Patent Application
20230213106
The presently disclosed subject matter generally relates to systems and methods for air valves, inflation, and deflation, such as for inflatable apparatuses.
A variety of inflatable apparatuses require a user to blow air or manipulate an air blower to cause the inflatable apparatus to inflate. Inflatable apparatuses can be inflatable air mattresses, pool flotation devices, toys, hot tubs, or a number of similar devices. Known air valves do not adequately assist the user with providing air to fill inflatable apparatuses. Known air valves can be difficult to open and difficult to manipulate.
As disclosed herein, air valves can be improved by providing the user with consistent and efficient access to providing air to fill and deflate inflatable apparatuses. For example, air valves may include features that are easier to grip and that are more easily accessible.
Additionally, a valve adapter can be improved by allowing for easier access to the air valve. For example, the valve adapter may include features for gripping the valve adapter, features to facilitate engagement of the air valve, features to facilitate and allow for both inflation and deflation, and/or features to allow for multiple methods of inflation for a number of different inflatable apparatuses.
Briefly described, embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter relate to systems and methods for an air inflation and/or deflation tool. According to some embodiments, an air valve may comprise a base, a top attached to the base via a hinge, a tab connected to the top, and a gripping shape disposed at an end of the tab, wherein the gripping shape is disposed within a well of the base. The base can be attached to an inflatable apparatus via a weld or an adhesive. According to some embodiments, the gripping shape may be spherical. According to some embodiments, the well may be concave. According to some embodiments, the well may allow a user to extend a portion of a finger into the well and grip the gripping shape. According to some embodiments, the well may be between around ¼ inch and ¾ inch deep.
According to some embodiments, an air valve adapter may comprise an inserting end, a hollow end, a gripping section between the inserting end and the hollow end, and an aperture in the gripping section, wherein air may be supplied in the inserting end to travel to the hollow end.
According to some embodiments, an air valve adapter may comprise an inserting end, a hollow end, a gripping section between the inserting end and the hollow end, an aperture in the gripping section, wherein air may be supplied in the inserting end to travel to the hollow end and vice versa. In some embodiments, the inserting end may be pointed. In some embodiments, the inserting end may comprise a surface to mate against an air valve. In some embodiments, the inserting end may be sloped. In some embodiments, the gripping section may comprise a smaller outer diameter than an outer diameter of the hollow end. In some embodiments, the inserting end may comprise a hook. In some embodiments, the inserting end may comprise two generally parallel surfaces and a hole intersecting the generally parallel surfaces. In some embodiments, the hook may extend generally perpendicularly from the parallel surfaces of the inserting end. In some embodiments, the hook may comprise a spring that holds the hook in a closed position towards the inserting end. In some embodiments, the hook may comprise a slope from the inserting end towards the hollow end. In some embodiments, the slope may end at a ledge. In some embodiments, the ledge may be configured to brace against an inside surface of an air valve to hold open a flap of the air valve. In some embodiments, the ledge may be perpendicular to two flats of the hook. In some embodiments, the inserting end may comprise a first ledge. In some embodiments, the first ledge may have a surface generally perpendicular to an axis of the hollow end. In some embodiments, the inserting end may comprise a first ledge and a second ledge. In some embodiments, the first ledge may be generally parallel to the second ledge. In some embodiments, the inserting end may be between around ¼ inch and around 1 inch.
According to some embodiments, a method of inflating an inflatable may comprise inserting an inserting end of the air valve adapter into an air valve, twisting the air valve adapter so that one or more hooks of the air valve holds open a flap of the air valve, holding open the flap of the air valve by bracing the one or more hooks against a surface of the air valve and the flap, and blowing air through a hollow section of the air valve adapter and through an aperture of the inserting end and into the inflatable chamber.
According to some embodiments, a method of deflating an inflatable comprising inserting an inserting end of the air valve adapter into an air valve, twisting the air valve adapter so that one or more hooks of the air valve holds open a flap of the air valve, holding open the flap of the air valve by bracing the one or more hooks against a surface of the air valve and the flap, and allowing air to pass through a hollow section of the air valve adapter and through an aperture of the inserting end and out of the inflatable chamber.
The foregoing summarizes only a few aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter and is not intended to reflect the full scope of the presently disclosed subject matter as claimed. Additional features and advantages of the presently disclosed subject matter are set forth in the following description, may be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing the presently disclosed subject matter. Moreover, both the foregoing summary and following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the presently disclosed subject matter as claimed.
The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate multiple embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the presently disclosed subject matter; and, furthermore, are not intended in any manner to limit the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the scope of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, some examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings.
To facilitate an understanding of the principles and features of the invention, various illustrative embodiments are explained below. In particular, the presently disclosed subject matter is described in the context of systems and methods for air valves and air valve adapters.
Exemplary disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for air valves and air valve adapters. Air valves can be used as a part of an inflatable apparatus to supply air to inflate the inflatable apparatus. Applications of inflatable apparatus may include air mattresses, pool flotation devices, toys, hot tubs, or a number of similar devices. Inflatable devices may be inflated so as to stay afloat on a body of water, to provide cushion, or to contain or provide a barrier to water. Air valve adapters can be used supply air to and/or through the air valve, for example, into one or more air chambers within an inflatable apparatus.
Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the views, air valves and air valve adapters will be described in detail.
As described herein, air may refer to a gas (e.g., Helium), or an ambient air.
