초록 ▼

A valve assembly for inflatable bladders, including beds, balls, toys, and other inflatable objects includes a locking mechanism within the valve for releasably holding the valve opened. The valve acts in three distinct ways. In a first way the valve is closed maintaining the bladder internal pressu

A valve assembly for inflatable bladders, including beds, balls, toys, and other inflatable objects includes a locking mechanism within the valve for releasably holding the valve opened. The valve acts in three distinct ways. In a first way the valve is closed maintaining the bladder internal pressure. In a second way the valve may be incrementally opened by a user to release the internal pressure to suit the user. In a third way the valve may be opened and locked or latched to remain open allowing the deflation of the bladder. A spring provides a return force to close the valve when the lock is not engaged. Air pressure from outside the bladder supplied by a pump or the like will force the valve diaphragm open against the spring and allow air to enter. The diaphragm is made of a resilient seal material. The locking mechanism is engaged by pressing the diaphragm open and twisting to engage a lock. When the lock is further twisted or twisted in the reverse direction the lock is disengaged allowing the spring and internal air pressure to close the valve. The valve can be pressed from the exterior to open the valve, without engaging the lock, for a selectable time such that the pressure within the bladder can be adjusted. Adapters may be used with the valve assembly so that different air blowers can be used to inflate the bladder.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [2.] A valve assembly for inflating and deflating a bladder having a bladder wall for separating an interior and an exterior of said bladder, said valve assembly comprising:a valve housing disposed in an opening of said wall, said valve housing having a fluid passageway for pr

[ What is claimed is:] [2.] A valve assembly for inflating and deflating a bladder having a bladder wall for separating an interior and an exterior of said bladder, said valve assembly comprising:a valve housing disposed in an opening of said wall, said valve housing having a fluid passageway for providing fluid communication between said interior and said exterior of said bladder and having an outer attaching surface for hermetically sealing said valve housing to said bladder wall;a lip disposed in said passageway providing a valve seat;a stem disposed in said passageway, said stem being movable within said passageway with respect to said valve seat;a resilient sealing means mounted on said stem within said passageway, said sealing means being a generally flexible circular diaphragm with an outer annular region engaging said valve seat when said stem is in said closed position and said stem extending axially in said passageway along said valve seat towards said interior and is movable to a closed position whereby said sealing means is in contact with said valve seat thereby closing said fluid communication through said passageway and to a open position whereby said sealing means in displaced from said valve seat thereby opening said fluid communication through said passageway;a biasing member associated with said sealing means for urging said sealing means against said valve seat;a first locking means on said stem, said first locking means including a radial protuberance projecting from said stem; anda second locking means extending into said passageway and selectively engageable with said first locking means, said second locking means being an extension extending into said passageway to form a shelf for releasably mating with said protuberance when said first and second locking means are engaged to hold said stem in said open position against the urgence of said biasing member and said sealing means displaced from said valve seat such that said outer annular region of said diaphragm does not contact said valve seat when said protuberance mates with said shelf, and permitting said biasing member to urge said stem toward said closed position such that said outer annular region of said diaphragm contacts said valve seat when said protuberance is released from mating with said shelf.