Swift connection joint between airbags

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6457197
  • Patent Number
    6,457,197
  • Date Filed
    Monday, November 20, 2000
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 1, 2002
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Santos; Robert G.
    Agents
    • Pro-Techtor International Services
Abstract
The present invention relates to a Swift Connection Joint Between Airbags. This invention includes a device named swift connection joint, instead of the air-pipes that are used in conventional air mattresses. The swift connection joint consists of first main unit and second main unit to be adhered to two airbags, respectively, as well as a locking part for installation of both main units. With the above-mentioned components, the swift connection joint can be assembled/disassembled easily, and does not fall apart. Therefore, the present invention is an ideal device for transmission of air into air mattress.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a swift connection joint between airbags that substitutes for the conventional air-pipes. The present invention is easy to assemble/disassemble, and doesn't require much space as opposed to the conventional air-pipes. Most importantly, the present invention doesn't fall apart once it is locked on the airbags; whereas the conventional air-pipes fall apart and air leaks easily. In addition, the present invention has a pleasant appearance once it is installed, and is, therefore, a better device.




2. Description of the Prior Art




The present invention is named Swift Connection Joint Between Airbags, referring to a device connecting airbags that allows swift transmission of air into the airbags.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




There are a number of medical-purposed air mattresses in the market designed to help bed-ridden patients prevent decubitus from happening. The air mattresses consist of strips of airbags that are aligned parallelly. All airbags are filled up with air. Air is injected into the airbags via the air-pipes between airbags. Air-pipes are installed between airbags, so air can be transmitted into airbags. It is difficult to assemble the airbags and air-pipes together perfectly. Manufacturers usually install several air-pipes and multi-openings pipes in the airbags in advance. Although user can inject air into the mattress via the pipes, the connection between airbags and air-pipes is extremely complicated for users. To a worse extent, the complicated installation method does not fix the pipes in the mattress tightly. Therefore, the pipes fall apart easily. The complicated installation also makes the mattress look ugly. When distributors ship the mattresses to users, the mattresses are folded in boxes. The air-pipes can be damaged or fall apart in the shipment easily. These are common problems associated with the conventional air mattress for which consumers complain frequently.




The primary object of the present invention is to improve the air-intake problem of conventional air mattress, and to upgrade the performance of airbags, thereby makes the air mattress work better for user's convenience.




The present invention will be apparent in its contents of technique after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention in reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a three-dimensional perspective view of present invention;





FIG. 2

is a partial perspective view of present invention;





FIG. 3

is a partial three-dimensional assembly drawing of present invention;





FIG. 4

is a three-dimensional assembly drawing of present invention;





FIG. 5

is a sectional assembly drawing of present invention;





FIG. 6

shows the application of present invention;





FIG. 7

shows another application of present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Please refer to the drawings and following example for the structure of present invention Swift Connection Joint Between Airbags, and how the present invention works:




As shown by

FIG. 1

,

FIG. 2

, and

FIG. 3

, the swift connection joint of present invention


2


consists of first main unit


3


, second main unit


4


, and locking part


5


. In this example:




There is a hole


30


in the center of first main unit


3


. On the bottom of hole


30


is a connection ring


31


. The connection ring


31


is adhered to the ring on the opening


121


of airbag


12


with glue. That's how the hole


30


and opening


121


are connected. There is a screw


32


on the first main unit


3


, and an oil-sealing


34


on the concave ring


33


.




There is a hole


40


on the center of second main unit


4


. On the bottom of hole


40


is a connection ring


41


. The connection ring


41


is adhered to the airbag


11


with glue. That' show the hole


40


and airbag


12


are connected internally. There is a concave ring


42


on the second main unit


4


. A C-shaped buckle


43


covers the concave ring


42


.




The locking part


5


resembles a cap with screw


51


inside. The screw


51


locks the screw


32


of first main unit


3


. Please note the blocking ring


52


on the bottom of locking part


5


.




As we understand the functions of above-mentioned components, now we adhere first main unit


3


and second main unit


4


on airbags


12


and


11


by glue, respectively, and cover the locking part


5


on second main unit


4


, and then cover the C-shaped buckle


43


on the concave ring


42


, thereby fix the locking part


5


of second main unit


4


(as shown by FIG.


3


). Later on, we can complete the installation of swift connection joint


2


by locking the screw


51


of locking part


5


and the screw


32


of first main unit


3


together. Then the device is ready to transmit air to the airbags


11


,


12


(as shown by FIG.


4


and FIG.


5


).




Whenever either airbag


11


,


12


is broken, we can twist the locking art


5


to disassemble the swift connection joint


2


for replacement of new airbag. The process of replacement is easy and convenient.




The size of swift connection joint


2


of present invention is rather small. As such, the present invention has a pleasant appearance once it is installed on air mattress.




As shown by

FIG. 6

, when the swift connection joint


25


of present invention is installed on the most-outside airbag


13


, third main unit


6


shall substitute for the second main unit


4


. The third main unit


6


is slightly cylinder-shaped with a closing-end on one side. There is a concave ring


62


. A C-shaped buckle


43


covers the concave ring


62


. User may lock the locking part


5


of first main unit


3


to close the swift connection joint


25


.





FIG. 7

is another example of application of present invention. The air mattress consists of air-pipes


81


,


82


and airbags


71


,


72


. The air-pipes


81


,


82


transmit air to airbags


71


,


72


by the swift connection joint


2


of present invention.




As shown by previous description and examples, the Swift Connection Joint Between Airbags of present invention is a product of breakthrough. Its unique features are practical and useful, and have never been publicized in any documentation, nor brought to the market before. These features meet the requirements of innovation, practicability, and progress fully. The present invention is, therefore, industrially valuable.



Claims
  • 1. A swift connection joint between airbags comprising:a first main unit, a second main unit, and a locking part; wherein said first main unit comprises a through hole, and a connection ring on a base end of said first main unit, said connection ring being secured to an opening of a first airbag, said first main unit further comprises a threaded area, and a gasket affixed to a nipple portion of said first main unit, said second main unit comprises a through hole aligned with said through hole of said first main unit, and a connection ring on a base end of said second main unit, said connection ring being secured to an opening of a second airbag, and a lock washer mounted on a nipple portion of said second main unit, and said locking part contains a threaded interior portion, said locking part mates with said threaded area of said first main unit, said nipple portion of said first main unit being received in said nipple portion of said second main unit, thereby securing said first main unit and said second main unit between said first and said second airbags.
  • 2. The swift connection joint between airbags as defined in claim 1 wherein:a sealing cap is inserted into said locking part to seal said first airbag, said first main unit being separated from said second main unit.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number Name Date Kind
1198687 Williams et al. Sep 1916 A
2655369 Musilli Oct 1953 A