U.S. patent application number 12/814546 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-24 for air blower.
This patent application is currently assigned to GIOTTO'S INDUSTRIAL INC.. Invention is credited to Wei-Hong SHEN.
Application Number | 20110068197 12/814546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42525050 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110068197 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHEN; Wei-Hong |
March 24, 2011 |
AIR BLOWER
Abstract
The present invention provides an air blower relating to a
cleaning device. The air blower includes an elastic ball body
provided with a nozzle hole and a check hole, a nozzle disposed in
the nozzle hole, and a check valve disposed in the check hole. A
check portion of the nozzle is disposed into the elastic ball body
and is tightly connected with the edge of the nozzle hole. The
check portion is provided therein with a stopping assembly for
blocking or opening the nozzle hole. With the stopping assembly
provided at the nozzle hole, the nozzle hole is opened when the
airflow within the elastic ball body is ejected out and closed when
the external air enters the elastic ball body. In this way, the
external air can be prevented from entering the air blower through
the nozzle efficiently.
Inventors: |
SHEN; Wei-Hong; (Taipei,
TW) |
Assignee: |
GIOTTO'S INDUSTRIAL INC.
|
Family ID: |
42525050 |
Appl. No.: |
12/814546 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/327 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 25/00 20130101;
B08B 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
239/327 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/32 20060101
B65D001/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 18, 2009 |
CN |
200920205020.7 |
Claims
1. An air blower including an elastic ball body provided with a
nozzle hole and a check hole, a nozzle disposed in the nozzle hole,
and a check valve disposed in the check hole, a check portion of
the nozzle being disposed into the elastic ball body and tightly
connected with the edge of the nozzle hole, wherein the check
portion is provided therein with a stopping assembly for blocking
or opening the nozzle hole.
2. The air blower according to claim 1, wherein the stopping
assembly includes a sealing pad, a magnetic ring and a gasket, the
gasket is made of iron or steel, the magnetic ring is sheathed
outside the sealing pad and tightly connected with the gasket.
3. The air blower according to claim 2, wherein an inner wall of
the check portion is provided with ribs protruding toward a
post-like space enclosed by the check portion, the sealing pad and
the magnetic ring are disposed in the post-like space and
positioned by the ribs in the middle of the post-like space, the
sealing pad is in interference fit with the inner wall of the check
portion to be fixed at an opening of the nozzle in communication
with the elastic ball body.
4. The air blower according to claim 3, wherein the number of the
ribs is at least three.
5. The air blower according to claim 3, wherein the sealing pad
includes a sealing surface, a hook and a cylinder connected between
the sealing surface and the hook, the magnetic ring is sheathed on
the cylinder and fixed between the sealing surface and the hook,
the hook abuts against the edge of an inner hole of the gasket.
6. The air blower according to claim 5, wherein the rib is provided
with a stepped portion for stopping the sealing surface, a distance
is formed between the sealing surface and the stepped portion when
the magnetic ring is connected with the gasket.
7. The air blower according to claim 1, wherein a periphery of the
nozzle is provided with an annular slot, the nozzle hole is in
interference fit with the annular slot.
8. The air blower according to claim 1, wherein the check valve
includes a valve body, a periphery of the valve body is in
interference fit with the edge of the check hole, so that the
connecting portion between the valve body and the check hole is
kept airtight.
9. The air blower according to claim 8, wherein the check valve
further includes a check piece, the valve body is provided with an
upper stepped portion and a lower stepped portion, the check piece
is located between the upper stepped portion and the lower stepped
portion.
10. The air blower according to claim 1, wherein the check valve
includes a valve body and a check piece integrally formed together,
the interior of the valve body is formed into a hollow channel, the
check piece is made of an elastic material, the check piece covers
one end of the channel and is elastically connected with the valve
body through an elastic connecting portion thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cleaning device, in
particular to an air blower for cleaning dust.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] An air blower is often used to blow away the dust in a
camera, on a surface of a precise instrument or a lens, or in gaps
of a keyboard.
[0005] A conventional air blower includes an elastic ball body for
receiving air, a nozzle and a check valve. The nozzle and the check
valve are provided on two open holes of the elastic ball body
respectively. When the elastic ball body is rapidly pressed by a
user, the check valve blocks one of the two open holes, so that the
airflow can be only allowed to pass through the other open hole to
blow away the dust.
[0006] Such an air blower has to be rapidly pressed by the user to
generate airflow of sufficient pressure. Thus, the hand of the user
may feel ache after pressing the elastic ball body for a period of
time. On the other hand, the speed of pressing the elastic ball
body is limited, so that it is impossible to generate a pressurized
airflow strong enough to blow away the dust completely.
