US20100325807A1 - Air pumping device, air pumping method, and airbed assembly - Google Patents
Air pumping device, air pumping method, and airbed assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100325807A1 US20100325807A1 US12/587,977 US58797709A US2010325807A1 US 20100325807 A1 US20100325807 A1 US 20100325807A1 US 58797709 A US58797709 A US 58797709A US 2010325807 A1 US2010325807 A1 US 2010325807A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- air
- control signal
- air pump
- control unit
- inflatable article
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
- A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses or cushions
- A47C27/081—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type
- A47C27/082—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B49/00—Control, e.g. of pump delivery, or pump pressure of, or safety measures for, machines, pumps, or pumping installations, not otherwise provided for, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B47/00
- F04B49/02—Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control
Definitions
- an airbed assembly that comprises an inflatable article formed with an opening and an air pumping device including an inflation module.
- the inflation module includes an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit coupled to the air pump and the counting unit.
- the air pump is configured to one of inject air into and remove air from the inflatable article through the opening.
- the counting unit is configured to count a predetermined time period.
- the control unit is configured to receive a control signal, to activate the air pump and trigger counting of the counting unit in response to the control signal, and to deactivate the air pump upon completion of counting.
- control unit 23 is configured to receive the control signal from the receiving unit 22 .
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Invalid Beds And Related Equipment (AREA)
- Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
- Massaging Devices (AREA)
Abstract
An air pumping device includes an inflation module that includes an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit coupled to the air pump and the counting unit. The air pump is configured to one of inject air into and remove air from an inflatable article. The counting unit is configured to count a predetermined time period. The control unit is configured to receive a control signal, to activate the air pump and trigger counting of the counting unit in response to the control signal, and to deactivate the air pump upon completion of counting. An air pumping method and an airbed assembly are also disclosed.
Description
- This application claims priority to Chinese Application No. 200920059577.4, filed Jun. 26, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates to an air pumping device, an air pumping method, and an airbed assembly with an air pump that is automatically deactivated upon completion of counting of a predetermined time period.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Airbed assemblies have increased in popularity due to ease of transport and reduction of storage space. A conventional airbed assembly includes an inflatable article, an air pump, a control unit, and a remote controller. The remote controller has a function key and sends a control signal to the control unit to activate the air pump when the function key is pressed. However, in order to continuously activate the air pump to inject air into the inflatable article, the user is required to continuously press the function key of the controller, otherwise the air pump will be deactivated upon release of the function key of the controller. Since the time required to inflate the inflatable article is at least several minutes, the user must continuously press the function key of the controller for such a time period which is inconvenient. The same drawback is encountered when deflating the inflatable article.
- Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an air pumping device, an air pumping method, and an airbed assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art.
- According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided an air pumping device that is adapted for injecting air into or removing air from an inflatable article. The air pumping device comprises an inflation module that includes an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit coupled to the air pump and the counting unit. The air pump is configured to one of inject air into and remove air from the inflatable article. The counting unit is configured to count a predetermined time period. The control unit is configured to receive a control signal, to activate the air pump and trigger counting of the counting unit in response to the control signal, and to deactivate the air pump upon completion of counting.
- According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided an air pumping method to be implemented by an inflation system that includes an inflatable article, an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit. The air pumping method comprises: receiving a control signal by the control unit; simultaneously activating the air pump to one of inject air into and remove air from the inflatable article and triggering the counting unit to count a predetermined time period in response to the control signal by the control unit; and deactivating the air pump upon completion of counting by the control unit.
- According to yet another aspect of this invention, there is provided an airbed assembly that comprises an inflatable article formed with an opening and an air pumping device including an inflation module. The inflation module includes an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit coupled to the air pump and the counting unit. The air pump is configured to one of inject air into and remove air from the inflatable article through the opening. The counting unit is configured to count a predetermined time period. The control unit is configured to receive a control signal, to activate the air pump and trigger counting of the counting unit in response to the control signal, and to deactivate the air pump upon completion of counting.
- Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an airbed assembly according to this invention, illustrating a state where the airbed assembly is not inflated; -
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an air pumping device of the preferred embodiment; -
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an air pumping method using the air pumping device of the preferred embodiment; and -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a state where the airbed assembly is fully inflated. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , the preferred embodiment of an inflation system, such as anairbed assembly 100, according to this invention includes aninflatable article 1 and anair pumping device 2. Theinflatable article 1 is formed with anopening 11. Theair pumping device 2 includes acontroller 200 and aninflation module 20. - The
controller 200 is a remote controller and is provided with first andsecond function keys controller 200 is configured to generate a control signal upon actuation of one of thefunction keys function keys controller 200 is further configured to output the control signal wirelessly by using infrared (IR) communication, Bluetooth® communication, or radio frequency (RF) communication, etc. It is noted that thecontroller 200 may output the control signal to theinflation module 20 through a cable in another embodiment. - The
inflation module 20 is disposed in theinflatable article 1, is exposed partially from theopening 11 of theinflatable article 1, and includes acontrol interface 21, areceiving unit 22, acontrol unit 23, acounting unit 24, anair pump 25, and avalve 26. - The
control interface 21 is exposed from theopening 11 of theinflatable article 1, is formed with a through-hole 211, and is provided with aswitch 212, asensing area 213, and apower line 214. Theswitch 212 is switchable between a first state (e.g., when rotated fully in a clockwise direction) and a second state (e.g., when rotated fully in a counterclockwise direction). Thepower line 214 is adapted to be coupled to an external power source (not shown) so as to receive power therefrom. - The
receiving unit 22 is a wireless receiver and is disposed behind thesensing area 213 of thecontrol interface 21 and is configured to receive the control signal wirelessly and to output the control signal. The countingunit 24 is configured to count a predetermined time period, to generate a stop signal upon completion of counting, and to output the stop signal. - The
air pump 25 is disposed behind the through-hole 211 of thecontrol interface 21 and is configured to inject air into theinflatable article 1 through the through-hole 211 when theswitch 212 is in the first state and to remove air from theinflatable article 1 through the through-hole 211 when theswitch 212 is in the second state. - The
valve 26 is coupled to theair pump 25 and theinflatable article 1 and is operable to be normally open so as to allow air to flow from theair pump 25 to theinflatable article 1 and to be closed when pressure within theinflatable article 1 is over a predetermined value. - The
control unit 23 is coupled to thereceiving unit 22, thecounting unit 24, theair pump 25 and theswitch 212 of thecontrol interface 21. - The air pumping method implemented by the
air pumping device 2 includes the steps shown inFIG. 3 . - In
step 10, thecontrol unit 23 is configured to receive the control signal from thereceiving unit 22. - In
step 20, thecontrol unit 23 is configured to set the predetermined time period based on at least one of the state of theswitch 212 of thecontrol interface 21 and the control signal. For example, the predetermined time period is set to 4 minutes when theswitch 212 is in the first state and the control signal indicates thefirst function key 201 of thecontroller 200 is actuated, to 5 minutes and 30 seconds when theswitch 212 is in the second state and the control signal indicates thefirst function key 201 is actuated, and to 1 second when the control signal indicates thesecond function key 202 of thecontroller 200 is actuated. - In
step 30, thecontrol unit 23 is configured to simultaneously activate theair pump 25 and trigger counting of thecounting unit 24 in response to the control signal. - In
step 40, thecontrol unit 23 is configured to deactivate theair pump 25 upon completion of counting, i.e., thecontrol unit 23 receives the stop signal from thecounting unit 24 and deactivates theair pump 25 in response to the stop signal. - In operation, the
switch 212 of thecontrol interface 21 is switched to the first state first, and then thefirst function key 201 of thecontroller 200 is actuated (pressed) to generate the control signal which carries operating information corresponding to actuation of thefirst function key 201. Next, thecontrol unit 23 sets the predetermined time period to 4 minutes, and theair pump 25 is activated for 4 minutes in response to the control signal so as to inject air into theinflatable article 1. As a result, theinflatable article 1 is inflated to a predetermined full state (seeFIG. 4 ). - In order to deflate the
inflatable article 1, theswitch 212 of thecontrol interface 21 is switched to the second state first, and then thefirst function key 201 of thecontroller 200 is actuated (pressed) to generate the control signal which carries operating information corresponding to actuation of thefirst function key 201. - Next, the
control unit 23 sets the predetermined time period to 5 minutes and 30 seconds, and theair pump 25 is activated for 5 minutes and 30 seconds in response to the control signal so as to remove air from theinflatable article 1. As a result, theinflatable article 1 is fully deflated. - In order to increase pressure within the
inflatable article 1 after inflation, theswitch 212 of thecontrol interface 21 is switched to the first state first, and then thesecond function key 202 of thecontroller 200 is actuated (pressed) to generate the control signal which carries operating information corresponding to actuation of thesecond function key 202. Next, thecontrol unit 23 sets the predetermined time period to 1 second, and theair pump 25 is activated for 1 second in response to the control signal so as to inject an extra amount of air into theinflatable article 1. - In order to reduce pressure within the
inflatable article 1 after inflation, theswitch 212 of thecontrol interface 21 is switched to the second state first, and then thesecond function key 202 of thecontroller 200 is actuated (pressed) to generate the control signal which carries operating information corresponding to actuation of thesecond function key 202. Next, thecontrol unit 23 sets the predetermined time period to 1 second, and theair pump 25 is activated for 1 second in response to the control signal so as to remove an amount of air from theinflatable article 1. This procedure may also be used after deflation when theinflatable article 1 has not been fully deflated. - In sum, with the inclusion of the
counting unit 24, theair pump 25 is activated for a predetermined time period each time one of thefunction keys first function key 201 of thecontroller 200 during inflation or deflation of theinflatable article 1. Moreover, by actuating thesecond function key 202, it is possible to perform minor adjustments to the inflation level of theinflatable article 1 or to remove air remaining in theinflatable article 1 to ensure full deflation thereof. While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements.
