U.S. patent application number 10/076480 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-21 for bicycle air pump.
Invention is credited to Ostrowiecki, Morris.
Application Number | 20030156950 10/076480 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27732504 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030156950 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ostrowiecki, Morris |
August 21, 2003 |
Bicycle air pump
Abstract
An air pump for a bicycle which can be stored inside the saddle
post of a bicycle is disclosed. The hand air pump or foot-hand air
pump are supported in the saddle post by friction generating means,
latch means, support means and/or biasing means. Furthermore, a
foot-hand air pump which is substantially cylindrical in shape and
having no protruding parts is disclosed. Still further, the
air/foot pump has certain parts thereof not only providing their
intended function in pumping air but also providing the function of
generating friction is disclosed.
Inventors: |
Ostrowiecki, Morris; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORRIS OSTROWIECKI
5-10-20 MINAMI AOYAMA, MINATO-KU
TOKYO
107-0062
JP
|
Family ID: |
27732504 |
Appl. No.: |
10/076480 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/234 ;
417/468; 417/469 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62J 11/02 20130101;
F04B 33/005 20130101; B60C 23/105 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/234 ;
417/468; 417/469 |
International
Class: |
F04B 053/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A device for preventing an air pump from sliding down the inside
of a saddle post and/or the frame portion in which said saddle
support post is mounted in, which comprises: a spring, the diameter
of said spring being less than the inner diameter of said frame
portion and the length of said spring being less than the length of
said frame portion, said spring being of the push type spring and
having a spring constant k sufficient to push said air pump out of
said frame portion, so that when said spring is inserted into said
frame portion and an air pump is inserted into said frame portion
on top of said spring, said spring pushes a portion of said air
pump out of the top of said frame portion each time said saddle
support post is removed from said frame portion.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the combined length of
said pump and said spring, when said spring is in the compressed
state, is less than the length of said frame portion, so that said
saddle can be lowered to its lowest position when a short person is
riding the bicycle.
3. A bicycle air pump which comprises: a conventional air pump; and
means for preventing said air pump from sliding down the inside of
a saddle support post and/or the frame portion into which said
saddle support post slides into, when said air pump is inserted
inside said saddle support post and/or said frame portion.
4. An air pump for a bicycle as defined in claim 3, wherein said
preventing means comprises: a friction force generating means for
preventing said air pump from sliding down said saddle support post
and/or said frame portion.
5. A bicycle air pump as defined in claim 4, wherein said friction
generating means comprises: a flexible ring portion integrally
formed with a handle portion of said air pump, said flexible ring
portion having an outer diameter which is greater than the inner
diameter of said saddle support post and/or said frame portion,
whereby, when said handle portion of said air pump is inserted into
said saddle support post, said ring portion is pressed inwardly to
fit inside said saddle support post, thereby generating a
frictional force for preventing said air pump from sliding down
said saddle support post.
6. An air pump for a bicycle as defined in claim 4, wherein said
friction generating means comprises: a flexible protrusion formed
on the air pump, said protrusion having an outer periphery greater
than the inner diameter of said saddle post, so that when said air
pump is pushed into the inside of the saddle post, said protrusion
deforms to fit therein, thereby generating a frictional force to
prevent the air pump from sliding down the saddle post into the
frame portion into which said saddle post slides into.
7. An air pump for a bicycle as defined in claim 3, wherein said
preventing means comprises: latch means for preventing said air
pump from sliding down said saddle support post and/or said frame
portion.
8. An air pump for a bicycle as defined in claim 3, wherein said
air pump further comprises: a nylon hose; a male connector (7a)
having a sleeve portion thereof (713) inserted into one end of said
nylon hose, said sleeve portion having a tooth shaped protrusion
formed on the outer surface thereof; a female connector (7b) having
a sleeve portion thereof (718) inserted into one end of said nylon
hose, said sleeve portion having a tooth shaped protrusion formed
on the outer surface thereof;; and a pair of pressure applying
sleeves (7d) mounted on the respective extending ends of said nylon
hose for preventing said sleeve portions from coming out of the
ends of said nylon tube, and for preventing pressurized air from
escaping therebetween, the inner diameter of said pressure applying
sleeve being the same as the outer diameter of said nylon tube, so
that said nylon tube can be easily inserted inside said pressure
applying sleeve.
9. An air pump for a bicycle as defined in claim 3, wherein said
air pump further comprises: a nylon hose; a male connector (7a)
having a sleeve portion thereof (713) inserted into one end of said
nylon hose, said sleeve portion having a tooth shaped protrusion
formed on the outer surface thereof; a female connector (7b) having
a sleeve portion thereof (718) inserted into one end of said nylon
hose, said sleeve portion having a tooth shaped protrusion formed
on the outer surface thereof; and a pair of pressure applying
springs (7e) mounted on the respective extending ends of said nylon
hose for preventing said sleeve portions from coming out of the
ends of said nylon tube, and for preventing pressurized air from
escaping therebetween, the inner diameter of said pressure applying
springs being the same as the outer diameter of said nylon tube, so
that said nylon tube can be easily inserted inside said pressure
applying springs.
10. A foot/hand air pump which comprises: a round cylinder (70); a
hollow shaft (72), the outer diameter of said hollow shaft being
less than the inner diameter of said cylinder; a handle (71); means
for supporting said handle on one end of said hollow shaft, so that
said handle can swivel around said shaft from a vertical position
to a horizontal position; a piston (76) mounted on the other end of
said hollow shaft, said piston fitting inside said cylinder for
pumping air therein in one direction thereof; an end cap (74)
mounted on the one end of said cylinder, said end cap having a hole
formed through the center thereof for slidingly receiving said
shaft therein and for allowing air to pass therebetween; an air
outlet portion (75) mounted on the other end of said cylinder, said
air outlet portion having a female connector (7c) mounted along a
central portion thereof, said air outlet portion having a through
hole formed therethrough, said through hole extending from a top
surface of said air outlet portion to said female connector, said
female connector facing in the radial direction of said cylinder,
said air outlet portion, said handle supporting means and said end
cap having no portion thereof protruding beyond the circumference
of said cylinder.
11. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 10, wherein said
handle support means comprises: a central shaft portion (73a)
having a through hole (73h) formed in the axial direction thereof
for frictionally receiving said one end of said shaft (72) therein;
a pair of handle support shafts (73s) integrally formed with said
shaft portion along diagonally opposed outer sides thereof; and a
ring shaped portion (73r) formed along one end of said shaft
portion (73a) for preventing said handle support from sliding down
said shaft (72), the inner diameter of said ring portion being the
same as the inner diameter of said shaft, one end of said shaft
(72) being frictionally mounted inside said through hole in said
shaft portion (73a).
12. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 10, wherein said
handle comprises: a semi-cylindrical body (71b) having a pair of
through holes (71h) formed along opposing sides thereof for
receiving handle support shafts (73s) therein; an inwardly facing
tooth shaped ridge (71l) integrally formed with said
semi-cylindrical body along an inner bottom circumferential edge of
said semi-cylindrical body for latching said handle 71 to said end
cap 74; a wall (74w) integrally formed with said semi-cylindrical
body along a top end thereof in the radial direction of said
semi-cylindrical body, said wall having a through hole (71s) formed
through the center thereof, for frictionally supporting a connector
(7b) and the pipe (6) therein, and a V shaped slot (71v) extending
from the periphery of the wall (71w) to said through hole (71s),
the open section of the semi-cylindrical body (71b) and the
periphery of the V shaped slot (71v) coinciding with each other,
said slot (71v) allowing for easy guidance of said pipe (6) and
said connector (7b) into said hole (71s) for frictionally being
supported therein.
13. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 12, wherein said
handle further comprises: a plurality of semi-round protrusions 71p
integrally formed along the outer surface of said semi-cylindrical
body in the radial direction thereof, said protrusions further
increasing the anti-slide frictional characteristics of said air
pump 111 when said air pump is inserted inside a saddle support
post of a bicycle.
14. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 10, wherein said end
cap comprises: a cylindrically shaped body (74s) having a through
hole (74h) formed through the center thereof for receiving and
slidingly supporting said shaft (72) therein and for allowing air
to pass therebetween; a thread portion (74t) formed at one end of
the outer wall of said cylindrical body (74s); a ridge (74r) formed
on the outer wall of said cylindrical body along a central portion
thereof; and an outwardly facing tooth shaped ridge 74l formed on
the outer wall of the cylindrical body 74s at the other end
thereof.
15. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 10, wherein said air
outlet portion comprises: a round shaft portion (75a), said round
portion frictionally fitting inside said other end of said
cylinder; a round portion (75r) one end of which is integrally
formed with said round shaft portion and the outer diameter of
which is the same as the outer diameter of said cylinder; a round
main body section (75m) the diameter of which is smallest around
the central part thereof and the bottom 75b of which is formed in a
concave shape along one plane thereof, so that said concave shaped
bottom surface can be utilized to prevent said main body section
from sliding of a rim of a bicycle wheel during an air pumping
operation; a conventional female metal connector (7c) made of brass
or aluminum embedded along a front side of said central part of
said main body section, said air outlet portion having a through
hole extending from the upper surface of said round shaft portion
through said main body section to a central hole in said female
connector for allowing compressed air inside said air pump to flow
therethrough, the hole in said connector facing in the radial
direction of said air outlet portion.
16. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 15, wherein said air
outlet portion further comprises: a tail portion (75t) integrally
formed along the back and bottom surface of said main body portion,
said tail portion being substantially rectangular in shape, said
tail portion being flexible due to the material used in the
manufacture thereof and due to the thinness thereof, so that said
tail portions can be twisted around the bottom of said main body
portion; and a round portion (75e) integrally formed with the
extending end of said tail portion.
17. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 16, wherein: said main
body section has a second through hole (75h) and a slot (75s)
formed along the front bottom section of the main body portion 75
in the axial direction thereof, said slot extending from the
outside periphery of said main body portion to said second through
hole, the width of said slot being less than the width of said tail
portion and the diameter of said second through hole being equal to
or greater than the width of said tail portion but less than the
diameter of said round portion, so that said tail portion can be
locked therein, said air outlet portion being made of plastic or
nylon.
18. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 10, further
comprising: air pressure indicating means.
19. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 10, wherein said air
pressure indicating means comprises: a spring (900) mounted on a
cylindrical portion (760c) of said piston, said cylindrical portion
extending into the central hole in said shaft (72) and slidingly
fitting therein, said spring having the same outer diameter as the
outer diameter of said shaft; a flexible strip (7601) one end of
which is connected to the extending end of said cylindrical portion
of said piston, said strip extending through said shaft, through
the bottom side of said handle (710) and out of an opening (710h)
formed in a wall (710w) formed at one end of said handle, the other
end of said strip having a round portion (760e) integrally formed
therewith, the diameter of said round portion being greater than
the diameter of said opening formed in said end wall, so that said
round portion locks said strip in said end wall of said handle,
said handle further having a viewing hole (710v) formed along the
top center portion thereof and said strip having a plurality of
colors painted on one side thereof, so that when said air pump is
used to pump air, said spring compresses and the strip moves with
respect to said viewing hole in said handle to visually display
different colors representative of different air pressures via said
viewing hole.
20. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 10, wherein said shaft
comprises: a flat sheet of metal (431) which has been rounded into
a cylinder and said handle mounting means comprises a pair of
diagonally opposed round protrusions (431p) pressed into said sheet
metal at one end thereof.
21. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 10, wherein said
handle comprises: a flat sheet of metal having two holes punched
out therethrough at opposite sides thereof, said sheet being rolled
into a semi-cylindrical shape.
22. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 10, wherein said
piston comprises: a round shaft (84s) having a first, second and
third radially extending rings (84a, 84b and 84c) integrally formed
therewith along the outer surface thereof, a first O ring (841)
mounted between said first ring and said second ring, a second O
ring (842) mounted between said second ring and said third ring,
said rings being spaced apart in the axial direction of said shaft
by a distance which is greater than the thickness of said
respectively mounted first and second O rings, said first and
second rings each having a pair of diagonally opposed semi-round
grooves (843, 844) formed on respective inner surfaces (f6, f8)
thereof, each groove respectively extending in the radial direction
of said rings from the outer surface of said shaft to the outer
surface of said respective rings, said two pairs of grooves each
only partially extending through said rings in the axial directions
thereof.
23. A foot/hand air pump as defined in claim 22, wherein: said
shaft has a central hole (840r) formed in the axial direction
thereof extending from a front end thereof to a central portion
thereof for storing a lubricating material therein, and a pair of
radial through holes (840l) extending in the radial direction of
said shaft from said central through hole to the outer surface of
said third ring, whereby said lubricating material stored in the
reservoir 840r is pushed through said radial holes 840l to
lubricate said second O ring and the inner surface said cylinder of
said air pump, thereby providing better air pumping
characteristics.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] There are many types of air pumps presently available.
