HK1163213A - Hand-actuated air pump - Google Patents

Description

Manually operated air pump

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority of U.S. provisional application No.61/098,940, filed on 22/9/2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to pumps. More particularly, the present invention relates to a manually operated pump for inflating inflatable articles.

Background

Inflatable mattresses have become popular because they can be used as an add-on bed around a house or needed during camping trips. The advantage of such inflatable mattresses is that they are portable and easy to store. These mattresses typically require a pump to inflate them quickly and efficiently. For example, the mattress may be equipped with battery operated or wire powered and a pump adapted to inflate the mattress.

However, during camping travel, there is usually no power outlet, and therefore the batteries must be replaced.

Disclosure of Invention

One embodiment of a manually operated pump includes a cylinder having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end defines an opening. The manually-operated pump also includes a piston having a proximal end. The proximal end of the piston is configured to be slidably inserted into the distal end of the cylinder. An exhaust port is located at the proximal end of the cylinder and is configured to be removably attached to the inflatable article to communicate air to the inflatable article. At least one valve located at the distal end of the piston.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The detailed description and illustrative embodiments of the invention serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGS. 1a and 1b are perspective views of one embodiment of a manually-operated pump in an extended position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a manually operated pump embodiment in a closed position;

FIGS. 3a to 3c are views of the exhaust of the manually-operated pump embodiment shown in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 4a is a view of the valve cover of the embodiment of FIG. 1a as viewed from the exterior of the piston;

FIG. 4b is a view of the valve cover of the embodiment of FIG. 1a as viewed from the interior of the piston;

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate the operation of disassembling the manually-operated pump of the embodiment of FIG. 1 a; and

figures 6a to 6c illustrate the operation of the manually operated pump of the embodiment of figure 1a for pumping air.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1a and 1b are perspective views of the manually-operated pump 100 in an extended position. The manually-operated pump 100 includes a cylinder 105 and a piston 107 that may be configured to be fully inserted into the cylinder 105 as shown in fig. 2. Repeated insertion and withdrawal of the piston 107 can inflate an inflatable article, such as a resilient inflatable support. The cylinder 105 and piston 107 are generally cylindrical and define an interior chamber. However, other geometries may be used. The cylinder 105 and piston 107 may comprise any material suitable for use in a pneumatically operated pump, such as plastic, metal, or other material.

The distal end 107a of the piston 107 defines a handle 125 that enables the piston 107 to be pulled out of the cylinder 105. A pair of valves 400 capable of drawing air into the pump 100 are located at the distal end 107Aa of the piston 107. The number of valves 400 may be increased or decreased depending on the amount of airflow desired. A more detailed description of the valve 400 is provided below.

The inner diameter of cylinder 105 and the outer diameter of piston 107 are sized to allow piston 107 to slide within cylinder 105 and to form a substantially airtight seal between piston 107 and cylinder 105. As shown in fig. 3a, in some embodiments, the piston 107 may define a raised annular ridge, hereinafter referred to as ring 310, on the outer surface toward the proximal end of the piston. The ring 310 may further enhance the seal between the piston 107 and the cylinder 105.

Referring to fig. 1, the cylinder 105 may define one or more raised annular ridges, hereinafter referred to as ribs 112, at the distal end 105 b. The ribs 112 are configured to engage a ring 310 (fig. 3) defined on the piston 107. As the ring 310 is pulled over the rib 112, the rib 112 and the ring 310 cooperate to generate noise. This noise in turn alerts the operator that the piston 107 is near the end of its operating position. The number of ribs 112 may be increased or decreased to increase or decrease the intensity of the warning provided to the operator.

The cylinder 105 may define a raised annular ridge 114 at the distal end 105b having an inner surface (not shown) configured to engage the ring 310 and generally prevent the piston 107 from being completely pulled out of the cylinder 105 during a pump-up operation.

