US20110252959A1

US20110252959A1 - Pump

Info

Publication number: US20110252959A1
Application number: US12/980,505
Authority: US
Inventors: Ying-Che Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-04-19
Filing date: 2010-12-29
Publication date: 2011-10-20
Also published as: DE102011009716A1; TW201137236A; TWI422743B

Abstract

A pump includes a barrel slideably receiving an end of a piston rod. A valve seat is mounted to the barrel and has an air passageway. An adapter is mounted to the valve seat and includes a channel in communication with the air passageway. An end of a hose is connected to the channel. A coupling seat is mounted to the other end of the hose. A connecting block is mounted around the coupling seat. The connecting block is positionable to a side of the barrel. Two rotary inflation nozzles of different specifications are mounted to two ends of another hose. Each rotary inflation nozzle has a coupling thread for engaging with an inner thread of the coupling seat. When not in use, one of the rotary inflation nozzles is inserted into the barrel, and the other rotary inflation nozzle is engaged with an end portion on the piston rod.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pump and, more particularly, to a floor pump having a reduced volume in a storage state.
Mini portable pumps and floor pumps are two major types of bicycle pumps currently available on the market. Conventional floor pumps have a height approximately to the knees of a user and have a piston rod that can be lifted to a level about a half of a height of an adult. When inflating a tire after engaging a nozzle of a floor pump with a valve of the tire for inflating operation, the user can step on a pedal of the floor pump against the floor and then manually moving the piston rod upward and downward. The air outputted from the cylinder of the floor pump enters the tire to increase the pressure in the tire. Although the floor pump allows stable operation by stepping on the pedal and has a larger size to provide larger air output, the bulky volume of the floor pump requires a larger space for storage and is not easy to carry due to heavy weight. In view of the disadvantages of bulkiness and heavy weight, mini floor pumps that have a reduced volume after folding have been proposed to allow easy carriage. In operation, the user steps on a collapsible pedal and manually operates a handle to move a piston rod for inflating operation.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional mini floor pump 30 disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,489 B2 (Taiwan Invention Patent No. I321613). The mini floor pump 30 can be folded to have a reduced volume for easy carriage and storage. The mini floor pump 30 includes a hollow cylinder 32 receiving a piston rod 311. A one-way valve is mounted on an end of the piston rod 311 received in the cylinder 32 for outputting air in the cylinder 32 into a tire to be inflated. A handle 31 is mounted on a top end of the piston rod 311 for gripping and manual operation. To effectively reduce the volume, the cylinder 32 has a pivotal portion 33 at a bottom thereof. A first end 341 of an outer pipe 34 is pivotably and sealingly connected to the pivotal portion 33. Air can move through the pivotal portion 33 into the outer pipe 34. The outer pipe 34 is rigid and, thus, not flexible. The cylinder 32 is relatively short. To provide sufficient length for air output piping for connection with the tire for inflating purposes, an inner hose 35 is mounted to a second end 342 of the outer pipe 34. The inner hose 35 includes an airtight element 351 slideably received in the outer pipe 34. Thus, the inner hose 35 can be pulled out of or inserted into the outer pipe 34 and is restrained by the second end 342 of the outer pipe 34. A joint 352 is provided on the other end of the inner hose 35 for engaging with a clamp-type nozzle 36. Thus, the mini floor pump 30 is flexible responsive to the position of a valve of a tire to guide the outer tube 34 towards the valve of the tire. The nozzle 36 is of a conventional type and includes a clamping portion 361 at an end thereof for engaging with the valve of the tire during inflating operation. A lever 362 is pivotably mounted to the other end of the nozzle 36. The user can pivot the lever 362, urging a lobe of the lever 362 to press against an airtight O-ring in the clamping portion 361 for securely clamping an outer edge of the valve of the tire, providing an airtight state for inflating air into the tire.
Although the volume of the mini floor pump 30 can be reduced after collapsing the inner hose 35 into the outer pipe 34, a larger portion of the nozzle 36 is still exposed outside. Since the nozzle 36 has a certain weight, the mini floor pump 30 is liable to wobble due to the weight of the incollapsible, bulky nozzle 36. Furthermore, the rigid outer pipe 34 is inflexible and can only be rotated in a single direction even though the inner hose 35 is flexible, resulting in limitation to the rotation of the whole air output piping and, hence, difficulties in connecting the nozzle 36 with the valve of the tire. Further, the rigid outer pipe 34 must have a volume sufficiently large for receiving the inner hose 35 and, thus, occupies a larger space. Improvement to the mini floor pump 30 is, thus, required.