Patent Publication Number: US-2009229677-A1

Title: Pump connector device for different valves

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an air valve connecting head or device, and more particularly to a pump connector device including a simplified structure for easily connecting to different inflation valves of U.S. type and French type valves and/or the other nozzles and for being easily operated by the users. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Typical air valve connecting heads or devices or pump connector devices comprise two fitting ports formed in two opposite ends of a valve housing for receiving or engaging with different inflation valves, such as the U.S. type valves and the French type valves, and for inflating the balls, the inner tires of the bicycles or the motorcycles or the vehicles. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,100 to Chuang et al. discloses one of the typical air valve connecting heads or hand-held air pumps comprising a pipe, and two gaskets and a plug member engaged in the pipe, in which the gaskets may be provided for engaging with different inflation valves. 
     However, the typical hand pumps have no valve elements engaged into the gaskets and/or the plug member for engaging with the inflation valves such that the inflation valves may not be effectively inflated with or by the typical hand pumps. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,392 to Glotin disclose another typical pump connector device comprising a mobile member slidably engaged in a housing and containing at least two different connectors for inflating different pneumatic tires having different type valves. 
     However, no valve elements have been provided and engaged into the typical pump connector device for engaging with the inflation valves such that the inflation valves may not be effectively inflated with or by the typical hand pumps. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,920 to the present inventor, Wang discloses a further typical air pump nozzle comprising a fitting port or holding mouth formed in a housing for selectively and changeably engaging with different inflation valves. 
     However, the typical air pump nozzle may only be used for engaging with only a single inflation valve one at a time, but may not be used for engaging with two or more inflation valves simultaneously. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,270 to Wang discloses a still further typical air valve connecting head for the hand-held air pump and comprising a housing having a central chamber and two side chambers for receiving three connector assemblies and for selectively or alternatively or changeably engaging with different inflation valves. 
     However, the typical air valve connecting head comprises no valve elements provided and engaged in the typical pump connector device for engaging with the inflation valves such that the inflation valves may not be effectively inflated with or by the typical hand pumps. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional pump connector devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pump connector device including a simplified structure for easily connecting to different inflation valves of U.S. type and French type valves and/or the other nozzles and for being easily operated with or by the users. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a pump connector device comprising a housing including a chamber formed therein, and including a bottom portion having two or more openings formed therein, two or more sleeves engaged into the chamber of the housing and each including a bore aligned with the openings of the housing for receiving and engaging with inflation valves respectively, the sleeves being compressible and deformable to grasp and to secure the inflation valves to the housing, a mobile member slidably engaged in the chamber of the housing and including two or more compartments for slidably receiving and engaging with the sleeves and for selectively compressing the sleeves, two or more valve elements slidably engaged into the compartments of the mobile member and engaged into the bores of the sleeves for selectively engaging with the inflation valves respectively, a casing slidably engaged in the chamber of the housing and including a conduit formed therein for receiving a pressurized air, and including two or more spaces communicating with the conduit of the casing for slidably receiving and engaging with the valve elements respectively, the casing being slidable and movable relative to the housing for engaging with the mobile member and for selectively forcing the mobile member to compress the sleeves and to grasp and secure the inflation valves to the housing, and a spring biasing device for biasing the valve elements to engage with the mobile member and to prevent the pressurized air from flowing into the mobile member, and the inflation valves engaged onto either of the bores of the sleeves are engageable with either of the valve elements for disengaging either of the valve elements from the mobile member and for allowing the pressurized air to selectively flow into the compartments of the mobile member when the mobile member and the sleeves are compressed by the casing. 
     The mobile member includes two or more hubs extended therefrom and having the compartments formed in the hubs for slidably receiving and engaging with the valve elements respectively. 
     The mobile member includes a peripheral groove formed in each of the hubs for receiving and engaging with a sealing ring which makes an air tight seal between the casing and the hubs of the mobile member. 
     The valve elements each include a sealing ring for sealingly engaging with or blocking the hubs of the mobile member and for preventing the pressurized air from flowing into the hubs of the mobile member. 
     The valve elements each include a valve portion for selectively engaging with the hubs of the mobile member and for selectively blocking and sealing the compartments of the mobile member respectively. 
     The valve elements each include a projection extended therefrom and slidably engaged into the compartments of the mobile member and the bores of the sleeves for contacting and engaging with the inflation valves respectively. 
