Valve for inflatable objects
AssigneeRobert B. Chaffee
InventorRobert B. Chaffee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-sealing valve for controlling the volume of fluid within an inflatable device. The valve includes a housing having a fluid conduit, a valve seat and a valve assembly that selectively seals the fluid conduit to provide a self-seal. The valve assembly includes a support member and a mounting device that holds a portion of a flexible diaphragm in a closed position, and that facilitates movement of at least part of the periphery of the diaphragm away from the valve seat to an open position and towards the valve seat to the closed position. The support member may be manually moved to any of the multiple open positions, either to enable fluid release or to enhance fluid injection. With the injection of fluid, the diaphragm assumes an open position, allowing fluid influx.
Claims23
A self-sealing valve, comprising:
- a valve housing having a fluid conduit, a valve seat, and the valve housing being configured to pass fluid through the fluid conduit;
- a valve assembly that provides a self-seal of the fluid conduit, including:
- a support member comprising a mounting device that retains a portion of a flexible diaphragm, the support member and mounting device configured to position the flexible diaphragm against the valve seat to seal the fluid conduit in a closed position of the self-sealing valve, and to facilitate movement of at least a part of a periphery of the flexible diaphragm in a first direction away from the valve seat to an open position;
- and
- the flexible diaphragm having an area larger than an area of the fluid conduit and including the periphery of the flexible diaphragm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.