U.S. patent application number 10/950517 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-16 for inflator with inflation and deflation effects.
Invention is credited to Chiang Pei Chen.
Application Number | 20060034719 10/950517 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35800138 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060034719 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Chiang Pei |
February 16, 2006 |
Inflator with inflation and deflation effects
Abstract
An inflator with inflation and deflation effects. The inflator
includes: a cylinder body in which a piston is fitted for
compressing the gas in a compression room formed in the cylinder
body between the piston and the front end of the cylinder body; a
piston rod having an internal gas passage, a front end of the
piston rod extending through a rear end of the cylinder body into
the cylinder body to connect with the piston, a front end of the
gas passage communicating with the compression room; a handle
connected with a rear end of the piston rod, a rear end of the gas
passage communicating with outer side; a first one-way valve
disposed at a front end of the cylinder body and only permitting
the gas to one-way flow between the compression room and outer
side; a second one-way valve only permitting the gas to one-way
flow between outer side, the gas passage and the compression room.
Along the longitude of the inflator, the two one-way valves only
permit the gas to one-way flow in the same direction.
Inventors: |
Chen; Chiang Pei; (Tai Ping
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROXELL LAW OFFICE PLLC
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Family ID: |
35800138 |
Appl. No.: |
10/950517 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/569 ;
417/570 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 33/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/569 ;
417/570 |
International
Class: |
F04B 39/10 20060101
F04B039/10; F04B 53/10 20060101 F04B053/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 11, 2004 |
TW |
093124036 |
Claims
1. An inflator with inflation and deflation effects, comprising: a
cylinder body; a piston fitted in the cylinder body and airtight
engaged with inner wall of the cylinder body, a compression room
being formed in the cylinder body between the piston and a front
end of the cylinder body; a piston rod having an internal gas
passage, a front end of the piston rod extending through a rear end
of the cylinder body into the cylinder body to connect with the
piston for driving the piston, a front end of the gas passage
communicating with the compression room; a handle connected with a
rear end of the piston rod for a user to hold, a rear end of the
gas passage keeping communicating with outer side; an exhaust
one-way valve disposed at front end of the cylinder body, the
exhaust one-way valve only permitting the gas in the compression
room to flow from the compression room to outer side; an intake
one-way valve positioned in a certain position, the intake one-way
valve only permitting ambient atmosphere to one-way flow through
the gas passage into the compression room; a gas passage connector
located at circumference of the handle to communicate with a rear
end of the gas passage; and a cylinder body connector disposed at
the front end of the cylinder body to communicate with a front end
of the exhaust one-way valve.
2. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intake one-way
valve is disposed in the piston to communicate the compression room
with the front end of the gas passage.
3. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intake one-way
valve is disposed in the gas passage.
4. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intake one-way
valve is disposed in the handle between a rear end of the piston
rod and the gas passage connector.
5. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas passage
connector is disposed in the handle and exposed at the
circumference of the handle.
6. The inflator as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rear end of the
piston rod extends to a rear end of the handle and the gas passage
connector is disposed in the rear end of the piston rod.
7. An inflator with inflation and deflation effects, comprising: a
cylinder body; a piston fitted in the cylinder body and airtight
engaged with inner wall face of the cylinder body, a compression
room being formed in the cylinder body between the piston and a
front end of the cylinder body; a piston rod having an internal gas
passage, a front end of the piston rod extending through a rear end
of the cylinder body into the cylinder body to connect with the
piston for driving the piston, a front end of the gas passage
communicating with the compression room; a handle connected with a
rear end of the piston rod for a user to hold, a rear end of the
gas passage keeping communicating with outer side; an intake
one-way valve disposed at front end of the cylinder body, only
permitting the gas to flow from outer side into the compression
room; an exhaust one-way valve positioned in a certain position,
the exhaust one-way valve only permitting the gas in the
compression room to flow from the compression room into the gas
passage and then flow from the rear end of the gas passage to outer
side; a gas passage connector located at circumference of the
handle to communicate with a rear end of the gas passage; and a
cylinder body connector disposed at the front end of the cylinder
body to communicate with a front end of the intake one-way
valve.
