Patent Publication Number: US-9841144-B2

Title: Balloon pumper having relief valve

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/956,015, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, titled BALLOON PUMPER HAVING RELIEF VALVE, which application is incorporated in its entirety by reference in this application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a device capable of filling balloons with water, air or a mixture of air and water. In particular, the device includes a container capable of holding water that can be pressurized by an integrated pump, where the integrated pump includes a release valve to prevent over-pressurizing the container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known that balloons may be inflated by pressurizing containers with air utilizing a pump and then releasing the pressurized air through a nozzle on the pump. To inflate the balloon, the balloon is placed on the nozzle of pump. The pressurized air in the container is then released through the nozzle on the pump to inflate the balloon. This basic operation of inflating balloons utilizing pumps connected to containers is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,395. 
     A problem, however, exists in that it is possible for a user to over-pressurize a container utilizing a pump. If over-pressurized, the pump may become damaged or the container itself may rupture or explode. As the balloon pumps are currently marketed and sold primarily to children, the explosion of the container raises safety consideration. 
     A need therefore exists for a balloon pump that includes a mechanism for releasing air when the container is over-pressurized to avoid damage to the pump. 
     SUMMARY 
     A balloon filling device is provided for filling balloons with air or water. The balloon filling device includes a container for holding fluid, a pump mechanism for pressurizing the container and a trigger mechanism for releasing fluid in the container. The pump mechanism is secured to the top of the container via a lid attachment. The trigger mechanism is attached to the lid attachment and includes a nozzle for attaching and holding a balloon and releasing pressurized air or liquid within the container into the balloon. The pump mechanism includes a pressure relief valve for releasing air back through the pump mechanism to the outside of the container when the container is over-pressurized. 
     In operation, the container is pressurized by the repeated upward and downward motion of the pump handle. The pump mechanism includes a one-way valve, such that pressure applied to the container does not flow back into the pump mechanism. Once the container is pressurized, the air or water in the container may then be released by depressing the trigger release. Upon depressing the trigger release, liquid or air is allowed to flow from the container through the nozzle and into an attached balloon. The fluid and/or air is released through a tube positioned within the container that communicates with the trigger release and nozzle. 
     As noted above, over-pressurization of the container can cause the container to rupture or cause damage to the pump assembly. The balloon pump of the present invention includes a pressure relief valve designed to release air from the container if the pressure in the container gets too great such that it might potentially damage or rupture the pump or the container. The relief valve can be designed to release air anywhere between 27-32 PSI. 
     Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The invention may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one example of a balloon pump (or balloon pumper) of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the right side of the pump. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the balloon pump of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section of the pump of  FIG. 1  taken along the vertical center illustrating the pump handle in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section taken along the vertical center of the pump of  FIG. 1  illustrating the air flow pattern as the handle is drawn upward or is extended. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section of the pump of  FIG. 1  taken along the vertical center illustrating the air flow pattern as the handle is pressed downward into the container. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section of the pump of  FIG. 1  taken along the vertical center illustrating the air flow pattern as the trigger is pressed to release the air in the container. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the trigger release of the pump. 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of one example of a relief valve that may be utilized in connection with the pump of the present invention to release air from the container should the container&#39;s pressure reach a threshold amount. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the pressure relief valve of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-section of the relief valve of  FIG. 9  with the relief valve. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-section of the relief valve of  FIG. 9  showing the air flow pattern when the relief valve is triggered. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one example of a balloon pump  100  (or balloon pumper) of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the right side of the balloon pump  100 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , the balloon pump  100  includes a container  102  having a lid attachment  104  that includes a pumping mechanism  106 . The pump mechanism  106  includes a pump handle  108 , a trigger release  110  and a nozzle  112  to release fluid from the container  102  through the nozzle  112  to inflate a balloon (not shown) upon the engagement of the trigger release  110 . 
     The container  102  may be made of a plastic and capable of holding water and pressure up to about 30 PSI. For purposes of this invention the plastics can be polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terthalate (PET), polycarbonate, or any similar material. “Fluid” shall mean any liquid or gas, including, but not limited to, water or air. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the balloon pump  100  of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the container  102  has a threaded top  350  for engaging the lid attachment  104 . The lid attachment  104  includes a pump mechanism  106  that includes a pump handle  108 , a nozzle  112  and a trigger  110 . 
