Patent ID: 12196194

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS.1through3, miniature pump includes upper shell10, a lower shell11, an air bag18, a switch30, a distributor valve40and a partition50according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The periphery of the upper shell10is connected to the periphery of the lower shell11in an air-tight manner. The air bag18and the switch30are connected to the upper shell10. The distributor valve40is connected to the lower shell11. The distributor valve40is connected to the switch30. The partition50is located between the upper shell10and the lower shell11. The partition50includes a check valve53in the form of a flip. The check valve53allows air to go to the distributor valve40from the air bag18, but not vice versa,

Referring toFIG.4, the upper shell10, the air bag18and the switch30will be described. The air bag18is a portion of the upper shell10. The air bag18is compressible to send air from it and expansible to suck air in it. The air bag18is provided with a check valve60. When expanding, the air bag18sucks air into it through the check valve60. An upper face of the air bag18is made with a recess61and an inlet aperture62. The inlet aperture62is located in the recess61. The check valve60includes a membrane63and a button64. The membrane63is located over the inlet aperture62in the recess61. The button64is located in the recess61. The periphery of the button64is shaped like the periphery of the recess61.

A connector20is located in the upper shell10. An upper face of the connector20is formed with an annular recess21, an orifice22and bores23. The annular recess21extends around the orifice21. The bores23are located in the annular recess21. The connector20includes a ring24, hooks25and an arched wall26. The hooks25extend from a lower face of the ring24. The hooks25are evenly arranged along the ring24. The arched wall26extends from an upper face of the ring24. The arched wall26extends in an arched manner. An external face of the arched wall26is formed with bosses27.

The switch30includes a knob31, an axle32, three distribution apertures33, a lever34and an arched recess35(FIG.8). The axle32axially extends from a lower face (or “end”) of the knob31. The distribution apertures33are evenly made in the periphery of the axle32. The lever34extends from the periphery of the knob31in a radial manner. The arched recess35is made in a lower face (or “end”) of the axle32.

Referring toFIGS.5and6, the lower shell11, the partition50, the check valve53and the distributor valve40will be described. The lower shell11includes a chamber12, a bore13and a channel14made in an upper face. The bore13is located in the chamber12. The channel14is in communication with the bore13.

Two grids15and16extend on the upper face of the lower shell11so that the lower shell11is adequately rigid. Preferably, the grid15extends higher than the grid16.

The partition50is located between the upper shell10and the lower shell11. The partition50includes an edge made with a cutout51corresponding to the grid16. The partition50further includes a pothole52. The check valve53extends over the pothole52. The check valve53is formed with a passageway54including an inlet55at an end and an outlet56at another end. The inlet55is in communication with the air bag18via the pothole52. The outlet56is located above the cutout51. Air goes into the passageway54via the inlet55. Then, the air goes from the passageway54via the outlet56. Then, the air goes into the bore13from the outlet56through a gap between the partition50and the grids15and16(FIG.7). Then, the air goes into the channel14from the bore13.

The distributor valve40includes a valve housing41, a cylinder42, a conduit43, two distributor pipes44and45, and several receptacles46. The valve housing41extends around the cylinder42. The conduit43and the distributor pipes44and45extend from the cylinder42. Through the conduit43and the distributor pipes44and45, the interior of the cylinder42is in communication with the exterior of the cylinder42. The distributor pipes44and45can be connected to two different inflatable products (not shown) if the miniature pump is a stand-alone device. The distributor pipes44and45can be connected to two different inflatable portions of a same product (not shown) if the miniature pump is connected to the same product. The receptacle46are formed in a lower portion of the valve housing41.

Referring toFIG.7in addition toFIGS.1through3, as mentioned above, the periphery of the shell10is connected to the periphery of the lower shell11in an air-tight manner. The partition50is located between the upper shell10and the lower shell11. The partition50is not in contact with the grids15and16so that the gap17exits between the partition50and the grids15and16. The partition50covers an opening19of the air bag18.

The valve housing41of the distributor valve40is connected to the lower portion of the lower shell11. The conduit43is located in the channel14of the lower shell11.

The ring24is located in the annular recess21. The hooks25into the receptacles46of the valve housing41through the bores23.

The knob31of the switch30is located on the ring24. The arched wall26is located in the arched recess35(FIG.8). The axle32is located in the cylinder42via the orifice22. The cylinder42includes an annular rib47on an internal face. The axle32includes an annular groove37in an external face. The annular rib47is located in the annular groove37to retain the axle32of the switch30in the cylinder42of the distributor valve40.

Referring toFIG.8, the knob31is pivotable by operating the lever34. There are bosses27on the arched wall26. There are dents36in a wall of the arched recess35. The amount of the dents36is larger than the amount of the bosses27. The bosses27are insertable in some of the dents36to keep the switch30in a position R referring toFIG.10, a position M shown inFIG.9or a position L referring toFIG.11. The bosses27are moved from the dents36when the knob31is pivoted.

Referring toFIGS.7,10and11, the operation of the miniature pump will be described. The button64is released to allow the air bag18to expand to suck air into the air bag18.

The button64is pushed to compress the air bag18. The grids15and16render the lower shell11too rigid to be deformed. Thus, travel of the air through the gap17, the bore13and the conduit43remains smooth.

As the air bag18is compressed, the air goes into the check valve53into the passageway54via the inlet55. The air goes from the passageway54through the outlet56. The air goes into the conduit43from the gap17through the bore13.

Referring toFIG.10, the switch30is in the position R, one of the distribution apertures33is in communication with the conduit43and another one of the distribution apertures33is in communication with the distributor pipe45. Then, the air goes into an inflatable portion of a product from the second distributor pipe45.

Referring toFIG.11, the switch30is in the position L, one of the distribution apertures33is in communication with the conduit43and another one of the distribution apertures33is in communication with the distributor pipe44. Then, the air goes into an inflatable portion of a product from the distributor pipe44.

Referring toFIG.9, the switch30is in the position M. The distribution apertures33of the axle32are all closed by the periphery of the cylinder42. The air is not allowed in the miniature pump. Accordingly, the air bag18cannot be compressed.

A release unit70is located in the knob31. Referring toFIG.7, the release unit70includes housing75, a vent71, a button72, a valve73and a spring74. The vent71is made in the housing75. The vent71is in communication with a space (not numbered) in the axle32as the housing75is located in the knob31. The button72is movably located in the vent71. The valve73extends from the button72. The spring74is compressed between the button72and an internal portion of the housing75, thereby lifting the button72to cause the valve73to close the vent71. The button72is pressable to compress the spring74move the valve73from the vent71. Thus, air can leave the inflatable portion of the product through the release unit70of the miniature pump.

The present invention has been described via the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.