Air mattress with filler check valve and cap therefor

• US 4,766,628 A
• Filed: 02/19/1987
• Issued: 08/30/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: First Bank National Association
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Walker
• Inventors: Walker, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/016,566
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 5/449, 5/453, 5/455, 5/451, 137/232, 137/234.5
• US Class Current: 5/706
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/374 With cap

Abstract

An air mattress has a filler check valve connected to an air blower to supply air to the mattress chamber. A holder secured to the air mattress locates the filler check valve in a recessed position relative to an outer wall of the mattress. The filler check valve has a sleeve mounted on the holder and a rod attached to a valve head carrying an annular sealing member. A spring biases the valve head to a closed position wherein annular sealing member engages a beveled face on the inner end of the sleeve. The outer end of the sleeve has a cylindrical collar with internal and external threads. The internal threads of the collar engage external threads of the holder to secure the sleeve on the holder. A cap has an annular flange with internal threads of the collar to close an air passage in the sleeve. Seals located between the collar and sleeve and between the cap and the sleeve inhibit leakage of air from the chamber of the air mattress.

Claims

1. An air mattress comprising:

air impervious wall means surrounding a chamber for accommodating air under pressure, filler check valve assembly for use in selectively supplying air under pressure to said chamber and venting air from said chamber, holder means mounting said filler check valve assembly on said wall means, said holder means having a tubular body and an annular flexible wall joined to the body to locate the check valve assembly in said chamber, and means securing said annular flexible wall to said wall means, said tubular body having a smooth inside cylindrical surface, said surface having a uniform diameter, said valve assembly having a sleeve with an inside tubular surface surrounding an air passage open to said chamber and externally of the air mattress mounted on the tubular body, said sleeve having a smooth outside cylindrical surface having a uniform diameter located in a tight fit relationship with the inside cylindrical surface of the tubular body, said sleeve having a collar to cooperate with the tubular body to mount the sleeve on the body in a tight fit relation with the inside surface of the body, said collar comprising an outwardly directed annular flange secured normally to the sleeve and a cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from the flange, valving means movably mounted on the sleeve operable to open and close the air passage, said valving means including head means located in said chamber engageable with the sleeve to close said passage, a rod secured to said head means projected axially into said passage, a tubular guide joined to said sleeve slidably accommodating said rod, a spider head secured to the rod having outer end portions slidably engageable with the inside tubular surface of the sleeve, biasing means engageable with said tubular guide and spider head for holding the head means in a closed position, said valving means being movable against the force of the biasing means to open said air passage thereby allowing air to flow out of the chamber, and a cap means mounted on the cylindrical side wall of the collar for closing air passage in said sleeve.

2. The mattress of claim 1 wherein:

said sleeve has an inner end having an annular face, said head means being engageable with said annular face to close said air passage in said sleeve.

3. The mattress of claim 2 wherein:

said annular face has an inside annular beveled face.

4. The mattress of claim 1 wherein:

said tubular body has an annular outer end, said outwardly directed annular flange located adjacent said annular outer end, and annular seal means located between said outer end of the body and flange.

5. The mattress of claim 1 wherein:

said tubular body has external threads thereon, said cylindrical side wall having internal threads adapted to cooperate with the external threads to mount the sleeve on the body in a tight fit relation with the inside surface of the body.

6. The mattress of claim 1 wherein:

said tubular guide has a hole, said rod being slidably positioned through said hole.

7. The mattress of claim 1 wherein:

said tubular body has an outer end and external threads thereon, said cap means having a downwardly extending annular flange with internal threads thereon, said sleeve having an outer end, said collar secured to said outer end of the sleeve, said side wall of the collar having internal threads cooperating with said external threads on the body to hold the sleeve on the tubular body, said side wall having external threads cooperating with said internal threads of the downwardly extending flange of the cap means to hold the cap means on the sleeve, whereby the cap means closes the air passage in said sleeve.

8. The mattress of claim 7 including:

seal means located between said outer end of the body and the outwardly directed flange whereby when said collar is threaded on said tubular body the seal means prevents escape of air from the chamber of the air mattress.

9. The mattress of claim 7 wherein:

said sleeve has an inner end having an annular face, said head means being engageable with said annular face to close said valve assembly.

10. The mattress of claim 9 wherein:

said annular face has an inside annular beveled face.

