GB2203519A

GB2203519A - Inflating valve

Info

Publication number: GB2203519A
Application number: GB08807776A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Christopher Twitchett
Original assignee: INFLATABLE DESIGNS Ltd
Current assignee: INFLATABLE DESIGNS Ltd
Priority date: 1987-04-04
Filing date: 1988-03-31
Publication date: 1988-10-19
Also published as: GB8807776D0; GB8708117D0

Abstract

An inflating valve has a hollow tubular member (10) closed at one end wherein a through opening (19) is formed and open at the other end. A valve member (24) slidably fits in the member (10) and is retained in any position by friction. The valve member (24) has a valve part (28) on one end for engagement in the opening (19) to control opening and closing of the valve and also has apertures in said one end whereby, when the valve member (24) is displaced from the closed end of the tubular member (10) air can pass through the apertures (30) and the opening (19) for example into a balloon, the open end of which fits over a flange (16) on the tubular member (10). A line can pass over the outer wall of the valve member (24) and be threaded through two of the apertures (30) whereby the line is fixed to the valve by being trapped between the valve member (24) and the tubular member (10). An inflated balloon can be held by the line or a tag or other information carrier can be affixed to the line. <IMAGE>

Description

Inflating Valves This invention relates to valve apparatus for use in inflating an article and is particularly concerned with a valve for use in inflating balloons.

Heretofore, valves for use in inflating balloons by means of air pumps an,d the like have been of many varying designs, the valve being adapted to fit into the neck of a balloon and also being adapted to form a connection point for a line whereby the inflated balloon may be held, or a tag or other information carrying object may be attached.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved valve apparatus for use in inflating articles such as balloons.

According to the present invention there is provided valve apparatus for use in inflating an article, the apparatus comprising means for connecting with an inlet of the article and presenting a through passage for flow of fluid into the article, valve means movable along a path provided by the connecting means between one position, wherein the valve means closes the through passage, and another position wherein the through passage is open, passage means being provided by the valve means whereby, in the other position thereof, fluid can flow through the passage means and the through passage so as to inflate the article.

Preferably, in said one position, an end part of the valve means engages a face of the connecting means at an end of the path, and closes an opening therein defining an end of the through passage, and in the other position the end part of the valve means is removed from the face of the connecting means.

Preferably also the connecting means comprises a hollow tubular component which is closed at one end by the face at the end of the path, and is open at its other end, the valve means being slidable within the tubular component.

Further, the valve means may comprise a hollow tubular component, one end of which is open and from the other end of which projects the end part, the passage means being defined in said other end of the component between the periphery of the latter and the projecting end part. The passage means may comprise a plurality of through openings in said other end of the component.

Desirably each of the tubular components is formed of a plastics material, the fitting of the valve means within the connecting means being such that.the valve means can be retained therein by way of friction.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of'a valve apparatus; and Fig. 2 is a top plan of a valve component of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, an inflating valve apparatus comprises a member 10, preferably formed of a moulded plastics material, and having a hollow tubular part 12 integrally formed at one end with a planar part 14. The latter is preferably circular, closes the end of the tubular part 12, and extends radially beyond the latter to form an annular flange 16 thereon. At its outer peripheral edge the flange 16 is chamfered towards the side or outer face 17 thereof opposite to the inner face 18 on which the tubular part 12 is formed.

The tubular part 12, which is preferably cylindrical, is open at its other end. The planar part 14 is formed with a central through opening 19 communicating with the internal space of the tubular part 12, the opening 19 having a first section 20 extending from the outer face 17 and defined by a straight side wall, and a second section 22 having an outwardly diverging side wall and opening onto the inner face 18.

