Patent Description:
Apparatuses and methods consistent with example embodiments relate to a pressure relief valve for an inflatable pool, and to an inflatable pool that includes the pressure relief valve.

A safety valve is often disposed on an inflatable pool wall of an inflatable pool. The safety valve has a pressure relief function to prevent explosion due to high internal air pressure of the inflatable pool wall.

However, defects in existing products may include: the complex structure of the valve; and a spring with a set recovery force being pre-produced, resulting in that the safety valve using the spring has only one fixed pressure relief value which cannot be adjusted based on an actual need.

Document <CIT> discloses a pressure relief valve according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Example embodiments may address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, example embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and may not overcome any of the problems described above.

According to an aspect of an example embodiment, a pressure relief valve is provided, comprising: a valve seat configured to be attached to an inflatable device; and a valve body, wherein the valve body is disposed at least partially within the valve seat and comprises: a valve shell comprising therein a vent hole, a valve diaphragm disposed at a bottom of the valve shell, the valve diaphragm moveable between a closed position in which the valve diaphragm closes the vent hole and an open position in which the valve diaphragm opens the vent hole, a spring biased to push the valve diaphragm into the closed position, and a valve diaphragm fixing part disposed around the vent hole and connected to the valve shell.

The valve body further comprises a first spring seat and a second spring seat, wherein the spring is disposed between the first spring seat and the second spring seat.

The first spring seat is connected to the valve diaphragm and biased by the spring in a longitudinal direction of the valve diaphragm fixing part to press the valve diaphragm into the closed position, and the second spring seat is connected to the valve diaphragm fixing part and adjustable to thereby limit a compression amount of the spring.

The valve diaphragm may comprise at least one support bar comprising a boss, the first spring seat comprising at least one through hole corresponding to the at least one support bar, and the support bar passing through the through hole and snaps to a surface of the first spring seat through the boss, thereby connecting the first spring seat to the valve diaphragm.

One of the first spring seat and the valve diaphragm fixing part comprises a chute therein, and an other of the first spring seat and the valve diaphragm fixing part comprises a protrusion portion corresponding to the chute, the chute configured to enable the protrusion portion to move within the chute along the longitudinal direction of the valve diaphragm fixing part and to restrict relative rotation between the first spring seat and the valve diaphragm fixing part.

The valve diaphragm fixing part may comprise a first valve diaphragm fixing part and a second valve diaphragm fixing part, wherein the first valve diaphragm fixing part is disposed between the valve diaphragm and the second valve diaphragm fixing part.

The second valve diaphragm fixing part may be connected to the valve shell and rest against the first valve diaphragm fixing part, thereby enabling the first valve diaphragm fixing part to press the valve diaphragm, and the second spring seat may be connected to the second valve diaphragm fixing part.

The second valve diaphragm fixing part may be connected to the valve shell by corresponding threading and comprise a positioning slot, and the first valve diaphragm fixing part may comprise a grab corresponding to the positioning slot, and configured to, by engagement with the positioning slot, prevent loosening of a connection of the second valve diaphragm fixing part to the valve shell.

The pressure relief valve may further comprise a cover body comprising an exhaust hole therethrough, the cover body fixed to one of the valve shell and the valve diaphragm fixing part.

The valve seat may comprise: a pool wall fixing part configured to connect the inflatable device, and a base, wherein the base and the pool wall fixing part are injection molded and are connected to the valve shell.

The pressure relief valve may further comprise a sealing gasket disposed between the base and the valve shell.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, an inflatable pool is provided, comprising: an inflatable pool wall, and the pressure relief valve, as described above, arranged on the inflatable pool wall.

The inflatable pool wall may comprise an outer wall and an inner wall, and the pressure relief valve may be connected to one of the outer wall and the inner wall.

