Patent Abstract:
An inflatable product includes an inflatable body and an electric pump for pumping the inflatable body. The electric pump includes a pump body and an air outlet, wherein the pump body is wholly or partially recessed into the inflatable body and permanently held by the inflatable body. Preferably, the electric pump includes a fan and a motor connected to the fan, and the fan is rotated by the motor in a first direction to pump the inflatable body or in a second direction opposite the first direction to deflate the inflatable body.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/459,690, filed on Jun. 11, 2003, which is divisional application U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/738,331, filed on Dec. 18, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,469, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/542,477, filed Apr. 4, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,760. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates in general to an inflatable product provided with an electric pump. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a conventional electric pump  14  for inflating an airbed has a fan and motor  142  inside. A plurality of batteries  144  are loaded into the electric pump  14  to supply the power. The airbed  10  is provided with a valve  12 . In operation, the electric pump  14  is connected to the valve  12  in direction B and then rotated in direction A to fasten the connection between the electric pump  14  and the airbed  10 . Then, the airbed  10  is pumped by the electric pump  14 . 
     SUMMARY  
     In an embodiment of the present invention, an inflatable product comprising an inflatable body and an electric pump for pumping the inflatable body is provided. The electric pump comprises a pump body and an air outlet, wherein the pump body is wholly or partially recessed into the inflatable body and permanently held by the inflatable body. The electric pump preferably comprises a fan and a motor connected to the fan, and the fan is rotated by the motor in a first direction to pump the inflatable body or in a second direction opposite the first direction to deflate the inflatable body. In one preferred embodiment, the pump body is located in the inflatable body. Preferably, the air outlet is also located in the inflatable body. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, an inflatable product comprising an inflatable body and an electric pump for pumping the inflatable body is provided. The electric pump comprises a pump body and an air outlet, wherein the pump body is wholly or partially recessed into the inflatable body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  depicts a conventional airbed; 
         FIG. 1B  is a sectional view along line I-I in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 2  locally depicts an airbed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  shows the inflating operation of the airbed of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  shows the deflating operation of the airbed of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  locally depicts an airbed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective diagram of the electric pump of the second embodiment; 
         FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C show the inflating operation of the airbed of the second embodiment; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  show the deflating operation of the airbed of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 8A  is an exploded perspective diagram of a local portion of an airbed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8B  is a perspective diagram of the electric pump of the airbed of the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 8C  is a sectional view of a socket of the airbed along line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8D  is a top view of the socket shown in  FIG. 8A ; 
         FIG. 8E  depicts the electric pump and the socket assembled together in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8F  depicts the cover, the electric pump and the socket assembled together in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9A  is an exploded perspective diagram of a local portion of an airbed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9B  is a perspective diagram of the electric pump of the airbed of the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 9C  depicts a set of sockets of the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 9D  is a sectional view of a socket of the airbed along line VIIII-VIIII in  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9E  depicts the cover, the electric pump and the socket assembled together in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective diagram of a local portion of an airbed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10B  is a sectional view of the electric pump along line X-X of  FIG. 10A ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective diagram of an electric pump of an airbed in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12A  is a perspective diagram of a cover, electric pump and socket of an airbed in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12B  is a sectional view of the socket along line XI-XI of  FIG. 12A ; 
         FIG. 13A  is a schematic diagram of an airbed in an inflating operation in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13B  is a schematic diagram of the airbed in a deflating operation in accordance with the eighth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective diagram of an electric pump of an airbed in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective diagram of an electric pump of an airbed in accordance with a tenth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an airbed  26  of a first embodiment of the present invention is provided with a detachable electric pump  20 , a built-in battery case  22  and a built-in socket  24 . The battery case  22  has a cover  221  on which electrodes  222  are provided. Also, on the bottom of the battery case  22  are provided electrodes  223  corresponding to the electrodes  222  of the cover  221 . An O-ring  244  and an electrode  242  are provided on the inner wall of the socket  24 , wherein the electrode  242  is electrically connected to the electrodes  222 ,  223  of the battery case  22 . Furthermore, the electric pump  20  is substantially cylindrical and has an electrode  202  on its side surfaces, an air inlet  204  and an air outlet  206  on its ends and a check valve  208  inside. The check valve  208  of the electric pump allows air to flow in a single direction from the inlet  204  to the outlet  206 . 