     A fluid passageway is defined from the container  102  to the opening  115  on the nozzle  112  through the tube  320 , trigger  110  and the nozzle  112  to facilitate the release of fluid from the nozzle  112  once the container  102  is pressurized. The trigger  110  includes at its rear side a peg  318  which interfaces with a plug  316 . The plug  316  rests upon a trigger spring  314  in a central housing  312  located within a trigger insert  306 . The trigger insert  306  includes an airflow passageway defined by an upper pipe  308  and a lower airway pipe  310  and the central housing  312 . The plug  316  is able to slide within the central housing  312  of the trigger insert  306  upon the compression of the trigger  110 , which compresses spring  314 . The sliding movement of the plug  316  opens and closes the airflow between the upper pipe  308  and the lower pipe  310  to facilitate fluid communication through the trigger insert  306  when the trigger  110  is depressed. 
     The nozzle  112  includes a nozzle insert  302  that includes an airflow passageway directing fluid communication from the trigger through the nozzle insert  302  and out of the nozzle opening  115 . The nozzle insert  302  includes a downward spout  304  for interfacing and communicating with the upper airway pipe  308  of the trigger insert  306  to create an airflow passageway from the container tube  320  through the lower airway pipe  310  to the upper airway pipe  308  through the downward spout  304 , through the nozzle insert  302  and out the opening of the nozzle  112 . 
     To create pressure in the container  102 , the pump handle  108  is connected to a rod  340  that extends downward through the pump mechanism  106  into the container  102 . The pump mechanism  106  further includes a plunger  342  located at the bottom of the rod  340 . Plunger  342  and rod  340  are housed inside a sleeve  330  having a threaded top  332  for threadably engaging to the underside of the lid attachment  104  (see  FIG. 4 ). The sleeve  330  at its bottom includes an open end  336  for housing a one-way valve  334 , such that the pressure applied to the container  102  does not back flow into the pump mechanism  106 . Such one-way valves  334  are well known in the art and are typically made of a flap of rubber or movable ball that will allow the pumped fluid to flow out through the sleeve  330  but not in reverse. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-section of the pump  100  of  FIG. 1  taken along the vertical center illustrating the pump handle  108  in a retracted or closed position. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the lid attachment  104  threadably mounts the top of the container  102 . The pump mechanism  106  is then utilized to pressurize the container  102 . The pump handle  108  has a rod  340  that extends through the trigger mechanism  106  and the lid attachment  104  into the sleeve  330 , which is threadably mounted to the underside of the lid attachment  104  via a threaded receptacle  430 . The rod  340  at the end opposite the handle  108  includes a plunger  342  for pressurizing the container  102  through pumping action of the plunger  340  through the sleeve  330 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the sleeve  330  at its bottom includes a one-way valve  334 , which in the illustrated example, is a ball valve, located within an opening  336  of the sleeve  330 . 
     As will be seen better in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the one-way valve  334  is opened in response to downward air pressure from the plunger  342  moving through the sleeve order to pressurize the container  102 . The valve  334  remains closed when the plunger is extended upward to draw air into the sleeve  334 , thereby preventing the release of pressure from the container  102 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-section taken along the vertical center of the pump of  FIG. 1  illustrating the air flow pattern as the handle  108  is drawn upward or is extended. As seen in  FIG. 5 , when the plunger  342  and rod  340  are pulled upward by pulling the pump handle  108 , air is forced downward past the sides of the plunger  304  within the sleeve  330  to create air in the portion of the sleeve  330  below the plunger  342  when retracted. When the plunger is being retracted, the one-way valve  334  closes the opening  336  preventing any air from escaping into the chamber  102 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-section of the pump  100  of  FIG. 1  taken along the vertical center illustrating the air flow pattern as the handle  108  is pressed downward into the container  102 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , when the pump handle  108  is pressed downward from the retracted position, the plunger  342  forces all of the air in the sleeve  330  created between the plunger  342  and the sleeve  330  out the bottom of the sleeve  330  at opening  336 . The air pressure being forced downward by the plunger  342  within the sleeve  330  opens the valve  334  to allow air to flow into the container  102  to pressurize the container  102 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-section of the pump  100  of  FIG. 1  taken along the vertical center illustrating the air flow pattern as the trigger  110  is pressed to release the air in the container  102 . Once the container  102  is pressurized, the fluid in the container  102  may be released through the tube  320  which interfaces, and is in communication with, the trigger mechanism. 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the trigger mechanism of the pump  100 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the tube  320  is in fluid communication with lower airway pipe  310  of the trigger insert  306 . When the plug  316  is forced inward by depressing the trigger  110 , the airflow passages in the upper and lower airway pipes  308 ,  301  are opened. Because the upper airway pipe  308  interfaces, and is in communication with, the downward spout  304  and the nozzle insert  302 , which have airflow passages to the opening  115  of the nozzle  112 , fluid is able to exit through the opening  115  of the nozzle  112  when the trigger  110  is depressed after the container  102  is pressurized. 
       FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of one example of a relief valve  900  that may be utilized in connection with the pump  100  of the present invention to release air from the container  102  should the container&#39;s pressure reach a threshold amount.  FIG. 9  shows a top perspective view of one example of a relief valve  900  embedded within the plunger  342 . The relief valve  900  allows the release of air pressure  102  to backflow through the sleeve  330  when the pressure inside the container  102  is too great. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the pressure relief valve  900  of  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 10  illustrates the plunger  342  having a rod attachment  1002  threadably engaged to the top of the plunger  1004  for attaching the plunger  1004  to the rod  340 . The plunger  1004  includes at its bottom, an opening  1006  and openings  1008  along the sides. 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-section of the plunger  324  showing the relief valve  334  of  FIG. 9  positioned therein. As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the plunger  342  is hollowed in the center to allow communication between the openings  1006  inside openings  1008 . Within the hollowed chamber  1102  of the plunger  342  rests a plug  1110  held in compression by spring  1112  against the opening  1006 . When held against the opening  1106 , the plug  1110  prevents the flow of air back into the sleeve  330 . 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-section of the plunger  324  having the relief valve  334  positioned therein, showing the air flow pattern when the relief valve  334  is triggered. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , when the pressure within the container reaches approximately 27-32 PSI, the spring is then compressed by the force of the pressure against the plug  1010  to retract the plug  1010  within the chamber  1102 . Once retracted, airflow is permitted to flow from opening  1006  upwards and out the side openings  1008  to release the pressure within the chamber  102  through the sleeve  330 . One example of a type of spring that will compress in response to pressure of approximately 27-32 is a 5 mm×20 mm  304  gauge stainless steel spring. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other springs of varying sizes, material and gauge may be utilized given the size of the relief valve  334  and that spring selection should be based upon a response that will allow the relief valve  334  to trigger at a point when the container is pressured such that damage may occur but not before allowing the container to generate enough pressure to release fluid through the opening  115  of the nozzle  112  to fill the balloon in response to depressing trigger  110 . 
     In operation, the container  102  is pressurized by the repeated up and down motion of the pump handle  108 . The pump handle  108  is engaged with a valve  334 , which is generally a one-way valve, such that pressure applied to the container  102  does not flow back into the pump mechanism  106 . Once the container  102  is pressurized, the air or water in the container may be released by depressing the trigger release  110 . Upon depressing the trigger release  110 , fluid is allowed to flow from the container  102  through the nozzle  112  and into an attached balloon. The trigger release  110  can be any manually activated valve, including but not limited to a piston slide. The fluid is released through a tube  320  that is in communication with the trigger release  110  and nozzle  112 . The tube  320  runs through the container  102  and terminates near the end of the container. 
     As noted above, over pressurization of the container  102  can cause the container to rupture or cause damage to the pump  100 . The rupturing of the container  102  raises safety concerns. A relief valve  900  may be included as part of the pump mechanism  106 . The relief valve  900  may be positioned in a number of different locations, including at the end of the rod  304  of the pump handle  108 , for example, in the plunger  342 . 
     The relief valve  900  of the present invention is designed to prevent over pressuring the container  102  by releasing air back out of the sleeve  330  through the pump mechanism  106  if the pressure in the container  102  gets too great. This will effectively disengage the ability of a user to continue to pressurize the container  102  until some pressure is released by the trigger  100 . As noted, the relief valve  900  can be designed to release air anywhere between 27-32 psi. The relief valve  900  cannot release air too soon or the container will not have enough pressure to fill the balloon. So, the relief valve  900  must be carefully designed to balance safety considerations over pressurization and performance of a balloon pump. 
     As used in this application, terms such as “communicate” and “in . . . communication with” (for example, a first component “communicates with” or “is in communication with” a second component) are used herein to indicate a structural, functional, mechanical, electrical, signal, optical, magnetic, electromagnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two or more components or elements. As such, the fact that one component is said to communicate with a second component is not intended to exclude the possibility that additional components may be present between, and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first and second components. 
     It will be understood that various aspects or details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of limitation—the invention being defined by the claims.