INFLATION VALVE DEVICE WITH A PRESSURE MEASUREMENT UNIT FOR AN INFLATABLE CHAMBER
TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to an inflation valve device with a pressure measurement unit for an inflatable chamber.
BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE Figure 1 illustrates a conventional inflatable chamber 10, such as a sports balloon, with a peripheral wall 11 that confines an air chamber 16 therein. An elastomeric one-way valve 13 is mounted in an opening 12 of the peripheral wall 11, and is formed by a slot 15 that automatically closes and that can be forced to open via the insertion of an inflation needle 17 to allow the air flows into the air chamber 16. The conventional inflatable chamber 10 is disadvantageous since the measurement of an internal pressure of the air chamber 16 is relatively inconvenient since it requires a separate measuring device (not shown).
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable chamber with a pressure measuring unit to overcome the aforementioned disadvantage associated with the prior art. Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflation valve device with a pressure measurement unit for the inflatable chamber of the invention. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflatable chamber comprising: a peripheral wall which confines an air chamber therein and which is formed with an opening; a tubular sleeve member inserted in the air chamber via the opening and having a peripheral sleeve wall having opposite open upper and lower ends and confining a first channel extending from the upper end to the lower end in fluidic communication with the air chamber and the opening, the upper end being mounted on the peripheral wall of the chamber; a pressure measuring unit including a tubular indicator and a first member pushing it, the indicator being mounted movably in the first channel and having a peripheral indicator wall surrounded by the peripheral wall of the sleeve and marked with indications to indicate the pressure in the air chamber, the first thrust member being positioned between the peripheral wall of the sleeve and the peripheral wall of the indicator, the indicator being constantly pushed by the pressure in the air chamber to move axially and outwardly of the first channel against the deviation action of the first thrust member, which, in turn, results in the displacement of the first thrust member in an amount corresponding to the pressure in the air chamber and indicated by the exposed indications of the opening on the peripheral wall of the camera; and a first locking member which is positioned between the peripheral wall of the sleeve and the peripheral wall of the indicator and which is operable between a first locking position, in which, the first locking member is releasably coupled to the indicator for preventing axial movement of the indicator in the first channel, and a first unlocking position, in which, the first blocking member is decoupled from the indicator to allow axial movement of the indicator by virtue of the pressure in the air chamber. According to another aspect of this invention, the inflation valve device is provided for an inflatable chamber having a peripheral chamber wall that borders an air chamber therein and that is formed in an opening. The inflation valve device includes: a tubular sleeve member adapted to be inserted into the air chamber via the opening and having a peripheral sleeve wall having opposite open upper and lower ends and bordering a first channel extending from the upper end to the lower end and adapted to be in fluidic communication with the air chamber and the opening, the upper end being adapted to be mounted on the peripheral wall of the chamber; a pressure measuring unit including a tubular indicator and a first push member, the indicator being mounted movably in the first channel and having a peripheral indicator wall that borders a second channel, surrounded by the peripheral wall of the sleeve, and marked with indications to indicate the pressure in the air chamber, the first thrust member being positioned between the peripheral wall of the sleeve and the peripheral wall of the indicator, the indicator being adapted to be constantly pushed by the pressure in the air chamber to move axially and outwardly of the first channel against the deflection action of the first thrust member, which, in turn, results in the displacement of the first thrust member in an amount corresponding to the pressure in the air chamber and indicated by the exposed indications of the opening to a peripheral wall of the chamber; a first blocking member which is operable between a first blocking position, in which, the first locking member releasably engages the indicator to prevent axial movement of the indicator in the first channel, and a first unlocking position , in which, the first blocking member is decoupled from the indicator to allow axial movement of the indicator by virtue of the pressure in the air chamber; a first elastomeric inflation valve that is mounted on and divides the second channel into an upper section and a lower section which is in fluid communication with the air chamber, and which is formed with a first