Abstract:
An inflator used for inflation of an object such as life jackets, life boats, etc is revealed. A needle-shaped shaft is driven by a transmission arm to pierce a seal of a gas cylinder on the inflator. Thus compressed gas in the gas cylinder is released and flowing through the inflator to inflate the object. The needle-shaped shaft is arranged with two color areas for representing state of the inflator. The color area is displayed through windows of the inflator to show the state now. The inflator features on simple structure, convenience in use, reduced cost and precise movement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an inflator, especially to an inflator that indicates state and having simple structure. 
     Generally, water life saving equipment including life jackets, life vests, life rafts, etc. is connected to an inflator with a high pressure gas cylinder for fast inflation and providing gas required for generating buoyancy. The conventional inflator at least includes an inflator body, a pierce pin arranged at and movable with the inflator body, and a rotation arm. While in use, the pierce pin is driven by the rotation arm to pierce a seal of the high pressure gas cylinder. Thus compressed gas in the gas cylinder is released so as to inflation the life saving equipment mentioned above. The inflator is further arranged with an indicator for indicating the state of the inflator and the state of the high pressure gas cylinder. Users can learn the state of the inflator and the gas cylinder. 
     Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 7,854,347, a manual gas inflator is revealed. The shortcoming of the manual gas inflator is in that CO2 sensor and CO2 gas cylinder need to be replaced at the same time during rearming process. Moreover, the structure of the manual gas inflator is complicated and many components required increase the cost. The CO2 sensor is a special component and is not easy to get. 
     Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,288, an inflation manifold assembly is disclosed. The disadvantage of the inflation manifold assembly is in that an additional component (such as a color indicator) is required besides replacement of the gas cylinder during the reaming process. Once the rearming process is interrupted or the color indicator is lost, whether the gas cylinder of the inflator has been used is unable to be confirmed. Thus the gas cylinder needs to be removed and checked again. 
     Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,986, an automatic actuator with apertured housing and safety indicator is revealed. The shortcoming of the device is in that during rearming of the inflator operated manually, additional component (such as color indicator) is required. Once the rearming process is interrupted or the color indicator is lost, whether the gas cylinder of the inflator has been used is unable to be checked. The gas cylinder needs to be removed and checked again. When the inflator is operated automatically and the color indicator is not fallen off, whether the gas cylinder is fully-charged is unable to be quickly checked by the appearance. The gas cylinder needs to be removed for checking the state. 
     Refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,589,087, an automatic inflator having a status indicator is disclosed. Besides the gas cylinder, a cylinder adapter also needs to be replaced during rearming of the inflator. Thus the cost is increased. Moreover, the status indicator that indicates whether the gas cylinder has been installed has complicated structure. Thus the assembly is time-consuming and the cost is further increased. 
     As to the inflators revealed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,030, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,420, they have the same shortcoming. Both devices have movement structure that needs more components. Thus more assembly processes are required and the defective rate is increased. Therefore the cost of the product is increased. 
     Thus the conventional at least has following shortcomings: complicated structure, too many components, time-consuming assembly and additional components required during rearming of the inflator. Moreover, users are unable to quickly check whether the gas cylinder of the inflator is replaced or not yet during rearming of the inflator. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an inflator that not only overcomes shortcomings of conventional ones but also features on simple structure, reliable performance, easy operation, convenient rearming and reduced cost. 
     In order to achieve the above object, an inflator of the present invention includes an inflator body, a needle-shaped shaft and a transmission arm. A top surface of the inflator body is disposed with a cylinder housing for mounting a gas cylinder. The inflator body further includes a first channel and a chamber therein. A through hole for connecting an object to be inflated is arranged at a side surface of the inflator body. A top end and a bottom end of the first channel are communicating with the cylinder housing and the chamber respectively while the through hole is communicating with one side of the first channel. A window is arranged at each of the two opposite side surfaces of the inflator body respectively. The needle-shaped shaft is moveable in the first channel of the inflator body and including a needle on a top end and a spring and a movable seat are disposed on a lower part thereof in turn. The needle is for piercing a seal of the gas cylinder. A first color area and a second color area are disposed around the needle-shaped shaft vertically. Through the windows of the inflator body, the color of the first color area or the second color area is displayed to indicate the state of the inflator including a non-inflated state and an already-inflated state. The transmission arm is pivotally disposed on the chamber of the inflator body and one end of the transmission arm is leaning against the bottom surface of the movable seat. 
     While in use, the transmission arm is rotated counterclockwise to chive the movable seat moving upward and further compressing the spring. Then the needle-shaped shaft is further pushed to move upward for piercing the seal of the gas cylinder. Thus compressed gas in the gas cylinder is released, passed the first channel and the through hole of the inflator body and entering the object to be inflated for inflation. Now the color of the first color area of the needle-shaped shaft representing non-inflated state and displayed through the window of the inflator body is changed into the color of the second color area that represents already-inflated state. Next the transmission arm is released. Due to the elasticity, one end of the first spring is elastically against the bottom surface of the needle-shaped shaft to keep the needle stay on the seal while the other end of the first spring is elastically against the movable seat to make the movable seat move downward. Thus the transmission arm is rotated in the opposite direction and moved back to the original position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an explosive view of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  and  FIG. 3A  are a front view and a front cross sectional view of an inflator body respectively of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4A , and  FIG. 4B  are a front view, a cross sectional view of an embodiment and a cross sectional view of another embodiment respectively according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a needle-shaped shaft of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front cross sectional view of a movable seat of an embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic drawing showing the embodiment in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  assembled with a spring according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  are cross sectional views showing how an embodiment works according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic drawing showing the embodiment in  FIG. 8  connected to a handle by a rope according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is an explosive view of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15  are a front view and a front cross sectional view of an inflator body respectively of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 18 ,  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20  are a front view, a side view, a longitudinal cross sectional view and two transverse cross sectional views of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  and  FIG. 22  are a front view and a top view of a rod of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  and  FIG. 24  are a perspective view and a longitudinal cross sectional view of an ammunition mechanism of another embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 25  and  FIG. 26  are a perspective view and a longitudinal cross sectional view of an outer sleeve of another embodiment according to the present invention 
         FIG. 27  and  FIG. 28  are front cross sectional view of another embodiment showing how the inflator works according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 29  is a schematic drawing showing the embodiment in  FIG. 12  connected to a handle by a rope according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an inflator  1  of the present invention includes an inflator body  10 , a needle-shaped shaft  20  and a transmission arm  30 . 
     Refer to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 3A , a cylinder housing  11  with an opening facing upward for mounting a gas cylinder  40  (such as CO2 cylinder) is disposed on a top surface of the inflator body  10 . A seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40  is facing a bottom surface of the cylinder housing  11 . The inflator body  10  further includes a long first channel  12 , a chamber  13  therein, and a through hole  14  for connecting an object being inflated (not shown in figure) and located at a side surface thereof. A top end and a bottom end of the first channel  12  are communicating with the cylinder housing  11  and the chamber  13  respectively while the through hole  14  is communicating with one side of the first channel  12 . A window  15  is arranged at a front surface and a rear surface of the inflator body  10  respectively. The two windows  15  are arranged symmetrically and corresponding to each other. 
     Refer from  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 8 , the needle-shaped shaft  20  is mounted in the first channel  12  of the inflator body  10  and is moved along the length direction of the first channel  12 . The needle-shaped shaft  20  includes a needle  21 , a space  22  with an opening facing downward, a first spring  23 , a first color area  24 , a second color area  25 , a seal ring  26 , a groove  27 , and a movable seat  28 . The needle  21  is conical and arranged on a top end of the needle-shaped shaft  20  for piercing the seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40 . The first color area  24  and the second color area  25  with different colors such as green and red are disposed around the needle-shaped shaft  20  and adjacent to each other. The first color area  24  and the second color area  25  are corresponding to the windows  15  of the inflator body  10  respectively at different time so as to show the color through the windows  15  for indicating the state of the inflator  1 . The seal ring  26  is arranged around the needle-shaped shaft  20 , between the needle  21  and the first color area  24  and mounted in the groove  27 . The seal ring  26  is against an inner wall of the first channel  12  of the inflator body  12  so as to achieve sealing. 
     The first spring  23  and the movable seat  28  are disposed on a lower part of the needle-shaped shaft  20  in turn. The top end and the bottom end of the first spring  23  are leaning against the bottom surface of the needle-shaped shaft  20  and the top surface of the movable seat  28 . A space  22  with an opening facing downward for receiving the first spring  23  is arranged at a lower end of the needle-shaped shaft  20  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). Or a protrusion  29  is projecting downward from the bottom surface of the needle-shaped shaft  20  to be mounted in the top end of the first spring  23 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Moreover, a projecting pin  281  is formed on a top surface of the moveable seat  28  to be mounted in the bottom end of the first spring  23 . Or a space  282  with an opening facing upward for receiving the first spring  23  is arranged at the top surface of the movable seat  28 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The needle-shaped shaft  20  and the movable seat  28  are corresponding to each other and used in combination with each other. Refer to  FIG. 7 , another embodiment of an assembly including the needle-shaped shaft  20  with protrusion  29 , the movable seat  28  having the space  282  and the first spring  23  according to the present invention is disclosed. 
     Refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , at least one long slot  211  with one end extending toward a head end of the needle  21  is disposed on a surface of the needle  21  of the needle-shaped shaft  20 . When there is a plurality of slots  211  on the needle  21 , the slots  211  are arranged at a certain interval. Due to the conical shape, the needle  21  pierces a central area of the seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40  to form a regular round hole. The movement of the needle  21  will not be interfered by the round hole. By the long slots  211 , the compressed gas in the gas cylinder  40  is released at a higher speed. In contrast, the hole formed by the conventional beveled needle tip piercing the seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40  is not located at the central area of the seal  41 . Moreover, the edge of the hole is irregular so that the movement of the needle  21  into or out of the seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40  is interfered. 
     The colors of the first color area  24  and the second color area  25  of the needle-shaped shaft  20  are coated over the needle-shaped shaft  20  by spray, electroplating or coating. Refer to  FIG. 4B , a first covering body  241  that represents the color of the first color area  24  and a second covering body  251  that represents the color of the second color area  25  are made by colored plastic respectively. The first covering body  241  and the second covering body  251  are covered around the needle-shaped shaft  20  or covered over a first concave area  242  and a second concave area  252  disposed on the needle-shaped shaft  20  and correspondingly to the first covering body  241  and the second covering body  251  respectively. By the coating techniques, the color on the above color area is not easy to fade. Thus the operation state is checked easily and the service life is increased. 
     Refer to  FIG. 2 , the transmission arm  30  includes a first end  301  at one end thereof, a second end  302  at the other end and a pivot hole  303  between the first end  301  and the second end  302 . A pivot shaft  31  is passed through the pivot hole  303  so as to pivotally connect the transmission arm  30  to the chamber  13  of the inflator body  10 . Thus the transmission arm  30  rotates around the pivot shaft  31 . The first end  301  is against the bottom surface of the movable seat  28  while the second end  302  is operated to rotate the transmission arm  30 . 
     When the needle-shaped shaft  20  pierces the seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40 , the first spring  23  is compressed into the space  22  of the needle-shaped shaft  20  or the space  282  of the movable seat  28 . At the moment, the top surface of the movable seat  28  is in contact with the bottom surface of the needle-shaped shaft  20  so as to prevent damages or elastic fatigue of the first spring  23  caused by over compression. Thereby the first spring  23  is protected by the design and the structure of the space  22 ,  282  mentioned above. 
     The first color area  24  is used to represent non-inflated state while the second color area  25  is represented the already-inflated state. When the gas cylinder  40  is assembled with the cylinder housing  11  of the inflator body  10 , the needle-shaped shaft  20  is observed through the window  15 . Once the color of the first color area  24  such as green color is shown, it is learned that the inflator  1  can be used for inflation or is full-charged after being used. If the color of the second color area  25  such as red color is displayed, it means that the inflator  1  is unable to be used. The gas cylinder  40  needs to be replaced or rearmed so that the inflator  1  can be used again. 
     Two windows  15  on the inflator body  10  of the present invention allow users to check the state of the inflator  1  now easier and faster, compared with conventional device with a single window  15 . 
     Refer to  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , how the inflator  1  of the present invention is manually operated is shown. As show in  FIG. 8 , it shows the state of the inflator  1  before use. The first end  301  of the transmission arm  30  is against the bottom surface of the movable seat  28  and the first spring  23  is compressed. At the moment, the seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40  has not been pierced by the needle  21  of the needle-shaped shaft  20 . And the color of the first color area  24  of the needle-shaped shaft  20  is displayed through the window  15  of the inflator body  10 . 
     Refer to  FIG. 9 , it shows the inflator  1  in use. The transmission arm  30  is rotated counterclockwise (the arrow A indicates) to drive the movable seat  28  moving upward and pushing against the first spring  23 . Thus the needle-shaped shaft  20  is further driven to move and the needle  21  thereof pierces the seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40 . The compressed gas in the gas cylinder  40  is released and used for inflation. Now the color of the second color area  25  of the needle-shaped shaft  20  is shown through the window  15  of the inflator body  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , release the transmission arm  30  after the seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40  being pierced by the needle  21 . The compressed first spring  23  is released. Due to elasticity, one end of the first spring  23  is elastically against the needle-shaped shaft  20  so as to keep the needle  21  stay on the seal  41  while the other end of the first spring  23  is elastically against the movable seat  28  to make the movable seat  28  move downward and push against the first end  301  of the transmission arm  30 . Thus the transmission arm  30  is rotated in the opposite direction and moved back to the original position. 
