US20130011275A1

US20130011275A1 - Disco pump

Info

Publication number: US20130011275A1
Application number: US13/425,691
Authority: US
Inventors: Cam Brensinger; Suzanne Turell
Original assignee: Nemo Equipment Inc
Current assignee: Nemo Equipment Inc
Priority date: 2011-03-21
Filing date: 2012-03-21
Publication date: 2013-01-10
Also published as: WO2012129267A1; USD766643S1; WO2012134905A4; USD804780S1; US20130015267A1; JP2014511726A; WO2012134905A1; US20130019403A1; US20130014792A1; KR20140034770A

Abstract

An inflatable air pump having an inflatable and compressible frame that includes an upper inflatable frame portion, a lower inflatable frame and a plurality of inflatable frame connecting portions inflatable through an air inlet device. An inner bag includes a top region connected to the top inflatable frame portion and a bottom region connected to the bottom inflatable frame portion and configured to hold air. The top region has an opening that allows air to enter the inner bag. The inner bag has an air outlet device configured to attach to an inflatable device. A user places their palm at least partially over the opening and presses downward, pressing the top surface towards the bottom surface and partially compressing the plurality of inflatable frame connecting portions, thereby forcing air in the inner bag to exit the inner bag through the air outlet device, thereby inflating the inflatable device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/531,651 titled “Outdoor Equipment” which was filed on Sep. 7, 2011 and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/454,712 titled “Outdoor Equipment” which was filed on Mar. 21, 2011, both of which are incorporated fully herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to outdoor equipment and more particularly, relates to an inflatable air pump, which is lightweight, hand operated and diminutive in size.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Various air pumps exist for inflating products that hold air. Some of these air pumps require an electrical connection or a charge held in a battery. Other pumps are operated by a user's foot. Most pumps are rather large and some are very heavy and not conducive for carrying when hiking, backpacking or camping in remote areas. Additionally, current pumps cannot be compacted into a very small and lightweight format for travel. What is needed is a small pump, which is lightweight and uses minimal space while also providing an effective and easy to use design. The pump should be readily operated by a user for quick inflation of device to be inflated, without the use of electricity.

