US20110293454A1 - Structure of air bladder pumping device - Google Patents

Structure of air bladder pumping device Download PDF

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Publication number
US20110293454A1
US20110293454A1 US12/818,160 US81816010A US2011293454A1 US 20110293454 A1 US20110293454 A1 US 20110293454A1 US 81816010 A US81816010 A US 81816010A US 2011293454 A1 US2011293454 A1 US 2011293454A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
air
valve
base
bladder
pumping device
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
Application number
US12/818,160
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Shih-Sheng Yang
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Universal Trim Supply Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Universal Trim Supply Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Universal Trim Supply Co Ltd filed Critical Universal Trim Supply Co Ltd
Assigned to UNIVERSAL TRIM SUPPLY CO., LTD. reassignment UNIVERSAL TRIM SUPPLY CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: YANG, SHIH-SHENG
Publication of US20110293454A1 publication Critical patent/US20110293454A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A42—HEADWEAR
    • A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
    • A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
    • A42B3/04—Parts, details or accessories of helmets
    • A42B3/10—Linings
    • A42B3/12—Cushioning devices
    • A42B3/121—Cushioning devices with at least one layer or pad containing a fluid
    • A42B3/122—Cushioning devices with at least one layer or pad containing a fluid inflatable
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/18—Resilient soles
    • A43B13/20—Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas
    • A43B13/203—Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas provided with a pump or valve
    • 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
    • F04B33/00—Pumps actuated by muscle power, e.g. for inflating
    • 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
    • F04B43/00—Machines, pumps, or pumping installations having flexible working members
    • 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
    • F04B45/00—Pumps or pumping installations having flexible working members and specially adapted for elastic fluids