According to an aspect of another example embodiment, an inflatable product is provided, comprising: an inflatable body comprising an inflatable wall; and a pressure relief valve comprising: a valve seat connected to the inflatable wall; a valve body comprising a valve shell comprising therein a vent hole, the valve shell disposed at least partially within the valve seat; a valve diaphragm disposed inside the valve shell and moveable between a closed position and an open position; and a spring disposed within the valve shell and operationally connected to the valve diaphragm such that a change in an internal air pressure of the inflatable body causes a change in the compression and decompression of the spring and a corresponding movement of the valve diaphragm.

The above and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the example embodiments may have different forms and may not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein.

It will be understood that the terms "include," "including", "comprise, and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

It will be further understood that, although the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections may not be limited by these terms.

In this description, directional expressions such as "upper", "lower", "top", and "bottom" are not absolute, but relative. The directional expressions are appropriate when various components are arranged as shown in the figures, but should change accordingly when positions of the various components in the figures change. In addition, "inner" and "outer" are defined with reference to radial inner and outer directions of a shown inflatable pool.

As shown in <FIG>, an inflatable pool includes a pool bottom <NUM> and an inflatable pool wall <NUM> surrounding the pool bottom <NUM>, the inflatable pool wall <NUM> and the pool bottom <NUM> jointly limit a water storage chamber <NUM> of the pool, and on the inflatable pool wall <NUM>, a pressure relief valve <NUM> is included to perform pressure relief when internal air pressure of the inflatable pool wall <NUM> is too high, to prevent the inflatable pool wall <NUM> from explosion or other damage. Reasons that the internal air pressure of the inflatable pool wall <NUM> may become too high include but are not limited to: water inside the water storage chamber <NUM> entering the inflatable pool wall <NUM>, causing an increase in the internal air pressure; and hot weather, where long exposure to the sun causes air in the inflatable pool wall <NUM> to expand.

It is noted that the pressure relief valve described herein is described with respect to an inflatable wall of an inflatable pool. However, it should be understood that the pressure relief valve described herein may be used in conjunction with any inflatable portion of a pool or with a non-pool inflatable device, such as, but not limited to an inflatable mattress and an inflatable pool accessory.

The inflatable pool wall <NUM> includes an outer wall <NUM>, an inner wall <NUM>, and a top wall <NUM> that jointly define the inflatable chamber. The inner wall <NUM> also limits the highest water level of the water storage chamber <NUM>, and the pressure relief valve <NUM> may be arranged at any position in any of the outer wall <NUM>, the inner wall <NUM>, and the top wall <NUM>. The pressure relief valve <NUM> may be arranged at a position of the outer wall <NUM> that is adjacent to the top wall <NUM>, or may be arranged on the inner wall <NUM> above the highest water level line.

A first example embodiment of a pressure relief valve <NUM> will be described below in conjunction with <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the pressure relief valve <NUM> includes a valve seat <NUM> and a valve body <NUM> arranged in the valve seat <NUM>.

The valve seat <NUM> may be attached to the inflatable pool wall <NUM> by high frequency welding. More specifically, the valve seat <NUM> includes a base <NUM> with a bottom exhaust hole <NUM> and a pool wall fixing part <NUM> surrounding the base <NUM>. The pool wall fixing part <NUM> and the base <NUM> are injection molded through rubberization and welded to the inflatable pool wall <NUM> by a peripheral flange <NUM> of the pool wall fixing part <NUM>. The base <NUM> is provided with a first internal thread <NUM>.

The valve body <NUM> includes: a valve shell <NUM> provided with a bottom vent hole <NUM>; a valve diaphragm <NUM>, where the valve diaphragm <NUM> is arranged at a bottom of the valve shell <NUM> and is adapted to open or close the vent hole <NUM>; and a substantially tubular valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> arranged around the vent hole <NUM>, where the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> is connected to the valve shell <NUM> to position the valve diaphragm <NUM> at the bottom of the valve shell <NUM>.

