Abstract: A method and apparatus for interconnecting with a lanyard a handle and lever arm of the type used in rapid inflation applications includes apparatus for impaling a first end of a lanyard with multiple spikes to secure the first end to a handle and further includes apparatus for sandwiching the second end of the lanyard between a plug and a bore formed in the lever arm. The lanyard handle is made with a channel having spike-receiving cavities along its extent, and the spikes on a spike-carrying strip impale the first end of the lanyard when the strip is press fit into the channel. At the opposite end of the lanyard, the bore and plug are frusto-conical in configuration so that pulling on the lanyard exerts a wedging action between the plug and bore to tighten the grip on the second end of the lanyard.

Abstract: A check valve has a point-to-point articulated connection between its valve stem and valve head so that the head is free to skew when unseated. The valve head is positioned within the interior of the valve body between a valve seat and the trailing end of the valve body and retracts further into the valve body when unseated by the introduction of gaseous fluid into the valve body. The leading end of the valve stem is cone-shaped, and is received within a cone-shaped recess formed in the trailing end of the valve head. A bias member urges the valve stem toward the valve head so that the vertex of the cone-shaped valve stem is in point-to-point contact with the vertex of the cone-shaped recess. When gaseous fluid is introduced into the valve body, the valve head unseats from the valve seat and is free to skew with respect to its seated orientation, but since it retracts into the valve body, the inner sidewalls of the valve body prevent excessive skewing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interconnecting with a lanyard a handle and lever arm of the type used in rapid inflation applications includes apparatus for impaling a first end of a lanyard with multiple spikes to secure the first end to a handle and further includes apparatus for sandwiching the second end of the lanyard between a plug and a bore formed in the lever arm. The lanyard handle is made with a channel having spike-receiving cavities along its extent, and the spikes on a spike-carrying strip impale the first end of the lanyard when the strip is press fit into the channel. At the opposite end of the lanyard, the bore and plug are frusto-conical in configuration so that pulling on the lanyard exerts a wedging action between the plug and bore to tighten the grip on the second end of the lanyard.

Abstract: An apparatus for interconnecting with a lanyard a handle of the type used in rapid inflation applications includes apparatus for impaling a first end of a lanyard with multiple spikes to secure the first end to a handle. The lanyard handle is made with a channel having spike-receiving cavities along its extent, and the spikes on a spike-carrying strip impale the first end of the lanyard when the strip is press fit into the channel.

Abstract: An auto inflator having a dissolvable element that abuts and prevents sliding movement of a retainer pin that is under very low pressure. The auto inflator further includes a rotatably mounted lever arm that effects puncturing of a gas-filled cartridge by a puncture pin when the lever arm is rotated. Rotation of the lever arm occurs when the retainer pin is retracted upon dissolution of the dissolvable element. A slide member is slidably mounted in an elongate track and is biased to slide away from the retainer pin but the retainer pin, when extended, prevents that movement. The retainer pin is biased to retract, but the dissolvable element prevents that retraction until it is dissolved. Upon dissolution, the retainer pin retracts and the slide member moves along the track, pulling a lanyard with it. The lanyard is engaged to the lever arm and effects its rotation so that the puncture pin is driven into the membrane that seals the cartridge.

Abstract: An inflator manifold made of plastic materials that is as strong as metallic inflator manifolds and that has the same external dimensions of metallic inflator manifolds so that it meets industry strength and size standards. The outermost end of the inflator manifold is capped by an end cap having external and internal threads so that a double screw threaded engagement is achieved that matches the strength of metallic threads. The side walls of the inflator manifold are thickened in an internal direction so that the bore for gaseous fluids under pressure entering the article to be inflated has a diameter less than the diameter of a bore of a metallic inflator manifold.

Abstract: A tubular adapter and check valve for Luer fittings. The end of the adapter that receives the Luer fitting is expandable radially outwardly in a substantially uniform manner so that Luer fittings of all sizes are snugly received by the adapter. Deep longitudinally extending grooves are formed in the adapter to provide the expandability. The adapter, when in repose, is designed to tightly receive the smallest in diameter Luer fittings, but it receives even the largest Luer fittings when in its expanded configuration. The adapter is also improved by providing radially inwardly extending fingers that hold a check valve in the adapter against axial displacement and by providing an annular shoulder that limits the depth of insertion of the Luer fitting into the adapter, which shoulder prevents over distortion of the check valve.

Abstract: A tongue and groove construction maintains the catch and latch part of a tube clamp in full registration with one another across its entire range of positions from fully open to fully closed. A groove bisects the teeth of the latch member and a complementally formed tongue bisects the catch member of the clamp. Thus, when the tongue is slidably received within the groove, the parts of the catch member that flank the tongue releasably engage the parts of the latch member that flank the groove. This maintains the tube pinching elements in full alignment with one another so that when the pinching elements are fully displaced toward one another, no liquid fluid may flow through a cannula disposed therebetween. The teeth are not provided in a second embodiment, but the tongue and groove arrangement is employed in that embodiment. The tongue engages the underside of a lip, and the clamp is either fully open or fully closed.

Abstract: A check valve for use in an oral inflation valve has an articulated connection between the valve head and valve stem. The valve stem has a trailing end in the form of a spherical ball and a socket carried by the valve head rotatably receives the ball so that the valve head may skew about an axis of articulation when the valve is open. The trailing end of the valve body is flat and the mating surface of the valve head is flat so that the head seats squarely on the seat when the valve is in repose. The flat trailing end of the valve body is coincident with the axis of articulation. In a second embodiment, the ball and socket are not spherical, but are of frusto-conical configuration to facilitate assembly of the device.

