FIG. 8 shows a conventional nozzle through which air can be pumped into a cushion (not shown) from a pump (not shown). The cushion includes a tube and a valve installed in the tube. A thread is formed on an internal face of the tube.
The nozzle comprises a housing 100, a tube 200 and a tubular seal 300. The housing 100 comprises an annular portion and a cylindrical portion 120 extending from the annular portion. A thread 122 is formed on the annular portion of the housing 100.
The tube 200 includes a first section inserted through the annular portion of the housing 100, a second section put in the housing 100 and an annular flange 210 formed between the first and second sections of the tube 200 for abutment against the annular portion of the housing 100. The first section of the tube 200 is inserted in a pipe 400 leading to a pump (not shown). A thread 212 is formed on the first section of the tube 200 for engagement with the thread 122 formed on the annular portion of the housing 100. A ferrule 420 is put around the pipe 400 in order to keep the first section of the tube 200 in the pipe 400. Pushers 220 are formed at the second section of the tube 200. The pushers 220 leave the second section of the tube 200 open.
The tubular seal, 300 is put around the second section of the tube 200. The tubular seal 300 defines a big hole 320 and a small hole 340 communicated with the big hole 320. A portion of a tubular lip 140 is screwed in the cylindrical portion 120 of the housing 100. A thread 142 is formed on an internal face of the tubular lip 140.
To pump air, a user rotates the housing 100 so as to rotate the tubular lip 140 in order to engage the thread 142 of the tubular lip 140 with the thread formed on the tube of the cushion. Now, the valve of the cushion is pushed by the pushers 220 so that air flows through the tube of the cushion. The user rotates the tube 200. Because of the engagement of the thread 212 with the thread 122, the tube 200 is moved towards the tube of the cushion. The tubular seal 300 will also be moved to the tube of the cushion and seal the same. The pressurized air can be pumped into the cushion from the pump. However, much air has escaped from the cushion after the valve installed in the tube of the cushion is pushed by the pushers 220 before the tube of the cushion is sealed by the tubular seal 300. In addition, it takes quite some time to rotate the tube 200 in order to use the seal 300 to seal the tube extending from the cushion.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.