8. The inflator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the exhaust one-way
valve is disposed in the piston to communicate the compression room
with the front end of the gas passage.
9. The inflator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the exhaust one-way
valve is disposed in the gas passage.
10. The inflator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the exhaust one-way
valve is disposed in the handle between a rear end of the piston
rod and the gas passage connector.
11. An inflator with inflation and deflation effects, comprising: a
main cylinder body; a subsidiary cylinder body; a main piston
disposed at a front end of the subsidiary cylinder body, the
subsidiary cylinder body extending through rear end of the main
cylinder body into the main cylinder body, the main piston being
airtight fitted in the main cylinder body, a main compression room
being formed in the main cylinder body between front end of the
main cylinder body and the main piston; a subsidiary piston
airtight fitted in the subsidiary cylinder body, a subsidiary
compression room being formed in the subsidiary cylinder body
between front end of the subsidiary cylinder body and the
subsidiary piston, the subsidiary compression room communicating
with the main compression room; a piston rod having an internal gas
passage, a front end of the piston rod extending through rear end
of the subsidiary cylinder body into the subsidiary cylinder body
to connect with the subsidiary piston, a front end of the gas
passage communicating with the subsidiary compression room; a
handle connected with a rear end of the piston rod, a rear end of
the gas passage keeping communicating with outer side; an exhaust
one-way valve disposed at front end of the cylinder body, only
permitting the gas to flow from the main compression room to outer
side; a first intake one-way valve disposed in a certain position,
the first intake one-way valve only permitting the ambient
atmosphere to one-way flow through the gas passage into the
subsidiary compression room; a gas passage connector located at
circumference of the handle to communicate with a rear end of the
gas passage; and a cylinder body connector disposed at the front
end of the cylinder body to communicate with a front end of the
exhaust one-way valve.
12. The inflator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the intake one-way
valve is disposed in the subsidiary piston.
13. The inflator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the intake one-way
valve is disposed in the gas passage.
14. The inflator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the intake one-way
valve is disposed in the handle between a rear end of the piston
rod and the gas passage connector.
15. The inflator as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a
second intake one-way valve disposed in the main piston, the second
intake one-way valve only permitting the gas to flow from the
subsidiary compression room to the main compression room.
16. An inflator with inflation and deflation effects, comprising: a
main cylinder body; a subsidiary cylinder body; a main piston
disposed at a front end of the subsidiary cylinder body, the
subsidiary cylinder body extending through rear end of the main
cylinder body into the main cylinder body, the main piston being
airtight fitted in the main cylinder body, a main compression room
being formed in the main cylinder body between front end of the
main cylinder body and the main piston, the main piston being
formed with a through hole communicating with an interior of the
subsidiary cylinder body; a subsidiary piston airtight fitted in
the subsidiary cylinder body, a subsidiary compression room being
formed in the subsidiary cylinder body between front end of the
subsidiary cylinder body and the subsidiary piston, the through
hole communicating the subsidiary compression room with the main
compression room; a piston rod having an internal gas passage, a
front end of the piston rod extending through rear end of the
subsidiary cylinder body into the subsidiary cylinder body to
connect with the subsidiary piston, a front end of the gas passage
communicating with the subsidiary compression room; a handle
connected with rear end of the piston rod, a rear end of the gas
passage keeping communicating with outer side; an intake one-way
valve disposed at a front end of the cylinder body and only
permitting the gas to flow from outer side into the compression
room; a first exhaust one-way valve disposed in a certain position,
the first exhaust one-way valve only permitting the gas to one-way
flow from the subsidiary compression room into the gas passage and
then flow from outer end of the gas passage to outer side; a
gas-passage connector located at circumference of the handle to
communicate with a rear end of the gas passage; and a cylinder body
connector disposed at the front end of the cylinder body to
communicate with a front end of the exhaust one-way valve.
