USOO6904932B1 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 6,904,932 B1 Haraughty (45) Date of Patent: Jun. 14, 2005 (54) PUMP VALVE ADAPTER 5,762,095 A 6/1998 Gapinski et al. 5,819,781. A 10/1998 Wu (75) Inventor: James Haraughty, Monona, WI (US) 5.960,815. A 10/1999 Wang 5,983,920 A 11/1999 Gapinski et al. (73) Assignee: Trek Bicycle Corporation, Waterloo, 6,073,645 A 6/2000 Wu WI (US) 6,076,544 A 6/2000 Pierce 6,102,063 A 8/2000 Pierce et al. (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this E. A : WE patent is extended or adjusted under 35 6260572 B1 72001 Wu 9. U.S.C. 154(b) by 179 days. 6,276,391 B1 8/2001 Wu 6,276.405 B1 8/2001 Wang (21) Appl. No.: 10/261,348 6,328,057 B1 12/2001 Wang (22) Filed: Oct. 1, 2002 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (51) Int. C.7 F16K 15/20 GB 1599304 9/1981 ................ 137 231 (52) U.S. Cl. ....................................... 137,1231; 285/316 cited by examiner (58) Field of Search ................................ 137/223, 231; Primary Examiner-John Rivell 285/316 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Boyle Fredrickson (56) References Cited Newholm Stein & Gratz, S.C. U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS (57) ABSTRACT 1498,175 A 6/1924 Kraft et al. ................. 137/269 2,166,402 A 7/1939 Gora .......................... 285/316 A nozzle adapter for use in converting a nozzle designed for 2,458,088 A : 1/1949 Main .......................... 285/316 use with Schrader type valves to a nozzle usable with Presta 5. A : E. E. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23. type valves is provided. The nozzle adapter includes an inner 4,611,828. A 9 OCKS sleeve defining a central opening into which the Schrader 4,781,3992 - a. as A 11/1988/1986 ColonBrunet .......,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ... 285/316 285/3 nozzle can be insertedo at one end. The adapter also includeso so12954 A 5/1991 Will opening at the opposite end into which a Presta type valve 5,230,538 A * 7/1993 Kobayashi .................. 285/316 can be inserted. The adapter includes a locking mechanism 5,390,963 A * 2/1995 Namekawa ................. 285/316 selectively operable by an outer sleeve that is slidably 5,433,488 A 7/1995 Chiago mounted to the inner sleeve to effectively retain the Schrader 5,638.865 A 6/1997 Wu nozzle in alignment with the adapter to allow the Schrader SES A o 12 Syang et al. nozzle to be utilized as a Presta nozzle. 2 2 5,683.234 A 11/1997 Chuang et al. 5,749,392 A 5/1998 Glotin 20 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets SVVaVNV 2 74 2. 76 148 60 2T % 61 SSSN 'S 30 &S SNS3. 150 Ed2RSS-42 W s 44 3. 62 3. 57 2C sB l U.S. Patent Jun. 14, 2005 Sheet 1 of 7 US 6,904,932 B1 V M CD L U.S. Patent Jun. 14, 2005 Sheet 2 of 7 US 6,904,932 B1 CN CD N U.S. Patent Jun. 14, 2005 Sheet 3 of 7 US 6,904,932 B1 U.S. Patent Jun. 14, 2005 Sheet 4 of 7 US 6,904,932 B1 FIG. 5 t 2 C 66 t 5 2E 67 2S2 R 3. U.S. Patent Jun. 14, 2005 Sheet 5 of 7 US 6,904,932 B1 MVVVCSAYY N Ry/N 47A, 108 C 122 125 124 NN W N VVMCCM2XY N 119 C&S7 N6. S.NNS N7N 4,/ / ZN/ 140 94 (NSWaZ Y SNM-76 NWWN d R\N 127 SNN4 4NN N 4 N. SSSS 3SNSNS N N 32 2. 61 R N. 4 (NEN ES s 3 44 5: A0 i. 136 . A-148 98 AS2. 1. f 2. 1. l s S T s E 3. U.S. Patent Jun. 14, 2005 Sheet 6 of 7 US 6,904,932 B1 24 125 Nyyy NRK27. s N NN R 2. U.S. Patent Jun. 14, 2005 Sheet 7 of 7 US 6,904,932 B1 34 122 YyA eyce V NNNLA 4AN 32->80 N. N NYSS SeSNN NSNS My a 94 1C 148 60 2 . 88 e 5 s 3S 5. S SN 150 58-212S e 2R, 52 56 S. 1S 42 SSY2 62 S442. 57 s 23 TY-64t US 6,904,932 B1 1 2 PUMP WALVE ADAPTER diameter Sections that properly position either a Schrader valve or a Presta valve within the nozzle. A spring biased FIELD OF THE INVENTION engagement member is also disposed within the nozzle housing and, depending upon the type of valve, can be The present invention relates to pumps for inflating tires, depressed to a specified point within the nozzle in order to and more Specifically to an adapter for a pump nozzle that appropriately engage the Specific valve inserted into the allows the nozzle to be utilized with both Schrader and housing. Presta type air valves. However, in each of the aforementioned prior art pump nozzle designs, the nozzles require a specialized construc BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION tion that includes a number of moving parts which need to be effectively sealed with regard to one another and to the There are two common types of tire air valves in wide housing for the nozzle in order for the nozzle to work Spread use on inner tubes of vehicle tires. One type is a appropriately. Based on the presence of these moving parts, Schrader type valve which is a reasonably rugged valve in should the Seals or the moving parts become damaged, the which the valve assembly is protected by an outer casing. 