Inflatable object and valve therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable object valves require substantial effort to inflate due to high air pressure and volume, leading to user fatigue and dizziness, as they often necessitate direct mouth engagement and struggle with efficient airflow.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a one-way flap with a biasing force that can be overcome by airflow speed less than 48 m/s and pressure lower than 1 atmosphere, allowing inflation without mouth engagement, supported by ribs to maintain seal and facilitate airflow, and a cover for deflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a one-way flow mechanism is used to prevent air from leaving the object, then air retention is improved, but user effort and fatigue increase due to substantial force required to overcome the mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the force parameter of the one-way mechanism by using a lightweight flap with minimal biasing force, allowing users to easily open it during inflation while it automatically closes to retain air. This resolves the contradiction by adjusting the force threshold to be low enough for user comfort but sufficient for air retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex one-way valve mechanism and replaces it with a simple flap that relies on ambient air pressure and minimal biasing, removing the source of excessive resistance while maintaining the air retention function.
2Reliability
If direct mouth engagement with the valve body is required to inflate the object, then sealing is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to fatigue and dizziness from substantial air volume and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary flap mechanism that mediates between the user's breath and the chamber. The flap opens with minimal force requirement, allowing users to inflate without direct mouth engagement, reducing fatigue and dizziness while maintaining effective air transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sealing requirement (direct mouth engagement) with a pressure-driven flap system that responds to airflow, substituting mechanical interaction with fluid dynamic control.
3Reliability
If the one-way flap is made highly resilient to maintain seal, then sealing reliability is improved, but ease of opening by airflow deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the resiliency parameter of the flap to a specific range that balances sealing reliability with ease of opening. The flap has sufficient resiliency to seal against the shoulder but not so much that it requires excessive force to open, achieving optimal performance in both aspects.
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
Enables efficient inflation with reduced user effort by utilizing airflow speed and pressure to open the flap, drawing ambient air into the object, and includes a deflation mechanism for easy deflation, reducing user fatigue and improving the inflation process.
Implementation Method 1
The closing force is selected to be overcomable so as to move the one-way flap to the open position by an airflow by a person blowing towards the one-way flap through the passageway
Implementation Method 2
The closing force is selected to be overcomable so as to move the one-way flap to the open position by an airflow having a speed that is less than about 48 m/s, and which is at a pressure that is lower than 1 atmosphere
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
In an aspect, an inflatable object includes an object body (12) enclosing a chamber (16) to receive air, and a valve (14) mounted to the inflatable object body (12), including a valve body (18) defining a passageway (24) between the chamber (16) and an ambient environment (26). The valve body (18) has a shoulder (32). The valve body (18) defines an outside end (28), which opens to the ambient environment (26), and an inside end (30), which opens into the chamber (16). The valve (14) includes a one-way flap (20) that is movable between an open position to permit fluid communication between the chamber (16) and the ambient environment (26) through the passageway (24), and a closed position. The one-way flap (20) is biased to the closed position with a closing force selected to be overcomable to move the one-way flap (20) to the open position by an airflow having a speed that is less than about 48 m/s, and which is at a pressure lower than 1 atmosphere.