# US 12,007,795 B2 · Automatic inflation management device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,795 B2 - Document ID: US12007795B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/860,646 - Filed: 2022-07-08 - Published: 2023-01-12 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-08 - Assignees: CSE, Inc. - Applicants: CSE, Inc. - Inventors: Gregory A. Miedema - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007795B2 ## CPC - G05D 16/2066: {using controlling means acting on the pressure source} - A47C 27/082: {with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps} - A47C 27/083: {with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors} - A47C 27/084: {self inflating} - A63G 31/12: with inflatable and movable substructures - F04D 25/0673: {Battery powered} - F04D 25/084: {hand fans} - F04D 25/12: the unit being adapted for mounting in apertures - F04D 29/601: {specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - B63B 7/08: Inflatable (inflatable water sports boards B63B32/51; inflatable canoes, kayaks or the like being inflatable or having inflatable parts B63B34/22) - F05D 2260/33: with a bayonet coupling - H02S 30/00: Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion (semiconductor device aspects of modules of electrolytic light sensitive devices H01G9/20, of inorganic PV modules H10F10/00, H10F19/00, of organic PV modules H10K30/00) - Y10T 137/3724: With coupling means - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - A63G: MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An automatic inflator device includes a housing that houses various operational components of the automatic inflator device such as a power source that is electrically coupled to a pump. A coupling portion attached to the housing selectively secures the automatic inflator device to an inflatable object, such as an inflatable watercraft, where the automatic inflator device may remain secured even while the inflatable object remains fully operational, such as while the inflatable object is in use. The pump may be selectively energized to pump air into the inflatable object via a fluid conduit. For example, the pump may be energized or de-energized based on user input or automatically based on a measured pressure of the inflatable object. Optionally, the automatic inflator device may be incorporated into an inlet valve of the inflatable object as the inflatable object is originally manufactured. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic inflator device for attachment to an inflatable water flotation object, said automatic inflator device comprising: a housing having a waterproof internal volume that houses a pressure sensor and a pump; a power source electrically coupled to said pump, wherein said power source comprises a solar panel disposed at said housing; said housing comprising a base and a coupler projecting outwardly at said base, wherein said coupler is configured to be inserted into an inlet valve assembly of the inflatable water flotation object to enable said inflator device to be coupled to the inflatable water flotation object such that said inflator device is mounted to the inflatable water flotation object; and a fluid conduit fluidly connected to said pump and configured to be operably coupled to an internal volume of the inflatable water flotation object via said coupler; wherein said pressure sensor is configured to detect air pressure within the inflatable water flotation object when said inflator device is mounted thereto, and wherein said pump is configured to be automatically selectively energized by said power source to move air through said fluid conduit and into the internal volume of the inflatable water flotation object based on the detected air pressure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automatic inflator device of claim 1, wherein said power source further comprises a rechargeable battery disposed within said housing, and wherein said solar panel is electrically coupled to said rechargeable battery. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The automatic inflator device of claim 1, wherein said coupler comprises one of (i) a cylindrical insertion end with slotted connectors for engaging with the inlet valve assembly of the inflatable water flotation object, (ii) a cylindrical insertion end for forming a press fit with the inlet valve assembly of the inflatable water flotation object, or (iii) a conical insertion end for forming a press fit with the inlet valve assembly of the inflatable water flotation object. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automatic inflator device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a valve, wherein said valve is configured to allow air to enter and exit said housing, and to prohibit water from entering said housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The automatic inflator device of claim 1, wherein said housing has an opening for said solar panel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The automatic inflator device of claim 1, further comprising a control board that comprises a processor, and wherein said control board is electrically coupled to said pressure sensor, said power source and said pump, wherein said control board is configured to receive pressure signals from said pressure sensor and is configured to selectively energize and de-energize said pump based on input pressure signals received from said pressure sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automatic inflator device of claim 1, further comprising a pressure relief valve configured to reduce the internal air pressure of the inflatable water flotation object when the inflatable water flotation object is in an overinflated condition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The automatic inflator device of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a top cover, and wherein said top cover is connected to said base to define said waterproof internal volume, and wherein said housing is buoyant. ### Claim 9 An inflatable water flotation object with an integrated automatic inflator device comprising: an inlet valve assembly through which air may be provided into an internal volume of the inflatable water flotation object; a waterproof housing that houses a pressure sensor and a pump; a power source electrically coupled to said pump, wherein said power source comprises a rechargeable battery and a solar panel, wherein said rechargeable battery is contained within said housing, and said solar panel is disposed at said housing; a coupling portion disposed at a lower surface of said housing and coupled to said inlet valve assembly to operably fluidly couple said pump to said internal volume; wherein said pressure sensor is configured to detect air pressure within said internal volume, and wherein said pump is configured to be automatically selectively energized by said rechargeable battery to inflate and/or manage inflation of the inflatable object based on the detected air pressure within said internal volume. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The inflatable water flotation object of claim 9, further comprising a control board that comprises a processor, wherein said control boarder is electrically coupled to said pressure sensor, said power source and said pump and selectively energizes and de-energizes said pump based on air pressure input signals from said pressure sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The inflatable water flotation object of claim 10, wherein said control board comprises a global positioning system circuit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The inflatable water flotation object of claim 9, wherein said control board is configured to receive a wireless command from an electronic computer device to selectively energize and de-energize said pump. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The inflatable water flotation object of claim 9, wherein said coupling portion comprises a coupler projecting outwardly from said lower surface, and wherein said coupler extends into said inlet valve assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The inflatable water flotation object of claim 9, wherein said control board is configured to wirelessly transmit the detected air pressure of said internal volume. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The inflatable water flotation object of claim 9, wherein said housing includes an opening for said solar panel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The inflatable water flotation object of claim 15, wherein said housing comprises a solar-permeable panel that overlies said solar panel at said opening. ### Claim 17 An automatic inflator device for inflating an inflatable water flotation object, said automatic inflator device comprising: a waterproof housing comprising a solar permeable panel, and housing: a solar panel that underlies said solar permeable panel; a pressure sensor; a pump; and a rechargeable battery that is electrically coupled to said solar panel and said pump; a coupler extending from said housing; and wherein said coupler is configured to be inserted into an inlet valve assembly of the inflatable water flotation object to fluidly connect said pump to an internal volume of the inflatable water flotation object; and wherein said pressure sensor is configured to detect air pressure within the inflatable water flotation object when said inflator device is mounted thereto, and wherein said pump is configured to be automatically selectively energized by said rechargeable battery to move air through said coupler and into the internal volume of the inflatable water flotation object. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The automatic inflator device of claim 17, further comprising a control board that comprises a processor, and wherein said control board is electrically coupled to said pressure sensor, said rechargeable battery and said pump, wherein said control board is configured to receive pressure signals from said pressure sensor and is configured to selectively energize and de-energize said pump based on input pressure signals received from said pressure sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The automatic inflator device of claim 18, further comprising an air permeable water barrier at said housing, wherein said air permeable water barrier is configured to allow air to enter and exit said housing, and to prohibit water from entering said housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The automatic inflator device of claim 19, further comprising a first fluid line extending from said pump to the inlet valve assembly and a second fluid line extending from said pressure sensor to the inlet valve assembly.