     In operation, batteries are loaded into the battery case  22 . The electric pump  20  is fitted into the socket  24  and then rotated so that the electrode  202  of the electric pump  20  physically contacts the electrode  242  of the socket  24 . Then, the electric pump  20  is actuated to pump outside air into the airbed  26  as shown in  FIG. 3A . The O-ring  242  in the socket  24  prevents the airbed  26  from leaking. In deflating operation, the user detaches the electric pump  20  from the socket  24  to deflate the airbed  26 , as shown in  FIG. 3B . 
     It is understood that the O-ring can be provided on the side surfaces of the electric pump  20  instead of in the socket  24  to prevent the airbed from leaking. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , an airbed of a second embodiment of the present invention is provided with a detachable electric pump  30 , a cap  37  for the electric pump  30 , a built-in battery case  32  and a built-in socket  34 . The battery case  32  has a cover  321  on which electrodes  322  are provided. Also, on the bottom of the battery case  32  are provided electrodes  323  corresponding to the electrodes  322  of the cover  321 . Furthermore, an arrow symbol  36  is marked on the airbed and besides the socket  34 . Flanges  342  are formed at the rim of the socket  34 , while electrodes  344  are provided on the inner wall of the socket  34  and are electrically connected to the electrodes  322 ,  323  of the battery case  32 . Furthermore, the electric pump  30  is substantially cylindrical and has a flange  301  on its side surfaces, two electrodes  302  provided on the flange  301 , an air inlet  304  and an air outlet  306  on its ends. Also referring to  FIG. 5 , symbols “on”, “off” and “open” are marked on the side surfaces and the end of the electric pump  30 . 
     In operation, batteries are loaded into the battery case  32  to supply the electric pump  30  with the power. The electric pump  30  in this embodiment is used to inflate or deflate the airbed. In inflating operation, the electric pump  30  is fitted into the socket  34  with the air outlet  306  inside the airbed and the air inlet  304  outside the airbed. The electric pump  30  is rotated to change the positions of symbols “on”, “off” and “open”. When the arrow symbol  36  points at the symbol “on” as shown in  FIG. 6A , the electrodes  302  of the electric pump  30  physically contact the electrodes  344  of the socket  34  to actuate the electric pump  30 . Then, outside air is pumped into the airbed as shown in  FIG. 6B . When the arrow symbol  36  points at the symbol “off”, the electric pump  30  is stopped. When the arrow symbol  36  points at the symbol “open”, the electric pump  30  is detachable from the socket  34 .  FIG. 6C  depicts the airbed full of air, wherein the air outlet of the electric pump  30  is closed by the cap  37  to seal the airbed after the inflating operation. 
     In the deflating operation, the electric pump  30  is fitted in reverse into the socket  34 , with the air inlet  304  inside the airbed and the air outlet  306  outside the airbed. The electric pump  30  is rotated to change the positions of symbols “on”, “off” and “open” on its side surfaces. When the arrow symbol  36  points at the symbol “on” as shown in  FIG. 7A , the electrodes  302  of the electric pump  30  physically contact the electrodes  344  of the socket  34  to actuate the electric pump  30 . Then, air inside the airbed is pumped out as shown in  FIG. 7B . When the arrow symbol  36  points at the symbol “off”, the electric pump  30  is stopped. When the arrow symbol  36  points at the symbol “open”, the electric pump  30  is detachable from the socket  34 . 