However, hardly any bicycle owners carry an air pump on their
bicycle. The two main reasons for this is because most bicycle
owners don't like to cluster the outside appearance of their
bicycle as well as worry that someone may steal their air pump.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A major object of the present invention is to provide an air
pump that can fit inside the frame of a bicycle;
[0003] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
pump which can be easily inserted and removed from the inside of
the bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle frame portion into which
the saddle post slides into, regardless of the size and make of the
saddle post and/or the bicycle frame, so that the air pump may fit
into substantially all sizes and makes of bicycles being sold or
already on the market;
[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
pump which can easily be inserted and removed from the inside of
the bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle frame portion into which
the saddle post slides into, regardless of the size and make of the
bicycle frame, further comprising biasing means for generating a
frictional force to prevent the bicycle pump from sliding down the
saddle post into the bicycle frame, where it would be difficult to
get out of;
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
pump which can be easily inserted and removed from the inside of
the bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle frame portion into which
the saddle post slides into, regardless of the size and make of the
bicycle frame, further comprising biasing means for generating a
frictional force to prevent the bicycle pump from shaking or moving
around while the bicycle is being ridden;
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
pump which can easily be inserted and removed from the inside of
the bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle frame portion into which
the saddle post slides into, regardless of the size and make of the
bicycle frame, further comprising biasing means for generating a
frictional force to prevent the bicycle pump from sliding down the
saddle post into the bicycle frame, where it would be difficult to
get out of, the biasing means comprising a flexible plastic or
nylon pipe inserted into the frame portion;
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
pump which can easily be inserted and removed from the inside of
the bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle frame portion into which
the saddle post slides into, regardless of the size and make of the
bicycle frame, further comprising biasing means for generating a
frictional force to prevent the bicycle pump from sliding down the
saddle post into the bicycle frame, where it would be difficult to
get out of, the biasing means comprising a plastic or metal spring
inserted into the frame portion below the air pump for providing a
constant force on the bottom end of the air pump, whereby, the air
pump is not only prevented from sliding down the frame but also,
due to the inherent characteristics of springs of being able to
change their length, depending on the force applied, to
automatically adjusts the height of the air pump to allow for
changes in the height of the saddle position;
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
pump which can easily be inserted and removed from the inside of
the bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle frame portion into which
the saddle post slides into, regardless of the size and make of the
bicycle frame, further comprising biasing means for generating a
frictional force to prevent the bicycle pump from sliding down the
saddle post into the bicycle frame, the biasing means being
generated by the flexible material and shape of a handle of the air
pump, the handle being able to change it's outer diameter to suit
the inner diameter of any saddle post, so that the pump is
prevented from sliding down the post due to the frictional force
generated between the handle and the saddle post;
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
pump which can easily be inserted and removed from the inside of
the bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle frame portion into which
the saddle post slides into, regardless of the size and make of the
bicycle frame, further comprising means for clamping the air pump
unto the extending end of the saddle post;
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
pump which can easily be inserted and removed from the inside of
the bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle frame portion into which
the saddle post slides into, regardless of the size and make of the
bicycle frame, further comprising means for clamping the air pump
unto the extending end of the saddle post, the clamping means
comprising a pair of flexible legs integrally formed on an
extending end of the handle of the air pump, for clamping onto an
extending end of the saddle shaft;
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
pump which can easily be inserted and removed from the inside of
the bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle frame portion into which
the saddle post slides into, the outer diameter of the air pump
being slightly less than the inner diameter of the saddle post and
the length of the air pump being substantially the same as the
bicycle frame portion into which the saddle post slides into, the
length and outer diameter of the air pump being specifically made
by the manufacturer to specifically fit inside each type of
bicycle, whereby the air pump would not hinder the lowering of the
saddle to its lowest possible position, thereby providing for a
relatively long air pump and for the easy removal of the air pump
from the frame portion inside which it is stored.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
bicycle foot air pump (i.e. an air pump one end of which is pressed
against the ground while the other end having a handle portion
which is moved up and down by hand to pump air into a tire) which
is simple in structure, easy to manufacture, requires very few
parts, and which is easy and cheap to assemble;
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
bicycle air pump which is simple in structure, easy to manufacture,
requires very few parts, is easy and cheap to assemble and which is
substantially cylindrical in shape, so that it can fit inside a
bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle frame portion into which the
saddle post slides into;
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
bicycle foot air pump which is simple in structure, easy to
manufacture, requires very few parts, and which is easy and cheap
to assemble and which is substantially cylindrical in shape, so
that it can fit inside a bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle
frame portion into which the saddle post slides into, further
comprising biasing means for generating a frictional force to
prevent the bicycle pump from sliding down the saddle post into the
bicycle frame, where it would be difficult to get out of, the
biasing means being generated by the flexible material and shape of
a handle of the air pump, whereby the handle can change it's outer
diameter to fit inside the inner diameter of most saddle post
presently used on bicycles, so that the pump is prevented from
sliding down the post due to the frictional force generated between
the handle and the saddle post or frame portion into which the
saddle post slides into;
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
bicycle foot air pump which is simple in structure, easy to
manufacture, requires very few parts, and which is easy and cheap
to assemble and which is substantially cylindrical in shape, so
that it can fit inside a bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle
frame portion into which the saddle post slides into, further
comprising biasing means for generating a frictional force to
prevent the bicycle pump from sliding down the saddle post into the
bicycle frame, where it would be difficult to get out of, the
biasing means being generated by the flexible material and shape of
a foot rest which extends out of a lower part of the pump, so that
the pump is prevented from sliding down the post due to the
frictional force generated between the foot rest and the saddle
post;
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
bicycle foot air pump which is simple in structure, easy to
manufacture, requires very few parts, and which is easy and cheap
to assemble and which is substantially cylindrical in shape, so
that it can fit inside a bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle
frame portion into which the saddle post slides into, further
comprising means for attaching the air pump to an extending end of
the saddle post;
[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
bicycle foot air pump which is simple in structure, easy to
manufacture, requires very few parts, and which is easy and cheap
to assemble and which is substantially cylindrical in shape, so
that it can fit inside a bicycle saddle post and/or the bicycle
frame portion into which the saddle post slides into, further
comprising means for attaching the air pump to an extending end of
the saddle post;
[0018] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
a bicycle foot air pump which has the end furthest from the handle
end formed have a concave shaped surface, so that the concave end
can be placed against the inner surface of a rim of a bicycle wheel
when pumping air into the tire, whereby the pump will not slip of
the rim due to the concave shape of the end of the air pump fitting
around the round inner shape of the bicycle rim, thereby allowing
the air pump to be positioned close to the bicycle tire air valve
and avoiding dirty situations such as dirty and wet roads.
[0019] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
of a bicycle flat tire fixing kit and case therefore which can
slidingly fit inside the saddle post and or the bicycle frame
portion into which the saddle post slides into.
[0020] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
a bicycle flat tire fixing kit and case therefore which can
slidingly fit inside the saddle post and or the bicycle frame
portion into which the saddle post slides into, the case being
substantially cylindrical in shape and providing means for opening
the case so that the parts stored therein can be removed therefrom;
Another major object of the present invention is to provide a
bicycle foot or hand air pump which has few parts, is easy to
manufacture and assemble and which is very cheap.
[0021] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
a foot or hand air pump which fits all the way down the inside of
the bicycle frame pipe into which the saddle post fits into,
thereby preventing the possibility of the air pump siding down
inside the frame pipe, which would make it difficult to remove, and
allowing for the manufacture and storage of a longer air pump at
substantially very little increase in cost (only the length of the
outer cylinder and inner cylinder plunger need be increased).
[0022] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
a foot or hand air pump having a minimal number of parts, and which
is cheap and easy to manufacture, easy to assemble and simple to
use.
[0023] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
and a foot or hand air pump which has connector for attaching the
to a bicycle tire valve which can be screwed onto the tire air
valve without having to turn the whole pump with it.
[0024] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
and a foot or hand air pump which includes additional parts, such
as rubber spunges, metal or plastic springs, mounted on the outer
surface of the air pump which are flexible and allow for insertion
into the frame pipe and which prevent the pump from moving, sliding
down and/or vibrating inside the frame pipe.
[0025] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
a bicycle foot or hand air pump which has some parts thereof
providing more than one function, such as for facilitating the
pumping of air as well as supporting the pump inside the bicycle
frame as well as facilitating the fixing of a flat tire.
[0026] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
a bicycle foot or hand air pump which has the end furthest from the
handle end formed to be in the shape of a concave surface so that
the concave end can be placed against the inner surface of the rim
when pumping air into the tire, whereby the pump will not slip of
the rim.
[0027] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
a bicycle foot or hand air pump which has a piston having a
reservoir compartment for storing a lubricant and means to pass the
lubricant to an O ring mounted on the piston.
[0028] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
a bicycle foot or hand air pump which has a piston having two O
rings serially mounted thereon for providing better air pumping
characteristics.
[0029] Another major object of the present invention is to provide
a bicycle foot or hand air pump which has an air pressure
indicating means for indicating the pressure of the air being
pumped into an air tire.
[0030] These and other advantages of the present invention will
become illuminated from the following drawings and description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 shows perspective view of a conventional air
pump;
[0032] FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of an air pump according to
a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of an air pump handle
having a plurality of protrusions according to another embodiment
of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 3 shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle saddle
support post 23 and a bicycle frame portion 25 into which the
saddle support post 23 slides into having the air pump 11 of FIG.
2A frictionally supported inside according to the present
invention;
[0035] FIG. 4A shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle
saddle support post 23 and a bicycle frame portion 25 into which
the saddle support post 23 slides into having the air pump 11 of
FIG. 2A frictionally supported inside and an air pump support means
34 according to the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 4B shows an end view of the support 34 of FIG. 4A;
[0037] FIG. 5 shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle saddle
support post 230 and a bicycle frame portion 25 into which the
saddle support post 230 slides into having the air pump 11 of FIG.
2A frictionally supported inside according to the present
invention;
[0038] FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of an air pump support 60
according another embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 6B shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle
saddle support post 23 having the air pump support 60 mounted
therein;
[0040] FIG. 6C shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle
saddle support post 23 having the air pump support 60 mounted
therein and the air pump 11 of FIG. 2A supported by the support
60;
[0041] FIG. 6D shows a perspective view of an air pump support 600
according another embodiment of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 7A shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle
saddle support post 23 and a bicycle frame portion 25 into which
the saddle support post 23 slides into having the conventional air
pump 1 of FIG. 1 and a biasing means (spring 41) stored therein
according to the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 7B shows a side view of another embodiment of a biasing
means 41b which can be used instead of the spring 41;
[0044] FIG. 8A, shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle
saddle support post 23 and a bicycle frame portion 25 into which
the saddle support post 23 slides into having the conventional air
pump 1 of FIG. 1 and a biasing means (spring 41) stored therein
further including a case 51 for storing bicycle air pump parts;
[0045] FIG. 8B shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of
the case 51 according to the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 8C shows a perspective view of another embodiment of
the case 51 according to the present invention;
[0047] FIG. 9A shows a front view of a foot-hand air pump 111 with
the handle 71 thereof in the vertical position (i.e. air pump
storage position) according to the present invention;
[0048] FIGS. 9B and 9C show a side view and end view of a foot-hand
air pump 111 of FIG. 9A with the handle 71 thereof in the
horizontal position (i.e. air pumping position);
[0049] FIG. 9D shows a side cross sectional view of the saddle
support post 23 locked inside the frame portion 25 with the
foot-hand air pump 111 stored inside the saddle support 23 and
frame portion 25 according to the present invention;
[0050] FIGS. 10A-10E show a perspective view, a top view, a bottom
view, a front view and a side view of the handle 71 according to
the present invention;
[0051] FIG. 10F shows a side cross sectional view of the handle 71
at line I-I in FIG. 10D;
[0052] FIGS. 10G-10H show a side cross sectional view of the handle
71 at line I-I in FIG. 10D, with the handle 71 being mounted on the
handle support section 73, the handle 71 being in the air pump
storage position (i.e., vertical position) and in the air pumping
position (i.e., horizontal position), respectively;
[0053] FIG. 10I shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a
handle 710 for the foot-hand air pump 111 according to the present
invention;
[0054] FIG. 10J shows perspective view of another embodiment of the
handle 710 for the foot-hand air pump 111 according to the present
invention;
[0055] FIG. 10K shows a front view of a bicycle air tube
conventional fixing patch;
[0056] FIGS. 11A-11C show a perspective view, a top view and a
bottom view, respectively, of the handle support 73 according to
the present invention;
[0057] FIG. 11D shows a side cross sectional view of the handle
support 73 at line I-I of FIG. 11B;
[0058] FIG. 11E shows a side view of a sheet of steel 431 before
rolling it into a shaft;
[0059] FIGS. 11F-G show a side view and top view of the sheet steel
431 after being pressed and rolled into a shape of a round shaft
431c with a pair of round protrusions 431p according to the present
invention;
[0060] FIGS. 11H shows a perspective view of a sheet of metal which
has been pressed and rolled to form a handle 432a according to the
present invention;
[0061] FIG. 11I shows a front view of a sheet of metal 433 before
rolling it into a handle;
[0062] FIGS. 11J show a perspective view of the sheet metal 433
which has been pressed and rolled to form another handle 433a
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0063] FIG. 11K-L show end views of the sheet metal 431 pressed and
bent to form a shaft having a square cross section and U cross
section according to the present invention;
[0064] FIG. 11M shows a front view of a sheet of metal 444 before
rolling and pressing it into a handle 444a;
[0065] FIG. 11N shows a perspective view of the sheet metal 444
after it has been pressed and rolled to form another handle 444a
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0066] FIG. 11P shows a side cross sectional view at line I-I in
FIG. 11N of the handle 444a;
[0067] FIG. 11Q shows a perspective view of the shaft 431c of FIG.
