Patent Application
20080092985
The above and other features and advantages of this invention will be more readily apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized. It is also to be understood that structural, procedural and system changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. For clarity of exposition, like features shown in the accompanying drawings shall be indicated with like reference numerals and similar features as shown in alternate embodiments in the drawings shall be indicated with similar reference numerals.
Where used in this disclosure, the term “axial” when used in connection with an element described herein, refers to a direction substantially parallel to the insertion direction of the needle. The term “transverse” refers to a direction other than (e.g., substantially orthogonal) to the axial direction. The term “fluid” is used in its conventional sense, to refer to gases such as air, and liquids.
It was discovered by the instant inventors that prior art inflation needles tended to break due to the relatively high transverse (shear) forces to which the needles were often subjected during use. It was found that it is often difficult to insert the probe and inflate the ball without accidentally pushing the probe sideways, i.e., transversely to the insertion direction. Conditions of the sports field and use by children tend to be particularly conducive to rough handling of the needle. Also, the rounded surfaces of various sports balls make them particularly likely to roll as pressure is applied to the needle to insert and/or maintain secure engagement with a pump, which may serve to apply a transverse, bending moment to the needle. This bending moment, due to the needle's relatively small transverse dimension and thin tubular walls, has been found to often result in fractures or breaks therein. It was hypothesized that by providing a means to oppose these transverse forces, the needle would be better able to resist such breakage.
Embodiments of the present invention include an inflation needle having a probe and a flange or base which would engage the curved surface of a ball, etc., upon insertion of the probe. In the event the probe is pushed in a sideways direction during insertion or inflation, this movement would be opposed by engagement of the flange with the ball. In addition, the compression force associated with continued pressure applied to the needle, such as to maintain connection with the pump during inflation, may be distributed over the wider cross sectional area of the flange, rather than being concentrated on the narrower probe. In particular embodiments, the base is substantially concavo-convex, with a generally concave surface facing the ball, to enable its periphery to engage the rounded surface of the ball. In particular embodiments, the concavo-convex base is cylindrical or frusto-conical.
Referring now the Figures, embodiments of the invention will be described in greater detail. Turning to
An attachment end 102 is configured to be coupled to a pump or other supply of air (e.g., compressor or other compressed gas supply) or other fluid suitable to the particular application. In the embodiment shown, the attachment end 102 is threaded or knurled to facilitate attachment to a fluid supply. Those skilled in the art will recognize that attachment end 102 may be provided with nominally any other type of fitting to facilitate fluid connection.
The base 104 may include a scored edge 106, allowing an improved grip for a user grasping the base 104 during handling, such as while coupling the attachment end 102 to the fluid supply and/or inserting the needle into the ball. The needle 100 is tubular/hollow and includes at least one hole 110 near the distal (insertion) end, to allow the fluid to flow therethrough in a conventional manner. In alternate embodiments, the insertion end of the probe 108 may comprise two or more holes 110.
In particular embodiments, the needle 100 is fabricated from a moldable polymeric material, such as a high density or reinforced plastic. Selection of particular polymeric materials may enable the probe 108 thereof to be more resilient and less susceptible to breakage than a traditional metallic needle. Examples of suitable materials include but are not limited to polyamide (NYLON® DuPont), thermoplastics, or engineered resins, such as sulfone polymers, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyesters, polycarbonate, polyurethane, acrylonitrile-butediene-styrene (ABS), styrene-acrylonitile (SAN), or fiberglass. Fabrication of the needle from these polymers, particularly when using conventional high-volume approaches such as injection molding, may reduce manufacturing costs and/or complexities relative to traditional multiple-component metallic needles.
In an alternate embodiment, the inflation needle may include a stem, such as to provide improved grip for a user. Referring to
As shown in
Turning now to
Although concavo-convex base 104, has been shown and described as being substantially semi-spherical, and base 304 has been shown as being frusto-conical, substantially any concavo-convex shape may be used, such as a cylindrical, box, dome shape, a series of spaced fingers, or other more complex concavo-convex configurations. Nominally any concavo-convex configuration may be used, which provides a concave surface facing the distal (insertion) end, to facilitate engagement with a curved surface of the object to be inflated. In addition, while peripheries 114 are shown and described as being substantially circular, it should be understood that the various concavo-convex base configurations described herein may effectively form peripheries of nominally any configuration, including various polygonal or spoked configurations that may or may not provide an uninterrupted or continuous engagement with surface 150. Rather, nominally any periphery configuration may be used, as long as it is capable of engaging a convex surface 150 at at least two, and preferably at least three locations spaced radially about the axis of probe 108 upon insertion thereof. For example, a concavo-convex base may be fabricated as a series of fingers spaced about probe 108, as shown in phantom in
As also shown, representative embodiments of probe 108 are provided with an axial dimension A4 which may be within a range of about 30 mm to about 50 mm, and in particular embodiments, 35 mm to about 45 mm. Base 104, 304, 404, etc., has an axial dimension A3 which may be within a range of about 2 mm to about 6 mm, and in particular embodiments, about 3 mm to about 5 mm. Attachment end 102 and optional stem 212 (
Attachment end 102 and optional stem 212 are provided with transverse dimensions T1 and T2 which may both be within a range of about 5 mm to about 10 mm in some embodiments, and within a range of about 8-9 mm in others. Base 104, 304, 404, etc., has an exterior transverse dimension T which may be within a range of about 15 mm to about 25 mm in various embodiments, and in particular embodiments, within a range of about 21 mm to about 23 mm. Exterior transverse dimension T3 of probe 108 may be within a range of about 1 mm to about 4 mm in various embodiments, or about 2 mm to about 3 mm in other embodiments.
The following illustrative example is intended to demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. It is to be understood that this example should not be construed as limiting.
An inflation needle substantially as shown and described in
Attachment end 102 and stem 212 both have axial dimensions A1 and A2, respectively, of about 8 mm. Base 404 has an axial dimension A3 of about 4 mm, to provide a total length A of about 60 mm.
Attachment end 102 and stem 212 have respective transverse dimensions T1 and T2 of about 8-9 mm. Probe 108 has an exterior transverse dimension T3 of about 2 mm.
In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.