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pump including a barrel. A top cap is mounted in an end of the barrel. The other end of the barrel includes a valve seat having an air passageway. An adapter is mounted to a side of the valve seat and includes a channel in communication with the air passageway. The adapter includes a pivotal end pivotably connected to the valve seat and located at an end of the channel. A piston rod includes an end having an end portion connected to a handle. The end portion includes an inner periphery having a positioning portion. The piston rod includes a hollow receiving portion. The piston rod is engaged with the positioning portion of the end portion. The piston rod is extended into the barrel. The top cap is located between the piston rod and the end of the barrel. A piston is mounted to an end of the piston rod received in the barrel. A hose includes an end connected to the other end of the channel of the adapter opposite to the pivotal end. A coupling seat is mounted to the other end of the hose and includes an inner thread. A connecting block is mounted around the coupling seat. The connecting block is positionable to a side of the barrel. Two rotary inflation nozzles of different specifications are mounted to two ends of a hose with dual inflation nozzles. Each of the two rotary inflation nozzles of different specifications has a coupling thread at an outer end of an outer periphery thereof. The coupling threads of the two rotary inflation nozzles have identical size. Either of the coupling threads of the two rotary inflation nozzles is threadedly engageable with the inner thread of the coupling seat. One of the two rotary inflation nozzles is insertable into the barrel. The other of the two rotary inflation nozzles includes a positioning portion on an inner end of the outer periphery thereof. The positioning portion of the other of the two rotary inflation nozzles is engageable with the positioning portion of the end portion.
Thus, the coupling seat can be engaged with either of the two inflation nozzles according to the specifications of the valves of the tires. Furthermore, the overall length of the air output piping of the pump can be increased by the hose with dual inflation nozzles.
The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a conventional mini floor pump with portions cross sectioned.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a pump according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows another perspective view of the pump according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the pump according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a hose with dual inflation nozzles of the pump according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows another perspective view of the pump according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 2-4 show a preferred embodiment of a pump 10 according to the present invention. The pump 10 includes a barrel 12 in the form of a hollow cylinder. A piston rod 111 is slideably received in the barrel 12. A handle 11 is attached to an upper end of the piston rod 111. Compared to conventional mini floor pumps, the piston rod 111 of the present invention includes a hollow receiving portion 1111. In this embodiment, an end portion 1101 in the form of a hollow cylinder is threadedly engaged to the handle 11, and the handle/end portion 1101 is then threadedly engaged with the top end of the piston rod 111. The end portion 1101 includes an inner periphery having a positioning portion 112 with an inner thread. The top end of the piston rod 111 is threadedly engaged with a bottom end of the positioning portion 112. A ring 123 is mounted around the outer periphery of the piston rod 111 at a connection area between the end portion 1101 and the receiving portion 1111. The ring 123 moves jointly with the piston rod 111. When the piston rod 111 reaches the bottom end of its downward travel, the ring 123 abuts a groove in a top end of the top cap 122 for buffering purposes. A top cap 121 is mounted to an upper end of the barrel 12 and includes a central hole. The piston rod 111 is inserted through the central hole of the top cap 121 into an interior space of the barrel 12. The top cap 121 is located between the barrel 12 and the piston rod 111. The top cap 121 further includes a plurality of air inlets 1221 for guiding air into the barrel 12.
A piston 17 is mounted to a lower end of the piston rod 111 received in the barrel 12. An airtight ring 171 is mounted around the piston rod 17 to provide airtight contact with an inner periphery of the barrel 12 while the piston rod 111 slides in the barrel 12 for inflating purposes. The barrel 12 includes an inner thread in a bottom end thereof. A valve seat 121 includes an outer thread engaged with the inner thread of the barrel 12, engaging the valve seat 121 to the bottom end of the barrel 12. The valve seat 121 includes a valve body acting as a one-way valve and includes an air passageway 1211 for outputting air from barrel 12. The valve seat 121 further includes a screw hole in an outlet end of the air passageway 1211. An adapter 14 is pivotably connected to the screw hole of the valve seat 121. The adapter 14 is a hollow cylinder having a channel 142. The pivotal portion 14 has a pivotal end 141 coupled to the outlet end of the air passageway 1211. An inner thread is provided in an outer end of the channel 142 in the other end of the adapter 14 opposite to the pivotal end 141. A hose 15 is engaged with the inner thread of the adapter 14. In this embodiment, the adapter 14 is mounted to a side of the valve seat 121. However, the adapter 14 can be in the form of a universal joint allowing rotational movement in various orientations.
