GB2539402A

GB2539402A - Inflation valve

Info

Publication number: GB2539402A
Application number: GB1510418.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clephan James
Original assignee: B-LOONY Ltd
Current assignee: B-LOONY Ltd
Priority date: 2015-06-15
Filing date: 2015-06-15
Publication date: 2016-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-15
Also published as: GB201510418D0; GB2539402B

Abstract

An inflation device comprises a body defining a passage 4. The passage 4 has a first end 6 connectable to a gas source, and a second end 8 connectable to an opening of an inflatable article. The passage 4 includes a throat portion 30 of reduced cross sectional area which is located intermediate the first and second ends 6, 8. The body has at least one aperture (42, Fig. 1) permitting fluid communication between the exterior of the body and the passage 4. The at least one aperture 42 is located at, or downstream of, the throat portion 30. A method of manufacturing the inflation device is also provided.

Description

INFLATION VALVE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of valves. More specifically, the present invention is an inflation valve for inflating balloons and other inflatable articles.

Background of the Invention

Inflatable articles such as balloons and the like are often filled with a compressed gas such as helium instead of air, as these gases but have properties which provide effects not available with air alone. For example, in the case of helium gas it is considerably lighter than air and therefore allows an inflatable article filled with the gas to be tethered and float in mid-air as opposed to an air-filled article which will always return towards earth under gravitational forces.

However, whilst such gases provide effects not available through use of air they are more expensive than air and are also -in the case of Helium and others -a finite resource. Thus, reducing the consumption of Helium and other such gases would not only save the user money but would also prolong the reserves of such finite resources.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an inflation valve for inflatable articles which reduces consumption of the inflating gas.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflation device comprising: a body defining a passage, the passage having a first end connectable to a gas source, and a second end connectable to an opening of an inflatable article; wherein the passage includes a throat portion of reduced cross sectional area which is located intermediate the first and second ends, and the body includes at least one aperture permitting fluid communication between the exterior of the body and the passage, the at least one aperture located at, or downstream of, the throat portion.

It should be recognised that reference to the at least one aperture being "located at, or downstream of the throat portion should be understood to mean that no part of the aperture is upstream of the point in the passage where the diameter narrows, or begins to narrow, down towards the eventual narrowest part of the throat portion.

References to "upstream" and "downstream" are relative to the flow of gas along the passage from the first passage end and the connectable gas source. Thus, a "downstream" location of the aperture is one which lies between the throat portion and the second end of the passage.

The body may include a pair of apertures which are diametrically opposed on the passage, each aperture permitting fluid communication between the exterior of the body and the passage.

The throat portion may be provided on a discrete throat insert which is inserted within the passage. An internal wall of the passage may include a pair of circumferential ridges or steps which are axially spaced along the passage, wherein the ridges provide a snap fit between the body and the throat insert.

The body may include a disc portion adjacent the second end of the passage, the disc portion having a larger diameter than that of the remainder of the body. In use, the opening of the inflatable device is placed over the disc portion and secured thereto so that a seal is provided between the inflatable device and the disc portion. The opening of the inflatable device may be elasticated such that it contracts about the disc portion so as to form the seal. The disc portion may include a lip portion projecting from the circumference of the disc portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the disc portion.

The body may further comprise a non-return valve at the second end of the passage. The non-return valve may be a flap valve comprising a flap member located over the second end of the passage, the flap member attached to the body so that it permits fluid flow out of the second end of the passage but prevents fluid flow into the second end of the passage from outside the body.

The device may further comprise a length of ribbon wrapped about the exterior of the body.

The device may further comprise a loop on the exterior of the body for attaching a ribbon or string thereto.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing an inflation device, the method comprising the steps of: forming a body and defining a passage within the body such that the passage has a first end connectable to a gas source, and a second end connectable to an opening of an inflatable article; providing a throat portion of reduced cross sectional area within the passage intermediate the first and second ends thereof; and creating an aperture in the body which permits fluid communication between the exterior of the body and the passage, the at least one aperture being located at, or downstream of, the throat portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of an inflation device; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section view through the device of Figure 1 along the line II-11; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Figures 1-3 show a preferred embodiment of an inflation device in accordance with the present invention. The device comprises an elongate body 2 which has a passage 4 which extends through the body. The passage 4 has a first end 6 which in use is connectable to a gas source (not shown), and a second end 8 which in use is connectable to an inflatable article such as a balloon (not shown), for example.

