An air pump with an electromechanical switch assembly

Abstract

An air pump for an inflatable product having an inflatable chamber may include an air pump assembly, a pressure valve assembly, an inflation-and-deflation switch assembly, and a linkage assembly. The pressure valve assembly may detect a pressure inside the inflatable chamber of the inflatable product. Once a pressure threshold is reached, the pressure valve assembly may activate the linkage assembly, which may then cause the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly to deactivate the air pump assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air pump for an inflatable product having an inflatable chamber, the air pump comprising:
 a body,   a panel,   an inflation-and-deflation switch assembly, and   an air pump assembly, the body is provided with an inflation-and-deflation port, the panel is provided with an air inlet-and-outlet port;   the panel is coupled to the body, the panel and the body cooperate to form a body chamber,   the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly is arranged in the body chamber and selectively opens or closes the inflation-and-deflation port;   the air pump assembly is arranged in the body chamber and cooperates with the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly;   wherein the body is further provided with a pressure-sensing port;   the air pump further comprises a pressure valve assembly and a linkage assembly arranged in the body chamber;   the pressure valve assembly comprises a pressure valve body, a pressure valve plate, a pressure ejector rod, and a pressure spring, and a valve chamber in communication with the pressure-sensing port is formed in the pressure valve body;   the pressure valve plate is arranged in the valve chamber, a lower end face of the pressure valve plate faces the pressure-sensing port, and an upper end face of the pressure valve plate is coupled to the pressure ejector rod;   the pressure spring is located in the valve chamber and is arranged on the pressure ejector rod;   the pressure ejector rod is movably arranged in the valve chamber, and cooperates with the linkage assembly to activate the linkage assembly when the pressure ejector rod moves within the valve chamber;   the linkage assembly is operatively coupled to the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly;   when the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly opens the inflation-and-deflation port, the linkage assembly is locked with the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly; and   when the pressure ejector rod activates the linkage assembly, the linkage assembly and the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly are unlocked.   
     
     
         2 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises an air pressure microswitch, a pin, a pin spring, a reversing motor and a cam, the air pressure microswitch is arranged on the pressure valve body and cooperates with the pressure ejector rod, the air pressure microswitch is connected with the reversing motor; the cam is operatively coupled to the output shaft of the reversing motor and operatively coupled to the pin; a first end of the pin is arranged with the pin spring, and a second end of the pin is provided with a locking part for locking the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The air pump of  claim 2 , wherein the pin is provided with a shoulder, when the cam rotates, the cam pushes the pin to move by pushing the shoulder, and the locking part of the pin and the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly unlock. 
     
     
         4 . The air pump of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure ejector rod is provided with a linkage arm that engages the air pressure microswitch, the linkage arm is provided with an upper tab and a lower tab; when the pin is locked with the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly, the air pressure microswitch is arranged between the upper tab and the lower tab; and when the pin is unlocked from the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly, the upper tab or the lower tab contacts the air pressure microswitch. 
     
     
         5 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure valve assembly further comprises a pressure regulating handwheel and a pressure regulating gear, the pressure regulating handwheel is rotatably arranged on the panel, the pressure regulating handwheel is operatively coupled to the pressure regulating gear, the pressure regulating gear is threadably coupled to the pressure valve body, and is operatively coupled to the pressure spring. 
     
     
         6 . The air pump of  claim 2 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly comprises a handwheel, a transmission rod, a bidirectional torsion spring, a transmission gear, an impeller, and a rack operatively coupled to the transmission rod; the handwheel is rotatably disposed in the air inlet-and-outlet port of the panel; an upper end of the transmission rod is operatively coupled with the handwheel, and a lower end is operatively coupled with the transmission gear, and the locking part of the pin and the transmission rod are selectively engaged; the bidirectional torsion spring having a pair of ends is arranged on the transmission rod, and both ends of the torsion spring are connected in the body; the rack selectively communicates with the air inlet or air outlet of the air pump assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The air pump of  claim 6 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly further comprises a transmission rod fastener, and the transmission rod is rotatably disposed in the transmission rod fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The air pump of  claim 2 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly comprises a handwheel, a transmission rod, a first rotary disc, a bidirectional torsion spring having a pair of ends, a second rotary disc, an ejector rod, and an ejector rod spring; the handwheel is rotatably disposed on the panel, the transmission rod is selectively engaged with the locking part of the pin, and an upper end of the transmission rod is operatively coupled to the handwheel, a lower end is operatively coupled to the first rotary disc; the first rotary disc is operatively coupled to the second rotary disc, and the second rotary disc communicates the inflation-and-deflation port with the air inlet and the air outlet; the bidirectional torsion spring is arranged on the first rotary disc or the transmission rod, and its two ends are connected in the body; a lower end face of the first rotary disc is provided with a groove, and the ejector rod is operatively coupled under the first rotary disc and selectively falls into the groove, and the ejector rod spring is disposed on the ejector rod. 
     
     
         9 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the air pump assembly comprises a motor, a pump body, an impeller, a pump cover, and a microswitch, the pump body is coupled to the pump cover and forms a pump chamber, and the pump cover is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet; the motor is arranged above the pump body, the impeller is arranged in the pump chamber and operatively coupled to the motor, the microswitch is arranged on the pump cover, and cooperates with the switch assembly for activating or deactivating the motor. 
     
     
         10 . An air pump for an inflatable product having an inflatable chamber, the air pump comprising:
 a body comprising an inflation-and-deflation port in communication with the inflatable chamber and a pressure-sensing port in communication with the inflatable chamber;   a panel coupled to the body and comprising an air inlet-and-outlet port in selective communication with the inflation-and-deflation port, the panel and the body defining a body chamber;   an air pump assembly arranged within the body chamber and comprising a pump motor, a pump body, a pump cover having an inlet and an outlet, the pump body and the pump cover defining a pump chamber, the inlet and the outlet of the pump cover in communication with the pump chamber, and an impeller disposed within the pump chamber and operatively coupled to the pump motor;   a pressure valve assembly arranged within the body chamber and comprising a pressure valve body including a duct in communication with the pressure-sensing port of the body, a pressure valve plate movably positioned within the pressure valve body in a first direction and a second direction, the pressure valve plate having a first side and a second side, the first side facing the pressure-sensing port, and a pressure ejector rod coupled to the second side of the pressure valve plate, the pressure ejector rod movable with the pressure valve plate in the first direction and the second direction;   an inflation-and-deflation switch assembly configured to selectively place the inlet and outlet of the pump cover in communication with the inflation-and-deflation port of the body and comprising a user actuatable controller rotatably disposed on the panel, and a transmission rod operatively coupled to the user actuatable controller for rotation therewith, the transmission rod comprising a first locking surface and a second locking surface; and   a linkage assembly operatively coupled to the pressure valve assembly and the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly, the linkage assembly selectively activated by the pressure ejector rod and comprising a lock configured to selectively engage the first locking surface of the transmission rod when the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly is in a first position or the second locking surface of the transmission rod when the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly is in a second position, and a cam configured to selectively disengage the lock from the first locking surface or the second locking surface,   wherein movement of the pressure valve plate in the first direction or the second direction causes the pressure ejector rod to activate the linkage assembly to disengage the lock from the first locking surface or the second locking surface of the transmission rod.   
     
     
         11 . The air pump of  claim 10 , wherein pressure valve assembly further comprises a pressure spring sleeved on the pressure ejector rod. 
     