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to an air pumping device for use with an air bladder that serves as an inflatable cushioning lining structure for a helmet that is used in riding a motorcycle or a bicycle or used in a construction site or the likes.
  • a helmet is provided for being worn on the head of a person to protect the head from being hit and thus hurt by an external force.
  • the helmet comprises a shell made of a rigid plastic material, such as polycarbonate, and an inner lining made of high density Styrofoam that provides vibration- and shock-resistance.
  • the helmets are subjected to inspection under severe safety regulations. Although such a helmet can effectively protect the wearer's head by minimizing the injury occurring to the head when the head is hit by an impact force, yet the inner structure of the helmet is only of limited capability for spreading and absorbing the impact force. Thus, symptoms of injury, such as vertigo and brain concussion, may still likely happen to the wearer's head.
  • the conventional helmets that are available in the market are of a design for mass production and the limited options of size of the conventional helmets make it not possible to fit to each individual. This prevents an individual wearer from wearing a commercially available helmet in such a properly covered and protected condition that an impact force hitting the head may cause severe shocks to the head, or even causing the helmet to unexpectedly separate from the wearer's head, leading to even more severe damage.
  • the present invention aims to provide an air bladder pumping device that, when mounted inside a helmet, provides improved cushioning and protection to a helmet wearer's head against an external impact force, or that can alternatively serve as a cushion lining of a shoe or a seat.
  • the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an air bladder pumping device, which can be manually operated for inflation to be positioned inside a helmet so as to spread out an impact force acting upon the helmet and thus ensure improved cushioning and protection to the head of a helmet wearer.
  • Another objective of the present invention is to provide an air bladder pumping device, which provides complete coverage of the header of a wearer and ensures comfortableness of wearing.
  • a further objective of the present invention is to provide an air bladder pumping device, which is positionable inside a shoe or a seat to serve as an inflatable cushioning lining structure so as to provide improved cushioning after inflation.
  • an air bladder pumping device which comprises an air pump and an air bladder.
  • the air pump comprises a base, a resilient membrane, and two air valves each providing a one-way airflow structure.
  • the base forms a tubular receptacle having a bottom through which an air exit opening is defined.
  • a first one of the air valve is received and retained in the tubular receptacle to form an air exhaust port.
  • the resilient membrane forms a recessed portion that defines a socket having a bottom through which an air entrance opening is defined.
  • a second one of the air valves is received and retained in the socket.
  • Both the resilient membrane and the base have a circumference forming a sealing flange, and the sealing flanges are tightly secured together through ultrasonic processing or die pressing to form an air chamber included air pump with the two air valves concealed inside the air chamber.
  • the air pump is attached to one side of the air bladder to form an inner lining cushioning bladder, which is positionable inside a helmet.
  • a user may squeeze the air pump to inflate the air bladder to provide complete and comfortable coverage of the head of a helmet wearer and also ensure improved safety and protection.
  • the configuration of the air bladder can be modified in such a way that the air bladder is positionable inside a shoe or a seat to serve as a cushioning lining structure, which provides an improved cushioning effect after inflation.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing an air pump that constitutes partly an air bladder pumping device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken, showing the air pump according to the present invention in an assembled form.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the air pump according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing an air valve that is mounted in the air pump according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the air pump according to the present invention, which is shown in an enlarged form.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an air bladder to which the air pump is attached to constitute the air bladder pumping device of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the air bladder pumping device according to the present invention that is formed by attaching the air pump to the air bladder.
  • the present invention provides an air bladder pumping device, which generally comprises an air pump 1 and an air bladder 40 .
  • the air pump 1 comprises a base 10 and a resilient membrane 20 mounted atop the base 10 through for example die pressing.
  • the base 10 is preferably made of plastics.
  • the base 10 has a top that has a circumference along which a raised rim 11 is formed.
  • the base 10 also forms a raised tubular receptacle 12 on the top thereof and inside the rim 11 .
  • the tubular receptacle 12 has a bottom through which an air exit opening 13 is defined.
  • the base 10 comprises a flat sealing flange 14 circumferentially extending around the outer circumference thereof.
  • the tubular receptacle 12 of the base 10 receives and retains therein an air exhaust valve 30 for releasing air.
  • the resilient membrane 20 is of a generally dome shape with a socket or tubular receptacle 21 integrally formed therewith.
  • the socket 21 has a bottom through which an air entrance opening 22 is defined.
  • the socket 21 receives and retains therein an air intake valve 30 a that draws in air.
  • the resilient membrane 20 has an outer circumference along which a sealing flange 23 circumferentially extends, whereby the base 10 and the resilient membrane 20 can be coupled to each other by applying plastics ultrasonic processing or die pressing to the sealing flanges 14 , 32 to joint the flanges so as to form an air chamber included structure of the air pump 1 .