The body 2 is comprised of three body portions: a first body portion 10 adjacent the first passage end 6; a third body portion 14 adjacent the second passage end 8; and a second body portion 12 intermediate the first and third body portions 10,14. The body 2 is generally cylindrical and the first body portion 10 has the largest internal and external diameters, whilst the third body portion 14 has the smallest internal and external diameters. The internal and external diameters of the second body portion 12 are smaller than those of the first body portion 10 but larger than those of the third body portion 14. There is a step change in the diameters between the three body portions 10,12,14 which creates first and second abutment faces 16,18 within the passage 4, the abutment faces 16,18 facing in the direction of the first passage end 6. With these changes in diameter of the body 2 this means that the passage 4 also has three corresponding passage portions 20,22,24, with the first passage portion 20 having the largest diameter, the third passage portion 24 having the smallest diameter, and the second passage portion 22 having a diameter which is smaller than that of the first passage portion 20 but larger than that of the third passage portion 24. Upstream of the first abutment face 16 (i.e. in the direction of the first passage end 6) the passage wall includes an inwardly projecting ridge 26 which runs circumferentially around the entire wall.

The device also includes a throat, or throttle, member 30 which is formed separately from the body 2 and inserted into the passage 4 from the first passage end 6. The throat member 30 has a first inlet section 32 which is preferably cup-shaped, and a second outlet section 34 which is preferably formed as an inwardly tapering nozzle. The outlet section 34 has an in internal passage 36 which reduces in diameter in the direction of the second passage end 8. Even the largest diameter portion of the internal passage 36 is significantly smaller in diameter than that of both the inlet section 32 and the first passage portion 20 within which the throat member 30 is located. The inlet section 32 has a length and width which allow it to be pressed past the ridge 26 and then locate with a snap fit between the ridge 26 and the first abutment face 16 within the passage 4.

With the throat member 30 located in the passage 4 as described above, an annular chamber 40 is defined in the passage between the internal wall of the second passage portion 22 and the external wall of the outlet section 34 of the throat member 30. The second body portion 12 has at least one aperture 42 cut through the body 2 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device. The aperture 42 allows fluid communication between the exterior of the body 2 and the passage 4 in the region of the annular chamber 40. In the preferred embodiment illustrated there are two apertures 42 at diametrically opposed locations on the body 2.

Attached to the free end of the third body portion 14 is a cup portion 50, which may be substantially circular in shape. The cup portion 50 comprises a disc-shaped flange 52 which extends outwards from the end of the third body portion 14 and the second passage end 8 contained therein. A lip 54 runs around the circumference of the flange 52 and projects from the flange in a direction away from the body 2. At least one locating pin 58 is provided in the cup portion 50. The device may optionally include a non-return valve, providing here by a flap valve member 60. The flap valve member 60 lies inside the cup portion 50 so that it covers the second passage end 8. The flap valve member 60 has a locating aperture (not shown) which locates on the locating pin 58 within the cup portion 50. Once the flap member 60 is in position the pin 58 is swaged or otherwise adapted so that the flap member 60 is then fixed to the cup portion at the pin 58 but is otherwise free to move off the cup portion.

The body 2 may further comprise a loop element which may be integrally formed with the body. In the illustrated embodiment, the loop element is a right-angled arm 70 which extends between the flange 52 of the cup portion 50 and the exterior of the third body portion 14. Those three components thus define an aperture 72 within a loop element. A first end 82 of a ribbon 80 can be fed through the aperture 72 and secured to the body 2 and/or loop element with sticky tape or the like. The remainder of the ribbon 80 may be wrapped around the exterior of the body 2 with the body acting as a reel or spool for the ribbon.

Industrial Applicability

The manner in which the inflation device of the present invention is used will now be described. For this exemplary description, the inflatable article which is to be inflated is a balloon but it should be understood that the device is not limited to use with balloons alone. Other inflatable articles may also be inflated using this device.

In the first instance the elasticated opening of the balloon (not shown) is stretched over the cup portion 50 of the device. Due to the elasticity of the balloon, once the opening is stretched over the cup portion 50 it will contract around the third body portion 14 and cup portion 50, and a seal will consequently be formed between the balloon and the cup portion 50. Once the balloon is in position, the first passage end 6 is connected to a source of compressed gas (not shown) such as, for example, helium. In order to achieve a fluid connection between the gas source and the passage 4 an outlet of the gas source may simply be inserted into passage via the first passage end 6. Alternatively, the internal wall of the first passage end 6 may be threaded so that it may engage with a corresponding thread on the gas outlet.