     In either of the inflating and deflating operations, the flanges  342  of the socket  34  are used for confining the flange  301  of the electric pump  30 , thus preventing the electric pump  30  from separating with the socket  34  when the arrow symbol  36  points at the symbols “on” and “off”. However, the flanges  342  are spaced apart at the rim of the socket  34  to avoid confining the flange  301  of the electric pump  30  when the arrow symbol  36  points at the symbol “open”. Thus, the electric pump  30  is detachable from the socket  34  when the arrow symbol  36  points at the symbol “open”. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8A , an airbed of the third embodiment of the present invention is provided with a cover  44 , an electric pump  42  and a built-in socket  46 . The cover  44  is circular, with a plurality of recesses  443  provided on its side surfaces. Such an arrangement increases the friction on the side surfaces, facilitates the rotation of the cover  44 . Furthermore, the cover  44  is closed at its top end and is opened at its bottom end. At the bottom end of the cover  44  is provided a pair of inward arcuate flanges  441 . The arcuate flanges  441  extend to the bottom rim of the cover  44  to engage the socket  46  mounted on the body  40  of the airbed. The electric pump  42  is cylindrical. On the side surfaces of the electric pump is provided a switch  421  and a connector  423 . Also referring to  FIG. 8B , a plurality of rechargeable batteries  429  are provided in the electric pump  42  to supply the motor  422  with power. The connector  423  is used for connecting an external power (alternating current or direct current) to charge the batteries  429  or directly to actuate the electric pump  42 . For example, the connector  423  is connected to a cigarette lighter (direct current) of a car via a cigarette plug  600 . Alternatively, the connector  423  is connected to a alternating current power supply via a rectifier  700  which converts the alternating current into a direct current for the electric pump. Furthermore, at the ends of the electric pump  42  are provided a protruding air inlet  427  and a protruding air outlet  425 . Outward flanges  424 ,  426  are respectively provided at the air inlet  427  and air outlet  425 . The socket  46  is a cylindrical housing, while an annular flange  467  is provided on the side surfaces of the socket  46  to define an upper portion and a lower portion of the socket  46 . The annular flange  467  is welded together with the body  40  of the airbed so that the lower portion of the socket  46  is buried in the airbed. Referring to  FIG. 8C , the socket  46  has a large hole  465  at its top end and a small hole at its bottom end. The large hole  465  at the top end is circular. The small hole  466  at the bottom end is shown in  FIG. 8D , the shape of which matches those of the air inlet  427  and air outlet  425  of the electric pump  42 . Furthermore, the socket  46  has grooves  461  formed on the outer surface of the upper portion and other grooves  463  formed at the inner circumferences of the hole  466  at the bottom end. 
     In the inflating operation, the electric pump  42  is put in the socket  46 , with the air outlet  425  of the electric pump  42  aligning with the bottom hole  466  of the socket  46 . Then, the electric pump  42  is rotated so that the flanges  426  of the electric pump  42  enter the grooves  463  at the bottom end of the socket  46 . Thus, the electric pump  42  and the socket  46  are firmly connected together, as shown in  FIG. 8E . The user pushes the switch  421  of the electric pump  42  to pump outside air into the body  40  of the airbed. The air flows from the air inlet  427 , through the air outlet  425  and bottom hole  466 , to the inside of the airbed. 
     If the airbed is used on the water, then the cover  44  is necessarily assembled together with the socket  46 . The user rotates the cover  44  so that the inner flanges  441  enter the grooves  461  of the socket  46 . Thus, the cover  44  and the socket  46  are firmly connected together. The cover  44  protects the electric pump  42  from water. 
