Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVICE FOR LUBRICATION AND/OR STORAGE OF AN INFLATION NEEDLE
Field of invention
The present invention relates to (a) inflation of inflatable articles such as
inflatable footballs, soccer balls and the like which are inflated by
insertion of an
inflation needle through a valve of the aforementioned inflatable articles,
and (b)
storage of inflation needles.
Background of the invention
Regarding (a), inflatable articles such as inflatable footballs, soccer balls
and the like are typically inflated via a valve which is designed to prevent
the
escape of gas from within the inflatable article both while the inflatable
article is
being inflated and after inflation. The valve therefore has to seal against an
external cylindrical surface of an inflation needle which has been inserted
therethrough for the purpose of inflating the inflatable article. The valves
of
inflatable articles are typically formed of a rubber like compound and because
they
are required to seal against an external cylindrical surface of an inflation
needle
during inflation of the inflatable article it is typically difficult to insert
an inflation
needle into an inflatable article.
British patent specification GB2138015A addresses the problem regarding
the difficulty of insertion of an inflation needle into an inflatable article
by the
provision of an alternative valve. The alternative valve is designed to self
lubricate
a passage through which an inflation needle is inserted upon withdrawal of the
inflation needle from the passage. The self-lubrication makes it easier for
subsequent insertion of an inflation needle.
US patent 4043356 has addressed the problem of insertion of an inflation
needle into an inflatable article by providing an alternative inflation
needle. The
alternative inflation needle is made from a material which includes a
lubricant to
assist entry of the inflation needle into an inflatable article.
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In order to address the problem of insertion of an inflation needle into an
inflatable article it is therefore necessary to either use an inflatable
article which
includes the alternative valve of GB2138015A or use the alternative inflation
needle of US4043356. It is therefore desirable to address the problem of
insertion
of an inflation needle into an inflation article without reliance upon an
inflation
needle or valve which has been specifically designed to make passage of an
inflation needle through an inflation valve easier.
Regarding (b), inflation needles can be vulnerable to damage or breakage
either when attached to a pump or when removed from the pump and stored in a
location and/or manner in which they may be damaged or broken. Furthermore,
inflation needles are typically sold in a disposable package which is formed
of
cardboard and plastic and are sometimes sold in pairs. If the disposable
package
is broken for removal of one of the pair of inflation needles, the remaining
inflation
needle can be easily lost and/or damaged.
It is therefore desirable to provide an. inflation needle storage device which
is suitable for storing one or more inflation needles in a manner which at
least
partially addresses one or more of the above problems regarding inflation
needle
storage.
Summary of the invention
In a first aspect the present invention provides a container adapted for
lubricating an external longitudinal surface of an inflation needle which is
suitable
for inflating articles having a resiliently flexible, substantially gas tight
valve, said
container comprising an opening for passage therethrough of at least a portion
of
the longitudinal length of said inflation needle, in a direction substantially
aligned
with a longitudinal axis of said inflation needle, and closure means for at
least
partially preventing passage of a liquid or solid lubricant through said
opening, the
closure means being movable from a closed position which at least partially
prevents passage of liquid or solid lubricant through the opening, to an open
position to allow insertion of at least a portion of said inflation needle
into said
container via said opening, wherein, in said open position, said closure means
is
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arranged to substantially allow equilibration of gas pressure within the
container
with the gas pressure external of the container and at least partially prevent
passage of liquid or solid lubricant through said opening, while at least a
portion of
said inflation needle is inserted through said opening.
Suitably, said container is in the shape of an inflatable article, such as an
inflatable football or soccer ball.
Suitably, said opening comprises a mouth of said container.
Suitably, said closure means comprises a sealing member having a
resiliently flexible portion which is moveable between said closed and open
positions.
Suitably, said resiliently flexible portion is arranged to at least partially
seal
against another portion of said sealing member, when in said closed position,
to at
least partially prevent passage of liquid or solid lubricant through said
opening.
Alternatively, said resiliently flexible portion may be arranged to at least
partially seal against a portion of said container, when in said closed
position.
Alternatively, said closure means comprises a cover which is arranged to
attach to said mouth of said container, a portion of said cover being arranged
to
move from said open position to said closed position to at least partially
sealingly
engage said container to at least partially prevent passage of liquid or solid
lubricant through said opening.
Alternatively, said cover comprises a lid having a resiliently flexible
portion
which is arranged to move from said open position to said closed position to
at
least partially sealingly engage another portion of said lid and/or said mouth
to at
least partially prevent passage of liquid or solid lubricant through said
opening.
Suitably, said closure means comprises a valve.
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Suitably, said valve is attached to said mouth of said container.
Suitably, said valve is at least partially removably attached to said mouth of
said container.
Suitably, said valve includes a groove formed between two outwardly
projecting flanges, said outwardly projecting flanges being arranged to abut
outer
and inner surfaces of a wall of said container, adjacent said mouth of said
container.
Suitably, said valve further comprises a resiliently flexible flap which is
arranged to move to said open position upon application of a predetermined
force
to provide an opening in said valve for passage therethrough of at least a
portion
of said inflation needle.
Suitably, said resiliently flexible flap is arranged to extend inwardly of the
container when in said open position.
Suitably, said resiliently flexible flap is arranged to move to said closed
position and at least partially sealing engage a portion of said valve upon
withdrawal of said inflation needle from said container.
Suitably, said resiliently flexible flap comprises a rubber sheet.
Suitably, said valve includes a grommet formed of resiliently flexible
material which may include rubber or a rubber like compound.
Suitably, said container is at least partially filled with a liquid and/or
solid
lubricant.
Suitably, said container is at least partially filled with lubricant absorbent
material which is arranged to absorb and therefore disperse a liquid lubricant
throughout at least part of an internal volume of said container.
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The liquid absorbent material is preferably arranged to fill greater than 50%
of the internal volume of said container.
Suitably, said lubricant absorbent material includes wadding.
Alternatively, said container includes particles which are arranged to fill at
least a portion of said internal volume of said container and disperse liquid
and/or
solid lubricant throughout at least a portion of said internal volume of said
container.
Suitably, said particles are arranged to fill approximately 75% of said
internal volume of said container.
Alternatively, said container is at least partially filled with lubricating
particles at least partially comprising a solid lubricant.
The lubricating particles may be sized to prevent passage through said
opening of said container when said closure means is in said open position.
The container may include opening means for opening of the container to
enable capturing of said lubricating particles within said container.
In a second aspect the present invention provides a container adapted for
lubricating an external longitudinal surface of an inflation needle which is
suitable
for inflating articles having a resiliently flexible substantially gas tight
valve, said
container comprising an opening for passage therethrough at least a portion of
the
longitudinal length of said inflation needle, in a direction substantially
aligned with
a longitudinal axis of said inflation needle, said container being arranged to
contain a plurality of lubricating particles formed at least partially of a
solid
lubricant wherein said particles and a mouth of the container which forms said
opening are sized to prevent passage of said particles through said opening.
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Suitably, said solid lubricant is comprised in an external surface of said
lubricating particles.
Suitably, said solid lubricant at least partially comprises silicone.
Suitably, said lubricating particles comprise silicone beads.
Suitably, up to approximately 75% of said internal volume of said container
is filled with silicone beads.
Suitably, said silicone beads are substantially spherical.
Suitably, said lubricating particles are resiliently flexible to facilitate
passage
of said lubricating particles through said opening upon resilient deformation
of said
lubricating particles.
Alternatively, said container includes opening means for opening the
container to enable capturing of said lubricating particles within said
container.
Suitably, said opening means comprises a larger closeable opening which
is closeable via closing means, said opening being arranged for passage
therethrough of said lubricating particles upon movement of said closing means
to
an open position.
Alternatively, said opening means may comprise a hinge.
In a third aspect the present invention provides a resiliently flexible
lubricating particle formed at least partially of a solid lubricant, the
resiliently
flexible lubricating particle being arranged for passage through said opening
of
said container of the first and second aspects of the present invention, upon
application of a sufficient predetermined force to sufficiently deform said
lubricating particles.
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In a fourth aspect the present invention provides an inflation needle storage
device comprising a body forming a passage which extends at least partly
through
the body, the passage being arranged for receipt of an inflation needle which
is
suitable for inflating articles having a resiliently flexible, substantially
gas tight
valve, the passage being arranged to receive the inflation needle so that a
longitudinal axis of the inflation needle, when appropriately received within
the
passage, is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the passage, the
body
including resiliently flexible retaining means which is arranged to form at
least a
portion of the passage, the resiliently flexible retaining means being
arranged to
resiliently deform upon insertion of the inflation needle into the passage so
that it
applies a predetermined force to an external surface of an inflation needle
when it
is inserted into the passage to result in the inflation needle being retained
within
the passage until predetermined forces are applied to the inflation needle and
body to remove the inflation needle from said passage.
Suitably, said passage extends through said body.
Suitably, said passage is substantially circular in cross-section.
Suitably, said resiliently flexible retaining means comprises said body, said
body being solid except for said passage and formed of resiliently flexible
material
such as high density foam rubber.
Suitably, said body is cylindrical in shape.
Suitably, a longitudinal axis of said passage is substantially aligned with a
longitudinal axis of said body.
Suitably, said passage has a diameter which when undeformed is larger
than a diameter of a portion of said inflation needle which is designed for
passage
through a resiliently flexible, substantially gas tight valve of a container
which is
designed for inflation with said inflation needle and smaller than an enlarged
end
of said inflation needle which is arranged for threadable connection to a
pump.
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Suitably, said body includes a plurality of said passages.
Suitably, said body comprises another passage, the other passage being
larger in diameter than said passage and being arranged for passage of a
flexible
elongated member therethrough, said body being arranged to hang from a lower
end of said flexible elongated member upon supporting of said flexible
elongated
member.
In a fifth aspect the present invention provides an inflation needle storage
device comprising a body having clamping means for clapping an inflation
needle
which is suitable for inflating containers having a resiliently flexible, gas
tight valve,
relative to said body, said clamping means extending from said body and being
arranged to move between a closed position in which an inflation needle is
clamped between the clamping means and a portion of said body and an open
position in which the inflation needle can be removed from said storage
device,
said clamping means being arranged to clamp an inflation needle around an
enlarged region of said inflation needle which is proximal an end of said
inflation
needle which is arranged for threadable connection to a pump.
Suitably, said body of said inflation needle storage device of the fifth
aspect
of the present invention and said clamping means comprise corresponding
indentations which are arranged to at least partially enclose said enlarged
section
of an inflation when said clamping means is in said closed position so that
substantially movement of an inflation is prevented in a direction which is
substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of said inflation needle.
Suitably, said inflation needle storage device of the fifth aspect of the
present invention further comprises detent means which is arranged to detain
the
clamping means in said closed position.
Suitably, said clamping means comprises an arm which is pivotable relative
to the body.
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Suitably, said inflation needle storage devices of the fourth and fifth
aspects
of the present invention may each be suitable for use with the container of
the first
or second aspects of the present invention.
The inflation needle storage device of the fourth and fifth aspects of the
present invention, and the container of the first and second aspects of the
present
invention, may each include corresponding attachment means for attachment of
the inflation needle storage devices of the fourth or fifth aspects of the
present
invention and the container of the first or second aspects of the present
invention
together.
In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a method of storing an
inflation needle which is suitable for inflating containers having a
resiliently flexible,
substantially gas tight valve, the method comprising the step of:
inserting said inflation needle into a passage formed in a resiliently
flexible
body so that a longitudinal axis of said inflation needle substantially
coincides with
a longitudinal axis of said passage and said resiliently flexible body is at
least
partially resiliently deformed by the presence of an enlarged end of said
inflation
needle which, in use, is arranged for threadable connection to a pump, within
said
passage.
In the preceding summary of the invention and the claims which follow,
except where the context requires otherwise, due to express language or
necessary implication, the words "comprising", "comprises" or "comprise" are
used
in the sense of "including"; that is, the features specified may be associated
with
further features in various embodiments of the invention.
Brief description of the drawings
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A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by
way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one example of an inflation needle
lubricating container of the present invention formed in the shape of a
football;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the football shaped inflation needle
lubricating container of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the container of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container of Figure 1 along
line a-a of Figu re 1.
Figure 5 is a plan view of a rubber grommet of the container of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the rubber grommet of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the rubber grommet of Figure 5 through line
b-b of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to that of Figure 4 which
includes a longitudinal sectional view of one example of a pump and associated
inflation needle with the inflation needle positioned external of the
container and
near the rubber grommet;
Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container, and associated
pump and inflation needle of Figure 8 with the inflation needle inserted
through the
rubber grommet and into the container;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of one example of an inflation needle
storage device;
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Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view through line A-A of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a plan view of the device of Figure 10;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 10 with a cord
inserted through a central bore of the device of Figure 10 which extends
entirely
through the inflation needle storage device of Figure 10.
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the inflation needle storage device similar
to that of Figure 13 with four inflation needles inserted into four outer
bores of the
inflation needle storage device of Figure 13.
Best mode of carrying out the invention
Referring to Figures 1-6, the inflation needle lubricating container 10
generally comprises a football shaped container 12 having an opening 14 and an
attachment lug 16. The inflation needle lubricating container 10 also includes
a
cord 18 which is attached to the inflation needle lubricating container 10 via
engagement of a clip 19 which is attached to the cord 18, and the lug 16. The
cord
18 can, for example, be worn around a neck of a user and can also be used to
enable the inflation needle lubricating container 10 to be hung up in a
convenient
location near a pump and associated inflation needle.
The football shaped container is hollow and, referring to Figure 8 is filled
with wadding 20. The wadding 20 is designed to generally fill the internal
volume
20' of the container 12. After the container 12 has been generally filled with
wadding
20, a liquid lubricant (not shown) is poured into the container 12, through
the
opening 14. The liquid lubricant which is poured into the container 12 is
absorbed
by the wadding 20. The wadding therefore ensures that the liquid lubricant is
dispersed throughout the container 12.
Referring to Figures 1-8, the container is orientated so that its longitudinal
axis extends upwardly. The opening 14 is positioned near an upper end of the
container 12. Referring to Figure 4, the opening 14 is formed by a mouth 22 of
the
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container 12. A rubber grommet 24 (see Figure 5-7) is attached to the mouth 22
of
the container 12.
The rubber grommet 24 is a generally donut shaped rubber grommet. It
includes a groove 26 having a square shaped cross section which is formed in
an
outer annular surface of the rubber grommet 24. The groove 26 is designed to
receive an edge 28 of the mouth 22 of the container 12.
A central cylindrical blind passage 30 of the generally donut shaped rubber
grommet 24 is prevented from extending through the rubber grommet 24 by a
circular rubber sheet 32 which extends from an inner cylindrical surface 34 of
the
rubber grommet 24. The circular rubber sheet 32 is attached to the inner
cylindrical surface 34 so that it extends across one end of the cylindrical
blind
passage 30. The circular rubber sheet 32 is attached to less than two thirds
of the
circumferential length around the inner cylindrical surface 34. An unattached
region 42 (see Figure 5) is therefore free to resiliently flex to provide a
passage 35
through the rubber grommet 24.
The rubber grommet 24 is attached, via the groove 26 to the mouth 22 of a
container 12 so that the circular rubber sheet 32 is positioned inside a wall
43 of
the container 12. Referring to Figure 9, by inserting an inflation needle 36
of a
pump 38 into the cylindrical blind passage 30, an end 40 of the inflation
needle 36
forces the unattached region 42 (see Figure 5) of the circular rubber sheet 32
into
the container 12 to provide the passage 35 for passage therethrough of the
inflation needle 36. In passing through the rubber grommet 24 the inflation
needle
36 passes into the wadding 20. This results in an outer cylindrical surface of
the
inflation needle 36 being coated with lubricant.
Withdrawal of the inflation needle 36 from the container 12 results in the
unattached region 42 of the rubber grommet 24 resuming its initial position
where
it seals against the inner cylindrical surface 34 of the rubber grommet 24
(see
Figures 7 and 8). After withdrawal of the inflation needle 36 from the
container 12
it is lubricated and ready for insertion through a valve of an inflatable
article. When
the unattached region 42 of the circular rubber sheet 32 is in the closed
position of
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Figures 7 and 8 it generally seals against the inner cylindrical wall 34 of
the rubber
grommet 24 to prevent the passage of lubricant through the opening 14 of the
container 12.
Referring to Figures 10-14, one example of an inflation needle storage
device 43 comprises a cylindrical object 44 which is formed of high density
foam
rubber and having five bores 46, 48, 50, 52 and 54 which have longitudinal
axes
that are approximately aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical
object 44.
The bores 46-54 extend from an upper end of the cylindrical object 44,
entirely
through the longitudinal length of the cylindrical object 44 to a lower end.
The
bores 46-54 therefore exit either ends of the cylindrical object 44 via the
upper and
lower end surfaces 56 and 58 respectively of the cylindrical object 44.
The bore 46 is a central bore which is positioned within the cylindrical
object
44 so that its longitudinal axis approximately coincides with a longitudinal
axis of
the cylindrical object 44. The bores 48-54 are positioned around the central
bore
46 so that the axis of each of the bores 46-54 are substantially aligned and
so that
each of the bores 48-54 are approximately the same distance from the central
bore 46. The bores 48-54 are positioned slightly closer to an outer
cylindrical
surface of the cylindrical object 44, than the central bore 46.
Referring to Figure 9, the diameters of the bores 48-54 are greater than the
diameter of the end 40 (see Figure 9) of the inflation needle 36 and less than
the
diameter of an enlarged end 60 (which is designed to threadably engage the
pump
38) of the inflation needle 36. An inflation needle 36 can be stored in one of
the
bores 48-54 of the cylindrical object 44 by inserting the end 40 of the
inflation
needle 36 of Figure 9 into an upper end of one of the bores 48-54. By
inserting the
end 40 of the inflation needle downwardly, along the longitudinal length of
one of
the bores 48-54, the enlarged end 60 of the inflation needle 36 abuts the
upper
end surface 56 of the cylindrical object 44. By applying downward pressure to
the
upper enlarged end 60 of the inflation needle 36, an upper end of one of the
bores
48-54 is resiliently deformed and enlarged. Such deformation of the bore into
which the inflation needle 36 is inserted results in the high density foam
rubber
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material of the cylindrical object 44 contracting around the upper enlarged
end 60
of the inflation needle 36 to grip the inflation needle 36 and hold it firmly
within the
cylindrical object 44.
The diameter of the central bore 46 is greater than the diameter of the
bores 48-54 and is designed to enable passage therethrough of the cord 18 of
Figure 1. By inserting the cord 18 through the central bore 46 of the
cylindrical
object 44, the cylindrical object 44 can be slid along the length of the cord
18 until
it contacts the clip 19 (see Figure 1 ) which extends from the cord 18. The
cylindrical object 44 is therefore positioned near the clip 19 and football
shaped
container 12 so that when the cord 18 is positioned around a person's neck,
the
inflation needle storage device 42 and inflation needle lubricating device 10
hang
downwardly.
An object such as a piece of wire having a hook extending from one end
which is suitably dimensioned for passage through the central bore 46 may be
useful for drawing the cord 18 through the central bore 46.
It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this
specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the
individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of
these
different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the
invention.
Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described
and illustrated without departing from the present invention.
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