Fluid flow connector
AssigneeMangar International Limited
InventorRichard Edmond Fletcher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fitting for attachment to a membrane of an inflatable device comprises a mounting adapter (1) to be secured to said membrane. A resiliently deformable part (5c) associated with said mounting adapter is arranged to embrace and hold an initially separate insert (2). The resiliently deformable part (5c) is arranged such that when the mounting adapter is secured to the membrane and exposed to a force exerted by fluid at one of two sides of the membrane, the resiliently deformable part is urged into applying engagement with the insert (2). A variety of different inserts (2) having different valve arrangements can be held by the mounting adapter.
Claims30
A fitting for attachment to a membrane, said fitting comprising a mounting adapter to be secured to said membrane, a resiliently deformable part associated with said mounting adaptor and arranged to embrace and hold an initially separate insert, in which said resiliently deformable part is a cylindrical element and the initially separate insert comprises a substantially cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion having an outer surface having an outer diameter and the deformable cylindrical element has an inner surface with an inner diameter which allows the cylindrical portion of the insert to be inserted into the resiliently deformable element, the deformable element being arranged such that when the mounting adaptor is secured to said membrane and exposed to pressure exerted by fluid at one of two sides of the membrane, the inner surface of the resiliently deformable element is urged into gripping engagement with the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the insert, wherein the resiliently deformable cylindrical element comprises a sleeve for receiving the insert, said sleeve joined by a radially extending web to an outer cylindrical part of the mounting adapter and the outer cylindrical part is substantially rigid relative to the resiliently deformable part.
A fitting for attachment to a membrane, said fitting comprising a mounting adaptor to be secured to said membrane, an initially separate insert module for mounting in the adaptor, the mounting adaptor having a resiliently deformable part arranged to embrace and hold the insert module in fluid tight engagement with the adaptor when inserted, said resiliently deformable part being arranged for snap-fit co-operation with a correspondingly defined outer profile portion of the insert module to hold the insert module in the mounting adaptor, the arrangement being such that any one of a number of different types of insert module, each having a suitably defined outer profile portion for co-operation with the resiliently deformable portion, can be inserted in the mounting adaptor.
A fitting for attachment to a membrane, said fitting comprising a mounting adapter to be secured to said membrane, a resiliently deformable part associated with said mounting adaptor and arranged to embrace and hold an initially separate insert, in which said resiliently deformable part is a cylindrical element and the initially separate insert comprises a substantially cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion having an outer surface having an outer diameter and the deformable cylindrical element has an inner surface with an inner diameter which allows the cylindrical portion of the insert to be inserted into the resiliently deformable element, the deformable element being arranged such that when the mounting adaptor is secured to said membrane and exposed to pressure exerted by fluid at one of two sides of the membrane, the inner surface of the resiliently deformable element is urged into gripping engagement with the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the insert, wherein the substantially cylindrical portion of the insert is provided with a pair of spaced circumferential ribs on its outer surface, the ribs defining a circumferential recess therebetween in which the resiliently deformable cylindrical element of the mounting adapter is received.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.