Airbag inflation nozzle assembly

• US 6,676,042 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Keenan, Thomas C., Howlett, John J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US10/015,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20030111554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 239/569, 239/579, 239/581.1, 239/581.2, 239/587.1, 239/587.2, 239/587.5, 239/587.6, 239/588, 239/537, 239/538, 239/451, 239/455, 239/456, 239/457, 239/458, 239/265.19, 239/539, 280/735, 280/736, 280/739, 280/742, 280/729
• US Class Current: 239/569
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/065 by pressurizing or creating a vacuum in a bag, cover or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/12 using hooks, pawls or other movable or insertable locking members F16L37/084 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/26 in which the connection is made by transversely moving the parts together, with or without their subsequent rotation

Abstract

An airbag inflation nozzle assembly for fluidic mating with an inflation valve assembly, including an inflation valve stem, upon an inflatable cargo airbag comprises a housing, and an inflation nozzle member, having an inflation nozzle tip, pivotally mounted within the housing between a first position at which the inflation nozzle tip is fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve assembly, and a second position at which the inflation nozzle tip is fluidically engaged with the inflation valve assembly. A transversely oriented camming button is movably mounted upon the housing between an UNLOCKED position so as to permit the inflation nozzle member to be moved to the first fluidically disengaged position with respect to the valve assembly, and a LOCKED position which forces the inflation nozzle member to be moved to the second fluidically engaged position with respect to the valve assembly. The housing further comprises a pair of oppositely disposed side rails upon which a valve body portion of the valve assembly can be slidably supported as the housing of the inflation nozzle assembly is being operatively mated with the valve assembly, and an end wall flange portion for engaging a valve body member of the valve assembly during operative mounting of the housing upon the valve assembly so as to ensure coaxial alignment of the inflation nozzle tip with the inflation valve stem.

Claims

1. An inflation nozzle assembly for inflating an article having an inflation valve mounted thereon, comprising:

a housing;

an air inflation nozzle having a first end portion adapted for connection to a source of compressed air so as to receive a supply of compressed air from the source of compressed air, and a second end portion comprising a nozzle tip for mating with an inflation valve mounted upon an article to be inflated;

first means movably mounting said air inflation nozzle upon said housing between a first position at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated such that the article to be inflated cannot be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air, and a second position at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated such that the article to be inflated can be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air; and

second means movably mounted upon said housing between a first position at which said second means permits said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said first position at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated such that the article to be inflated cannot be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air, and a second position at which said second means causes said air inflation nozzle to attain said second position at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated such that the article to be inflated can be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air.

2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said first means movably mounting said air inflation nozzle upon said housing between said first position, at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated, and said second position, at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated, comprises a pivot pin for pivotally mounting said air inflation nozzle upon said housing.

3. The assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said second means movably mounted upon said housing between said first position at which said second means permits said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said first position at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated, and said second position at which said second means causes said air inflation nozzle to attain said second position at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated, comprises a camming button for engaging said air inflation nozzle and forcefully moving said air inflation nozzle from said first position, at which said air inflation nozzle is fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated, to said second position, at which said inflation nozzle is fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated, as said camming button is moved from its first position to its second position.

4. The assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

said air inflation nozzle has a longitudinal extent; and

said camming button is movable transversely, with respect to said longitudinal extent of said air inflation nozzle, between said first and second positions of said camming button.

5. The assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said camming button comprises a vertically stepped recessed portion such that when said camming button is movable transversely, with respect to said longitudinal extent of said air inflation nozzle, to said first position, a first upper section of said vertically stepped recessed portion is aligned with respect to said air inflation nozzle so as to permit said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said first position at which said air inflation nozzle is fluidically disengaged from the air inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated, whereas when said camming button is movable transversely, with respect to said longitudinal extent of said air inflation nozzle, to said second position, a second lower section of said vertically stepped recessed portion is aligned with respect to said air inflation nozzle so as to cause said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said second position at which said air inflation nozzle is fluidically engaged with the air inflation valve mounted upon the article to be inflated.

6. The assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said air inflation nozzle comprises a planar surface portion and an inclined surface portion disposed upon a lateral side of said planar surface portion; and

said vertically stepped recessed portion of said camming button comprises a first upper planar surface, and a first inclined surface disposed upon a lateral side of said first upper planar surface, for respectively engaging said planar surface portion and said inclined surface portion of said air inflation nozzle when said camming button is disposed at said first position, and a second lower planar surface, and a second inclined surface disposed upon a lateral side of said second lower planar surface, for respectively engaging said planar surface portion and said inclined surface portion of said air inflation nozzle when said camming button is disposed at said second position.

7. The assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said camming button comprises a vertically stepped recessed portion such that when said camming button is movable transversely, with respect to said longitudinal extent of said air inflation nozzle, to said first position, a first upper section of said vertically stepped recessed portion is aligned with respect to said air inflation nozzle so as to permit said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said first position at which said air inflation nozzle is fluidically disengaged from the air inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, whereas when said camming button is movable transversely, with respect to said longitudinal extent of said air inflation nozzle, to said second position, a second lower section of said vertically stepped recessed portion is aligned with respect to said air inflation nozzle so as to cause said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said second position at which said air inflation nozzle is fluidically engaged with the air inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag.

8. The assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said air inflation nozzle comprises a planar surface portion and an inclined surface portion disposed upon a lateral side of said planar surface portion; and

said vertically stepped recessed portion of said camming button comprises a first upper planar surface, and a first inclined surface disposed upon a lateral side of said first upper planar surface, for respectively engaging said planar surface portion and said inclined surface portion of said air inflation nozzle when said camming button is disposed at said first position, and a second lower planar surface, and a second inclined surface disposed upon a lateral side of said second lower planar surface, for respectively engaging said planar surface portion and said inclined surface portion of said air inflation nozzle when said camming button is disposed at said second position.

9. The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said housing comprises a pair of oppositely disposed side walls, and an end wall;

said pair of oppositely disposed side walls comprise first and second flanged portions defining a pair of oppositely disposed rail members upon which the inflation valve can be movably supported when said air inflation nozzle assembly is operatively mated with the inflation valve; and

said end wall comprises a third flanged portion for engaging the inflation valve as said air inflation nozzle assembly is operatively mated with the inflation valve so as to coaxially align the inflation valve with said inflation nozzle tip and thereby ensure proper inflation of the article to be inflated.

10. An inflation nozzle assembly for inflating an inflatable cargo airbag having an inflation valve mounted thereon, comprising:

a housing;

an air inflation nozzle having a first end portion adapted for connection to a source of compressed air so as to receive a supply of compressed air from the source of compressed air, and a second end portion comprising a nozzle tip for mating with an inflation valve mounted upon an inflatable cargo airbag to be inflated;

first means movably mounting said air inflation nozzle upon said housing between a first position at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag such that the inflatable airbag cannot be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air, and a second position at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag such that the inflatable airbag can be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air; and

second means movably mounted upon said housing between a first position at which said second means permits said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said first position at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag such that the inflatable airbag cannot be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air, and a second position at which said second means causes said air inflation nozzle to attain said second position at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag such that the inflatable airbag can be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air.

11. The assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said first means movably mounting said air inflation nozzle upon said housing between said first position, at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, and said second position, at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, comprises a pivot pin for pivotally mounting said air inflation nozzle upon said housing.

12. The assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein:

said second means movably mounted upon said housing between said first position at which said second means permits said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said first position at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, and said second position at which said second means causes said air inflation nozzle to attain said second position at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, comprises a camming button for engaging said air inflation nozzle and forcefully moving said air inflation nozzle from said first position, at which said air inflation nozzle is fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, to said second position, at which said inflation nozzle is fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, as said camming button is moved from its first position to its second position.

13. The assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

said air inflation nozzle has a longitudinal extent; and

said camming button is movable transversely, with respect to said longitudinal extent of said air inflation nozzle, between said first and second positions of said camming button.

14. The assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said housing comprises a pair of oppositely disposed side walls, and an end wall;

said pair of oppositely disposed side walls comprise first and second flanged portions defining a pair of oppositely disposed rail members upon which the inflation valve can be movably supported when said air inflation nozzle assembly is operatively mated with the inflation valve; and

said end wall comprises a third flanged portion for engaging the inflation valve as said air inflation nozzle assembly is operatively mated with the inflation valve so as to coaxially align the inflation valve with said inflation nozzle tip and thereby ensure proper inflation of the inflatable airbag.

15. An inflation nozzle assembly for inflating an inflatable cargo airbag having an inflation valve mounted thereon, comprising:

a housing comprising a pair of oppositely disposed side walls, and an end wall;

an air inflation nozzle having a first end portion adapted for connection to a source of compressed air so as to receive a supply of compressed air from the source of compressed air, and a second end portion comprising a nozzle tip for mating with an inflation valve mounted upon an inflatable cargo airbag to be inflated;

first means movably mounting said air inflation nozzle upon said housing between a first position at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag such that the inflatable airbag cannot be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air, and a second position at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag such that the inflatable airbag can be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air;

second means movably mounted upon said housing between a first position at which said second means permits said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said first position at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag such that the inflatable airbag cannot be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air, and a second position at which said second means causes said air inflation nozzle to attain said second position at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag such that the inflatable airbag can be inflated by compressed air from the source of compressed air; and

a flanged portion defined upon said end wall of said housing for engaging the inflation valve as said air inflation nozzle assembly is operatively mated with the inflation valve so as to coaxially align the inflation valve with said inflation nozzle tip and thereby ensure proper inflation of the inflatable airbag.

16. The assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said first means movably mounting said air inflation nozzle upon said housing between said first position, at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, and said second position, at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, comprises a pivot pin for pivotally mounting said air inflation nozzle upon said housing.

17. The assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

said second means movably mounted upon said housing between said first position at which said second means permits said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said first position at which said air inflation nozzle will be fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, and said second position at which said second means causes said air inflation nozzle to attain said second position at which said inflation nozzle will be fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, comprises a camming button for engaging said air inflation nozzle and forcefully moving said air inflation nozzle from said first position, at which said air inflation nozzle is fluidically disengaged from the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, to said second position, at which said inflation nozzle is fluidically engaged with the inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, as said camming button is moved from its first position to its second position.

18. The assembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

said air inflation nozzle has a longitudinal extent; and

said camming button is movable transversely, with respect to said longitudinal extent of said air inflation nozzle, between said first and second positions of said camming button.

19. The assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said camming button comprises a vertically stepped recessed portion such that when said camming button is movable transversely, with respect to said longitudinal extent of said air inflation nozzle, to said first position, a first upper section of said vertically stepped recessed portion is aligned with respect to said air inflation nozzle so as to permit said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said first position at which said air inflation nozzle is fluidically disengaged from the air inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag, whereas when said camming button is movable transversely, with respect to said longitudinal extent of said air inflation nozzle, to said second position, a second lower section of said vertically stepped recessed portion is aligned with respect to said air inflation nozzle so as to cause said air inflation nozzle to be disposed at said second position at which said air inflation nozzle is fluidically engaged with the air inflation valve mounted upon the inflatable airbag.

20. The assembly as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

said air inflation nozzle comprises a planar surface portion and an inclined surface portion disposed upon a lateral side of said planar surface portion; and

said vertically stepped recessed portion of said camming button comprises a first upper planar surface, and a first inclined surface disposed upon a lateral side of said first upper planar surface, for respectively engaging said planar surface portion and said inclined surface portion of said air inflation nozzle when said camming button is disposed at said first position, and a second lower planar surface, and a second inclined surface disposed upon a lateral side of said second lower planar surface, for respectively engaging said planar surface portion and said inclined surface portion of said air inflation nozzle when said camming button is disposed at said second position.

21. The assembly as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said pair of oppositely disposed side walls of said housing comprise second and third flanged portions defining a pair of oppositely disposed rail members upon which the inflation valve can be movably supported when said air inflation nozzle assembly is operatively mated with the inflation valve.