Patent Publication Number: US-2019183099-A1

Title: Direct Current Pump

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a direct current pump which can prevent the water spilled on the case from flowing or seeping into the case of the pump. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional air pumps are applied for pumping air into water of fish buckets. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a conventional air pump comprises a case  10  which includes an open spaced first accommodation portion  101  and an open spaced second accommodation portion  102 . The first accommodation portion  101  has a pumping element  11  and a motor  12  received therein. The pumping element  11  has an elastic cap  111  and an air exhaust tube  112  protruding and extending out of a top surface of the case  10 . The motor  12  repeatedly compresses and releases the cap  111  to pump air, pumping the air into the water via the air exhaust tube  112 . The second accommodation portion  102  of the case  10  has a battery assembly  13  received therein. The case  10  includes a water resisting lid  141  fixed on the top surface thereof and includes a switch  14  electrically connected to the motor  12  and the battery assembly  13  so as to control the operation of the motor  12 . The case  10  further includes a first covering plate  103  configured to cover the first accommodating portion  101  and includes a second covering plate  104  configured to cover the second accommodating portion  102 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the conventional air pump can be coupled to a fish bucket  20 . The air exhaust tube  112  of the pumping element  11  is directed into the water contained in the fish bucket  20  via a pipe  21 . The cap  111  of the pumping element  11  is compressed and released by the motor  12  to pump the air repeatedly after the motor  12  is turned on. The air is then pumped into the water via the air exhaust tube  112  and the pipe  21 , supplying oxygen into the water contained in the fish bucket  20 . 
     The switch  14  of the case  10  and the air exhaust tube  112  of the pumping element  11  are put upwardly for the users to operate the conventional air pump easily. However, when user fills the fish bucket  20  with water, the case  10  is unavoidably spilled or poured by the water. The water may seep or flow into the case  10  via the slit between the accommodation portions and the covering plates, causing short circuit of the motor  12 , the battery assembly  13 , and the switch  14 . 
     To overcome the above-mentioned problem, water resisting rubber strap may be provided to the slits between the accommodation portions and the covering plates and between the air exhaust tube  112  and the case  10 . However, the added strap can make the fabrication of the pump complicated, increasing fabrication cost. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary aspect of the present invention is to provide a direct current pump which can resist water, blocking water out when water is spilled thereon. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a direct current pump wherein the battery assembly thereof can be replaced easily. 
     To obtain above-mentioned aspects, a direct current pump provided by the present invention contains a case, a pumping module, a switch assembly, and a slidable holder. 
     The case is integrally formed, having a top plate, a first side plate, a second side plate, a third side plate, and a fourth side plate. The top plate is formed on a top surface of the case. The first side plate and the second side plate are connected to two sides of the top plate respectively. The third side plate is connected to the top plate, the first side plate, and the second side plate. The fourth side plate is connected to the top plate, the first side plate, and a second side plate and being opposite to the third side plate. The case has an accommodation chamber defined therein and an opening defined on a bottom surface of the case. The opening communicates with the accommodation chamber. 
     The pumping module is received in the accommodation chamber of the case. The pumping module includes a motor and a pump driven by the motor to pump air. 
     The switch assembly is received in the accommodation chamber of the case and is electrically connected to the motor of the pumping module. The switch assembly includes a button protruding out of the case. 
     The slidable holder is covered onto the opening of the case and is received in the accommodation chamber of the case. The slidable holder includes a receiving portion adapted for a battery assembly to be received therein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the exploded components of a conventional air pump. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the assembly of the conventional air pump. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view showing the assembly of the conventional air pump. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the application of the conventional air pump. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the exploded components of a direct current pump according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the assembly of the direct current pump according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the application of the direct current pump according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is another perspective view showing the application of the direct current pump according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view showing the application of the direct current pump according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view showing the operation of the direct current pump according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is another cross sectional view showing the operation of the direct current pump according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing the operation of the direct current pump according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5-8 , a direct current pump according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a case  30 , a pumping module  40 , a switch assembly  50 , a slidable holder  60 , and a battery assembly  70 . 
