Patent Publication Number: US-6220828-B1

Title: Apparatus for introducing air and water

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to portable and outdoor equipment, and in particular, to an apparatus that pumps water and air to an inflatable pool or object. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Swimming pools provide much amusement and recreation to adults and children alike, especially during hot weather. In particular, children enjoy playing in splash pools, swimming pools, ponds, streams, beaches and other places where they can play and amuse themselves in cool and refreshing water. 
     Portable pools are especially popular because they are lightweight and can be conveniently carried from one location to another. One type of these portable pools is inflatable, in which the side walls of the pool are provided in a double-walled configuration to define an internal chamber into which air is introduced and stored. Introducing the air into the internal chamber inflates the side wall for use. Water can then be added into the pool for use. These inflatable pools can then be deflated prior to folding and collapsing. 
     Unfortunately, it can be very inconvenient and time consuming to deploy these inflatable pools for use. In particular, the user must first pump air into the internal chamber to inflate the side wall. After the side walls have been inflated, water must be introduced to the pool. These two steps are separate and can be very time-consuming. Another inconvenience is that the user must carry a separate air pump to inflate the pool. 
     Thus, there remains a need for an apparatus that will minimize the time and tools needed to deploy an inflatable pool or object. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus that minimizes the time and tools needed to deploy an inflatable pool or object. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus that can simultaneously inflate an inflatable pool or object and to add water to the inflatable pool or object. 
     It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus which uses the flow of water to generate air for inflating the inflatable pool or object. 
     The objectives of the present invention are accomplished by providing an apparatus having a first chamber having a water inlet for receiving a flow of water, a water outlet, and a rotating device that is rotated by the flow of water. The apparatus also includes a second chamber having an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air generator coupled to the rotating device for generating air when the rotating device is rotated. The water in the first chamber is directed to fill the pool or object, while the generated air is provided via the air outlet to inflate the pool or object. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for introducing air and water according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in use with a portable inflatable pool. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and mechanisms are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. 
     The present invention provides an apparatus that simultaneously introduces air and water to an inflatable pool or other inflatable object. The apparatus uses the flow of water to rotate or power a rotating device whose rotation causes an air generator to generate air that is used to inflate the inflatable pool. Although the following description shall be made in connection with an inflatable pool, the apparatus of the present invention can also be used with any other device or object that requires both air and water to be delivered or introduced. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus  10  according to the present invention can be coupled between a water outlet  12  and an inflatable pool  14 . A water hose or tubing  16  couples the water outlet  12  to a water inlet  20  of the apparatus  10 , and a first tubing  22  couples a water outlet  24  of the apparatus  10  to the interior of the pool  14 . A second tubing  26  couples an air outlet  28  of the apparatus  10  to a conventional air inlet  30  in the side wall of the pool  14 . 
     An apparatus  10  according to the present invention is illustrated in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. The apparatus  10  has a main housing  36  that has a first or lower housing  38  and a second or upper housing  40 . The first housing  38  has a generally circular or rounded body  39  that defines a first chamber, and has first and second cylindrical extensions  42  and  44  that lead to a water inlet  20  and a water outlet  24 , respectively. The first housing  38  also has a bottom plate  46  and a top plate  48 , both of which can be riveted, screwed (e.g., see screws or rivets  50 ) or otherwise connected to the first housing  38 . The top plate  48  also has a central opening  52 . A rotating device, such as a flywheel  54 , is retained inside the first housing  38 , and is supported for rotation therein by a four-sided shaft  56 . The shaft  56  has an upper end  58  that extends through the opening  52  of the top plate  48 , and a lower end  59  that extends through an opening  61  in the bottom plate  46 . The flywheel  54  has a plurality of fins  60  that are provided in spaced-apart manner about the outer surface of the flywheel  54 . These fins  60  act as paddles to direct water from the water inlet  20  towards the water outlet  24  when the flywheel  54  is rotated. 
