Inflatable ball and valve sealing device

• US 4,341,382 A
• Filed: 01/30/1980
• Issued: 07/27/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael C. Arnold
• Original Assignee: Michael C. Arnold
• Inventors: Arnold, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US06/116,940
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 273/61 D, 273/65 C, 273/65 D, 81/15.7, 63/12, 63/13
• US Class Current: 473/603
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/12 Tools or devices for blowing up or closing balls for pricking-balls A63B39/04

Abstract

The invention comprises a pin shaped repair plug for sealing the bladder valve of an inflatable ball such as a football, soccer ball, basketball, etc. The plug is inserted and removed with a special tool. The plug is retained substantially inside the bladder valve with little or no protrusion from the exterior surface of the valve and ball. The plug grips the inside wall of the valve passage frictionally. The gripping action is sufficient to prevent dislodgment of the plug despite the most demanding use of the ball. As an example, the plug was tested for a full season of practice including punting by a college level football team.

The plug is substantially cylindrical in shape with either an externally or an internally threaded head integrally formed thereon. The tool for inserting and removing the plug from the bladder valve includes either a complementary internally threaded or externally threaded end attachable to the plug head. The internally threaded version of the tool includes an external bevel or chamfer tapering from the outside diameter of the tool to the end of the tool. The bevel or chamfer on the tool assists in separating the bladder valve wall from the threaded end of the externally threaded plug.

Claims

1. In the combination of a bladder valve extending through the wall of an inflatable ball and a removable plug adapted to seal the bladder valve,

the plug comprising a smooth cylindrical body sized to frictionally and sealingly engage the central passage of the bladder valve and a head formed on the body at the upper end thereof, said head including a thread formed thereon.

2. The bladder valve and removable plug of claim 1 wherein the threaded head of the plug includes an internally threaded socket.

3. The bladder valve and removable plug of claim 1 wherein the threaded head of the plug is externally threaded.

4. A tool adapted to insert and remove a removable plug having an externally threaded head from the bladder valve and an inflatable ball,

the tool comprising a tubular body, an internally threaded socket at one end of the tool body and an external chamfer on the tool body at the internally threaded end, said external chamfer tapering from the outside diameter of the tool body to the end to assist in moving the wall of the bladder valve passage way from the external thread on the head of the plug.

5. A removable plug and tool combination adapted to seal the bladder valve of an inflatable ball,

the plug comprising a smooth cylindrical body sized to frictionally and sealingly engage the central passage of the bladder valve and a head formed on the plug body at the upper end thereof, said head having an external thread thereon,

the tool comprising a tubular body, an internally threaded socket at one end of the tool body adapted to engage the external thread on the plug head, and an external chamber on the tool body at the internally threaded end, said external chamfer tapering from the outside diameter of the tool body to the end to assist in moving the wall of the bladder valve passage away from the external thread on the head of the plug.