     In the deflating operation, the electric pump  42  is fitted in reverse into the socket  46 , with the air inlet  427  of the electric pump  42  aligning with the bottom hole  466  of the socket  46 . Then, the electric pump  42  pumps air inside the airbed out. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9A , an airbed of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is provided with a cover  54 , an electric pump  52  and a set of sockets  56 ,  56 ′ built in the body of the airbed. The cover  54  is circular, with a plurality of recesses  543  provided on its side surfaces. Such an arrangement increases the friction on the side surfaces, facilitates the user to rotate the cover  54 . Furthermore, the cover  54  is closed at its top end and is opened at its bottom end. At the bottom end of the cover  54  is provided a pair of inward arcuate flanges  541 . The arcuate flanges  541  extend to the rim of the bottom end of the cover  54  for engaging the socket  56 . The electric pump  52  is cylindrical. On the side surfaces of the electric pump  52  are provided a switch  521 , an connector  523  and circumferential flanges  529 ,  529 ′. Furthermore, a plurality of rechargeable batteries (not shown) are provided in the electric pump  52  to supply the power. The connector  523  is used for connecting an external power to charge the batteries or directly to actuate the electric pump  52 . Referring to both  FIGS. 9A and 9B , at the ends  524 ,  520  of the electric pump  52  are provided a protruding air inlet  527  and a protruding air outlet  525 . A pair of outward flanges  528  are provided at the air inlet  527 , with grooves  528 ′ formed between the flanges  528  and the end  524 . Another pair of outward flanges  526  are provided at the air outlet  525  to form grooves  526 ′ between the flanges  526  and the end  520 . Referring to  FIG. 9C , the set of sockets include a top socket  56  and a bottom socket  56 ′ connected by a flexible sleeve  560 . The top socket  56  is welded together with the body  50  of the airbed. The top and bottom sockets  56 ,  56 ′ have the same structure and therefore only the top socket  56  is now introduced. The top socket  56  has a top surface  564  with a through hole  561  provided on the top surface  564 . Furthermore, the top socket  56  has a pair of inward flanges  562  protruding from the top surface  564  toward the through hole  561 . Referring to  FIG. 9D , an annular groove  563  is formed in the socket  56 . 
     In the inflating operation, the electric pump  52  is inserted into the set of sockets  56 ,  56 ′ on the airbed  50 . The protruding air outlet  525  of the electric pump  52  is fitted into the bottom socket  56 ′. The rubber pad  522  eliminates any gaps between the bottom sockets  56 ′ and the electric pump  52  through which the airbed possibly leaks. The circumferential flanges  529  of the electric pump  52  enter the groove  563  of the socket  56 . Then, the electric pump  52  is rotated so that the flanges  529  of the electric pump  52  are confined in the grooves  563  by the flanges  562  of the top socket  56 . Then, the user pushes the switch  521  on the electric pump  52  to pump the airbed. After the airbed is filled with air, the user assembles the cover  54  and the electric pump  52  as shown in  FIG. 9E , with the flanges  541  of the cover  54  received in the grooves  528 ′ of the electric pump  52 . The cover  54  prevents the airbed from leaking though the air inlet  527 . 
     In the deflating operation, the electric pump  52  is reversely disposed with the air inlet  527  connected to the bottom socket  56 ′. Also, the flanges  528  of the electric pump  52  are confined in the grooves  563  by the flanges  562  of the top socket  56 . Then, the user pushes the switch  521  on the electric pump  52  to pump air in the airbed out. It is noted that the electric pump  52  is not protected from water. Nevertheless, the electric pump  52  can be modified to be waterproof, introduced in the following fifth embodiment. 
     Refer to  FIGS. 10A and 10B . Reference numeral  64  is a cover and reference numeral  62  is a waterproof electric pump. The waterproof electric pump  62  of the fifth embodiment is similar with the electric pump  52  of the fourth embodiment except that (1) the waterproof electric pump  62  has no connector on its side surfaces; (2) the switch  621  of the waterproof electric pump  62  is covered by a waterproof rubber strip  622 . The waterproof rubber strip  622  is so thin that the user can still push the switch  621  from outside the rubber strip  622  to actuate the electric pump  62 . 
