INFLATABLE OBJECT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a device for dispensing a means for sealing an inflatable object, and in particular a vehicle tire, from a container to having an associated valve, which in one position closes an outlet opening for sealant from the container with the medium therein. A second position opens a conduit to the inflatable object.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Such devices and methods can be used as a so-called tire repair kit, for example as a replacement for a spare wheel in a motor vehicle.

[0003] Tire repair kits can either be used only to inflate a tire or to seal and then inflate a tire. Depending on whether the tire is merely to be inflated or both sealed and inflated, a user is either connected to a container by means of a hose with, for example, a compressor. Also, the container may be omitted and only one hose may be connected to the compressor.

[0004] Depending on the connection configuration, either a direct air flow from the compressor into the hose takes place without a diversion through the container or an air supply into the container takes place, which entails an admixture of sealing medium from the container into the hose.

[0005] In the case of a direct air flow, compressed air without sealing means emerges from the outlet end of the hose so that the device can be used in the corresponding connection configuration for the net inflation of a tire which is intact. [0006] When the air stream delivered by the compressor is diverted through the container, sealing means is pushed out of the container into the hose. Therefore, the device in this connection configuration can be used for sealing and subsequent inflation of a defective tire.

[0007] Such a method or a device is described in DE10 2011 018 927 Al, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The invention relates to a device for introducing air and/or sealing means into a tire which has a container for the sealing means with an inlet and an outlet, and a pressure generating means such as a pump or a compressor, the inlet of the container being connected to the pressure generating means and The outlet of the container is connected to the inlet end of a hose and here the outlet end of the hose can be connected to the tire to be filled.

[0008] A further device describes DE 10 2014 100 815 Al, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, where the pressure source and the container are located in a housing, and the container in the housing is interchangeably connected to the pressure source. Another feature of this invention is that the compressed air is always passed over the container and sealing agent can be added or not at the push of a button. This makes the tire repair set even more compact and easier to handle.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The object of the present invention is to make possible an even more simplified method or a more user-friendly and safer use of a device according to the invention.

SOLUTION OF THE OBJECT

[0010] In order to achieve this object, a valve is provided in the valve, by means of which the valve is closed in the first position and opened in the second position. [0011] This valve, which carries a slide in itself, is preferably screwed onto the container with the sealant. If the slide is in the first position, only compressed air is conveyed, and only in the second position is an opening accessed to the container through the slide and the sealant can flow freely towards the inflatable object.

[0012] For safety reasons and for the sake of convenience, the second position is preferably achieved only when the container together with the valve and the slide located therein is pushed onto a seat in the housing. Only by means of this process, the slide is pushed into its' second position, in which it releases the sealant from the container.

[0013] This feature makes the operation of the tire repair set even easier and safer since no sealant can simply leak out. In the first position of the slide, as already mentioned, only compressed air is conveyed.

[0014] A further advantage of the present invention is preferably achieved by the container being placed upside down with the valve in an insert of the housing. This ensures that the sealant located therein runs to the container outlet, everything can be used and no residue is left. This saves sealants and money.

[0015] The position of the slider is preferably displayed optionally via a position indicator. This allows the user to ensure that the slider is actually in the desired position.

[0016] The valve, which is screwed onto the container and in which the slide is located, is connected via a hose to a compressor, preferably in the housing, before it is pushed onto the housing. The valve is also connected to the valve of the defective tire via another hose. The housing, which is preferably used in the present case, is designed in such a way that it accommodates the compressor and the container, the valve, and the two hoses. This results in a compact unit. [0017] The slide also has an anti-rotation device so that it cannot be easily altered in its' position by the force of the compressed air or the sealing means and thus always the correct allocation of the openings of the slide to the inlet opening for compressed air into the container and the outlet opening of sealant from the Container is guaranteed. This results in a further advantageous safety aspect .

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0018] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments as well as from the drawing, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention for applying a means for sealing an inflatable object;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the device according to the invention with a container separated from a housing;

[0021] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a valve of the device according to the invention;

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a horizontal cross section of the valve according to FIG. 3 and of the slider inserted;

[0023] FIG. 5 shows a vertical cross section of the valve according to FIG. 3 and of the slide inserted;

[0024] FIG. 6 shows a perspective side view of the slide;

[0025] FIG. 7 shows a further perspective side view of the slide;

[0026] FIG. 8 shows a perspective, horizontal cross-section of the slide; [0027] FIG. 9 shows a perspective, horizontal cross-section of the valve without the slide valve inserted;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, a device 1 according to the invention is arranged in the position of use for dispensing a means for sealing an inflatable object, a housing 2, a container 3 and a valve 4. The housing 2 is equipped with a compressor unit, which is not visible and is not explained further, and has a manometer, which is likewise not further described. For this purpose, reference is made to DE 10 2014 100815 Al, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0029] The container 3 is depicted in a bottle-like shape and is located in the valve 4. They are both detachably connected to one another. An inlet nipple 5.1, an outlet nipple 5.2 and a position indicator 6 are associated with the valve 4. Furthermore, the valve 4 is of circular design in this preferred embodiment.

