The present invention relates to an apparatus by means of which, when using certain bicycle valves, the air pressure in the bicycle tire can be regulated and checked by using the inflation devices available at gas filling stations in order to improve riding safety.

Ordinary manual pumps designed for filling bicycle tires do not serve modern cycling in the best possible way. This is mainly due to the new types of bicycle tires, where the air pressure must be maintained relatively accurately within the given pressure limits; when using a manual pump, the air pressure in the tire is measured by rule of thumb, which naturally is not a reliable method for measuring the exact air pressure in the tire. Moreover, the air pressure needed in the modern tires is fairly high, so that the manual pump becomes troublesome and unpractical. This causes an additional safety hazard in the traffic, because the controllability of the bicycle is remarkably reduced when riding with insufficient air pressure in the tires.

Gas filling stations have for a long time provided inflation equipment whereby car tires .can be easily filled, and the air pressure in the tires is simultaneously read in the air pressure meter. It is generally known that car tire valves are different from the best-known types of bicycle valves, i.e. ball valves, needle valves and rubber valves, such as the Alligator (TM) ball valve, the Presta (TM) needle valve and the Dunlop (TM) rubber valve. They are not designed to be used together with inflation equipment, which is not even possible because of their structural arrangements, but they are filled with air by means of various types of manual pumps and similar devices. Owing to the difference of the valves in car tires and bicycle tires, it has not been possible to utilize the inflation equipment provided in the gas filling stations

as regards the inflation of bicycle tires, although the modern bicycle tires require mechanical inflation.

The Finnish patent application 2767/71 (B 60 C 23/00) introduces an apparatus for transferring air pressure from one tire of a vehicle into another tire. Neither the structure nor the use of the apparatus is designed so as to be suitable to be employed in between either ball, needle or rubber valves of bicycles on one hand and air inflation equipment on the other hand, considering the structural requirements in order to increase, decrease and check the air pressure in the bicycle tire by means of regular inflation equipment. The operation and structure of the apparatus are limited only to the transfer of air pressure from one tire of the vechicle into another, wherefore it cannot be used for operation between bicycle valves of the ball, needle or rubber type and regular inflation equipment.

The US patent publications 2 663 348 (152-514) and 3 019 831 (152-415) disclose new solutions for filling car tires. The apparatuses of these inventions are operable only in connection with valve types used in car tires, which are, as is generally known, different from the ball, needle and. rubber valves of bicycles. Neither the structures nor the uses of the said apparatuses are realized so as to correspond to the structural requirements of the said bicycle valves, wherefore the apparatuses are not operable in between the ball, needle or rubber valves of bicycle tires and regular inflation equipment, as regards the range and method of operation of the invention described in the present patent application.

The object of the present invention is to provide a decisive improvement with respect to the above described drawbacks. In order to realize ^' this, the apparatus of the present invention is characterized by the novel features enlisted in the appended patent claims.

The most important advantage of the invention is probably the fact that thereby the inflation of bicycle tires can be carried out by using the inflation equipment provided at gas filling stations, when the commonest types of bicycle valves are used. The present invention replaces the old-fashioned and unpractical manual pump so far used for inflating bicycle tires, as well as other similar devices. By means of the new apparatus, the air pressure in the bicycle tire can be regulated in a desired fashion, which is not possible with a manual pump. Thus the desired air pressure is easily obtained in the bicycle tire and the pressure is easily checked, which also increases general safety in the traffic, because the bicycle is more easily controlled when riding with the correct air pressure in the tires. It is easier and pleasanter for the rider to take care of the air pressure in the tires, when it is done conveniently and practically without the heavy manual pumping operation. In the following the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawing, where figure 1 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention, seen in partial cross- section; figure 2 is an illustration of the body of the apparatus; figure 3 is an illustration of the sleeve of the apparatus; figure 4 is an illustration of one of the caps of the apparatus; and figure 5 is an illustration of another cap of the apparatus.

The apparatus of the invention is formed of the body 1, the sleeve 7 and the cap 9, which are successively interconncectable, by the aid of of threa ings or other such known means, to compile a

uniform housing structure, as is seen in figure 1.

Figure 2 is an illustration of the body 1 of the apparatus of the invention, and figure 3 is an illustration of its sleeve 7. The body 1 is provided with the first channel 12, which extends throughout the body 1. A pin 5 is fitted in this channel 12. The pin 5 is provided with a locking member 14, and the channel 14 is provided with a corresponding- seat 15. The pin 5 is also provided with a spring 6, which is arranged in between the pin 5 and the body 1. The first end of ^• the body 1 and the channel 12 comprise a stem 2 for the nozzle of the inflator, and the second end comprises a coupling' member 3 for the sleeve 7 as well as a coupling aperture 4 for the valve or the pneumatic tire, or a uniform coupling member or aperture. The sleeve 7 contains another channel 13. At the first end of the sleeve 7 and the channel 13, there is provided a coupling member 11 for the body 1, and at the second end there is provided a coupling member such as the coupling aperture 8, for the valve of the pneumatic tire, as well as possibly a separate fitting member 10. The bodyl and the sleeve 7 are advantageously provided with a number of sealing washers 22.

