초록 ▼

A cargo or dunnage air bag inflation and deflation system comprises an inflation-deflation valve member, a cap-type plug member, and an air gun implement having a fill nozzle and an exhaust nozzle mounted upon opposite ends thereof for respective connection to the valve member in order to perform in

A cargo or dunnage air bag inflation and deflation system comprises an inflation-deflation valve member, a cap-type plug member, and an air gun implement having a fill nozzle and an exhaust nozzle mounted upon opposite ends thereof for respective connection to the valve member in order to perform inflation and deflation operations. The valve member comprises a flapper or check valve element pivotally mounted upon the valve member so as to permit inflation or deflation of the cargo or dunnage air bag when the flapper or check valve element is moved away from its valve seat, and to substantially maintain the cargo or dunnage air bag in its inflated state when the flappper or check valve element is effectively seated upon its valve seat. The cap-type plug member is removably mounted upon the inflation-deflation valve member so as to effectively close and seal the valve assembly when the cap-type plug member is mounted upon the valve member, and effectively uncovers the valve member when the cap-type plug member is dismounted from the valve member so as to permit the air gun implement to be operatively connected to the air valve member in order to perform an inflation or deflation operation.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is: 1. An inflation-deflation valve member and closure member assembly for use in connection with the inflation and deflation of an inflatable container, comprising: a valve member comprising a tub

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is: 1. An inflation-deflation valve member and closure member assembly for use in connection with the inflation and deflation of an inflatable container, comprising: a valve member comprising a tubular housing portion, disposed around an axis and defining an air passageway having a predetermined diametrical extent and through an open end of which air can be supplied into an inflatable container and exhausted from the inflatable container so as to respectively inflate and deflate the inflatable container, and a radially outwardly extending flange portion integrally mounted upon a lower end portion of said tubular housing portion for sealed fixation to an interior surface portion of the inflatable container such that when said radially outwardly extending flange portion is fixed to the interior surface portion of the inflatable container, said tubular housing portion of said valve member projects outwardly from the inflatable container so as to be accessible to a source of pressurized air whereby said air passageway of said tubular housing portion will be fluidically connected to the interior of the inflatable container; a valve element movably mounted upon said radially outwardly extending flange portion of said valve member and having a predetermined diametrical extent which is slightly greater than said predetermined diametrical extent of said air passageway such that when said valve element is disposed at a first CLOSED position at which said valve element substantially closes said air passageway defined within said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to effectively prevent inflation and deflation of the inflatable container, said valve element will abut a portion of said radially outwardly extending flange portion of said valve member which defines a peripheral portion of said air passageway defined within said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as not to be capable of being disposed internally within said air passageway defined within said tubular housing portion of said valve member, and a second OPENED position at which said valve element substantially uncovers said air passageway defined within said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to effectively permit inflation and deflation of the inflatable container; a closure member removably mountable upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to permit the passage of air through said tubular housing portion of said valve member in connection with an inflation operation and a deflation operation for the inflatable container when said closure member is dismounted from said tubular housing portion of said valve member, and to prevent the passage of air through said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to in turn prevent the inflation and deflation of the inflatable container when said closure member is mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member, said closure member comprising radially spaced radially inner and radially outer wall members for respectively engaging radially inner and radially outer wall surface portions of said tubular housing portion of said valve member when said closure member is mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member; and means for connecting said radially outer wall member of said closure member to said tubular housing portion of said valve member at an axial position remote from said open end of said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to permit said closure member to be mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member, and removed from said tubular housing portion of said valve member, while maintaining the connection of said closure member to said tubular housing portion of said valve member. 2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said valve element comprises a flapper-type valve element. 3. The assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said valve element is integrally connected to said valve member by means of living hinge structure. 4. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said valve element comprises a check valve element. 5. The assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said valve element is integrally connected to said valve member by means of living hinge structure. 6. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: tether means for operatively connecting said closure member to said valve member so as to prevent separated loss of said closure member from said valve member when said closure member has been dismounted from said valve member. 7. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: living hinge means for operatively connecting said closure memberto said valve member so as to prevent separated loss of said closure member from said valve member when said closure member has been dismounted from said valve member. 8. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: finger-grip means mounted upon said closure member for facilitating the dismounting and mounting of said closure member from and upon said valve member. 9. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said radially inner wall surface portion of said tubular housing portion of said valve member has an annularly extending concave recess defined therein; said radially outer wall surface portion of said tubular housing portion of said valve member has an annularly extending convex ridge member defined thereon; said radially inner wall member of said closure member has an annularly extending convex ridge member defined thereon for snap-fitted disposition within said annularly extending concave recess defined within said radially inner wall surface portion of said tubular housing portion of said valve member when said closure member is mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member; and said radially outer wall member of said closure member has an annularly extending concave recess defined therein for snap-fitted accommodation of said annularly extending convex ridge member defined within said radially outer wall surface portion of said tubular housing portion of said valve member when said closure member is mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member. 10. The assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said closure member further comprises: a substantially planar section disposed within said tubular housing portion of said valve member when said closure member is mounted upon tubular housing portion of said valve member; and a plurality of radially extending rib members interconnecting said substantially planar section of said closure member to said annularly extending convex ridge member of said radially inner wall member of said closure member such that when air pressure forces, from within the inflatable container, act upon said substantially planar section of said closure member, said plurality of radially extending rib members will force said annularly extending convex ridge member of said radially inner wall member of said closure member into said annularly extending concave recess defined within said radially inner wall member of said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to maintain said closure member seated upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member. 11. In combination, an inflation-deflation valve member, and an air gun implement, for use in connection with the inflation and deflation of an inflatable container, comprising: a valve member having a first portion comprising a flanged member for sealed fixation to an interior surface portion of an inflatable container and defining a valve seat portion disposed internally within the inflatable container, a second tubular housing portion disposed around an axis for projection outwardly from the inflatable container so as to define a first air passageway therewithin, which is accessible to a source of pressurized air, through which air can be supplied into the inflatable container and exhausted from the inflatable container so as to respectively inflate and deflate the inflatable container, and a valve element movably mounted upon said first portion of said valve member, disposed internally within the inflatable container, so as to also be disposed internally within the inflatable container, said valve element being movable between a CLOSED position when said valve element is engaged with and seated upon said valve seat portion disposed internally within the inflatable container, and an OPENED position when said valve element is disengaged and unseated from said valve seat portion disposed internally within the inflatable container; a closure member removably mountable upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to permit the passage of air through said tubular housing portion of said valve member in connection with an inflation operation and a deflation operation for the inflatable container when said closure member is dismounted from said tubular housing portion of said valve member, and to prevent the passage of air through said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to in turn prevent the inflation and deflation of the inflatable container when said closure member is mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member, said closure member comprising radially spaced radially inner and radially outer wall members for respectively engaging radially inner and radially outer wall surface portions of said second tubular housing portion of said valve member when said closure member is mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member; an air gun having a second air passageway defined therein; means for fluidically connecting said air gun to a source of pressurized air whereby pressurized air can be supplied to said second air passageway defined within said air gun; a first end of said second air passageway defined within said air gun having first means for connection to said valve member for supplying pressurized air from said second air passageway of said air gun and toward said valve element such that the pressurized air impacts upon said valve element, disposed internally within the inflatable container, so as to move said valve element away from said valve seat portion of said valve member, and said seated and CLOSED position defined internally within the inflatable container, to said unseated and OPENED position defined internally within the inflatable container, and flows into the inflatable container so as to inflate the inflatable container; and a second end of said second air passageway defined within said air gun having second means for connection to said valve member, for insertion within said second tubular portion of said valve member, and for directly engaging said valve element, which is disposed internally within the inflatable container and which is movably mounted upon said valve seat portion of said valve member disposed internally of the inflatable container, so as to move said valve element away from said valve seat portion of said valve member, and said seated and CLOSED position, to said unseated and OPENED position and thereby permit air from the inflatable container to be exhausted from the inflatable container, through said second tubular portion of said valve member projecting outwardly from the inflatable container, and into said second air passageway of said air gun so as to deflate the inflatable container. 