Abstract: A lanyard that when pulled upon causes a pivotally mounted inflator level arm to rotate about a pivot shaft is secured against separation from the lever arm by being sandwiched between opposing halves of a molded lever arm and being constrained to follow a serpentine path of travel through that molded lever arm. Blind slots formed in opposite halves of the molded lever arm are partially occupied by plugs that constrain the lanyard to follow the serpentine path of travel so that axial forces exerted upon the lanyard are resisted to an enhanced degree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a lanyard to a handle of the type used with inflators. The lanyard is captured in sandwiched relation between the opposite halves of the handle at the time the handle is molded. A pair of confronting lanyard-receiving members are positioned along the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the handle, and the lanyard is placed between them. Plugs that force the lanyard to follow a serpentine path of travel are positioned along the length of each lanyard-receiving member when the molding process begins and the plugs are removed when the handle is completed.

Abstract: An inflation manifold is made an integral part of an inflatable article so that the manifold is held against rotation and retraction. In a preferred embodiment, a "U"-shaped clip has plural apertures formed along its extent, and is snapped onto a preselected part of the manifold such as a neck part. A detent prevents relative rotation between the clip and the neck of the manifold. The clip and manifold are embedded in elastomeric material so that the elastomeric material flows into the apertures and into the space between the opposed ends of the clamp, thereby preventing rotation and retraction of the manifold and clip with respect to such material when the material hardens.

Abstract: A squib inflator adaptor for operatively connecting a conventional electrically actuated squib to the threaded neck of a compressed gas cartridge such that upon actuation of the squib, a pierce pin in the adaptor pierces the frangible seal of the gas cartridge allowing the gas therein to escape and inflate the inflation article.

Abstract: A safety lock for preventing inadvertent activation of an inflator of the type connected to a gas cartridge for the rapid inflation of inflatable articles. A common bore extends through the inflator body and a bell crank that causes piercing of the gas cartridge when rotated about a pivot shaft. A rivet extends through the bore and keys the crank to the inflator body so that the crank cannot be inadvertently pivoted. The rivet includes a weak middle section that breaks when a firm force is exerted upon the bell crank, thereby assuring that the safety lock does not prevent intentional activation of the inflator. The second end of the rivet includes a pair of resilient prongs that negate the need for a second head on the rivet.

Abstract: A CO.sub.2 cartridge is screw threadedly received into an inflator having a lanyard-operated, pivotally mounted bell crank. A pin having a round in section pointed end capable of puncturing the cartridge is slidably positioned within a bore formed in the inflator and the length of the pin exceeds the length of the bore so that the head of the pin protrudes out of the bore. Rocking the bell crank about its pivot point drives the head of the pin into the bore so that the pointed end of the pin punctures the thin center of the cartridge. The pin in hollow so that the gas escaping from the cartridge flows through the pin and is directed into another bore formed in the inflator which is confluent with the inflation manifold of an inflatable device.

Abstract: An inflation manifold and a clip that snap fittingly engages it so that the manifold and clip assembly resists rotation and retraction relative to an inflatable article when they are molded into a thickened part of the article. The clip is generally annular and in a first embodiment is preferably divided into four independently formed parts that transiently diverge when the base part of the manifold is driven into the clip and which regain their initial position of repose after the base has traveled therepast, capturing said base and preventing its retraction. Both the base and clip are provided with apertures or bores or cutaways that fill with flowable elastomeric material when the inflatable article is molded so that the manifold and clip become an integral part of the inflatable article when the elastomeric material hardens. In a second embodiment, the clip is integrally formed and is molded into capturing relation to the base.

Abstract: A manifold of the type used in connection with inflatable articles and an integral flange that holds the manifold against rotation and retraction in relation to an inflatable article. The flange extends radially from a first end of the manifold and completely circumscribes it. The first end of the manifold is embedded in a thickened part of the inflatable article. The embedding is accomplished by introducing flowable elastomeric material into a mold within which the first end of the manifold is pre-positioned. Plural apertures are formed about the circumferential extent of the flange, and the flowable elastomeric material flows into the apertures so that the flange is an integral part of the inflatable article when the elastomeric material solidifies. The manifold further includes a longitudinally extending groove, a transverse groove and a radial bore.

Abstract: A lanyard that when pulled upon causes a pivotally mounted inflator lever arm to rotate about a pivot shaft is secured against separation from the lever arm by being sandwiched between opposing halves of a molded lever arm and being constrained to follow a serpentine path of travel through that molded lever arm. Blind slots formed in opposite halves of the molded lever arm are partially occupied by plugs that constrain the lanyard to follow the serpentine path of travel so that axial forces exerted upon the lanyard are resisted to an enhanced degree.

Abstract: A removable clip that engages an inflator. The clip prevents inadvertent piercing of a gas cartridge secured to the inflator and indicates whether or not the inflator has been used. The clip is carried on the lanyard that is pulled to activate the inflator and includes a pair of laterally extending arms having detents formed on their respective free ends that engage opposite ends of a bore formed in the inflator. The detents retain the clip in place until the lanyard is pulled, and the clip remains on the lanyard after the lanyard has been pulled so that the clip is not lost.