Patent ID: 7926507

Claim:
An inflation nozzle for inflating a flexible structure, comprising: a nozzle body defining a nozzle channel therethrough, the nozzle channel having a channel outlet configured and oriented to expel a fluid therefrom substantially coaxially with the nozzle body; a probe extending from the nozzle body, substantially coaxially with the nozzle channel, adjacent and beyond the channel outlet, the probe configured and dimensioned to facilitate positioning an inflation aperture defined by a flexible wall of the flexible structure onto the nozzle body for directing fluid into the inflation aperture, wherein the channel outlet is continuously open adjacent the probe to allow the fluid to flow through the nozzle channel and out the channel outlet; and a connection portion associated with the nozzle body for fluidly connecting the nozzle channel to a fluid source for delivering fluid through the nozzle channel to inflate the flexible structure.