     
         12 . The air pump of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure valve assembly further comprises a second user actuatable controller rotatably disposed on the panel and operatively coupled to the pressure spring, and wherein rotation of the second user actuatable controller manipulates the pressure spring to set a pressure threshold for the pressure valve assembly, the pressure ejector rod activating the linkage assembly when a pressure in the inflatable chamber reaches the pressure threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The air pump of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure valve assembly further comprises a pressure regulating gear rotatably disposed in the valve body and between the second user actuatable controller and the pressure spring, the pressure regulating gear operatively coupling the second user actuatable controller to the pressure spring 
     
     
         14 . The air pump of  claim 10 , wherein the linkage assembly further comprises a cam motor comprising an output shaft operatively coupled to the cam and a switch configured to selectively activate the cam motor, and wherein movement of the pressure ejector rod in the first direction or the second direction activates the switch of the linkage assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The air pump of  claim 10 , wherein the lock of the linkage assembly comprises a spring pin and a spring sleeved on the spring pin, the spring pin having a locking end and a shoulder, the locking end selectively engaging with the first locking surface or the second locking surface of the transmission rod to prevent rotation of the transmission rod, the cam selectively engaging the shoulder of the spring pin to disengage the locking end from the first locking surface or the second locking surface of the transmission rod to permit rotation of the transmission rod. 
     
     
         16 . The air pump of  claim 10 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly further comprises a torsion spring operatively coupled to transmission rod, the torsion spring accumulating a restoring force when inflation-and-deflation switch assembly is in the first position or the second position and configured to bias the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly to a third position when the lock of the linkage assembly disengages from the first locking surface of the transmission rod or the second locking surface of the transmission rod. 
     
     
         17 . The air pump of  claim 16 , wherein, when the pressure ejector rod activates the linkage assembly, the transmission rod rotates to the third position under the restoring force of the torsion spring. 
     
     
         18 . The air pump of  claim 16 , wherein the transmission rod further comprises a groove, the groove receiving the pressure ejector rod when the transmission rod is in the third position. 
     
     
         19 . The air pump of  claim 10 , wherein the transmission rod comprises a first end and a second end, the transmission rod is operatively coupled to the user actuatable controller at the first end, and the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly further comprises a transmission gear operatively coupled to the transmission rod at the second end for rotation therewith. 
     
     
         20 . The air pump of  claim 19 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly further comprises slider positioned between the pump cover and the inflation-and-deflation port of the body, the slider comprising a rack operatively coupled to the transmission gear such that rotation of the transmission gear causes the slider to translate relative to the inflation-and-deflation port. 
     
     
         21 . The air pump of  claim 20 , wherein the inlet of the pump cover communicates with the inflation-and-deflation port through the slider. 
     
     
         22 . The air pump of  claim 19 , wherein the slider includes a first conduit, a second conduit, and a baffle between the first conduit and the second conduit. 
     
     
         23 . The air pump of  claim 22 , wherein the slider is translatable to a first position wherein the first conduit is in communication with the inlet-and-outlet port of the panel and the air inlet of the pump cover, and the second conduit is in communication with the air outlet of the pump cover and the inflation-and-deflation port of the body. 
     
     
         24 . The air pump of  claim 22 , wherein the slider is translatable to a second position wherein the first conduit is in communication with the air inlet of the pump cover and the inflation-and-deflation port of the body, and the air outlet of the pump cover is in communication with the inlet-and-outlet port of the panel. 
     
     
         25 . The air pump of  claim 22 , wherein the slider is translatable to a third position wherein the baffle seals the inflation-and-deflation port of the body. 
     
     
         26 . The air pump of  claim 10 , wherein the air pump assembly further comprises a selectively actuatable switch configured to activate and deactivate the pump motor, and the transmission rod comprises an arcuate surface configured to selectively actuate the switch when the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly is in the first position or the second position. 
     
     
         27 . The air pump of  claim 10 , wherein the transmission rod comprises a first end and a second end, the transmission rod is operatively coupled to the user actuatable controller at the first end, and the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly further comprises a first rotary disc operatively coupled to the second end of the transmission rod for rotation therewith. 
     