     The casing includes a passage formed therein and communicating with the conduit of the casing for allowing the pressurized air to selectively flow from the conduit through the passage and to flow out of the casing. The casing includes a relief valve engaged into the passage of the casing for selectively relieving the pressurized air to flow out through the passage of the casing. 
     The relief valve includes a valve piece slidably engaged in the passage of the casing for selectively engaging with a valve seat of the casing and for selectively blocking the passage of the casing. The relief valve includes a sealing ring attached to the valve piece for sealingly engaging with the valve seat of the casing. 
     The relief valve includes a spring biasing member engaged into the passage of the casing and engaged between the valve piece and the casing for biasing and forcing the valve piece away from the valve seat of the casing. 
     An actuating handle is further provided and pivotally attached to the housing with an axle and engaged with the casing for selectively moving and forcing the casing and the mobile member to compress and deform the sleeves. 
     The casing includes a recess formed between two side walls, and the actuating handle includes a first end portion engaged into the recess of the casing. The casing includes a slot formed in each of the side walls for slidably receiving and engaging with the axle and for allowing the casing to slide relative to the housing. 
     Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial exploded view of a pump connector device in accordance with the present invention, as seen from the upper portion of the pump connector device; 
         FIG. 2  is a further partial exploded view of the pump connector device as seen from the lower or bottom portion of the pump connector device; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the pump connector device; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the pump connector device taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5 ,  6  are cross sectional views similar to  FIG. 4 , illustrating the operation of the pump connector device; 
         FIG. 7  is a further cross sectional view similar to  FIGS. 4-6 , illustrating the other application or arrangement of the pump connector device; 
         FIG. 8  is a still further cross sectional view similar to  FIGS. 4-7 , illustrating the further application or arrangement of the pump connector device; and 
         FIG. 9  is a still further cross sectional view similar to  FIGS. 4-8 , illustrating the still further application or arrangement of the pump connector device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIGS. 1-3 , a pump connector device  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises a head body or housing  10  including a chamber  11  formed therein, and including a bottom plate or portion  12  having two or more openings  13 ,  14  formed therein, and including a notch  15  formed in one side of the housing  10  ( FIG. 1 ) and communicating with the chamber  11  of the housing  10 , and including a lateral orifice  16  formed therein, such as formed in the upper portion  17  of the housing  10  for receiving or engaging with an axle  18  which is laterally extended through the chamber  11  of the housing  10 . It is preferable, but not necessarily that the openings  13 ,  14  in the bottom portion  12  of the housing  10  may include different inner diameters. 
     Two or more sleeves  2 ,  20  are engaged into the chamber  11  of the housing  10  and each include a bore  21 ,  22  formed therein and aligned with the openings  13 ,  14  of the bottom portion  12  of the housing  10  respectively for selectively receiving and engaging with the inflation valves  80 ,  88 , such as the U.S. type valve  88  ( FIGS. 5-7 ), the French type valve  80  ( FIGS. 6 ,  8 ) and/or other nozzles  81  ( FIG. 9 ), and the sleeves  2 ,  20  are made of soft or elastic materials, such as rubber, plastic or other synthetic materials for resiliently grasping the inflation valves  80 ,  88  and/or the nozzles  81 . For example, when the sleeves  2 ,  20  are compressed by the other objects or members, the sleeves  2 ,  20  may be suitably deformed to resiliently grasp the inflation valves  80 ,  88  in order to stably or solidly anchor or secure the inflation valves  80 ,  88  to the housing  10 . 
     A mobile member  30  is slidably engaged in the chamber  11  of the housing  10  and contains two compartments  31 ,  32  formed therein for slidably receiving or engaging with the sleeves  2 ,  20  respectively, and for anchoring or positioning the sleeves  2 ,  20  between the housing  10  and the mobile member  30 , and for allowing the sleeves  2 ,  20  to be selectively compressed by the mobile member  30  and to be selectively deformed to resiliently grasp the inflation valves  80 ,  88  in order to stably or solidly anchor or secure the inflation valves  80 ,  88  to the housing  10 . The mobile member  30  includes two ring members or hubs  33  extended upwardly from an upper plate  36  and having the compartments  31 ,  32  formed therein respectively, and each having a peripheral groove  34  formed in the outer peripheral portion thereof for receiving or engaging with a sealing ring  35 . 