The proximal end 105a of the cylinder 105 defines an exhaust port 115. The vent 115 enables attachment of the manually operated pump to an inflatable article, such as an air mattress. The exhaust port 115 is used to communicate air to the inflatable article and may be integrally formed with the cylinder 105 or removably attached to the cylinder 105. For example, the exhaust port 115 may be glued, welded, or bolted to the cylinder 105.

Fig. 3a and 3b are cross-sectional views of the exhaust port 115 (fig. 1 b). The vent 115 includes a coupler 300 and a cap 315. In certain embodiments, the coupler 300 is generally cylindrical and is configured to be movable within an opening defined in the proximal end 105a of the cylinder 105.

The coupler 300 may include a locking member 305 configured to detachably attach the manually-operated pump 100 to an inflatable support. For example, the manually-operated pump 100 is locked to the inflatable article by sliding a coupler within a complementary port (not shown) on the inflatable article. The coupler 300 can then be rotated so that the locking member 305 engages with a complementary locking member (not shown) on the inflatable article. The manually-operated pump 100 can be removed by rotating the coupling 300 in the opposite direction. Locking the manually-operated pump 100 to the inflatable article may enable an operator to fully inflate the inflatable article without forcibly holding the manually-operated pump 100 and the inflatable article together.

The cover 315 is configured to be inserted into the opening of the coupler and to prevent something from entering the pump when the pump 100 is not being manually manipulated. The cap 315 includes a tail portion 315a configured to be inserted into a retaining tab 320 located on the proximal end 105a of the cylinder 105. The retaining tab 320 defines an opening for receiving the tail portion 315a of the cover 315.

Fig. 4a and 4b are front and rear views, respectively, of the valve 400. During a pump charging operation, the valve 400 allows one-way flow of air into the piston. When the piston 107 and cylinder 105 are pulled apart, the valve 400 allows air to enter the cavity defined by the piston 107 and cylinder 105. When the piston 107 and cylinder 105 are pushed together, the valve 400 closes. This forces air through the exhaust port 115. In one embodiment, two valves are used. However, the number of valves may be increased to increase the airflow within the chamber, or may be decreased to save space and reduce costs.

The valve is disposed on the distal end of the piston so as to reduce the resistance to air flow into the manually operated pump when the piston is pulled out of the cylinder. Thereby reducing operator fatigue.

Each valve 400 includes a valve diaphragm 405, a bridge support 410, and a valve grill 415. Bridge supports 410 are used to secure valve diaphragm 405 over an opening in distal end 107a of piston 107. In certain embodiments, the valve membrane 405 is circular and has approximately the same dimensions as the diameter of the opening. However, the shape of the valve diaphragm 405 may vary with different shapes of the valve opening. The valve membrane 405 may comprise any material, such as rubber, that is suitably resilient but impermeable to air flow so as to allow for unidirectional flow of air.

Valve grill 415 is configured to prevent the ingress of something through the valve that could block airflow and/or damage the chamber defined by cylinder 105 and piston 107. In certain embodiments, valve grill 415 includes tabs or snaps 415a that removably attach the grill to distal end 107a of piston 107.

Fig. 5a and 5b illustrate the operation of disassembling the manually-operated pump 100. The inflatable object 500 may be stored into the manually-operated pump 100. To remove the inflatable article 500, the operator may remove the piston 107 from the cylinder 105 as shown in fig. 5 b. The inflatable article 500 may then be removed from the piston 107.

Fig. 6a to 6c illustrate the operation of the pump 100 for inflation by manual manipulation. In fig. 6a, an operator may attach the coupler 300 (fig. 3b) located at the exhaust port 115 (fig. 1) of the manually-operated pump to a complementary coupler (not shown) on the inflatable article 500. The operator may then lock the manually-operated pump 100 to the inflatable article 500 by rotating the coupler 300 until the locking member 305 (fig. 3) engages a complementary set of locking members (not shown) on the coupler of the inflatable article 500.

