CN101321978B

CN101321978B - Valve for an inflatable product

Info

Publication number: CN101321978B
Application number: CN2006800450702A
Authority: CN
Inventors: Y·卡尔普; M·W·彼得森
Original assignee: Coleman Co Inc
Current assignee: Coleman Co Inc
Priority date: 2005-12-01
Filing date: 2006-11-29
Publication date: 2010-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2026-11-29
Also published as: WO2007065109A2; WO2007065109A3; CA2631456A1; AU2006320257A1; CN101321978A; EP1954334A2

Abstract

A valve (20) for an inflatable product. One valve includes a cap (56) that provides a double seal (58, 60) . An inner seal (58) closes an opening (66) for the valve (20) . The inner seal (58) and the opening (66) are mounted in a chamber, and the chamber is closed by a second, outer seal (60) that provides a backup in case of failure of the inner seal (58) . A flapper valve (22) may be used as another seal. Another embodiment of a valve (120) includes a rigid cap (124) . Still another embodiment of a valve (220) includes a plug (232) that is attached to a valve opening. Moving the valve opening forward and backward plugs a rear opening (230) in the valve, closing the valve (220) .

Description

The valve that is used for inflatable product

Quoting of related application

The sequence number that the application requires on December 1st, 2005 to submit to is the rights and interests of 60/741,988 U.S. Provisional Patent Application, and its content is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical field

The present invention relates to inflatable product, particularly be used for the valve of inflatable product.

Background technique

Airbed is large rectangle rubber or plastic bag, thus its be full of air can as the bed.Inflatable packer is structurally similar with airbed, but it is as floating debris, thereby the people can lie on the inflatable packer in water.These two kinds of products all belong to big classification " inflatable " product.The non-limitative example of other inflatable products comprises rubber boat, inflatable furniture, inflatable swimming pool and inflatable dinghy.

A general character of inflatable product is in use must be inflated.For this reason, on inflatable product for the user provides one or more valves, so that air or other gas are charged in this inflatable product.In order to inflate to inflatable product, for example, the user can utilize his/her to breathe, and promptly blows in one or more valves, can utilize manually or motor-drive pump, perhaps utilizes air compressor.

There is multiple different valve to be used for inflatable product at present.The common purpose of these valves is: allow the user easily to product inflation and venting, when the user attempts to seal this product, make the air of leakage minimum simultaneously.The example of conventional valves is by assignee The ColemanCompany of the present invention, clamp (pinch) valve, Boston valve and twin-lock (double lock) valve that Inc. sells.

Though present valve is worked for its intended purposes well, valve seldom can allow the simple inflation of product and venting simultaneously and allow sealing fast so that inflatable product is filled the back air can not run off from inflatable product.That is to say, for the valve that most prior aries provide, finish the inflation of product as the user after, must on valve, place lid or other structures before the air leakage.Usually, before the valve adequate closure, there have been a large amount of air to run off.In addition, this valve may be difficult to use in the venting of inflatable product.

Summary of the invention

Below with simplified summary embodiments more of the present invention, thereby provide basic comprehension of the present invention.This summary is not an exhaustive overview of the present invention.Itself and be not used in determine of the present invention main/critical elements, also be not used in narration scope of the present invention.Its unique purpose is with simple formal description embodiments more of the present invention, as the preamble of follow-up more concrete description.

According to first embodiment, for inflatable product provides a kind of valve.This valve comprises the lid that double seal is provided.Inner seal liner has sealed the opening of valve.This inner seal liner and this opening are installed in the chamber, and this chamber is sealed by second outside seal may, and described second outside seal may provides candidate under the situation that described inner seal liner lost efficacy.

According to an embodiment, on the valve of inflatable product, provide a kind of flapper valve (flapper valve).Provide a kind of structure to make the user can press off this flapper valve, thereby make the inflatable product venting.In addition, when forcing air to enter by valve, for example by pump, flapper valve is opened by air-flow.When obstacle or the air-flow that enters inflatable product did not press off flapper valve, the pressure in the inflatable product forced the flapper valve sealing.

In one embodiment, projection is extended downwards from the flexible cone of valve.Flexible cone can be operated between the primary importance and the second place, in described primary importance, top and flapper valve that lid can seal this cone do not engage with rigid projections, in the described second place, flexible cone is subsided and rigid projections extends to and allows in the flapper valve air to flow through flapper valve and flow out inflatable product.In one embodiment, flexible cone can be locked in the second place, thereby can make the inflatable product venting.