SUMMARY

The present invention features a portable non-electric pump device which comprises an inner bag which forms an inflatable chamber portion that is supported by an inflatable frame or structure including an upper inflatable frame portion and a lower inflatable frame portion, wherein the upper inflatable frame portion is connected to the lower inflatable frame portion with a plurality of inflatable frame connecting portions and wherein the inflatable frame connecting portions separate the upper inflatable frame portion from the lower inflatable frame portion and acts as a return spring in order to re-inflate an inner bag; an air inlet device is located on the inner bag, wherein the air inlet device enables a user to inflate the inflatable frame with air; an opening is located on a top surface of the inner bag, wherein the opening provides access to the inner bag located on an interior of the inflatable chamber portion; and an attachment valve coupled to the inner bag, wherein the attachment valve is configured to attach to an inflatable device.
The invention features a portable, non-electric pump device comprising an inflatable chamber portion that includes an upper inflatable portion and a lower inflatable portion, wherein the upper inflatable portion is connected to the lower inflatable portion with a plurality of baffle portions and wherein the baffle portions separates the upper inflatable portion from the lower inflatable portion and acts as a return spring for the inner bag.
The invention further features an air inlet device, located on the inflatable chamber portion, wherein the air inlet device is configured to enable a user to inflate the inflatable chamber portion with air. An opening is located on a top surface of the device, wherein the opening provides access to an inner bag located on an interior of the inflatable chamber portion.
An attachment valve is coupled to the inner bag, wherein the attachment valve is configured to attach to an inflatable device.
In one embodiment, the pump comprises an inflatable chamber portion with an upper inflatable portion, a lower inflatable portion and a plurality of baffle portions, wherein the plurality of baffle portions are configured to expand the pump after compression and keep the upper inflatable portion and lower inflatable portion connected, but separate from one another, wherein the inflatable chamber portion is a singular air chamber.
In this embodiment, an air inlet device is located on the inflatable chamber portion, wherein the air inlet device is configured to allow the inflatable chamber portion to be filled with air. The pump includes a top surface with an outer edge, an upper face and a lower face, wherein the upper inflatable portion is connected to the top surface at the outer edge of the top surface. A bottom surface includes an outer edge, an upper face and a lower face, wherein the lower inflatable portion is connected to the bottom surface at the outer edge of the bottom surface.
An inner bag is included, wherein a top portion of the inner bag is connected to the lower face of the top surface and a lower portion of the inner bag is connected to the upper face of the bottom surface while an opening in a center region of the top surface is provided, wherein the opening is configured to allow air to enter the interior of the inner bag. An air outlet device is provided, wherein the air outlet device is located on the inner bag and configured to allow air held within the interior to cavity to exit the inner bag.
The invention includes a method of operating a pump, the method comprising the acts of inflating an inflatable chamber portion through an air inlet device, wherein the inflatable chamber portion comprises an upper inflatable portion, a lower inflatable portion and a plurality of baffle portions; placing a hand over an opening located on a top surface with an outer edge, an upper face and a lower face, wherein the upper inflatable portion is connected to the top surface at the outer edge of the top surface; pushing downward with the hand on the top surface, thereby causing the top surface to move closer towards a bottom surface, with an outer edge, an upper face and a lower face, wherein the lower inflatable portion is connected to the bottom surface at the outer edge of the bottom surface, wherein the act of pushing downward compresses air held within an inner bag connected to the lower face of the top surface and the upper face of the bottom surface thereby causing the air to exit the inner bag through an air outlet device; and raising the hand away from the top surface, thereby allowing the inflatable structure or frame to return to its original shape pulling open the inner bag and urging air to re-enter the opening and fill the inner bag.
It is important to note that the present invention is not intended to be limited to a system or method which must satisfy one or more of any stated objects or features of the invention. It is also important to note that the present invention is not limited to the preferred, exemplary, or primary embodiment(s) described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a detailed view of the pump according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pump according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In one embodiment of the present invention, a pump 100, FIGS. 1 and 2, is provided. The pump 100 is designed to create a high volume, low pressure pump that is hand operated, lightweight, very small packing, and that does not require the use of electricity. The pump features an inflatable chamber portion also termed an inner bag 102. The inflatable chamber portion or inner bag 102 includes an upper inflatable portion 104, a lower inflatable portion 106 and an inflatable structure or architecture comprised of a plurality of inflatable support portions 108. The plurality of inflatable support portions 108 serve essentially as a return spring to expand or return the pump to its original shape after its compression and serve to keep the upper inflatable portion 104 and lower inflatable portion 106 connected, but separate from one another and urging air back into the inflatable chamber portion or inner bag 102. The inflatable chamber portion 102 is a singular air chamber that includes the upper inflatable portion 104, which is connected to the lower inflatable portion 106 via the plurality of inflatable support portions 108.
The upper inflatable portion 104 is connected to a top surface 118 at an outer edge 122. The top surface 118 has an upper face 128 and a lower face 130. The lower inflatable portion 106 is connected to a bottom surface 120 at an outer edge 124. The bottom surface 120 has an upper face 132 and a lower face 134. The inflatable support portions 108 our inflated by a user's mouth via an air inlet device 110. The air inlet device 110 can be located anywhere in the inflatable support portions 108 (which are coupled to one another as a single air chamber), and is preferably located on an exterior surface 136 of the inflatable support portions 108. A user can blow air into the air inlet device 110 thereby inflating the inflatable support portions or structure 108. Once the inflatable support portions 108 are inflated, the pump exhibits a semi-rigid shape.
An inner bag 114 is connected to the lower face 130 of the top surface 118 and the upper face 132 of the bottom surface 120. The top surface 118 further features an opening 116, preferably located in the center of the top surface. The opening 116 provides access to an interior 138 of the inner bag 114 allowing a air to enter into the inner bag 114 as shown by arrow 150. The inner bag 114 further features an air outlet device 112. The air outlet device 112 is preferably a one-way valve and may feature connection means 126, such as ribs or teeth that help grasp a nozzle of a device to be inflated (not shown). The air outlet device or valve 112 is preferably welded into a lower portion of the inner bag 114 of the pump 100 but may be located anywhere on the exterior surface of the inner bag.
The pump functions by a user placing their palm at least partially over the opening 116 (thereby preventing air from escaping from the opening 116) and pressing the pump 100 downward, such that the top surface 118 is pressed towards the bottom surface 120 and the plurality of inflatable support portions 108 at least partially compress. As a user presses the pump downward, air located within the interior 138 of the inner bag 114 exits the inner bag 114 through the attachment valve (air outlet) 112 as shown by arrow 125. After the pump is compressed downward, the user raises their hand at least slightly away from the top surface 118 and the plurality of now compressed inflatable support portions 108 of the pump 100 act as return springs, causing the pump 100 to rebound to its starting position while the opening 116 allows air to enter and fill the interior 138 of the inner bag 114 readying the pump 100 for another compression. The one-way valve mechanism 127 of the attachment valve 112 prevents air from traveling back into the pump as the pump rebounds and air refills the pump through opening 116. The pump 100 can be repetitively and rapidly compressed and allowed to return to the starting position in order to inflate an inflatable device (not shown) connected to the attachment valve 112.
The pump 100 is preferably made from a plastic and/or fabric material that is sewn and/or welded, thereby making the pump 100 air and water tight and very lightweight. After a user is finished inflating their inflatable device, the user can open the air inlet device 110 and allow the air held within the inflatable chamber portion 102 to exit. When the air has been removed from the inflatable chamber portion, the pump can be compressed, folded or rolled into a very small size and stored. The packed size of the pump amounts to the size of the inlet device 110 and attachment valve 112 plus the small amount of fabric or plastic film used to make the pump.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel lightweight inflatable air pump. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the allowed claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A portable, non-electric inflatable pump device comprising:

an inflatable and compressible frame forming an inner region, said inflatable and compressible frame including an upper inflatable frame portion and a lower inflatable frame portion, wherein said upper inflatable frame portion is fluidly connected to said lower inflatable frame portion with a plurality of fluidly connected inflatable frame connecting portions and wherein said inflatable frame connecting portions are configured to, in a first uncompressed position, separates said upper inflatable portion from said lower inflatable portion and acts as a return spring for said inflatable frame;

an air inlet device, located in said inflatable frame and fluidly coupled to said upper and lower inflatable frame portions and said inflatable frame connecting portions, wherein said air inlet device is configured to enable a user to inflate said inflatable frame; and

an inner bag, disposed within said inner region of said inflatable frame, wherein a top portion of the inner bag is connected to said operations inflatable frame portion and were in a lower portion of the inner bag is connected to the lower inflatable frame portion, wherein said tom portion of said inner bag includes an opening configured to allow air to enter an interior region of the inner bag, said inner bag further including an air outlet device configured to allow air held within the interior region of said inner bat to exit said inner bag, said air outlet device operative to allow air to only exit said air outlet device and to prevent air from entering said inner region through said air outlet device, said air outlet device further configured to attach to a device to be inflated.

2. (canceled)

3. A method of operating a pump, the method comprising the following acts:

providing a hand operated pump, said pump including an inflatable and compressible frame forming an inner region, said inflatable and compressible frame including an upper inflatable frame portion and a lower inflatable frame portion, wherein said upper inflatable frame portion is fluidly connected to said lower inflatable frame portion with a plurality of fluidly connected inflatable frame connecting portions and wherein said inflatable frame connecting portions are configured to, in a first uncompressed position, separate said upper inflatable portion from said lower inflatable portion and act as a return spring for said inflatable frame, said pump further including an air inlet device, located in said inflatable frame and fluidly coupled to said upper and lower inflatable frame portions and said inflatable frame connecting portions, wherein said air inlet device is configured to enable a user to inflate said inflatable frame with air, said pump also including an inner bag, disposed within said inner region of said inflatable frame, wherein a top portion of the inner bag is connected to said operations inflatable frame portion and were in a lower portion of the inner bag is connected to the lower inflatable frame portion, wherein said top portion of said inner bag includes an opening configured to allow air to enter an interior region of the inner bag, said inner bag further including an air outlet device configured to allow air held within the interior region of said inner bag to exit said inner bag, said air outlet device operative to allow air to only exit said air outlet device and to prevent air from entering said inner region through said air outlet device, said air outlet device further configured to attach to a device to be inflated;

inflating said inflatable and compressible frame through said air inlet device;

placing a hand over an opening located in a top surface of said inner bag;

pushing downward with the hand on the top surface, thereby causing the top surface to move closer towards a bottom surface, wherein said act of pushing downward compresses air held within an inner bag connected to the lower face of the top surface and the upper face of the bottom surface thereby causing the air to exit the inner bag through said air outlet device; and

raising the hand away from the top surface, thereby allowing air to re-enter the opening and fill the inner bag.