Valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9505334-B2
Application number	US-201414445903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2014
Priority date	Aug 5, 2013
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a reusable valve in which a seal portion is co-molded with and overmolded to the valve stem to provide a secure mechanical bond therebetween. In one embodiment, the valve includes a snap fit between the valve stem and a retaining cap to provide easy assembly of the valve as well as an efficient and compact retention mechanism for a biasing spring and the valve stem in relation to the valve housing. In one embodiment, the valve includes an easy-to-use opening and closing mechanism that provides tactile feedback to the user when moving the valve stem to an open position and to a closed position to inflate, deflate, or maintain air or gas pressure in the inflatable article. The present disclosure also provides a dunnage bag with such valve.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A valve comprising:
(a) a housing including:
(i) a flange configured to mount the valve to an inflatable article,
(ii) an outer wall extending from the flange, and
(iii) an annular wall extending radially inward from the outer wall and downward in a direction of flow associated with inflation of the inflatable article;

(b) a stem connected to the housing and moveable to an open position and to a closed position relative to the housing, the stem including a shaft and a base extending radially outward from the shaft and downward in the direction of flow associated with inflation of the inflatable article;
(c) a spring biasing the stem toward the closed position relative to the housing;
(d) a key connected to the stem and configured to retain the spring and the stem relative to the housing and to enable movement of the stem to the closed position and to the open position; and
(e) a handle removably connected to the housing, the handle positionable opposite the flange to secure a wall of the inflatable article therebetween.

2. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of protrusions engaged with a plurality of tabs on the handle to receive and removably retain the handle to the housing.

3. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the stem includes one or more walls defining a first slot and the housing includes a protrusion engaged with the one or more walls defining the first slot of the stem to slideably retain and move the stem relative to the housing to the open position and to the closed position.

4. The valve of claim 3 , wherein the stem includes one or more walls defining a second slot connected to the one or more walls defining the first slot, the one or more walls defining the second slot defining an angle relative to the one or more walls defining the first slot.

5. The valve of claim 4 , wherein the angle is approximately 90 degrees.

6. The valve of claim 4 , wherein the one or more walls defining the second slot are configured to hold the stem in the open position.

7. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a seat configured to mate with the base of the stem to seal the valve when the stem is in the closed position.

8. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the base of the stem includes a co-molded seal configured to mate with the seat to seal the valve when the stem is in the closed position.

9. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a support extending inwardly from the annular wall to support the stem.

10. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least one standoff extending from a first surface of the flange.

11. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the stem includes a co-molded seal.

12. The valve of claim 11 , wherein the seal includes a vulcanized elastomer.

13. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the stem is snap fit with the key.

14. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a cap configured to cover a flow passage of the housing.

15. The valve of claim 14 , wherein the cap is flexibly tethered to the handle.

16. The valve of claim 14 , wherein the cap includes a tab extending therefrom.

17. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the key includes a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from which to grip the key to move the valve to the open position and to the closed position.

18. A valve comprising:
(a) a housing including:
(i) a flange configured to mount the valve to an inflatable article,
(ii) an outer wall extending from the flange, and
(iii) an annular wall extending radially inward from the outer wall and downward in a direction of flow associated with inflation of the inflatable article;

(b) a stem connected to the housing and moveable to an open position and to a closed position relative to the housing, the stem including:
(i) a shaft;
(ii) a base extending radially outward from the shaft and downward in the direction of flow associated with inflation of the inflatable article; and
(iii) one or more walls defining a first slot and one or more walls defining a second slot adjoining the first slot, the one or more walls defining the first slot permitting a first direction of motion of the stem and the one or more walls defining the second slot permitting a second different direction of motion of the stem, the one or more walls defining the first slot and the one or more walls of the second slot configured to receive a protrusion connected to the housing;

(c) a spring biasing the stem toward the closed position relative to the housing;
(d) a key snap fit with the stem and abutting the spring to retain the spring and the stem relative to the housing, the key configured to enable movement of the stem to the closed position and to the open position; and
(e) a handle removably connected to the housing, the handle positionable opposite the flange to secure a wall of the inflatable article therebetween.

19. An inflatable article comprising:
an inflatable/deflatable body including one or more walls; and
an inflation/deflation valve mounted to the body, the valve including
(a) a housing including:
(i) a flange configured to mount the valve to the inflatable article,
(ii) an outer wall extending from the flange, and
(iii) an annular wall extending radially inward from the outer wall and downward in a direction of flow associated with inflation of the inflatable article;

(b) a stem connected to the housing and moveable to an open position and to a closed position relative to the housing, the stem including a shaft and a base extending radially outward from the shaft and downward in the direction of flow associated with inflation of the inflatable article;
(c) a spring biasing the stem toward the closed position relative to the housing;
(d) a key connected to the stem and configured to retain the spring and the stem relative to the housing and to enable movement of the stem to the closed position and to the open position; and
(e) a handle removably connected to the housing, the handle positionable opposite the flange to secure one of the one or more walls of the inflatable article therebetween.

20. The inflatable article of claim 19 , which is a dunnage bag.

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Maness Jeffrey A
• Ketzer Thomas A
• Beard Anthony K
• Zielinski James S
• Breining Mark

Classifications

• B65H2801/63

  Dunnage conversion · CPC title

• Y10T137/374

  With cap · CPC title

• Y10T137/3584

  Inflatable article [e.g., tire filling chuck and/or stem] · CPC title

• F16K15/20 Primary

  specially designed for inflatable bodies, e.g. tyres (connecting valves to inflatable bodies B60C29/00) · CPC title

• B60P7/065 Primary

  by pressurizing or creating a vacuum in a bag, cover or the like · CPC title