According to an embodiment, on the housing of valve, can provide rigid lid, for example around flexible cone, thereby this valve can be locked.This rigid lid can comprise aforesaid double seal.

According to another embodiment, provide a kind of valve with the flexible cone configuration that can subside.Stopper be connected to flexible cone configuration the bottom and with the housing of valve in register.By this flexible cone is subsided, the plug closes opening passes in and out valve thereby hinder air-flow.

Description of drawings

By the detailed description below in conjunction with accompanying drawing, other features of the present invention will be apparent, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the decomposition side isometric view according to the valve of an embodiment;

Fig. 2 is the side isometric view of the valve of Fig. 1, and wherein valve open is to expose double seal cap;

Fig. 3 is the sectional view of the valve of Fig. 1 and 2, wherein valve sealing;

Fig. 4 is the side isometric view of the base section of the valve among Fig. 1, and wherein the flapper valve of valve is opened;

Fig. 5 is the side isometric view of flexible cone bottom of the valve of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is the side isometric view according to the part of the valve of another embodiment;

Fig. 7 is the decomposition side isometric view according to the valve of another embodiment;

Fig. 8 is the side isometric view of housing of the valve of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is the sectional view of the valve of Fig. 7, and wherein valve is shown as and assembles.

Embodiment

In the following description, different embodiments of the present invention will be described.For the purpose of explaining, set forth concrete structure and details so that the complete understanding to embodiment to be provided.Yet it will be apparent for a person skilled in the art that does not have these details can implement the present invention yet.In addition, in order not make described embodiment indigestion, omit or simplified the feature of knowing.

With reference now to accompanying drawing,, wherein identical reference character is represented identical parts in each accompanying drawing, and Fig. 1 has shown the valve 20 according to one embodiment of the invention.On the whole, the present invention relates to be used for the valve of inflatable product, described inflatable product is airbed, inflatable packer, rubber boat, inflatable furniture, inflatable swimming pool, inflatable dinghy or other inflatable products for example.

Valve 20 comprises flapper valve 22, flapper valve 24 and double seal cap 26.Flapper valve 22 comprises the arbor 30 with flange 32, and flange 32 is in certain position along the length of arbor 30.Flexible membrane 34 is connected to the bottom of arbor 30.This flexible membrane 34 can be made by for example rubber, flexiplastic or other suitable materials.In one embodiment, arbor 30 and flexible membrane 34 are molded as single part.

Flapper valve 24 comprises the outer rim 36 that is connected to cylindrical base 38.Spoke 40 extends internally to center hub 42 from cylindrical base 38.Opening 44 is positioned at the center of center hub 42.

Adopted three spokes 40 in the illustrated embodiment, but also can use any amount of spoke, and the layout of the flapper valve 24 and the miscellaneous part of valve 20 can be to that indicated in the drawings different.

In order to assemble flapper valve 22 and flapper valve 24, the arbor 30 of flapper valve 22 inserts in the opening 44 of flapper valve 24.The workman spurs arbor 30 arrives center hub 42 up to flange 32 top always.For this reason, in one embodiment, flange 32 is made by the material that can compress, thereby it can pass through opening 44, but recovers its original shape after passing through this opening.Flange 32 is supported on flapper valve 22 position of the bottom that leans against flapper valve 24.In case be in the appropriate location, flapper valve 22 sealings are positioned at the big opening of flapper valve 24 bottoms.

Flapper valve 22 is preferably made by the material with enough flexibilities, so that bending is opened by the air-flow that enters valve 20 (for example passing through pump), but thereby this material has elasticity that it gets back to the position of the opening on the bottom that is positioned at flapper valve 24 after air no longer flows by valve.For this reason, do not need structural interference, flapper valve 22 is one-way cocks.

Fig. 2 shows double seal cap 26 in greater detail.Double seal cap 26 comprises the housing 50 with following outer rim 52 and last outer rim 54.Lid 56 is connected to the top of housing 50 by thin slice 57.Lid 56 comprises inner seal liner 58 and outside seal may 60.Inner seal liner 58 and outside seal may 60 are concentric, but other arrangement also can be provided.

