Patent ID: 7195029

Claim:
An inflate/deflate valve that includes: a valve body having an interior passage therein with a stop therein, a poppet movable within the interior passage of the valve body to selectively allow fluid flow through the valve body when the poppet is not seated against the stop within the valve body, and selectively block fluid flow through the valve when the poppet is seated against the stop within the valve body, whereby the poppet and valve body are further designed such that the poppet always remains protected within the interior passage, a spring biasing the poppet into its seated position against the stop, a spring retainer for holding the spring within the valve body, and a poppet seal for sealing the poppet against the stop; in which the interior passage includes at least one axially inwardly extending groove with a transverse groove extending from the innermost portion of the inwardly extending groove for holding the poppet in an open position when pushed fully inward and twisted, so that the poppet is selectively lockable within the interior passage when not seated against the stop, to allow fluid flow through the valve body; and the valve body further comprises a plurality of apertures extending circumferentially around and perpendicularly through the valve body, such that fluid flow is directed through these apertures when the poppet unseats from the stop and passes by these apertures.