slot that is capable of automatically closing; an inflation needle which is mounted on the upper section of the second channel and which has a peripheral needle wall surrounded by the peripheral wall of the indicator and which encloses a first needle chamber which is in fluidic communication with the atmosphere, the needle being of mobile inflation together with the indicator in relation to the sleeve member; and a second thrust member positioned between the peripheral wall of the indicator and the peripheral wall of the needle. The inflation needle is operable via an external force to move into the inflatable chamber relative to the indicator against the deviation action of the second push member from a higher position to a lower position, in which the inflation needle is extends to and through the first slot to allow fluid communication between the air chamber and the first chamber of the needle via the lower section of the second channel. The second thrust member pushes the inflation needle to return to the upper position when the inflation needle is released from the external force.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a conventional inflatable chamber; Figure 2 is a fragmented cone view of a first embodiment of an inflatable chamber according to this invention; Figure 3 is a fragmented top view to illustrate a first blogging member of the inflatable camera of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned view to illustrate an indicator of the inflatable chamber of Figure 2, with the first locking member placed in a first unlocking position; Figure 5 is a sectional view, fragmented, to illustrate an inflation needle of the inflatable chamber of Figure 2, which is placed in a lower position; Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the inflatable chamber according to this invention; Figure 7 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned view to illustrate a sleeve member of the inflatable chamber of Figure 6 moving out of a cylinder; and Figure 8 is a fragmentary, partial sectional view for illustrating the sleeve member of the inflatable chamber of Figure 6, which is moved into the cylinder.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE Figures 2 to 5 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of an inflatable chamber according to this invention, such as a sports ball. The inflatable chamber includes a peripheral wall of chamber 20 which confines an air chamber 200 therein and which is formed with an opening 201, and an inflation valve device 2 mounted in the air chamber 200 via the opening 201. The device of inflation valve 2 includes: a tubular sleeve member 21 inserted into the air chamber 200 via the opening 201 and having a peripheral sleeve wall 21 'having open upper and lower ends 212, 217 and confining a first channel 210 extending from the upper end 212 to the lower end 217 and in fluid communication with the air chamber 200 and the opening 201, the upper end 212 being mounted on the peripheral wall of the chamber 20; a pressure measuring unit including a tubular indicator 22 and a first push member 29, the indicator 22 being mounted movably in the first chamber 210 and having a peripheral indicator wall 22 'bordering a second channel 220 surrounded by the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 'and marked with indications (see Figure 3) to indicate the pressure in the air chamber 200, the first push member 29 being positioned between the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21' and the peripheral wall of the indicator 22 ', the peripheral wall of the indicator 22' having an upper end 224 and a lower end 225 which is constantly pushed by the pressure and the air chamber 200 to allow the indicator 22 to move axially and outwardly of the first channel 210 against the deviation action of the first push member 29, which, in turn, results in the displacement of the first push member 29 (see Figure 4) in a corresponding amount. responding to the pressure in the air chamber 200 e indicated by the exposed indication of the opening 201 in the peripheral wall of the chamber 20, the peripheral wall of the indicator 22 'being formed with a flange guiding the projecting needle 222 radially therefrom to the second channel 220 and defining a hole through which the needle 2220 passes; a first locking member 30 which is positioned between the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 'and the peripheral wall of the indicator 22' and which is operable between a first blocking position (see Figure 2), in which, the first member 30 is releasably engaged to the indicator 22 to prevent axial movement of the indicator 22 in the first channel 210, and a first unlocking position (see Figures 3 and 4), in which, the first locking member 30 the indicator 22 is uncoupled to allow axial movement of the indicator 22 by virtue of the pressure in the air chamber 200; a first elastomeric inflation valve 23 is mounted in the second channel 220 securing it to a lower end of the flange guiding the needle 222, which divides the second channel 220 into an upper section 2201 and a lower section 2202 which is in fluidic communication with the air chamber 200, and which is formed