The invention pertains to the field of portable air pumps and, in particular, to portable air pumps suitable for inflating air beds.
Prior portable air pumps, such as for inflating air beds and other uses, typically include a motor, a fan and a power source. The power source may be an A/C or D/C power source, or both. Typically, such A/C power sources comprise a power cord that may be connected to a standard power outlet. A/C power is a constant and reliable power source; however, it requires the presence of a power outlet within reach of the cord.
D/C power sources of prior portable air pumps typically include a specialized rechargeable portable battery pack, which may be removable or permanently installed in the air pump. Such rechargeable battery packs are a convenient means to power portable air pumps, however, they eventually drain and must be recharged, which may take several hours. When such rechargeable battery packs are drained and/or during recharging, they are unavailable as a power source. Therefore, the portable air plump may not be operated (or operated optimally) by the D/C power source at these times.
Therefore, what is desired is an alternative D/C power source for a portable air pump that may be employed during recharging of the rechargeable battery pack, such that the air pump may remain operable during such periods.
For a complete understanding of the above and other features of the invention, reference shall be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to
The top portion 14 includes an air inlet 22 in fluid communication with the fan 16. The main body 12 and top portion 14 enclose the fan 16 and cooperate to form an air outlet 24 in fluid communication with the fan and air inlet.
The main body 12 has a cavity 26 in which the D/C power supply and the motor are disposed. Thus, the cavity 26 forms a common enclosure for both the motor 18 and the D/C power supply. The cavity has an opening 28 with a rim 30, and the cavity is formed by an end wall 32 and a peripheral wall 34 of the main body. The door 36 of the air pump is sized and shaped to mate with the rim to fully enclose the D/C power supply and motor within the air pump when the door is in a closed position. The door 36 and/or main body 12 include fastening means 38 (for example latches) that detachably connect the door to the main body. Preferably, the switch is located on the door.
The cavity 26 of the main body 12 (as viewed through the open end thereof with the door in an open position) has an elongated shape with a relatively long longitudinal axis and a relatively short lateral axis, as depicted. The motor 18 is preferably disposed in a center portion of the cavity, which center portion has a lateral width (as measured along the lateral axis) that is greater than a lateral dimension of the motor such that there exists a gap between the motor and the peripheral wall on at least one side of the motor. Preferably, the motor is disposed on, or substantially on, the intersection of the longitudinal and lateral axes of the cavity such there is a gap on both sides of the motor.
The cavity 26 has enlarged end portions 42, each having a width greater than the lateral width of the center portion of the cavity, as measured parallel to the lateral axis of the cavity. Preferably, the enlarged end portions are partially circular.
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The casing 48 of the battery pack is sized and shaped to fit within the cavity of the main body 12, with the motor 18 being received within the recess 52 of the casing 48. Preferably, the peripheral wall 34 of the main body 12 is in close proximity to the casing 48 on each of the four sides of the casing 48 such that the battery pack 44 is securely held within the cavity. Specifically, a lateral dimension of the casing 48 (as measured parallel to the lateral axis of the cavity) is substantially equal (or slightly less than) the width of the center portion of the cavity 26 and a longitudinal dimension of the battery pack 44 (as measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cavity) is substantially equal (or slightly less than) a corresponding length of the cavity 26.
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When the battery pack 44 is inserted into the cavity 26 of the main body 12 and the door 36 is closed, an electric circuit is formed by the first pair of electrical contacts 68, 70 on the door 36, the switch 40, the battery pack 44, the first pair of electrical contacts 60, 62 of the main body 12, and the motor 18. The electric circuit is selectively closeable by the switch 40.
The battery cells 46 can be interconnected in any suitable manner within the battery pack 44, such as all in series, all in parallel, or a combination of series and parallel. However, the battery pack 44 forms two portions of the electrical circuit when the battery pack 44 is inserted into the cavity 26 and the door 36 is closed.