11. An air mattress and filler check valve assembly for selectively allowing air to be introduced into and vented from the air mattress comprising:

air impervious top and bottom walls and side walls secured to the top and bottom walls surrounding a chamber for accommodating air under pressure, one-way valve means usable to supply air under pressure to said chamber and vent air from said chamber, holder means mounting said valve means on one of said walls, said holder means having a tubular body with a smooth cylindrical inside surface having a uniform diameter open to the chamber and externally of the air mattress, said valve means having a sleeve with a smooth cylindrical outside surface having a uniform diameter located in a tight fit relation with the inside cylindrical surface of the tubular body, said sleeve having a collar to cooperate with the tubular body to mount the sleeve on the body in a tight fit relation with the inside surface of the body, said collar comprising an outwardly directed annular flange secured normally to the sleeve and a cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from the flange, said sleeve having an inside wall surrounding an air passage, an inner end, and an outer end open to said air passage, said inner end having an annular face, a tubular guide joined to the sleeve adjacent the inner end of the sleeve, an elongated rod slidably located through the tubular guide, first head means secured to the rod slidably engaging the inside wall of the sleeve, said first head means having at least one opening allowing air to flow through the air passage, second head means secured to said rod locating said second head means adjacent the face on the inner end of the sleeve, said first head means and guide allowing the rod to be linearly moved to selectively move said head means between open and closed positions relative to the annular face on the sleeve, biasing means engaging the guide and first head means to bias the second head means in a direction for holding the second head means against the annular face of the sleeve to close the air passage, said second head means being movable away from the annular face of the sleeve against the force of the biasing means to open said air passage, and cap means mounted on the side wall of the collar for closing the air passage in the sleeve.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein:

said first head means has a plurality of spider arms with ends, said ends of the arms being slidably engageable with the inside wall of the sleeve whereby said spider arms and guide controls the linear movement of the second head means between its open and closed positions.

13. The valve assembly of claim 11 wherein:

said second head means comprises a disc, said disc having an annular groove, an annular seal located in said groove, said seal engageable with the annular face when the second head means is in the closed position.

14. The valve assembly of claim 13 wherein:

said annular face is an annular beveled face.

15. The mattress and filler check valve assembly of claim 11 wherein:

said tubular body has an outer end and external threads thereon, said side wall having internal threads cooperating with said external threads on the body to hold the sleeve on the tubular body, said cap means having a downwardly extending annular flange with internal threads, said side wall having external threads cooperating with the internal threads on the downwardly extending flange to mount said cap means on the sleeve.

16. The air mattress and filler check valve assembly of claim 15 including:

seal means located between the cap means and the outer end of the sleeve whereby the cap means is threaded on the collar and the seal means inhibits escape of air from the chamber of the air mattress.

17. The air mattress and filler check valve assembly of claim 15 including:

seal means located between said outer end of the body and outwardly extending flange whereby when said collar is threaded on said tubular body, and the seal means inhibits escape of air from the chamber of the air mattress.

18. The air mattress and filler check valve of claim 11 wherein:

said holder means included an annular flexible wall joined to the tubular body extended into the chamber providing a recess for the body to locate the check valve assembly in said chamber, and means securing said annular flexible wall to one of said walls of the air mattress.

19. A filler check valve assembly and holder for use in selectively allowing air to be introduced into and vented from an air mattress comprising:

a sleeve having a smooth cylindrical outside surface and an inside wall surrounding an air passage, an inner end, and an outer end open to said air passage, said inner end having an annular face, a tubular guide joined to the inner end of the sleeve, a rod slidable located through said guide, first head means secured to the rod slidably engaging the inside wall of the sleeve, said first head means having at least one opening allowing passage of air through the air passage, second head means secured to said rod locating the second head means adjacent the face on the inner end of the sleeve, said first head means and guide allowing the rod to be moved to selectively move said second head means between open and closed positions relative to the annular face on the sleeve, biasing means engaging the guide and first head means to bias the second head means in a direction holding the second head means in a closed position against the annular face of the sleeve, said second head means being moved away from said annular face to an open position against the force of the biasing means, a tubular body having a smooth cylindrical inside surface surrounding a passage, said sleeve being located in said passage with the outside surface of the sleeve being in tight fit relation with the inside surface of the tubular body, an annular wall joined to said tubular body adapted to mount the tubular body and filler check valve assembly on an air mattress, and a cup-shaped cap for closing the air passage in said sleeve, said tubular body having external threads, said sleeve having a collar located over said tubular body, said collar comprising an outwardly directed annular flange secured normally to the outer end of the sleeve and a cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from the outwardly directed flange, said side wall having internal threads cooperating with the external threads on the body to mount said sleeve on said tubular body, said cap having a downwardly extending annular flange with internal threads thereon, said side wall having external threads cooperating with said internal threads of the downwardly extending flange to hold the cap on the collar whereby the cap closes the air passage in said sleeve.

20. The structure of claim 19 including:

seal means located between said outwardly directed flange and the body to mount the sleeve in sealing relation on the tubular body.

21. A filler check valve assembly and mount for inflating and delating an air mattress comprising:

a cylindrical sleeve having a smooth cylindrical outside surface having a uniform diameter from an inner end to an outer end, and an inside wall surrounding an axial air passage, a tubular guide integral with the inner end of the sleeve, radial arms securing the guide to the sleeve, an elongated linear rod slidably located within the guide, said rod having an inner end and an outer end, a circular head having an annular groove to accommodate an annular seal, an annular face located on the inner end of the sleeve, a spider head secured to the outer end of the rod, said spider head having ends located in slidable contact with the inside wall of the sleeve, the spider head and the guide allowing the rod to be linearly moved to selectively move the circular head between open and closed positions relative to said annular face, a coil spring surrounding the rod and engaging the guide and the spider head, said spring biasing the circular head in an outward direction and holding the seal in engagement with said face to close the passage, a tubular body having a smooth cylindrical inside surface having a uniform diameter surrounding a passage, said sleeve being located in said passage with the outside surface of the sleeve being in tight fit relation with the inside surface of the tubular body, said sleeve having a collar to cooperate with the tubular body to mount the sleeve on the body in a tight fit relation with the inside surface of the body, said collar comprising an outwardly directed annular flange secured normally to the sleeve and a cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from the flange, a flexible annular wall secured to said tubular body adapted to be attached to a side of the air mattress, said annular wall having a generally cup shape providing a recess for accommodating the tubular body and to conceal the valve assembly, and a cup-shaped cap mounted on the side wall of the collar for closing the air passage in the sleeve.

22. The structure of claim 21 wherein:

said annular face has an inside annular beveled face.

23. The structure of claim 21 wherein:

the tubular body has external threads, said collar located over the said tubular body, said side wall having internal threads cooperating with the external threads on the body to mount said sleeve on said tubular body, said cap having a downwardly extending flange with internal threads, said side wall having external threads cooperating with the internal threads on the downwardly extending flange to mount said cap on the sleeve.

24. The structure of claim 23 including:

seal means located between the cap and sleeve to locate the cap in sealing relation on the sleeve whereby when said cap means is threaded on the collar the seal means inhibits the escape of air through the air passage in the sleeve.

25. The structure of claim 23 including:

seal means located between said outwardly directed flange and body to locate the sleeve in sealing relation on the tubular body whereby when said side wall is threaded on said tubular body the seal means inhibits the escape of air between the sleeve and tubular body.

26. An air mattress comprising:

air impervious first and second wall means surrounding a chamber for accommodating air under pressure, a filler check valve assembly for use in selectively supplying air under pressure to said chamber and venting air from said chamber, holder means, said holder means having a tubular body and an annular flexible wall joined to said tubular body and extended into said chamber from said wall means toward said second wall means providing a recess for the body to locate the check valve assembly inwardly of first wall means in said chamber, said flexible wall having an inner end located within the chamber secured to said tubular body, and means securing said annular flexible wall to said first wall means, said tubular body having a smooth inside cylindrical surface having a uniform diameter and an inner portion located within said chamber adjacent said inner end of said flexible wall, said valve assembly having a sleeve with an inside tubular surface surrounding an air passage open to said chamber and externally of the air mattress mounted on the tubular body, said sleeve having a smooth outside cylindrical surface having a uniform diameter from an inner end to an outer end located in a tight-fit relation with the inside cylindrical surface of the tubular body, said sleeve having a collar to cooperate with the tubular body to mount the sleeve on the body in a tight fit relation with the inside surface of the body, said collar comprising an outwardly directed annular flange secured normally to the sleeve and a cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from the flange, said sleeve having its inner end projected into said chamber from the inner portion of the tubular body toward the second wall means to maintain a space between the second wall means and said inner end flexible wall and inner portion of the tubular body to facilitate the flow of air into and out of said chamber, valving means movably mounted on the sleeve operable to open and close the air passage, said valving means including a head means located in said chamber engageable with the sleeve to close said passage, a rod secured to said head means projected axially into said passage, a tubular guide joined to said sleeve slidably accommodating said rod, a spider head secured to the rod having an outer end portion slidably enageable with the inside tubular surface of said sleeve whereby said valving means is guided for open and closing movements by the tubular guide and inside tubular surface of the sleeve, and biasing means engageable with said tubular guide and spider head for holding the head means in a closed position, said valving means being movable against the force of the biasing means to open said air passage thereby allowing air to flow out of the chamber.

27. The mattress of claim 26 wherein:

said sleeve has an annular face on the inner end thereof, said head means being engageable with said annular face to close said air passage in said sleeve.

28. The mattress of claim 26 wherein:

said tubular body has an annular outer end, said outwardly directed annular flange located between said outer end of the body and flange.

29. The mattress of claim 26 wherein:

said tubular body has external threads thereon, the side wall having internal threads adapted to cooperate with the external threads on said body to mount the sleeve on said body.