with a first slot 230 that is capable of automatically closing; an inflation needle 24 which is mounted in the upper section 2201 of the second channel 220 and which has a peripheral needle wall 24 'surrounded by the peripheral wall of the indicator 22', inserted tightly and moving through the hole through the which needle 2220 passes into and into the first inflation valve 23, and which confines a first needle chamber 240 which is in fluidic communication with the atmosphere, the inflation needle 24 being movable together with the indicator 22 in relation to the member of sleeve 21, the peripheral wall of the needle 24 being formed with a first flange spliced with a spring 242 projecting radially from the member toward the upper section 2201 of the second channel 220; a second thrust member 26, which is in the form of a helical spring, positioned between the peripheral wall of the indicator 22 'and the peripheral wall of the needle 24' within the upper section 2201 of 220, wound around the peripheral walls of the needle 24 ', and spliced against the first flange joined to the spring 242 and an upper end of the flange guiding the needle 222. The inflation needle 224 is separable via an external force to move into the inflatable chamber relative to the indicator 22 against the deviation action of the second push member 26 from a higher position (see Figure 2) * to a lower position (see Figure 5), in which, the inflation needle 24 extends towards and through the first slot 230 to allow fluid communication between the air chamber 200 and the first chamber of the needle 240 via the lower section 2201 of the second channel 220. The second pushing member 26 pushes the to inflation needle 24 to return to the upper position when the inflation needle 24 is released from the external force. The first blocking member 30 includes a pair of opposed first J-shaped slots 30 formed in the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 ', and a pair of opposite first tabs 302 formed on the indicator peripheral wall 22' and re-releasable and engageable respectively with the first J-shaped slots 301 when the first blocking member 30 is placed in the first blocking position. The indicator 22 rotates -relating to the sleeve member 21 to move the first locking member 30 between the first locking and unlocking positions. A sealing member 28 is positioned between the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 'and the peripheral wall of the indicator 22' to form a seal therebetween and to divide the first channel 210 into upper and lower sections 2101 and 2102. A pair of second beads of spring splices 211, 221 are respectively formed on the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 'and the peripheral wall of the indicator 22' inside the upper section 2101 of the channel 210. The first push member 29, which is in the form of a spring helical, is wound on the peripheral wall of the indicator 22 ', placed in the upper section 2101 of the first channel 210, and spliced against the second spring connecting flanges 211, 221. In the lower section 2102 of the first channel 210 is in communication fluidica with the air chamber 200 via the lower opening in the lower end 217 of the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 '. An elastomeric T-shaped cap member 27 defines a central through hole 270, and has a head portion 272 and a body portion 273 extending from the head portion 272 and which is inserted under pressure through a confined space by the upper end 224 of the peripheral wall of the indicator 22 'and the upper end 244 of the peripheral wall of the needle 24'. An operating slot 271 is formed in the head portion 272 of the cover member 27 (see Figure 3) to facilitate rotation of the indicator 22 relative to the sleeve member 21. The upper end 244 of the peripheral wall of the needle 24 'extends through the central through hole 270 to facilitate the thrust of inflation needle 24. An elastomeric sleeve 25 is inserted under pressure at the upper end 242 of the inflation needle 24 to receive an external inflation needle 17 during the inflation operation of the inflatable chamber (see Figure 5). Figures 6 to 8 show a second preferred embodiment of the inflatable chamber that was modified from the previous embodiment shown in Figure 2 and that also includes a hollow cylinder 41 in addition to all the components of the previous embodiment. In this modality, the hollow cylinder 41 is inserted into the air chamber 200 via the opening 201 and has a cylindrical peripheral wall 41 'surrounding the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21', which confines a cylindrical chamber 410, and having an open upper end 411 secured to the peripheral wall of the chamber 20 (note that the upper end 212 of the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 'is secured to the peripheral wall of the chamber 20 in the previous modes but not in this embodiment), and one end lower 412 opposite the open upper end 411 and formed with a hole for inserting the needle 413. A second elastomeric inflation valve 42 are mounted on the lower end 412 of the cylindrical peripheral wall 41 ', and is formed with a second slot 420 which extends into the inflatable