Inflation valve assembly

Abstract

An inflation valve includes a main valve body having an outlet port, a rupture port, and a pull cord retainer. A puncture retainer body secures a puncture disc within the main valve body to seal the outlet port to gas flow. A slot in the puncture retaining body permits gas flow to the outlet port. A puncture pin received within the puncture retaining body includes a center bore permitting gas flow to the outlet port. A rupture disc breaks under high pressure conditions to permit pressurized gas to exit the rupture port. The rupture disc and puncture disc are interchangeable. A release assembly associated with the pull cord retainer permits manual release of the puncture pin. A vacuum washer is sealed between a vacuum retainer and the pull cord retainer to prevent gas from exiting the pull cord retainer when the inflation valve is activated under vacuum.

1 .- 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . An inflation valve, comprising: 
 a main valve body having an outlet port;    a puncture disc operatively associated with the outlet port to seal the outlet port to gas flow;    a puncture pin adapted to break the puncture disc when the inflation valve is activated;    a rupture port on the main valve body;    a rupture disc operatively associated with the rupture port on the main valve body to seal the rupture port to gas flow, the rupture disc adapted to break under high pressure conditions to permit pressurized gas to exit the rupture port; and    wherein the rupture disc and puncture disc are interchangable.    
   
   
       9 . The inflation valve of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a pull cord retainer on the main valve body, the pull cord retainer adapted to receive a release assembly;    the release assembly adapted to permit a user to manually activate the inflation valve by releasing the puncture pin to break the puncture disc, the release assembly comprising:    a vacuum retainer, and    a vacuum washer sealed between the vacuum retainer and the pull cord retainer, wherein the vacuum retainer and vacuum washer are adapted to prevent gas from exiting the pull cord retainer of the main valve body when the inflation valve is activated under vacuum.    
   
   
       10 . An inflation valve, comprising: 
 a main valve body having an outlet port;    a puncture disc operatively associated with the outlet port to seal the outlet port to gas flow;    a puncture pin adapted to break the puncture disc when the inflation valve is activated;    a pull cord retainer on the main valve body, the pull cord retainer adapted to receive a release assembly;    the release assembly adapted to permit a user to manually activate the inflation valve by releasing the puncture pin to break the puncture disc, the release assembly comprising:    a vacuum retainer, and    a vacuum washer sealed between the vacuum retainer and the pull cord retainer, wherein the vacuum retainer and vacuum washer are adapted to prevent gas from exiting the pull cord retainer of the main valve body when the inflation valve is activated under vacuum.    
   
   
       11 . The inflation valve of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a puncture retainer body adapted to releasably secure the puncture disc within the main valve body;    a slot located in the puncture retainer body adapted to permit gas flow out of the slot of the puncture retainer body to the outlet port once the puncture disc is broken;    wherein the puncture pin is received within the puncture retainer body and includes a center bore extending through a pin head of puncture pin to permit a gas flow through the center bore to the outlet port once the puncture disc is broken;    a rupture port on the main valve body;    a rupture disc operatively associated with the rupture port on the main valve body to seal the rupture port to gas flow, the rupture disc adapted to break under high pressure conditions to permit pressurized gas to exit the rupture port; and    wherein the rupture disc and puncture disc are interchangeable.    
   
   
       12 . (canceled)