Double-Lock Inflatable Valve Structure for Airtight Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable product valves are inefficient in both inflation and deflation, often leading to air loss after inflation and are difficult to use for deflation, with prior art valves requiring additional steps to seal and minimizing escaped air.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a flexible outer piece with a spout and internal cylindrical flange that collapses onto a plug, combined with a separate cap for additional locking, allowing for airtight sealing and easy operation, including a snap or threaded locking mechanism for enhanced closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional valve design is used, then the valve structure is simple, but air loss occurs after inflation and the valve is difficult to use for deflation
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into separate functional components: an outer piece with a flexible cone for inflation/deflation control, an inner piece with a plug for sealing, and a cap for locking. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The valve employs a nested structure where the inner piece with plug is contained within the outer piece, and the cap can be placed over the assembled valve components. This nesting allows compact storage and easy assembly while providing multiple sealing mechanisms
2Loss of substance
If a traditional valve design is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the valve requires additional steps to seal and minimizes escaped air
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is pre-assembled with the plug positioned within the outer piece, and the cap is designed to be snap-fitted or threaded onto the assembled components. This preliminary preparation ensures proper alignment and sealing without requiring complex assembly steps by the user
Solution Approach 2:
The valve utilizes material flexibility parameters, where the flexible cone of the outer piece can be deformed to open or close the valve aperture, and the cap provides rigid locking when engaged. This combination of flexible and rigid parameters enables effective sealing with simple structure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A valve (50) for an inflatable product. The valve includes an outer piece (52) having a flexible cone or webbing (52) that permits the outer piece of the valve to collapse into an inner piece (54) of the valve (50). The outer piece (52) includes a spout (60) that fits onto a plug (88) on the inner piece (54). The outer piece (52) also includes an internal cylindrical flange (70) that extends downward from the inside of the flexible cone (58) and fits onto the plug (88). A cap (74) is connected to the valve (50) via a flap (62). The cap (74) is a separate structure from the flap (62), and formed of a more rigid material than the flap (62). The cap (74) fits into the spout (60) to provide a second, separate locking function.