Compressible air pump

Abstract

A compressible air pump comprises a flexible pump body defining an interior volume. The compressible air pump defines at least one entry opening having a corresponding one-way valve configured to permit air to enter the interior volume of the pump body and an exit opening configured to direct air out of the pump body. The compressible air pump is biased by to an inflated or expanded configuration by a biasing member secured to sidewalls of the pump body. Upon compressing the pump body, the one-way valves associated with the entry opening seals, the air pressure within the pump body increases, and air is directed at an increased pressure out of the exit opening.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A manually actuated air pump comprising:
 a flexible pump body defined by a plurality of flexible walls comprising one or more sidewalls extending between a top wall and a bottom wall, the flexible walls defining an interior volume;   at least one one-way valve defined in the top wall and configured to permit air to enter the interior volume through an entry opening;   at least one exit opening extending through one of the one or more sidewalls and configured to direct air out of the flexible pump body; and   a coiled spring secured to the one or more sidewalls between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the coiled spring is configured to bias the flexible pump body to an inflated configuration in which the interior volume is filled with air and to be compressed into a compressed configuration in which the interior volume is reduced;   wherein the air pump is configured such that compressing the flexible pump body causes the air within the interior volume of the pump body to be directed out of the at least one exit opening, and expansion of the pump body from the compressed configuration to the inflated configuration causes air to flow through the one-way valve and inflate the interior volume.   
     
     
         2 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more flexible walls are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: a film, a cloth, and a laminated cloth. 
     
     
         3 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pump body is tapered such that the coiled spring coils with a decreasing radius along the length of the coiled spring. 
     
     
         4 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the exit opening is defined by a flexible hose configured to direct air away from the flexible pump body. 
     
     
         5 . The air pump of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible hose comprises an exit opening configured to engage an air valve of an inflatable object to direct air through the air valve and into the inflatable object. 
     
     
         6 . The air pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a restraint fastener configured to selectively secure the flexible pump body in the compressed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible pump body is cylindrical. 
     
     
         8 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the top wall of the flexible pump body is removable to provide access to the interior of the flexible pump body. 
     
     
         9 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the one-way valve comprises two opposing flexible flaps secured on opposing sides of the entry opening, and wherein the opposing flexible flaps are configured to adhere to one another to seal the one way valve while the flexible pump body is being compressed. 
     
     
         10 . The air pump of  claim 9 , wherein the two opposing flexible flaps are secured to one another to form a collapsible air conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the coiled spring extends around the perimeter of the flexible pump body between the top wall and the bottom wall. 
     
     
         12 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the entry opening of the at least one one-way valve defines an area that is greater than or equal to 10% of the total area of the top wall.