30. The mattress of claim 26 wherein:

said tubular body has an outer end and external threads thereon, said outwardly directed flange secured to said outer end of the sleeve, said side wall having internal threads cooperating with said external threads on the body to hold the sleeve on the tubular body, and seal means located between said outer end of the body and outwardly directed flange whereby when said collar is threaded on said tubular body, the seal means inhibits the escape of air from the chamber of the air mattress.

31. The mattress of claim 26 including:

cap means for closing the external end of said passage in said sleeve.

32. An air mattress and filler check valve assembly for selectively allowing air to be introduced into and vented from the air mattress comprising:

air impervious top and bottom walls surrounding a chamber for accommodating air under pressure, valve means usable to supply air under pressure to said chamber and vent air from said chamber, holder means mounting said valve means on one of said walls, said holder means having a tubular body with a smooth cylindrical inside surface having a uniform diameter open to the chamber and externally of the air mattress, said valve means having a sleeve with a smooth cylindrical outside surface having a unifrom diameter from an inner end to an outer end located in tight fit relation with the inside cylindrical surface of the tubular body, said sleeve having a collar to cooperate with the tubular body to mount the sleeve on the body in a tight fit relation with the inside surface of the body, said collar comprising an outwardly directed annular flange secured normally to the sleeve and a cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from the flange, said sleeve having an inside wall surrounding an air passage, said inner end located in said chamber inwardly of said tubular body to separate the top and bottom walls from each other and from said tubular body and holder means, and said outer end being open to said air chamber, said valve means having a valving member movable to open and closed positions operable to selectively open and close said passage to regulate the flow of air into and out of said chamber, and biasing means engaging said valving member for holding the valving member in said closed position, said valving member being movable to said open position against the force of the biasing means to open said air passage in said sleeve.

33. The mattress of claim 32 wherein:

said sleeve has an annular face on the inner end thereof, said valving member being engageable with said annular face to close said air passage in said sleeve.

34. The mattress of claim 32 wherein:

said tubular body has an annular outer end, said outwardly directed annular flange located adjacent said annular outer end, and annular seal means located between said outer end of the body and flange.

35. The mattress of claim 32 wherein:

said tubular body has external threads thereon, said side wall having internal threads adapted to cooperate with the external threads on said body to mount the sleeve on said body.

36. The mattress of claim 32 wherein:

said tubular body has an outer end and external threads thereon, said outwardly directed flange secured to said outer end of the sleeve, said side wall having internal threads cooperating with said external threads on the body to hold the sleeve on the tubular body, and seal means located between said outer end of the body and outwardly directed flange whereby when said collar is threaded on said tubular body, said seal means inhibits escape of air from the chamber of the air mattress.

37. The mattress of claim 32 including:

cap means for closing the external end of said passage in said sleeve.

38. A filler check valve assembly and holder for mounting the valve assembly on a wall of an air mattress, said wall surrounding a chamber for accommodating air under pressure, said valve assembly being usable to selectively allow air to be introduced into and vented from the chamber comprising:

a sleeve having an inside wall surrounding an air passage to allow air to flow into and be vented from the chamber of an air mattress and an outside surface having a uniform diameter from an inner end to an outer end open to said air mattress, valve means located within said passage to control the flow of air into and out of said chamber, said valve means having a valving member movable to an open position to allow air to flow through said passage into said chamber and allow air to flow from said chamber through said passage to atmosphere, said valving member being movable to a closed position to block the flow of air through said passage, biasing means engagable with said valving member to bias the valving member to its closed position, said valving member being movable from the closed position to an open position against the force of the biasing means, a tubular body having an inside surface having a uniform diameter surrounding a passage and an inner end, said sleeve being located in said passage of the tubular body with the outside surface of the sleeve in a tight fit relation with said inside surface of the tubular body, said sleeve having a collar to cooperate with the tubular body to mount the sleeve on the body in tight fit relation with the inside surface of the body, said collar comprising an outwardly directed annular flange secured normally to the sleeve and cylindrical side wall extending downwardly from the flange, said inner end of the sleeve projected inwardly from the inner end of the tubular body into said chamber, and an annular wall joined to said tubular body adapted to mount the tubular body and filler check valve assembly carried by said tubular body on the wall of an air mattress.

39. The structure of claim 38 wherein:

said outwardly directed annular flange is secured to the outer end of the sleeve, said flange extended over the outer end of the tubular body, and seal means interposed between the flange and the outer end of the tubular body.

40. The structure of claim 38 wherein:

the tubular body has external threads, said collar located over said tubular body, said side wall having internal threads cooperating with the external threads of the body to mount said sleeve on said body, and seal means located between said outwardly directed flange and the body.

41. The structure of claim 38 including:

cap means for closing the external end of said passage in said sleeve.