Portable hand operated fluid pump

Abstract

A hand-held and hand-operated fluid pump capable of inflating recreational equipment, as well as directing a stream of air to clean delicate electronics or hard to reach locations, is provided. The simple design of the inventive fluid pump permits it to be equally useful for creating fluid streams to dislodge foreign particles stuck in difficult to reach areas, such as corners and enclosed pipe structures. Because the inventive pump uses only human energy to transmit fluids or gases, it is ecologically efficient exemplifying a “green technology” design.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hand-held and manually-operated multipurpose fluid pump for forcing fluids into and drawing fluids out of containers, comprising: 
 a squeezable bladder having a unidirectional intake valve and a unidirectional exhaust valve.    
     
     
         2 . The hand-held and manually-operated fluid pump of    claim 1   , further comprising flexible tubing attachable to the exhaust valve to direct the exhausting fluid stream.  
     
     
         3 . The hand-held and manually-operated fluid pump of    claim 1   , further comprising flexible tubing attachable to the intake valve to permit remote selection of the fluid source to be drawn into the bladder.  
     
     
         4 . The hand-held and manually-operated fluid pump of    claim 2   , further comprising a connector attached to the free end of the flexible tubing; and a nozzle attached to said connector; said nozzle having a body with a plurality of holes therein.  
     
     
         5 . The hand-held and manually-operated fluid pump of    claim 2   , further comprising a connector attached to the free end of the flexible tubing; and a pin attached to said connector; said pin being used to inflate recreational equipment.  
     
     
         6 . The hand-held and manually-operated fluid pump of    claim 2   , further comprising a connector attached to the free end of the flexible tubing; and a nozzle attached to said connector; said nozzle having a single hole therein to create a narrow fluid stream.  
     
     
         7 . The hand-held and manually-operated fluid pump of    claim 6   , wherein the nozzle attached to the connector comprises means to adjust the shape of the fluid stream exiting the nozzle.  
     
     
         8 . The hand-held and manually-operated fluid pump of    claim 6   , wherein the nozzle is made of a non-electrically conducting material.  
     
     
         9 . The hand-held and manually-operated fluid pump of    claim 1   , wherein all components are constructed of non-corrosive materials.  
     
     
         10 . The hand-held and manually-operated fluid pump of    claim 1   , wherein each of the rigid valving components are constructed of a stainless steel alloy.  
     
     
         11 . The hand-held and manually-operated fluid pump of    claim 2   , further comprising a connector attached to the free end of the flexible tubing; and a controllable release valve coupled between the bladder exhaust valve and said connector.  
     
     
         12 . The hand-held and manually-operated fluid pump of    claim 2   , further comprising a connector attached to the free end of the flexible tubing; and a pressure gauge coupled between the bladder exhaust valve and said connector.  
     
     
         13 . A hand-held and hand-operated air pump for inflating recreational equipment and related air inflatable objects, comprising: 
 a squeezable bladder having an intake orifice and exhaust orifice such that air may be forced out of the bladder through the exhaust orifice by squeezing the bladder, and thereafter may be drawn into the bladder through the intake orifice upon release of the bladder;    flexible tubing coupled to the bladder exhaust orifice;    a connector attached to the end of the flexible tubing; and    means, attached to the connector, for transmitting the air forced from the bladder through the flexible tubing into the object to be inflated without loss of air pressure through the connection.    
     
     
         14 . The hand-held and hand-operated air pump of    claim 13   , wherein the air transmission means is a pin used to inflate sports balls.  
     
     
         15 . The hand-held and hand-operated air pump of    claim 13   , wherein the air transmission means is a screw-type valve used to inflate pneumatic tires.  
     
     
         16 . The hand-held and hand-operated air pump of    claim 13   , wherein the air transmission means is a press fit type valve used to inflate pneumatic tires.  
     
     
         17 . The hand-held and hand-operated air pump of    claim 13   , further comprising an air release valve coupled between the bladder exhaust orifice and the air transmission means to controllably release air from within the inflated object.  
     
     
         18 . The hand-held and hand-operated air pump of    claim 17   , wherein the air release valve is a turn screw mechanism.  
     
     
         19 . The hand-held and hand-operated air pump of    claim 17   , wherein the air release valve is a push button mechanism.  
     
     
         20 . The hand-held and hand-operated air pump of    claim 13   , further comprising an air pressure gauge coupled between the bladder exhaust orifice and the air transmission means to measure the air pressure within the object being inflated.  
     
     
         21 . A hand-held and hand-operated air pump for inflating recreational equipment and related air inflatable objects, comprising: 
 a squeezable bladder having an intake orifice and exhaust orifice such that air may be drawn into the bladder through the intake orifice and forced out of the bladder through the exhaust orifice;    a release valve attached to the bladder exhaust orifice for controllably releasing air pressure from within the inflatable object;    flexible tubing detachably connected to the release valve; and    a pressure gauge communicating with the object being inflated to measure the air pressure within the object.