Once the passage 4 is fluidly connected to the gas outlet, the gas outlet is opened in a known manner and the compressed helium or other gas will flow into the passage. As the gas enters the throat member 30 the reduced cross sectional area of the internal throat passage 36 causes the gas to accelerate as it passes through the throat passage and into the downstream passage portions 22,24. This acceleration of the gas leads to the creation of a low pressure area in the annular chamber 40 and adjacent area of the second passage portion 22. As a result, air is drawn into the second passage portion 22 via the at least one aperture 42 and a mixture of gas and air flows down the remainder of the passage 4. At the second passage end 8, the flow of gas and air forces open the flap valve member 60 and fills the balloon.

Once the balloon is fully inflated gas and air cannot re-enter the passage 4 via the second end 8 as the flap valve member 60 is forced down over the second end.

Once the balloon is inflated, the device is removed or disconnected from the gas source outlet. The ribbon 80 can then be unwrapped from around the body 2 and a second end thereof can be attached to a weight or the like if desired. Hence, the balloon and device remain attached and can be collectively anchored via the ribbon to a weight on the ground. Once the balloon has served its purpose it can be disconnected from the device and the device can be reused or recycled at an appropriate facility.

By throttling the gas and allowing air to be drawn into an inflatable article along with the gas, the inflation device of the present invention reduces the amount of gas needed to inflate the article. The amount of gas which flows into the balloon is still sufficient for the effects of that gas to be applied to the balloon. For example, in a preferred embodiment the device will lead to the inflatable article being filled with 6070% helium and the remainder made up of air. The helium content is still sufficient to allow the article to rise in the air, but the amount used is reduced by 30-40%. Using less gas is not only cheaper for the operator inflating a large number of articles, but also reduces the consumption of a finite resource such as helium.

Additionally, the present invention allows the operator to fill the inflatable article with 100% gas if they wish. In order to do so the operator simply ensures that the aperture(s) in the body are covered by their fingers and/or thumb when inflating the article such that no air can be drawn in through the apertures.

Whilst the preferred embodiment of the device has a pair of apertures, the device of the present invention may have more than two apertures in the body thereof.

The throat portion of the passage is preferably produced by way of the throat member being inserted into the passage. However, the throat portion may alternatively be integrally formed with the body such that it projects into the passage.

Forming the cup portion at the end of the third body portion makes it relatively straightforward to place the openings of inflatable articles over the end of the device and have them remain securely in position. However, the device may alternatively simply have a disc portion at the end of the third body portion, with the disc being formed by the flange as described in the preferred embodiment. In such a case there would be no lip around the circumference of the disc but the openings of inflatable articles could be secured over the disc portion in the same manner as with the cup portion.

These and other modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An inflation device comprising: a body defining a passage, the passage having a first end connectable to a gas source, and a second end connectable to an opening of an inflatable article; wherein the passage includes a throat portion of reduced cross sectional area which is located intermediate the first and second ends, and the body includes at least one aperture permitting fluid communication between the exterior of the body and the passage, the at least one aperture located at, or downstream of, the throat portion.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the body includes a pair of apertures which are diametrically opposed on the passage, each aperture permitting fluid communication between the exterior of the body and the passage.
3. The device of either preceding claim, wherein the throat portion is provided on a discrete throat insert which is inserted within the passage.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein an internal wall of the passage includes a pair of circumferential ridges or steps which are axially spaced along the passage, wherein the ridges provide a snap fit between the body and the throat insert.
5. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the body includes a disc portion adjacent the second end of the passage, the disc portion having a larger diameter than that of the remainder of the body.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the disc portion includes a lip portion projecting from the circumference of the disc portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the disc portion.
7. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the body further comprises a non-return valve at the second end of the passage.
8. The device of claim 8, wherein the non-return valve is a flap valve comprising a flap member located over the second end of the passage, the flap member attached to the body so that it permits fluid flow out of the second end of the passage but prevents fluid flow into the second end of the passage from outside the body.
9. The device of any preceding claim, further comprising a length of ribbon wrapped about the exterior of the body.
10. The device of any preceding claim, further comprising a loop on the exterior of the body for attaching a ribbon or string thereto.
11. A method of manufacturing an inflation device, the method comprising the steps of: forming a body and defining a passage within the body such that the passage has a first end connectable to a gas source, and a second end connectable to an opening of an inflatable article; providing a throat portion of reduced cross sectional area within the passage intermediate the first and second ends thereof; and creating an aperture in the body which permits fluid communication between the exterior of the body and the passage, the at least one aperture being located at, or downstream of, the throat portion.