Claims (18)
1. An air pumping device adapted for injecting air into or removing air from an inflatable article, comprising:
an inflation module including an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit coupled to said air pump and said counting unit, said air pump being configured to one of inject air into and remove air from the inflatable article, said counting unit being configured to count a predetermined time period, said control unit being configured to receive a control signal, to activate said air pump and trigger counting of said counting unit in response to the control signal, and to deactivate said air pump upon completion of counting.
2. The air pumping device of claim 1 , further comprising a controller provided with a plurality of function keys and configured to generate the control signal upon actuation of one of said function keys and to output the control signal.
3. The air pumping device of claim 2 , wherein said inflation module further includes a receiving unit coupled to said control unit and configured to receive the control signal and output the control signal to said control unit.
4. The air pumping device of claim 3 , wherein said controller outputs the control signal wirelessly and said receiving unit of said inflation module receives the control signal wirelessly.
5. The air pumping device of claim 2 , wherein said control unit is further configured to set the predetermined time period based on the control signal.
6. The air pumping device of claim 1 , wherein said inflation module further includes a switch coupled to said air pump and said control unit and switchable between a first state and a second state, said air pump being configured to inject air into the inflatable article when said switch is in the first state and to remove air from the inflatable article when said switch is in the second state.
7. The air pumping device of claim 6 , wherein said control unit of said inflation module is further configured to set the predetermined time period based on the state of said switch.
8. The air pumping device of claim 1 , wherein said inflation module further includes a valve coupled to said air pump and the inflatable article and operable to be normally open so as to allow air to flow from said air pump to the inflatable article and to be closed when pressure within the inflatable article is over a predetermined value.
9. An air pumping method to be implemented by an inflation system that includes an inflatable article, an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit, the air pumping method comprising:
receiving a control signal by the control unit;
configuring the control unit to activate the air pump to one of inject air into and remove air from the inflatable article, and to trigger the counting unit to count a predetermined time period in response to the control signal by the control unit; and
configuring the control unit to deactivate the air pump upon completion of counting by the control unit.
10. The air pumping method of claim 9 , further comprising configuring the control unit to set the predetermined time period based on the control signal.
11. An airbed assembly, comprising:
an inflatable article formed with an opening; and
an air pumping device including an inflation module that includes an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit coupled to said air pump and said counting unit, said air pump being configured to one of inject air into and remove air from said inflatable article through said opening, said counting unit being configured to count a predetermined time period, said control unit being configured to receive a control signal, to activate said air pump and trigger counting of said counting unit in response to the control signal, and to deactivate said air pump upon completion of counting.
12. The airbed assembly of claim 11 , wherein said air pumping device further includes a controller provided with a plurality of function keys and configured to generate the control signal upon actuation of one of said function keys and to output the control signal.
13. The airbed assembly of claim 12 , wherein said inflation module further includes a receiving unit coupled to said control unit and configured to receive the control signal and output the control signal to said control unit.
14. The airbed assembly of claim 13 , wherein said controller outputs the control signal wirelessly and said receiving unit of said inflation module receives the control signal wirelessly.
15. The airbed assembly of claim 12 , wherein said control unit of said inflation module is further configured to set the predetermined time period based on the control signal.
16. The airbed assembly of claim 11 , wherein said inflation module further includes a switch coupled to said air pump and said control unit and switchable between a first state and a second state, said air pump being configured to inject air into said inflatable article when said switch is in the first state and to remove air from said inflatable article when said switch is in the second state.
17. The airbed assembly of claim 16 , wherein said control unit of said inflation module is further configured to set the predetermined time period based on the state of said switch.