11F;
[0068] FIG. 11R shows a perspective view of a sheet of metal after
it has been punched and pressed to form another handle 444a
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0069] FIGS. 12A-12D show a perspective view, side view, top view
and a bottom view of the end cap 74 according to the present
invention;
[0070] FIG. 12E shows a side cross sectional view of the end cap 74
at line I-I of FIG. 12C;
[0071] FIGS. 13A-13F show a perspective view, a side view, a top
view, a bottom view, a front view and a back view of the air outlet
portion according to the present invention;
[0072] FIG. 13G shows a side cross sectional view at line I-I of
FIG. 13C;
[0073] FIGS. 13H-I show a side view and front view of the air
outlet portion 75 with a flexible tail portion 75t thereof twisted
around the bottom of the air outlet portion 75 with a round
extending end 75e of the tail 75t locked in a hole 75h;
[0074] FIGS. 13J and 13K show a bottom view of the air outlet
portion 750 and a perspective view of a tail portion 751 according
to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0075] FIG. 13L shows a side cross sectional view of the air outlet
portion 750 according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0076] FIG. 13M shows a perspective view of a female connector 700
used with the air outlet portion of FIG. 13L;
[0077] FIG. 13N shows an enlarged perspective view of a rubber disc
751 used as a one way air valve in FIG. 13L; FIG. 130 shows an
enlarged side view of a disc 751 shown in FIG. 13N;
[0078] FIG. 13P shows a side cross sectional view of the air outlet
portion 750 of FIG. 13L without the female connector 700 and disc
751 assembled therein;
[0079] FIGS. 14A-14C show a side cross sectional view, a top view
and a bottom view of the foot-hand air pump 111 according to the
present invention;
[0080] FIGS. 15A and 15B show a side view and a side cross
sectional view of conventional male and female connectors 7a and 7b
having respective ends thereof mounted in a nylon tube 7n according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0081] FIG. 15C shows a side cross sectional view of a female
connector 77b mounted in a nylon tube 7n according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0082] FIGS. 15D-15F show a side cross sectional view, a side view
and a side view of the first, second and third portions 801, 802,
803 of the connector 77b before the assembly of the connector
according to the present invention;
[0083] FIGS. 15G and 15H show a front and back view of a first part
801 of the connector 77b;
[0084] FIG. 15I shows a front view of the second portion of the
connector 77b;
[0085] FIGS. 15J and 15K show a front and back view of the third
portion of the connector 77b;
[0086] FIGS. 16A-16C show a side view, a front view and a back view
of a piston 76;
[0087] FIG. 16D shows a side cross sectional view of the piston 76
at line I-I of FIG. 16B;
[0088] FIGS. 17A-C show a side view, a front view and a back view
of a piston 83 having a lubrication reservoir tank 83r according to
the present invention;
[0089] FIG. 17D shows a side cross sectional view of the piston 83
at line I-I of FIG. 17B;
[0090] FIGS. 18A-C show a side view, a front view and a back view
of a piston 84 according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0091] FIG. 18D shows a side cross sectional view of the piston 83
at line I-I of FIG. 18B inside a cylinder 70;
[0092] FIG. 18E shows a front view of a piston 840, further
including an oil lubrication apparatus 840r according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0093] FIG. 18F shows a side cross sectional view of the piston 840
at line I-I of FIG. 18E;
[0094] FIG. 19A shows a side cross sectional view of a foot-hand
air pump 1111 similar to the air pump 111 of FIGS. 14A-14C, further
including a pressure indicating gauge according to the present
invention;
[0095] FIG. 19B shows perspective view of a handle 710 of the air
pump 1111 according to the present invention;
[0096] FIG. 19C shows perspective view of a handle support 730 of
the air pump 1111 according to the present invention;
[0097] FIGS. 20A, B show perspective views of a cap 761 and
extension means 762 for the air pump 1111 according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0098] FIG. 20C shows a side cross sectional view of the cap at
line I-I of FIG. 20A with the extension means 762 mounted therein
according to the present invention;
[0099] FIG. 20D shows a side cross sectional view of a foot-hand
air pump 11111 similar to the air pump 1111 of FIG. 19A including a
pressure indicating gauge according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0100] FIG. 21A-C show a side view, a top view and a bottom view of
first part of an air pressure indicating device according to
another embodiment of the present invention;
[0101] FIG. 21D shows a side cross sectional view of the first part
210 at line I-I of FIG. 21B;
[0102] FIG. 21E shows a side cross sectional view at line I-I of
FIG. 21B further including the rest of the air pressure indicating
device according to the present invention;
[0103] FIG. 21F-G show a front and back view of the end cap 211 of
the pressure indicating device;
[0104] FIG. 21H shows a side view of an air pressure piston 212 of
the pressure indicating device;
[0105] FIGS. 22A-B show a top view and a bottom view of an air
pressure measuring/indicating device according to the present
invention;
[0106] FIG. 22C shows a side cross sectional view at line I-I of
the air pressure measuring/indicating device of FIG. 22A;
[0107] FIGS. 22D-E show a front view and back view of a Schrader
valve opening means 311 of FIG. 22C; and
[0108] FIG. 22F-G show a front view and back view of an round
rubber sleeve 312 of FIG. 22C.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0109] FIG. 1 shows front view of a conventional air pump.
Referring to the Fig., numeral 1 designates a conventional hand
held air pump, numeral 2 designates a cylindrical body, numeral 3
designates a fixed handle which is formed of plastic or metal
mounted on one end of a cylindrical metal hollow shaft 4, the other
end of the shaft 4 being connected to an air piston (not shown)
provided for compressing and pushing air into a bicycle tire (not
shown) according to conventional methods well know in the art.
Numeral 5 designates an end cap which is screwed into one end of
the cylinder 2. The end cap 5 has a central through hole 5a formed
therein for receiving and supporting the shaft 4 therethrough and
for allowing air to pass therebetween. Numeral 6 designates a
rubber pipe having a male connector 7a and a female connector 7b
mounted on respective ends thereof, connector 7a having a male
portion thread (not shown) which is screwed into a female connector
insert (not shown) mounted along the bottom of the cylinder 2 and
connector 7b having a female thread portion (not shown) which can
be screwed onto a conventional bicycle air valve (not shown). The
pipe 6 and the connector 7a slidingly fit into the central hole 4a
inside the center of the shaft 4 for storage therein.
[0110] FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of an air pump according to
a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the Fig.,
numeral 11 generally designates an air pump which is substantially
the same as the conventional air pump of FIG. 1, with the following
differences. Numeral 33 designates a handle which is substantially
the same as the handle 3, but also includes a flexible plastic ring
33a integrally formed therewith along the top outer surface of the
handle 33, the ring 33a having an outer peripheral width greater
than the diameter of the handle 33. Numeral 33b designates a pair
of tooth shaped protrusions formed along the outer sides of the
ring 33a. The purpose for the ring 33a will be described
herebelow.
[0111] FIG. 3 shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle saddle
support post 23 and a bicycle frame portion 25 into which the
saddle support post 23 slides into having the air pump 11 of FIG.
2A frictionally supported inside according to the present
invention. Referring to the Fig., numeral 24 designates a saddle
mounted on the saddle support post 23 using conventional means,
numeral 25 designates a saddle support frame portion of a
conventional bicycle frame, numeral 26 designates a conventional
quick release latch commonly found on bicycle frames which has a
pressure applying handle 26a which can be manually turned to lock
or release the bicycle saddle support post 23 in the frame portion
25, so that the saddle support post 23 and saddle 24 can be raised
or lowered to any desired height or completely taken out from the
saddle support frame portion 25.
[0112] As can be seen from FIG. 3, the outer diameter of the air
pump 11 is less than the inner diameter of the saddle support 23,
which would normally result in the air pump 11 sliding down to the
bottom of the frame portion 25 due to gravity. However, since the
peripheral width of the ring 33a is greater than inner diameter of
the saddle support post 23 and the diameter of the frame portion
25, the ring 33a generates a frictional force against the inner
walls of the saddle support post 23, thereby preventing the air
pump 11 from sliding down the saddle support post 23 into the frame
portion 25, where it would be difficult to remove. Namely, the
outer sides of the flexible ring 23 push against the inner walls of
the saddle support post 23, regardless of the size and make of the
saddle support post 23 or the bicycle frame portion 25.
Accordingly, due to the flexible nature of the ring 33a, and due to
the flexible ring 23a having an outer peripheral width greater than
that of the saddle support post 23 or the frame portion 25, the
ring 33a generates a frictional force which prevents it, and,
accordingly, the air pump 11 from sliding down the saddle support
post 23 into the frame portion 25, where it would be difficult to
remove. Accordingly, the flexible ring 33a provides a frictional
force generating means for generating a frictional force to prevent
the bicycle pump from sliding down the saddle post into the bicycle
frame, where it would be difficult to get out of. Furthermore, the
tooth like protrusions 33b provide an increased frictional force,
since all the elastic force generated by the ring 33b is applied
over a very small area.
[0113] To insert the air pump 11 inside the post 23, first the post
23 is removed from the frame portion 25, then the pump 11 is pushed
into the post 23, which forces the flexible ring 33a to be squeezed
and frictionally slide into and fit inside the post 23. The
frictional force between the inner walls of the post 23 and the
ring 33a is sufficient to prevent the pump 11 from sliding out of
the saddle support post 23 and into the frame portion 25, where it
would be difficult to remove. The handle 33 can be formed of
plastic using conventional plastic injection molding techniques.
The ring 33a can be formed to have a given width and thickness as
well as diameter to provide the desired frictional characteristics
for a given plastic material used in the manufacture of the handle
33.
[0114] FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of an air pump handle 330
having a plurality of protrusions according to another embodiment
of the present invention. Referring to the Fig., numeral 330
designates a handle similar to the handle 3, but also including a
plurality of radially outwardly facing finger like protrusions 330b
which are integrally formed along the circumferential bottom
surface of the handle 330. The protrusions 330b act similarly to
the ring 33b in that they provide a biasing frictional force when
the handle 330 is inserted into the saddle support post 23.
[0115] FIG. 4A shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle
saddle support post 23 and a bicycle frame portion 25 into which
the saddle support post 23 slides into having the air pump 11 of
FIG. 2A frictionally supported inside and an air pump support means
34 according to the present invention. FIG. 4B shows an end view of
the support 25. Referring to the Figs., the support means 34
comprises a plastic or nylon cylinder. The cylinder 34 is very
thin, light and cheap, such as that used for making straws used for
drinking juice out of cans and can be sold together with the pump
as a set. The user of the bicycle can use a pair of scissors (not
shown) to cut the support 34 to the desired length for his or her
specific bicycle, so that the saddle support post 23 can be lowered
all the way into the post 25 incase the user of the bicycle is very
short in stature. Namely, the combined length of the air pump 11
and the support 34 is equal to the length of the frame portion 25.
To minimize the cost of the pump and to minimize the size of the
packaging required for the pump for the purpose of displaying it on
a shelf of a store, the support 34 can be the actual vacuum-formed
transparent plastic box used for packaging the pump, whereby the
user need only cut out a semicircular portion from the rest of the
packaging box and also cut it to the desired length with a pair of
scissors.
[0116] It should be noted that instead of the cylindrical support
34 a square support or simply a flat plate (not shown) may be used
to support the pump 1 from sliding down the frame portion 25.
[0117] FIG. 5 shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle saddle
support post 230 and a bicycle frame portion 25 into which the
saddle support post 23 slides into having the air pump 11 of FIG.
2A frictionally supported inside according to the present
invention. Referring to the Fig., it can be seen that the saddle
support post 230 is the same as the saddle support post 23 with the
only difference being that the extending end 230a thereof is
tapered. This type of saddle post is commonly used with cheaper
model bicycles. As can be seen from the Fig., the air pump 11 is
partially pushed into the saddle support post 230 until the
protrusions 33b slide inside the tapered portion 230a of the saddle
support post 230, whereby the protrusions 33b not only provide
friction generating means, but also perform as latching means for
preventing the air pump from sliding out of the saddle support post
230.
[0118] FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of an air pump support 60
according to the present invention. Referring to the Fig., numeral
61 designates a semi-cylindrical main body portion which is formed
of springy type sheet metal, numeral 62 designates a plurality of
outwardly facing tooth like protrusions, numeral 63 designates a
semi circular groove formed in the radial direction of the semi
cylindrical main body portion 61 along one end thereof. To
manufacture the air pump support 60, first a square piece of sheet
metal is punched out of a large sheet of metal as well as punching
out the tooth like protrusions 62 and pressing the groove 63. Next,
the square piece of sheet metal is past by a set of rollers to
change it from a flat shape to that shown in FIG. 6a. This process
is well known in the art of sheet metal cold press forming. FIG. 6B
shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle saddle support post
23 having the air pump support 60 mounted therein. Referring to the
Fig., the support 60 is mounted inside the extending end of the
saddle support 23. To mount the air pump support 60 inside the
saddle support post 23, the semi-cylindrical body 61 is pressed
inwards until its outer diameter is smaller that the inner diameter
of the saddle support post 23, then the support 60 is slid into the
open extending end of the saddle support post 23 until the groove
63 is adjacent to the extending end of the saddle support post 23.
Since the support 60, in its usual state, has a diameter which is
greater than the inner diameter of the saddle support post 23, it
exerts a constant outward force against the inner walls of the post
62. The tooth like protrusions provide an additional frictional
force for preventing the support 60 from sliding out of the saddle
support post 23.
[0119] FIG. 6C shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle
saddle support post 23 having the air pump support 60 mounted
therein and the air pump 11 of FIG. 2A supported by the support 60.
Referring to the Fig., the air pump 11 is supported by the support
60. More specifically, by pushing the air pump 11 into the saddle
support post 23 until the protrusions 33b fit into the groove 63,
or alternatively, by pushing the air pump 11 all the way into the
saddle support post 23 or, as is shown in the Fig., namely, above
the top surface of the support 60, the support 60 provides the
function of a support means or clamping means or latch means for
preventing the pump 11 from sliding out of the saddle support post
23.
[0120] FIG. 6D shows a perspective view of an air pump support 600
according another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to
the invention, the support 600 is very similar to the support 60
and the only difference is that the support 600 further includes a
plurality of inwardly facing finger like protrusions 601 which have
been punched out of the sheet of metal similar to the outwardly
facing protrusions 62. Each of the protrusions 601 is rectangular
in shape and is bent along a central portion thereof so that the
extending end of each protrusion 601 is facing outwardly towards
the cylindrical wall. Accordingly, with this type of air pump
support 600, not only is a constant outward frictional force
generated by the protrutions 62 against the inner surface of the
saddle support shaft 23, but also an inward force is generated by
the inwardly facing finger like protrusions 601 against a handle of
an air pump which is inserted therebetween. With this type of
support 600, not only is the frictional force on an air pump
supported between the plurality of finger like protrusions
increased, but also the air pump supported therebetween can be of
varying diameters and any conventional air pump may be supported
therebetween.
[0121] FIG. 7A shows a side cross sectional view of a bicycle
saddle support post 23 mounted in a bicycle saddle post frame
portion 25 having a conventional air pump 11 and a spring 41 stored
therein according to the present invention. Referring to the Fig.,
numeral 41 shows a conventional spring 41 placed inside the frame
portion 25. The spring 41 acts as a biasing means or as a bicycle
air pump storage-dispensing device for pushing a conventional air
pump such as shown by the pump 1, or any of the air pumps according
to the present invention, against the inside upper surface of the
post 23. Alternatively, if the diameter of the pump 1 is greater
than the inner diameter of the saddle support post 23 but less than
the inner diameter of the frame portion 25, against the extending
end 23e of the saddle support post 23. According to this
embodiment, first the saddle support post 23 is removed from the
frame portion 25, next the spring 41 is inserted (i.e., dropped)
into the frame portion 25, next the conventional air pump 1 or any
of the pumps according to the present invention is inserted into
the pipe portion 25 and then the saddle support post 23 is inserted
into the frame portion 25. Accordingly, the spring 41 pushes
against the bottom of the air pump 1 causing the top of the air
pump 1 to push against the upper inside surface 23u of the post 23.
The pressure applying handle 26a is then turned to lock the saddle
24 at the desired height for the particular user.
[0122] Accordingly, the spring 41 pushes the air pump 11 upwards as
high as the air pump can go, whereby not only is the pump 11 and
the spring 41 prevented from vibrating during the riding of the
bike but also provides for the easy removal of the air pump 11 from
inside the frame portion 25. Furthermore, the spring 41 acts as a
bicycle air pump storage-dispensing device, since it allows for the
automatic adjustment of the height of the air pump 1 (i.e.
automatically adjusts the size of the "storage" space inside the
saddle support post 23 and/or the frame portion 25 regardless of
the length and inner diameter of the saddle support post 23, frame
portion 25 and the length of the air pump 1) during the storage
thereof inside the saddle support post 23 and/or the frame portion
25, while also facilitating for the easy removal (i.e.