Furthermore, when the force of pressing the elastic ball body is
released, the pressure of external air is larger than that within
the elastic ball body, so that the check valve is opened by the
external air and thus the external air enters the elastic ball body
again. However, the nozzle is not provided with any means for
preventing against the entrance of external air. Thus, a portion of
external air enters the elastic ball body through the nozzle. As a
result, the dust just blown away may be sucked into the elastic
ball body to jam the nozzle. Further, the dust sucked in the nozzle
may be blown out of the nozzle in the subsequent use to fall on the
camera, the precise instrument, the lens or the keyboard.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In view of the above, it is necessary to provide an air
blower capable of preventing against the entrance of external
airflow through a nozzle thereof.
[0008] The present invention discloses an air blower including an
elastic ball body provided with a nozzle hole and a check hole, a
nozzle disposed in the nozzle hole, and a check valve disposed in
the check hole. A check portion of the nozzle is disposed into the
elastic ball body and is tightly connected with the edge of the
nozzle hole. The check portion is provided therein with a stopping
assembly for blocking or opening the nozzle hole.
[0009] With the stopping assembly provided at the nozzle hole, the
nozzle hole is opened when the airflow within the elastic ball body
is ejected out and closed when the external air enters the elastic
ball body. In this way, the external air can be prevented from
entering the air blower through the nozzle efficiently.
[0010] Preferably, the stopping assembly includes a sealing pad, a
magnetic ring and a gasket. The gasket is made of iron or steel.
The magnetic ring is sheathed outside the sealing pad and tightly
connected with the gasket.
[0011] Preferably, an inner wall of the check portion is provided
with ribs protruding toward a post-like space enclosed by the check
portion. The sealing pad and the magnetic ring are disposed in the
post-like space and positioned by the ribs in the middle of the
post-like space. The sealing pad is in interference fit with the
inner wall of the check portion to be fixed at an opening of the
nozzle in communication with the elastic ball body.
[0012] Preferably, the number of the ribs is at least three.
[0013] Preferably, the sealing pad includes a sealing surface, a
hook and a cylinder connected between the sealing surface and the
hook. The magnetic ring is sheathed on the cylinder and fixed
between the sealing surface and the hook. The hook abuts against
the edge of an inner hole of the gasket.
[0014] Preferably, the rib is provided with a stepped portion for
stopping the sealing surface. A distance is formed between the
sealing surface and the stepped portion when the magnetic ring is
connected with the gasket.
[0015] With the connection or disconnection between the sealing pad
and the gasket, the nozzle hole can be opened or closed. Further,
by overcoming the connecting force generated between the magnetic
ring and the gasket, a stronger airflow can be generated.
[0016] Preferably, a periphery of the nozzle is provided with an
annular slot. The nozzle hole is in interference fit with the
annular slot.
[0017] Preferably, the check valve includes a valve body. The
periphery of the valve body is in interference fit with the edge of
the check hole, so that the connecting portion between the valve
body and the check hole is kept airtight.
[0018] Preferably, the check valve further includes a check piece.
The valve body is provided with an upper stepped portion and a
lower stepped portion. The check piece is located between the upper
stepped portion and the lower stepped portion.
[0019] Preferably, the check valve includes a valve body and a
check piece integrally formed together. The interior of the valve
body is formed into a hollow channel. The check piece is made of an
elastic material. The check piece covers one end of the channel and
is elastically connected with the valve body through an elastic
connecting portion thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an air blower
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the air blower
according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a check valve according
to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a top view showing the check valve according to
the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the check valve along
the line A-A in FIG. 4; and
[0025] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure
of a nozzle from another viewing angle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The detailed description and technical contents of the
present invention will be explained with reference to the
accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the
drawings are illustrative only, but not used to limit the present
invention.
[0027] Please refer to FIG. 1, which is an exploded perspective
view showing an air blower of the present invention. The air blower
includes an elastic ball body 100 provided with a nozzle hole 110
and a check hole 120 (as shown in FIG. 2), a nozzle 200 provided in
the nozzle hole 110, and a check valve 300 provided in the check
hole 120. A check portion 210 of the nozzle 200 is disposed into
the elastic ball body 100 and tightly connected with the edge of
the nozzle hole 110. The interior of the check portion 210 is
provided with a stopping assembly 400 for blocking or opening the
nozzle hole 110.
[0028] The elastic ball body 100 generally has an elastic plastic
casing. The nozzle hole 110 and the check hole 120 are provided on
two opposite ends of the elastic ball body 100.
[0029] The nozzle 200 is provided with an annular slot 220. The
check portion 210 is disposed into the elastic ball body 100
through the nozzle hole 110 in such a manner that the annular slot
220 is in interference fit with the nozzle hole 110. In this way,
the connecting portion between the nozzle 200 and the elastic ball
body 100 is airtight. The inner wall of the check portion 210 is
provided with ribs 212 as shown in FIG. 6. The ribs 212 protrude
toward a post-like space enclosed by the check portion 210.
Preferably, the number of the ribs 212 is at least three. Further,
each of the ribs 212 is provided with a stepped portion 211.