     Refer to  FIG. 11 , the second end  302  of the transmission arm  30  is connected to a handle  33  by a rope  32 . The transmission arm  30  is driven to rotate counterclockwise by pulling the handle  33  downward and the operation is more convenient. 
     Under manual operation of the inflator  1 , how the inflator  1  works during rearming of the gas cylinder  40  is described in the following. The gas cylinder  40  is assembled with the cylinder housing  11  of the inflator body  10 . When the needle  21  of the needle-shaped shaft  20  is against the seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40  and the needle-shaped shaft  20  is moving downward, the color of the first color area  24  is completely shown through the window  15  of the inflator body  10 . This represents that the gas cylinder  40  has not been used yet and the inflator  1  can be used for inflation. Once the needle  21  of the needle-shaped shaft  20  has pierced the seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40  and the needle-shaped shaft  20  has not moved downward, the color of the second color area  25  is completely shown through the window  15  of the inflator body  10 . This means that the gas cylinder has been used and a new gas cylinder  40  is required for using the inflator  1  to inflate. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, an automatic actuating device is used for automatic operation of the inflator  1 . Thus the inflator  1  can be operated manually/automatically and users have more options. 
     Refer from  FIG. 12  to  FIG. 26 , an inflator of the present invention further includes an automatic actuating device  50  that is composed of an inner sleeve  51 , a rod  52 , a second spring  53 , an ammunition mechanism  54  and an outer sleeve  55 . 
     The inner sleeve  51  is disposed under the inflator body  10  and is communicating with a second channel  16  of the inflator body  10  axially. At least two slots  511  are arranged with a certain interval axially at the inner sleeve  51 . A plurality of long grooves  512  is disposed on an inner wall of the inner sleeve  51  with an interval along the length direction of the inner sleeve  51 . An inner top surface  513  of the inner sleeve  51  is extended downward to form a circular projecting neck  514 . A threaded part  515  is set around on an outer surface of the inner sleeve  51 . At least one assembly hole  516  corresponding to an assembly hole  17  of the inflator body  10  is mounted on an upper part of the inner sleeve  51 . By at least one pin  18  being passed through the assembly holes  516 ,  517 , of the inner sleeve  51  is assembled with the inflator body  10 . Moreover, the inner sleeve  51  and the inflator body  10  can be integrally formed. The second channel  16  and the first channel  12  of the inflator body  10  are positioned in parallel with an interval. The width of the long grooves  512  can be modified for alignment and preventing misplacement. 
     The rod  52  is mounted axially in the inner sleeve  51 . An upper part of the rod  52  is inserted into the second channel  16  of the inflator body  10  and is moveable along the length direction of the second channel  16 . A long hole  521  is disposed axially on an upper part of the rod  52 , allowing the second end  302  of the transmission arm  30  to pass through and move along the length direction thereof. A circular stopping part  522  is projecting from a lower part of the rod  52  while a circular groove  523  is mounted on a middle part of the rod  52  and a projecting flange  524  is disposed under the circular groove  523 . A seal ring  56  is mounted in the circular groove  523  and is against the inner wall of the circular projecting neck  514  of the inner sleeve  51  to achieve sealing. A plurality of projecting bodies  525  corresponding to and locked with the long grooves  512  is radially arranged on the projecting flange  524 . 
     The second spring  53  is arranged around the rod  52 . One end of the second spring  53  is elastically leaning against the inner top surface  513  of the inner sleeve  51  while the other end thereof is elastically leaning against a top surface of the projecting flange  524  of the rod  52 . 