More specifically, the valve shell <NUM> is provided with a first external thread <NUM>, to connect the valve shell <NUM> to the base <NUM> by screwing of the first external thread <NUM> to the first internal thread <NUM> of the base <NUM>. In addition, the valve shell <NUM> is also provided with a plurality of bolt fixing parts <NUM>, and the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> is connected to the valve shell <NUM> by a plurality of bolts <NUM> (for example, four bolts <NUM> as shown) screwed into the bolt fixing parts <NUM>. The valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> presses the valve diaphragm <NUM> around the vent hole <NUM> and tightly to the bottom of the valve shell <NUM> so that the valve diaphragm <NUM> covers the vent hole <NUM>. More specifically, the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> presses an outer peripheral part of the valve diaphragm <NUM> to the bottom of the valve shell <NUM>, and a middle part of the valve diaphragm <NUM> can still move to cover the vent hole <NUM> so as to open or close the vent hole.

The valve body <NUM> further includes a compression spring <NUM> extending axially within the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM>. A first end <NUM> of the spring <NUM> is connected to the valve diaphragm <NUM> by a first spring seat <NUM>, and a second end <NUM> of the spring <NUM> is connected to the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> by a second spring seat <NUM>, so as to push the valve diaphragm <NUM> to move in a longitudinal direction of the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> (that is, a vertical direction in <FIG>/an axial direction of the spring <NUM>) by a predetermined pressure applied to the valve diaphragm <NUM> by the spring <NUM> through the first spring seat <NUM> to close the vent hole <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

More specifically, the valve diaphragm <NUM> includes at least one support bar <NUM> (for example, three support bars <NUM> as shown) with a boss <NUM>, the first spring seat <NUM> includes at least one through hole <NUM> matching the support bar <NUM> (for example, three through holes <NUM> matching the three support bars <NUM>), and each support bar <NUM> passes through the corresponding through hole <NUM> and snaps to a surface of the first spring seat <NUM> through the boss <NUM> to connect the first spring seat <NUM> to the valve diaphragm <NUM>.

The first spring seat <NUM> is movable relative to an inner wall of the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> so as to drive the valve diaphragm <NUM> to open or close the vent hole <NUM>. A radially outer edge of the first spring seat <NUM> is provided with at least one chute <NUM> (for example, four chutes <NUM> as shown), and the inner wall of the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> is provided with at least one protrusion portion <NUM> matching the chute <NUM> (for example, four protrusion portions <NUM> matching the four chutes <NUM>), to be adapted to enable each protrusion portion <NUM> to move in the corresponding chute <NUM> along the longitudinal direction of the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> and to restrict relative rotation between the first spring seat <NUM> and the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM>.

According to an alternative embodiment, the radially outer edge of the first spring seat <NUM> is provided with at least one protrusion portion, and the inner wall of the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> is provided with at least one chute matching the protrusion portion.

A position of the second spring seat <NUM> relative to the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> is configured to be adjustable to limit a compression amount of the spring <NUM>, thereby limiting a predetermined pressure applied to the valve diaphragm <NUM> by the spring <NUM>. The inner wall of the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> may be provided with a second internal thread <NUM>, and the second spring seat <NUM> may be provided with a second external thread <NUM> matching the second internal thread <NUM>, so that the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> is threaded to the second spring seat <NUM> by screwing of the second internal thread <NUM> to the second external thread <NUM>.

Before a product is shipped, a compression amount of the spring <NUM> may be adjusted by rotating the second spring seat <NUM> relative to the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM>, thereby adjusting the predetermined pressure applied to the valve diaphragm <NUM> by the spring <NUM>. The predetermined pressure is a predetermined pressure relief value of the pressure relief valve <NUM>. To be specific, the closer the second spring seat <NUM> is rotated to the first spring seat <NUM>, the greater the compression amount of the spring <NUM> is, and therefore the greater the internal air pressure of the inflatable pool wall <NUM> that is required for the valve diaphragm <NUM> to open the vent hole <NUM> to start pressure relief.

