Abstract: A water-activated, squib-powered inflator for fracturing a frangible seal of a gas cartridge allowing the gas therein to flow into an inflatable drive.

Abstract: A mold for making articles that are interconnected by a lanyard, such as inflator parts. A mold base has a channel formed in it, and a first block is slidably mounted in that channel. A groove formed in the block defines the contour of a first article produced by the mold when plastic is injected into the groove and a mating groove formed in a mold cover that overlies the base. A stationary second block, also disposed in the channel, has a cavity formed in it that defines the contour of a second article. Opposite ends of the lanyard are positioned in the respective areas bounded by the grooves and cavity so that the opposite ends of the lanyard are embedded in the articles produced by the mold. The length of the interconnecting lanyard is adjusted by adjusting the position of the moveable block within the channel. The movable block may also be stationery.

Abstract: Check valve adapted for being mounted in and sealed to a tube made of elastomeric material. The valve has an elongated outer hollow body made of thermoplastic material, said body being adapted to be telescoped for a substantial portion of its length into the end of the elastomeric tube.

Abstract: An automatic inflator which inflates gas-inflatable articles by the release of compressed gas from a gas-containing capsule by the piercing of a seal on the capsule. The inflator has an elongated housing having first and second end portions, the housing receiving the neck of a compressed gas-containing capsule mounted for longitudinal movement with respect thereto and with the seal on the capsule disposed adjacent the second end portion of the housing. A piercing pin is mounted on the first end portion of the housing to confront the seal on the neck of a capsule mounted therein, there being a spring at the second end portion of the housing for constantly urging the capsule longitudinally of the housing toward the first end portion thereof.

Abstract: An automatic inflator which inflates gas-inflatable articles by the release of compressed gas from a gas-containing capsule by the piercing of a seal on the capsule. The inflator has an elongated housing having first and second end portions, the housing receiving a compressed gas-containing capsule for longitudinal movement with respect thereto and with the seal on the capsule disposed adjacent the second end portion of the housing. A piercing pin is mounted on the second end portion of the housing to confront the seal of a capsule mounted therein, there being a spring at the first end portion of the housing for constantly urging the capsule longitudinally of the housing toward the second end portion thereof.

Abstract: A valve for use with an inflatable article having side walls made of flexible impervious fabric, the valve being attached and sealed to the article at an opening through the side wall thereof. The valve has a hollow valve body having a fixed seat therein, a valve element within the valve body and selectively movable into and out of sealing engagement with the valve seat, and a resilient spring constantly urging the valve element toward and into sealing engagement with the valve seat. The valve is attached and sealed by a nut screwed onto the valve body, the nut having a first, axially outwardly expanding frusto-conical flange on its axially outer end, the first flange underlying the portion of the fabric which surrounds the opening through the side wall of the article, and a second frusto-conical flange attached to the valve body.

Abstract: Automatic inflator which inflates gas-inflatable articles by the release of compressed gas from a gas-containing capsule by the piercing of a seal on the capsule. The inflator has an elongated cup-shaped housing having an open rear end and a generally closed front end. The rear end of the housing receives the neck of a compressed gas-containing capsule with the seal on the capsule disposed within the housing. A plunger is disposed adjacent to the forward, generally closed end of the housing, the plunger being adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of the housing. A piercing pin is mounted on the plunger to confront the seal of a capsule mounted on the housing; there is a spring at the forward end of the housing for constantly urging the plunger and the piercing pin thereon longitudinally rearwardly of the housing toward the seal on the capsule, and a releasable blocking device interposed between the plunger and the neck of the capsule to hold the piercing pin spaced from the seal of the capsule.

Abstract: Pressure reducing and safety discharge valve device adapted for use with compressed gas-containing capsules. The valve has a bore therein in which a spool-shaped valve element is disposed for axial reciprocation. In a first terminal position of the valve element the valve element connects a conduit means leading from a gas-containing capsule discharging gas under moderate pressure to a gas-discharge port of the valve. When the pressure of the gas discharged from the capsule increases to a predetermined value, the valve element moves against the opposition of a spring to cut off further discharge of gas from the capsule; when the pressure of the gas discharged from the capsule increases substantially beyond such predetermined value, the valve element moves still further against the opposition of the spring to discharge such gas through a relief port to the atmosphere.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved check valve for operation under light pressure, as in the oral inflation of inflatable articles. The valve has a valve body and a valve element reciprocable therein, the valve element having a body which carries an annular sealing means cooperating with and selectively sealing an axially outwardly converging valve seat having the shape of part of a sphere. The valve body and the valve element are substantially shorter than those of the prior art over which it is an improvement; the means for guiding the forward or outer end of the valve element remote from the valve seat and the sealing means has pronounced clearance with respect to the axial passage through the valve body, thereby permitting appreciable tipping of the valve element relative to the valve body, the sealing means effecting a seal with the valve seat in any position of the valve element in which it may be tipped relative to the valve body.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inflator for the inflation of inflatable articles such as life vests and the like, such inflator being operated automatically upon being subjected to water as upon the ditching or parachuting of an aviator wearing a life vest provided with such inflator. In the preferred embodiment of the inflator disclosed, the automatically operating portion of it is embodied as an attachment to a known manually operated inflator, the resulting inflator being capable of operation both manually and automatically. The automatically operating portion of the inflator incorporates a latch which holds a plunger operated by a coil compression spring in cocked condition until the latch releases the plunger, which thereafter thrusts a piercing pin against and through the sealing diaphragm of a gas-containing capsule.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inflator for the inflation of inflatable articles such as life vests and the like, such inflator being operated automatically upon being subjected to water as upon the ditching or parachuting of an aviator wearing a life vest provided with such inflator. In the preferred embodiment of the inflator disclosed, the automatically operating portion of it is embodied as an attachment to a known manually operated inflator, the resulting inflator being capable of operation both manually and automatically. The automatically operating portion of the inflator incorporates a latch which holds a plunger operated by a coil compression spring in cocked condition until the latch releases the plunger, which thereafter thrusts a gas-containing capsule against a piercing pin, so that the pin passes through the sealing diaphragm of the capsule.