12. The combination as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said valve element is movably mounted upon said valve member between said first CLOSED position at which said valve element substantially closes said first air passageway defined within said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to effectively prevent inflation and deflation of the inflatable container, and said second OPENED position at which said valve element substantially uncovers said first air passageway defined within said tubular housing portion of said valve assembly so as to effectively permit inflation and deflation of the inflatable container. 13. The combination as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said valve element comprises a flapper-type valve element. 14. The combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein: said valve element is integrally connected to said valve member by means of living hinge structure. 15. The combination as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said valve element comprises a check valve element. 16. The combination as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said valve element is integrally connected to said valve member by means of living hinge structure. 17. The combination as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said first air passageway defined within said tubular housing portion of said valve member has a predetermined diametrical extent; and said valve element has a predetermined diametrical extent which is slightly larger than said predetermined diametrical extent of said first air passageway such that when said valve element is disposed at its CLOSED position, said valve element cannot enter said first air passageway. 18. The combination as set forth in claim 11, wherein said air gun further comprises: a handle; means for attaching an air hose, fluidically connected to the source of pressurized air, to said handle for supplying pressurized air from the source of pressurized air to said air gun; a barrel portion integrally attached to an upper portion of said handle and having first and second end portions; said second air passageway is defined within said barrel portion and extends between said first and second end portions thereof; said first means disposed within said first end of said second air passageway comprises a fill nozzle fixedly mounted upon said first end portion of said barrel portion for fluidic connection to said second air passageway in order to fluidically supply pressurized air from said air hose into the inflatable container when said fill nozzle is connected to said valve member so as to inflate the inflatable container; and said second means disposed within said second end of said second air passageway comprises an exhaust nozzle fixedly mounted upon said second end portion of said barrel portion for fluidic connection to said second air passageway in order to fluidically connect the inflatable container to said second air passageway when said exhaust nozzle is connected to said valve member so as to deflate the inflatable container. 19. The combination as set forth in claim 11, further comprising: tether means for operatively connecting said closure member to said valve member so as to prevent separated loss of said closure member from said valve member when said closure member has been dismounted from said valve member. 20. The combination as set forth in claim 11, further comprising: living hinge means for operatively connecting said closure member to said valve member so as to prevent separated loss of said closure member from said valve member when said closure member has been dismounted from said valve member. 21. The combination as set forth in claim 11, further comprising: finger-grip means mounted upon said closure member for facilitating the dismounting and mounting of said closure member from and upon said valve member. 22. The combination as set forth in claim 18, wherein: said exhaust nozzle comprises a nosepiece for engaging said valve element when said exhaust nozzle is fluidically connected to said valve member so as to move said valve element to said OPENED position and thereby permit air from the inflatable container to be exhausted from the inflatable container. 23. The combination as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said radially inner wall surface portion of said tubular housing portion of said valve member has an annularly extending concave recess defined therein; said radially outer wall surface portion of said tubular housing portion of said valve member has an annularly extending convex ridge member defined thereon; said radially inner wall member of said closure member has an annularly extending convex ridge member defined thereon for snap-fitted disposition within said annularly extending concave recess defined within said radially inner wall surface portion of said tubular housing portion of said valve member when said closure member is mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member; and said radially outer wall member of said closure member has an annularly extending concave recess defined therein for snap-fitted accommodation of said annularly extending convex ridge member defined within said radially outer wall surface portion of said tubular housing portion of said valve member when said closure member is mounted upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member. 24. The combination as set forth in claim 23, wherein said closure member further comprises: a substantially planar section disposed within said tubular housing portion of said valve member when said closure member is mounted upon tubular housing portion of said valve member; and a plurality of radially extending rib members interconnecting said substantially planar section of said closure member to said annularly extending convex ridge member of said radially inner wall member of said closure member such that when air pressure forces, from within the inflatable container, act upon said substantially planar section of said closure member, said plurality of radially extending rib members will force said annularly extending convex ridge member of said radially inner wall member of said closure member into said annularly extending concave recess defined within said radially inner wall member of said tubular housing portion of said valve member so as to maintain said closure member seated upon said tubular housing portion of said valve member.