Air Pump Usable for Inflating Object Rapidly

Abstract

An air pump defines first and second ends and includes a tube, a tappet assembly movably connected to the tube, a connector joined to the tube and disposed at the second end of the air pump, and a nozzle head to which an object to be inflated by the air pump is engaged is disposed at the first end of the air pump. Moreover, the air pump is operable in a first mode where a gas cartridge is engaged with the connector and the object is inflated by the gas cartridge rapidly. Also, the air pump is operable in a second mode where the tube and the tappet are moved relatively for pumping air into the object. Additionally, the gas cartridge is useable as a handle gripped for causing the tube to move with respect to the tappet assembly.

1 . An air pump defines first and second ends, comprising:
 a tube;   a tappet assembly movably connected to the tube;   a connector joined to the tube and disposed at the second end of the air pump, and the connector defining a receiving section and including a valve stem disposed in the receptacle, with the valve stem defining a poking end;   a nozzle head to which an object to be inflated by the air pump is engaged is disposed at the first end of the air pump; and   wherein the air pump defines a longitudinal length between the first and second ends;   wherein the air pump is operable in a first mode where a gas cartridge is engaged with the connector and the object is inflated by the gas cartridge rapidly, with an outlet of the gas cartridge opened by the poking end, with air discharged from the gas cartridge flowing in the tube, the tappet assembly, and the connector and existing from the nozzle head into the object; and   wherein the air pump is operable in a second mode where the tube and the tappet are moved relatively for pumping air into the object; and   wherein the gas cartridge is selectively engaged with the air pump which operates in the second mode, with the gas cartridge useable as a handle gripped for causing the tube to move with respect to the tappet assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connector defines a longitudinal length between first and second ends thereof, with the receiving section extending from the first end, and the connector includes a receptacle extending from the receiving section, and a passage extending from the receptacle, and outlet of the gas cartridge is engaged with the receiving section for connecting e to the connector. 
     
     
         3 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a conduit connecting the nozzle head and the tappet assembly, with the conduit being flexible and resilient. 
     
     
         4 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tappet assembly includes a hollow plunger movably received within the tube, and a piston joined at an end of the plunger and inserted into and restrained within the tube, and includes a channel defined therein. 
     
     
         5 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the channel of the piston is of a diametrical size relatively smaller than a diametrical size of the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 4  further comprising a conduit connecting the nozzle head and the plunger of the tappet assembly, with the conduit being flexible and resilient. 
     
     
         7 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising a conduit connecting the nozzle head and the plunger of the tappet assembly, with the conduit being flexible and resilient. 
     
     
         8 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the connector includes an anti-reverse flow mechanism disposed on an outer periphery thereof and within the tube and being closer to the second end of the connector than the passage for preventing air from flowing back to the passage. 
     
     
         9 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tappet assembly includes a plunger including a hollow inner plunger body and a hollow outer plunger body, with the inner plunger body movably received in the outer plunger body, with the tube and the inner plunger body moved together with respect to the second inner plunger body when the air pump is operated in the second mode. 
     
     
         10 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising an anti-reverse flow mechanism disposed in the inner plunger body for preventing air from flowing back to the inner plunger body.