Quick inflation device with a safety means

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a quick inflation device with a safety means to prevent inadvertent actuation of the device.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] FIG. 6 of the drawings illustrates a conventional quick inflation device comprising a valve body 1′ in which a pressure constant valve 2′, a striking member 15′, and an accumulator 16′ are mounted. A gas container 4′ containing pressurized CO₂is coupled to a coupler 3′ on an end of the valve body 1′. When a pull ring 17′ is pulled out of the valve body 1′, a safety pin 6′ is removed, and the striking member 15′ is moved by accumulated pressure in the accumulator 16′ to pierce a membrane 22′ in the pressure constant valve 2′. Thus, the pressurized CO₂in the gas container 4′ exits an output 18′ of the valve body 1′ through the coupler 3′ and the pressure constant valve 2′. Although the device may provide a quick inflation function, the pull ring 17′ is, however, apt to be inadvertently removed.

[0006] FIG. 7 illustrates another conventional inflation device comprising a cylinder 5″ for holding a gas container 4″ containing pressurized air. When inflation is required, a turn knob 3″ is turned to push the gas container 4″ toward a needle 121″ in the cylinder 5″ until a membrane 41″ in the gas container 4″ is pierced by the needle 121″ for inflation purpose. However, turning of the turn knob 3″ is time-consuming.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a quick inflation device with a safety means to prevent inadvertent actuation of the device while providing a quick inflation function.

[0008] A quick inflation device in accordance with the present invention comprises:

[0009] a body comprising a compartment for removably receiving a gas container containing pressurized gas, the gas container being sealed by a sealing member;

[0010] a gas outlet defined in the body and having a first end communicated with the compartment and a second end, a nozzle being mounted in the second end of the gas outlet for supplying pressurized gas from the gas container to an object to be inflated;

[0011] means mounted in the body for unsealing the sealing member; and

[0012] safety means comprising a first end and a second end, the second end of the safety means being releasably engaged with the body when in a safety position, the first end of the safety means being movable between a non-actuating position and an actuating position, the unsealing means not being actuated by the first end of the safety means when in the non-actuating position, the unsealing means being actuated by the first end of the safety means to unseal the sealing member when in the actuating position.

[0013] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a quick inflation device comprises:

[0014] a body comprising a first compartment for removably receiving a gas container containing pressurized gas, the gas container being sealed by a sealing member;

[0015] a gas outlet defined in the body and having a first end communicated with the first compartment and a second end, a nozzle being mounted in the second end of the gas outlet for supplying pressurized gas from the gas container to an object to be inflated;

[0016] means mounted in the body for unsealing the sealing member;

[0017] a safety lever including a first end pivotally mounted to the body and a second end for manual operation, the second end of the safety lever being engaged with the body when in a safety position, the second end of the safety lever being movable between an inoperative position and an operative position when the second end of the safety lever is disengaged from the body; and

[0018] a trigger including a first end pivotally mounted to the body and a second end operably connected to the unsealing means, the second end of the trigger being movable between a non-actuating position and an actuating position; and

[0019] the safety lever being pivotable independent of the trigger when not in the operative position, the trigger and the safety lever pivot jointly when the safety lever is pivoted from the operative position along a direction away from the safety position;

[0020] the unsealing means not being actuated by the second end of the trigger when the trigger is in the non-actuating position, the unsealing means being actuated by the second end of the trigger to unseal the sealing member when the trigger is in the actuating position.

[0021] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a quick inflation device in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the quick inflation device in accordance with the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along plane 3—3 in FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, wherein a safety lever of the quick inflation device is disengaged from a safety position.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, wherein the safety lever is pivoted to proceed with quick inflation.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional quick inflation device.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another conventional inflation device.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a quick inflation device in accordance with the present invention generally includes a body 10 including a first end (in the form of a planar disk 11 in this embodiment) and a second end having an outer threading 12 for releasably engaging with an inner threading 51 of a gas container holder 50 having a hollow interior 52 that receives a gas container 60 containing pressurized gas (e.g., CO2). In this embodiment, the second end of the body 10 includes a first compartment 121 having a threaded section 122 for threadedly engaging with an outer threading 61 of the gas container 60. The gas container 60 includes a sealing member (e.g., a membrane 62) for sealing the gas container 60.

[0030] A second compartment 131 is defined in the body 10 and communicated with the first compartment 121 via a passage 123. Preferably, the passage 123 has a diameter smaller that that of the first compartment 121 and also smaller than that of the second compartment 131. In this embodiment, the second compartment 131 is defined in an upright column 13 extending from the disk 11. The upright column 13 includes a slot 132 and two lugs 133 on two sides of the slot 132. A sector-like plate 15 is provided on an outer periphery of the upright column 13 and includes an arcuate face 151 on which a safety lever engaging member 153 is formed. It is noted that the upright column 13 and the sector-like plate 15 can be deemed as a part of the body 10.

[0031] The quick inflation device further includes a safety means 30 comprising a safety lever 31 and a trigger 32. In this embodiment, the safety lever 31 includes a first end having a pair of spaced lugs 311 and a second operative end 314. A pin 33 extends through aligned holes 134 in the lugs 133 of the upright column 13, through aligned holes 313 of the lugs 311 of the safety lever 31 and through hole 322 of trigger 32. Thus, the safety lever 31 is pivotally mounted to the upright column 13. The safety lever 31 further includes a positioning hole 315 for releasably engaging with the safety lever engaging member 153. Further, the safety lever 31 includes an actuating face 312 adjacent to the lugs 311. The trigger 32 includes a first end 321 through which the hole 322 extends, an actuating face 324 for cooperating with the actuating face 312 of the safety lever 31 and a second end 323 that is operably engagable with an unsealing means 20 for unsealing the gas container 60.

[0032] The body 10 further includes an outlet passage 143 having a first end communicated with the first compartment 121 via the passage 123. The outlet passage 143 further includes a second end 141 to which a nozzle 70 is mounted. An object to be inflated is coupled with the nozzle 70 when inflation is required. An O-ring is mounted in an annular groove of the nozzle 70 to prevent leakage. In this embodiment, the outlet passage 143 is defined in an inclined column 14 extending from the disk 11. Positioning pins 80 are extended through transverse holes 142 in the second end 141 of the outlet passage 143 and into an annular groove 71 of the nozzle 70 to thereby secure the nozzle 70 in place. It is noted that the inclined column 14 and the sector-like plate 15 can be deemed as a part of the body 10.

[0033] The unsealing means 20 includes a striking member 21, a release valve 22, and a piercing member 23. The striking member 21 is mounted in the second compartment 131 of the body 10 and includes a longitudinal slot 211. A pin 24 is extended through a transverse hole 135 in the upright column 13 and the longitudinal slot 211 of the striking member 21 to guide longitudinal sliding movement of the striking member 21 in the second compartment 131. An O-ring 213 is mounted in an annular groove 212 in an outer periphery of the striking member 21 to prevent leakage of pressurized gas from the gas container 60 via the second compartment 131. A lid 16 is provided to close the second compartment 131 in the upright column 13. The striking member 21 further includes a striking pin 214 extending through the passage 123 into the first compartment 121.

[0034] The release valve 22 and the piercing member 23 are mounted in the first compartment 121. The release valve 22 includes a stem 222 and a cone 221 on an end of the stem 222. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pointed end (not labeled) of the cone 221 is in contact with the striking pin 214, and an O-ring 25 is mounted between the cone 221 and an end face defining the first compartment 121 to prevent leakage of pressurized gas. An elastic element 26 has a first end attached to the stern 222 and a second end attached to the piercing member 23. In this embodiment, the piercing member 23 includes a circular member 231 having a longitudinal hole 233 and a needle 232 projecting from a side of the circular member 231. Preferably, the longitudinal hole 233 extends through the needle 232. An O-ring 27 is received around the needle 232 and abuts with the circular member 231.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, the safety lever 31 rests on a resting face 152 of the plate 15 and is engaged with the safety lever engaging member 153. Namely, the safety means 30 is in a safety position not allowing movement of the striking member 21 of the unsealing means 20. The release valve 22 is in a sealing position blocking the passage 123. The membrane 62 of the gas container 60 seals the gas container 60.

[0036] When inflation is required, the safety lever 31 is pivoted and thus disengaged from the safety lever engaging member 153 until the actuating face 312 of the safety lever 31 is in contact with the actuating face 324 of the trigger 32, best shown in FIG. 4. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the safety lever 31 is further pivoted toward the trigger 32 and thus urges the latter to pivot about the pin 33 together with the former. Thus, the second end 323 of the trigger 32 urges the striking member 21 to slide toward the gas container 60. The striking pin 214 urges the release valve 22 and the piercing member 23 toward the gas container 60 and compresses the elastic element 26. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the passage 123 is open, as the release valve 22 is moved to a release position not blocking the passage 123. The piercing member 23 pierces the membrane 62 in the gas container 60, and the pressurized gas in the gas container 60 exits the body 10 after passing through the longitudinal hole 233 of the piercing member 23, the first compartment 121, the passage 123, the outlet passage 143, and the nozzle 70. Thus, quick inflation is obtained.

[0037] According to the above description, it is appreciated that the quick inflation device in accordance with the present invention will not be inadvertently triggered by means of provision of two-stage operation of the safety lever 31. In brief, the second end of the safety lever is movable between an inoperative position and an operative position when the second end of the safety lever is disengaged from the body. The second end of the trigger is movable between a non-actuating position and an actuating position. The safety lever is pivotable independent of the trigger when not in the operative position. The trigger and the safety lever pivot jointly when the safety lever is pivoted from the operative position along a direction away from the safety position. The unsealing means is not actuated by the second end of the trigger when the trigger is in the non-actuating position. The unsealing means is actuated by the second end of the trigger to unseal the sealing member when the trigger is in the actuating position.

[0038] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred 11 embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.