PUSH-BUTTON AIR PUMP
A push-button air pump includes a casing, a blower device, and a push button device. A top panel of the casing is formed with a first inflation opening and a first deflation opening. The push button device includes an inflation button and a deflation button. The lower portion of the casing is formed with a second inflation opening and a second deflation opening. The inflation button and the deflation button are adapted to control inflation and deflation. This simplifies the complicated structure of the traditional turn-knob control. The size of the product becomes smaller. The way for inflation and deflation is simple, and the operation is convenient.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air pump, and more particularly to a push-button air pump.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Chinese Patent Publication No. CN2779122Y discloses an electrical inflation and deflation pump for an inflatable article. Its structure comprises an air pump, a panel, a casing, and a pump seat. The air pump comprises a first valve plate, a second valve plate, and a valve plate transmission control device. The inlet of the air pump has an air inlet opening to communicate with the external space and another air inlet opening to communicate with the interior space of the inflatable article. The outlet of the air pump has an air outlet opening to communicate with the external space and another air outlet opening to communicate with the interior space of the inflatable article. The first valve plate is disposed between the two inlet openings of the inlet. The second valve plate is disposed between the two outlet openings of the outlet. The two valve plates are connected through a valve rod and the valve plate transmission control device. The valve plate transmission control device is adapted to control movement of the respective corresponding inlet and outlet openings for the first and second valve plates to open or close the respective corresponding inlet and outlet openings. The valve plate transmission control device is a hand wheel installed on the casing. The hand wheel is connected with a cam.
The conventional air pump uses the hand wheel on the casing to switch the valve plates of the inlet and outlet openings. It has some shortcomings. The structure is complicated. There are many transmission parts to cooperate with the hand wheel, which occupies a lot of space. The production assembly is complex. The seal effect is not god. The hand wheel is turned repeatedly to cause air leakage easily. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary object of the present invention is to provide a push-button air pump instead of a traditional turn-knob inflation and deflation structure. The air pump has a simple structure for inflation and deflation, and can be operated conveniently, and is practical.
In order to achieve the aforesaid object, the push-button air pump of the present invention comprises a casing, a blower device installed in the casing, and a push button device used to control inflation and deflation. A top panel of the casing is formed with a first inflation opening and a first deflation opening. The push button device comprises an inflation button to open or close the first inflation opening and a deflation button to open or close the first deflation opening. The inflation button is movably installed at the first inflation opening. The deflation button is movably installed at the first deflation opening. The lower portion of the casing is formed with a second inflation opening and a second deflation opening. A flow switching device is provided between the second inflation opening and the second deflation opening to partition an inflation passage and a deflation passage. The inflation passage communicates with the first inflation opening and the second inflation opening. The deflation passage communicates with the first deflation opening and the second deflation opening. The flow switching device is located under the deflation button. When the inflation button is pressed, the inflation passage is opened and the blower device is started. When the deflation button is pressed, the flow switching device is triggered to close the inflation passage and open the deflation passage.
Compared to the prior art, the present invention has obvious advantages and beneficial effects. The push-button air pump uses the inflation button and the deflation button to control inflation and deflation. This simplifies the complicated structure of the traditional turn-knob control. When the inflation button is pressed, the inflation passage is opened and the blower device is started. When the deflation button is pressed, the first inflation opening is closed automatically and the flow switching device is triggered to close the inflation passage and open the deflation passage. This design makes the size of the product smaller. The way for inflation and deflation is simple, and the operation is convenient. The flow switching device is driven by the deflation button directly. No matter in inflation state or in deflation state, it is able to dissipate heat for the blower device. The air pump has a simple structure and is practical.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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The inflation button 41 is movably installed at the first inflation opening 11. The inflation button 41 is provided with a first seal ring 411 disposed on a connecting surface of the inflation button 41 relative to the first inflation opening 11. When the inflation button 41 is pressed to open/close the first inflation opening 11, the first seal ring 411 can prevent air leakage. The deflation button 42 is movably installed at the first deflation opening 12. The deflation button 42 is provided with a second seal ring 421 disposed on a connecting surface of the deflation button 42 relative to the first deflation opening 12. Similarly, when the deflation button 42 is pressed to open/close the first deflation opening 12, the second seal ring 421 can prevent air leakage.
