Built-in pump for an airbed with a single valve

Abstract

A built-in pump ( 20 ) for an airbed (A). A single mechanical control ( 26 ) turns on and off operation of a fan motor ( 32 ), opens a single valve ( 68 ) used with the pump, and selects whether a fan ( 52 ) connected to the fan motor ( 32 ) is blowing air into the airbed (A) or is sucking air out of the airbed through the valve. The single valve ( 68 ) is mounted on the side of the housing ( 22 ) for the pump ( 20 ). This feature permits the airbed (A) to be folded against the back of the housing ( 22 ), allowing more efficient folding and storage.

1 . An airbed, comprising:
 an opening in a side of the airbed;   a receptacle received in the opening, the receptacle defining a receptacle opening for receiving a pump, a back wall opposite the opening, and a sidewall between the opening and the back wall;   a pump mounted in the receptacle; and   a valve mounted on the sidewall of the receptacle, the valve opening and closing a flow of air between the pump and the airbed.   
   
   
       2 . The airbed of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall comprises:
 a top wall extending between the back wall and the receptacle opening;   a bottom wall extending between the back wall and the receptacle opening; and   two sides on opposite ends of the receptacle, with the two side extending between the back wall and the receptacle opening and the top wall and the bottom wall; and   wherein the valve is mounted in one of the two sides.   
   
   
       3 . The airbed of  claim 2 , wherein the valve is the one and only valve for the pump. 
   
   
       4 . The airbed of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is the one and only valve for the pump. 
   
   
       5 . An airbed, comprising:
 a receptacle mounted in the airbed;   a built-in pump mounted in the receptacle, the built-in pump comprising:
 one and only one single direction motor; 
 a fan connected to the motor; 
 a valve for opening a passage from the receptacle into the airbed; 
 a fan routing system that, in a inlet configuration, directs air blown by the fan into the airbed through the valve, and in an outlet configuration directs air blown by the fan out of the airbed through the valve; 
 a control, the movement of which is mechanically linked to movement of the fan routing system between the inlet configuration and the outlet configuration. 
   
   
   
       6 . The airbed of  claim 5 , wherein operation of the control turns on and off the motor. 
   
   
       7 . The airbed of  claim 6 , wherein movement of the control is mechanically linked to opening of the valve. 
   
   
       8 . The airbed of  claim 5 , wherein movement of the control is mechanically linked to opening of the valve. 
   
   
       9 . The airbed of  claim 5 , wherein the fan routing system comprises a fan housing in which the fan is mounted. 
   
   
       10 . The airbed of  claim 9 , wherein the fan housing comprises a motor mounting on which the motor is mounted. 
   
   
       11 . The airbed of  claim 10 , wherein the motor and the fan housing are mounted for rotation about an axis, and wherein rotation about the axis causes the fan routing system to move between the inlet configuration and the outlet configuration. 
   
   
       12 . The airbed of  claim 11 , wherein the fan housing comprises a cam for engaging and moving the valve to an open position upon rotation of the fan housing. 
   
   
       13 . The airbed of  claim 11 , wherein the fan housing and motor are substantially weight balanced about the axis. 
   
   
       14 . An airbed, comprising:
 a receptacle mounted in the airbed;   a built-in pump mounted in the receptacle, the built-in pump comprising:
 one and only one single direction motor; 
 a fan connected to the motor; 
 one and only one valve for opening a passage from the receptacle into the airbed; and 
 a fan routing system that, in a inlet configuration, directs air blown by the fan into the airbed through the valve, and in an outlet configuration directs air blown by the fan out of the airbed through the valve. 
   
   
   
       15 . The airbed of  claim 14 , further comprising a control, the movement of which is mechanically linked to movement of the fan routing system between the inlet configuration and the outlet configuration. 
   
   
       16 . The airbed of  claim 15 , wherein operation of the control turns on and off the motor. 
   
   
       17 . The airbed of  claim 16 , wherein movement of the control is mechanically linked to opening of the valve. 
   
   
       18 . The airbed of  claim 15 , wherein movement of the control is mechanically linked to opening of the valve. 
   
   
       19 . The airbed of  claim 15 , wherein the fan routing system comprises a fan housing in which the fan is mounted. 
   
   
       20 . The airbed of  claim 19 , wherein the fan housing comprises a motor mounting on which the motor is mounted. 
   
   
       21 . The airbed of  claim 20 , wherein the motor and the fan housing are mounted for rotation about an axis, and wherein rotation about the axis causes the fan routing system to move between the inlet configuration and the outlet configuration. 
   
   
       22 . The airbed of  claim 21 , wherein the fan housing comprises a cam for engaging and moving the valve to an open position upon rotation of the fan housing. 
   
   
       23 . The airbed of  claim 21 , wherein the fan housing and motor are substantially weight balanced about the axis.