Valve assembly for inflatable bodies

A valve assembly for inflatable bodies such as a recreational toy, is located in a recessed cup that is flush with the surface of the inflatable body. The cup has a central boss that has both an internal and external thread. The valve assembly is secured to the boss with the internal threads and a cap is secured to the boss with the external threads. The valve assembly provides for inflation using an air hose or a manual inflation device. The valve assembly is removable from the cup to facilitate deflation of the body after use. The cap provides sealing between the cup and valve member to inhibit loss of air.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a valve assembly used to supply and retain a fluid, such as air, to an inflatable body.

BACKGROUND

Recreational products such as tires, rafts, beds, and other like devices need to be inflated before use. Gas, typically air, is supplied under pressure to fill the interior of the body causing it to expand and perform its prescribed function. Once the body has been inflated, it is also necessary to ensure that the air is retained so that the body does not deflate and collapse, rendering it unable to perform its function. Many recreational products are used intermittently so that after use, provision has to be made for the product to be deflated and stored in a compact manner.

Valves are generally well known for the purpose of controlling the flow of a fluid into an inflatable body. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,994 shows a valve specifically designed for inflatable tubes. It has a sealing disc300mounted on the legs of a support spider so that positive pressure will move the disc away from the seat and allow air into the tube. The resilience of the disc moves it back on to the seat to seal the tube. To deflate the tube, the conical support wall of the valve is pushed inwardly, to the position shown inFIGS. 9-12, so the disc is moved away from the seal. A cap150is used as a seal for the inflation/deflation passage. Whilst relatively simple, the valve lacks the security and versatility necessary for a recreational product. Moreover, the valve protrudes from the surface and so may be vulnerable and impede the use of the product.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,804,085 and 2,772,692 show similar arrangements in which a valve is located in a recessed housing. The valve can be moved between open and closed conditions by rotating a central operating member. In each case, however, the valve is relatively complicated and is intended for use with a specialized adapter.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,628 shows a poppet valve assembly with a cupped housing, an insertable check valve, and a threaded cap to hold the body together. However the patent has only a singular annular seal; so that leakage may occur if the seal is damaged.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,254 shows an adapter to allow a Schrader type tire valve to be fitted to an existing valve of an inflatable device. However, the air must be retained using the valve on the inflatable device, and the adapter must be removed in order to close the cap.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a valve assembly for inflatable bodies. The valve assembly comprises a recessed cup with a central boss. The central boss projects out of the base of the cup, while still remaining within the cup. The central boss has both an internal and external thread. The boss receives a check valve, an exemplary embodiment being a Boston valve. The check valve consists of a main valve body having a central bore, and an external threading. A diaphragm is attached to the base of the valve body and acts as the primary seal to restrict air flow through the bore. An adapter is insert-able into the central bore of the main body and functions as a connector between a source for the fluid supply and the valve assembly. Finally a cap with internal threading is threadedly fastened onto the external threads on the central boss of the recessed cup. The cap acts to retain all of the components and also inhibits any dirt or other unwanted particulates from entering the inflatable body. The assembly also sits within the cup to be flush with the surface of the inflatable body.

The features of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a valve assembly100is mounted to an inflatable body102, which in the embodiment shown, is an inflatable toric tube used as a recreational flotation device. The inflatable body102has a continuous wall101to define the body with a radially inwardly directed surface106and a radially outwardly directed surface104. The valve assembly100may be located on either of the surfaces104,106as desired for functional and aesthetic considerations.

As better seen inFIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the valve assembly100includes a recessed cup200which is of an upturned frusto-conical shape to form a cavity410which can house other components of the valve assembly100. The cup200has a side wall400which terminates in a flange408near the top of the cup200. The flange408conforms to the curvature of the wall101so as to be a smooth joint with the surface104,106and make an airtight connection. The flange408is of a saddled shape in the embodiment shown to provide a better fit with the internal radius of the torus-shaped inflatable body. Alternatively, other particular shapes of the inflatable body may require the flange408to be of a flat or other shape.

