Air Bed Valve Assembly with Adapter for Multi-Size Pump Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbed systems face challenges in accommodating air pumps of various sizes, leading to limitations in inflation efficiency and compatibility.
Innovation Solution
The airbed system incorporates a valve design featuring a middle valve cover with an adapter ring and a default ring of different diameters, allowing it to accommodate air pumps of 18mm and 31mm sizes, and an internal structure that maintains the air mattress's shape and prevents over-inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-size valve is used in the air mattress, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different pump sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into multiple detachable components including a base valve body, adapter ring, and cover assembly. This segmentation allows the adapter ring to be selectively attached or removed, enabling compatibility with different pump sizes (18mm or 31mm) without requiring a completely different valve design for each pump type.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly is designed to perform multiple functions through a single integrated structure. The base valve body can accommodate different adapter rings, allowing the same valve to work with both 18mm and 31mm pumps. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate valves for different pump sizes, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
2Productivity
If a larger valve opening is used to accommodate bigger pumps, then the productivity of inflation is improved, but the precision of fit with smaller pumps deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter ring serves as an intermediary component between the valve body and the pump. When a smaller 18mm pump is used, the adapter ring provides the necessary interface to achieve a precise fit. The adapter ring effectively mediates the size difference between the larger valve opening and the smaller pump, ensuring both good sealing and efficient air transfer without compromising inflation speed.
3Ease of manufacture
If the valve structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the functionality to support multiple pump sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter ring is designed to nest within the valve assembly, fitting into the base valve body and working in conjunction with the cover. This nested configuration allows the adapter ring to be stored within the valve structure when not in use, and easily installed when needed. The nesting approach maintains a compact overall structure while adding the functionality to support multiple pump sizes, balancing ease of manufacture with adaptability.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
The disclosed technology includes an air valve assembly for providing flexibility for a user when inflating an inflatable air mattress. The air valve assembly can include a base configured to attach to a portion of the inflatable air mattress, a middle valve configured to attach to the base portion and having a first diameter, a diaphragm member configured to attach to the middle valve, and a cap configured to removably couple to a portion of the air valve. The assembly can further include an adapter configured to detachably attach to the middle valve portion. The adapter can have a portion with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter such that when the adapter is attached, a user may use an inflation device with a smaller dimensioned output.