     The second housing  40  has a generally circular body  66  that defines a second chamber. The second housing  40  has an air inlet  68 , and a cylindrical extension  70  that leads to the air outlet  28 . A flange  72  extends from the bottom of the body  66 , and has screw or rivet openings  74  that are adapted to allow the flange  72  to be connected to the top plate  48  via the screws or rivets  50 , so as to connect the first and second housings  38  and  40 . The air outlet  28  has a cover  76 , and a generally circular plate  78  can be fitted inside the cover  76  at the air outlet  28 . The plate  78  has a plurality of openings  80 , and a flexible plastic piece  81  is connected to the plate  78  and positioned between the plate  78  and the cover  76 . The plate  78  and plastic piece  81  together function to prevent the backflow of air. For example, air from the second housing  40  can pass through the openings  80  of the plate  78  and push the flexible plastic piece  81  away from the plate  78  so that the air can travel to the air outlet  28 . However, backflow of air is prevented because the back-flowing air will push the plastic piece  81  against the plate  78  to create a seal. 
     The second housing  40  houses an air generator, which includes a piston  82  that is retained for reciprocal movement inside the cylindrical extension  70 . In addition, a cam plate  84  is retained inside the body  66 , and has a four-sided opening  86  that is adapted to match the four-sided configuration of the shaft  56  to achieve a locking engagement of the shaft  56  inside the opening  86 . The cam plate  84  also has a vertical rounded extension  88  provided in an off-center location on the cam plate  84 . A crank  90  has a first end  92  that has a rounded opening  94  for receiving the rounded extension  88  of the cam plate  84 , and a second end  96  that is connected to the piston  82 . This connection can be accomplished by providing the second end  96  with an opening  98 , providing the piston  82  with an extension  100  having an opening  102 , and extending a screw  104  through the openings  98  and  102 . Thus, when the shaft  56  extends through the opening  86  of the cam plate  84 , the cam plate  84  will rotate when the flywheel  54  and the shaft  56  rotate. The crank  90  couples the piston  82  to the cam plate  84  to reciprocate the piston  82  when the cam plate  84  rotates. 
     The water inlet  20  and the outlets  24  and  28  can be provided with threads  110  to provide friction for facilitating the engagement of the tubings  16 ,  22  and  26 . In addition, the air inlet  68  can be provided with a meshed cover  112  to prevent dirt and unwanted particles from entering the second housing  40 . 
     The operation and use of the apparatus  10  will now be described. First, the user connects the tubings  16 ,  22  and  26  in the manner shown in FIG.  1  and described above. The user then turns on the water, so that water flows via the hose  16  through the water inlet  20  and into the first housing  38 . The water inflow will cause the flywheel  54  to rotate, with the fins  60  paddling or directing the water to the water outlet  24 , and then via the tubing  22  to fill the pool  14 . At the same time, rotation of the flywheel  54  will cause the shaft  56  to rotate. The locking engagement of the shaft  56  in the opening  86  of the cam plate  84  will also cause the cam plate  84  to rotate. Rotation of the cam plate  84  will cause the crank  90  to be reciprocated back and forth inside the second housing  40  because of the coupling of the crank  90  to an off-centered location (i.e., the extension  88 ) of the cam plate  84 , which simultaneously reciprocates the piston  82  back and forth inside the cylindrical extension  70 . The reciprocating movement of the piston  82  will push air that has entered the second housing  40  from the air inlet  68  out of the air outlet  28  and via tubing  26  to inflate the pool  14 . 
     Thus, the apparatus  10  of the present invention utilizes the flow of water to simultaneously pump water and air to the pool  14 . By combining these two important operations, the apparatus  10  greatly simplifies the deployment of a portable inflatable pool  14 , thereby making it more convenient and faster for a user to deploy the pool  14  for use. 
     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, although the housing  40  has been referred to as an upper housing and the housing  38  as a lower housing, these housings  38  and  40  can be interchanged, or provided in a side-by-side manner.