     Two or more valve elements  4 ,  40  are slidably engaged into the compartments  31 ,  32  of the mobile member  30  and the bores  21 ,  22  of the sleeves  2 ,  20  respectively, and each include an enlarged head or valve portion  41  for selectively engaging with the hubs  33  or the mobile member  30  and for selectively blocking or sealing the compartments  31 ,  32  of the mobile member  30  respectively, and two sealing rings  42  may be engaged with the valve elements  4 ,  40  respectively and engaged with the valve portions  41  for sealingly engaging with the hubs  33  or the mobile member  30  ( FIG. 4 ) and for preventing the pressurized air from flowing into the hubs  33  and the mobile member  30 . The valve elements  4 ,  40  each include a needle or valve engaging piece or projection  43 ,  44  extended downwardly therefrom and slidably engaged into the compartments  31 ,  32  of the mobile member  30  and the bores  21 ,  22  of the sleeves  2 ,  20  for contacting or engaging with the inflation valves  80 ,  88  or the nozzles  81  respectively ( FIGS. 5-9 ). 
     A follower or casing  50  is also slidably engaged into the chamber  11  of the housing  10 , and includes a guide member  51  laterally extended from the casing  50  and slidably engaged with the notch  15  of the housing  10  for guiding the casing  50  to stably slide relative or along the housing  10 , and includes a conduit  52  laterally formed in the casing  50  for connecting to the hand pump or air pump that may not be seen in the drawings, and includes two spaces  53 ,  54  formed in the casing  50  and communicating with the conduit  52  of the casing  50  for slidably receiving or engaging with the valve elements  4 ,  40  and the hubs  33  of the mobile member  30  respectively, and for engaging with the upper plate  36  of the mobile member  30  and thus for selectively forcing the mobile member  30  to compress the sleeves  2 ,  20  ( FIGS. 5-9 ) and to resiliently grasp and secure the inflation valves  80 ,  88  to the housing  10 . The casing  50  is slidably engaged with the sealing ring  35  for making an air tight seal between the casing  50  and the hubs  33  or the mobile member  30 . 
     Two or more spring biasing means or members  55  are engaged into the spaces  53 ,  54  of the casing  50  and engaged with or between the casing  50  and the valve elements  4 ,  40  for biasing the valve portions  41  and/or the sealing rings  42  of the valve elements  4 ,  40  to sealingly engage with the hubs  33  or the mobile member  30  and to prevent the pressurized air from flowing into the hubs  33  and the mobile member  30  ( FIG. 4 ). The valve portions  41  and/or the sealing rings  42  of the valve elements  4 ,  40  may be disengaged from the hubs  33  or the mobile member  30  ( FIGS. 5-9 ) for allowing the pressurized air to selectively flow into the hubs  33  and the mobile member  30  when the inflation valves  80 ,  88  and/or the nozzles  81  are engaged into the bores  21 ,  22  of the sleeves  2 ,  20  and engaged with the projections  43 ,  44  of the valve elements  4 ,  40  for forcing the valve elements  4 ,  40  toward the casing  50  by depressing the spring members  55 . 