Abstract: An apparatus for heading plastic safety pins for manifolds for use with an inflatable article such as a life vest, life raft, and the like. After the pin has been mounted in the manifold, the previously unheaded end of the pin is partially melted and compressed so as to flow laterally to form a head thereon. The die which engages the initially unheaded end of the pin is heated to a temperature which markedly exceeds the melting point of the plastic material of which the pin is made. Such die is brought forcibly into contact with and is removed from engagement with the initially unheaded end of the pin several times a second, so as to avoid the complete melting of the pin and the sticking of the plastic material to the heated die.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inflator for the inflation of inflatable articles such as life vests and the like, such inflator being operated automatically upon being subjected to water as upon the ditching or parachuting of an aviator wearing a life vest provided with such inflator. In the preferred embodiment of the inflator disclosed, the automatically operating portion of it is embodied as an attachment to a known manually operated inflator, the resulting inflator being capable of operation both manually and automatically. The automatically operating portion of the inflator incorporates a latch which holds a plunger operated by a coil compression spring in cocked condition until the latch releases the plunger, which thereafter thrusts a piercing pin against and through the sealing diaphragm of a gas-containing capsule.

Abstract: A method of heading a thermoplastic safety pin in a manifold for use with an inflatable article such as a life vest, life raft, and the like. Before operation, a manifold has a capsule containing compressed gas mounted thereon, the manifold being actuated to inflate the inflatable article by pulling a lanyard attached to a lever which thrusts a capsule-piercing pin into the soft metal seal on the capsule. Before the operation of the manifold, the lever is held in locked-inoperative position by a frangible plastic pin which extends through a hole in the lever and aligned holes in the body of the manifold on both sides of a longitudinal slot therein which receives the lever when the latter is in inoperative position. When the operator swings the lever in order to advance the capsule-piercing pin to pierce the seal on the capsule, the plastic pin is broken.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ferrule which is made of plastic material and is initially molded in one piece as a ferrule blank consisting of a thin-walled circular cylindrical shell or sleeve, a radially inwardly-directed transverse annular flange at the inner end of the sleeve, and a part which initially extends further axially inwardly from the flange, the said part having a plurality of axially extending fingers formed by straight-walled axial slots. The axially outer ends of the fingers are joined at their roots to the outer edge of the above-mentioned annular flange. The radially outer edge of such flange is joined to the axially inner end of the sleeve by a very narrow frangible annular flange. The fingers as initially molded diverge in an axially inwardly direction from their roots. Each of the fingers adjacent its inner end is provided with a peripheral groove which terminates at its inner end in a radially outwardly projecting lip.

Abstract: Improved check valve adapted for operation under light pressure, as in the oral inflation of inflatable articles. The valve has a valve body and a movable valve element therein, the valve element having a body which carries an annular sealing means cooperating with and selectively sealing an axially outwardly converging valve seat on the valve body, the angle of engagement between the sealing member of the valve element and the valve seat at the valve-closed position of the valve element exceeding the angle of repose of the engaging parts of the sealing member and the valve seat. The sealing member, which is molded in place on the body of the valve element, has an annular main part surrounding an enlarged head on the body of the valve element and a sheet-like disc which is integral with the main part of the sealing member and overlies the axially inner end of the head on the body of the valve element.

Abstract: Improved cord fastening device, used for example, for securing the lanyard cord to the capsule-piercing lever of an inflation manifold for use with an inflatable article such as a life vest, life raft, and the like. The cord extends through a hole in the lever, the cord on opposite sides of the lever being gathered to lie parallel and being embraced and strongly gripped by a metal sleeve telescoped thereover.

Abstract: A tether adapted for use in a device for inflating and deflating an inflatable article. The device shown has a body affixed to a wall of the inflatable article at a hole therethrough, the device having a tubular insert or nipple sealed to the body and a closure element or plug functioning as a stopper for the nipple, the plug being completely removable from the nipple to deflate the article. The plug has threaded engagement with the nipple, and functions as an inflating check valve when the valve is opened by partially unscrewing the plug from the nipple. The inflation device incorporates a novel tether for the rotatable plug, the tether permitting free rotation of the plug with respect to the nipple, and the complete removal of the plug from the nipple while retaining it tethered, as during the deflation of the inflatable article.

Abstract: Device for inflating and deflating an inflatable article. The device has a body affixed to a wall of the inflatable article at a hole therethrough, the device having a tubular insert or nipple sealed to the body and a closure element or plug functioning as a stopper for the nipple, the plug being completely removable from the nipple to deflate the article. The plug has threaded engagement with the nipple, and functions as an inflating check valve when the valve is opened by partially unscrewing the plug from the nipple. The check valve is of novel construction, incorporating an annular seat formed integral with the body of the inflation device, a valve element in the form of a diaphragm on the plug cooperating with such annular seat, and a novel means for manually locally unseating the valve element from the annular valve seat when the plug is partially unscrewed from the nipple.