"dispensing") of the air pump due to the biasing force of the
spring. The spring 41 may be formed from conventional spring steel
or from elastic plastic material to reduce the weight thereof. The
length of the spring 41 preferably should be less than the length
of the frame portion 25, but it should not be shorter than the
length required to push at least the top of the air pump 1 past the
opening of the frame portion 25. Further, that the spring constant
(i.e. F=kS, where F represents force, s represents the distance the
spring is compressed and k represents the spring constant) should
be just sufficient to push the air pump out of the frame portion,
namely, the thinnest spring possible should be used to minimize the
weight thereof. Further, that the spring used is of the push type
(i.e. its coils are spread out) and not the pull type. Furthermore,
when the spring 41 is in a completely compressed state, the length
of the compressed spring 41 and the length of the air pump 11
should be less than the length of the frame portion 25.
[0123] FIG. 7B shows a side view of another embodiment of a biasing
means 41b which can be used instead of the spring 41. Referring to
the Fig., the biasing means 41b comprises a flat snake like spring
made of an elastic plastic material or flexible steel, which can be
used instead of the spring 41. One end 41c of the spring 41b is
formed in a circular shape to provide for a greater surface area
for pushing against the bottom of the air pump 1, so that the air
pump 1 does not slide along the side thereof. The other side of the
spring 41a can be snipped with a pair of scissors to the desired
length by the user. This spring 41a can further reduce the cost of
manufacture and the weight thereof.
[0124] FIG. 8A shows a side cross sectional view of conventional
air pump 1 stored in a bicycle saddle support post 23 and/or
bicycle saddle post frame portion 25 according to the present
invention, further including a case 51 for storing bicycle air pump
parts therein, such as additional connectors for connecting the air
pump to different types of air tire valves, as well as for storing
flat tire fixing parts. Referring to the Fig., it can be seen that
the case 51 is placed between the spring 41 and the air pump 1.
Both the pump 1 and the case 51 are prevented from vibrating during
the riding of the bicycle due to the biasing means of the spring
41. When the saddle support post 23 is removed from the frame
portion 25, the spring 41 pushes the air pump 1 and the fixing kit
case 51 out of the frame portion 25, so that they may be easily
accessible.
[0125] FIG. 8B shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of
the case 51 according to the present invention. Referring to the
Fig., numeral 51a designates a cylindrical bottom portion and
numeral 511b designates a cylindrical cover for the case 51 which
can be pushed onto the top of the bottom portion 51a. The case 51
contains materials and tools for fixing a flat tire such as special
spoons to remove the tire, rubber patches for mending a hole in the
bicycle rubber tube, glue for applying to the patch if it does not
have adhesive material applied on it, sand paper for rubbing the
surface of the tube around the hole as well as spare parts such as
air valve parts, air valve adapter connectors, etc. The case 51 may
further have a sponge inserted inside to prevent the parts stored
therein from vibrating and causing noise while a person is riding
the bicycle. Accordingly, the outer diameter of the case 51 must be
less than the inner diameter of the frame portion 25, so that it
may freely move up and down therein.
[0126] FIG. 8C shows a perspective view of another embodiment of
the case 51. Referring to the drawing, numeral 51c designates a
cylindrical case having an opening along the side thereof and
numeral 51d designates a lid for closing the case. The case 51c can
be used to store bicycle tire fixing tools and fixing parts as well
as any other parts. A sponge (not shown) may be included inside the
case 51c to dampen any vibration sounds made by the parts inside
the case 51c during riding. The spring 41 urges the case 51 and the
air pump 1 to be pushed upwards into the space inside the post 23.
To use the air pump 1 or case 51, simply take out the saddle
support post 23 out of the frame portion 25. The spring 41 will
push the pump 1 and the case 51 out of the frame portion 25, so
that they can be used. To store the case 51 and pump 1 simply press
down on the spring 41 with the pump 1 and insert the saddle support
post 23 back into the frame portion 25.
[0127] FIG. 9A shows a front view of a foot-hand air pump 111 with
the handle 71 thereof in the vertical position (i.e. air pump
storage position) according to the present invention. FIGS. 9B and
9C show a side view and end view of a foot-hand air pump 111 of
FIG. 9A with the handle 71 thereof in the horizontal position (i.e.
air pumping position). Most bicycle air pumps can be divided into
two types. The first type is the one held by both the left and the
right hand and moving the hands towards each other forces air out
of the air pump, hereafter referred to "as hand air pump". The
other type of air pump is the one where one end of the pump is
pressed against the ground by a foot and the other end (i.e. the
handle 71) of the air pump is pushed by hand towards the end
pressed against the ground, hereafter referred to as "foot-hand air
pump".
[0128] As is well known, it is much harder to use a hand air pump
than to use a foot-hand air pump since both hands are required in a
hand pump, one hand pushing against the other to pump air, while in
the foot-hand air pump, one or both hands is/are used to push the
handle to pump air while the other end of the air pump is pressed
against the ground. However, foot-hand air pumps are generally much
larger than hand pumps and have many protruding part. Accordingly,
it would not be possible to insert and store a foot-hand air pump
inside the frame of a bicycle. Therefore, it is very desirable to
have a foot-hand air pump, which are much more efficient when it
comes to pumping air, which has a small outer diameter and can be
stored inside the saddle support post 23 and/or the frame portion
25 into which the saddle support post 23 slides into.
[0129] One major object of the present invention is to provide a
foot-hand air pump 111 which is substantially cylindrical in shape
and having no protruding portions, so that the foot-hand air pump
111 can be stored inside the bicycle frame. Furthermore, although
the foot-hand air pump 111 is limited to a relatively small
diameter, it still provides a relatively large volume of pumped air
for each pumping stroke for its relative size, because, although
limited to a small diameter, it can be made as long as the length
of the frame portion 25 and still allow the saddle to be lowered to
its lowest position in case a short person is riding the
bicycle.
[0130] Referring to FIGS. 9A-9C, numeral 70 generally designates a
cylindrical body, numeral 72 designates a cylindrical hollow shaft,
numeral 73 generally designates a handle support which is mounted
on an outwardly extending end of a cylindrical hollow shaft 72, the
other end of the shaft 72 being connected to an air piston 76 (see
FIG. 14A) which is provided for compressing and pushing air into a
bicycle tire (not shown) according to conventional methods well
know in the art. Numeral 74 designates an end cap which is screwed
into one end of the cylinder 70. Numeral 75 generally designates
air outlet portion which is connected to the other end of the
cylinder 70. Numeral 71 generally designates a handle which is
formed of plastic or sheet metal, the handle 71 being pivotally
mounted on the handle support 73 as will be explained later.
[0131] FIGS. 11A-11D show a perspective view, a top view and a
bottom view and a side cross sectional view at line I-I of FIG.
11B, respectively, of the handle support 73 according to the
present invention. Referring to the Figs., the handle support 73
comprises a central shaft portion 73a having a through hole 73h for
frictionally receiving the extending end of the shaft 72 therein
and a pair of handle support shafts 73s integrally formed with the
cylindrical portion 73a along diagonally opposed outer sides
thereof. The handle support 73 further comprises a ring shaped
portion 73r formed along one end of the shaft 73a along an inner
surface thereof for preventing the handle support from sliding down
the shaft 72. The handle support 73 is frictionally mounted on the
shaft 72 by pushing the outwardly extending end of the shaft 72
into the hole 73h until the extending end of the shaft 72 buts up
against the inner side of the ridge 73r. Alternatively, the handle
support 73 may be glued onto the extending end of the shaft 72, so
that it is permanently fixed thereto. The handle support is
preferably made of plastic or a nylon material using conventional
injection molding techniques.
[0132] FIGS. 10A-10E show a perspective view, a top view, a bottom
view, a front view and a side view of the handle 71 according to
the present invention. FIG. 10F shows a side cross sectional view
of the handle 71 at line I-I in FIG. 10D. FIGS. 10G-10H show a side
cross sectional view of the handle 71 at line I-I in FIG. 10D, with
the handle 71 being mounted on the handle support section 73. In
FIG. 10H, the handle 71 is in the air pumping position (i.e.,
horizontal position) and in FIG. 10G the handle 71 is in the air
pump storage position (i.e., vertical position). Referring to the
Figs., the handle 71 comprises a substantially semi-cylindrical
body 71b, the open side of the semi-cylindrical body allowing the
handle 71 to swivel about the shaft 72 from a vertical position
(i.e. air storage position) to a horizon position (i.e. air pumping
position) as well as to allow the semi-cylindrical body 71b to be
squeezed inwardly, whereby the facing edges 71e thereof are pressed
towards each other, so that the outer diameter of the cylindrical
body 71b and, accordingly, the handle 71 is reduced. Numeral 71p
designates a plurality of round protrusions integrally formed along
the outer side of the handle 71 in the radial direction thereof
near the extending end (i.e. the end where the wall 71w is formed)
of the handle 71. The protrusions 71p serve to further increase the
anti-slide frictional characteristics of the air pump 111 when the
air pump 111 is stored inside the saddle post 73. The handle 71 is
made of plastic, nylon or any other suitable material using
conventional injection molding techniques. Numeral 71h designates a
pair of through holes made at diagonally opposing sides of the
handle 71 for receiving the handle support shafts 73s therein. The
diameter of the holes 71h is the same as or slightly greater than
the outer diameter of the shafts 73s, so that the handle 71 can be
mounted on the shafts 73s and swivel thereon. To mount the handle
71 on the handle support 73, facing edges 71e of the handle 71 are
manually pulled away from each other until the distance between the
holes 71h is large enough to allow the shafts 73s to fit
therebetween. Then, the facing edges 71e are released to allow the
shafts 71s to slidingly fit into the holes 71h. The extending ends
73e of the handle support shafts 73s may be formed to be slightly
larger in diameter, so that they provide a better gripping
characteristics for the handle 73.
[0133] Numeral 71l designates an inwardly facing tooth shaped ridge
or latch (hereinafter referred to as female locking portion) formed
along the inner bottom circumferential edge of the handle 71 for
locking the handle 71 to the cap 74 as will be explained later.
Numeral 71w designates a wall integrally formed along the extending
end of the semi-cylindrical body 71b of the handle 71 in the radial
(i.e., horizontal) direction thereof. Numeral 71s designates a
through hole formed in the center of the wall 71w for frictionally
supporting the connector 7b and the pipe 6 therein. Numeral 71v
designates a V shaped slot formed in the wall 71w, starting from
the periphery of the wall 71w and extending to the through hole
71s, the open section of the semi-cylindrical body 71b and the
periphery of the V shaped slot 71v coinciding with each other.
Accordingly, the slot 71v serves for easily guiding the pipe 6 and
the connector 7b into the hole 71s for being frictionally supported
therein. Also, since the wall 71w and the semi-cylindrical body 71b
are formed of flexible material, they can be squeezed by hand to
fit in and frictionally slide inside the saddle support post 23.
Accordingly, the male connector 7a and the hose 7n can be stored
inside the shaft 72 by passing them through the hole 73h in the
handle support 73 and the female connector 7b or 77b can be
frictionally supported in the hole 71s.
[0134] One major advantage of having the connector 7b supported in
the hole 71s in the wall 71w and having the connector 7a and the
hose 7n supported inside the shaft 72 is that, if the user turns
the handle from the storage position (i.e. vertical position) to
the air pumping position (i.e. horizontal position), the handle 71
will not be damaged or brake, since the hose 7n is flexible and
will bend with the turning action of the handle 71. Furthermore,
since the connector 7b extends above the extending end of the
handle 71, it is easy to access as well as to mount or remove from
the handle 71. Still further, the semi-cylindrical handle 71 and,
accordingly, the female locking portion 71l, have a circumference
less than 360 degrees but more than 180 degrees and, thereby not
only providing handle locking (latch) means for locking the handle
71 in the vertical position (i.e. the handle 71 is locked in the
male latch portion 741, so that the handle 71 and the shaft 72
cannot be pulled out of the cylinder 70), but also providing handle
anti-swivel latch means (i.e., the horizontal position), so that
some force must be exerted on the handle 71 to cause it to swivel
with respect to the cylinder portion 70. Namely, when rotating the
handle from the vertical position to the horizontal position, some
force must be manually exerted to separate (i.e., unlatch) the male
and female locking portions 74l and 71l from each other.
[0135] FIG. 9D shows a side cross sectional view of the saddle
support post 23 locked inside the frame portion 25 with the
foot-hand air pump 111 stored inside the saddle support 23.
Referring to the Fig., to insert the foot-hand air pump 111 inside
the saddle post, the foot-hand air pump 111 is manually pushed into
the saddle support 23 while the handle 71 is in the vertical locked
position. However, since the diameter of the handle 71 is larger
than the inner diameter of the saddle support 23, the handle 71
must be first squeezed inwardly causing the facing edges 71e of the
handle 71 to move towards each other, and then pushed inside the
saddle support post 23. Accordingly, since the handle 71 is made of
a flexible material, the handle 71 exerts a constant outward force
on the inner walls of the saddle support 23 to stop to handle 71,
and accordingly, the foot-hand air pump 111 from sliding down the
saddle support 23. Further, the round protrusions 71p create
increased anti-sliding frictional characteristics for the air pump
111. Still further, the tail sections 75t and round portion 75e are
deformed to fit the inside of the frame support section 25, thereby
preventing rattling of the air pump 111 as well as providing an
additional anti-sliding frictional force for preventing the
foot-hand air pump 111 from sliding down the frame portion 25.
[0136] It should be noted that the shafts 73s of the handle support
73 can be formed to have a length which is slightly smaller than
that shown in FIG. 14A, so that the distance between the
extremities of the shafts 71s is less than the outer diameter of
the handle 71 to facilitate the above desired air pump storing
characteristics. In this case the thickness of the inner walls
around the holes 71s can be increased (i.e. flanged) to provide
better handle support characteristics by the shafts 73s.
[0137] It should be further noted that the handle 71 can be formed
to have the extending end thereof (i.e. the end having the wall
71w) tapered, so that the extending tapered end of the handle 71
has a smaller outer diameter than the rest of the handle as well as
a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the support shaft 23,
whereby the tapered extending end of the handle 71 can be easily
inserted into the saddle support 71, and then, the larger diameter
portion of the handle 71 must be pushed into the saddle support
(i.e. by holding the cylindrical portion 70 and pushing the air
pump 111 into the saddle support 111), thereby simplifying the
insertion of the air pump into the saddle support 23.