A valve member 24 is designed to slidably fit within the tubular part 12 and is also preferably formed of a moulded plastics material. The valve member 24 is of hollow cylindrical configuration, having a wall 26 extending across one end and being open at its other end. Integrally formed to project outwardly from the end wall 26 is a valve part 28, and a plurality of through openings 30 are formed in the end wall 26 between the valve part 28 and the outer periphery of the valve member 24. As shown, four apertures 30 of any desired shape may be equispaced around the valve part 28. At the outer peripheral edge of the closed end, the valve member 24 has a chamfered edge and the inner peripheral edge of the open end of the tubular part 12 of the connecting member 10 is also chamfered to facilitate entry of the valve member 24 into the tubular part 12.

The relative dimensions of the valve member 24 and the connecting member 10 are such that the former, when moved to any position within the latter, is retained in that position by friction.

In use, when the valve member 24 is located in the tubular part 12 with the open ends co-planar, the valve part 28 is spaced from the face 18. The valve apparatus is initially connected to the neck of a balloon by pushing the planar member 14 into the neck, this being facilitated by the chamfered edge, until the end of the balloon neck expands to pass over the planar part 14 and then regains shape to be retained by the flange 16. Air can then enter through the open end of the valve member 24 to pass through the apertures 30 and also the opening 19, and thereby inflate the balloon.

When inflation is complete, movement of the valve member 24 by any suitable means further into the tubular part 12 will bring the valve part 28 into engagement with the opening 18. For this purpose the outer peripheral edge of the valve part 28 is chamfered to facilitate entry into and sealing engagement with the wall of the section 22 of the opening 19. In this way air is prevented from flowing further into the balloon through the opening 19, and as the valve member 24 is retained in that position, the balloon will not deflate when the air pump or the like is removed.

It may be desired to have a line, for example in the form of a piece of string, attached to the valve apparatus 10, to thereby enable the balloon to be held or to have a tag or other information carrier affixed thereto. One end of the line can initially be threaded from externally of the valve member 26 through one of the apertures 30 and back out through another of the apertures 30. With the line passing loosely at two locations over the outer cylindrical wall of the valve member 26, subsequent location of the latter within the tubular part 12 traps the line therebetween.

This provides a secure fixing for the line and also aids the friction between the valve member 24 and the tubular part 12. Heretofore certain types of moulded plastics valves have been formed with additional tabs whereby a line can be stapled to a tab. Such an arrangement is however unsightly, and in addition the staple can adversely damage the material.

There is therefore provided a lightweight inflating valve for a balloon which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture yet operates efficiently. In view of the fact that the opening 19 is formed in the planar part 14, less material is generally required than in prior valves.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example the actual configuration of the components of the apparatus may differ from that described and shown and other materials may be used, depending on the uses to which the valve apparatus may be put.

Claims

Claims:

1. Apparatus for use in inflating an article, the apparatus comprising means for connecting with an inlet of the article and presenting a through passage for flow of fluid into the article, valve means movable along a path provided by the connecting means between one position, wherein the valve means closes the through passage, and another position wherein the through passage is open, passage means being provided by the valve means whereby, in the other position thereof, fluid can flow through the passage means and the through passage so as to inflate the article.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein in said one position, an end part of the valve means engages a face of the connecting means at an end of the path, and closes an opening therein defining an end of the through passage, and in the other position the end part of the valve means is removed from the face of the connecting means.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the connecting means comprises a hollow tubular component which is closed at one end by the face at the end of the path, and is open at its other end, the valve means being slidable within the tubular component.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the valve means comprises a hollow tubular component, one end of which is open and from the other end of which projects the end part, the passage means being defined in said other end of the component between the periphery of the latter and the projecting end part.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the passage means comprises a plurality of through openings in said other end of the component.

6. Apparatus according to any of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the or each tubular component is formed of a plastics material.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the valve means can be retained within the connecting means by way of friction.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein a line passes over an outer wall of the valve means whereby to be trapped in use between the latter and the connecting means.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, when dependent on Claim 5, wherein the line is threaded through two of the openings.

10. Apparatus for use in inflating an article, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.