       FIG. 11  depicts another waterproof electric pump  66  in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention, wherein a recess  662  is provided on the side surfaces of the electric pump  66 . A switch  664  and a connector  666  are provided in the recess  662 , while a lid  668  is rotatably mounted on the side surfaces of the electric pump  66  to protect the switch  664  and the connector  666  from water. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12A and 12B , an airbed of a seventh embodiment of the invention is provided with a socket  76 , an electric pump  72  and a cover  74 . The socket  76  has threads  762  on its inner surfaces, while the electric pump  72  has threads  722  on its outer surfaces so that the electric pump  72  and the socket  76  can be screwed together. Furthermore, the electric pump  72  has rubber pads  724  on both ends. The arrangement of rubber pads  724  eliminates any gaps between the socket  76  and the electric pump  72  through which the airbed possibly leaks, when the electric pump  72  and the socket  76  are screwed together. Furthermore, it is noted that the cover  74  is mounted on the electric pump  72  rather than the socket  76  to prevent an air leakage. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A , an airbed  80  of an eighth embodiment of the invention is provided a cover  85 , a chamber  84 , a fan  81  received in the chamber  84 , a motor  82  for rotating the fan  81 , a plurality of rechargeable batteries  88  for supplying the motor  82  with power, and a switch  83  for actuating the motor  82 . The motor  82  is also connected to an external power to charge the batteries  88  or directly to actuate the motor  82 . The external power supplies an alternating current via a rectifier  87  or supplies a direct current via a cigarette plug (not shown). The chamber  84  has a nozzle  841  communicating the chamber  84  and the outside of the airbed  80 , and a hole communicating the chamber  84  and the inside of the airbed  80 . In the inflating operation, the user pushes the switch  83  to actuate the motor  82  and fan  81 . Then, outside air is pumped into the airbed  80  through the nozzle  841  and the hole  842 . After the airbed  80  is filled with air, the user closes the nozzle with the cover  85  to prevent the airbed from leaking. Referring to  FIG. 1B , in the deflating operation, the user takes away the cover  85  and pushes the switch  83  to rotate the motor  82  and fan  81  in reverse. Then, air inside the airbed  80  is pumped out. 
     In the eighth embodiment, the fan  81  is received in a chamber  84  and is driven by an outside motor  82 . However, it is understood that the fan and motor can be housed together to operate. Referring to  FIG. 14 , in a ninth embodiment of the present invention, a motor  92  and a fan  91  with helical blades  911  are assembled and are received in a housing  93 . The motor  92  is actuated by rechargeable batteries (not shown) or by an external power (not shown) via a connector  98 , wherein the external power supplies an alternating current or a direct current. The housing  93  is mounted on the airbed  90  (not fully shown in  FIG. 14 ) and has a first hole  94  communicating the outside of the airbed and a second hole communicating the inside. In the inflating operation, the fan  91  and motor  92  pump outside air into the airbed  90  through the holes  94 ,  95 . When the airbed is filled with air, the cover  96  is screwed to the housing  93  to prevent an air leakage. In the deflating operation, the cover  96  is taken away. The fan  91  is rotated by the motor  92  in reverse to pump air inside the airbed out. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , in a tenth embodiment of the present invention, a first fan and motor  100  and a second fan and motor  200  are housed in different chambers. The first and second fans and motors  100 ,  200  are permanently or detachably connected to the airbed  180  (not fully shown in  FIG. 15 ). Furthermore, the motors  100  and  200  are actuated by rechargeable batteries (not shown) or by an external power (not shown) via a connector  150 . In the inflating operation, the first fan and motor  100  is actuated to pump the airbed  180  (not fully shown in  FIG. 15 ) while the second fan and motor  200  is at rest. In the deflating operation, the first fan and motor  100  is at rest while the second fan and motor  200  is actuated to pump air inside the airbed out. 
     In conclusion, the invention provides various ways to pump an airbed or other inflatable products. 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5