As shown in fig. 6b, the operator may then grasp the handle 125 to begin the pump inflation operation to inflate the inflatable article 500. If the ring on the piston engages the ribs on the cylinder during pump charging, the operator can feel and hear the noise. This may provide an indication to the operator that the piston is near the end of its pump-charge operating range.

After inflating the inflatable article 500 for inflation, the operator may remove the manually operated pump 100 by performing the reverse operation described above, and then close the valve on the inflatable article 500, as shown in fig. 6 c.

While the present specification has described methods and systems with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, an exhaust cap may be attached to the piston and a valve cap may be attached to the cylinder. Straps and/or handles may or may not be used. The number of valves may be more or less than two.

In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present specification not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the method and system will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A manually operated pump comprising:

a cylinder having a proximal end and a distal end defining an opening;

a piston having a proximal end and a distal end, the piston configured to be slidably inserted into the distal end of the cylinder;

an exhaust port located at the proximal end of the cylinder and configured to be removably attached to an inflatable article and to communicate air to the inflatable article; and

at least one valve located on the distal end of the piston.

2. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 1, wherein said exhaust port further comprises a coupler removably attached to an inflatable article.

3. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 2, further comprising a locking member on said coupler adapted to lock said coupler to said inflatable article.

4. The manually-operated pump according to claim 2, wherein said coupler is rotatable within said exhaust port.

5. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 2, further comprising a cover configured to cover said coupler opening.

6. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 5, further comprising a tail extending from said cover configured to be inserted into an opening in a tab secured to said hand-actuated pump.

7. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 1, further comprising a handle defined at said distal end of said piston.

8. The manually-actuated pump of claim 1, further comprising at least one raised annular ridge defined substantially on an outer surface of said proximal end of said piston, and at least one raised annular ridge defined on an inner surface of said distal end of said cylinder, said at least one raised annular ridge defined on said inner surface of said distal end of said cylinder configured to contact said at least one raised annular ridge defined on said outer surface of said proximal end of said piston to generate an audible warning.

9. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 1, further comprising at least one raised annular ridge defined on an outer surface of said proximal end of said piston, configured to contact an inner surface of said cylinder so as to form a substantially airtight seal.

10. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 9, further comprising an annular ridge at said distal end of said cylinder, said annular ridge comprising an inner surface configured to engage at least one raised annular ridge defined substantially on said outer surface of said proximal end of said piston so as to substantially prevent removal of said piston from said cylinder when inflated with said hand-actuated pump.

11. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 1, wherein said valve is configured to permit a unidirectional flow of air into a chamber defined by said piston and said cylinder.

12. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 1, wherein said valve comprises a resilient diaphragm configured to cover an opening in said piston.

13. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 1, further comprising a grill configured to cover said valve.

14. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 13, further comprising a tab on said grill configured to removably attach said grill to said piston distal end.

15. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 1, wherein said piston is configured to be detachable from said cylinder, and an interior of said piston is configured to receive said inflatable article when said inflatable article has been deflated.

16. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 1, wherein said cylinder and piston are constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of: plastics and PVC.

17. The hand-actuated pump according to claim 1, further comprising an inflatable article stored within a chamber defined by said piston and cylinder.

18. A method for inflating an inflatable article, the method comprising:

providing an assembly comprising:

a cylinder having a proximal end and a distal end defining an opening;

a piston having a proximal end and a distal end configured to be slidably inserted into the distal end of the cylinder;

an exhaust port located at the proximal end of the cylinder and configured to be removably attached to an inflatable article and to communicate air to the inflatable article; and

at least one valve located on the distal end of the piston;

removing the inflatable article from the assembly;

attaching the exhaust port to the inflatable article; and

repeatedly moving the piston into and out of the cylinder.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the piston further comprises a handle defined at the distal end of the piston.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the coupler further comprises a locking member configured to lock the coupler to the inflatable article.