     The case  30  is integrally molded and includes an opening defined on a bottom surface thereof. The case  20  is integrally formed as a cuboid and includes five plates, which includes a top plate  31  formed on a top surface thereof, a first side plate  32  and a second side plate  33  integrally connected to two sides of the top plate  31  respectively, a third side plate  34  integrally connected to the top plate  31 , the first side plate  32  and the second side plate  33 , and a fourth side plate  35  integrally connected to the first side plate  32  and the second side plate  33  and being locating opposite to the third side plate  34 . 
     The case  30  has an accommodation chamber  36  defined by the top plate  31  and the first, second, third, and fourth side plates  32 ,  33 ,  34 ,  35  so as to receive the pumping module  40 , the switch assembly  50 , the holder  60 , and the battery assembly  70  therein. The opening  37  of the case  10  defined on the bottom surface thereof communicates with the accommodation chamber  36 . 
     The pumping module  40  is received in the accommodation chamber  36 . The pumping module  40  has a supporting portion  41  on which a pump  42  and a motor  43  are fixed. The pump  42  has a cap  421  and an air exhaust tube  422  protruding out of the top plate  31  and the top surface of the case  30 . The motor  43  is connected to and drives the cap  421  to pump air repeatedly so that the air is pumped and discharged outwardly via the air exhaust tube  422 . Since the operational condition of the pump  42  and the cap  421  is already known in the art, further relevant remarks are omitted. 
     The pumping module  40  is received into the accommodation chamber  36  from the opening  37  of the case  30 , the supporting portion  41  of the pumping module  40  is secured on the top plate  31  of the case  30  by using a screw bolt  44  so that the pumping module  40  is fixed to the case  30  in the accommodation chamber  36 . The air exhaust tube  422  of the pump  42  extends and protrudes out of the top plate  31  and the top surface of the case  30 . A water resisting ring  423  is fitted between the air exhaust tube  22  and the top plate  31  of the case  30 . 
     The switch assembly  50  is received in the accommodation chamber  36  of the case  30  and is electrically connected to the motor  43  so as to control the operation of the motor  43 . The switch assembly  50  is fixed on the supporting portion  41  of the pumping assembly  40 . The switch assembly  50  includes a button protruding out of the top plate  31  and the top surface of the case  30  and includes a water resisting lid  51  arranged on the button of the switch assembly  50 . Furthermore, the switch assembly  50  further includes two electrode connectors. One of the electrode connectors, the first electrode connector  52 , is located on the first side plate  32 , being electrically connected to the switch assembly  50 . The other one of the electrode connectors, the second electrode connector  53 , is located inside the second side plate  33 , being electrically connected to the switch assembly  50 . The first side plate  32  has a first groove  321  defined on an inner wall thereof so as to receive the first electrode connector  52 . The second side plate  33  has a second groove  331  defined on an inner wall thereof so as to receive the second electrode connector  53 . 
     The slidable holder  60  covers onto the opening  37  of the case  30 . The slidable holder  60  is configured to receive at least one battery  71  of the battery assembly  70  so that the battery assembly  70  is carried by the slidable holder  60  to be received in the accommodation chamber  36  of the case  30 . After the slidable holder  60  is covered onto the opening  37  of the case  30 , two electrodes of the at least one battery  71  of the battery assembly  70  are electrically connected to the switch assembly  50  so as to supply power to the motor  43  of the pumping module  40 . In this embodiment, the two electrodes of the at least one battery  71  of the battery assembly  70  are electrically connected to the first electrode connector  52  and the second electrode  53  of the switch assembly  50  respectively so as to supply power to the motor  43  of the pumping module  40 . 
     The slidable holder  60  includes a first extension  61  extending from a first side thereof, a second extension  62  extending from a second side thereof, a connection plate  63  connected between the first extension  61  and the second extension  62 , a receiving portion  64  configured to receive the battery assembly  70 . The first side plate  32  of the case  30  has a first slot  322  formed on the inner wall thereof. A first shoulder  323  is arranged on the first slot  322  adjacent to the opening  37 . The second side plate  33  of the case  30  has a second slot  332  formed on the inner wall thereof. A second shoulder  333  is arranged on the second slot  332  adjacent to the opening  37 . The first extension  61  and the second extension  62  of the slidable holder  60  are slid into the first slot  322  of the first side plate  32  and the second slot  332  of the second side plate  33  individually, so that the slidable holder  60  can be pulled to slide in the accommodation chamber  36  of the case  30 . When the slidable holder  60  slides into the accommodation chamber  36  and covers the opening  37 , the two electrodes of the at least one battery  71  of the battery assembly  70  are electrically connected to the first electrode connector  52  and the second electrode  53  of the switch assembly  50  respectively. 