     The ammunition mechanism  54  is mounted in the inner sleeve  51  and is located under the rod  52 . The ammunition mechanism  54  consists of a base  541 , a plurality of elastic pieces  542  and a circular wall  543 . A round hole  544  penetrating the base  541  is disposed on a center of the base  541  and the elastic pieces  542  are arranged evenly in the round hole  544  of the base  541  and is projecting a predetermined height from the round hole  544 . A bottom end of each elastic piece  542  is connected to the base  541  while a top end of the elastic piece  542  is disposed with a stopping surface  545  that is against the stopping part  522  of the rod  52 . The circular wall  543  is wrapped around the elastic piece  542  and is arranged at the top surface of the base  541  so as to restrict the elastic pieces  542  and prevent the elastic piece  542  from radial elastic deformation caused by axial pushing force from upward. The circular wall  543  is dissolved after in contact with aqueous solution. Corresponding to the slots  511  and the long grooves  512  of the inner sleeve  51 , the base  541  is radially disposed with at least two convex bodies  546  and a plurality of convex bodies  547 . The convex body  546  is locked with the slot  511  while the convex body  547  is locked with the long groove  512  correspondingly. The convex bodies  546 ,  547  of the ammunition mechanism  54  and the slots  511  as well as the long grooves  512  of the inner sleeve  51  provide guidance and alignment while assembling the ammunition mechanism  54  with the inner sleeve  51  so as to prevent errors during rearming of the ammunition mechanism  54 . When the ammunition mechanism  54  is mounted in the inner sleeve  51 , the stopping surface  545  of the elastic piece  542  is against the stopping part  522  of the rod  52  and the elastic pieces  542  are stopped by the circular wall  543 . Thus the rod  52  will not move downward even under the action of elasticity of the second spring  53 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 25  and  FIG. 26 , the outer sleeve  55  is arranged around the inner sleeve  51  and having an opening  551  at one end while the other end thereof is disposed with a plurality of first water supply/vent hole  552 . A threaded part  553  corresponding to the threaded part  515  of the inner sleeve  51  is disposed inside the opening  551  of the outer sleeve  55 . Although the outer sleeve  55  and the inner sleeve  51  in this embodiment are connected by thread parts  553 ,  515  engaged with each other, the connection way is not limited by threaded parts. The outer sleeve  55  and the inner sleeve  51  can also be fastened to each other. An inner surface of the bottom of the outer sleeve  55  is extended upward to form a projecting neck  555 . When the outer sleeve  55  and the inner sleeve  51  are assembled with each other, the projecting neck  555  of the outer sleeve  55  is against the bottom of the base  541  of the ammunition mechanism  54 . The size of the first water supply/vent hole  552  is not limited. For example, the first water supply/vent hole  552  in the center in  FIG. 13  is in a larger size while other first water supply/vent hole  552  arranged circularly is in a smaller size. The arrangement way of the first water supply/vent hole  552  is also not restricted. At least one second water supply/vent hole  554  is disposed on an outer surface of the outer sleeve  55 . 
     Under the automatic operation of the inflator  1 , how the inflator  1  works during rearming of the gas cylinder  40  is described in the following. The steps are similar to those of the manual-operated inflator  1  but the difference is in that the ammunition mechanism  54  needs to be replaced. First disassemble the outer sleeve  55  of the automatic actuating device  50 . Then replace the used ammunition mechanism  54  with a new one. While assembling the new ammunition mechanism  54 , the convex bodies  546 ,  547  on the base  541  of the ammunition mechanism  54  are locked with the slots  511  and the long grooves  512  of the inner sleeve  51  respectively. Then push the ammunition mechanism  54  inward until the stopping surface  545  of the elastic piece  542  of the ammunition mechanism  54  is against the stopping part  522  of the rod  52 . Next put the outer sleeve  55  back in place and the rod  52  is moved upward during the put-back process. At the same time, the second end  302  of the transmission arm  30  turns back to the original position due to elasticity of the first spring  23 . 
     Refer to  FIG. 27  and  FIG. 28 , the inflator  1  of the present invention is in the automatic operation mode and the inflator  1  is used to inflate automatically. When aqueous solution passes the first water supply/vent hole  552  and/or the second water supply/vent hole  554  of the outer sleeve  55  and enters the inner sleeve  51 , the circular wall  543  of the ammunition mechanism  54  is dissolved after in contact with the aqueous solution and the elastic restriction on the elastic piece  542  is released. By elasticity of the elastic pieces, the second spring  53  is against and pushing the projecting flange  524  of the rod  52  downward to make the rod  52  move downward. Thus the stopping part  522  of the rod  52  pushes against the elastic piece  542  of the ammunition mechanism  54  and the elastic piece  542  is bent outward to enter the round hole  544  of the base  541  until the projecting flange  524  is against an upper part of the elastic piece  542 . During the process, the inner top surface of the long hole  521  of the rod  52  is against the second end  302  of the transmission arm  30  so that the transmission arm  30  is driven to rotate clockwise around the pivot shaft  31 , as the arrow B indicates in  FIG. 28 . Then the first end  301  of the transmission arm  30  is moved upward to push against the movable seat  28 . Thus the needle-shaped shaft  20  is further driven to move upward and toward the cylinder housing  11  of the inflator body  10  so as to pierce the seal  41  of the gas cylinder  40 . The compressed gas in the gas cylinder  40  is flowing through the first channel  12  and the through hole  14  of the inflator body  10  and entering an object (not shown in figure) to be inflated. Thereby the inflator  1  works automatically. 
     In summary, the inflator  1  can be operated manually, automatically, or both on the same inflator  1 , as shown in  FIG. 29 . Users have more choices (options). 
     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.