18. The airbed assembly of claim 11 , wherein said inflation module further includes a valve coupled to said air pump and said inflatable article and operable to be normally open so as to allow air to flow from said air pump to said inflatable article and to be closed when pressure within said inflatable article is over a predetermined value.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CN2009200595774U CN201448221U (en) | 2009-06-26 | 2009-06-26 | Automatic aerating device and air bed |
CN200920059577.4 | 2009-06-26 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100325807A1 true US20100325807A1 (en) | 2010-12-30 |
Family
ID=42552936
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/587,977 Abandoned US20100325807A1 (en) | 2009-06-26 | 2009-10-14 | Air pumping device, air pumping method, and airbed assembly |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20100325807A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN201448221U (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2015010058A3 (en) * | 2013-07-18 | 2015-03-19 | Intex Recreation Corp. | Inflatable spa |
US9917457B2 (en) | 2015-02-02 | 2018-03-13 | Black & Decker Inc. | Power tool with USB connection |
US10076874B2 (en) | 2013-11-25 | 2018-09-18 | Intex Marketing Ltd. | Welding process and product for inflatable product |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5020176A (en) * | 1989-10-20 | 1991-06-04 | Angel Echevarria Co., Inc. | Control system for fluid-filled beds |
US5277474A (en) * | 1990-08-14 | 1994-01-11 | Medimatch Limited | Cushion |
US5848450A (en) * | 1996-03-05 | 1998-12-15 | L&P Property Management Company | Air bed control |
US5901392A (en) * | 1998-05-28 | 1999-05-11 | Lin-Mei Hsieh Yang | Constant-pressure waterbed structure |
US6014784A (en) * | 1998-10-19 | 2000-01-18 | Taylor; Rex E. | Portable system for generating variable pressure point body support |
US6037723A (en) * | 1994-11-01 | 2000-03-14 | Select Comfort Corporation | Air control system for an air bed |
US20030188387A1 (en) * | 2002-04-04 | 2003-10-09 | Banyan Licensing Lc | System for controlling the position of an inflatable bedrest positioned under a mattress |
US6686711B2 (en) * | 2000-11-15 | 2004-02-03 | Comfortaire Corporation | Air mattress control system and method |
US7571500B2 (en) * | 2005-11-09 | 2009-08-11 | Hsin-Tsai Wu | Inflating/deflating device for an inflatable air mattress |
-
2009
- 2009-06-26 CN CN2009200595774U patent/CN201448221U/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-10-14 US US12/587,977 patent/US20100325807A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5020176A (en) * | 1989-10-20 | 1991-06-04 | Angel Echevarria Co., Inc. | Control system for fluid-filled beds |
US5277474A (en) * | 1990-08-14 | 1994-01-11 | Medimatch Limited | Cushion |
US6037723A (en) * | 1994-11-01 | 2000-03-14 | Select Comfort Corporation | Air control system for an air bed |
US6483264B1 (en) * | 1994-11-01 | 2002-11-19 | Select Comfort Corporation | Air control system for an air bed |
US5848450A (en) * | 1996-03-05 | 1998-12-15 | L&P Property Management Company | Air bed control |
US5901392A (en) * | 1998-05-28 | 1999-05-11 | Lin-Mei Hsieh Yang | Constant-pressure waterbed structure |
US6014784A (en) * | 1998-10-19 | 2000-01-18 | Taylor; Rex E. | Portable system for generating variable pressure point body support |
US6686711B2 (en) * | 2000-11-15 | 2004-02-03 | Comfortaire Corporation | Air mattress control system and method |
US20030188387A1 (en) * | 2002-04-04 | 2003-10-09 | Banyan Licensing Lc | System for controlling the position of an inflatable bedrest positioned under a mattress |
US7571500B2 (en) * | 2005-11-09 | 2009-08-11 | Hsin-Tsai Wu | Inflating/deflating device for an inflatable air mattress |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2015010058A3 (en) * | 2013-07-18 | 2015-03-19 | Intex Recreation Corp. | Inflatable spa |
US9254240B2 (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2016-02-09 | Intex Recreation Corp. | Inflatable spa |
US9468582B2 (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2016-10-18 | Intex Marketing Ltd. | Inflatable spa |
US9468583B2 (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2016-10-18 | Intex Marketing Ltd. | Inflatable spa |
US9642771B2 (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2017-05-09 | Intex Marketing Ltd. | Inflatable spa |
US10161148B2 (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2018-12-25 | Intex Marketing Ltd. | Inflatable spa |
US10815686B2 (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2020-10-27 | Intex Marketing Ltd. | Inflatable spa |
US11421434B2 (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2022-08-23 | Intex Marketing Ltd. | Inflatable spa |
US10076874B2 (en) | 2013-11-25 | 2018-09-18 | Intex Marketing Ltd. | Welding process and product for inflatable product |
US11065823B2 (en) | 2013-11-25 | 2021-07-20 | Intex Marketing Ltd. | Welding process and product for inflatable product |
US11654638B2 (en) | 2013-11-25 | 2023-05-23 | Intex Marketing Ltd. | Welding process and product for inflatable product |
US9917457B2 (en) | 2015-02-02 | 2018-03-13 | Black & Decker Inc. | Power tool with USB connection |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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CN201448221U (en) | 2010-05-05 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |