Inflation needle
AssigneesPatricia Coughlan Voorhies, Daniel R. Marlowe
InventorsPatricia C. Voorhies, Daniel R. Marlowe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inflation needle for inflating an object such as a sports ball includes a tubular body having an attachment end configured for engagement with a fluid supply. The body fairs into a tubular probe extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end configured for being inserted into the ball. A concavo-convex base extends radially outward from the body and towards the distal end, terminating at a periphery spaced radially from the probe, the base being configured to engage the object upon insertion of the probe therein. The inflation needle is a unitary, molded polymeric component.
Claims25
An inflation needle, comprising:
- a tubular body having an attachment end configured for engagement with an air pump;
- said body fairing into a tubular probe extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end;
- said distal end configured for being inserted into an object to be inflated;
- a concavo-convex base extending radially outward from said body and towards said distal end, terminating at a periphery spaced radially from said tubular probe;
- wherein said base is configured to absorb lateral forces;
- said periphery configured to engage an external surface of the object upon insertion of said probe therein;
- wherein said periphery defines a transverse dimension of said base, and said probe defines an axial dimension extending from said periphery and away from said proximal end, to said distal end, and a ratio of said transverse dimension to said axial dimension is at least 0.5:1;
- and
- said inflation needle is a unitary, molded polymeric component.
An inflation needle, comprising:
- a tubular body having an attachment end configured to be engaged with a fluid supply;
- said body fairing into a tubular probe extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end;
- said distal end configured for being inserted into an object to be inflated;
- a concavo-convex base extending radially outward from said body and towards said distal end, terminating at a periphery spaced radially from said probe;
- wherein said base is configured to absorb lateral forces;
- wherein said probe defines an axial dimension extending from said periphery and away from said proximal end, to said distal end;
- said base configured to engage an external surface of the object upon insertion of said probe therein;
- and
- said inflation needle being a unitary, molded polymeric component.
A method for manufacturing an inflation needle, comprising:
- (a) providing a tubular body having an attachment end configured to be engaged with a fluid supply;
- (b) fairing the body into a tubular probe extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end;
- (c) configuring the distal end for being inserted into an object to be inflated;
- (d) extending a base radially outward from the body and towards the distal end, terminating at a periphery spaced radially from said tubular probe, so that the base has a substantially concave surface facing the distal end;
- wherein said base is configured to absorb lateral forces;
- wherein said probe defines an axial dimension extending from said periphery and away from said proximal end, to said distal end;
- (e) configuring the base to engage an external surface of the object upon insertion of said probe therein;
- and
- (f) molding the inflation needle as a unitary, polymeric component.
An inflation needle, comprising:
- a tubular body having an attachment end configured to be engaged with a fluid supply;
- said body fairing into a tubular probe extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end;
- said distal end configured for being inserted into an object to be inflated;
- a concavo-convex base extending radially outward from said body and towards said distal end, terminating at a periphery spaced radially from said tubular probe;
- wherein said base is configured to absorb lateral forces;
- wherein said probe defines an axial dimension extending from said periphery and away from said proximal end, to said distal end;
- said base configured to engage an external surface of the object upon insertion of said probe therein;
- and
- said inflation needle being a unitary component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.