In addition to this, figures 4 and 5 illustrate the caps 9; 9a, 9b, to be fastened to the stem 2 and chosen according to the use in question. By means of these caps, the apparatus can be fastened to clothing or the like in order to facilitate transportation. The cap 9; 9a, 9b comprises the connecting piece 16, whereby it can be fastened to the stem 2 of the body 1. The cap 9a of figure 4 is. provided with recesses or a hole 17, whereto a ring 18 or a string or a similar hanging means can be attached. The cap 9b of figure 5 is provided with a holder 19, whereby the apparatus can be fastened for instance to a pocket-hole.

The cap 9; 9a, 9b, is not indispensable as

regards the operation of the apparatus. The purpose of the cap is to protect the stem 2 of the apparatus from dust and dirt when the apparatus is not in use. At the same time it serves as a member whereby the apparatus can be fastened to the clothing in order to facilitate its transportation.

The apparatus of the invention serves as an accessory for the valve of a pneumatic bicycle tire, if the coupling member 3 of the body 1 is provided with a coupling aperture 4 or member suitable for a ball valve, such as the Alligator (TM) ball valve, as well as for a rubber valve, such as the Dunlop (TM) rubber valve, and if the sleeve 7 is provided with a coupling aperture 8 or coupling member for a needle valve, such as the Presta (TM) needle valve. The stem 2 of the body 1 is so designed that it is suited for the nozzles of regular inflators.

In connection with a ball valve, the apparatus of the present invention is operated as follows. The sleeve 7 and the cap 9 are removed from the apparatus of figure 1, so that only the body 1 remains. The body 1 is connected, at the coupling member or aperture 4, to the ball valve of the pneumatic tire. The pin 5 is now partly pushed inside the ball valve. In this initial position, the locking member 14 of the pin 5 rests against the seat, and the channel 12 is closed. The nozzle 20 of the inflator, figure 2, is inserted in the stem 2 of the body 1. The spike 21 of the nozzle pushes the pin 5 at its first end for a determined length against the pressure of the spring 6, out of the body 1 and the coupling aperture 4. Simultaneously the locking member 14 of the pin 5 is detached from the seat 15, and the channel 12, earlier closed by the locking member 14, is opened and the second end of the pin 5, which is located inside the ball valve, presses the ball of the ball valve, by means of an axial motion of both the apparatus and the ball valve, aside from blocking its

air inlets, against the air pressure of the pneumatic tire. Thus the pathway from the inside of the pneumatic tire via the channel 12 to the inflator is opened, and the air pressure in the tire can be read in the pressure meter of the inflator. Now the air pressure in the tire can be accurately adjusted according to the operation of the inflator.

When the nozzle of the inflator is detached from the stem 2, the in 5 is lifted, by means of the spring 6, to its initial position, and the ball valve is closed by the tire's own air pressure in a generally known fashion. Thereafter the apparatus of the invention can be removed from the ball valve. The inflation has been carried out conveniently, and the air pressure in the tire is exactly as desired.

In connection with a needle valve, the apparatus of the invention is operated as follows. From the apparatus of figure 1, the cap 9 is removed, whereafter the interconnected body 1 and sleeve 7 remain. The apparatus is fastened, at the coupling aperture 8 of the sleeve 7, to the needle valve, so that the second end of the pin 5 is placed inside the valve coaxially with the pin provided in the middle of the needle valve and in the immediate vicinity thereof. hen the nozzle 20 of the inflator (cf. figure 2) is inserted in the stem 2 of the body 1, the spike 21 of the nozzle pushes the pin 5 at its first end for a given length against the pressure of the spring 6, out of the body 1 and through the sleeve 7, so that the second end of the pin 5 presses the pin of the needle valve, and the needle valve is opened. Through the channeles 13 and 12 the pathway from inside the pneumatic valve into the inflator is opened. Now the inflation can again be carried out by means of the inflation equipment in order to obtain exactly the desired air pressure.

While employing a rubber valve, the apparatus is operated as follows. From the apparatus of figure 1,

the sleeve 7 and the cap 9 are removed, so that only the body 1 remains. The body 1 is connected, at the coupling aperture 4, to the rubber valve of the pneumatic tire, such as to the already mentioned Dunlop (TM) rubber valve. The nozzle 20 of the inflator, figure 2, is inserted to the stem 2 of the body 1. Thereafter the tire can be inflated.

It is particularly pointed out that the apparatus of the invention can be- realized so that each single apparatus is provided with the necessary techniques required either for the use of one or several types of bicycle tire valves, according to the needs of the user. As regards the operation of the apparatus, the technique is designed only to be used in connection with the ball, needle and rubber valves of bicycles, in order to inflate the bicycle tires by means of regular inflating equipment, and it is not suited for instance for transferring air from one tire to another. It is also pointed out. that in the above specification, the invention is described with reference to one preferred embodiment only. We do not, however, wish to limit the scope of the present invention to this preferred embodiment exclusively, but many modifications therein are possible within the inventional idea defined in the appended patent claims.