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is in assembly, it is noted that the airtight ring  6  is received in the positioning space  83  of the core  8  and the sealing ring  2  is received in the collar  47  of the nozzle seat  4  so that after the collar  47  is extended into the cavity  14  of the cap  1 , the sealing ring  2  ensures that the engagement between the cap  1  and the nozzle seat  4  is airtight. Before an airtight engagement between the ledge  52  of the membrane member  5  and the flange  45  of the nozzle seat  4 , the positioning element  3  is movably received between the limiting element  12  and the driving element  13  of the cap  1 . After the recovery element  7 , preferably a spring, is mounted around the directing rod  81 , the directing rod  81  is extended into the hole  32  of the positioning element  3  and the engaging hook  84  securely engages a periphery defining the hole  32  to avoid separation between the positioning element  3  and the core  8 . While the directing rod  81  is extending into the hole  32 , the slit  85  allows the engaging hook  84  to deform to allow the engaging hook  84  to smoothly pass the barrier formed by the size of the hole  32 . After the directing rod  81  passes the hole, the resilience caused by the slit  85  forces the engaging hook  84  to snap back to its original position to securely engage with the periphery defining the hole  32 . Thereafter, the airtight ring  6  is securely received in the positioning space  83  of the core  8  to ensure the engagement between the sealing flange  82  and the sealing part  46  of the nozzle seat  4  is airtight, if necessary. 
     It is to be noted that the cap  1  is movable among three different positions, namely, inflating position  53 , airtight position  54  and deflating position  55  respectively indicated on a face of the ledge  52  of the membrane member  5 . When the cap  1  is positioned at the airtight position  54 , the limiting mechanism forces the core  8  to sealingly engage with the sealing part  46  of the nozzle seat  4  as a result of the sealing effect of the airtight ring  6  to a side face of the sealing part  46 . When the cap  1  is positioned at the inflating position  53 , the core  8  is movable to allow air to flow freely in only one direction and when the cap  1  is positioned at the deflating position  55 , the core  8  is positioned in such a way that the air inside the inflatable object  9  can only escape from the inflatable object  9 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , when the inflatable object is required to be inflated and the cap  1  is rotated to allow an indicator  17  formed on a face of the cap  1  to be aligned with the inflating position  53 , the two arms  31  are positioned between a free space between the limiting element  12  and the neck  15  at a lower portion of the cap  1 , which allows the positioning element  3  to move freely without engagement from the limiting mechanism (limiting element  12  and driving element  13 ). Under such a circumstance, the compressed air coming from the passage  16  of the cap  1  overcomes the resilience of the recovery element  7  and forces the core  8  together with the positioning element  3  moving downward to disengage the engagement between the sealing part  46  of the nozzle seat  4  and the airtight ring  6  that is securely received in the positioning space  82  of the core  8 . Thus the compressed air is freely flowing into the inflatable object  9  until the inflatable object  9  is fully inflated. At the point when the inflatable object  9  is fully inflated, the compressed air stops flowing into the inflatable object  9 . As there is no other force overcoming the resilience of the recovery element  7 , the resilience of the recovery element  7  pushes the core  8  upward to allow the airtight ring  6  to once again engage with the sealing part  46  of the nozzle seat  4  in an airtight manner to avoid any leak. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , after the inflatable object is fully inflated and the resilience of the recovery element  7  pushes the core  8  together with the positioning element  3  upward to allow the airtight ring  6  to engage with the sealing part  46  of the nozzle seat  4 , the cap  1  is rotated to align the indicator  17  on the cap  1  with the airtight position  54  on the membrane member  5 . While the cap  1  is rotated toward the airtight position  54 , the first inclined face  120  of the limiting element  12  force (lift) the arm  31  together with the core  8  to move upward allowing the engagement between the airtight ring  6  and the sealing part  46  of the nozzle seat  4  to become tighter. Continuing rotating the cap  1  allows the arm  31  to eventually rest on the first locking face  121 . Under such a situation, the airtight engagement between the airtight ring  6  and the sealing part  46  of the nozzle seat  4  remains. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , when deflating the inflatable object  9  is necessary, the indicator  17  on the cap  1  is moved to align with the deflating position  55 . While the cap  1  is rotated, the arms  31  are depressed by the second inclined face  130  of the driving element  13 . As the core  8  is securely connected to the positioning element  3 , the core  8  is accordingly descended. When the arms  31  are continuously depressed and moved downward in the same time, continuing rotating the cap  1  forces the arms  31  to move to a side face of the second locking face  131  of the driving element  13  formed on the cap  1 . In the meantime, while the core  8  and the positioning element  3  are moved downward, the recovery element  7  is also compressed by the body  30 . As a result of the fact that the recovery element  7  is compressed, the recovery force stored in the compressed spring  7  pushes upward the positioning element  3  to secure the engagement between the positioning element  3  and the second locking face  131  of the driving element  13 . While the positioning element  3  is kept upward, as is the core  8 , the airtight ring  6  is separated from engagement of the sealing part  46  of the nozzle sear  4  such that the air inside the inflatable object  9  is able to escape from the passage  16  to accomplish the goal of deflation. 
     It is to be noted that although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, other modifications, alterations or minor change to the structure should still be within the scope defined in the claims. As those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.