GB2507334A

GB2507334A - Valves

Info

Publication number: GB2507334A
Application number: GB201219356A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Toby Gosnall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-10-29
Filing date: 2012-10-29
Publication date: 2014-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 2032-10-29
Also published as: GB2507334B; GB201219356D0

Abstract

A valve having a captive nut protruding from an external end thereof which captive nut is arranged to be releasable to allow the tyre to be inflated, wherein the captive nut is provided with an engagement means arranged, in use, to engage a tool.

Description

VALVES

Field of invention

This invention relates to a valves and in particular, but not exclusively, to valves arranged to be used on bicycle tyres, such as so called high-pressure valves.

Background of invention

Bicycle tyres, particularly those of bicycles intended for road racing, are inflated to very high pressures. Typically, such tyres are inflated to in excess of iOOpsi and some, such as tubular tyres (tubs] can be inflated to l6Opsi. As such, such valves often have a captive nut which must be released before the tyre can be inflated, the purpose of which is to help the lyre maintain the high pressures.

However, this captive nut may not be as convenient as may be desired.

Summary of invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a valve having a captive nut protruding from an external end thereof. Typically, the captive nut is arranged to be releasable to allow the tyre to be inflated. The captive nut may be provided with an engagement means to engage a tool.

Embodiments providing such a valve are convenient as they will allow the valve to be released more readily than prior art valves which do not have such an engagement means. Such embodiments may be particularly useful when the inner tube to which the valve is attached is fitted to a so called deep section rim.

Such deep section rims typically extend over the valve such that a user cannot access the captive nut unless the tyre and subsequently the inner tube is removed from the wheel rim to which they are fitted. This is time consuming and in the case of so-called tubular tyres cannot necessarily be performed by novice users. It can be a problem with such deep-section rims if the captive nut moves to a closed condition during use since a user needs to dismantle the lyre, inner tube and wheel rim to re-inflate the tyre; the skilled person will appreciate that tyres inflated to high pressures [such as in excess of lOOpsi) deflate over time and periodically need to be re-inflated.

In one embodiment the engagement means comprises castellations which are typically provided around an upper surface of the captive nut. Such castellations may provide a suitable mechanism by which a tool) possibly inserted into a deep section rim, may engage with the captive nut.

However, alternative, or additiona' embodiment the engagement means may comprise splines, grooves, cams, slots, or the like.

The engagement means may be shaped to allow easy engagement with a tool used to engage them. For example, the engagement means may be curved, sloped or the like. In one embodiment the castellations may have sloped surface and may for example have a ramped side.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a inner tube fitted with a valve according to the first aspect of the invention.

The inner tube may be a bicycle inner tube. The inner tube may be a tubular inner tube; often referred to as a Itub. The skilled person will appreciate that such tubs' provide both the tyre and the inner tube in-one and are typically pumped up to higher pressures when compared to a pair of inner-tube and tyre.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of parts comprising an inner tube of the second aspect of the invention together with a tool arranged to co-operate with the engagement means of the valve.

The kit of parts may comprise a set of instructions illustrating how the valve and/or tool might be used.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of inflating a bicycle tyre according to the second aspect of the invention and fitted to a deep-section rim, comprising the following steps: a] inserting a tool into the rim to engage the engagement means of the captive nut; b] rotating the captive nut to an open condition; c) fitting a pump to the valve; and d] inflating the tyre.

The method may comprise fitting a valve-extender to the valve in a step between steps b) and c].

The skilled person will appreciate that features descried in relation to one of the above aspects of the invention may be used, mutatis mutandis, in relation to any of the other aspects of the invention.

Brief description of the drawing

There now follows by way of example only a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 (prior art) shows a valve provided on the inner tube of a typical cycle tire fitted in relation to a deep section rim; Figure 2 (prior art) shows the valve of Figure 1 to which an extension tube has been fitted; and Figure 3 shows a valve according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

Bikes are typically fitted with wheels having pneumatic tyres, which comprise an inner tube 100, which is mounted on a wheel rim [represented here by the line 101]. These inner tubes 100 are inflated with valves 102 which allow a pump to be a pumped to connected to a threaded end region 104 distal from the inner tubelO0. This threaded end region 104 may be thought of as being an external end of the valve 102, being away from the inner tube 100.

In high pressure (SHRADER] valves a threaded bolt 106 extends from a central region of the valve 102 and has a captive nut 108 thereon. Thus, each of the treaded bolt 106 and the captive nut 108 protrude from the valve 102. Captive here means that the captive nut 108 is not removable from the threaded bolt 106.To close the valve 102 then the captive nut 108 is screwed down against the threaded end region 104 of valve 102. In this closed condition the inner tube 100 cannot be inflated and the captive nut 108 needs to be moved to an open condition away from the threaded end region 104.

Ordinarily, the captive nut 108 is readily accessible to a user and he or she may rotate it with his or her fingers, possibly after removing a dust cap fitted to the valve 102. However, when the inner tube is fitted to a so-called deep section rim then it can be difficult to access the valve 102.

Figure 1 shows a wall 110 of a deep section rim which has an opening 112 through which access to the valve 102 is provided.

When a valve is fitted to a deep section rim a so-called valve extender 200 is used to inflate the inner tube 100. The skilled person will appreciate that the opening 112 does not provide sufficient access to the captive nut 108 to allow it to be rotated and as such, the captive nut is left in the open condition to allow the inner tube to be inflated through the valve extender 200. However, the captive nut 108 can move to the closed condition, typically through vibration, as the wheel is used. If the captive nut 108 does move to the closed condition then it is typically necessary to remove the tyre [not shown] from the rim 101 to allow the captive nut 108 to be moved back to the open condition. This is time consuming and can be difficult Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the invention in which the captive nut 108 has an engagement means 300 provided thereon. In the embodiment being described, the engagement means comprises castellations provided around an upper surface region of the captive nut 108. In the embodiment shown there are four castellations that have been provided, however this number of castellationss is provided for illustrative purposes and other numbers may be provided. For example, there may be provided 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more.

In use, perhaps when the valve 102 is mounted within a deep section rim as illustrated in Figure 1, a user may use a tool which is able to engage with the engagement means to release and/or tighten the captive nut 108. Thus, even if the valve 102 is fitted within a deep-section rim a user thereof will be able to move the captive nut 108 between the open and closed conditions.

Typically a tool will be provided with a complementary shaped portion arranged to engage the engagement means on the captive nut 108. Thus, in the embodiment being descried, the tool would also comprise a region having castellations arranged, in use, to engage with those on the captive nut.

Typically the tool will comprise a bore arranged to receive the threaded bolt. The skilled person will appreciate that as the captive nut is moved to the closed condition that the threaded bolt will protrude therethrough. As such, a bore within the tool allows this relative movement between the threaded bolt and the captive nut.

Claims

Claims 1. A valve having a captive nut protruding from an external end thereof which captive nut is arranged to be releasable to allow the tyre to be inflated, wherein the captive nut is provided with an engagement means arranged, in use, to engage a tool.
2. A valve according to claim 1 in which the engagement means comprises castellations.
3. A valve according to claim 2 in which the castellations are provided around an upper surface of the captive nut.
4. An inner tube fitted with a valve according to any of claims 1 to 3.
5. An inner tube according to claim 4 which is a bicycle inner tube.
6. An inner tube according to claim S which is a tubular inner tube; often referred to as a tub'.
7. A kit of parts comprising an inner tube of any of claims 4 to 6 together with a tool arranged to co-operate with the engagement means of the valve.
8. A kit of parts according to claim 7 which also comprises a set of instructions illustrating how the valve and/or tool might be used.
9. A kit of parts according to either of claims 7 or 8 in which the tool comprises a bore of complementary size arranged to receive a threaded bolt of the valve.
10. A method of inflating a bicycle tyre according to the second aspect of the invention and fined to a deep-section rim, comprising the following steps: a] inserting a tool into the rim to engage the engagement means of the captive nut; b] rotating the captive nut to an open condition; c) fitting a pump to the valve; and d] inflating the tyre.
11. A method according to claim 10 which comprises fitting a valve-extender to the valve in a step between steps b] and c).
12. A valve substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
13. An inner tube and/or tub substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. A kit of parts substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. A method of inflating a tyre substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.