The hose 15 includes two connecting ends 152. One of the connecting ends 152 is threadedly engaged with the outer end of the channel 142 of the adapter 14. A coupling seat 151 is mounted to the other connecting end 152 and is in the form of an annular block having an inner thread. A connecting block 16 is mounted around the coupling seat 151 and includes a connecting portion 161 and a fixing portion 162. The connecting portion 161 has a receiving space 1611. The fixing portion 162 is mounted around the outer periphery of the coupling seat 151.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a hose 22 with dual inflation nozzles. FIG. 6 shows the pump according to the present invention in a storage position. To avoid occupation of a larger space due to incollapsiblity of long air output piping when not in use and to allow maneuverable operation of the air output piping, the pump 10 according to the present invention further includes a pipe member 20 including a hose 22 with dual inflation nozzles. The hose 22 includes two coupling ends 221 around which a rotary inflation nozzle 21 for an America valve and a rotary inflation nozzle 23 for a French valve are mounted. The rotary inflation nozzle is a nozzle including an interior structure having cross sections so as to be rotatably and threadedly engaged with a valve of a tire. The rotary inflation nozzle 21 for an American valve includes a threaded engaging opening 213 for engaging with a thread at a front end of an American valve. The rotary inflation nozzle 23 for a French valve includes a threaded engaging opening 232 for engaging with a thread at a front end of a French valve. The rotary inflation nozzle 21 for an American valve further includes a coupling thread 211 formed on an outer end of an outer periphery thereof. The rotary inflation nozzle 23 for a French valve further includes a coupling thread 231 formed on an outer end of an outer periphery thereof. The coupling threads 211 and 231 have identical size and can be threadedly engaged with an inner thread of the coupling seat 151. The rotary inflation nozzle 21 for an American valve has an outer diameter larger than that of the rotary inflation nozzle 23 for a French valve. Thus, in this embodiment, the rotary inflation nozzle 23 for a French valve can be inserted into the receiving portion 1111 of the piston rod 111 for storage. A positioning portion 212 is provided on an inner end of the outer periphery of the rotary inflation nozzle 21 for an American valve and includes an outer thread. The positioning portion 212 can be threadedly engaged with the positioning portion 112 mentioned above. However, the positioning portions 112 and 212 can be engaged with each other by other provisions such as tight fitting or male/female coupling. After the rotary inflation nozzle 23 for a French valve on the hose 22 is inserted into the receiving portion 1111, the hose 22 can be positioned at the top end of the piston rod 111 by engagement between the positioning portions 112 and 212. The receiving space 1611 of the connecting portion 161 receives the rotary inflation nozzle 21 for an American valve on the hose 22. Thus, the connecting portion 161 covers the top of the rotary inflation nozzle 21 for an American valve and, thus, provides positioning effect. Furthermore, the hose 15 can be retained to a side of the barrel 12 through use of the connecting block 16 when the pump 10 is in the storage position. This also avoids the handle 11 from coming off while moving the pump 10 to the storage position. Thus, the whole air output piping is completely received and positioned. A collapsible pedal 13 is mounted to an appropriate portion of the bottom end of the barrel 10. In this embodiment, the collapsible pedal 13 is in the form of a U-shaped rod. The bottom end of the valve seat 121 includes two holes for receiving and positioning two hooked ends 131 of the collapsible pedal 13.
By providing the piston rod 111 having the receiving portion 1111 and providing the hose 22 with dual inflation nozzles where the rotary inflation nozzle 21 for an America valve is threadedly engaged with the receiving portion 1111, the volume of the pump 10 according to the present invention is significantly reduced for storage. Furthermore, by detachable connection between the coupling seat 151 and either of threaded engaging opening 213 of the rotary inflation nozzle 21 for an America valve and the threaded engaging opening 232 of the rotary inflation nozzle 23 for a French valve, the pump 10 according to the present invention can inflate tire valves of differing specifications, providing convenient use. Further, the air output piping is flexible and extendable through use of the hose 22, allowing easy engagement of the inflation nozzle 21 or 23 with the tire valve. Further, the hose 15 in the storage position is retained to a side of the barrel 15, because the connecting portion 161 of the connecting block 16 covers the rotary inflation nozzle 21 for an American valve and is, thus, positioned on the top end of the piston rod 111.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A pump comprising:

a barrel, with a top cap mounted in an end of the barrel, with another end of the barrel including a valve seat, with the valve seat including an air passageway, with an adapter mounted to a side of the valve seat and including a channel in communication with the air passageway, with the adapter including a pivotal end pivotably connected to the valve seat and located at an end of the channel;

a piston rod including an end having an end portion connected to a handle, with the end portion including an inner periphery having a positioning portion, with the piston rod including a hollow receiving portion, with the piston rod engaged with the positioning portion of the end portion, with the piston rod extended into the barrel, with the top cap located between the piston rod and the end of the barrel, with a piston mounted to an end of the piston rod received in the barrel;

a hose including an end connected to another end of the channel of the adapter opposite to the pivotal end, with the hose including another end, with a coupling seat mounted to the other end of the hose and including an inner thread, with a connecting block mounted around the coupling seat, with the connecting block positionable to a side of the barrel; and

a hose with dual inflation nozzles, with two rotary inflation nozzles of different specifications mounted to two ends of the hose with dual inflation nozzles, with each of the two rotary inflation nozzles of different specifications having a coupling thread at an outer end of an outer periphery thereof, with the coupling threads of the two rotary inflation nozzles having identical size, with either of the coupling threads of the two rotary inflation nozzles threadedly engageable with the inner thread of the coupling seat, with one of the two rotary inflation nozzles insertable into the barrel, with another of the two rotary inflation nozzles including a positioning portion on an inner end of the outer periphery thereof, with the positioning portion of the other of the two rotary inflation nozzles engageable with the positioning portion of the end portion.

2. The pump as claimed in claim 1, with the top cap including a central hole, with the piston rod extending through the central hole of the top cap.

3. The pump as claimed in claim 1, with the top cap including a plurality of air inlets in communication with an interior space of the barrel for guiding air into the interior of the barrel.

4. The pump as claimed in claim 1, with an airtight ring mounted around the piston rod at a connection area between the piston rod and the piston.

5. The pump as claimed in claim 1, with the adapter pivotable relative to the valve seat to change an angular position relative to the valve seat.

6. The pump as claimed in claim 1, with the connecting block including a fixing portion, with the fixing portion mounted to an outer periphery of the coupling seat.

7. The pump as claimed in claim 1, with the connecting block including a connecting portion, with the connecting portion receiving and positioning the other of the two rotary inflation nozzles to position the hose with dual inflation nozzles when said one of the two rotary inflation nozzles is inserted into the barrel, retaining the hose to a side of the barrel by the connecting block.

8. The pump as claimed in claim 1, with each of the two rotary inflation nozzles including an interior structure having cross sections adapted to be rotatably and threadedly engaged with a valve of a tire.

9. The pump as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a collapsible pedal mounted to a bottom end of the barrel.