chamber from the hole for inserting the needle 413 and which is capable of automatically closing. The lower section 2102 of the first channel 210 is in fluid communication with the air chamber 200 via the hole for inserting the needle 413 and the second slot 420. The peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 'is formed with opposite upper and lower annular flanges 213, 214 projecting radially and outwardly thereof to the peripheral wall of the cylinder 41 'adjacent the lower end 217 of the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21' and cooperating with the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 '· to enclose a retaining slot annular 46 therethrough, and in at least one elongated slot 216 extending from the upper end 212 of the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 'to the upper annular rim 213 and in fluidic communication with the atmosphere. An annular seal 45 is retained in the annular retaining groove 46 to form a seal between the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 'and the peripheral wall of the cylinder 41' and to divide the cylindrical chamber 410 into an upper space 4101 above the groove of retention 46 and a lower space 4102 below the annular retaining groove 46 (see Figures 7 and 8). The lower annular rim 214 has a peripheral edge, and is formed in at least one slit 215 extending radially from the peripheral edge towards the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 '. The peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 'has a section bordering an inner side of the annular retaining groove 46 and which is formed with at least one axial groove 218 which is in fluid communication with the groove 215. The sleeve member 21 is moves in and out of the cylinder 41 in such a way that the annular seal 45 is separated from the upper annular rim 213 by a space 461 (see Figure 7) to allow fluidic communication between the upper and lower spaces 4101, 4102 of the cylindrical chamber 41 via the space 461, the axial groove 218 and the groove 215 when the sleeve member 21 joins out of the cylinder 41, and so that the annular seal 41 is connected to the upper annular flange 213 to form a seal between the upper space 4101 of the cylindrical chamber 410 and the axial slot 218 when the sleeve member 21 is moved into the cylinder 41. This second slot 420 is forced to open when the sleeve member 21 is moved into the cylinder 41 (see Figure 8), thereby allowing pumping of air from the cylindrical chamber 410 to the air chamber 200 via the second slot 420. A protective cover 43 projects from the lower end 412 of the peripheral wall of the cylinder 41 'to cover the second inflation valve 42. A second blocking member 50 is positioned between the peripheral wall of the member 41' and the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 ', and is operable between a second locking position (see Figure 6), in which, the second locking member 50 releasably couples to the sleeve member 21 to prevent axial movement of the sleeve member 21 in the cylindrical chamber 410, and a second unlocking position (see Figures 7 and 8), in which, the second locking member 50 is decoupled from the sleeve member 21 to allow axial movement of the sleeve member 21. The second locking member 50 includes a pair of opposed second J-shaped slots 50 formed in the peripheral wall of the cylinder 41 ', and a pair of second opposing tabs 501 formed on the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21' and relisable and engageable respectively with the second shaped slot of J 502 when the second blocking member 50 is placed in the second blocking position. The sleeve member 21 rotates relative to the cylinder 41 to move the second locking member 50 between the second locking and unlocking positions. The peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 'is further formed with a needle which releases air 44 which projects from the lower end 217 of the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21' and which defines a second needle chamber 440 which is in fluidic communication with the lower section 2102 of the first channel 210. The air-releasing needle 44 extends through the hole for inserting the needle 413 and the second slot 420 when the lower end 217 of the peripheral wall of the sleeve 21 'moves towards the lower end 412 of the peripheral wall of the cylinder 41 ', thereby allowing fluid communication between the air chamber 200 and the lower section 2102 of the first channel 210 via the second chamber of the needle 440 (see Figure 6), which, In turn, it allows fluid communication between the air chamber 200 and the first chamber of the needle 240 when the inflation needle 24 is placed in the lower position in which, in turn, it allows the release of air from the air chamber 200 into the atmosphere when the pressure in the air chamber 200 is too high. With the inclusion of the pressure measuring unit in the inflation valve device 2 of this invention, the aforementioned disadvantage of the prior art can be eliminated. With the invention thus explained, it is clear that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only according to what is set forth in the appended claims.