[0138] FIG. 101 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of
the handle 710 for the foot-hand air pump 111 according to the
present invention. The portions of the handle 710 which are the
same as those in the handle 71 will be designated by the same
numerals. Referring to the Fig., numeral 710f designates a tongue
like flange which is integrally formed with the body portion 710b
along the extending end thereof above the wall 71w. The base of the
flange 710f partially extends along the circumference of the top of
the wall 71w and the extending end of the flange 710f is less wide
than it is at its base, so that the flange may be used as a tool to
remove a bicycle tire (not shown) in order to fix a puncture in a
rubber tube (not shown) inside the tire. The thickness of the
flange is greater than the walls of the handle body 710b for
providing extra strength for removing the bicycle tire from a rim
(not shown) of a wheel (not shown). Accordingly, the flange 71f can
be used for removing a tire from a rim (not shown) in order to fix
a flat tire. Numeral 710r designate two pairs of inwardly facing
ridges formed on the inner surface of the main body 710b along the
facing edges 71e. The ridges 710r and the inner surface of the wall
710b between the ridges 710r serve to support a rubber patch 81
(shown in FIG. 10K), which is commonly available and well know in
the art.
[0139] FIG. 10K shows a front view of a rubber patch 81 which has
an adhesive compound pre-applied to one side thereof. The patch 81
has a vinyl seal 82 applied to one side thereof for keeping the
adhesive compound fresh thereunder. Since the rubber patch 81 is
made of rubber, it can be bent to fit the curvature of the inside
of the handle 710, and by choosing the right length 1 and width w,
as shown in FIG. 10K, for the patch 81, it can be made to fit
between the wall 71w and the holes 71h of the handle 710 along the
length 1 thereof and between the respective two sets of inwardly
facing ridges 71r. The elastic nature of the patch 81 will ensure
that it is permanently stored along the inner walls of the handle
710, until such time as the user decides to manually pull it out
for fixing a flat tire.
[0140] FIG. 10J shows perspective view of another embodiment of the
handle 71l for the foot-hand air pump 111 according to the present
invention. The portions of the handle 71l which are the same as
those in the handle 710 will be designated by the same numerals.
Referring to the Fig., numeral 71l generally designates the handle,
numeral 711b designates a semi-elliptical body portion (instead of
the semi-cylindrical body portion 71a). The elliptical shape of the
handle 71l provides for better anti-slide friction characteristics
inside the saddle post 23.
[0141] FIGS. 12A-12E show a perspective view, side view, top view,
bottom view and cross sectional view at line I-I of FIG. 12C of the
end cap 74 according to the present invention. Referring to the
Figs., numeral 74s designates a cylindrically shaped body having a
through hole 74h formed through the center thereof for receiving
and slidingly supporting the shaft 72 therein and for allowing air
to pass therebetween. Numeral 74t designates a thread portion
formed at one end of the outer wall of the cylindrical body 74s,
numeral 74r designates a ridge formed along the outer wall of the
cylindrical body 74s, and numeral 74l designates an outwardly
facing tooth shaped ridge (hereinafter referred to as male locking
portion) formed along the other end of the outer wall of the
cylindrically shaped body 74s. The outer surface of the cylindrical
body 74s between the ridge 74r and male locking portion 74l
provides room for allowing the female locking portion 71l to fit in
when the handle 71 is in the vertical position. Accordingly, moving
the handle 71, while being in the vertical position (as shown in
FIG. 10G), towards the cap 74, and pushing the handle 71 against
the cap 74, causes the female locking portion 71l (i.e. the
inwardly facing tooth shaped ridge 71l) of the handle 71, to
spread, due to the elastic nature of the handle 71, allowing the
female locking portion 71l to pass over the male locking portion
74l of the end cap 74 to lock the handle 71 with the end cap 74. To
unlock the handle 71 from the cap 74, the handle 74 is turned from
the vertical position (i.e. as shown in FIG. 10G) to the horizontal
position (i.e. as shown in FIG. 10H).
[0142] It should be noted that when the piston 76 is pushed all the
way into the cylinder 71 (i.e. at the end of the air pumping
stroke) by the shaft 72, the portion of the shaft 72 still
extending outside the air pump 111 (i.e. above the end cap 74)
should be just long enough to allow the male and female locking
portions 74l and 71l of the cap 74 and handle 71 to lock.
[0143] FIG. 11E shows a front view of a sheet of steel before
rolling it into a shaft. FIGS. 11F-G show a front view and end view
of the sheet steel after being pressed and rolled into a shape of a
round pipe with a pair of round protrusions 431p. FIG. 11Q shows a
perspective view of the shaft 431c of FIG. 11F. Referring to the
Figs., a large sheet of metal (not shown) is first punched and
pressed to cut it into smaller sheets of metal 431 having a desired
length and width, using conventional cutting and pressing machines
well known in the art, the pressing operation forming the two
protrusions 431p. Next, the sheet of metal 431 with the two
protrusions 431p is rolled to form a cylindrical shaft 431c having
two protrusions 431p located at diagonally opposing sides thereof
and a seam 431s running along the length thereof. Alternatively,
instead of rolling the sheet metal 431 into a cylinder as shown in
FIG. 11G, it can be pressed into a square shape as shown by the end
view in FIG. 11k or into a U shaped beam as shown by the end view
in FIG. 11L and can be used instead of the shaft 72 and the handle
support 73. The cylindrical shaft 431c can replace the shaft 72 as
well as the handle support portion 73 by forming it to have the
same length and the same diameter as the shaft 72. The cylindrical
shaft 431c will not only result in a cheaper and stronger shaft and
handle support section, but it will also reduce the number of parts
required (i.e. since the handle support, namely, protrusions 431p
are an integral part of the shaft 431).
[0144] FIG. 11H shows a perspective view of a sheet of steel which
has been pressed and rolled to form a handle. Referring to the
Fig., a large sheet of metal (not shown) is first punched and
pressed to cut it into smaller sheets of metal 432 having a desired
length and width, as well as a pair of holes 732h using
conventional cutting machines well known in the art. Next, the
sheet of metal 432 with the two holes 432h is rolled to form a
semi-cylindrical handle 432a having two holes 432h located at
diagonally opposing sides thereof. This handle 432h can be used
instead of the handle 71 in conjunction with the shaft 431c by
mounting the protrusions 431p of the shaft 431c in the holes 432h
of the handle 432a. This will results in a very cheap and strong
handle to replace the handle 71. Since the handle 432h is formed of
sheet metal, it is flexible in nature and can be squeezed to fit
inside the saddle support 23. Preferably a sheet metal which does
not rust should be used, i.e. aluminum, stainless steel, etc.
[0145] FIG. 11I shows a front view of a sheet of metal 433 before
rolling it into a handle. FIG. 11J show a perspective view of the
sheet metal 433 which has been pressed and rolled to form a handle
433a according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to the Figs., a large sheet of metal (not shown) is first
punched to cut it into smaller sheets of metal 433 having a desired
length and width, using conventional cutting machines well known in
the art, the cutting operation including a hole punching operation
to form the two holes 433h. Next, the sheet of metal 431 with the
two holes 433h is pressed and rolled to form the semi cylindrical
shaft 433a having two inner flaps 433f each of which have the holes
433h formed therethrough at diagonally opposing sides. To mount
this handle 433a on the shaft 431c, the flaps 433f are manually
spread so that the protrusions 431p fit therebetween and slide into
the holes 433h. When the flaps 433f are released the protrusions
431p are permanently locked inside the holes 433h in the handle
433a. The handle 433a is also flexible in nature and may be
squeezed to frictionally fit inside the saddle support 23.
[0146] FIG. 11M shows a front view of a sheet of metal 444 before
rolling and pressing it into a handle 444a. The sheet of metal 444
has been punched (i.e. cut) out of a much larger sheet of metal
(not shown) using a metal mold having the shape of the sheet metal
shown in the FIG. 11M. During this step, also a pair of through
holes 444h are punched out of the sheet of metal. Next, the sheet
metal 444 shown in FIG. 11M is pressed, and rolled to form the
handle 444a shown in FIG. 11N, which shows a perspective view of
the sheet metal 444 after it has been pressed and rolled to form
another handle 444a according to another embodiment of the present
invention. More specifically, the sheet of metal 444 is first bent
at lines A and B by 90 degrees and 160 degrees, respectively, and
then the portion of the sheet metal between lines A and B is rolled
to form a semi-cylindrical shape. The portion below the line B
forms a female locking tooth like latch 4441 (similar to the tooth
like protrusion 71l of FIG. 10A). The portion above the line A
comprises a pair of protrusions each having a V portion 444v and
444s, which together, after the handle 444a is formed into a
semi-cylindrical handle 444a, produce a V shaped guide 444v and a
round hole 444s for frictionally supporting the tube 6 and
connector 77b therein (similarly to the V shaped guide 71v and hole
71s of FIG. 10A). FIG. 11P shows a side cross sectional view at
line I-I in FIG. 11N of the handle 444a. Accordingly, the handle
444a can be made very cheaply and is very strong. To mount this
handle 444a on the shaft 431c, the cylindrical body of the handle
444a is manually spread, so that the protrusions 431p fit
therebetween and slide into the holes 444h. When the cylindrical
body of the handle 444a is released, the protrusions 431p are
permanently locked inside the holes 444h in the handle 444a. The
handle 444a is also flexible in nature and may be squeezed to
frictionally fit inside the saddle support 23.
[0147] FIG. 1R shows a perspective view of a sheet of metal after
it has been punched and pressed to form another handle 4444
according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring
to the Fig., the numeral 4444a designates a sheet of metal which
has been pressed into a U-shape having a pair of holes 4444h formed
at opposite sides thereof for mounting the handle on to the round
protrusions 431p of the shaft 431c. Numeral 4444t designates a
series of different size octagonal holes punched through the handle
44444, which can be used as tools (i.e. wrenches) to tighten or
loosen screws on the bicyle.
[0148] FIGS. 13A-13F show a perspective view, a side view, a top
view, a bottom view, a front view and a back view of the air outlet
portion according to the present invention. FIG. 13G shows a side
cross sectional view at line I-I of FIG. 13C. Referring to the
Figs., numeral 75 generally designates the air outlet portion,
numeral 75a designates a round shaft portion which frictionally
fits into the other end of the pipe 70, numeral 75r designates a
round ridge portion one end of which is integrally formed with one
end of the round shaft portion and the outer diameter of which is
the same as the pipe 70, numeral 75c designates a round main body
portion one end of which is integrally formed with the other end of
the ridge portion 75r and the diameter of which is smallest around
the central part thereof and the bottom 75b (i.e. the other end of
the main body portion 75c) of which is formed in a concave shape
along one plane thereof Numeral 75t designates a tail portion one
end of which is integrally formed along the bottom surface and back
side of the main body portion 75 and numeral 75e designates a round
portion formed at the other end of the tail portion 75t. The tail
portion 75t is rectangular in shape and the extending portion 75e
is round and provides the function of a foot rest for the user of
the air pump to stand on while pumping air. The tail portion is
flexible and can be twisted around the bottom of the main body
portion due to the material used in the manufacture thereof and due
to its thinness thereof. The air outlet portion is made of plastic
or nylon. Numeral 7c designates a conventional female metal
connector made of brass or aluminum or any other suitable material
which is embedded (an insert) using conventional plastic injection
molding techniques along the front middle section of the main body
portion 75m. Numeral 75z designates an air passage hole which
extends from the top surface of the round shaft 75a through main
body portion 75m to the metal insert connector 7c, so that
compressed air in the air pump 111 can flow therethrough. Numeral
75h designates a through hole formed along the front bottom section
of the main body portion 75m in the axial direction thereof and
numeral 75s designates a vertical slot formed along the front
bottom portion of the main body portion 75m, the slot 75s extending
from the outside periphery of the main body portion 75m to the
through hole 75h. The width of the slot 75s is less than the width
of the tail portion 75t and the diameter of the through hole 75h is
equal to or greater than the with of the tail portion 75t but less
than the diameter of the round portion 75e, so that the tail
portion can be locked therein as will be explained later. Further,
the concave shaped bottom surface 75c can be used to position the
pump over the rim of a wheel (not shown). Moreover, for providing
further support and stability, the slot 75s and the hole 75s can be
used either to further support, in conjunction with the concave
surface 75b, the main body portion 75m on the rim of a wheel by
placing a spoke of the wheel inside the hole 75h or by sliding the
air valve of a tire (not shown) into the hole 75h while pumping air
into the tire (not shown) and using the hose 7n and connectors 7a
and 7b.
[0149] FIGS. 13H-I show a side and front view of the air outlet
portion 75 with the flexible tail portion 75t thereof twisted
around the bottom of the air outlet portion 75 with the round
portion 75e of the tail 75t locked in a hole 75h. To wrap the tail
portion around the bottom of the air outlet portion 75, the
extending round portion 75e is first manually bent downwards and
around the portion 75 and then the tail portion 75t is twisted by
90 degrees so that the thin side of the tail portion 75t can slide
into the slot 75s into the hole 75h, and then the tail portion is
let go so that it automatically locks itself in the hole 75h. In
this way, not only is the tail portion 75t in a storage position
but it also provides the function of anti-sliding friction means
when the air pump is inserted inside the saddle post frame support
section 25. Namely, even in the storage position of the tail
portion 75t, the tail portion 75t has a peripheral diameter greater
than the inner diameter of the frame support section 25, and,
accordingly, must be manually pushed into the frame support section
25, which causes the tail section to contort and fit inside the
frame support section 25. Moreover, the tail section 75t not only
provides for anti-sliding friction generating means but also
prevents the bottom of the air pump 111 from vibrating inside the
frame support section 25 when the user is riding the bicycle.
[0150] It should be noted that another advantage of making the main
body portion 75m thinner along the central part 75c thereof is that
the connector 7a when screwed into the connector 7c is protected
from being damaged while the user pumps air. When the user pumps
air, a lot of force is exerted on the pump and if by chance the
metal connector 7a is pushed against a part of the bicycle or
against the ground, it may damage the threads on the connectors 7a
and 7c. However, with the present structure, a small protective
"pocket" is created for the connector 7a by the main body portion
75.
[0151] Accordingly, the main body portion 75 has no part thereof
extending beyond the periphery of the cylindrical portion 70 and,
since the connector 7c is mounted along the central portion of the
main body portion 75, the bottom surface of the main body portion
75 can be used to push against the ground or the rim of a wheel
when the air pump 111 is used to pump air.