Specifically,
Air valve adapter 100 may include grip section 104. Grip section 104 may include an outer diameter less than an outer diameter of hollow end 102. Grip section 104 may slope from an outer diameter of hollow end 102 to a smaller diameter. Grip section 104 may be configured to allow for a user to grip air valve adapter 100. Grip section 104 can be hollow to allow air to pass from hollow end 102 to inserted end 118.
Grip section 104 may comprise aperture 106. Aperture 106 may be a single opening in grip section 104 or more than one opening in grip section 104. In some embodiments, aperture 106 may be configured to be covered by a user's fingers when air is passing from hollow end 102 to inserted end 118. In some embodiments, aperture 106 may be used for deflation to allow for air to exit an inflatable chamber. In some embodiments, aperture 106 may be configured to be sealed with a flexible seal that may be put in place to allow air to move from hollow end 102 to inserted end 118.
Grip section 104 may include an indention 108. Indention 108 may be configured to allow a user to grip air valve adapter 100.
Air valve adapter 100 may include center section 110. Center section 110 may include an outer diameter that is greater than an insert diameter of an air valve. Air valve adapter 100 may include plug section 114, first ridge 116, and/or second ridge 112. Plug section 144 may be configured to be inserted into an air valve so that air only passes within air valve 100. Plug section 144 may include a slope so that it may be mated to a number of air valves. First ridge 116 may include a surface configured to mate against an interior surface of an air valve. Second ridge 112 may include a surface configured to mate against an exterior surface of an air valve.
Inserted end 118 may include cut 120, opening 122, and/or edge 124. Cut 120 may include an angle configured to allow inserted end 118 to pass through an air valve. In some embodiments, cut 120 may be configured to pierce a seal within an air valve. In some embodiments, edge 124 may be configured to pierce a seal within an air valve. In some embodiments, opening 122 may allow air to pass to and/or from hollow end 102 and an inflatable chamber within an inflatable apparatus.
In some embodiments, air valve adapter 100 may produce a whistling sound when used to inflate and/or deflate. The whistling sound may be for amusement and/or to let the user know that air is passing through air valve adapter 100. In some embodiments, air valve adapter 100 may include apertures such as holes or elongated openings that cause a whistling sound when air passes through air valve adapter 100 (e.g., from a hollow end to an inserting end). In some embodiments, air valve adapter 100 may generate a whistling sound while inflation is occurring and stop whistling when an air pressure inside an inflatable chamber of an inflatable apparatus reaches a certain or threshold air pressure.
In some embodiments, air valve adapter 100 may be mounted on an inflatable product for ease of use (e.g., next to an air valve). In some embodiments, air valve adapter 100 may be mounted using clips, a tether, a sheathe, or other receiving surface for holding air valve adapter 100 when the adapter is not in use.
For example, some embodiments may include hooks (e.g., hooks 208) but no aperture (e.g., aperture 106) or an aperture of a different shape (e.g., aperture 360).
End 206 may include a rounded surface. Hook 208 may include one or more hooks. Hook 208 may be configured to attach to an air valve. In some embodiments, hook 208 may attach air valve adapter 200 to an air valve in one position and be configured to release from the air valve in another position.
Hooks 208 may be configured to brace against a surface of an air valve while an end (e.g., end 206) holds open the flap (e.g., flap 910 of
In some embodiments, air valve adapter 200 may be of a length so that a user can blow through one side of air valve adapter 200 and so that air inserts through inserting end into an inflatable (e.g., to cause inflation) or out through the inserting end out of an inflatable (e.g., to cause deflation).
In some embodiments, hooks 208 may extend to a width of between around 0.3 inches and around 0.4 inches, for example from an outside of one hook to the outside of another hook. A surface such as 206 or a plug section (e.g., plug section 114) or a step (e.g., first and second ridges 112, 116) may seal against a mouth or throat of a valve to keep air within an inflatable chamber (e.g., inflatable chamber 902). Each of these surfaces may be provided in an air valve adapter to adapt to different diameter valve mouths or throats.
As shown in
A user may provide a force against plunger 410 and/or spring 408 to move plunger section 404. Plunger section 404 may include hooks 405. In some embodiments, air valve adapter 400 may include rib 406. Rib 406 may span a section with a smaller diameter (e.g., grip section 104 from
According to some embodiments, the gripping shape may be spherical. According to some embodiments, the gripping shape may be one or more ridges. The ridges may be in a line perpendicular to the well to allow for better grip. The gripping shape may extend above the tab or below the tab. According to some embodiments, the well may be concave. According to some embodiments, the well may allow a user to extend a portion of a finger into the well and grip the gripping shape. According to some embodiments, the well may be between around ¼ inch and ¾ inch deep. Around in this context includes loose engineering tolerances. Around ¼ inch to around ¾ inch depth and/or a concave shape can be enough to allow a user to insert a portion of the user's finger into the well.
Features described in relation to
It is also contemplated that air valves described herein may be configured to trap liquid within a container (e.g., a chamber that receives liquid). For example, the container may be a wall of a pool.
While the present disclosure has been described in connection with a plurality of exemplary aspects, as illustrated in the various figures and discussed above, it is understood that other similar aspects can be used or modifications and additions can be made to the described aspects for performing the same function of the present disclosure without deviating therefrom. For example, in various aspects of the disclosure, methods and compositions were described according to aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter. In particular, aspects of the present disclosure have been described as relating to systems and methods for providing a pool hub. Additionally, other equivalent methods or composition to these described aspects are also contemplated by the teachings herein. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be limited to any single aspect, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63266442 | Jan 2022 | US |
