Patent Publication Number: US-6220836-B1

Title: Clamp device for a hand air pump

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a clamp device for a hand air pump that has a protective ring to avoid damage to a rubber sealing plug of the clamp device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     FIG. 7 of the drawings illustrates a conventional clamp device attached to a hand air pump  1  for holding a valve  90  of an article (e.g., a bicycle tire) to be inflated. The clamp device includes a sleeve  82 , a rubber plug  81  mounted in the sleeve  82 , a nozzle  83  communicating an interior of the rubber plug  81  with the hand air pump  1 , and an end cap  80  that holds the tire valve  90 . In use, the sleeve  82  is rotated to be in threading engagement with the valve  90  such that the rubber plug  81  that provides a sealing effect for inflation tends to wear and thus be damaged. The present invention is intended to provide an improved clamp device to solve this problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved clamp device that has a protective ring mounted between the sleeve and the rubber sealing plug to protect the rubber sealing plug. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a clamp device is provided for a hand air pump. The clamp device comprises a sleeve including a first end securely attached to an output end of a cylinder of the hand air pump and a second end for receiving a valve of an article to be inflated, a plug mounted in the sleeve, a protective ring mounted between the sleeve and the plug such that the plug does not move when the sleeve rotates, and a nozzle communicating the output end of the cylinder with an interior of the sleeve. 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel 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 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a hand air pump with a clamp device in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the clamp device in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the clamp device in accordance with the present invention and a portion of a hand air pump; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, wherein a tire valve is held by the clamp device in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the hand air pump, illustrating an inward stroke of the piston; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the hand air pump, illustrating an outward stroke of the piston; and 
     FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of a conventional clamp device and a portion of a hand air pump. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 through 3, a clamp device  100  in accordance with the present invention generally includes a cylinder holder  20  mounted around an output end of a cylinder  10  of a hand air pump, a sleeve  30  having an end attached to the cylinder holder  20 , and an end cap  70  mounted to the other end of the sleeve  30 . In this embodiment, the sleeve  30  includes a threaded section  32  for engaging with outer threading  71  of the end cap  70 . A plug  60 , preferably made of rubber, is mounted in the sleeve  30 , and a protective ring  40  is mounted between the plug  60  and the sleeve  30 . In addition, a nozzle  50  includes a first end received in the output end of the cylinder  10  and a second end received in the plug  60  to communicate an interior of the output end of the cylinder  10  and an interior  31  of the sleeve  30 . 
     In use, referring to FIG. 4, a valve  90  of an article (e.g., a bicycle tire) to be inflated is inserted into the end cap  70  and thus causes deformation of the rubber plug  60 . The sleeve  30  is rotated to provide secure engagement with the valve  90 . The protective ring  40  rotates together with the sleeve  30 . Nevertheless, the plug  60  neither rotates nor slides. Namely, the plug  60  does not move. Thus, wear to the plug  60  is avoided. This is advantageous as the plug  60  provides a sealing effect during inflation, which is conventional and therefore not described in detail. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the inflation operation of the hand air pump, which is conventional and therefore not described in detail. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.