[0152] FIGS. 13J and 13K show a bottom view of the air outlet
portion 750 and a perspective view of a tail portion 751 according
to another embodiment of the present invention. The air outlet
portion 75 and 751 are substantially the same and only the
differences between them will be described herebelow. All identical
parts will be designated by the same numerals. Referring to the
Figs., it can be seen that the main body portion 75m has no tail
section 75t and instead has a rectangular slot 750s formed at the
back side of the main body section 750 in the axial direction
thereof. The tail portion 751 comprises at one end thereof a V
shaped latch 751l. The rest of the tail portion 751 is identical to
the above described tail portion 75t. To assemble the tail 751 in
the air outlet portion 750, the latch portion 751l is manually
pushed through the slot 750s to interlock therewith. Accordingly,
the tail portion 751 and the air outlet portion 750 can be
manufactured separately, and accordingly, can comprise different
colors, as well as using different decorative designs for the round
portion 75e. Namely, the round portion 75e can be formed to have
the shape of the Canadian Maple Leaf, the American Flag, Mickey
mouse, Snoopy, etc.
[0153] It should be noted that instead of the vertical slot 750s, a
horizontal slot (not shown) can be formed extending from the front
of the air outlet portion 75, just below the connector 7c, to the
back side of the air outlet portion 75 and the tail section 75t can
be mounted therein.
[0154] Presently, foot-hand air pumps have a foot rest which are
quite large, heavy and relatively complex in structure. Also, they
are always a separate part and accordingly require additional
manufacturing cost as well as assembly. The foot rest comprising
the portions 75t and 75e are extremely light and cheap, and require
no assembly steps, since they are an integral part of the air
outlet portion 75.
[0155] It should be noted that the tail portion 75t may also be
used to mount the air pump 111 to the outside frame of the bike by
wrapping it around a frame portion of the bike and locking the
round portion 75e in the hole 75h.
[0156] It should be noted that the round shaft portion 75a may have
a thread formed on the outer surface thereof for screwing the air
outlet portion 75 into a similarly formed thread formed along the
inner lower end of the cylindrical body 70.
[0157] FIG. 13L shows a side cross sectional view of the air outlet
portion 750 according to another embodiment of the present
invention, which further includes a one way air valve incorporated
therewith. FIG. 13M shows a perspective view of a female connector
700 used with the air outlet portion of FIG. 13L. FIG. 13N shows an
enlarged perspective view of a disc 751 used as a one way air valve
in FIG. 13L. FIG. 130 shows a side view of a disc 751 shown in FIG.
13N. FIG. 13P shows a side cross sectional view of the air outlet
portion of FIG. 13L without the female connector 700 and disk 751
assembled therein. In the Figs, the same numerals will be used to
designate the same or similar portions as those of the air outlet
portion 75 described above and only the parts which are different
will be described herebelow.
[0158] Referring to the FIGS. 13L-P, numerals 753, 754 designates
an outer and inner round cavities formed in the main body portion
75m which respectively extend from the front side of the main body
portion 75m into a center thereof. The cavities 753, 754 are
adjacent to each other and are coaxial with each other. The
diameter of the outer cavity 753 is larger than the diameter of the
inner cavity 754. The inner cavity 754 connects with the inner end
of the air passage hole 75z. The diameter of the inner cavity 754
is larger than the diameter of the air passage hole 75z. The walls
of the outer cavity 753 have a female thread 753t formed thereon
and the walls of the inner cavity 754 are smooth. Numeral 751
designates a round disc which is made of rubber or nylon, the outer
diameter of which is slightly less than the diameter of the inner
cavity 754 and the thickness of which is slightly less than the
length of the inner cavity 754, whereby, the disc 751 can move
freely back and forth in the inner cavity 754 in the axial
direction thereof. The back surface of the disc is smooth while the
front surface thereof has a plurality of round protrusions 751p
formed thereon. Numeral 758 designates an O ring the outer diameter
of which is the same as the diameter of said outer cavity 753 and
serves the purpose of being an air seal. Numeral 700 designates a
cylindrical female connector portion having threads 700a, 700b
formed on the inner and outer surfaces thereof, respectively. The
outer threat 700a of the connector portion 700 fits the inner
thread 753t of the outer cavity 753, so that the connector portion
700 can be screwed into the outer cavity 753. The length of the
connector portion 700 and the outer cavity 753 are substantially
the same. Numeral 700g designates a pair of grooves formed along
one end of the connector portion 700. The grooves 700g each extend
from the periphery of the connector 700 partially inward in the
radial direction of the connector portion 700. The grooves 700g are
used for screwing the connector portion 700 into the main body
portion 75m using a specially designed screw driver. The inner
thread 700a of the connector portion 700 fits the thread on the
male connector 7a. The connector portion 700 is made of metal, such
as aluminum or brass.
[0159] The outer and inner cavities 753, 754 in the main body 75m,
the disc 751 and the female connector portion 700 provide the
function of a one way air valve, which is very easy to construct,
and requires only one additional part, namely the disc 751, since
the connector portion 700 is required for connecting the male
connector portion 7a. The operation of the one way valve will be
described herebelow.
[0160] When pumping air using the air pump 111, air moves through
the air passage hole 75z from the top of the air outlet portion 750
(as seen in the FIG. 13L) to the inner cavity 754 causing the disc
to move to the left (as seen in the FIG. 13L) to come against the
inner surface of the connector 700, whereby air passes around the
disc 751, through the connector 700 and into the tire being
inflated (not shown). When air is not being pumped by the air pump
111, the air in the tire tries to flow back through the connector
700 causing the disc 751 to move to the right (as seen in FIG. 13L)
to press against the inner wall of the inner cavity 754, to stop
air flow from the tire back into the pump 111. The protrusions 751p
allow air to flow therebetween during the air pumping
operation.
[0161] FIGS. 15A and 15B show a side view and a side cross
sectional view of conventional male and female connectors 7a and 7b
having respective ends thereof mounted in a nylon tube 7n according
to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to the Fig.,
the male connector 7a comprises a male tread portion 71l for
screwing into the female connector 7c, a round portion 712 for
allowing a person to grip and turn the connector 7a, a round sleeve
portion 713 having a pair of cone shaped protrusions 714 formed
along the outer surface thereof for better gripping the end of the
nylon tube 7n mounted thereon. Numeral 715 designates a through
hole formed through the male connector 7a in the axial direction
thereof. The female connector 7b comprises a round portion 716 for
allowing a person to grip and turn the connector 7b, a female
thread portion 717 formed along the inner surface of the portion
717 for screwing unto a bicycle air valve (not shown), a round
sleeve portion 718 having a pair of coned shaped protrusions 719
formed along the outer surface thereof for better gripping the
respective end of the nylon tube 7n mounted thereon. Numeral 800
designates a through hole formed through the central portion of the
connector 7b in the axial direction thereof. Accordingly, turning
the female connector 7b requires the nylon tube 7n as well as the
entire air pump 1, 11 or 111 to be turned therewith which is very
cumbersome.
[0162] FIG. 15C designates a side cross sectional view of a female
connector 77b according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 15D-15F show a side cross sectional view, a side view and a
side view of the first, second and third portions 801, 802, 803 of
the connector 77b before the assembly of the connector according to
the present invention. FIGS. 15G and 15H show a front and back view
of a first part 801 of the connector 77b. FIG. 15I shows a front
view of the second portion of the connector 77b. FIGS. 15J and 15K
show a front and back view of the third portion of the connector
77b.
[0163] Referring to the FIGS. 15C-15K, the first portion 801 is
cylindrical in shape. The inner walls of the cylindrical first
portion 801 comprise a threaded section 801t and a smooth inner
wall section 801s, the threaded section 801t extending from one end
of the cylindrical first portion 801 and the smooth inner wall
section extending from the other end to the point where the treaded
section ends, the inner diameter of the threaded portion 801t being
less than the diameter of the smooth wall section 801s. The second
portion 802 comprises a donut shaped flat ring 802r having a hole
802h formed through the center thereof, the ring 802r having an
outer diameter which is substantially the same as the inner
diameter of the smooth wall section 801s and the central through
hole 802h having a diameter which is less than or equal to the
diameter of the central hole in a bicycle tire valve (Dunlop type
valve or British type valve), not shown. The second part 802 is
formed of rubber, nylon or pvc material and acts as an air seal to
prevent air from escaping outwards during the pumping of air by the
air pump. The third part 803 comprises a donut shaped flat ring
section 803r having a hole 803h formed through the center thereof,
the ring 803r having an outer diameter which is slightly less than
the inner diameter of the smooth wall section 801s and bigger than
the inner diameter of the threaded section 801r of the first
portion 801 and the central through hole 803h having a diameter
which is the same as the diameter of the hole 802h in the second
portion 802. The third part 803 further comprises a cylindrically
shaped sleeve section 803s having two cone shaped protrusions 803p
formed along the outer surface thereof. One end of the sleeve
section 803s is integrally formed along one side of the flat ring
section 803r along the central portion thereof. The sleeve section
803s has a through hole 803h formed through the central thereof,
the holes 802h and 803h having the same diameter and being
co-centric. The first and third part 801 and 803 are formed of
metal, such as brass, aluminum or steel.
[0164] To assemble the connector 77b, the second part 802 and the
donut shaped ring section 803r of the third part 803 are inserted
inside the smooth wall section 801s area of the first part 801 and
then the second end of the first part 801 are pressed (i.e.
pinched) inwards, using conventionally known cold metal pressing
machines, to form a wall 801w which prevents the second part 802
and the donut shaped ring section 803r from coming out of the first
part 801, while allowing the first part 801 to be rotated manually
with respect to the third part 803. Accordingly, when the first
part 801 is screwed manually unto a bicycle air valve (i.e. Dunlop
type valve), not shown, the extending end of the air valve, not
shown, pushes against one side of the second portion 802 to create
an air tight seal, while allowing for air to flow into the tire via
the central through holes 802h and 803h.
[0165] Referring to FIGS. 15A-15C, numeral 7d designates pair of
cylinder shaped sleeves (hereinafter referred to as pressure
applying sleeves) formed of metal or plastic which are used to
prevent air from escaping between the ends of the nylon hose 7n and
the connectors 7a and 7b or 77b according to the present invention.
Numeral 7e designates a coil type spring (hereinafter referred to
as pressure applying spring) formed of spring metal, commonly found
on key chain holders, which can be used instead of the pressure
applying sleeves 7d. The inner diameter of the pressure applying
sleeve 7d and spring 7e are the same as the outer diameter of the
nylon tube 7n, so that the tube 7n can be easily inserted inside
the pressure applying sleeve 7d or pressure applying spring 7e. The
outer diameter of the sleeve portions 713, 718 and 803s of the
connectors 7a, 7b and 77b are the same as the inner diameter of the
tube 7n and the outer diameter of the protrusions 714, 719 and 803p
are slightly bigger than the inner diameter of the nylon tube 7n
and slightly less than the inner diameter of the pressure applying
sleeve 7d or pressure applying spring 7e.
[0166] To assemble the connectors 7a, 7b and the sleeves 7d on the
tube 7n, first two sleeves 7d are slid onto the tube 7n, so that
they are at least 3 cm. away from the respective ends of the tube
7n, then the sleeve portions 713 and 718 are manually forced to
slide into the respective ends of the tube 7n, and then the
pressure applying sleeves 7n are manually pulled towards the
respective ends of the tube 7n. This is all possible due to the
resilient flexible nature of the nylon (or rubber) material of the
tube 7n, which allows the tube 7n not only to stretch but also be
compressed, whereby, not only do the pressure applying sleeves 7d
prevent any air from escaping between the ends of the tube 7n and
the connectors 7a and 7b, but also prevent sleeve portions 713 and
718 from coming out of the ends of the tube 7n. The same method is
used to mount the connector 77b on the tube 7n. Also the same
method is used to mount the pressure applying spring 7e on the tube
7n. The pressure applying spring 7e can also change its inner
diameter due to the inherent springy nature thereof, thereby making
it easier to assemble the spring 7e while providing a constant
spring pressure on the tube 7n and the connectors mounted therein
at all times. These pressure applying sleeves 7d and pressure
applying springs 7e provide a cheap, light and easy to assemble
solution to prevent air from escaping between the ends of the vinyl
tube 7n and the connectors 7a, 7b or 77b.
[0167] FIGS. 16A-16C show a side view, front view, back view of a
piston 76 having a rubber O-ring 79 mounted thereon. FIG. 16D shows
a side cross sectional view of the piston 76 at line I-I of FIG.
16B. Referring to the Figs., numeral 76s designates a round central
shaft, numerals 76a designates a first round ring integrally formed
with the shaft 76s at one end thereof, numeral 76b designates a
second round rings integrally formed with the shaft 76s along a
central portion thereof. The front and back walls 1f, 2f, of the
first ring 76a are perpendicular to the shaft 76s. The front wall
3f of the second ring 76b is slanted at an angle of 80 degrees with
respect to the shaft 76s while the back wall 4f is perpendicular to
the shaft 76s. Numeral 76g designates a pair of rectangular shaped
grooves formed at opposite sides of the first ring 76a. The grooves
76g extend through the first ring 76g in the axial direction of the
shaft 76s. The outer diameters of the first and second rings 76a,
76b are the same. Numeral 79 designates an O-ring which is made of
rubber, having an inner diameter which is greater than the outer
diameter of the shaft 76 but less than the outer diameter of the
first and second ring 76a 76b, and an outer diameter which is
greater than the outer diameter of the rings 76a and 76b. The space
between the first and second rings 76a and 76b in the axial
direction of the shaft 76s is greater than the thickness of the
O-ring 79. The other end of the shaft 76s is frictionally fitted
inside the cylindrical hollow shaft 72.
[0168] In operation, when pumping air into the bicycle tire, the
piston 76 is pushed by the shaft 72 inside the cylinder 70 to cause
the inclined wall 3f to push the O-ring 79 forward to push air
inside the cylinder 70 through of the connector 7c. When the piston
76 is pulled by the shaft 72, the O-ring moves against the second
wall 2f of the first ring 76a allowing for air to pass over the
second ring 76b, between the O-ring inner surface and the shaft 76,
and through the rectangular grooves 76g to get ready for the next
pumping stroke.