17. The inflator as claimed in claim 16, wherein the exhaust
one-way valve is disposed in the subsidiary piston.
18. The inflator as claimed in claim 16, wherein the exhaust
one-way valve is disposed in the gas passage.
19. The inflator as claimed in claim 16, wherein the exhaust
one-way valve is disposed in the handle between a rear end of the
piston rod and the gas passage connector.
20. The inflator as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a
second exhaust one-way valve disposed in the main piston, the
second exhaust one-way valve only permitting the gas to flow from
the main compression room to the subsidiary compression room.
21. An inflator with inflation and deflation effects, comprising: a
cylinder body; a piston fitted in the cylinder body, a compression
room being formed in the cylinder body between the piston and a
front end of the cylinder body; a piston rod having an internal gas
passage, a front end of the piston rod extending through a rear end
of the cylinder body into the cylinder body to connect with the
piston for driving the piston, a front end of the gas passage
communicating with the compression room; a handle connected with a
rear end of the piston rod for a user to hold, a rear end of the
gas passage keeping communicating with outer side; a first one-way
valve disposed at a front end of the cylinder body, the first
one-way valve only permitting the gas to one-way flow between outer
side and the compression room, a first gas flow way being formed
between the compression room and outer side; a second one-way valve
positioned in a certain position, a second gas flow way being
formed between outer side, the gas passage and the compression
room, the second one-way valve only permitting the gas to one-way
flow within the second gas flow way, along the longitude of the
inflator, the two one-way valves only permitting the gas to one-way
flow within the two gas flow ways in the same direction; a gas
passage connector located at circumference of the handle to
communicate with a rear end of the gas passage; and a cylinder body
connector disposed at the front end of the cylinder body to
communicate with a front end of the exhaust one-way valve.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is related to an inflating device, and
more particularly to an inflator with both inflation and deflation
effects. The inflator minimizes the possibility of mis-installation
when inflating or deflating an object.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A conventional inflator is used to inflate an object.
However, such inflator cannot exhaust the gas from the object.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,343 of this applicant discloses an
inflator which can inflate an object as well as suck gas out of the
object.
[0004] FIG. 1 shows the structure of the above Patent, in which a
piston 12 is disposed in a cylinder body 10. Via a piston rod 14,
the piston 12 can be pushed to compress the gas in the internal
space 15 of the cylinder body. An intake one-way valve 16 and an
exhaust one-way valve 18 are arranged at front end of the cylinder
body 10. The intake one-way valve 16 only permits the gas to flow
from outer side into the space 15, while the exhaust one-way valve
18 only permits the gas to be exhausted from the space 14 to outer
side.
[0005] When inflated, a conducting member 19 is mounted at the
exhaust one-way valve 18 as shown in FIG. 1. When the piston 12 is
pushed toward the front end of the cylinder body 10, the gas in the
space 15 is compressed to flow through the exhaust one-way valve 18
and the conducting member 19 into an object to inflate the same.
When the piston is pushed in reverse direction, the ambient
atmosphere can flow through the intake one-way valve 16 into the
space 14.
[0006] When deflating the object, the conducting member 19 is
mounted at the intake one-way valve 16 as shown in FIG. 2. When the
piston 12 is pushed toward the rear end of the cylinder body 10,
the gas in the space 15 is decompressed and the gas in the object
flows through the conducting member 19 and the intake one-way valve
16 into space 15. Then the piston is pushed toward the front end of
the cylinder body so as to exhaust the gas in the space 15 through
the exhaust one-way valve 18 to outer side.