Preferably, the battery pack 44 and main body 12 have structure to ensure that the battery pack is inserted in a proper orientation. The battery pack 44 has first and second ends 90, 92 with asymmetric profiles (see
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Preferably, the air pump 10 is adapted to be powered by four such dry cells 84. Each dry cell 84 is inserted into the cavity 26 with one of the poles 86, 88 thereof in contact with one of the electrical contacts on the end wall 32 of the main body 12.
When all of the dry cells 84 are inserted into the cavity 26 and the door 36 is closed, an electric circuit is formed by the first and second pair of electrical contacts 68, 70, 73, 74 of the door 36, the switch 40, the dry cells 84, the first and second pair of electrical contacts 60, 62, 64, 66 of the main body 12, and the motor 18. The electric circuit is selectively closeable by the switch 40.
It can be appreciated that no manual reconfiguration of the electric contacts/circuit is required of the user when alternating between the battery pack and the individual dry cell batteries. Therefore, the air pump may be conveniently operated by standard dry cells when the battery pack is discharged and/or charging and easily returned to battery pack operation thereafter. Further, since the switch is included in both the first and second electrical circuits, the air pump may be conveniently activated in the same manner whether the air pump 10 is powered by the battery pack or individual dry cell batteries.
The electrical contacts 60, 62, 68, 70 included in the electric circuit formed by the battery back 44 comprise a first set of electrical contacts. The electrical contacts 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 73, 74 included in the electric circuit formed by the plurality of dry cell batteries comprise a second set of electrical contacts, which second set includes a greater number of electrical contacts than the first set. The electrical connections provided by the interconnected pairs of contacts 73/74 and 64/66 are not employed when the battery pack is installed because the battery pack includes internal interconnections.
The cavity 26 of the main body 12 is preferably sized and shaped to closely support and maintain the dry cells 84 in proper position and in electrical contact with the electric terminals of the end wall 32 and the door 36 such that the circuit formed thereby remains uninterrupted if the air pump 10 is moved after installation of the dry cells 84. Preferably, the width of each enlarged end portion 42 of the cavity 26 is substantially equal to (or slightly greater than) twice the predetermined dry cell type (e.g., D-cell) diameter such that adjacent dry cells support each other within the cavity.
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The motor, fan and power switch of this embodiment are preferably constructed according to the inventor's issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,762, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. As disclosed therein, the power switch (not shown) may be contained within an enclosure 186 of the pump 110 and the switch is closed (turned on) by sliding the pump housing 188 outwardly from a socket of the enclosure 186 (as depicted). Alternatively, a manually operated power switch may be disposed in another suitable location on the air pump 110, such as in the door 136, or another suitable location accessible to the user from the exterior of the inflatable body.
The air pump 110 includes a main body 112 with a cavity 126, and a door 136. The air pump includes a rechargeable battery pack 144 and a plurality of independent dry cell batteries 184 that are alternately insertable into the cavity. The rechargeable battery pack 144 includes a pair of electrical contacts on a bottom surface 150. As can be appreciated, the electrical contacts may be alternatively located on a side of the battery pack 144, or another suitable location.
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When the battery pack is inserted into the cavity 226 of the main body 212 and the door 236 is closed, a first electric circuit is formed by the battery pack, the first pair of electrical contacts of the end wall, and the motor. The electric circuit is selectively closeable by the switch, which is activated by sliding the motor housing into and out of the socket, as described in the above-mentioned U.S. patent.
Alternatively, when the dry cells are inserted into the cavity 226 and the door 236 is closed, a second electric circuit is formed by the first and second pairs of electric contacts on the door 236, the switch, the dry cells, the first and second pair of electrical contacts of the end wall of the main body 212, and the motor. The electric circuit is selectively closeable by the switch. In this manner, the air pump may be selectively operated by standard dry cells when the batter pack is discharged and/or charging.
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It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/895,214, filed Mar. 16, 2007.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60895214 | Mar 2007 | US |