Air pump with pressure indication

Abstract

A manually operable pump for cooperation with a container to reduce pressure inside the container; the pump comprising, a cylinder having a lower end for cooperation with the container, a piston movable inside the cylinder, a closure element arranged around a lower end of the piston, wherein the closure element comprises a bottom and a wall surrounding the lower end of the piston, wherein the bottom is adaptable between a rest position wherein a pressure difference over the bottom is lower than a predefined threshold and an indicator position when the pressure difference equals or exceeds the predefined threshold.

1 . A manually operable pump for cooperation with a container to reduce pressure inside the container; the pump comprising:
 a cylinder having a lower end for cooperation with the container;   a piston movable inside the cylinder; and   a closure element arranged around a lower end of the piston, wherein the closure element comprises a bottom and a wall surrounding the lower end of the piston, wherein the bottom is adaptable between a rest position when a pressure difference over the bottom is lower than a predefined threshold and an indicator position when the pressure difference equals or exceeds the predefined threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom is adaptable between the rest position and the indicator position to provide an indication to a user when a predetermined pressure difference between the container and the environment is reached. 
     
     
         3 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the wall of the closure element is adaptable between a sealing position in which it provides for sealing between the piston and the cylinder and a free position allowing for a passage of air between the wall and the cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The pump according to  claim 3 , wherein the wall is in the sealing position when the piston moves upwardly with respect to the cylinder, and wherein the wall is in the free position when the piston moves downwardly with respect to the cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure element is from a resilient material. 
     
     
         6 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the rest position, the bottom is in a concave position,
 and/or wherein in the indicator position, the bottom is in a convex position.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the bottom of the closure element is larger towards the walls than in a center of the bottom, and/or
 wherein the closure element is absent of predefined deformation lines.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall of the closure element is provided with at least one wall connection element for engagement with a corresponding piston connection element. 
     
     
         11 . The pump according to  claim 10 , wherein the wall connection element is provided as an inwardly protruding element, and wherein the piston connection element is configured as a recess, wherein the inwardly protruding wall connection element is configured to fit into the corresponding recess in an outer wall of the piston. 
     
     
         12 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the piston is provided with an outwardly extending skirt, and/or wherein the skirt provides for a wall of the recess. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The pump according to  claim 12 , wherein a thickness of the wall connection element is larger than a distance between the skirt of the piston and an inner wall of the cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . The pump according to  claim 3 , wherein the wall of the closure element comprises an outer flange that is configured to be adaptable between the sealing position and the free position. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump is provided with at least one through hole, providing a fluid connection between an inside of the piston and an environment outside of the piston, and/or
 wherein the at least one through hole is provided at or near an upper end of the pump.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The pump according to claim  18 , further comprising a sound deflector arranged inside of the piston to deflect and/or dampen and/or absorb sound waves generated by the bottom of the closure element; and/or
 wherein a user can partially or fully close the at least one through hole, so as to dampen sound waves generated by the bottom of the closure element and/or so as to receive such sound waves as a tactile stimulus.   
     
     
         20 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder is provided with at least one cooperating element at the lower end thereof, and/or
 wherein the cooperating element is adapted for cooperation with the container.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The pump according to  claim 20 , wherein the cooperating element is provided with a seat which seat is configured for cooperation with the closure element. 
     
     
         23 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure element is a single piece element, manufactured by injection moulding, compression moulding, or 3D-printing. 
     
     
         24 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein a sudden adoption of the closure element from the rest position to the indicator position provides audible, visual, and/or haptic feedback to a user of the pump, and/or
 generates a sound, which provides for an audible feedback to the user indicating that the predefined pressure difference is reached.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the piston has a hollow interior, such that sound waves can move from the closure element towards a head of the pump. 
     
     
         27 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the cylinder is arranged for cooperation with a bottle and/or a stopper inserted in an opening of the container. 
     
     
         28 . A set of the pump according to  claim 1  and a vacuum stopper, wherein the vacuum stopper is provided with a valve and is mountable in an opening of the container, and/or
 multiple closure elements, each closure element having a different predetermined pressure difference threshold value. 
 
     
     
         29 . (canceled)