[0007] According to the above structure, the inflator has both
inflation and deflation functions. However, the intake one-way
valve 16 and the exhaust one-way valve 18 are both disposed at
front end of the cylinder body 10. It is uneasy for a user to
distinguish these two one-way valves 16, 18 from each other. As a
result, it often takes place that a user mis-mounts the conducting
member at an incorrect one-way valve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide an inflator with both inflation and deflation effects. In
inflation or deflation operations, the gas flow ways of the
inflator are respectively positioned in the cylinder body and the
handle of the inflator. Therefore, a user can easily distinguish
the two gas flow ways from each other so as to minimize the
possibility of mis-installation.
[0009] The present invention can be best understood through the
following description and accompanying drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are longitudinally sectional views of a
prior inflator in operation;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment
of the present invention, also showing various gas-conducting
members co-used with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a longitudinally sectional view of FIG. 3;
[0013] FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views according to FIG. 4,
showing the inflation operation of the present invention;
[0014] FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views according to FIG. 4,
showing the deflation operation of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a longitudinally sectional view of another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a longitudinally sectional view of still another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a partial enlarged view of another embodiment
according to FIG. 10;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a longitudinally sectional view of still another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 13 shows the inflation operation according to FIG.
12;
[0020] FIG. 14 shows the deflation operation according to FIG.
12;
[0021] FIG. 15 is a longitudinally sectional view of still another
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0022] FIG. 16 is a longitudinally sectional view of still another
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. According to a first
embodiment, the inflator 20 of the present invention includes a
hollow cylinder body 30 and a piston 40. A rear end of the cylinder
body 30 is sealed by a rear cap 32. A leakproof member such as an
O-ring 42 is fitted around the circumference of the piston 40. The
piston 40 is fitted in the cylinder body 30 with the O-ring 42
airtight engaged with inner wall face of the cylinder body. The
piston divides the interior of the cylinder body into two spaces.
The space between front end of the cylinder body and the piston
forms a compression room 34.
[0024] A hollow piston rod 50 has an internal gas passage 52. A
front end of the piston rod extends through the rear cap 32 into
the cylinder body to connect with the piston 40 for driving the
piston. A rear end of the piston rod 50 is positioned on outer side
of the cylinder body. The front end of the gas passage 52
communicates with the compression room 34.
[0025] A handle 55 fixedly connected with the rear end of the
piston rod 50 for a user to hold. The mounting structure between
the handle and the piston rod will not affect the communication
between the rear end of the gas passage 52 and outer side.
[0026] A gas passage connector 56 disposed at circumference of the
handle and communicating with the rear end of the gas passage 52.
In this embodiment, the gas passage connector 56 is directly
disposed in the rear end of the piston rod 50 which extends through
the handle to the rear end face thereof. Alternatively, as shown in
FIG. 10, the gas passage connector 132 can be disposed in the
handle 126 and adjacent to the circumference of the handle.
[0027] A first one-way valve which is an exhaust one-way valve 60.
The one-way valve only permits the gas to flow in one direction.
The structure of the one-way valve is not limited to any specific
structure. In this embodiment, the one-way valve 60 has a conic
flow way 62 and a ball body 64 rollable within the flow way 62. The
one-way valve 60 is disposed at front end of the cylinder body 30,
permitting the gas to only flow from the compression room 34 of the
cylinder body to outer side.
[0028] A cylinder body connector 66 disposed at the front end of
the cylinder body 30 to communicate with front end of the one-way
valve 60.
[0029] A second one-way valve which is an intake one-way valve 70.
The one-way valve only permits the gas to flow in one direction.
The structure of the one-way valve is not limited to any specific
structure. The one-way valve 70 is disposed on front end face of
the piston 40. A rear end of the one-way valve 70 communicates with
the front end of the gas passage 52. The one-way valve 70 permits
the gas to only flow from the gas passage 52 into the compression
room 34.
[0030] The inflator 20 is co-usable with various gas-conducting
members as shown in FIG. 3. The gas-conducting member 80 is a
metal-made inflating pin and may co-used with a rubber conduit 82.
