Pumps – Expansible chamber type – Valved piston
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-25
2001-08-07
Thorpe, Timothy S. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Expansible chamber type
Valved piston
C092S058100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270327
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to pneumatic hand pumps for inflating tires and other items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When a tire goes flat the tire is removed from the rim and the hole in the tire or inner tube is located. Sometimes a hole in a tubeless tire does not require removal of the tire from the rim. If a tubeless tire is used, the hole in the tire is rasped and then a plug coated with an adhesive is inserted by a eye repair needle to seal the hole. If a tube is used, a patch coated with an adhesive is placed over the hole in the tube. The tire is then reassembled and re-inflated. If a flat needs to be repaired in a remote area, the tools must be portable and a hand pump must be used instead of an electric air compressor to re-inflate the tire
Vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles and all terrain vehicles (ATV's) use inflated tires that sometimes go flat in remote areas where a tire repair kit would be useful, if not essential. But tire repair tools are large and heavy, and such vehicles either do not have the room for a tire pump and tire repair tools and materials, or the weight for conventional tools and pumps is undesirable. Further, the tools, pump and repair materials are often separated so that one or more needed parts is missing or has become damaged. This is particularly so with the pump because typically a flexible extension hose extends from the base of the pressurizing cylinder. The hose carries the pressurized air from the pump to the tire. The flexible hose is often snagged and cut or abraded. The hose also snags or catches on other items. All these disadvantages make it undesirable to carry such pumps. There is thus a need for a pump avoiding these disadvantages.
Some small hand pumps have been developed for bicycles. But such pumps have a small diameter and short length cylinder to reduce weight, and thus they compress very little air with each actuation of the pump. The low volume pump may be usable for bicycle tires because the tires are small and require little air. But larger tires require much pumping which is very tiring. To make matters worse, a person typically holds one end of these bicycle pumps with one hand and pumps with the other hand, effectively pushing the hands toward each other. This is very tiring, especially compared to normal hand-pumps where one end of the pump rests against the ground and a person's weight can be placed on the pump handle to urge the handle toward the ground and compress the air.
There is thus a need for a more compact, lightweight hand pump and associated means to repair a flat tire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a compact, light weight pump that can hold a repair kit or other items. A tubular plunger is nested inside a tubular housing. A reciprocating seal is connected to an interior end of the plunger to compress air in one end of the housing. An extension hose is coiled inside the plunger to save space. A removable handle can be placed inside the plunger for storage to also reduce space. An end cap can be removably fastened to the housing to seal the interior and any stored parts, including the hose, handle, and any tire repair tools or materials that are desired. There is thus provided a light weight, compact storage for a hand pump and tire repair kit.
In more detail, the hand pump comprises a tubular, cylindrical housing into which is placed a sliding seal to compress air between the seal and a sealed end of the housing as the seal moves toward the sealed end of the housing. A plunger is nested inside the housing. The plunger has an interior end connected to the sliding seal to reciprocate the seal in the housing and compress the air. An interior end of an extension hose is placed in sealed fluid communication with the compressed air when the hose is in use and during storage. The hose has a distal end from which the compressed air exits. The hose is placed entirely inside the housing when not in use. A rod is removably connected to the distal end of the plunger to provide a handle to help actuate the plunger and pump the air. Advantageously the rod extends through holes in a distal end of the plunger. An end cap is removably connected to the distal end of the housing to enclose the housing with the hose inside the housing.
Tire repair items can be stored inside the plunger when the end cap is fastened to the housing. The sealed container protects the hose, tire repair items and any other stored items from weather and corrosive elements. The housing can be made of PVC, ABS or other engineered plastics, for light weight and durability.
There is thus provided a light weight, compact hand pump that can store various items, including tire repair items. Yet the size and diameter of the pump can be made large enough to provide relatively large amounts of compressed air for each stroke of the pump.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3549015 (1970-12-01), Willinger
patent: 3981625 (1976-09-01), Wickenburg
patent: 5127804 (1992-07-01), Chappell
patent: 5433136 (1995-07-01), Lung-Po
patent: 5494410 (1996-02-01), Maier-Laxhuber et al.
patent: 5494411 (1996-02-01), Chuang
patent: 5690016 (1997-11-01), Hwang
Cluff Kennen L.
Manwill Troy H.
Wolz Darren L.
Gartenberg Ehud
Knobbe Martens Olson and Bear LLP
Thorpe Timothy S.
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