15 nozzles are effectively prevented from being utilized in Valves of this type are commonly used on automobiles and conjunction with either type of valve. trucks. These valves have also been used widely on bicycle Therefore, it is desirable to develop a simple and easy to tires. use pump nozzle adapter which is capable of effectively However, as designs for bicycles have become more allowing a pump nozzle to be utilized with Schrader or technologically advanced, efforts have been made to alter Presta valves and that does not affect the operation of the the form of the valves on the bicycle tires in order to reduce pump nozzle if the adapter becomes damaged. the overall weight of the bicycle. The result of these efforts is the Presta type valve which is now widely used specifi SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION cally for inner tubes used in bicycle tires. However, due to the particular construction of a Presta 25 The present invention is a quick release adapter for a Valve, which has an exposed valve stem, it is often the case pump nozzle that allows the nozzle to be utilized with both that the valve stem of a Presta valve is broken while Schrader and Presta type valves. The adapter is releasably attempting to inflate a bicycle tire having a Presta Valve. Securable to a nozzle configured for use with a Schrader type When the valve stem of a Presta valve is broken, it is Valve, and includes an inner sleeve defining a central open necessary to replace the entire inner tube of the bicycle tire, ing through which a Presta type valve can be inserted. The often a time consuming and very inconvenient process. opening has a Sufficient length to rigidly hold the pump In order to prevent the valve stem of a Presta valve from nozzle in alignment with the Presta valve in order ensure that breaking, a number of different pump nozzle designs have the valve stem of the Presta valve is not damaged while the been developed which accommodate for the relative frag tire is inflated utilizing the pump nozzle and adapter. ileness of the Presta valve and that also can be utilized with 35 Opposite the opening for the Presta Valve, the inner sleeve the more rugged Schrader type valves. also includes a wide opening adapted to receive a conven One type of nozzle design that has been developed for use tional Schrader Valve pump nozzle. The wide opening with Presta and Schrader type valves are pump nozzles in allows the Schrader valve nozzle to be positioned within the which assemblies for use with each type of valve are inner sleeve Such that the Presta Valve can effectively engage positioned at opposite ends of a pump nozzle housing. The 40 the Schrader nozzle in order to allow air from the Schrader pump nozzle can then be physically reversed to accommo nozzle to flow through the Presta valve and into the inner date a particular valve type in certain designs. In other tube. designs a movable airflow controller located within the The adapter is retained in engagement with the Schrader nozzle housing can be adjusted through the use of a lever or Valve nozzle through the use of a releasable locking mecha other manipulating device to position the controller against 45 nism disposed on the adapter. The mechanism includes a the Selected receiver on the housing for the appropriate valve number of bearings movably disposed within apertures type to place the valve in fluid communication with the disposed within the inner sleeve around the wide opening. pump. Examples of patents disclosing pump nozzle designs The bearings can be held in a locked position within the of this type are: Chiago U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,488; Wu U.S. apertures Such that the bearings extend inwardly into the Pat. No. 5,638,865; and Chuang et al.