Universal inflator

Abstract

A universal inflator which is capable of connection to virtually any type of air pump for inflating an inflatable object such as a basketball, football, volleyball or soccer ball, for example. The universal inflator may include a stem valve fitted with an inflator needle for insertion through the air plug of the inflatable object. A bicycle air pump, a commercial-type air pump or virtually any other type of air pump or air transfer device may be connected to the stem valve to facilitate inflating the object.

Having described my invention with the particularity set forth above, I claim:  
     
         1 . A universal inflator comprising: 
 a stem valve having a connector nipple; and    an inflator needle provided in pneumatic communication with said stem valve.    
     
     
         2 . The universal inflator of  claim 1  comprising an attachment nipple provided on said stem valve and wherein said inflator needle is provided in pneumatic communication with said attachment nipple.  
     
     
         3 . The universal inflator of  claim 1  comprising a connector base provided on said inflator needle and wherein said connector base is provided in pneumatic communication with said stem valve.  
     
     
         4 . The universal inflator of  claim 3  comprising an attachment nipple provided on said stem valve and wherein said connector base is provided in pneumatic communication with said attachment nipple.  
     
     
         5 . The universal inflator of  claim 1  comprising a housing and wherein said inflator needle and said connector nipple extend from opposite ends of said housing.  
     
     
         6 . The universal inflator of  claim 3  comprising an attachment nipple provided on said stem valve and wherein said inflator needle is provided in pneumatic communication with said attachment nipple in said housing.  
     
     
         7 . The universal inflator of  claim 5  comprising a connector base provided on said inflator needle and wherein said connector base is provided in pneumatic communication with said stem valve in said housing.  
     
     
         8 . The universal inflator of  claim 7  comprising an attachment nipple provided on said stem valve and wherein said connector base is provided in pneumatic communication with said attachment nipple in said housing.  
     
     
         9 . The universal connector of  claim 1  comprising nipple threads provided on said connector nipple.  
     
     
         10 . The universal connector of  claim 9  comprising an attachment nipple provided on said stem valve and wherein said inflator needle is provided in pneumatic communication with said attachment nipple.  
     
     
         11 . The universal connector of  claim 9  comprising a connector base provided on said inflator needle and wherein said connector base is provided in pneumatic communication with said stem valve.  
     
     
         12 . The universal connector of  claim 11  comprising an attachment nipple provided on said stem valve and wherein said inflator needle is provided in pneumatic communication with said attachment nipple.  
     
     
         13 . The universal connector of  claim 9  comprising a housing and wherein said inflator needle and said connector nipple extend from opposite ends of said housing.  
     
     
         14 . The universal connector of  claim 13  comprising an attachment nipple provided on said stem valve and wherein said inflator needle is provided in pneumatic communication with said attachment nipple in said housing.  
     
     
         15 . The universal connector of  claim 13  comprising a connector base provided on said inflator needle and wherein said connector base is provided in pneumatic communication with said stem valve in said housing.  
     
     
         16 . The universal connector of  claim 15  comprising an attachment nipple provided on said stem valve and wherein said connector base is provided in pneumatic communication with said attachment nipple in said housing.  
     
     
         17 . A method of inflating an inflatable object, comprising: 
 providing a universal inflator comprising a stem valve having a connector nipple and an inflator needle provided in pneumatic communication with said stem valve;    providing said inflator needle in pneumatic communication with the inflatable object;    providing an air pump;    providing said air pump in pneumatic communication with said stem valve; and    delivering air from said air pump to the inflatable object through said stem valve and said inflator needle, respectively, of said universal inflator.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  comprising a housing and wherein said inflator needle and said connector nipple extend from opposite ends of said housing.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  comprising an attachment nipple provided on said stem valve and a connector base provided on said inflator needle and wherein said connector base is provided in pneumatic communication with said attachment nipple.  
     
     
         20 . A method of transferring air from a first inflatable object to a second inflatable object, comprising: 
 providing a universal inflator comprising a stem valve and an inflator needle provided in pneumatic communication with said stem valve;    providing an air transfer device comprising an air hose, a first coupling provided on a first end of said air hose and a second coupling provided on a second end of said air hose;    providing said first coupling of said air transfer device in pneumatic communication with the first inflatable object;    providing said inflator needle of said universal inflator in pneumatic communication with the second inflatable object;    providing said second coupling of said air transfer device in pneumatic communication with said stem valve of said universal inflator; and    delivering the air from the first inflatable object to the second inflatable object through said first coupling, said air hose and said second coupling, respectively, of said air transfer device and said stem valve and said inflator needle, respectively, of said universal inflator.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said providing said first coupling of said air transfer device in pneumatic communication with the first inflatable object comprises: 
 providing a second universal inflator having a second stem valve and a second inflator needle in pneumatic communication with said second stem valve;  
 providing said second stem valve in pneumatic communication with said first coupling of said air transfer device; and  
 providing said second inflator needle in pneumatic communication with the first inflatable object.