The pressure relief valve <NUM> may additionally include a cover body <NUM> with a top exhaust hole <NUM>. The cover body <NUM> is fixed to the valve shell <NUM> or the valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> at the top of the pressure relief valve <NUM> and covers parts such as the valve diaphragm <NUM>, the spring <NUM>, the first spring seat <NUM>, and the second spring seat <NUM>, providing an aesthetic effect of the pressure relief valve <NUM> while also providing protection.

The pressure relief valve <NUM> may further include a sealing gasket <NUM> arranged between the base <NUM> and the valve shell <NUM>. The sealing gasket <NUM> is arranged around the bottom exhaust hole <NUM> at a position at which a bottom of the base <NUM> is in contact with the valve shell <NUM>, for example, is arranged into a first groove <NUM> formed at the bottom of the base <NUM>, to ensure that air does not leak from between the base <NUM> and the valve shell <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, only when the internal air pressure of the inflatable pool wall <NUM> is greater than the predetermined pressure (that is, being greater than the predetermined pressure relief value of the pressure relief valve <NUM>) applied to the valve diaphragm <NUM> by the spring <NUM>, the air pushes the valve diaphragm <NUM> and the first spring seat <NUM> upward from inside of the inflatable pool wall <NUM>, the vent hole <NUM> opens accordingly, and the air is discharged through a vent passage (for example, a vent passage shown by an arrow in <FIG>, where the vent passage passes through the bottom exhaust hole <NUM> formed at the base <NUM>, the vent hole <NUM> formed at the valve shell <NUM>, exhaust holes formed at the first spring seat <NUM> and the second spring seat <NUM>, and the top exhaust hole <NUM> formed at the cover body <NUM>). As shown in <FIG>, when the internal air pressure of the inflatable pool wall <NUM> decreases, the valve diaphragm <NUM> and the first spring seat <NUM> are pushed back on the basis of a reaction force of the spring <NUM>, to close the vent hole <NUM> again.

A second example embodiment of the pressure relief valve <NUM> will be described below in conjunction with <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, a pressure relief principle of the pressure relief valve <NUM> in the second example embodiment is similar to that in the first example embodiment, and therefore similarities in construction are not repeated. Differences mainly lie in that a valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> includes a first valve diaphragm fixing part 423a arranged at a bottom of the valve shell <NUM>, and a second valve diaphragm fixing part 423b arranged at a top of the first valve diaphragm fixing part 423a. Thus, the first valve diaphragm fixing part 423a is arranged between the valve diaphragm <NUM> and the second valve diaphragm fixing part 423b. An inner wall of the valve shell <NUM> is provided with a third internal thread <NUM>, the second valve diaphragm fixing part 423b is provided with a third external thread <NUM> matching the third internal thread <NUM>, so as to make the second valve diaphragm fixing part 423b connect to the valve shell <NUM> and rest tightly against the first valve diaphragm fixing part <NUM> a by screwing of the third internal thread <NUM> to the third external thread <NUM>, so that the first valve diaphragm fixing part 423a presses the valve diaphragm <NUM> around the vent hole <NUM> tightly to the bottom of the valve shell <NUM>.

The first spring seat <NUM> is movable relative to an inner wall of the first valve diaphragm fixing part 423a to drive the valve diaphragm <NUM> to open or close the vent hole <NUM>. A radially outer edge of the first spring seat <NUM> is provided with at least one chute <NUM>, and the inner wall of the first valve diaphragm fixing part 423a is provided with at least one protrusion portion <NUM> matching the chute <NUM>, to be adapted to enable each protrusion portion <NUM> to move in the corresponding chute <NUM> along a longitudinal direction of the first valve diaphragm fixing part 423a and to restrict relative rotation between the first spring seat <NUM> and the first valve diaphragm fixing part 423a.

