Fluid handling – Inflatable article – With coupling means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-05
2001-07-17
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Inflatable article
With coupling means
C137S223000, C137S270000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260572
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve-coupling device for an inflation device, such as a hand air pump, and more particularly to a valve-coupling device that can be used with at least two types of valves.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wide variety of hand air pumps for bicycles have been proposed. In a typical hand air pump for inflating the front fork shock-absorbing device of a bicycle, the valve coupler of the hand air pump is relatively small and thus tends to be disengaged from the valve of the front fork shock-absorbing device, as the hand air pump is pumping high-pressure air into the shock-absorbing device. In addition, the valve coupler of the hand air pump can only be used to engage with a specific type of valves.
The present invention is intended to provide a valve-coupling device that mitigates and/or obviates these problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a valve-coupling device for an inflating device to reliably retain the valve-coupling device on the valve of an object to be inflated. In addition, the valve-coupling device includes a switch member such that the valve-coupling device can be used with an American valve or a French valve upon manually switching the switch member.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a valve-coupling device is provided for an inflating device with a gas output end. The valve-coupling device comprises:
a main body including a compartment extending transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the main body, the main body further including a first receptacle in a first end thereof and a second receptacle in a second end thereof, the first receptacle and the second receptacle being communicated with each other via the compartment, the first end of the main body being adapted to be engaged with a gas output end of an inflating device with the first receptacle being communicated with the gas output end;
a slider including a first end and a second end slidably received in the second receptacle of the main body, the slider further including a longitudinal bore;
an end cap mounted to the second end of the main body for enclosing the first end of the slider, the first end cap including a hole in a first end thereof and a screw hole in a second end thereof, the hole and the screw hole being communicated with each other and the screw hole being communicated with the longitudinal bore of the slider, the screw hole being adapted to be engaged with a valve of an object to be inflated; and
a switch member including a stem rotatably received in the compartment of the main body, the stem having an operative portion outside the main body for manual operation, the stem further including a transverse hole, the switch member being pivotable between a first position and a second position;
wherein when the switch member is in the first position, the transverse hole of the stem is not aligned with the first receptacle and the second receptacle of the main body, thereby allowing the screw hole of the end cap to be engaged with the valve of a first type; and
wherein when the switch member is in the second position, the transverse hole is aligned with the first receptacle and the second receptacle of the main body, thereby allowing the screw hole of the end cap to be engaged with the valve of a second type, the slider being extended through the transverse hole when the screw hole of the end cap is engaged with the valve of the second type.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3926205 (1975-12-01), Gourlet
patent: 4276898 (1981-07-01), Ross
patent: 5749392 (1998-05-01), Glotin
patent: 5762095 (1998-06-01), Gapinski et al.
patent: 5819781 (1998-10-01), Wu
patent: 5975109 (1999-11-01), Wu
patent: 5983920 (1999-11-01), Gapinski et al.
patent: 6073645 (2000-06-01), Wu
patent: 6076544 (2000-06-01), Pierce
patent: 6102063 (2000-08-01), Pierce et al.
patent: 6105600 (2000-08-01), Wang
patent: 6105601 (2000-08-01), Wang
Rivell John
Rosenberg , Klein & Lee
Schoenfeld Meredith H
LandOfFree
Valve-coupling device for an inflation device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Valve-coupling device for an inflation device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Valve-coupling device for an inflation device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2488512