Abstract:
A mini pump comprises a head including a connective end, a nozzle and an air channel communicating the connective end with the nozzle; a cylinder means removably engaged with the connective end of the head; and a tube selectively received in the cylinder means and having an end connected to the connective end. Wherein the head is locked to the cylinder means and the tube is concealed in the cylinder means when the head is in a first position. Wherein the head is disengaged from the cylinder means and the tube extends out of the cylinder means when the head is in a second position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a mini pump. In particular, the present invention relates to a mini pump which includes a head and a cylinder means, with the head provided to either fix with or extend from the cylinder means. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Mini pumps are effortless to carry; however volume of mini pump is usually too small to be held easily for applying force while inflating. The conventional mini pump still needs an improvement, referring to Taiwan patient NO. 1267582, which discloses a pump includes a cylinder, a nozzle connected to an end of the cylinder, a piston positioned in the cylinder, a rod connected to the piston, a ring installed at an opposite end of the cylinder, a connector connected to the rod and a handle for connection to the connector in an active position where the handle extends beyond the cylinder and in an idle position where the handle shields the cylinder. 
         [0005]    The nozzle includes a head portion and a holding portion, with the holding portion adapted for holding to operate. However, the head portion and the holding portion are integrated to each other so that users can not adjust the distance between the cylinder and thing that is desired to inflate. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to the present invention there is provided, a mini pump includes a head, a tube and a cylinder means. The tube connects to the head and is selectively received in the cylinder means. While the head is in a first position, the head is locked to the cylinder means and the tube is canceled in the cylinder means so that the whole pump is light and convenient for rapid operation. While the head is in a second position, the head is operated to detach from the cylinder means and the tube is driven to extend from the cylinder means so that hands of user can keep a desired distance from thing that are going to be inflated such as a tire. 
         [0007]    Other objectives, advantages, and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mini pump in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the mini pump in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the head of the mini pump drawn out of the cylinder means of the mini pump. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the mini pump in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the controlling portion of the head being in the first position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along  5 - 5  in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the controlling portion of the head being in the first position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partial, cross-sectional view of the handle cylinder unit of the mini pump in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 4 , illustrating the controlling portion of the head being in the second position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 5 , illustrating the controlling portion of the head being in the second position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a partial, cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 7 , illustrating the tube extending from the cylinder means. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a mini pump in accordance with the present invention, illustrating that a user holds the mini pump as the head engaged with the handle cylinder unit of the cylinder means. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the mini pump in  FIG. 10 , illustrating that a user operates the mini pump as the head engaged with the handle cylinder unit of the cylinder means. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the mini pump in  FIG. 10 , illustrating that a user operates the mini pump as the head disengaged with the handle cylinder unit of the cylinder means. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “first”, “second”, “end”, “area”, “section”, “radial”, “outward”, “peripheral”, “depth”, “length”, “diameter”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a mini pump includes a head  10 , a tube  20  and a cylinder means  30 . The tube  20  is connected to the head  10  and selectively received in the cylinder means  30 . Air is driven to enter into the head  10  through the tube  20  via pumping up the cylinder means  30 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the head  10  is attached with an end of the cylinder means  30 , with the whole tube  20  is in a concealed position. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the head  10  is driven to rotate relative to the cylinder means  30  for detaching from the cylinder means  30 , and the tube  20  is in an exposed position, with the tube  20  being selectively exposed from the cylinder means  30 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the head  10  includes a main body  11  having a first side and a second side, a handling end  15  installed on the first side of the main body  11  and a nozzle  13  disposed on the second side of the main body  11 . The handling end  15  is able to be switched to control the nozzle  13  for allowing removal or grip of things, which are going to be inflated, such as a tire. A connective end  12  is extended from the main body  11  between the first and second sides. The connective end  12  includes an engaging portion  121  formed on the distal end thereof opposite to the main body  11 . An exterior threaded portion  122  and a controlling portion  123  are provided on the connective end  12  annularly between the engaging portion  121  and the main body  11 , with the exterior threaded portion  122  adjacent to the engaging portion  121 . An annular groove  124  is formed on the connective end  12  annularly between the controlling portion  123  and the main body  11 . Two flanges  1231  are provided to radially extend from the periphery of the controlling portion  123  as to form a non-circle controlling portion  123 , with the flanges  1231  opposite to each other. A protrusion  1232  protrudes from each flange  1231  toward the main body  11 . An air channel  14  is provided in the connective end  12  and in communication with the nozzle  13 . 
