Abstract:
Disclosed is a pneumatic pressure and vacuum device that allows a user to adjust the duration of either pressure or vacuum that is applied to a pneumatic adult toy. A solenoid valve is used that is controlled by a solenoid for opening and closing ports that apply pressure and/or vacuum to a pneumatic adult toy. A timer is utilized to independently control the on and off times of the solenoid valve, so that vibrational frequency, as well as the amplitude of pressure and vacuum can be adjusted.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a divisional application of patent application Ser. No. 13/678,373 for “Pneumatic Pressure and Vacuum Device” by Gary Skendzel, filed on. Nov. 15, 2012, which application is hereby incorporated by reference herein for all that it discloses and teaches. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pneumatic devices are used extensively in mechanical systems. Pneumatic systems typically use air as a medium to control various actions in mechanical systems. For example, pneumatic systems can operate valves, create forces in pneumatic cylinders and various other functions. Pneumatic systems typically use air compressors that create a wide range of pressure values for various purposes. Such systems are useful, simple and easy to implement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention may therefore comprise a method of operating a pneumatic adult toy comprising: generating a source of pressurized air using a compressor; applying the source of pressurized air to an input of solenoid valve; providing a pneumatic connection that connects the pneumatic adult toy to an output of the solenoid valve; providing a timer that can control the solenoid valve, so that a first period of time can be selected during which the source of pressurized air is applied to the pneumatic adult toy, and a second period of time can be selected during which pressurized air is not applied to the pneumatic adult toy. 
     An embodiment of the present invention may therefore further comprise a method of operating a pneumatic adult toy comprising: generating a source of low pressure air using a vacuum generator; applying the source of low pressure air to an input of a solenoid valve; providing a pneumatic connection that connects an adult toy to an output of the solenoid valve; providing a timer that can control the solenoid valve so that a first period of time can be selected during which the source of low pressure air is applied to the pneumatic adult toy, and a second period of time can be selected during which the source of low pressure air is applied to the pneumatic adult toy. 
     An embodiment of the present invention may therefore further comprise a pneumatic system for operating a pneumatic adult toy comprising: an air compressor that generates a source of pressurized air and a source of low pressure air; a solenoid valve having an output port and an input port that is connected to the source of pressurized air and the source of low pressure air; an adult toy that is connected to the output port of the solenoid valve; a timer that is connected to the solenoid valve that controls an adjustable first period of time during which the solenoid valve applies the source of pressurized air to the adult toy, and an adjustable second period of time during which the solenoid applies the source of low pressure air to the adult toy. 
     An embodiment of the present invention may therefore further comprise a pneumatic system for operating an adult toy comprising: an air compressor that generates a source of low pressure air; a solenoid valve having an output port and an input port that is connected to the source of low pressure air; an adult toy that is connected to the output port of the solenoid valve; a timer that is connected to the solenoid valve that controls an adjustable first period of time during which the solenoid valve applies the source of low pressure air to the adult toy, and an adjustable second period of time during which the solenoid valve does not apply the source of low pressure air to the adult toy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a pneumatic system. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a solenoid valve that is connected to a pneumatic device and a pressure line. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a solenoid valve that is connected to a pneumatic device and a pressure and vacuum line. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a solenoid valve is connected to a pneumatic device, a pressure line, and a vacuum line. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a pneumatic system  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the pneumatic system  100  includes a compressor/vacuum pump  102 . The compressor/vacuum pump  102  has a vacuum port  104  and a pressure port  106 . Vacuum line  110  is connected to the vacuum port  104  of compressor/vacuum pump  102 , while pressure line  108  is connected to the pressure port  106  of compressor/vacuum pump  102 . The pressure line  108  and the vacuum line  110  are connected to a solenoid valve  112 . The solenoid valve  112  is operated by a solenoid  128 . Solenoid valve  112  may be connected to a pressure line  108 , a vacuum line  110 , or both a pressure line  108  and vacuum line  110 . Solenoid  128  functions to open and close one or more valves in solenoid valve  112 . For example, solenoid  128 , upon application of a voltage from power supply  124 , may open a port in the solenoid valve  112  that is connected to the pressure line  108  and the output line  114 . Upon removal of the voltage from solenoid  128 , the port connecting pressure line  108  and output line  114  is closed. Alternatively, another port may be opened upon application of a voltage to solenoid  128 , which connects the vacuum line  110  to the output line  114 . These functions are disclosed in more detail below. 