The recessed cup200includes a central boss402projecting in to the cavity410and having an internal thread404and an external thread406. A valve body204has an external thread205(FIG. 7) which mates with the internal thread404of the boss402. A flange203overlies the end of the boss204to limit movement of the body204relative to the boss402. The body204has a central bore212which is closed by an end wall214. The end wall214includes a central mounting hole215and a number of passages216arranged in a circular pattern are formed in the end wall214to permit flow of air through the end wall214.

A check valve210is mounted to the end wall214to control flow through the passages216. Referring toFIG. 6, the check valve210comprises a resilient diaphragm202having a base500with an upturned sealing edge502. A stem503projects centrally from the base500, and terminates in an enlarged head504. The stem503is sized to pass through the hole215and be retained on the end wall214by the head504. When mounted, the base500overlies the passages216and the lip502seals against the periphery of the end wall214.

The central bore212is dimensioned to receive a first format of an air supply tube from a low pressure, high volume pump, such as a shop vacuum cleaner, with the check valve controlling air flow in to the inflatable body102. To facilitate the use of a second format of a air supply, such as conventional tire air supplies, an adapter206is provided.

Referring toFIG. 8, an adapter206consists of a lower portion700, a shoulder702, and an upper stem portion704. The lower portion700has an internal chamber706communicating with a passageway708in the upper stem portion704. The passageway708has a spigot710located at its top end that is sized and positioned to engage the sealing pin found in a conventional air hose. The spigot710is formed as a cross-member which engages the pin on the inflation pump hose. The radially outer surface711of the stem portion704is sized to fit within the end fitting of the conventional air hose.

The lower portion700has an outer surface712that is dimensioned to be a snug sliding fit within the bore212of the valve body204. The fit is arranged to allow the adaptor206to be slid in to the body or removed from the body manually, but retains a seal between the valve body and adapter during inflation.

As can be seen inFIG. 9, a cap208has a cavity802with an internal thread800. The cavity802is counter bored as indicated at806to accommodate the adapter206. The thread800is complimentary to the external thread406, to allow the cap208to be secured to the boss402.

In use the valve body204is threaded in to the boss until the flange203engages the boss402. The adapter206is mounted in the bore of the valve body and located by the cap208which threads on to the external threads406of the boss402. The cap208holds the adapter against the flange203of the valve body204to affect a tight seal between the components. A gasket411is placed the base of the external threads406of the central boss402which provides an airtight seal once the cap208has been secured onto the external threads406. As the cap208is tightened onto the central boss, a gasket411is compressed forming an airtight seal to inhibit the escape of any air.

With the valve body installed, the diaphragm seals the passages216and prevents the escape of air from within the tube102. The cap is positioned generally below the surface of the wall within the cup, which protects the valve assembly100and provides a relatively smooth outer surface for the user.

To inflate the tube102, the cap208is removed and an air hose positioned on the stem704. The spigot engages the sealing pin in the hose connector and allows air to flow in to the passage706and through the check valve210. The diaphragm is lifted away from the passages216. Once the tube102is inflated, the air hose is removed and the cap replaced. The diaphragm seals against the end wall to close the passages216and retain air in the tube. The cap forces the adapter against the end face of the boss to inhibit flow of air past the adapter and provides a further seal zone by engagement with the boss402.

If an airline is not present, the external surface of the stem704allows the tube to be inflated manually, or an alternative fitting for a hand pump or the like. The adapter206may be removed to allow a larger diameter inflation tube to be used with a lower pressure, higher volume air supply that seals against the wall of the central bore212.

When it is desired to deflate the body100, the user can disassemble components of the valve assembly100. First, the user removes the cap208by twisting it until it disengages from the central boss402. The adapter206is removed from the valve body204to give access to the check valve210and vent the interior of the body102. Finally, the user removes the valve body204and check valve210by disengaging the external threading600from the internal threading404on the central boss402of the recessed cup200.

