Portable air pump apparatus and method

Abstract

A portable air pump apparatus and method that includes an elongated elongated cylinder portion having a first air channel for transporting compressed air, and an air discharge portion having a connection head, a finger or thumb grip portion, a rotatable thumb-lock lever, and a second air channel extending vertically therethrough the air discharge portion and engagable with an inflation valve of an inflatable object. The second air channel is in communication with the first air channel of the elongated cylinder portion. The rotatable thumb-lock may be rotated within a predetermined range of movement defined substantially by a non-engaged position and an engaged position. The portable air pump is configured such that a user may grasp the air discharge portion with a single hand using the finger or thumb grip portion to place the connection head over an inflation valve of the inflatable object and to use one or more fingers to move the rotatable thumb-lock lever from the non-engaged position to the engaged position, thereby enabling air to flow into the inflatable object from the air pump apparatus without significant air loss.

1 . A portable air pump apparatus, comprising:
 an elongated cylinder portion having a first air channel for transporting compressed air; and   an air discharge portion having a connection head, a finger or thumb grip portion, a rotatable thumb-lock lever, and a second air channel extending vertically therethrough the air discharge portion and engagable with an inflation valve of an inflatable object, the second air channel in communication with the first air channel of the elongated cylinder portion, wherein the rotatable thumb-lock may be rotated within a predetermined range of movement defined substantially by a non-engaged position and an engaged position, and wherein the portable air pump is configured such that a user may grasp the air discharge portion with a single hand using the ergonomic finger or thumb grip portion to place the connection head over an inflation valve of the inflatable object and to use one or more fingers to move the rotatable thumb-lock lever from the non-engaged position to the engaged position, thereby enabling air to flow into the inflatable object from the air pump apparatus without significant air loss.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable object comprises a tire. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable object comprises a floatation device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the finger or thumb grip portion comprises a winged finger or thumb grip portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable thumb-lock lever extends outward from the air discharge portion horizontally in the non-engaged position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable thumb-lock lever extends outward from the air discharge portion vertically in the non-engaged position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable thumb-lock lever includes at least one selected from group one consisting of a curved portion, a ribbed grip portion, and an extended side portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the portable air pump comprises a bicycle air pump. 
     
     
         9 . A portable air pump apparatus, comprising:
 a hose having a first air channel for transporting compressed air from an external pump; and   an air discharge portion having a connection head, a finger or thumb grip portion, a rotatable thumb-lock lever, and a second air channel engagable with an inflation valve of an inflatable object, the second air channel being in communication with the first air channel of the elongated cylinder portion, wherein the rotatable thumb-tock may be rotated within a predetermined range of movement defined substantially by a non-engaged position and an engaged position, and wherein the portable air pump is configured such that a user may grasp the air discharge portion with a single hand using the finger or thumb grip portion to place the connection head over an inflation valve of the inflatable object and to use one or more fingers to move the rotatable thumb-lock lever from the non-engaged position to the engaged position, thereby enabling air to flow into the inflatable object from the air pump apparatus without significant air loss.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the inflatable object comprises a tire. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the inflatable object comprises a floatation device. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the rotatable thumb-lock lever extends outward from the air discharge portion horizontally in the non-engaged position. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the rotatable thumb-lock lever extends outward from the air discharge portion vertically in the non-engaged position 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the portable air pump comprises a bicycle air pump. 
     
     
         15 . A method for operably connecting a portable air pump apparatus to an inflation valve of an inflatable object, the method comprising:
 grasping, by a user, a portable air pump apparatus, wherein the portable air pump apparatus comprises an elongated cylinder portion having a first air channel for transporting compressed air, and an air discharge portion having a connection head, a finger or thumb grip portion, a rotatable thumb-lock lever, and a second air channel extending vertically therethrough the air discharge portion and engagable with an inflation valve of an inflatable object, the second air channel being in communication with the first air channel of the elongated cylinder portion, wherein the rotatable thumb-lock may be rotated within a predetermined range of movement defined substantially by a non-engaged position and an engaged position, and wherein a user grasps the portable air pump apparatus at the air discharge portion with a single hand using the finger or thumb grip portion;   placing, by a user, the connection head over an inflation valve of the inflatable object using a single hand; and   moving, by a user, the rotatable thumb-lock lever, using one or more fingers, from the non-engaged position to the engaged position using a single hand, thereby enabling air to flow into the inflatable object from the air pump apparatus without significant air loss.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the inflatable object comprises a tire. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the inflatable object comprises a floatation device.