Inflatable product with built-in housing and switching pipe

• US 7,246,394 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2006
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Team Worldwide Corporation
• Original Assignee: Team Worldwide Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Cheng Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): Engle; Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONLEY, FREDRICK C
• Application Number:
  US11/326,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20060112492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 563 Days
• Field of Search: 570/6, 570/8, 571/3, 565/53, 417/411, 417/315, 417238-239, 137/625.22, 137/565.12
• US Class Current: 5/713
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 19/02 Inflatable umbrellas; Umbrellas without ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/084 hand fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/503 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85986 Pumped fluid control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85994 Manual
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86646 Plug type

Abstract

An inflatable product includes an inflatable body, a fan and motor assembly for pumping air, a housing built into the inflatable body, and an air conduit disposed at least in part in the housing. The housing has an interior region. The air conduit is movable between a first position and a second position, the fan and motor inflating the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the first position, and deflating the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the second position. Air flows between the interior region of the housing and the inflatable body during inflation and deflation.

Claims

1. An inflatable product including:

an inflatable body;

a fan and motor assembly for pumping air;

a housing built into the inflatable body, the housing having an interior region; and

an air conduit disposed at least in part in the housing, the air conduit being movable between a first position and a second position while remaining disposed at least in part in the housing, the fan and motor inflating the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the first position, and deflating the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the second position;

wherein air flows between the interior region of the housing and the inflatable body during inflation and deflation.

2. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 1, wherein air flows from the interior region of the housing into the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the first position.

3. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 1, wherein air flows from the inflatable body into the interior region of the housing when the air conduit is moved to the second position.

4. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air conduit is a pipe.

5. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pipe is rotatable.

6. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pipe is a switching pipe.

7. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air conduit is arranged to convey air pumped by the fan and motor assembly.

8. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 7, wherein the air conduit has a first end and a second end, and wherein the fan and motor assembly causes air to be conveyed from the first end of the air conduit to the second end of the air conduit when the air conduit is in the first position.

9. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fan and motor assembly causes air to be conveyed in sequence from ambient, through the first end of the air conduit, to the second end of the air conduit, and into the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the first position.

10. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fan and motor assembly causes air to be conveyed from the second end of the air conduit to the first end of the air conduit when the air conduit is in the second position.

11. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fan and motor assembly causes air to be conveyed in sequence from the inflatable body, through the second end of the air conduit, to the first end of the air conduit, to ambient when the air conduit is in the second position.

12. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan and motor are received in the housing.

13. An inflatable product including:

an inflatable body;

a housing built into the inflatable body, having a first opening and a second opening;

a fan and motor for pumping air; and

a switching pipe disposed at least in part in the housing and having a first end and a second end, the switching pipe movable between a first position and a second position, the switching pipe arranged such that the first end of the switching pipe communicates with the first opening when the switching pipe is in the first position, and the first end of the switching pipe communicates with the second opening when the switching pipe is in the second position;

wherein, on activation of the fan, air is pumped in sequence from the second opening to the first opening and through the switching pipe from the first end to the second end when the switching pipe is in a first position, and air is pumped is pumped in sequence from the second end to the first end of the switching pipe and through the second opening to the first opening when the switching pipe is in the second position.

14. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 13, wherein the housing comprises an interior region, and air flows between the interior region of the housing and the inflatable body when the inflatable body is inflated and deflated.

15. The air pump assembly recited in claim 13, wherein the fan and motor are received in the housing.

16. An inflatable product including:

an inflatable body;

a fan and motor assembly for pumping air;

a housing built into the inflatable body, the housing having an interior region; and

an air conduit having a first end and a second end, the air conduit disposed at least in part in the housing and arranged to convey air pumped by the fan and motor assembly, the air conduit being movable between a first position and a second position, the fan and motor inflating the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the first position, and deflating the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the second position;

wherein air flows between the interior region of the housing and the inflatable body during inflation and deflation, and

wherein the fan and motor assembly causes air to be conveyed from the first end of the air conduit to the second end of the air conduit when the air conduit is in the first position, and the fan and motor assembly causes air to be conveyed in sequence from the inflatable body, through the second end of the air conduit, to the first end of the air conduit, to ambient when the air conduit is in the second position.

17. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 16, wherein air flows from the interior region of the housing into the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the first position.

18. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 16, wherein air flows from the inflatable body into the interior region of the housing when the air conduit is moved to the second position.

19. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 16, wherein the air conduit is a pipe.

20. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pipe is rotatable.

21. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pipe is a switching pipe.

22. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 16, wherein the fan and motor assembly causes air to be conveyed in sequence from ambient, through the first end of the air conduit, to the second end of the air conduit, and into the inflatable body when the air conduit is in the first position.

23. The inflatable product as claimed in claim 16, wherein the fan and motor are received in the housing.