The gas-conducting member 84 is a plastic-made inflating pin.
[0031] When inflating an object, a gas-conducting member such as
the inflating pin 80 is mounted on the cylinder body connector 66
as shown in FIG. 5. When a user holds the handle 55 to push the
piston 40 forward, the gas in the compression room 34 is compressed
to flow through the exhaust one-way valve 60 and the gas-conducting
member 80 into the inflated object. At this time, the ball body 74
of the intake one-way valve 70 blocks the flow way 72 to prevent
the compressed gas from flowing from the compression room into the
gas passage 52.
[0032] After the forward travel of the piston 40 ends, the piston
is pulled backward as shown in FIG. 6. At this time, the capacity
of the compression room 34 is enlarged and the pressure of the gas
is lowered. The ambient atmosphere goes through the gas passage 52
of the piston rod 50 and the intake one-way valve 70 into the
compression room. Therefore, the gas pressure in the compression
room is kept equal to the pressure of the atmosphere. The ball body
64 of the exhaust one-way valve 60 blocks the flow way 62 so that
the ambient atmosphere cannot flow into the compression room.
[0033] After the backward travel of the piston ends, the user can
again push the piston to compress the gas in the compression room.
By means of repeated operation, the gas is filled into the
object.
[0034] When deflating the object, the gas-conducting member 80 is
mounted at the gas passage connector 56 as shown in FIG. 7. The
gas-conducting member is extended into the object. At this time,
the cylinder body is pushed and pulled to deflate the object.
[0035] When the cylinder body 30 is pulled in a direction away from
the handle 55, the gas pressure in the compression room 34 is
lowered and thus the gas in the object is sucked into the inflator.
The gas flows through the gas passage 52 and the intake one-way
valve 70 into the compression room. The pressure of the atmosphere
is greater than the gas pressure of the compression room.
Therefore, at this time, the exhaust one-way valve 60 is blocked to
prevent the ambient gas from flowing into the compression room.
[0036] Then the cylinder body 30 is pushed toward the handle 55 as
shown in FIG. 8. The compressed gas in the compression room 34 is
exhausted through the exhaust one-way valve 60 to outer side. The
ball body 74 of the intake one-way valve 70 at this time blocks the
flow way 72 to prevent the compressed gas from flowing into the gas
passage 52.
[0037] By means of repeatedly pushing the cylinder body, the object
is deflated.
[0038] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the present invention,
which has a structure substantially identical to the structure of
the above embodiment. In this embodiment, the two one-way valves
are switched. As shown in FIG. 9, the exhaust one-way valve 92 is
disposed on front end face of the piston 94 to communicate with
inner end of the gas passage 96 and only permit the gas to flow
from the compression room 98 to the gas passage 96. The intake
one-way valve 102 is disposed on front end face of the cylinder
body 100, only permitting the gas to flow from outer side into the
compression room 98.
[0039] When inflating an object, a gas-conducting member is mounted
on the gas passage connector 104 to communicate with the gas
passage. When the gas in the compression room 98 is compressed, the
compressed gas flows through the exhaust one-way valve 92, the gas
passage 96 and the gas-conducting member into the object. When the
capacity of the compression room is enlarged, the ambient
atmosphere goes through the intake one-way valve 102 into the
compression room.
[0040] When deflating the object, the gas-conducting member is
mounted at the cylinder body connector 106 to communicate with the
intake one-way valve 102. When operating the inflator, the gas in
the object will be sucked into the compression room 98 and then
exhausted through the gas passage 96 to outer side.
[0041] FIG. 10 shows still another embodiment of the inflator 110
of the present invention, in which the first one-way valve 122 such
as the exhaust one-way valve/intake one-way valve is disposed at
front end of the cylinder body 120 to communicate with the
compression room 124. The second one-way valve 125 such as intake
one-way valve/exhaust one-way valve is disposed in the gas passage
or the handle for controlling the gas to one-way flow within the
gas passage.