Alternatively, the user can also remove both the adapter206and valve body as a unit by simply unscrewing the valve body and allowing air to bleed past the threads.

The removal of the valve body204exposes the opening of the central boss402to the atmosphere, allowing the air to escape the inflatable body102, causing it to deflate. When the desired level of deflation has been reached, the check valve210can be re-attached to the internal threads404of the central boss402. As the check valve210is secured, the diaphragm202provides a seal against the escape of air.

A further embodiment is shown inFIGS. 10 and 11and like reference numerals are used to describe like components with a suffix “a” added for clarity. Referring therefore toFIG. 10, a cup200ahas a peripheral flange408afor attachment to the inflatable body as described above. A boss402aprojects upwardly from the base of the cup200aand has internal and external threads404a,406arespectively.

A valve body204ais threaded in to the boss402aand flange203aoverlies the end face of the boss402ato provide a sealing surface. As can best be seen inFIG. 11, valve body204ahas a central bore212aclosed by an end wall214awith air passages216aprovided at spaced intervals around the end wall.

A stem704aprojects upwardly from the end wall214aand has a passageway708apassing through the end wall214aat its lower end. A cruciform spigot710a,which may extend along the length of the passageway708ato facilitate extraction from a mold if the valve body is molded as one piece, is positioned at the opposite end of passageway708ato lift a check valve in an air hose as described above.

The passageway708aextends through the end wall214aand terminates in an undercut boss900. A valve member210ais mounted on the boss900. The valve member210aincludes a diaphragm202athat extends radially across the holes216aand an integrally formed “duck-bill” valve902. The duck-bill valve902has a pair of sealing lips904depending from the boss900that inhibit air flow from within the tube102through the stem710a.

In use, the cap208ais removed and pressurised fluid applied to the valve assembly204a.This may be through a conventional air hose with the head of the hose located over the stem704a.The spigot710ais effective to open the check valve in the air hose and allow air to flow along the passageway708a,through the duck-bill valve902and into the tube. The diaphragm202acovers the holes216ato retain the air within the tube102a.Alternatively, a “Boston type” fitting may be used to inflate the tube. The fitting includes a tubular inflation tool,906,FIG. 10, that can be connected to a low pressure pump, such as a shop vacuum cleaner, or manually inflated. The tool906is a push fit in to the central bore212ato provide a seal and air is supplied through the passageways216aand/or the passageway708ato the interior of the tube102a.

Once inflated, the air supply is removed and cap208areplaced. The cap208aseals around the boss402awith a gasket411ato ensure a tight seal between the cap208aand cup200a.Any small leakage past the diaphragm202aor valve902is contained by the cap208a.

To deflate the tube102a,the cap208ais removed and valve body204aloosened. The air may then bleed past the valve body to remove excess pressure and the valve body then removed completely to allow rapid deflation.

The described design has a number of benefits. Such benefits include the ability to quickly replace any part and ease of operation. As minimal seals are required, the operation and replacement of parts is much simpler and requires less external parts. The design also features the cap208which protects the components against the environment, and the compactness of the design allows all of the components of the valve assembly to retain within the cap.

As the adapter and check valve are enclosed within the cap, the entering of any debris, sand, dirt, or other particulates is also inhibited leading to easier maintenance of the valve and the inflatable body. The top of the recessed cup is also flush with the surface of the inflatable body, increasing safety as there are no protruding objects from the valve assembly.

The valve assembly also proves advantageous as the adapter and cap can be assembled at the same time, this again increases compactness and ease of use. The cross-member on the spigot reduces the ability of debris to enter the valve, reducing the possibility of contamination or malfunction due to its ability to activate the pump only during attachment. As the adapter slides into engagement with the valve without any threads, it makes the assembly simple to operate.