[0169] It is well know in the art that keeping the inner walls of
the cylinder 71 and the O ring 79 lubricated provides for better
air pumping characteristics. However, the lubrication tends to dry
out over time. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a
reservoir of lubricant and a method which self adjusts the
lubricating rate of the O-ring 79 and the inner walls of the
cylinder 71. The following embodiment discloses such an
apparatus.
[0170] FIGS. 17A-C show a side view, a front view and a back view
of a piston 83 having a lubrication reservoir tank 83r according to
the present invention. FIG. 17D shows a side cross sectional view
of the piston 83 at line I-I of FIG. 17B. The piston 83 is
substantially the same as the piston 76 and similar parts will be
designated by the same reference numerals. Only the differences
between the piston 83 and 76 will be described herebelow. Referring
to FIGS. 17A-D, numeral 83r designates a round central hole formed
in the center of the shaft 83s, the hole 83r extending in the axial
direction of the shaft 83s from one end of the shaft 83s (i.e.
where the first ring is formed) to a point inside the shaft 83s
which is in a radial position substantially the same as the point
where the second ring is formed on the shaft 83s. Numeral 83l
designates two diagonally opposed holes which extent through the
shaft 83s from the outer surface thereof to the central hole 83r.
The physical dimensions of the shaft 83s and 76s, the rings 76a and
76b of the pistons 76 and 83 are identical. The central hole 83r
acts as a lubrication reservoir for storing grease (i.e. not shown)
or any other high viscosity lubricating material therein, whereas
the lubrication holes 83l allow for the grease to flow out of the
reservoir 83r to the space between the first and second ring 76a,
76b to lubricate the O ring 79. Namely, each time the piston 83 is
pushed forward towards the connector 7c during the air pumping
stroke, a high 44 pressure is created inside the air pump which
pushes on the grease in the reservoir 83r causing a very small
amount of the grease to flow out of the lubricating holes 831 to
lubricate the O ring 79. The diameter of the lubrication holes 831
can be set to give the best lubrication effect, namely, to provide
just the right amount of lubrication flow each time the user pumps
air.
[0171] FIGS. 18A-C show a side view, a front view and a back view
of a piston 84 according to another embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 18D shows a side cross sectional view of the piston
83 at line I-I of FIG. 18B mounted inside the cylinder 70 mounted
on the shaft 72. Referring to the Figs., numeral 84s designates a
round shaft having three radially extending rings 84a, 84b and 84c
integrally formed therewith along the outer surface thereof, the
rings 84a, 84b and 84c being spaced apart in the axial direction of
the shaft 84s by a distance which is slightly greater than the
thickness of respectively mounted first and second O rings 841 and
842. The first O ring 841 is mounted between the first ring 84a and
second ring 84b, and the second O ring is mounted between the
second ring 84b and third ring 84c The first and second rings 84a,
84b each have a pair of diagonally opposed semi-round grooves 843,
844 formed on respective inner surfaces f6, f8 thereof, each groove
843, 844 extending from the outer surface of the shaft 84s in the
radial direction thereof to the outer surface of the respective
rings 84a, 84b. The two pairs of grooves 843, 844 each only
partially extend through the rings 84a, 84b in the axial directions
thereof. Furthermore, the two pairs of grooves 843, 844 are in line
with each other in the radial direction of the rings 84a, 84b to
facilitate for an easy injection mold during the manufacture
thereof. The purpose of having two O rings instead of one O ring is
that having two O rings will enhance the air pumping
characteristics of the piston 84. the operation of the piston 84
will be described herebelow.
[0172] Referring to FIGS. 18A and 18B, during the air pumping
stroke, the tow O rings 841 and 842 are pressed against the inner
facing surfaces f7 and f9 of the second and third rings 84b and 84c
to push air out of the pump through the connector 7c. When the
piston 84 is pulled away from the connector 7c by the shaft 72, the
O rings 841 and 842 are pressed against the outward facing surfaces
f6 and f8, whereby air passes between the cylinder 70 and the top
of the rings 84a, 84b and 84c, between the inner surfaces of the O
rings 841 and 842 and the outer surface of the shaft 84s via the
grooves 843 and 844, respectively. Accordingly, with this
structure, at substantially the same cost, since O rings are very
cheap, a much improved air pumping piston 84 is realized.
[0173] FIG. 18E shows a front view of a piston 840, further
including an oil lubrication apparatus according to another
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18F shows a side cross
sectional view of the piston 840 at line I-I of FIG. 18E. In the
Figs., the same reference numerals will be used to designate the
same or similar parts to those of FIGS. 18A-18D. Only the
differences between these two embodiments will be described
herebelow. Referring to the Fig, numeral 840s designates a shaft
similar to the shaft 84s further including a central hole 840r
formed in the axial direction thereof extending from the one front
end thereof (i.e. where the first ring 84a is formed) to a central
portion thereof. The hole 840r can be used as a lubrication
reservoir by filling it with grease or a silicon based lubricant
having a viscosity which provides the desired lubricating
characteristics. Numeral 840l designate a pair of through holes
which extend in the radial direction of the shaft 840s from the
central through hole 840r to the outer surface of the inner
periphery of the third ring 84c. Accordingly, when pumping air
using the piston 840s, an air pressure difference is created
between the air pressure on the surface f5 and the air pressure on
the periphery of the third ring 84c, whereby lubricating material
stored in the reservoir 840r is pushed through the holes 840l to
lubricate the second O ring 842 and, accordingly, the inner surface
of the air pump cylinder 80, thereby providing even better air
pumping characteristics.
[0174] FIG. 19A shows a side cross sectional view of a foot-hand
air pump 1111 similar to the air pump 111 of FIGS. 14A-14C, further
including a pressure indicating gauge according to the present
invention. FIG. 19B shows perspective view of a handle 710 of the
air pump 1111. FIG. 19C shows perspective view of a handle support
730 of the air pump 1111. In the Figs., the same or similar parts
will be designated by the same numerals as the parts shown in FIG.
14A and only the differences between the pumps 111 and 1111 will be
described herebelow. Referring to the Figs., numeral 760 designates
a piston which is substantially the same as the piston 76 but
further including a cylindrical portion 760c integrally formed with
the extending end of the shaft portion 76s. The outer diameter of
the shaft portion 76s and the cylindrical portion 760c are the same
and are formed to be slightly smaller than inner diameter of the
shaft 72, so that they can slide inside the shaft 72. Numeral 900
designates a spring the inner diameter of which is slightly larger
than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 76b and the
cylindrical portion 760c and the outer diameter of which is the
same as the outer diameter of the shaft 72. One end of the spring
900 is on the top surface of the ring 76b of the piston 760 and the
other end of the spring 900 buts up against the extending end of
the shaft 72. Numeral 760l designates a flexible rectangular strip
one end of which is integrally formed with the extending end of the
cylindrical portion 760c and the other end of which has a round
portion 760e integrally formed therewith. The piston 760 is formed
of any suitable flexible material such as plastic or nylon.
[0175] Referring to FIG. 19B, the handle 710 is similar to the
handle 71 and only the differences therebetween will be described
herebelow. The same reference numerals will be used to designate
the same or similar parts. Numeral 710w designates a wall similar
to the wall 71w, but further including an opening 710h formed at
the back side of the wall 710w and numeral 710s designates a narrow
slit joining the opening 710h with the back of the through hole
71s. Numeral 710v designates a through viewing hole formed in the
semi-cylindrical body 71b in the vicinity of the opening 710h
formed in the wall 710w.
[0176] Referring to FIG. 19C, the handle support 730 is similar to
the handle support 73 and only the differences therebetween will be
described herebelow. The same reference numerals will be used to
designate the same or similar parts. Numeral 730r designates a
ridge similar to ridge 73w, but having a groove 730s formed
therein. The handle support 730 is the same as the handle support
73 in all other aspects.
[0177] The nylon strip 760l extends from the end of the cylinder
760c through the inside of the shaft 72, through the groove 730s
formed in the handle support 730, along the inside of the handle
710 and through the opening 710h in the wall 710w. The end portion
760e of the nylon strip 760l has a diameter which is greater than
the width of the opening 710h, so that it can not be pulled
therethrough. The length of the nylon strip 760l is just long
enough so that the end portion 760e extends out of the opening 710s
when the spring 900 is in its fully extended (i.e. no air pressure)
state. The operation of the air pressure measuring device described
hereabove will be described herebelow.
[0178] When a person presses down on the handle 710 to pump air
into a bicycle tire, depending on the air pressure in the tire
(i.e. how full the tire is), will determine the force the user has
to exert on the handle 710 to push the air out of the pump 1111 and
accordingly, the degree to which the spring 900 is deformed (i.e.
compressed), whereby, the cylinder 760c moves a corresponding
distance further up into the shaft 72, causing the nylon strip 760l
to move up as well, which causes the extending end 760e to move out
of the end of the handle 710, thereby providing the user with a
visual indication as to how much air pressure is in the tire.
Markings can be made on the upper surface of the nylon strip 760l
near the end 760e to indicate the degree of air pressure.
Alternatively, the upper surface of the nylon strip 760l near the
end 760e can have horizontal yellow, green and red stripes painted
on it, so that when the air pressure is low, the yellow stripes
appears in the viewing hole 710v, when the pressure is medium, the
green stripe appears in the viewing hole 710v and when the pressure
is high, the red stripe appears in the viewing hole 710v, whereby
an easy visual indication of air pressure is displayed while the
user is pumping air. Furthermore, the user doesn't have to
understand what psi stands for (i.e., pounds per square inch). The
width and thickness of the nylon strip can be chosen so that the
nylon strip is rigid enough to move the end portion 760e when the
spring 900 is compressed while still flexible enough to be bent by
the handle 710 when the handle 710 is turned from a vertical
position to the horizontal position.
[0179] To assemble the above described foot-hand air pump 1111,
first the air outlet portion 75 is frictionally inserted and glued
to the other end of the cylinder 70 (i.e., the end with no thread
formed therein). Next, the handle support 730 is frictionally
mounted on one end of the shaft 72. Next, the swivel handle 710 is
mounted on the handle support 730 as described above for the handle
73. Next, the other end of the shaft 72 is inserted through the
center hole of the end cap 74, so that the end cap 74 sits
somewhere along the outer surface of the shaft 72. Next, the strip
760l is fed through the center of the spring 900 until the spring
900 is around the cylinder 760c. Next, the strip 760l is fed
through the central hole in the shaft 72 from the other end
thereof, and then though the space between the inner side of the
handle 710 and the top of the handle support 730, so that the strip
760l fits in the groove 730s. Next, the end portion 760e is pulled
through the V shaped slot 71v and through the hole 71s of the wall
710w. Next, the end portion 760e is twisted by 90 degrees so that
the narrow side of the strip 760l can slide through the slit 710s
and into the opening 710h, whereby the end portion is locked in the
opening 710h in the wall 710w due to the end portion 760e being
larger in diameter than the opening 710h. Next, the end cap 74 is
screwed into the threaded portion of the cylinder 70. The length of
the strip 760l is formed to be such that when the end portion 760e
of the strip 760l is against the outer surface of the wall 710w, a
very small pressure is exerted on the spring 900, namely, the ends
of the spring 900 are against the upper surface of the second ring
76b and against the other end of the shaft 72, respectively. In
this way the foot-hand air pump 1111 is prevented from coming apart
during the air pumping action. In other words the end portion 760e
also serves to lock all the parts of the air pump 1111 together.
Accordingly, a very simple and cheap assembly process is realized.
Further very few parts are required, allowing for a very simple and
cheap foot-hand air pump.
[0180] FIGS. 20A, B show perspective views of a cap 761 and
extension means 762 for the air pump 1111 according to another
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20C shows a side cross
sectional view of the cap at line I-I of FIG. 20A with the
extension means 762 mounted therein according to the present
invention. With this embodiment, the cylinder portion 760c of the
piston 760 does not have the strip portion 760l integrally formed
therewith at the extending end thereof. Referring to the Figs.
Numeral 761 designates a cap comprising a cylindrical body 761b
having a ridge 761r formed at one end thereof, the ridge having a
central through hole 761h formed through the center thereof.
Numeral 762 designates an extension means which comprises a two
dimensional flat, thin and long strip of nylon 762n having an arrow
shaped head 762a formed at one end thereof, a round portion 762r
formed at the other end thereof and a T-shaped protrusion 762t. The
width of the arrow 762a is greater than the diameter of the hole
761h formed in the ridge 761r but less than the inner diameter of
the cylindrical portion 761b of the cap 761. The distance between
the extending ends of the arrow head 76a and the T-shaped
protrusion 762t is slightly greater than the thickness of the walls
of the ridge 761r. To assemble the extension means 762 in the cap
761, the arrow portion 762a is pushed through the hole 761h so that
the extending ends of the arrow 762a snaps into the cap 761, due to
the elastic nature of the nylon material of the extension means
761, thereby locking the extension means 762 inside the cap 761.
The extension means 761 is free to rotate inside the cap 761, so
that the strip 762n does not get all tangled up or twisted when the
user of the air pump 1111 turns the handle 710 clock wise or
counter wise with respect to the cylinder 70 during the pumping
operation. Since the nylon strip 762n is thin, the connector 7a and
nylon tube 7n can still slidingly fit inside the shaft 72 adjacent
to the strip 762n.
[0181] It should be noted that the cylinder 70 and the shaft 72 can
be made of transparent plastic, in which case, the cylinder 760c
would become visible from outside the air pump 1111, and,
accordingly, by printing numbers on the outer surface of the shaft
72 at appropriate positions in the axial direction thereof
indicative of pressure, the position at which the extending end of
the cylinder 760c is with respect to the printed numbers on the
shaft 72 can be used to indicate the pressure of the air being
pumped by the air pump 1111. This embodiment would simplify and
reduce the cost of the air pump 1111, since the strip 760l would
not be required.
[0182] FIG. 20D shows a side cross sectional view of a foot-hand
air pump 11111 similar to the air pump 1111 of FIG. 19A including a
pressure indicating gauge according to another embodiment of the
present invention. The foot-hand air pump 11111 is very similar to
the foot air pump 1111 and only the differences therebetween will
be described herebelow. The same numerals will be used to designate
the same or similar parts. Referring to FIG. 20D, it can be seen
that the strip 760l has been removed. Further, the outer diameter
of the cylindrical portion 760c of FIG. 20C is slightly smaller
than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of 760c of FIG.
19A, so that some space is available between the inner walls of the
shaft 72 and the outer walls of the cylindrical portion 760c.
