Fluid handling – Inflatable article – With coupling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-05
2001-05-01
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Inflatable article
With coupling means
C137S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223764
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
None
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER
FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
None
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to inflation devices. In particular, the invention relates to hand-held inflation valve assemblies for temporarily connecting inflatable devices to sources of pressurized-air.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Anyone who has ever attempted to orally inflate a beach ball can attest the desirability of using a pressurized air source to fill inflatable devices. Dizzness and hyperventilation, compounded by wasted time, are the inevitable results of such endeavor.
Unfortunately, mechanical devices intended to replace respiratory inflation. themselves leave much to be desired. Manual pumps are often awkward or leaky. Electrically operated pumps are frequently provide air at such low volumes as to be useless. Not surprisingly, the automatic inflation of inflatable devices has been the subject of a high degree of inventive activity.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,243 to Franke is directed to a valved inflation adapter for facilitating inflation of pneumatic objects. The inventive device includes an adapter body having a one-way valve assembly projecting therefrom which can be coupled to a conventionally known air chuck of a pressurized air source. The adapter body can be coupled with an inflation needle or an inflation cone to facilitate inflation of various pneumatic objects while precluding deflation of the object when the air chuck is not engaged with the valve assembly.
In another approach, U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,158 to Huberman discusses an air-filler adapter wherein an outer shell is adapted to fit various large diameter air supply hoses such as vacuum cleaner hoses, and a smaller diameter stem portion fits a variety of low pressure and medium pressure air filler openings used to inflate various inflatable consumer goods. The stem portion extends beyond the outer shell and has an outer tip which is adaptable to various air filler valves which are smaller than the vacuum cleaner hoses. The adapter comprises a pair of concentrically disposed tubes, the inner of which fits schrader air chucks on one end and fits the air filler openings for the consumer goods on the other end. The outer tube is sized to fit low-pressure pressurized air sources such as vacuum cleaner hoses and has an end wall which seals against the outside of the inner tube.
These devices represent a vast improvement over oral inflation and manual and electrical pumps. Unfortunately, they are still somewhat difficult to handle in use, and are relatively complex. It can be seen from the foregoing that the need exists for a simple, easy-to-use inflation valve assembly for temporarily connecting inflatable devices to sources of pressurized air.
SUMMARY
These and other objects are achieved by providing an inflation valve assembly for temporarily connecting inflatable devices to sources of pressurized air. The inflation valve assembly includes a valve coupling mechanism adapted for temporary connection to a source of pressurized air. An outlet nozzle is connected to the valve coupling mechanism. The outlet nozzle is adapted for relatively fluid-tight connection to a variety of inflatable devices. At least one grip member is secured between the valve coupling mechanism and the outlet nozzle. The grip member is adapted to orient the inflation valve assembly in a predetermined position when gripped by a user of the inflation valve assembly during inflation of an inflatable device.
The valve coupling mechanism can be provided as a schrader valve. The outlet nozzle can be configured as an annular frustoconical nozzle. The at least one grip member can be provided as a pair of grip members extending radially outwardly from the inflation valve assembly. In an embodiment, the grip members extend directly opposite to one another perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the inflation valve assembly.
The outer surfaces of the inflation valve assembly can be fabricated from a resilient material, such as neoprene. The outlet nozzle can include a plurality of adapter members constructed to coact with diverse inflatable devices.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1637499 (1927-08-01), Rundlett
patent: 2141033 (1938-12-01), Crolwey
patent: 2964002 (1960-12-01), Burton
patent: 3368302 (1968-02-01), Martino
patent: 3476136 (1969-11-01), Weisgerber
patent: 3786994 (1974-01-01), Kukes et al.
patent: 3933177 (1976-01-01), Dwyer, Jr.
patent: 4114230 (1978-09-01), MacFarland
patent: 4405158 (1983-09-01), Huberman
patent: 5305784 (1994-04-01), Carter
patent: 5746243 (1998-05-01), Franke
patent: 5785076 (1998-07-01), You
patent: 5855222 (1999-01-01), Jou
patent: 5862843 (1999-01-01), Corbitt, III
patent: 625421 (1949-06-01), None
Charlesbois Todd
Hoinville Richard
Burkhart Anne K.
Burkhart Patrick N.
Burkhart & Burkhart
Rivell John
Schoenfeld Meredith H
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