An inner wall of the second valve diaphragm fixing part 423b is provided with a second internal thread <NUM>, and the second spring seat <NUM> is provided with a second external thread <NUM> matching the second internal thread <NUM>, so that the second valve diaphragm fixing part 423b is threaded to the second spring seat <NUM> by screwing of the second internal thread <NUM> to the second external thread <NUM>, so that a compression amount of the spring <NUM> can be adjusted by rotating the second spring seat <NUM> relative to the second valve diaphragm fixing part 423b.

To prevent the threaded connection between the second valve diaphragm fixing part 423b and the valve shell <NUM> from loosening during shipping or use, a bottom of the second valve diaphragm fixing part 423b may be provided with a positioning slot <NUM> towards the first valve diaphragm fixing part 423a. A top of the first valve diaphragm fixing part 423a is provided with a grab <NUM> matching the positioning slot <NUM>. Engagement of the grab <NUM> and the positioning slot <NUM> prevents the second valve diaphragm fixing part 423b from reversing after being screwed to the valve shell <NUM>, so as to prevent loose connection from affecting normal use of the pressure relief valve <NUM>.

Additionally, the pressure relief valve <NUM> may further include a sealing gasket <NUM> arranged between the base <NUM> and the valve shell <NUM>. The sealing gasket <NUM> is arranged at a position at which a top of the base <NUM> is in contact with the valve shell <NUM>, for example, is arranged into a second groove <NUM> formed at a top of the valve shell <NUM>, to ensure that air does not leak from between the base <NUM> and the valve shell <NUM>.

Various terms are used to refer to particular system components. Different companies may refer to a component by different names - this document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function.

Matters of these example embodiments that are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which these example embodiments pertain may not be described here in detail.

It may be understood that the example embodiments described herein may be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each example embodiment may be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other example embodiments.

Claim 1:
A pressure relief valve (<NUM>), comprising:
a valve seat (<NUM>) configured to be attached to an inflatable device; and
a valve body (<NUM>), wherein the valve body is disposed at least partially within the valve seat (<NUM>) and comprises:
a valve shell (<NUM>) comprising therein a vent hole (<NUM>),
a valve diaphragm (<NUM>) disposed at a bottom of the valve shell (<NUM>), the valve diaphragm (<NUM>) moveable between a closed position in which the valve diaphragm (<NUM>) closes the vent hole (<NUM>) and an open position in which the valve diaphragm (<NUM>) opens the vent hole (<NUM>),
a spring (<NUM>) biased to push the valve diaphragm (<NUM>) into the closed position, and
a valve diaphragm fixing part (<NUM>) disposed around the vent hole (<NUM>) and connected to the valve shell (<NUM>),
wherein the valve body (<NUM>) further comprises a first spring seat (<NUM>) and a second spring seat (<NUM>), with the spring (<NUM>) disposed between the first spring seat (<NUM>) and the second spring seat (<NUM>),
and wherein:
the first spring seat (<NUM>) is connected to the valve diaphragm (<NUM>) and is biased by the spring (<NUM>) in a longitudinal direction of the valve diaphragm fixing part (<NUM>) to press the valve diaphragm (<NUM>) into the closed position,
the second spring seat (<NUM>) is connected to the valve diaphragm fixing part (<NUM>) and is adjustable to thereby limit a compression amount of the spring (<NUM>).
characterized in that:
one of the first spring seat (<NUM>) and the valve diaphragm fixing part (<NUM>) comprises a chute (<NUM>) therein, and
another of the first spring seat (<NUM>) and the valve diaphragm fixing part (<NUM>) comprises a protrusion portion (<NUM>) corresponding to the chute (<NUM>), the chute (<NUM>) configured to enable the protrusion portion (<NUM>) to move within the chute (<NUM>) along the longitudinal direction of the valve diaphragm fixing part (<NUM>) and to restrict relative rotation between the first spring seat (<NUM>) and the valve diaphragm fixing part (<NUM>).