[0042] In FIG. 10, the second one-way valve 125 is disposed in a
hole 128 of the handle 126. The piston rod 130 extends into the
hole 128 and the gas passage connector 132 is disposed in the hole
128. The one-way valve 125 is positioned between the gas passage
connector and the rear end of the piston rod to communicate with
the gas passage 134.
[0043] Alternatively, the second one-way valve 125' can be disposed
in the piston rod 130' at outer end of the gas passage 134' as
shown in FIG. 11.
[0044] In use, according to the usage, the gas-conducting member is
mounted at the cylinder body connector 136 or the gas passage
connector 132. When the gas in the compression room 124 is
compressed by the piston 138, the gas is exhausted from one of the
one-way valves 122 or 125. When the pressure of the gas in the
compression room is lowered, the compression room is complemented
with the atmosphere through the other one-way valve 125 or 122.
Accordingly, the inflation or deflation function can be
achieved.
[0045] In addition, it should be noted that in FIG. 11, the one-way
valve 125' disposed in the gas passage 134' can be positioned in
any position within the gas passage, for example, the front end,
rear end or middle of the gas passage. All can achieve the purpose
of one-way flowing of the gas.
[0046] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of
the inflator 140 of the present invention, which has a telescopic
structure. The inflator 140 includes a main cylinder body 150, a
subsidiary cylinder body 155 and a main piston 156 disposed at
front end of the subsidiary cylinder body 155. The subsidiary
cylinder body 155 extends through the rear cap 152 of the main
cylinder body 150 into the main cylinder body 150. The main piston
156 is tightly fitted in the main cylinder body for compressing the
gas in the main compression room 154 of the main cylinder body.
[0047] A piston rod 160 has an internal gas passage 162. A
subsidiary piston 165 is disposed at front end of the piston rod
160. The front end of the piston rod 160 extends through the rear
cap 157 of the subsidiary cylinder body into the subsidiary
cylinder body 155. The subsidiary piston 165 is tightly fitted in
the subsidiary cylinder body for compressing the gas in the
subsidiary compression room 158 of the subsidiary cylinder
body.
[0048] A handle 170 is fixedly connected with rear end of the
piston rod 160.
[0049] A first one-way valve 180 is disposed at front end of the
main cylinder body 150 for communicating the compression room with
outer side. The first one-way valve 180 only permits the gas to
one-way flow between the outer side and the compression room.
[0050] This embodiment further includes two second one-way valves
190, 195. One of the second one-way valves 190 is disposed in the
main piston 156 to communicate the subsidiary compression room 158
of the subsidiary cylinder body 155 with the main compression room
154 of the main cylinder body 150, and only permits the gas to
one-way flow between the two compression rooms. The other of the
two second one-way valves 195 is disposed in the subsidiary piston
165 for communicating the subsidiary compression room 158 and the
gas passage 162, and only permits the gas to one-way flow between
the subsidiary compression room and the gas passage. The gas
one-way flows through the two second one-way valves 190, 195 in the
same direction.
[0051] The first one-way valve can be an exhaust one-way
valve/intake one-way valve. The two second one-way valves can be
intake one-way valve/exhaust one-way valves. In FIG. 13, the first
one-way valve 180 is the exhaust one-way valve which only permits
the gas of the main compression room 154 to one-way flow from the
main compression room to outer side. The second one-way valves 190,
195 are the intake one-way valves. The second one-way valve 190
only permits the gas to flow from the subsidiary compression room
158 to the main compression room 154. The other second one-way
valve 195 only permits the gas to flow from the gas passage 162 to
the subsidiary compression room 158.
[0052] When inflating an object, a gas-conducting member 200 is
mounted on the cylinder body connector 202. When pushing the handle
170 forward, the gas in the subsidiary compression room 158 is
compressed by the subsidiary piston 165. The gas flows through the
first intake valve 190 into the main compression room 154. The gas
in the main compression room is compressed by the main piston 156
to flow through the exhaust one-way valve 180 into the object.