Flexible cone 62 is installed in housing 50.The layout of flexible cone 62 makes its summit be positioned at the top (promptly when lid be positioned at part in the face of lid 56 in position the time) of housing 50.

As shown in Figure 3, flexible cone 62 comprises the projection 64 of extending from the bottom side of flexible cone 62 downwards.In the embodiment illustrated, the quantity of rigid projections 64 is three (see figure 5)s, but can use the quantity of any appropriate.

The top of flexible cone 62 comprises opening 66.Lip 68 is formed in this opening by the groove that cuts in this lip outside just.

Housing 50 and flexible cone 62 can be formed by identical materials, and housing 50 can have higher rigidity than the side thickness of flexible cone 62 by making its sidewall.Yet in replacing embodiment, flexible cone 62 is formed by the material different with housing 50, and it can be a rubber for example, and by for example being solder-connected to housing.Housing 50 be preferably by forming by welding, heat is melted or other modes are connected on the inflatable product material, perhaps the edge of housing 50 be over molded to can by weld, heat is melted or other modes are connected on the material on the inflatable product (for example at last outer shroud 54 places).For example, last outer shroud 54 can be formed by the PVC (PVC) of the side that can be welded to inflatable product.In illustrated embodiment, the outer rim 36 of flapper valve 24 for example is connected by welding to down outer shroud 52.

Lid 56 provides the double seal function at the top of valve 20.Inner seal liner 58 is installed in the opening 66 at the top of flexible cone 62.The lip 68 that is formed on flexible cone 62 tops allows opening 66 bendings to hold inner seal liner 58.

Outside seal may 60 is installed against the inward flange of housing 50.This outside seal may 60 is around flexible cone 62 and closure cap 56 thereon, and flexible cone 62 forms chamber with housing.When lid 56 was in suitable position, this chamber was sealed by outside seal may 60.Therefore, if at inner seal liner 58 places leakage is arranged, then outside seal may 60 provides secondary seal.

Flapper valve 22 provides triple seal for valve 20.When inflatable product was full of forced air, the air pressure compressing flapper valve 22 on flexible membrane 34 back sides of flapper valve 22 was against the back side sealing of flapper valve 24.The sealing action of flapper valve 22 does not need user's action, on the contrary, is self-sealing.When in inflatable product forced air being arranged, the sealing effect is stronger.

Therefore, valve 20 has the triple seal that prevents air leakage: flapper valve 22, inner seal liner 58 and outside seal may 60.This triple seal has guaranteed that in use valve 20 can not leak gas.

In order to use valve 20 to inflatable product inflation, user's uncap 56, outside seal may 58,60 in unclamping.Can on the opening 66 of flexible cone 62, connect pump.Then, be blown into air by flexible cone 62.The pressure that flows through the air of flexible cone 62 is opened flapper valve 22 by blowing flexible membrane 34 open.The amount that departs from that moves flexible membrane 34 depends on the amount of the air that flows through valve 20 and the flexibility of flexible membrane 34.

After inflatable product was full of fully, the user can close pump simply or from opening 66 pump be separated.Flexible membrane 34 is got back to the bottom that leans against flapper valve 24 then, the opening of sealed valve 20.Forced air in the inflatable product is pressed flexible membrane 34 in position, and flapper valve 22 is sealed to flapper valve 24.Like this, prevent that air from flowing out valve 20.Therefore, valve 20 provides the quick sealing after the inflation, thereby after inflatable product was inflated fully, air can not run off from inflatable product.The user can closure cap 56 then, and lid 56 provides the extra double sealing of valve 20 by interior outside seal may 58,60.

In order to utilize valve 20 to inflatable product venting, user's uncap 56.The user inwardly is pressed into the top of flexible cone 62 in the housing 50 then.The flexible nature of flexible cone 62 is subsided this flexible cone, thereby rigid projections 64 is pushed in the flexible membrane 34 of flapper valve 22.In one embodiment, the layout of rigid projections 64 is extended it between the spoke 40 of flapper valve 24.In this way, projection 64 can be pushed the bottom of flexible membrane 34 away from flapper valve 24, opens air passageways.

As shown in Figure 4, rigid projections 64 provides the opening that is positioned at valve 20 bottoms, is used to allow air to flow out flapper valve 24.Thereby this air flows out the opening 66 in the flexible cone 62 and flows out valve 20.In one embodiment, thus flexible cone 62 flexible enough greatly flexible cone can in this collapsed mode, remain on the appropriate location to self, need user's intervention could recover its normal state.For this reason, flange 70 is set, is used to allow the user on this flexible cone, to be pulled outwardly at the top of flexible cone 62.In addition, as shown in Figure 3, on the upper strata of flexible cone 62 shelf 72 is set, when being in collapse position, cone oneself inwardly folds into this shelf 72 places.Shelf 72 also as guide with evenly the subsiding of auxiliary flexible cone 62, thereby below projection 64 is vertically guided into when subsiding.

According to another embodiment, provide and valve 20 similar second valves 120 (Fig. 6).Yet the outside of housing 50 does not have lid 56 but comprises outside thread 122, and locking cap 124 is installed on outside thread 122.This locking cap 124 is lids of rigidity, and can comprise with the interior outside seal may 58,60 of valve 20 similarly in outside seal may 126,128.Locking cap 124 can comprise that groove or internal thread are to be screwed on the outside thread 122.

Shown valve 220 among Fig. 7 according to another embodiment.Valve 220 comprises valve housing 222 and flexible cone 224.Valve housing 222 comprises the opening 230 on edge 226, inner cavity chamber 228 and the bottom.Flexible cone 224 is installed in (see figure 9) on the top of edge 226.

The flexible cone 224 structurally flexible cone 62 with valve 20 is similar.Yet in the embodiment shown in the figure, flexible cone 224 is not mounted in the housing of housing 50 for example, and is mounted in the top of valve housing 222.Yet, if desired, can be around the housing 50 similar housings of flexible cone 224 installations with valve 20.Valve 220 comprises the stopper 232 that is connected to the top of flexible cone 224 by thin slice 234.Stopper 232 can extend into the opening of flexible cone 224, with the sealing flexible cone.As an alternative, the top of flexible cone 224 can be sealed by double seal cap, for example the lid 56 of valve 20.

Identical with flexible cone 62, flexible cone 224 comprises that the permission user causes the flexible sides 236 that flexible cone is subsided.In addition, as shown in Figure 9, flexible cone 224 comprises the following stopper 238 that is connected to the flexible cone bottom.For example, leg 240 can extend downwardly into down stopper 238 from the open bottom of flexible cone 224.If desired, following stopper 238 can be formed by the material with higher rigidity different with flexible cone 224, so also can post forming or be connected on the flexible cone 224 by other modes.

In the position shown in Fig. 9, valve 220 is opened, and air flows freely into or flows out valve 20.Air flows by the opening in the flexible cone 224 and by the opening in valve housing 222 bottoms 230.Hope is connected to pump on the valve when valve is in position shown in Fig. 9 to the user of inflatable product inflation, and air is blown in the inflatable product by opening 230.

For closing valve 220, the user is subsided up to descending stopper 238 to be arranged in the opening 230 of valve housing 222 bottoms flexible cone 224.Descend stopper 238 sealed valves 220 then, stop any other air to flow into or the outflow inflatable product.Pump can stay open up to following stopper 238 and be arranged in opening 230.The user can close pump then.

Because valve 220 can be closed when pump is still opened, therefore after inflatable product is full of, have only very little air or do not have air to run off.Only air just stops to flow in the inflatable product after valve 220 complete closed, and does not all have reverse air flows in any position (promptly flowing out the air flows of inflatable product).Can take off pump from the opening of flexible cone 224 then, stopper 232 can be used for the top of closing valve 220.Also can on the opening of flexible cone 224, use other suitable lid or closures.Stopper 232 or other closing means provide the candidate system to leak out from inflatable product to prevent air.

Other versions are also in spirit of the present invention.Therefore, though the present invention can have various modifications and replace structure, the embodiment of its certain illustrated shows to be described in detail in the accompanying drawings and in the above.Yet should be understood that the present invention is not limited to disclosed a kind of particular form or multiple particular form, on the contrary, the present invention will cover all modifications in the spirit and scope of the invention, replace structure and equivalents, as appended claim limited.