  • the air pump 1 is attachable to one side of the air bladder 40 to serve as an inner lining cushioning bladder 2 (as shown in FIG. 6 ).
  • the air exhaust valve 30 and the air intake valve 30 a are of a simple structure of one-way valve, comprising a valve housing 31 and a valve disk 32 movably received in the valve housing 31 .
  • the valve disk 32 is received in a chamber 33 defined in the valve housing 31 in a loose fitting manner, whereby when the air pump 1 is compressed or squeezed, the compression or squeezing causes the air pump 1 to pump out and draw in respectively through the air exhaust valve 30 and the air intake valve 30 a .
  • the air intake valve 30 a is received in the tubular receptacle or socket 21 of the resilient membrane 20 in an interference fitting manner and the air exhaust valve 30 is received and retained in the tubular receptacle 12 of the base 10 .
  • the valve housing 31 of each of the valves 30 , 30 a forms therein a chamber 33 , and the valve housing 31 has a top through which a through hole 311 is defined, preferably at a central location, in communication with the chamber 33 .
  • the valve housing 31 has an inside circumferential surface that forms a plurality of spaced and inwardly projecting ribs 312 .
  • the arrangement of the projecting ribs helps keeping a low frictional resistance with respect to the movable valve disk 32 and also helps maintaining smooth flows of air so as to prevent the valve disk 32 from jamming in the course of movement.
  • the valve housing 31 has an opposite open bottom end with a circumferential flange 313 circumferentially extending around an outer circumference thereof.
  • the valve disk 32 has a bottom surface forming a plurality of deformable resilient pegs 321 and air passages 322 defined between the resilient pegs 321 (as shown in FIG. 4 ).
  • the arrangement of the air passages 322 helps expanding the space through which airflows may pass to realize efficient air charging.
  • the valve housing 31 is securely held in position by having the outer circumferential flange 313 fit into and retained in a corresponding groove defined in a side wall of the tubular receptacle 12 or the socket 21 .
  • valve disk 31 that is received in the air exhaust valve 30 of the base 10 is acted upon by air pressure of the compressed air inside the air pump 1 and the sealing rim 323 of the valve disk 32 is caused to separate from the through hole 311 of the valve housing 31 , forcing the resilient pegs 321 on the bottom of the valve disk 31 to deform and bend, so that the air contained in the air chamber inside the air pump 1 is allowed to enter the air exhaust valve 30 through the through hole 311 formed in the top of the valve housing 31 and flows sequentially through the air passages 322 formed in the bottom of the valve disk 32 and the air exit opening 13 to exhaust.
  • the resilient membrane 20 when the force applied to the resilient membrane 20 is removed, the resilient membrane 20 induces a resilient restoration force, and under such a condition, the sealing rim 323 of the valve disk 32 of the air intake valve 30 a is acted upon by negative pressure induced inside the air pump 1 and separates from the through hole 311 of the valve housing 31 the through hole 311 , whereby external air is allowed to enter through the through hole 311 formed in the top of the valve housing 31 of the air intake valve 30 a of the resilient membrane 20 , sequentially passing through the air passages 322 formed in the bottom of the valve disk 32 and the air entrance opening 22 to move into the air chamber of the air pump 1 until the resilient membrane 20 completely restores the original inflated condition, as show in FIG. 5 .
  • the air exhaust valve 30 and the air intake valve 30 a are arranged close to each other and are constructed as one-way valves in opposite directions, so that when the air pump 1 is in an air discharging condition, the air intake valve 31 a is closed and when the air pump 1 is in an air draw-in condition, the air exhaust valve 31 is closed.
  • the pump is attached to one side of the air bladder 40 in such a way that an air passageway hole 41 defined in the air bladder 40 is set to correspond, in position, to the air exit opening 13 of the base 10 of the air pump 1 .
  • the air passageway hole 41 is set in communication with the air exit opening 13 to allow the device of the present invention to serve as an inner lining cushioning bladder 2 that is positionable inside a helmet.
  • the air bladder 40 is also provided with an air release valve 42 at one side thereof for selectively releasing air contained inside the air bladder 40 for deflation.
  • the inner lining cushioning bladder 2 when the inner lining cushioning bladder 2 is set inside a helmet, a user may successively squeeze and compress the air pump 1 to fill air into the air bladder 40 for inflation (as shown in FIG. 7 ) to provide protection to a head wearing the helmet.
  • the air bladder 40 When the helmet is subjected to an external impact, the air bladder 40 provides a cushioning effect that spreads out the impact force and thus minimizing the force directly acting on the head. Further, the user may adjust the amount of air filled in the air bladder 40 as desired, so as to ensure complete and proper coverage of the head.
  • the air exhaust valve 30 and the air intake valve 30 a are concealed inside the air chamber of the air pump 1 , a person who wears a helmet that receives the inner lining cushioning bladder 2 therein does not feels discomfort caused by the air valves contacting his or her head and apparently, this is a comfortable design.
  • the air intake valve and the air exhaust valve are arranged at the same side of the air pump so that they does not interfere with the operation of the hand squeezing the air pump and allows the hand or fingers of a user to compress or squeeze the air pump straight to the bottom to ensure the maximum amount of air filled in each pumping and thus reduce the time required for carrying out the air inflation operation of the air bladder.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Reciprocating Pumps (AREA)
  • Check Valves (AREA)
US12/818,160 2010-05-27 2010-06-18 Structure of air bladder pumping device Abandoned US20110293454A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TW099209986 2010-05-27
TW099209986U TWM389448U (en) 2010-05-27 2010-05-27 Structure for airbag-squeezing device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20110293454A1 true US20110293454A1 (en) 2011-12-01