[0030] The check valve 300 includes a valve body 310 and a check
piece 320. The periphery of the valve body 310 is in interference
fit with the edge of the check hole 120, so that the connecting
portion there between is airtight. The interior of the valve body
310 is provided with stopping ribs 313. Preferably, the number of
the stopping ribs 313 is at least three. The check piece 320 is
located in the stopping ribs 313 and movable between an upper
stepped portion 311 and a lower stepped portion 312 (as shown in
FIG. 2).
[0031] The stopping assembly 400 includes a sealing pad 410, a
magnetic ring 420 and a gasket 430. The gasket 430 is made of iron
or steel. The magnetic ring 420 is sheathed outside the sealing pad
410 and is tightly connected with the gasket 430.
[0032] The sealing pad 410 includes a sealing surface 411, a hook
412 and a cylinder 413 connected between the sealing surface 411
and the hook 412. The magnetic ring 420 is sheathed on the cylinder
413 and fixed between the sealing surface 411 and the hook 412. The
hook 412 abuts against the edge of an inner hole 431 of the gasket
430.
[0033] The sealing pad 410 and the magnetic ring 420 are disposed
in the post-like space enclosed by the check portion 210 and
located in the middle of the post-like space by the ribs 212. The
stepped portion 211 of the rib 212 is configured to the stop the
sealing surface 411. When the magnetic ring 420 is tightly
connected with the gasket 430, the sealing surface 411 is separated
from the stepped portion 211 by a predetermined distance. The
gasket 439 is in interference fit with the inner wall of the check
portion 210 and fixed at an opening of the nozzle 200 in
communication with the elastic ball body 100.
[0034] Next, the operation of the air blower of the present
embodiment will be described.
[0035] When an external force is exerted on the elastic ball body
100, since the space within the elastic ball body 100 is
compressed, the internal pressure of the elastic ball body 100 is
increased. When the internal pressure of the elastic ball body 100
is increased continuously to such an extent that the force exerted
on the sealing surface 411 exceeds the connecting force between the
magnetic ring 420 and the gasket 430, the sealing pad 410 together
with the magnetic ring 420 are forced to be separated from each
other. At this time, the sealing surface 411 is stopped by the
stepped portions 211, so that the airflow can flow through the gaps
between the ribs 212 and then flow to the outside of the nozzle
200. When the elastic ball body 100 is pressed, since the internal
pressure of the elastic ball body 100 is larger than the external
pressure, the check piece 320 of the check valve 300 is pressed by
the internal airflow to the lower stepped portion 312, thereby
sealing the check hole 120 and preventing the air from leaking
through the check hole 120. The airflow generated by the air blower
of the present embodiment is stronger than that generated by a
conventional air blower, so that a better cleaning effect can be
achieved by the present invention.
[0036] After the external force for pressing the elastic ball body
100 is released, the casing of the elastic ball body 100 returns to
its original shape by means of its elastic restoring force. At this
time, since the internal space is increased, the air within the
elastic ball body 100 is diluted and the internal pressure is
decreased. Thus, the external air pushes the sealing pad 410 and
the check piece 320 toward the interior of the elastic ball body
100. With the magnetic attracting force between the magnetic ring
420 and the gasket 430, the sealing pad 410 and the gasket 430 can
be tightly connected to each other again after the internal
pressure of the elastic ball body 100 is decreased to a
predetermined level, thereby closing the nozzle hole 110 without
waiting for the release of the external force. Thus, the entrance
of external air into the elastic ball body 100 can be prevented
effectively.
[0037] In the previous embodiment, the check valve 300 is
configured to have a separated check piece 310 and the valve body
320. As shown in FIG. 3, the check valve 300 includes a valve body
340 and a check piece 330 integrally formed with each other. The
interior of the valve body 34 is a hollow channel as shown in FIG.
5. The check piece 330 is made of an elastic material. The check
piece 330 covers one end of the channel and is elastically
connected to the valve body 340 by means of a connecting portion
350 thereof.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, it is a top view showing the check valve
300 of the present embodiment. The diameter of the check piece 330
is slightly larger than that of the channel inside the valve body
340. One end of the valve body 340 covers the channel and is
connected to the valve body 340 through the connecting portion
350.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 5, it is a cross-sectional view of the
check valve 300 along the line A-A in FIG. 4. Since the check piece
330 and the connecting portion 350 are made of elastic materials,
the channel inside the valve body 340 can be opened or closed
easily. When the elastic ball body 100 is pressed, the internal
pressure of the elastic ball body 100 is larger than the external
pressure. Since the diameter of the check piece 330 is larger, the
check piece 330 is pushed to block the channel. When the elastic
ball body 100 returns to its original shape and the internal
pressure is decreased, the check piece 330 is pushed from the
outside to open the channel. In this way, the airflow can enter the
elastic ball body 100 through the channel.
[0040] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be
understood that the invention is not limited to the details
thereof.
[0041] Various equivalent variations and modifications can still
occur to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the
present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent
modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *