Tire air transfer device

Abstract

An air transfer device for transferring compressed air from a source volume to a recipient volume. The air transfer device is an assembly that includes a hose with couplings at each end to releasably connect to the source and recipient volumes, and has a variable volume flow control valve between the couplings. An air transfer device is also provided with an ergonomic flow control valve having a variety of interchangeable attachments for connecting to inflatable objects. The air transfer device has many applications, including transferring air between vehicle tires by use of air chucks as the couplings on the ends of the hose.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An air transfer device for transferring compressed air from a source volume, defined by a source enclosure, to a recipient volume, defined by a recipient enclosure, the air transfer device comprising: 
 a hose having a first end and a second end;    a coupling at the first end adapted to pneumatically and releasably connect to the source volume;    means for pneumatically and releasably connecting to the recipient volume at the second end; and    a valve for restricting airflow in the hose to provide variable flow from the source volume to the recipient volume, the valve interposed between the coupling and the connecting means.    
     
     
         2 . The air transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is a quarter turn valve.  
     
     
         3 . The air transfer device of  claim 2 , wherein the coupling and the connecting means are air chucks.  
     
     
         4 . The air transfer device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure gauge pneumatically connected to the hose.  
     
     
         5 . The air transfer device of  claim 4 , wherein the pneumatic connection of the pressure gauge to the hose is made between the valve and the coupling.  
     
     
         6 . The air transfer device of  claim 4 , wherein the pneumatic connection of the pressure gauge to the hose is made between the valve and the connecting means.  
     
     
         7 . The air transfer device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first pressure gauge with a pneumatic connection to the hose made between the valve and the coupling; and    a second pressure gauge with a pneumatic connection to the hose made between the valve and the connecting means.    
     
     
         8 . An air transfer device according to  claim 1 , wherein the hose is self-coiling.  
     
     
         9 . An air transfer device for transferring air compressed air from a source tire to a recipient tire initially having a lower pressure than the source tire, the air transfer device comprising: 
 a hose having a first end and a second end;    a clip-on air chuck at the first end adapted to pneumatically connect to the source tire;    an air chuck at the second end adapted to pneumatically connect to the recipient tire; and    a valve for restricting airflow in the hose to provide variable flow from the source tire to the recipient tire, the valve interposed between the clip-on air chuck and the air chuck.    
     
     
         10 . An air transfer device for transferring compressed air from a source volume, defined by a source enclosure, to a recipient volume, defined by a recipient enclosure, the air transfer device comprising: 
 a hose having a first end and a second end;    a coupling at the first end adapted to pneumatically and releasably connect to the source volume;    a valve at the second end, the valve having a handle with two ends and a substantially axial opening therebetween, an actuator pivotally connected to the handle, an inlet at one end of the handle adapted to pneumatically connect to the second end of the hose, and an outlet at the other end of the handle, wherein the valve is open when the actuator is engaged and the valve is closed when the actuator is released; and    means for pneumatically and releasably connecting to the recipient volume, the connecting means having a first end and a second end, the first end of the connecting means being adapted to pneumatically and releasably connect to the outlet of the valve and the second end of the connecting means being adapted to pneumatically and releasably connect to the recipient volume.    
     
     
         11 . The air transfer device of  claim 10 , further comprising a pressure gauge pneumatically connected to the hose.  
     
     
         12 . The air transfer device of  claim 11 , wherein the pneumatic connection of the pressure gauge to the hose is made between the valve and the coupling.  
     
     
         13 . The air transfer device of  claim 11 , wherein the pneumatic connection of the pressure gauge to the hose is made along the handle of the valve.  
     
     
         14 . The air transfer device of  claim 10 , wherein the connecting means comprises a nozzle with the second end adapted to inflate balloons and beach balls.  
     
     
         15 . The air transfer device of  claim 10 , wherein the connecting means comprises a connection hose having a clip-on air chuck at the second end.  
     
     
         16 . The air transfer device of  claim 10 , wherein the connecting means comprises an adapter fitting having a ball inflation needle at the second end.  
     
     
         17 . The air transfer device of  claim 10 , wherein the outlet of the valve comprises a fitting that is one half of a releasable coupling, adapted to mate with the other half of the coupling that is attached to the connecting means.  
     
     
         18 . The air transfer device of  claim 10 , wherein the outlet of the valve is selected from the group consisting of a threaded nipple, a threaded socket, a male quick-connect fitting, and a female quick-connect fitting.  
     
     
         19 . An air transfer device according to  claim 10 , wherein the hose is self-coiling.  
     
     
         20 . An air valve for controlling flow of compressed air from a hose to an inflatable object having a connection point for flow of air into the object, the air valve comprising: 
 a handle with two ends and a substantially axial opening therebetween;    an actuator pivotally connected to the handle;    an inlet at one end of the handle adapted to pneumatically connect to the second end of the hose;    an outlet at the other end of the handle, the outlet adapted to pneumatically and releasably connect to interchangeable end portions for connecting to a variety of connection point types, wherein the valve is open when the actuator is engaged and the valve is closed when the actuator is released.    
     
     
         21 . The air valve of  claim 20 , further comprising a pressure gauge pneumatically connected to the valve, with the pneumatic connection between the pressure gauge and the valve made along the handle of the valve.  
     
     
         22 . The air valve of  claim 20 , wherein the outlet of the valve comprises one half of a releasable coupling.  
     
     
         23 . The air valve of  claim 20 , wherein the outlet of the valve is selected from the group consisting of a threaded nipple, a threaded socket, a male quick-connect fitting, and a female quick-connect fitting.