The first and second self-locking mechanisms 43, 44 have the same configuration. In this embodiment, the configuration of the first self-locking mechanism 43 is described as an example. The first self-locking mechanism 43 comprises a ratchet-like shaft 431, a spring 432, a support plate 433, and a fluted disc 434. The ratchet-like shaft 431 is integrally formed with the bottom of the inflation button 41. The support plate 433 is fixedly connected to the casing 10. The support plate 433 has two toothed holes 435 thereon. The spring 432 is fitted on the ratchet-like shaft 431 and is connected between the inflation button 411 and the support plate 433.
When the inflation button 41 is pressed to compress the spring 432, the ratchet-like shaft 431 will be driven to move down into the toothed hole 435 to engage with the fluted disc 434. This moment, the inflation button 41 is locked tightly by the first self-locking mechanism 43, and won't bounce automatically so as to open the first inflation opening 11. When it is necessary to close the first inflation opening 11, the inflation button 41 is pressed again so that the ratchet-like shaft 431 disengages from the fluted disc 434 to unlock. Thus, the inflation button 41 disengages from the first self-locking mechanism 43 and the spring 432 is restored, such that the inflation button 41 is returned up to seal the first inflation opening 11. Similarly, when the deflation button 42 is pressed to be locked tightly by the second self-locking mechanism 44, the first deflation opening 12 will be opened. When the deflation button 42 is pressed again to disengage from the second self-locking mechanism 44, the first deflation opening 12 will be closed.
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At least one binding strap 714 is provided in the cord storage space 713. The power cord 23 can be bound and positioned by one or more binding straps 714 as desired. In this embodiment, the number of the binding straps 714 is two. The two binding straps 714 are arranged at two sides of the cord storage space 713. The binding strap 714 is an elastic plastic strap which is connected to the inner side of the top portion 711 of the cord storage bracket 71. Two ends of the binding strap 714 are integrated with the top portion 711 of the cord storage bracket 71, so that the binding strap 714 has an arc shape. After the power cord 23 is coiled, the power cord 23 will be tied tightly by the binding strap 714 like an elastic band.
The cord storage bracket 71 can be made in an oval shape or a round shape. Between the turning portion 712 and the top portion 711 is a curved configuration 715 which is beneficial for the turning portion 712 to be turned up or down. As shown in
Furthermore, the bottom of the connecting member 72 extends out of the lower end of the cord storage space 713. The lowermost end of the connecting member 72 is lower than the lowermost end of the turning portion 712. A distance H is formed between the lowermost end of the connecting member 72 and the lowermost end of the turning portion 712, referring to FIG. 14. Thereby, there is a certain gap for the air flow of inflation or deflation to pass through the surface of the panel 19 at the top of the casing 10.
The working principle of the air pump of the present invention is described as follows:
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The feature of the present invention is that the push-button air pump uses the inflation button 41 and the deflation button 42 to control inflation and deflation. This simplifies the complicated structure of the traditional turn-knob control. The size of the product becomes smaller. The way for inflation and deflation is simple, and the operation is convenient. The flow switching device 30 is driven by the deflation button 42 directly. No matter in inflation state or in deflation state, it is able to dissipate heat for the blower device 20. The air pump has a simple structure and is practical.
The seal rings are provided between the inflation/deflation buttons and the inflation/deflation openings, preventing air leakage and providing a better seal effect when not in inflation/deflation state.
Besides, the cord storage bracket 71 is adapted to cover the power cord 23, so that the appearance of the entire air pump is tidy and the cord storage bracket 71 can accommodate the plug of the power cord 23 effectively to prevent the user from being hurt. In addition, the cord storage bracket 71 can protect the power cord 23 better, having dust-proof and waterproof functions.
Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A push-button air pump comprising a casing, a blower device installed in the casing, and a push button device used to control inflation and deflation, a top panel of the casing being formed with a first inflation opening and a first deflation opening, the push button device comprising an inflation button to open or close the first inflation opening and a deflation button to open or close the first deflation opening, the inflation button being movably installed at the first inflation opening, the deflation button being movably installed at the first deflation opening; a lower portion of the casing being formed with a second inflation opening and a second deflation opening, a flow switching device being provided between the second inflation opening and the second deflation opening to partition an inflation passage and a deflation passage, the inflation passage communicating with the first inflation opening and the second inflation opening, the deflation passage communicating with the first deflation opening and the second deflation opening, the flow switching device being located under the deflation button; wherein when the inflation button is pressed, the inflation passage is opened and the blower device is started; wherein when the deflation button is pressed, the flow switching device is triggered to close the inflation passage and open the deflation passage.
2. The push-button air pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the push button device comprises a first self-locking mechanism disposed under the inflation button, the first self-locking mechanism being adapted to lock the inflation button; the push button device further comprises a second self-locking mechanism disposed the deflation button, the second self-locking mechanism being adapted to lock the deflation button.
3. The push-button air pump as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second self-locking mechanisms each comprise a ratchet-like shaft, a spring, a support plate, and a fluted disc, the ratchet-like shaft being integrally formed with a bottom of the inflation button or the deflation button, the support plate being fixedly connected to the casing, the support plate having two toothed holes thereon, the spring being fitted on the ratchet-like shaft and connected between the inflation button and the support plate, wherein when the inflation button or the deflation button is pressed, the ratchet-like shaft is driven to move down into the toothed hole to engage with the fluted disc.
4. The push-button air pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing has a first room, a second room, and a third room located at a bottom of the casing, an upper end of the first room communicating with the first inflation opening, an upper end of the second room communicating with the first deflation opening, bottoms of the first room and the second room communicating with the third room, the second inflation opening communicating with the third room, the second deflation opening communicating with the first room; the first inflation opening, the first room, the third room, and the second inflation opening communicating with each other sequentially to form the inflation passage; the second deflation opening, the first room, the third room, the second room, and the first deflation opening communicating with each other sequentially to form the deflation passage.
5. The push-button air pump as claimed in claim 4, wherein the blower device is installed in the casing and located at the junction of the inflation passage and the deflation passage; the blower device comprises a motor and an impeller driven by the motor, the motor being installed in the first room, the impeller being installed in the third room.
6. The push-button air pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cord storage device is provided on the top panel of the casing to store a power cord, the cord storage device comprising a cord storage bracket made of a soft plastic material and a connecting member used to install the cord storage bracket on the top panel, the cord storage bracket comprising a top portion, a turning portion which is integrally formed with a circumferential edge of the top portion and can be turned over relative to the top portion, and a cord storage space formed between the turning portion and the top portion.
7. The push-button air pump as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one binding strap is provided in the cord storage space, the binding strap being an elastic plastic strap which is integrated with an inner side of the top portion of the cord storage bracket, two ends of the binding strap being integrated with the top portion of the cord storage bracket.
8. The push-button air pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lower end of the flow switching device is against a return spring, the flow switching device comprising an operation portion, a partition portion, an inflation valve, and a deflation valve, the operation portion being located under the deflation button, the inflation valve corresponding in position to the second inflation opening, the deflation valve corresponding in position to the second deflation opening.
9. The push-button air pump as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflation button is provided with a first seal ring disposed on a connecting surface of the inflation button relative to the first inflation opening; the deflation button is provided with a second seal ring disposed on a connecting surface of the deflation button relative to the first deflation opening.
10. The push-button air pump as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support plate is provided with a switch used to turn on the blower device, the switch comprising a first electrode piece and a second electrode piece to cooperate with each other, one side of the first electrode piece being against a return spring, the inflation button and the deflation button each having a triggering rod extending from the bottom thereof, the first electrode piece being to connect with or disconnect from the second electrode piece along with movement of the triggering rod.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 24, 2014
Publication Date: Oct 29, 2015
Inventor: Anyun SHI (Dongguan City)
Application Number: 14/261,403