     
         28 . The air pump of  claim 27 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly further comprises a second rotary disc operatively coupled to the first rotary disc and comprising a first conduit and a second conduit therethrough for selectively communicating with the inlet of the pump cover and the outlet of the pump cover. 
     
     
         29 . The air pump of  claim 27 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly further comprises a valve configured to open and close the inflation-and-deflation port of the body, the valve comprising a valve stem and a spring sleeved on the valve stem. 
     
     
         30 . The air pump of  claim 29 , wherein the first rotary disc comprises a first side and a second, the second side facing the inflation-and-deflation port of the body, and a groove disposed on the second side. 
     
     
         31 . The air pump of  claim 30 , wherein the valve is selectively received within the groove such that rotation of the first rotary disc causes linear movement of the valve relative to the inflation-and-deflation port of the body to open or close the inflation-and-deflation port. 
     
     
         32 . An air pump for an inflatable product having an inflatable chamber, the air pump comprising:
 a body comprising an inflation-and-deflation port in communication with the inflatable chamber and a pressure-sensing port in communication with the inflatable chamber;   a panel coupled to the body and comprising an air inlet-and-outlet port in selective communication with the inflation-and-deflation port, the panel and the body defining a body chamber, the air inlet-and-outlet port in fluid communication with an environment outside of the body chamber;   an air pump assembly arranged within the body chamber and comprising a pump motor, an impeller operatively coupled to the pump motor, a pump body, a pump cover coupled to the pump body, the air pump assembly having an inlet and an outlet a pressure valve assembly comprising a pressure valve plate having a first side in fluid in communication with the pressure-sensing port and a second side in fluid communication with the environment, and an actuator movable by the pressure valve plate from a first position to a second position;   an inflation-and-deflation switch assembly operatively coupled to the air pump assembly and the pressure valve assembly, the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly having a first position and a second position, the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly comprising a user actuatable controller disposed on the panel, a first stop, and a second stop; and   a linkage assembly operatively coupled to the pressure valve assembly and the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly, the linkage assembly selectively activated by the actuator and comprising a lock configured to selectively engage the first stop of the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly when the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly is in the first position or the second stop of the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly when the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly is in the second position,   wherein, when the actuator moves from the first position to the second position, the actuator activates the linkage assembly, and the linkage assembly disengages the lock of the linkage assembly from the first stop or the second stop of the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly.   
     
     
         33 . The air pump of  claim 32 , wherein the user actuatable controller is rotatably disposed on the panel. 
     
     
         34 . The air pump of  claim 33 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly further comprises a transmission rod operatively coupled to the user actuatable controller for rotation therewith. 
     
     
         35 . The air pump of  claim 34 , wherein the first stop and the second stop are disposed on the transmission rod of the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly. 
     
     
         36 . The air pump of  claim 32 , wherein the inlet and outlet of the pump assembly are formed in the pump cover. 
     
     
         37 . The air pump of  claim 32 , wherein the actuator of the pressure valve assembly comprises a pressure ejector rod. 
     
     
         38 . The air pump of  claim 37 , wherein the pressure valve assembly further comprises a spring sleeved on the pressure ejector rod. 
     
     
         39 . The air pump of  claim 37 , wherein the pressure ejector rod further comprises an upper tab and a lower tab, the upper tab or the lower tab engaging the linkage assembly when the actuator moves from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         40 . The air pump of  claim 32 , wherein, when the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly is in the first position, the air pump assembly provides fluid to the inflation-and-deflation port of the body 
     
     
         41 . The air pump of  claim 32 , wherein, when the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly is in the second position, the air pump assembly receives fluid from the inflation-and-deflation port of the body. 
     
     
         42 . The air pump of  claim 32 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation switch assembly has a third position wherein the inflation-and-deflation port of the body is sealed relative to the inlet-and-outlet port of the panel. 
     
     
         43 . The air pump of  claim 32 , wherein the second side of the pressure valve plate is in communication with the environment through the body chamber.