         [0024]    A connective end  21  is installed to an end of the tube  20  and coupled to the connective end  12 . An interior threaded portion  211  is formed in the connective end  21  and engaged with the exterior threaded portion  122  of the connective end  12 , and a handhold portion  212  is formed on the outer periphery of the connective end  12  so that a user can grip the handhold portion  212  to engage with the interior threaded portion  211  of the connective end  21 , and then the engaging portion  121  is inserted into the tube  20 . Because of the resilience of the tube  20 , the engaging portion  121  can be tightly attached with the inner of the tube  20  for preventing the tube  20  from disengaging from the head  10 . The cylinder means  30  includes an outer cylinder  31 , an inner cylinder  32  and a handle cylinder unit  33 . The inner cylinder  32  has first and second ends  321  and  322 , with the second end  322  received in the outer cylinder  31 , and with the first end  321  extending from the outer cylinder  31 . An end of the outer cylinder  31  that is opposite to the first end  321  of the inner cylinder  32  is closed as to prevent the inner cylinder  32  from inserting through the outer cylinder  31 . A restricting portion  311  is provided in an open end of the outer cylinder  31  opposite to the closed end so that the first end  321  of the inner cylinder  32  extends from the restricting portion  311 . An outer threaded portion  323  is formed on the distal of the first end  321  of the inner cylinder  32 , and a piston  324  is installed to the distal of the second end  322  of the inner cylinder  32 . In use, the outer cylinder  31  is adapted to reciprocate with respect to the inner cylinder  32  for inflating. And the piston  324  prevents the air that resulted from pumping from escaping from the cylinder means  30 . Moreover, the piston  324  is limited by the restricting portion  311  to avoid detachment of the inner cylinder  32  from the outer cylinder  31 . 
         [0025]    The handle cylinder unit  33  includes a limited element  331  and a sheath element  332 , with the limited element  331  having first and second ends  3311  and  3312 . A through-hole  3313  pierces the limited element  331  longitudinally from the first end  3311  to the second end  3312 . First and second receiving portions  3314  and  3315  are formed on the first end  3311 , with the shape of the first receiving portion  3314  being approximately equal to that of the controlling portion  123 . Therefore, the controlling portion  123  is freely through the first receiving portion  3314 . Two limited portions  3316  are defined on two sides of the first receiving portion  3314  respectively and spaced from each other. The limited portions  3316  extend toward the inner of the first end  3311  of the limited element  331 . A recess  3317  is formed on each limited portion  3316 . The recess  3317  located on one of the limited portions  3316  is opposite to the recess  3317  located on another limited portion  3316 . Outer and inner threaded portions  3318  and  3319  are defined on the second end  3312  of the limited element, with the inner threaded portion  3319  adapted to engage with the outer threaded portion  323  of the inner cylinder  32 . The sheath element  332  forms an inner threaded portion  3321  in an end thereof for engaging with the outer threaded portion  3318  of the limited element  331 . During pumping, users can hold the outer cylinder  31  in one hand and hold the sheath element  332  in another hand for stable operation. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , they show the controlling portion  123  in a first position and located in the second receiving portion  3315 . The flanges  1231  are abutted with the limited portions  3316  for preventing the head  10  from detaching from the handle cylinder unit  33 . Further, the protrusions  1232  of the flanges  123  engage to the recesses  3317  of the limited portions  3316 , respectively, as to lock the head  10  to the handle cylinder unit  33 ; hence, the head  10  can not rotate with respect to the handle cylinder unit  33 . Moreover, in operation of the mini pump as the head  10  in the first position, the head  10  is not easy to sway with respect to the cylinder unit  33  via the locking attachment of the head  10  and the handle cylinder unit  33  as to achieve a stable and rapid inflation. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 through 9 , they show the controlling portion  123  in a second position. Firstly, slightly move the head  10  for disengaging the protrusions  1232  of the flanges  123  from the recesses  3317  of the limited portions  3316 . Secondly, the head  10  is rotated  90  degrees, and the flanges  1231  is rotated in the second receiving portion  3315  till the controlling portion  123  can be through the first receiving portion  3314 . Therefore, the controlling portion  123  detaches from the handle cylinder unit  33  of the cylinder means  30 . As detachment of the head  10  from the cylinder means  30 , the tube  20  extends out of the cylinder means  30 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the controlling portion  123  of the head  10  is limited in the handle cylinder unit  33  of the cylinder means  30  as to attach the head  10  with the cylinder means  30 . Users operate the cylinder means  30  to inflate as the controlling portion  123  is in the first position; the tube  20  is concealed in the cylinder means  30  so that the mini pump is light and portable and the volume of the mini pump is small. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , the head  10  is rotated  90  degrees and the controlling portion  123  is adapted for through the first receiving portion  3314  of the handle cylinder unit  33  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) as to detach the head  10  from the cylinder means  30 . Meanwhile, the tube  20  extends from the cylinder means  30 , and the distance between the head  10  and the cylinder means  30  is adjustable via the tube  20  so that users can keep distance from things that are going to be inflated. 
         [0030]    While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of invention and the scope of invention is only limited by the scope of accompanying claims.