[0030] According to FIG. 2, the container 3 and the valve 4 form a unit and can be detachably connected to the housing 2, for which the housing 2 has an insert 7. The insert 7 in turn forms a projection 10, through which the valve 4 together with the container 3 is held. FIG. 3 shows that lower insertion tabs 8.1 and 8.2 and upper insertion pockets 9.1 and 9.2 are arranged on the valve 4. These ensure that the valve 4 can be inserted firmly into the insert 7 of the housing 2. For the stop, the lower insertion pockets 8.1 and 8.2 are located below the upper insertion pockets 9.1 and 9.2 above the projection 10 of the insert 7 of the housing 2. The upper insertion pockets 9.1 and 9.2 are located on the surface of the insert 7 and thus also are on the surface of the housing 2. [0031] Furthermore, the valve 4 according to FIG. 3 has a circular opening 11 in which a slide 12 is present. An anti-rotation device 13 is provided on the slide 12, which is intended to prevent a rotation of the slide 12 in the opening 11.

[0032] The valve 4 has a thread 14 for placing on the container 3, via which the container 3 can be connected to the valve 4.

[0033] In FIG. 4, channels 21. 1 and 21. 2 are shown in the nipples 5. 1 and 5. 2 and the slide

12 sits in the opening 11 of the valve 4. By way of this horizontal cross-sectional view, it can be seen that the slide 12 has three passage openings 15.1, 15.2 and 15.3, whereby the passage openings 15.2 and 15.3 have a connection upwards to the screwed-on container 3 and the inlet and outlet nipples 5.1 and 5.2 and the passage opening 15.1 in a first use position only connects the inlet and outlet nipples 5.1 and 5.2.

[0034] A vertical cross-section according to FIG. 5 shows the thread 14, the slide 12 and the passage opening 15.2. An inlet opening 16.1 is also shown. This is connected to the passage opening 15.2 in the case of a specific position of the slide 12.

[0035] Furthermore, the anti-rotation device 13 is shown, which is intended to prevent the rotation of the slide 12. It also serves as a guide rail for the slide 12. The anti-rotation device

13 is fixedly connected to the valve 4.

[0036] FIG. 5 also shows that the slide 12 is seated in a space 18 in which it can be moved back and forth on the anti-rotation device 13. Furthermore, it can be seen that the slide 12 forms a tongue 19.

[0037] FIGS. 6 and 7 both show the slide 12 with its passage openings 15. 1, 15. 2 and 15. 3 and the position indicator 6. Furthermore, a hole 17 is shown through which the anti - rotation device 13 is pushed in order to prevent the slide 12 from twisting.

[0038] Furthermore, the slide 12 in these two FIGS. 6 and 7 has at least one annular groove, in the preferred exemplary embodiment shown here even 3 annular grooves 20.1, 20.2 and 20.3. Sealing rings (not shown) are inserted into these in order to separate the individual passage openings 15.1, 15.2 and 15.3 in the space 18 from each other.

[0039] FIG. 8 once again clearly shows the passage opening 15.1 which fits into the inlet and outlet nipples 5.1 and 5.2 of the valve according to FIG. 9 and connect these in a first usage position (not shown). Furthermore, FIG. 8 shows the passage openings 15.2 and 15.3 and their connection or opening upwards, which correspond to the inlet openings 16.1 and an outlet opening 16.2 of the valve 4 as shown with reference to FIG. 9.

[0040] The operation of the present invention is as follows:

[0041] For example, a compressor, the container 3 and the valve 4 are located in the housing 2. The housing 2 can also be inserted, for example, into the trunk of a vehicle.

[0042] If the sealant is used from the container 3 as a result of a tire, the container 3 is removed from the housing 2, an occlusion which is present is removed from the container 3 and replaced by the valve 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the valve 4 is screwed onto the container neck.

[0043] In this operating position, the slide 12 is not located in the operating position shown in FIG. 4, but instead is in an output position displaced to the right, in which a connection between the channels 21.1 and 21.2 is established by means of the arrow-shaped passage opening 15.1. The compressor is connected to the connection nipple 5.1, for example, and a hose is attached to the connection nipple 5.2, which leads to the valve of the defective tire. If the compressor is inadvertently set in motion, the air reaches the outlet channel 21.2 via the channel 21.1 and the passage opening 15.1.

[0044] The valve 4 with the container 3 is now inserted into the insert 7, the slide 12 being displaced into the use position shown in FIG. 4. In this operating position, the passage openings 15.2 and 15.3 are brought into conformity with the openings 16.1 and 16.2, which are open towards the container interior.

[0045] The compressor is now started and compressed air introduced through the passage 21.1 through the passage opening 15.2 and the inlet opening 16.2, so that a pressure is exerted on the sealant inside the container 3. FIG. This pressure causes the sealant to be pushed into the channel 21.2 through the outlet opening 16.1 and the passage opening 15.3 and from there to the tire valve. When the sealant enters the tire, for example, an existing hole is sealed.

REFERENCE LIST

2 housing

3 Container

4 valve

5 Nipples

6 Position indicator

7 Insertion unit

8 Inferior Insertion slot

9 Superior Inserting box

10 Projection

11 Opening

12 Slide

13 Anti-rotation device

14 Thread

15 Passage opening

16 Inlet port 17 Hole

18 Space

19 Tongue

20 Annular groove

21 Channel P device