     To avoid a removal of the slidable holder  60  from the case  30 , the first extension  61  has a first flexible hook  611  formed on an edge thereof. The first flexible hook  611  is retained in the first slot  322 . The second extension  62  has a second flexible hook  621  formed on an edge thereof. The second flexible hook  621  is retained in the second slot  332 . The first hook  611  is retained with the first shoulder  323  of the first slot  322 , and the second flexible hook  621  is retained with the second shoulder  333  of the second slot  332 , so that the removal of the slidable holder  60  from the case  30  is prohibited. In addition, the connection plate  63  of the slidable holder  60  has a third flexible hook  631 . The third side plate  34  of the case  30  has a third slot  341  formed on an inner wall thereof. A third shoulder  342  is arranged on the third slot  341  adjacent to the opening  37 . The third flexible hook  631  of the connection plate  63  is slid in the third slot  341  and is retained with the third shoulder  342 , helping to support and to guide the slidable holder  60  to slide stably. 
     The slidable holder  60  includes a first flexible piece  65  formed in a U shape and located proximate to the first side plate  32 . The first flexible piece  65  has a first retainer  651  formed thereon. The slidable holder  60  includes a second flexible piece  66  formed in a U shape and located proximate to the second side plate  33 . The second flexible piece  66  has a second retainer  661  formed thereon. The first side plate  32  of the case  30  has a first recess  324  formed on the inner wall thereof adjacent to the opening  37 . The second side plate  33  of the case  30  has a second recess  334  formed on the inner wall thereof adjacent to the opening  37 . The first retainer  651  of the first flexible piece  65  of the slidable holder  60  engages the first recess  324  of the first side plate  32  of the case  30 , and the second retainer  661  of the second flexible piece  66  engages the second recess  334  of the second side plate  33  of the case  30 . The slidable holder  60  can therefore cover onto the opening  37  of the case  30 . The two electrodes (i.e., a positive electrode and a negative electrode) of the at least one battery  71  of the battery assembly  70  are then electrically connected to the first electrode connector  52  and the second electrode connector  53  of the switch assembly  50  respectively so as to supply the power to the motor  43  of the pumping module  40 . The switch assembly  70  is provided for turning on/off the motor  43 . In other possible embodiment of the invention, the pumping module  40  may probably be secured to the slidable holder  60 . In such cases, the air exhaust tube  422  of the pumping module  40  and the switch assembly  70  should still extend and protrude out of the top plate  31  of the case  30  after the slidable holder  60  covers the opening of the case  30 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-11 , in general operation, the direct current pump is attached to an outer wall of a fish bucket  80 . The air exhaust tube  422  of the pump  42  is connected to a pipe  81  which extends into the fish bucket  80 . When the user fills the fish bucket  80  with water, the water may drench on the direct current pump. The water cannot pass through the top plate  31 , the first side plate  32 , the second side plate  33 , the third side plate  35 , and the fourth side plate  36  to flow into the case  30 . Thereafter, fishes are put into the fish bucket  80 . The motor  43  of the pumping module  40  may be turned on by using the switch assembly  50 , driving the cap  421  of the pump  42  to pump the air repeatedly. The air is then pumped into the water contained in the fish bucket  80  via the air exhaust tube  422  and the pipe  81 , providing oxygen to the water contained in the fish bucket  80 . 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 12-14 . When user would like to replace the battery assembly, the first flexible piece  65  and the second flexible piece  66  of the slidable holder  60  can be pressed inwardly, so that the first retainer  651  of the first flexible piece  65  is removed from the first recess  324  of the case  30 , and the second retainer  661  of the second flexible piece  66  is removed from the second recess  334  of the case  30 . The slidable holder  60  can then be pulled outwardly. In addition, the first shoulder  323 , the second shoulder  333 , and the third shoulder  342  of the case  30  engage the first flexible hook  611 , the second flexible hook  621 , and the third flexible hook  631  of the slidable holder  60  respectively, so that removal of the slidable holder  60  from the case  30  is avoided. The at least one battery  71  of the battery assembly  70  is detachable from the accommodation chamber  36  for being replaced by a new battery. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to covering assembly all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.