Inflatable Ankle Brace Check Valve for Fast Inflation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inflatable ankle braces suffer from air leakage during inflation and insufficient support due to the lack of a backstop structure and check valve, leading to slow inflation and reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable ankle brace with a check valve member comprising a check valve and a one-way piece, which prevents air leakage during inflation and maintains pressure by using a deformable duckbill valve and a two-stepped one-way piece to ensure non-return flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional valve port is used without a check valve, then the structure is simple, but air leaks out during the inflating process leading to slow inflation
Solution Approach 1:
A check valve member is introduced as an intermediary component between the inflating member and the air bag. This check valve member includes a check valve with an elastic tube and a one-way piece that cooperates to prevent air from flowing back into the inflating member, thereby maintaining inflation pressure and improving inflation speed without significantly complicating the overall structure.
2Reliability
If no backstop structure is provided between the inflating member and air bag, then the structure is simple, but air is squeezed out when the air bag is pressurized reducing the locating effect
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve member serves as a backstop structure that prevents air from being squeezed back into the inflating member when the air bag is pressurized. The one-way piece with its through hole and the elastic tube work together to allow air to pass in one direction only, ensuring reliable air retention while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Productivity
If air leakage occurs during inflation, then the ankle brace can be easily inflated, but the inflation process becomes slow and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve member converts the potential harm of air leakage into a beneficial one-way flow control mechanism. By designing the elastic tube and one-way piece to allow air to pass easily in the inflation direction while blocking reverse flow, the system achieves efficient inflation with minimal air loss, transforming the leakage problem into a controlled flow solution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves fast inflation and efficient air retention, maintaining effective support and protection by preventing air leakage and counterflow.
Implementation Method 1
a duckbill first valve which is deformable to open or close
Implementation Method 2
The check valve has an elastic tube
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable ankle brace may include an ankle brace, an inflating member, and a check valve member, and the check valve member has a check valve and a one-way piece. The ankle brace comprises at least an airbag having a valve port thereon, and the inflating member is adapted to inflate the airbag through the valve port. The inflating member has an air pump and an air tube, and a connector is connected between the air pump and the air tube. The air tube is connected to the valve port, and the connector has an air inlet and an air outlet, and the air inlet connects to the check valve member. The check valve has an elastic tube, and one end of the elastic tube comprises a duckbill first valve which is deformable to open or close, and the other end of the elastic tube is connected to a base.