" one ", " one " and " being somebody's turn to do " and the similar deictic words of describing (especially in the context of claim) in the context of the present invention are understood to include odd number and plural number, unless point out in addition or obvious and contradicted by context at this.Unless otherwise noted, " comprise ", " having ", " comprising " and " containing " are interpreted as open word (promptly " including but not limited to ").

Within word " is connected to " and is interpreted as partly or entirely being included in, be connected to or combine, even there are other objects to insert.Unless otherwise noted, only the quoting as describing the easy expression that falls into each independent values in the described scope respectively of the scope of value herein, and each independent values is included in the specification, just as its by statement individually.Unless point out in addition or obvious and contradicted by context at this, can carry out all methods described here with any suitable order.The use of any and all examples that provide here or exemplary language (as " for example ") only is used for setting forth better embodiment of the present invention, unless specifically stated otherwise, and it does not limit the scope of the invention.Language in the specification should not be construed as the element of expression for the necessary failed call right of enforcement of the present invention.

Describe the preferred embodiments of the invention herein, comprised the best mode of exploitation known to the present inventor.By reading above-mentioned specification, be conspicuous for those of ordinary skills to the change of these preferred embodiments.The inventor wishes that those skilled in the art utilize such variation rightly, and the inventor wishes that the present invention is implemented to be different from the special mode of describing herein.Therefore, as be suitable for law allowed, the present invention includes all changes and the equivalents of the theme of stating in the claims.In addition, unless point out in addition or obviously and contradicted by context at this, the combination in any of the above-mentioned element in might changing be included in the present invention.

Claims

1. valve that is used for inflatable product, described valve comprises first side and second side, described valve comprises:

Define the housing of chamber, described chamber defines outside opening;

Be positioned at the inside opening of described chamber; And

Lid, this lid comprises:

Inner seal liner, described inner seal liner are used to seal described inside opening and prevent that fluid from flowing between described first side and second sides; And

Outside seal may, described outside seal may are used to seal described outside opening and prevent that fluid from flowing between described first side and second sides;

Described valve further comprises the flexible cone that is positioned at described chamber, and the top of described flexible cone defines described inside opening;

Described valve further comprises flapper valve, and described flapper valve prevents the flowing to described first side from described second side in normal state;

Described valve further comprises the projection that is positioned on the described flexible cone;

The interior section that is arranged so that flexible cone of described flexible cone, projection and the flapper valve mobile described flapper valve of described bump bonds and described flapper valve of causing to flapper valve in first direction opened, thereby allows fluid to flow through described flapper valve from second side to first side.

2. valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible cone comprises that the described flexible cone of permission is moved the structure that is locked into primary importance afterwards in first direction, thereby when described flexible cone locked onto in this primary importance, flapper valve stayed open.

3. valve as claimed in claim 2, wherein said structure comprises step in described flexible cone.

4. valve as claimed in claim 2 further comprises the sheet that is connected on the described cone, is used to catch and described flexible cone is extracted described primary importance.

5. valve as claimed in claim 1 further comprises flapper valve, and this flapper valve prevents the flowing to described first side from described second side in normal state.

6. valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lid and described housing include screw thread, and described lid is screwed on the described housing with sealing inner seal liner and outside seal may.

7. valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lid is connected by thin slice with described housing.

8. valve as claimed in claim 7, wherein said lid, described housing and described thin slice form individual unit by homogenous material.

9. inflatable product that comprises valve as claimed in claim 1.

10. valve that is used for inflatable product, described valve comprises first side and second side, described valve comprises:

Housing, this housing defines the passage by this housing;

Flexible cone, this flexible cone is installed on the described housing in a side of described passage, and defines the opening that passes therethrough; And

Be positioned at the stopper on the described flexible cone, wherein flexible cone causes the described passage of described plug closes to the motion of primary importance.

11. valve as claimed in claim 10 further comprises the lid that is used for optionally sealing described opening.

12. valve as claimed in claim 11, wherein said flexible cone comprise that this flexible cone of permission locks onto the structure in the described primary importance.

13. valve as claimed in claim 12, wherein said structure comprises step in described flexible cone.

14. valve as claimed in claim 13, wherein said lid is connected by thin slice with described flexible cone.

15. valve as claimed in claim 11, wherein said lid is connected by thin slice with described flexible cone.

16. inflatable product that comprises valve as claimed in claim 10.