     Accordingly, the embodiment of  FIG. 1  allows a user to have individual control of the expansion and contraction of the pneumatic adult toy  126 , including the duration periods for the application of pressure, or the non-application of pressure, as well as the duration of the application of a vacuum, or the non-application of a vacuum, to the pneumatic adult toy  126 . As such, the vibrational frequency, as well as the size of the pneumatic adult toy  126 , can be controlled with a high degree of precision by using adjustment knobs  118 ,  120 , which control two individual timers. This also allows the user to control the amount of vacuum desired. For pressure toys, control over the duration of application of pressure versus the non-application of pressure, or the duration of vacuum, controls the size of the pneumatic adult toy  126 , which creates a repeating vibrational cycle. With respect to vacuum adult toys, the duration of the period of removal of air from the pneumatic adult toy  126  versus non-application of vacuum, or the application of pressure, controls the amount of vacuum created in the pneumatic adult toy  126 . 
     The timer relay  116  may comprise, in one embodiment, two timers that vary from zero to 60 seconds. For example, adjustment knob  118  may vary the duration of the application of pressure from pressure line  108  to output line  114  for an adjustable period of from zero to 60 seconds, while adjustment knob  120  may vary the duration of the non-application of pressure, or the application of vacuum to the pneumatic adult toy  126  for an adjustable period of from zero to 60 seconds. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a pressurized system  200 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , solenoid valve  202  has a pressure port  216  that is connected to a pressure line  210  from a compressor (not shown). Solenoid  204  is actuated by a timer  208  that controls the application of power source  212  to the solenoid  204 . Solenoid  204  opens and closes a valve that connects port  214  from the pressure port  216 , to the output port  218 . Knob  220  adjusts the duration of the period during which the port  214  is open, which connects pressure port  216  to output port  218 . Adjustable knob  222  adjusts the duration of the period during which port  214  is closed. In this manner, the duration during which the pressure line  210  is connected to the pneumatic adult toy  206  is controlled by adjustment knob  220 , while the duration period during which pressure line  210  is not connected to the pneumatic adult toy  206 , is controlled by adjustment knob  220 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a low pressure pneumatic system  300 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , solenoid valve  302  is controlled by a solenoid  304 . Solenoid  304  is, in turn, controlled by timer  310 , that is connected to a power source  314 . Timer  310  adjusts the time during which the power source  314  is connected to the solenoid  304 . Adjustment knob  322  adjusts the amount of time that the power source  314  is connected to the solenoid  304 . When the solenoid  304  is connected to the power source  314 , port  316  is open, such that the output port  320  is connected to the vacuum port  318 . In this manner, the vacuum line  312  is connected to the pneumatic adult toy  306  during that time period. When the power source  314  is not connected to the solenoid  304 , port  316  is closed, so that there is no communication between the vacuum port  318  and the output port  320 . Adjustment knobs  322 ,  324  therefore control the amount of time that the solenoid  304  is powered by the power source  314 , which, in turn, controls the duration of time that the port  316  is open. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a high and low pressure system  400 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a solenoid valve  402  includes a port  416  that connects the pressure port  420  to the output port  424 . Solenoid  402  also includes a port  418  that connects the output port  424  to vacuum  422 . Pressure port  420  is connected to the pressure line  410  that is connected to a compressor/vacuum pump (not shown). Vacuum port  422  is connected to a vacuum line  412 , which is also connected to the pressure/vacuum pump (not shown). Solenoid  404  operates the solenoid valve  402  in response to the application of power from power source  414 . Timer  408  includes adjustment knobs  424 ,  426 . Adjustment knob  424  controls the time during which power from power source  414  is applied to solenoid  404 . Adjustment knob  426  controls the amount of time that the power source  414  is disconnected from the solenoid  404 . Solenoid  404  may comprise multiple solenoids that operate valves that control ports  416 ,  418 . In accordance with one embodiment, adjustment knob  424  may control the duration of time during which port  416  is open, so that pressure from pressure line  410  is applied to the output port  424  and pneumatic adult toy  406 . Similarly, adjustment knob  426  may adjust the time during which port  418  is open and allows vacuum from vacuum  412  to be communicated to the output port  424  and the pneumatic adult toy  406 . Timer  408  may be constructed so that the periods generated by the adjustment knobs  424 ,  426  do not overlap. In this manner, pressure can be applied to the pneumatic adult toy  406  during a first period and a vacuum can be applied to the pneumatic adult toy  406  during a second period. As such, both the size of the pneumatic adult toy, as well as the vibrational frequency of the pneumatic adult toy  406 , can be controlled by a user, with adjustment knobs  424 ,  426 . 
     The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.