The invention relates to an air flow control device for inflatable objects (20) comprising a hermetic air chamber (10) arranged for being connected to an air pump (12); a printed circuit board (22A, 22B) that can be connected to a power source, the printed circuit board (22A, 22B) forming a surface limiting a face of the hermetic air chamber (10) and having at least one hole (26). The device also comprises at least one solenoid valve (14) connected on the printed circuit board (22A, 22B), covering the hole (26), and the solenoid valve comprising: a casing (28); an outer coil (30); a fixed inner metal cylinder (32); a nozzle (18) for connecting the inside of the solenoid valve (14) to the inflatable object (20); a rod (16) having a rubber tip and a spring.

A device includes a balloon inflation module having an involuted balloon housed within a lumen, an integrated reservoir in fluid communication with the involuted balloon where the balloon inflation module is configured to selectively displace a volume of fluid from the integrated reservoir into the involuted balloon and from the involuted balloon into the integrated reservoir. The device also includes a port configured to receive an accessory module. In one embodiment, the accessory module is a communication module having a logic circuit coupled to an ambient microphone configured to pick up ambient audio content, an ear canal microphone configured to pick up audio in the proximity of an ear canal, and an ear canal receiver configured to provide audio content in the proximity of the ear canal. In some embodiments, the integrated reservoir is formed within portions of a push button spring-loaded pump assembly. Other embodiments are disclosed.

An inflatable includes an inflation chamber. The inflation chamber has an outer surface, a first end, and a second end substantially opposite the first end. The inflation chamber is configured to be inflated from a deflated state to an inflated state. The inflation chamber is loadable and bendable in the inflated state. The inflatable also includes a reinforcement. The reinforcement has reinforcement sections corresponding to high-stress regions of the outer surface when the inflation chamber is in the inflated state. The reinforcement is attached to the outer surface and is configured to improve at least one of a loading strength and a bending capability of the inflation chamber when the reinforcement sections are placed on the high-stress regions of the outer surface. The reinforcement is shaped according to a Turing pattern that is based on the high-stress regions of the outer surface.

A valve assembly for controlling inflation and deflation is provided. The valve assembly includes a rapid-inflate valve having an annular body configured to couple to a valve stem port of a wheel and selectively permit gas flow into a tire. The valve has a sealing surface in a chamber with a slidable sealing member biased toward the sealing surface. In a closed position, the sealing member can be positioned in contact with the sealing surface to prohibit gas flow through the valve, and in an open position, the sealing member can be positioned away from the sealing surface to permit gas flow through the valve. Wheel can include dual valve stem ports. In this configuration, the first port has the rapid-inflate valve assembly and the second port can have a rapid-deflate valve stem, a rapid-deflate valve stem cap, a rapid-deflate to pressure set valve stem, or a standard valve stem.

A differential pressure type inflating device, adapted for fast inflating the devices that need inflating, comprises a gas container, a relief valve, a gas nozzle, a pipe joint, a switch valve, and a relief pipe. When external high pressure gas enters the gas container and renders the gas pressures in the gas container and the relief pipe reaching a balance condition, the switch valve can be pressed to generate pressure drop in the relief pipe, which launches the relief valve and discharges the high pressure gas in the gas container from the gas nozzle. In this design, the gas container, relief valve, gas nozzle, relief pipe, and pipe joint are connected with screwing structures, so as to achieve the function of easy assembling.

Described are valve stems for wheels or other pressure vessels that may be installed from the exterior of a wheel or pressure vessel without access to the interior, pressure retaining areas. The valve stem may include a body with a barrel and taper. A neck may be between the body and a base that includes a flange, a flange landing, and an air aperture. An air channel runs vertically through the valve stem to allow air to pass from one side of the valve stem to another with a valve core or other flow control device. The base of the valve stem may include a groove that allows the valve stem to be installed into a hole by twisting such that the groove may ride along the rim of the hole and guide the valve stem into a fully seated and sealed position.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a reusable valve in which a seal portion is co-molded with and overmolded to the valve stem to provide a secure mechanical bond therebetween. In one embodiment, the valve includes a snap fit between the valve stem and a retaining cap to provide easy assembly of the valve as well as an efficient and compact retention mechanism for a biasing spring and the valve stem in relation to the valve housing. In one embodiment, the valve includes an easy-to-use opening and closing mechanism that provides tactile feedback to the user when moving the valve stem to an open position and to a closed position to inflate, deflate, or maintain air or gas pressure in the inflatable article. The present disclosure also provides a dunnage bag with such valve.

A pump head includes a casing unit, a tightening member and a control unit. The casing unit includes a main body and an abutment wall connected to the main body. The main body has an installation section. The tightening member is disposed in the installation section proximally to the abutment wall. The control unit includes a control valve, a resilient member and a control lever. The control valve is movably disposed in the installation section. The resilient member urges the control valve toward the abutment wall to clamp the tightening member between the control valve and the abutment wall. The control lever is connected to the main body and operable to move the control valve against the resilient member and away from the abutment wall.

A valve assembly for a central tire inflation system is provided. The valve assembly includes a first housing having a first port connected to a second port via a cavity. The second port is in fluid communication with a wheel assembly. A biasing member is disposed in the cavity adjacent a first perforation formed in the first housing. A valve member is contacted by the biasing member. The valve member includes a first frustoconical portion having a continuous outer surface connected to a second portion having a continuous outer surface, a first end connected to the second portion and a second end connected to the first frustoconical portion wherein the continuous outer surfaces of the first frustoconical portion and the second portion allow a pressurized fluid to flow between the housing and the outer surfaces of the valve member.

A flexible structure inflation device, comprising an inflation assembly configured for insertion between first and second overlapping film layers of a web of material, the inflation assembly having a fluid conduit configured directing a fluid in between the layers to inflate the web; and a cutting member held magnetically in an operative position adjacent the inflation assembly to cut the film passing over the inflation assembly