Numeral 37 designates a first part comprising a round shaft portion
37s having a round disc portion 37d integrally formed therewith at
one end thereof, the round shaft portion 37s having an outer
diameter which is equal to the inner diameter of the cylindrical
portion 760c so that it may be frictionally mounted therein, and
the disc portion 37d having an outer diameter which slightly
smaller than the inner diameter of the shaft portion 72 so that it
may freely slide therein. The outer diameter of the disc portion
37d is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion
760c. Numeral 38 designates a second part comprising a cylindrical
portion 38c having a ridge portion 38r integrally formed therewith
along the outer surface thereof at one end of the cylindrical
portion 38c. The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 38c is
the same as the inner diameter of the shaft 72 so that it may be
frictionally mounted therein and the inner diameter of the
cylindrical portion 38c is slightly bigger than the outer diameter
of the cylindrical portion 760c so that the cylindrical portion
760c may freely slide therein. The outer diameter of the disc
portion 37d is larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical
portion 83c, so that the cylindrical portion 760c is permanently
locked in the shaft 72. To assemble the air pressure apparatus of
this embodiment, the spring 900 is first mounted on the cylindrical
portion 760c. Then, the extending end of the cylindrical portion
760c is inserted into the central hole in the cylindrical portion
38c of the second part 38 with the ridge portion 38r facing the
spring 900. The second part 38 freely slides on the cylindrical
portion 760c because the central hole in the cylindrical portion
38c is slightly bigger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical
portion 760c. Next, an adhesive material (not shown) is applied to
the outer surface of the shaft portion 37s of the first part 37 and
then the shaft portion 37d is pushed into the hole in the extending
end of the cylindrical portion 760c, so that it is permanently
fixed therein. Next, the first part 37, (which is now permanently
fixed inside the extending end of the cylindrical portion 760c) and
the extending portion of the cylindrical portion 760c are partly
inserted inside the shaft 72. The disc portion 37d freely slides
inside the shaft portion 72 because the outer diameter of the disc
portion 37d is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the
shaft 72. Next, an adhesive material (not shown) is applied to the
outer surface of the cylindrical portion 38c of the second part 38
and then the cylindrical portion 38c is pushed into the extending
end of the end of the shaft 72, so that the cylindrical portion 38c
is permanently fixed in the end of the shaft 72. The remaining
portions of the air pump 11111 are assembled in the same way as
explained above with respect to the air pump 1111. When no force is
exerted on the handle 710, the first and second parts 37, 38 abut
each other inside the shaft 72 and the ends of the spring 900
should be touching the ridge 38r and the upper surface of the
piston 760, respectively. Accordingly, the first and second parts
37, 38 not only allow the piston 76 to move with respect to the
shaft 72, but also prevent the cylindrical portion 760c from coming
out of the shaft 72. When the pump 11111 is used to pump air into a
tire of a bicycle wheel, a force is exerted on the handle 710,
causing the spring 900 to compress to a degree representative of
the pressure of the air being pumped, and accordingly, the degree
to which the cylindrical portion 760c and the first part 37 move
into the shaft 72. Accordingly, by using a clear plastic material
such as acryl, or poly propylin, etc., for the cylindrical portion
70 and the shaft 72, the disc portion 37d of the first part 37
becomes visible from outside the air pump 11111. Accordingly, by
painting marking on the outside of the transparent shaft portion 72
at appropriate locations in the axial direction thereof
representative of air pressure, the position to which the disc
portion 37d moves to inside the shaft 72 designates the air
pressure being pumped and, accordingly, the air pressure inside the
air tire. This realizes a very cheap and simple air pressure
measuring apparatus requiring very few parts and is very easy to
assemble.
[0183] FIG. 21A-C show a side view, a top view and a bottom view of
first part of an air pressure indicating device according to
another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21D shows a side
cross sectional view of the first part 210 at line I-I of FIG. 21B.
FIG. 21E shows a side cross sectional view at line I-I of FIG. 21B
further including the rest of the air pressure indicating device
according to the present invention. FIG. 21F-G show a front and
back views of an end cap 211 of the device 210. FIG. 21H shows a
side view of an air pressure piston 212 of the air pressure
indicating device. This air pressure device is very thin and round,
cheap and easy to manufacture and can be connected between the
connectors 7a and 77b by cutting the nylon tube 6 in half and
inserting the two ends of the pressure indicating device into the
respective ends of the cut tube 6.
[0184] Referring to FIGS. 21A-21H, numeral 210 designates a first
part comprising a round shaft having two round holes 210a, 210b
formed therein. The first hole 210a passes right through the first
cylindrical part in the axial direction thereof and provides the
function of an air passage hole for passing pressurized air from
the air pump to the tire being inflated. The second hole 210b
extends from one end of the shaft 210 to a point near the other end
of the shaft 210. Numeral 210c designates two round opening formed
at the respective end of the shaft 210 for receiving end caps 211
therein. The diameter of the openings 210c is greater than the
diameters of the holes 210a and 210b combined. Numeral 210h
designates a round hole formed through the side wall of the shaft
210 which extends from the outside of the shaft 210 to the second
hole 210b, the hole 210h being formed near the point where the
second hole 210b ends inside the shaft 210. The shaft 210 is made
from transparent plastic such as acryl using conventional injection
molding techniques.
[0185] The end caps 211 are round in shape having a central through
hole 211h formed through the center thereof. Numeral 211a
designates the outer end of the cap 211, numeral 211p designates a
pair of cone shaped protrusions formed at fixed intervals along the
outer surface of the outer end 211a of the end cap 211 in the axial
direction thereof Numeral 211r designates a round ridge formed on
the outer surface of the outer end 211a of the end cap 211, the
ridge 211r having an outer diameter equal to the outer diameter of
the first shaft 210. Numeral 211b designates a round portion formed
at the other end of the end cap 211, the outer diameter of the
round portion 211b having the same diameter as the inner diameter
of the openings 210c formed in the ends of the shaft 210, so that
the round portions 211b frictionally fit inside the openings 210c
and may be glued therein. The end caps are formed of plastic such
as acryl, etc using conventional injection molding techniques.
[0186] Numeral 212 designates an air pressure piston having a donut
shaped rubber O ring 213 mounted thereon. The piston 212 is round
in shape and comprises a round shaft having two smaller diameter
portions 212a, 212b and two larger diameter portions 212c, 212d in
the axial direction thereof. The larger diameter portions are
smaller than the inner diameter of the hole 210b formed in the
first part 210, so that the air pressure piston 212 can freely
slide inside the hole 210b of the shaft 210. The O ring 213 is
mounted on the smaller diameter portion 212b between the two larger
diameter portions 212c, 212d. Numeral 214 designates a spring
having an inner diameter which is greater than the outer diameter
of the smaller diameter portion 212a and an outer diameter which is
less than the inner diameter of the hole 210b, so that it may
easily slide therein. One end of the spring 214 slides over the
smaller diameter portion 212a and presses against one end of the
larger diameter portion 212c. The other end of the spring 214
presses against the inner end of the hole 210b. The outer diameter
of the O ring is the same as or slightly greater than the inner
diameter of the hole 210b and the inner diameter of the O ring is
greater than the outer diameter of the smaller diameter portion
212b of the piston 212 and less than the outer diameter of the
larger diameter portions 212c and 212d of the piston 212.
Furthermore, the O ring 213 should be a bright color such as red or
green, etc., so that it is easily visible from outside the first
part 210. The piston 212 is formed of plastic using conventional
injection molding techniques.
[0187] The nylon tube 6 between the connectors 7a and 7b can be cut
and the protruding ends of the end caps 211 can be frictionally
inserted therein, to provide a visual indication of the pressure
being pumped by the air pump as will be described herebelow.
[0188] To assemble the air pressure device, first the spring 214 is
inserted into the hole 210b. Next, the piston 212 with the O ring
213 mounted thereon is inserted into the hole 210c, so that the
smaller diameter portion 212a slides into one end of the spring
214. Next, the end caps 211 are pressed into the respective opening
211b and glued therein. Next the nylon tube 6 is mounted on the
extending portions 211a of the end caps 211.
[0189] When pumping air using the air pump 111, air flows through
the vinyl air pipe 6 and, accordingly, through the pressure
indicating device in the direction shown by the arrows A. Namely,
compressed air flows from one end of the hole 210a to the other end
thereof. Some of the air B tries to flow up the second hole 210b,
due to the air pressure differential between the compressed air
inside the hole 210a and the atmospheric air pressure present in
the top portion of the hole 210b due to the hole 210h, whereby the
air pressure differential on the upper and lower sides of the O
ring 213 causes the piston 212 to compress the spring 214.
Accordingly, the position to which the O-ring moves to represents
the pressure of the air being pumped and accordingly, the pressure
in the air tire. By choosing a proper spring constant (i.e. F=kS,
where F represents force, S the distance to which the spring is
compressed and k the spring constant) for the spring 214 the
desired effect can be realized for indicating air pressures
normally present in bicycle air tires. Markings indicative of air
pressure can be printed on the outer surface of first part 210.
Alternatively, a narrow strip of paper having pressure markings
printed on it can be slid into the hole 210a prior to the insertion
of the end caps 211. The outer diameter of the shaft 210 can be
made smaller than the hole in the shaft 72, so that it may be
stored therein.
[0190] FIGS. 22A-B show a top view and a bottom view of an air
pressure measuring/indicating device according to the present
invention. FIG. 22C shows a side cross sectional view at line I-I
of the air pressure measuring/indicating device of FIG. 2A. FIGS.
22D-E show a front view and back view of an air valve opening means
311 of FIG. 22C. FIG. 22F-G show a front view and back view of an
round rubber sleeve 312 of FIG. 22C. Referring to the Figs, numeral
310 designates a round transparent portion having a round hole
formed through the center thereof. Numeral 310e designates an end
wall formed at one end of the round portion 310. The wall 310e has
a central hole 310h formed therethrough. Numeral 310t designates a
male thread portion formed at the other end of the round portion
310. The outer diameter of the round portion 310 where the thread
portion 310t is formed is greater than the outer diameter of the
rest of the round portion. The inner diameter of the hole 310h is
the same as the inner diameter of the hole 210b of the shaft 210,
so that the air pressure piston 212 and the O ring 213, as well as
the spring 214 can be supported therein. Accordingly, the
description of the air pressure piston 212, the O ring 213 and
spring 214 will not be repeated herebelow. The round portion 310 is
formed of transparent plastic such as acryl using conventional
injection molding techniques. Numeral 311 generally designates an
air valve open means for activating the air release device located
at the center of a Schrader type American valve. The air valve open
means 311 comprises a round flat portion 311r having a pair of
through holes 311h formed therethrough in the axial direction
thereof as well as a round shaft portion 311s formed on one side of
the round flat portion 311r in the axial direction of the round
flat portion 311. The air valve open means is formed of plastic
using conventional plastic injection molding techniques. Numeral
312 generally designates a round rubber sleeve having two varying
inner diameter concentrically formed holes 312s, 312p formed in the
center thereof for frictionally receiving therein a Schrader valve
or a Presta valve, respectively. The outer diameter of the rubber
sleeve 312 is the same as the outer diameter of the round portion
311r which is the same as the outer diameter of the threaded
portion 310t. Numeral 313 generally designates a round cap portion
having a central hole 313h formed through the center thereof in the
axial direction thereof. Numeral 313w designates a wall formed at
one end of the cap portion 313. The wall 313w has a hole 313p
formed through the center thereof for receiving a Schrader valve or
a Presta valve therethrough. Numeral 313t designates a female
thread portion formed at the other end of the cap portion along the
inner surface thereof. Numeral 313c designates a clip formed at the
bottom side of the cap portion 313 for allowing the user thereof to
attach the pressure measuring/indicating device to the pocket of a
shirt. The outer diameter of the shaft portion 311s is smaller than
the inner diameter of the central hole of a Schrader type valve, so
that it may fit therein, and long enough to just activate the air
release mechanism in a Schrader valve when the Schrader valve is
pressed into the central hole 313p in the cap 313. The operation of
the pressure measuring/indicating device will be described
herebelow.
[0191] Referring to FIG. 22C, the rubber sleeve 312 is mounted in
the the pressure measuring/indicating device with the smaller hole
312p of the rubber sleeve facing outwards, the hole 312p having a
diameter which is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of a
Presta type valve, so that the Presta type valve frictionally fits
therein. When the Presta type valve is pushed into the hole 312p,
the extending end of the Presta valve is pressed against the
extending end of the shaft portion 311s causing it to open and
release the air inside the tire tube, whereby the pressure
measuring/indicating device is exposed to the high air pressure
inside the air tire. The high pressure air in the tire (not shown)
passes through the holes 311h in the round portion 311r and into
the round hole in the round portion 310 and presses against one
side of the O ring 213. Since the other side of the piston 212 is
exposed to room air pressure by the air passing through the hole
310h, an air pressure differential is present on the two sides of
the O ring 213, causing the piston 212 to push on the spring 214 to
move the piston to a point inside the hole in the round portion 310
indicative of the air pressure inside the air tire, similar to the
way the piston 212 works as described above with respect to the air
pressure indicating device shown in FIGS. 21A-H. In case of
measuring the air pressure in an air tube having a Schrader type of
valve, the end cap 312 is unscrewed and the sleeve 312 is turned
around so that the larger diameter hole 312s faces outwards. Then
the end cap 313 is screwed back on. Then, the Schrader type valve
is pushed into the hole 312s of the sleeve 312 until the air
release pin inside the Schrader valve is activated by the shaft
311s, whereby, the pressure measuring/indicating device is exposed
to the high pressure air inside the air tire (not shown). The
pressure measuring/indicating device then works in the same way as
described above with respect to the Presta type air valve to
indicate the air pressure. Accordingly, by printing markings or
embossing markings on the cylindrical shaft 310 representative of
air pressure, the pressure inside air tires having a Schrader type
valve or Presta type valve can be measured and visually indicated.
This pressure measuring/indicating device can be manufactured very
cheaply, and assembled very easily and is very compact in the form
of a pen.
[0192] It should be noted that the pressure measuring/indicating
device may further include a round shaft having an outer diameter
the same as the diameter of the hole 310h and a length equal to the
length from the end of the smaller diameter shaft 212a to just
outside the hole 310h, so that when a high air pressure is being
measured, the piston 212 pushes the round shaft out through the
hoel 310 and the length to which said round shaft is pushed out of
the shaft 310 indicates the amount of pressure being measured.
Since the round shaft frictionally slides in the hole 310h, the
round shaft has to be manually pushed back for the next
measurement.
* * * * *