Valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10697555-B2
Application number	US-201816037203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2018
Priority date	Aug 17, 2017
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a valve for an inflatable object. The valve is attached to the inflatable object and usable to control the flow of gas (such as air) into (or out of) the interior of the inflatable object to enable inflation (or deflation) of the inflatable object.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valve for an inflatable object, the valve comprising:
a housing defining a gas passageway and including a sealing lip;
a stem assembly mounted to the housing and movable relative to the housing between a closed configuration and an open configuration, the stem assembly comprising a stem, a retaining element, and a sealing element, wherein the stem includes a shaft and a base, wherein the base includes one or more mounting studs to which the retaining element and the sealing element are mounted, wherein the sealing element is positioned between the retaining element and the base; and
a biasing element biasing the stem assembly to the closed configuration,
wherein when the stem assembly is in the closed configuration, the sealing element sealingly engages the sealing lip so the gas passageway is closed,
wherein when the stem assembly is in the open configuration, the sealing element is spaced-apart from the sealing lip so the gas passageway is open.

2. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the sealing element includes a conical surface.

3. The valve of claim 2 , wherein the retaining element includes a conical surface that engages the conical surface of the sealing element.

4. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mounting studs include multiple mounting studs.

5. The valve of claim 4 , wherein the mounting studs each include a neck and a dome-shaped head at an end of the neck.

6. The valve of claim 5 , wherein an underside of each head engages the retaining element and prevents removal of the retaining element from the base of the stem.

7. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the stem assembly is axially movable relative to the housing between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

8. The valve of claim 7 , wherein when the stem assembly is in the open configuration, the stem assembly is rotatable relative to the housing to an open-locked position to lock the stem assembly in the open configuration.

9. The valve of claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a stem supporter that defines a shaft-receiving opening and a locking-rib-receiving opening;
wherein the stem includes a locking rib extending from the shaft;
wherein when the stem assembly is in the closed configuration, the shaft and the locking rib are respectfully received in the shaft- and locking-rib-receiving openings; and
wherein when the stem assembly is in the open configuration and in the open-locked position, the shaft is received in the shaft-receiving opening and the locking rib is removed and rotationally offset from the locking-rib-receiving opening.

10. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the shaft further comprises a locking-element engager, wherein the valve further comprises a locking element connected to the locking-element engager to retain the biasing element between the housing and the locking element.

11. The valve of claim 10 , wherein the locking element comprises a channel and the locking-element engager comprises a shoulder received in the channel to prevent rotation of the locking element relative to the stem.

12. The valve of claim 1 , wherein an underside of the base of the stem is concave.

13. The valve of claim 1 , further comprising a cap assembly comprising a cap mountable to the housing to close the gas passageway.

14. The valve of claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises an annular wall at least partially defining the gas passageway, wherein the cap comprises a sealing lip that sealingly engages the annular wall when the cap is mounted to the housing to close the gas passageway.

15. An inflatable object comprising:
an inflatable bladder defining an interior; and
a valve comprising:
a housing including a sealing lip and defining a gas passageway in fluid communication with the interior of the bladder;
a stem assembly mounted to the housing and movable relative to the housing between a closed configuration and an open configuration, the stem assembly comprising a stem, a retaining element, and a sealing element, wherein the stem includes a shaft and a base, wherein the base includes one or more mounting studs to which the retaining element and the sealing element are mounted, wherein the sealing element is positioned between the retaining element and the base; and
a biasing element biasing the stem assembly to the closed configuration,
wherein when the stem assembly is in the closed configuration, the sealing element sealingly engages the sealing lip so the gas passageway is closed to prevent gas from flowing into or out of the interior of the inflatable bladder through the gas passageway,
wherein when the stem assembly is in the open configuration, the sealing element is spaced-apart from the sealing lip so the gas passageway is open to enable gas to flow into or out of the interior of the inflatable bladder through the gas passageway.

16. The inflatable object of claim 15 , wherein the sealing element of the valve includes a conical surface, and wherein the retaining element includes a conical surface that engages the conical surface of the sealing element.

17. The inflatable object of claim 15 , wherein the one or more mounting studs include multiple mounting studs, wherein the mounting studs each include a neck and a dome-shaped head at an end of the neck, wherein the sealing element and the retaining element are mounted to the mounting studs such that an underside of each head engages the retaining element and prevents removal of the retaining element from the base of the stem.

18. The inflatable object of claim 15 , wherein the stem assembly is axially movable relative to the housing between the closed configuration and the open configuration;
wherein when the stem assembly is in the open configuration, the stem assembly is rotatable relative to the housing to an open-locked position to lock the stem assembly in the open configuration;
wherein the housing includes a stem supporter that defines a shaft-receiving opening and a locking-rib-receiving opening;
wherein the stem includes a locking rib extending from the shaft;
wherein when the stem assembly is in the closed configuration, the shaft and the locking rib are respectfully received in the shaft- and locking-rib-receiving openings; and
wherein when the stem assembly is in the open configuration and in the open-locked position, the shaft is received in the shaft-receiving opening and the locking rib is removed and rotationally offset from the locking-rib-receiving opening.

19. The inflatable object of claim 15 , wherein the shaft further comprises a locking-element engager, wherein the valve further comprises a locking element connected to the locking-element engager to retain the biasing element between the housing and the locking element, wherein the locking element comprises a channel, and wherein the locking-element engager comprises a shoulder received in the channel to prevent rotation of the locking element relative to the stem.

20. The inflatable object of claim 15 , wherein the valve further comprises a cap assembly comprising a cap mountable to the housing to close the gas passageway, wherein the housing comprises an annular wall at least partially defining the gas passageway, wherein the cap comprises a sealing lip that sealingly engages the annular wall when the cap is mounted to the housing to close the gas passageway.

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Dupré Dominique
• Eggertsen Peter
• Ceelen Johan
• Îpeklio{Hacek Over (G)}Lu Emin
• Gür Hasan

Classifications

• F16K15/065 Primary

  spring pulling the closure member against the seat · CPC title

• F16K15/205

  and with closure plug · CPC title

• B65D81/052

  filled with fluid, e.g. inflatable elements · CPC title

• F16K15/18

  with actuating mechanism; Combined check valves and actuated valves · CPC title

• F16K15/063

  the valve being loaded by a spring · CPC title