     The casing  50  includes a recess  56  formed in the upper portion thereof and formed or defined by two opposite side walls  58 , and includes a channel or slot  57  formed in each of the side walls  58  for slidably receiving or engaging with the axle  18  relatively and for allowing the casing  50  to slide relative to the housing  10  and also for limiting the casing  50  to slide relative to the housing  10 , and includes a passage  59  formed therein and located between the recess  56  and the conduit  52  of the casing  50  and communicating with the recess  56  and the conduit  52  of the casing  50  for allowing the pressurized air to selectively flow from the conduit  52  through the passage  59  and into the recess  56  of the casing  50  and to selectively flow out of the casing  50  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     A relief valve  60  is engaged into the passage  59  of the casing  50  for selectively relieving the pressurized air out through the passage  59  and the recess  56  of the casing  50 , and includes a valve piece  62  slidably engaged in the passage  59  of the casing  50  for selectively engaging with the valve seat  61  of the casing  50  ( FIGS. 1-2  and  4 - 5 ) and for selectively blocking ( FIGS. 5-9 ) or opening ( FIG. 4 ) the passage  59  of the casing  50  and for controlling the pressurized air to flow through the passage  59  of the casing  50 . A sealing ring  63  may be engaged onto or with the valve piece  62  for selectively and sealingly engaging with the valve seat  61  of the casing  50 , and another spring biasing member  64  may further be provided and engaged into the passage  59  of the casing  50  and engaged between the valve piece  62  and the valve seat  61  or the casing  50  for biasing or forcing the valve piece  62  away from the valve seat  61  of the casing  50  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     An actuating handle  70  includes an aperture  71  formed therein, such as formed in the one end portion  72  thereof which is engaged into the recess  56  of the casing  50  for receiving or engaging with the axle  18  and for pivotally or rotatably attaching or securing the actuating handle  70  to the housing  10  and for allowing the actuating handle  70  to be rotated relative to the housing  10  to selected angular positions. The actuating handle  70  includes a cam member  73  formed or provided on the one end portion  72  thereof for engaging with the valve piece  62  of the relief valve  60  for selectively forcing the valve piece  62  of the relief valve  60  to engage with the valve seat  61  of the casing  50  ( FIGS. 5-9 ) and for selectively blocking or opening the passage  59  of the casing  50  ( FIGS. 4-9 ). The cam member  73  of the actuating handle  70  may also be engaged with the casing  50  for selectively moving or forcing the casing  50  and the mobile member  30  to selectively compress and deform the sleeves  2 , and to resiliently grasp or secure the inflation valves  80 ,  88  to the housing  10 . 
     In operation, as shown in  FIG. 4 , when no inflation valves  80 ,  88  and/or nozzles  81  are engaged into the bores  21 ,  22  of the sleeves  2 ,  20  and contacted and engaged with the projections  43 ,  44  of the valve elements  4 ,  40 , the spring members  55  may bias the valve portions  41  and/or the sealing rings  42  of the valve elements  4 ,  40  to sealingly engage with the hubs  33  or the mobile member  30  and to prevent the pressurized air from flowing into the hubs  33  and the mobile member  30 . At this moment, the pressurized air may selectively flow from the conduit  52  through the passage  59  and into the recess  56  of the casing  50  and to selectively flow out of the casing  50  or to be relieved when the valve piece  62  is not forced to engage with the valve seat  61  of the casing  50  and not to block the passage  59  of the casing  50 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when either or both of the inflation valves  80 ,  88  and/or nozzles  81  are engaged into the bores  21 ,  22  of the sleeves  2 ,  20  and contacted and engaged with the projections  43 ,  44  of the valve elements  4 ,  40 , the inflation valves  80 ,  88  and/or nozzles  81  may move and force the valve elements  4 ,  40  toward the casing  50  and may depress the spring members  55 , and the casing  50  and the mobile member  30  may then be selectively moved or forced by the cam member  73  of the actuating handle  70  to compress and deform the sleeves  2 ,  20  and to resiliently grasp or secure the inflation valves  80 ,  88  to the housing  10 , and to disengage the valve portions  41  and/or the sealing rings  42  of the valve elements  4 ,  40  from the hubs  33  or the mobile member  30  and thus for allowing the pressurized air to selectively flow from the conduit  52  through the spaces  53 ,  54  of the casing  50  and into the hubs  33  and the mobile member  30 , and thus for allowing the pressurized air to be selectively supplied to either or all of the inflation valves  80 ,  88  and/or nozzles  81 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the housing  101  may include a greater chamber  11  for receiving three or more sleeves  2  and three or more valve elements  4  for receiving or engaging with three or more U.S. type inflation valve  88 ; or as shown in  FIG. 8 , the housing  101  may include a greater chamber  11  for receiving three or more sleeves  20  and three or more valve elements  40  for receiving or engaging with three or more French type inflation valves  80 ; or as shown in  FIG. 9 , the housing  101  may also include a greater chamber  11  for receiving three or more sleeves  2  and three or more valve elements  4  for receiving or engaging with three or more nozzles  81  which may be coupled to hoses  89  for coupling to various pneumatic facilities or systems (not shown) and for allowing the pump connector device  1  to be formed or acted as a pressurized air or pneumatic control device. 
     Accordingly, the pump connector device in accordance with the present invention includes a simplified structure for easily connecting to different inflation valves of U.S. type and French type valves and/or the other nozzles and for being easily operated with or by the users. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.