Fluid handling – Inflatable article
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-19
2001-05-29
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Inflatable article
C137S232000, C137S527000, C137S854000, C251S082000, C251S297000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237621
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a self-sealing valve and, more particularly, to any low pressure inflatable device that includes the self-sealing valve.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,267,363 (hereinafter the “'363 patent) and 5,367,726 (hereinafter the “'726 patent”) disclose a valve and a motor for inflating and deflating inflatable objects.
FIG. 62
illustrates a top view and
FIG. 63
illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of dual-valve assembly disclosed in the '363 and '726 patents. The valve includes a flange
152
that may be mounted to a wall of an inflatable body in a location proximate to a port through which air is transferred between an interior and an exterior of the inflatable body. The flange
152
has a throat
1521
through which all air passes that is being transferred between the interior and the exterior of the inflatable body. The throat
1521
is defined by a circular rim
1522
. In addition, a cover assembly
153
including a cap
1533
is used to removably cover the throat
1521
. A ring-shaped base
1531
is disposed around an exterior of the circular rim. The cap
1533
is attached to the base by means of a hinge assembly
1532
. The cap may be latched into a closed position by a latching arrangement including a latch projection
1535
on the cap and latch receptacle
1536
on the base. When the cap is closed, a gasket
1534
is urged against the top
1523
of the rim
1522
so that the gasket is submitted to compression, to seal the dual-valve assembly.
Disposed within the dual-valve assembly
153
is a valve assembly
154
. The valve assembly includes a diaphragm
1544
and valve stem
1547
. The valve stem and the diaphragm are supported by a valve stem support
1549
which is attached to the cap
1533
. The dual-valve assembly also includes a structure defining an inflation input
1542
and a valve seat
1543
, that the diaphragm rests against in a closed position to further form a seal of the dual-valve assembly. The diaphragm can be accessed by an individual at the inflation input and can be pushed axially within the dual-valve assembly in a downward direction into an open position by pressing on a push button
1546
. The diaphragm is urged into the closed position when the push button is released by a spring
1548
, disposed within the valve stem, that pushes against a portion of the valve stem support.
Thus, the '363 and '726 patents disclose a valve that can be used to inflate and deflate an inflatable device wherein the diaphragm moves downward in an axial direction towards an interior of the inflatable device away from the valve seat during inflation and that moves upward in an axial direction towards the valve seat to seal the valve. However, the dual-valve assembly disclosed in the '363 and '726 patents is approximately 4″×5″ and therefore requires substantial space for mounting within an inflatable object. However, many inflatable objects cannot accommodate a valve assembly of this size and therefore there is a need for a smaller valve assembly that can be mounted within smaller inflatable objects. In addition, many inflatable devices have a contoured surface and therefore there is a need for a valve that can be mounted on a contoured surface area. Further, the dual-valve of the '363 and '726 patents requires nine separate parts to be manufactured and assembled and therefore is costly and difficult to manufacture, assembly and maintain. Therefore, there is a need for a valve that requires less parts, is cheaper to manufacture and assemble, and is easy to maintain. Moreover, the dual-valve disclosed in the '363 and '726 patents has redundant devices for sealing the valve which contribute to the excessive parts and cost. Therefore, there is a need for a valve that provides a suitable seal that does not require redundant structure to accomplish the self-seal. Still further, since the valve is to be inserted within an inflatable device, there is a need for the valve to be easy to use and easy to clean and/or repair.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a self-sealing valve assembly for use in inflatable devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a self-sealing valve includes a valve housing that has an fluid inlet. The valve housing is configured so that all fluid being transferred between an interior and an exterior of the valve housing passes through the fluid inlet. The self-sealing valve also includes a valve assembly that selectively covers the fluid inlet to provide a self-sealing pneumatic seal. The fluid inlet is defined by an inner wall of the valve housing and the valve housing also includes a valve seat substantially facing the interior of the valve housing. The valve assembly includes a hanger arm attached at a first end of the hanger arm to the inner wall of the valve housing via a hinge assembly disposed between the first end of the hanger arm and the inner wall. The hanger arm has a second end that may be moved about the hinge point of the hinge assembly in a first direction from a closed position towards the interior of the valve housing to an open position and that may also be moved about the hinge point in a second direction, opposite of the first direction, from the open position to the closed position. The valve assembly further includes a flexible diaphragm having an area larger than an area of the fluid inlet, having a first surface facing the interior of the valve housing and having a second surface facing the exterior of the valve housing. The flexible diaphragm is mounted to the hanger arm to allow movement of at least a part of a periphery of the flexible diaphragm in the first direction towards the interior of the valve housing away from the valve seat to the open position and also to allow movement of the at least the part of the periphery of the flexible diaphragm in the second direction so that the periphery of the flexible diaphragm engages against the valve seat in the closed position.
This embodiment of the self-sealing valve assembly may be removably attached to a wall of an inflatable body proximate to a port for transferring fluid between an interior and an exterior of the inflatable body so that fluid being transferred between the interior and the exterior of the inflatable body passes through the fluid inlet of the self-sealing valve. With this arrangement, an act of inflation of the inflatable body will cause at least one of the at least the part of the periphery the flexible diaphragm and the second end of the hanger arm to move in the first direction into the open position to permit an influx of fluid into the inflatable body. In addition, fluid pressure created within the inflatable body will be sufficient to cause the at least the part of the periphery of the flexible diaphragm and the hanger arm to move in the second direction to the closed position when there is an absence of the influx of fluid. In addition, with this arrangement, the self-sealing valve assembly automatically opens to allow pressurization of the inflatable device, automatically closes to retain pressurization of the inflatable device, and maintains a pneumatic seal at low pressures within the inflatable device. Further, the self-sealing valve assembly is easy to use and maintain and the floating diaphragm can be easily manipulated to deflate the inflatable object. Moreover, the self-sealing valve assembly is small and thus can be used in small inflatable objects and/or on contoured surfaces of inflatable devices. Still further, the self-sealing valve has few parts and thus can be manufactured inexpensively.
This embodiment of the self-sealing valve may also be provided with a device for locking the hanger arm and the at least the part of the periphery of the flexible diaphragm in a locked open position. In addition, this embodiment may be provided with structure that releases the hanger arm and the at least the part of the periphery of
Rivell John
Wolf Greenfield & Sacks P.C.
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