Pump Apparatus and Associated System and Method

• US 20170049648A1
• Filed: 07/25/2016
• Published: 02/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sage Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sage Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Kennedy, Jeffrey A., Alvarez, Ryan A., Davis, Gregory T., Ecklund, Brian J., Golden, Craig S., Hollabaugh, Curtis L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,905,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/00 Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes suction devices for removing ash F23J1/02; Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/001 with means for turning-over the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05761 where patient is supported on a free, unbounded, film or cushion of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05776 with at least two groups of alternately inflated chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1073 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/00 Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation connecting metal parts or objects by metal-working procedures B21J, B23K; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes hand tools in general B25
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/118 having arrangements for particular purposes, e.g. electrically conducting

Abstract

A pumping apparatus includes a pump configured for moving air, a housing supporting and at least partially containing the pump, and an air output that includes a hose having a first end connected to the housing and in communication with the pump, such that the pump is configured to move air through the hose, and a second end configured for allowing air to exit the hose, wherein the hose has a length defined between the first and second ends. A switch is mounted on the hose and located along the length of the hose, and the switch is configured for controlling operation of the pump. The switch is located a distance from the second end of the hose that is less than 50% of the length of the hose.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a pump configured for moving air;

a housing supporting and at least partially containing the pump; and

an air output comprising a hose having a first end connected to the housing and in communication with the pump, such that the pump is configured to move air through the hose, and a second end configured for allowing air to exit the hose, wherein the hose has a length defined between the first and second ends; and

a switch mounted on the hose and located along the length of the hose, wherein the switch is configured for controlling operation of the pump, wherein the switch is located a distance from the second end of the hose that is less than 50% of the length of the hose.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distance from the second end of the hose is less than 25% of the length of the hose.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distance from the second end of the hose is less than 12 inches.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a casing connected to the hose and supporting the switch.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the casing includes a lip surrounding the switch, wherein a top of the switch is recessed from a top of the lip.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the lip has a recess on one side that is recessed with respect to adjacent portions of the top of the lip.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the switch is recessed at least 5 mm from the top of the lip.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the entire casing is located less than 50% of the length of the hose away from the second end.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the casing is located less than 50% of the length of the hose away from the second end.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the casing defines a passage with opposed ends, and wherein the hose is in communication with the passage at both of the opposed ends.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hose cover covering the hose, the hose cover comprising an elongated sleeve having an end located proximate the second end of the hose and extending from proximate the second end of the hose to the first end of the hose, the hose cover further comprising a connector removably connecting the end of the sleeve to the hose proximate the first end.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the hose cover further comprises a mount connected to the sleeve at a fixed end of the sleeve opposite the end, the mount comprising a tubular body supporting the sleeve and defining a central passage, and wherein the hose extends through the central passage and the mount is located proximate the second end of the hose.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the mount and the housing have releasable connecting structure comprising a plurality of flanges or tabs on the mount and the housing, such that the flanges or tabs of the mount releasably engage the flanges or tabs of the housing by twisting or snapping into place.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wheels connected to a side of the housing and configured to permit the apparatus to rest moveably on the wheels, and a base connected to an end of the housing adjacent the side and configured to permit the apparatus to rest in a stationary manner on the base.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a clip connected to the housing, wherein the clip is configured for releasable connection to the hose through friction between the clip and the external surface of the hose.

16. A system comprising:

an inflatable device configured to be placed on a supporting surface of a bed and further configured to support a patient above the supporting surface of the bed, the inflatable device having an inflation port configured to permit inflation of the device; and

a pumping apparatus comprising;

a pump configured for moving air;

a housing supporting and at least partially containing the pump; and

an air output comprising a hose having a first end connected to the housing and in communication with the pump, such that the pump is configured to move air through the hose, and a second end configured to be connected to the inflation port to pump air into the inflatable device and thereby inflate the inflatable device, wherein the hose has a length defined between the first and second ends; and

a switch connected to the hose and located along the length of the hose, wherein the switch is configured for controlling operation of the pump, wherein the switch is located a distance from the second end of the hose that is less than 50% of the length of the hose.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the distance from the second end of the hose is less than 25% of the length of the hose.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the distance from the second end of the hose is less than 12 inches.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the hose has an end portion at the second end, and wherein a majority of the hose is flexible and the end portion is rigid.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the inflation device has a retaining mechanism located at the inflation port and configured to retain the second end of the hose within the inflation port, and wherein the end portion of the hose has an engagement structure to facilitate engagement by the retaining mechanism.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the engagement structure of the end portion comprises a flange extending outwardly around a periphery of the end portion.

22. A method comprising providing the system of claim 16, placing the inflatable device on the supporting surface of the bed, placing the patient on the inflatable device, and inflating the inflatable device using the pumping apparatus.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a pump configured for moving air;

a housing supporting and at least partially containing the pump, the housing having a first end, a second end, and a side extending between the first and second ends, wherein the largest dimension of the housing is defined between the first and second ends;

an air output comprising a hose connected to the housing and in communication with the pump, such that the pump is configured to move air through the hose, the hose having an outlet configured for allowing air to exit the hose;

a plurality of wheels connected to the side of the housing and configured to permit the apparatus to rest moveably on the wheels; and

a base connected to the first end of the housing and configured to permit the apparatus to rest in a stationary manner on the base.

31. A system comprising:

a bed resting on a ground surface and having a supporting surface, wherein a space is defined between the ground surface and an underside of the bed;

an inflatable device resting on the supporting surface of the bed and configured for supporting a patient above the supporting surface of the bed, the inflatable device having an inflation port configured to permit inflation of the device; and

the apparatus of claim 23,

wherein when the apparatus is resting on the wheels on the ground surface, the apparatus has a maximum height defined normal to the ground surface that permits the pump apparatus to rest in the space beneath underside of the bed.

24-30. -30. (canceled)

32-49. -49. (canceled)