[0053] When the handle 170 is pulled backward, the air pressure in
the two compression rooms will be less than the pressure of the
atmosphere. Therefore, the atmosphere will flow through the gas
passage 162 and the second intake valve 195 into the subsidiary
compression room 158 and then flow through the first intake valve
190 into the main compression room 154. Accordingly, the pressure
of the gas in the two compression rooms will be equal to the
pressure of the atmosphere. The exhaust one-way valve 180 serves to
prevent the gas in the object from flowing back into the main
compression room 154.
[0054] When deflating the object, as shown in FIG. 14, the
gas-conducting member 200 is connected with the gas passage
connector 204. The main cylinder body 150 is pulled in a direction
away from the handle 170. At this time, the air pressure in the
compression rooms 154, 158 is lowered so that the gas in the object
is sucked through the gas passage 162, the two intake one-way
valves 190, 195 into the two compression rooms. Then the main
cylinder body 150 is pushed toward the handle 170 to compress the
gas in the compression rooms. The gas is then exhausted through the
exhaust one-way valve 180 to outer side.
[0055] In practice, the first one-way valve 180 can be an intake
one-way valve and the two second one-way valves 190, 195 are two
exhaust one-way valves. Accordingly, the inflator can still achieve
both the inflation and deflation functions.
[0056] FIG. 15 shows still another embodiment of the inflator 210
of the present invention, which also is a telescopic structure. The
inflator 210 only includes a first one-way valve 222 and a second
one-way valve 224. The first one-way valve 222 is disposed at front
end of the cylinder body 220 to communicate with the main
compression room 226. The second one-way valve 224 is disposed in
the subsidiary piston 228 to communicate with the gas passage 230
and the subsidiary compression room 232. The main piston 234 is
formed with a through hole 236 for communicating with the main
compression room 226 and the subsidiary compression room 232.
[0057] The first one-way valve 222 can be an exhaust/intake one-way
valve. The second one-way valve 224 can be an intake/exhaust
one-way valve. Such inflator can also achieve inflation and
deflation effects. In this embodiment, in the case that no one-way
valve is disposed in the main piston 234, the function of the
inflator will not be affected. This embodiment can achieve the same
effect as the embodiment of FIG. 12.
[0058] FIG. 16 shows still another embodiment of the present
invention, in which the second one-way valve 224' of FIG. 15 can be
positioned in the gas passage 230' in any position or disposed in
the handle 238. It is only required that the second one-way valve
controls the gas to one-way flow within the gas passage. The front
end of the gas passage 230' communicates with the subsidiary
compression room 232'.
[0059] According to the arrangement of the one-way valves of the
present invention, when inflating or deflating an object, the
gas-conducting member is mounted at front end of the cylinder body
or the handle. Therefore, the possibility of mis-installation of
the gas-conducting member is minimized.
[0060] Besides, the one-way valve design of the present invention
only permits the gas to longitudinally flow in the same direction.
With the embodiment of FIG. 4 exemplified, a first gas flow way is
formed between the outer side of the front end of the cylinder body
and the compression room 34. A second gas flow way is formed
between the compression room 34, gas passage 52 and outer side. In
the first gas flow way, the one-way valve 60 permits the gas to
flow from rear side to front side (from compression room to outer
side). In the second gas flow way, the one-way valve 70 also
permits the gas to flow from rear side to front side (from outer
side to the gas passage and then to the compression room). In the
two gas flow ways, the gas one-way flows in the same direction.
Similarly, in the structure of FIG. 9, the one-way valve 102
permits the gas to flow from front side to rear side (from outer
side to the compression room). The one-way valve 92 also permits
the gas to flow from front side to rear side (from compression room
to the gas passage and then to outer side). In the two gas flow
ways, the gas also one-way flows in the same direction.
[0061] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the
present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof.
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