Family

ID=42471822

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/818,160 Abandoned US20110293454A1 (en) 2010-05-27 2010-06-18 Structure of air bladder pumping device

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20110293454A1 (de)
JP (1) JP3162147U (de)
DE (1) DE202010009845U1 (de)
GB (1) GB2480702A (de)
TW (1) TWM389448U (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140241922A1 (en) * 2013-02-22 2014-08-28 Universal Trim Supply Co., Ltd. Structure of simplified inflation valve
WO2016054761A1 (zh) * 2014-10-09 2016-04-14 刘志明 充气装置
CN108646420A (zh) * 2018-07-27 2018-10-12 歌尔科技有限公司 一种头戴设备及其减振防护结构
TWI687592B (zh) * 2018-12-22 2020-03-11 張啟源 指壓式充氣裝置
US10801481B2 (en) * 2018-12-20 2020-10-13 Universal Trim Supply Co., Ltd. Air bag assembly with pumping function
CN113855135A (zh) * 2021-10-29 2021-12-31 常州安克医疗科技有限公司 一种泄漏测试器

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10539125B2 (en) * 2017-04-15 2020-01-21 Chi-Yuan Chang Manual pump

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4244378A (en) * 1978-05-30 1981-01-13 The West Company Pressure responsive one-way valve for medical systems
US5074765A (en) * 1990-04-13 1991-12-24 Dielectrics Industries Elastomeric air pump
US5367726A (en) * 1989-07-25 1994-11-29 Chaffee; Robert B. Pneumatic support system
US5406661A (en) * 1993-09-15 1995-04-18 Reebok International Ltd. Preloaded fluid bladder with integral pump
US5865166A (en) * 1998-02-02 1999-02-02 Johnson & Johnson Professional, Inc. Orthopedic cushion
US6056439A (en) * 1999-01-28 2000-05-02 Fres-Co System Usa, Inc. High flow/volume valve for flexible packaging
US6120264A (en) * 1999-06-11 2000-09-19 Team Worldwide Corp. Air pump of simple structure
US6412514B1 (en) * 1999-10-26 2002-07-02 Red Valve Company, Inc. Flip check valve
US7337560B2 (en) * 2002-07-02 2008-03-04 Reebok International Ltd. Shoe having an inflatable bladder
US7510326B2 (en) * 2005-07-18 2009-03-31 Highland Champ Corporation Moisture-proof sealing bag
US7950909B2 (en) * 2005-09-23 2011-05-31 Chi-Yuan Chang Pump structure connectable with an air cushion or a bladder

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4244378A (en) * 1978-05-30 1981-01-13 The West Company Pressure responsive one-way valve for medical systems
US5367726A (en) * 1989-07-25 1994-11-29 Chaffee; Robert B. Pneumatic support system
US5074765A (en) * 1990-04-13 1991-12-24 Dielectrics Industries Elastomeric air pump
US5406661A (en) * 1993-09-15 1995-04-18 Reebok International Ltd. Preloaded fluid bladder with integral pump
US5865166A (en) * 1998-02-02 1999-02-02 Johnson & Johnson Professional, Inc. Orthopedic cushion
US6056439A (en) * 1999-01-28 2000-05-02 Fres-Co System Usa, Inc. High flow/volume valve for flexible packaging
US6120264A (en) * 1999-06-11 2000-09-19 Team Worldwide Corp. Air pump of simple structure
US6412514B1 (en) * 1999-10-26 2002-07-02 Red Valve Company, Inc. Flip check valve
US7337560B2 (en) * 2002-07-02 2008-03-04 Reebok International Ltd. Shoe having an inflatable bladder
US7510326B2 (en) * 2005-07-18 2009-03-31 Highland Champ Corporation Moisture-proof sealing bag
US7950909B2 (en) * 2005-09-23 2011-05-31 Chi-Yuan Chang Pump structure connectable with an air cushion or a bladder

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140241922A1 (en) * 2013-02-22 2014-08-28 Universal Trim Supply Co., Ltd. Structure of simplified inflation valve
US9169836B2 (en) * 2013-02-22 2015-10-27 Universal Trim Supply Co., Ltd. Structure of simplified inflation valve
WO2016054761A1 (zh) * 2014-10-09 2016-04-14 刘志明 充气装置
CN107002651A (zh) * 2014-10-09 2017-08-01 刘志明 充气装置
EP3205879A4 (de) * 2014-10-09 2018-07-11 Zhiming Liu Aufblasvorrichtung
CN109058063A (zh) * 2014-10-09 2018-12-21 广东商旅宝健康科技有限公司 充气装置
EP3591227A1 (de) 2014-10-09 2020-01-08 Zhiming Liu Aufblasvorrichtung
US10641258B2 (en) 2014-10-09 2020-05-05 Zhiming Liu Inflating device
CN108646420A (zh) * 2018-07-27 2018-10-12 歌尔科技有限公司 一种头戴设备及其减振防护结构
US10801481B2 (en) * 2018-12-20 2020-10-13 Universal Trim Supply Co., Ltd. Air bag assembly with pumping function
TWI687592B (zh) * 2018-12-22 2020-03-11 張啟源 指壓式充氣裝置
CN113855135A (zh) * 2021-10-29 2021-12-31 常州安克医疗科技有限公司 一种泄漏测试器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201010199D0 (en) 2010-07-21
GB2480702A (en) 2011-11-30
JP3162147U (ja) 2010-08-19
DE202010009845U1 (de) 2010-09-16
TWM389448U (en) 2010-10-01

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: UNIVERSAL TRIM SUPPLY CO., LTD., TAIWAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:YANG, SHIH-SHENG;REEL/FRAME:024556/0193

Effective date: 20100615

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION