Air pump

Abstract

An air pump comprises a cylindrical pump body, a piston which bears sealingly against the inner wall of the pump body and is mounted displaceably parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the latter, and an actuating device which is connected to the piston, is intended to have miniaturized external dimensions, be easily portable and facilitate the pumping operation. This is achieved by an actuating device composed of a plurality of part bodies, wherein a first part body is accommodated telescopically displaceably in a second part body which engages around said first part body, and said first part body, in a first inoperative position of the actuating device, is positioned within a cavity which is formed by the second part body, and, in a second operating position of the actuating device, is positioned outside the cavity which is formed by the second part body. In this second operating position of the actuating device, the two part bodies each have interacting connecting means which couple to one another with torque resistance and tension resistance.

Description

[0001] air pump

[0002] The invention relates to an air pump comprising a cylindrical pump body, a piston which is mounted to seal against the inner wall of the pump body and which is displaceable parallel to its central longitudinal axis, and an actuating device connected to the piston.

[0003] Air pumps remain an indispensable tool for inflating inner tubes, for example, after repairing a flat tire during a bicycle ride. There has always been a drive to reduce the size of such air pumps, making them easier to carry while cycling. Consequently, numerous portable air pumps with miniaturized dimensions are known from the current state of the art, allowing for easy storage and transport while cycling. However, these are often difficult to handle during their intended use, i.e., when inflating an inner tube, because their miniaturized size makes them hard to grip and hold manually during the pumping process.This applies in particular to air pumps known from the prior art whose pump body is formed from telescopically slidable cylinders. This hinders and complicates the pumping process.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a generic air pump that, on the one hand, has miniaturized external dimensions and is thus easily portable and storable, but at the same time still exhibits good usability. In particular, it should simplify and facilitate the pumping process for the user.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by forming the actuating device from a plurality of sub-bodies,

[0006] ■ wherein a first subbody is telescopically displaceable within a second subbody encompassing it,

[0007] ■ wherein the first sub-body is positioned within a cavity formed by the second sub-body in a first out-of-service position of the actuating device and is positioned outside the cavity formed by the second sub-body in a second operating position of the actuating device,

[0008] ■ and wherein the first sub-body and the second sub-body each have connecting means that cooperate in this second operating position of the actuating device and that rotate both sub-bodies in this second operating position and couple them to each other in a tensile-resistant manner.

[0009] In this way, the actuating device of the air pump can be changed quickly and easily between a first out-of-service position, characterized by a minimized component length of the actuating device in a longitudinal direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the pump body, and a second operating position, in which the actuating device is extended along this longitudinal direction by the component length of the at least first (inner) sub-body (with respect to the second sub-body) by the extension of the actuating device according to the invention. The actuating device is designed for the translational displacement of the piston within the pump body.This increases the outer surface area of ​​the operating mechanism when the air pump transitions from its space-saving out-of-service position to its operating position, by the outer surface area of ​​at least this first internal component. This improves the operator's manual access to the operating mechanism during normal use of the air pump and allows for better handling of the air pump in its operating position despite its miniaturized external dimensions, particularly more stable guidance of the air pump. A positive side effect is that, with such improved handling, manual pumping movements place less strain on the pump head.the air inlet valve of the air hose is transferred, thereby avoiding relative movements in the contact area between the pump head and the air inlet valves and reducing the associated risk of leaks and air loss during the pumping process.

[0010] This is effectively supported if the outwardly oriented surface of the first inner sub-body is provided with a non-slip surface structure. Telescoping of the pump body in a direction parallel to its central longitudinal axis is not part of the present invention, but can be combined with the inventive concept.

[0011] Both components of the actuating device according to the invention are preferably designed as hollow bodies rotationally symmetrical about the central longitudinal axis of the pump body, and particularly preferably in a cylindrical shape. The central longitudinal axis of the pump body is identical to the central longitudinal axes of the air pump and the actuating device.

[0012] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the longitudinal extent of the second sub-body (located outside the first sub-body) and the longitudinal extent (or "thickness") of the piston adjoining the end face of the second sub-body (each in the longitudinal direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the pump body) together correspond at least to the longitudinal extent of the pump body cavity (in the same direction) or fall only slightly short of it. This ensures that during the entire pumping process, especially when the piston is in its lowest position within the pump body, the first sub-body, which is rotationally and tensilely fixed to the second sub-body, does not penetrate, or does not penetrate too deeply, into the pump body cavity, and its outer surface thus remains fully accessible to the operator of the air pump even in such a lowest position of the piston.In this way, the invention enables stable two-handed operation (or so-called "2-hand operation") of the air pump in any position of the piston, even in air pumps with greatly minimized external dimensions, in particular in air pumps with a greatly minimized component length of the pump body and the actuating device.

[0013] According to a first embodiment, the connecting element is designed as a connecting element that couples the first sub-body to the second sub-body in the second operating position by means of a rotational relative movement oriented around the central longitudinal axis. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a bayonet fitting, in which the first sub-body (located inside the second sub-body) engages, by means of a shaped element projecting beyond its outer surface, in a corresponding slotted recess of the second sub-body (located outside the first sub-body), which is oriented at least partially in the circumferential direction of the second sub-body.

[0014] However, it is particularly preferred that the connecting element be designed as

[0015] ■ an external thread on an end face of the first sub-body oriented towards the second sub-body in the second operating position of the actuating device, and an internal thread on an end face of the second sub-body oriented towards the first sub-body in the second operating position,

[0016] ■ and a stop ring that limits the external thread of the first sub-body in a direction parallel to its central longitudinal axis at the end face and projects beyond the outer contour of the external thread in a direction perpendicular to this.

[0017] The internal thread of the second sub-body is preferably integrated into an annular shoulder that delimits the end face of the second sub-body and reduces its free inner diameter. This shoulder is located on the end face of the second sub-body facing the first sub-body. The aforementioned stop ring is located on the end face of the first sub-body facing the second sub-body. The first, inner sub-body can be screwed against the second, outer sub-body by a relative rotational movement oriented about the central longitudinal axis of the actuating device or pump body. Such a relative screwing movement of both sub-bodies against each other causes the stop ring of the first sub-body, oriented "outwardly" (i.e., away from the central longitudinal axis), to move translationally in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis to a stop against the stop ring of the second, outer sub-body.The second sub-body is oriented towards the central longitudinal axis and features an annular shoulder, thus preventing accidental over-tightening of the first, inner sub-body and the resulting loss of contact between the threads of both sub-bodies. This creates a screw connection between the two sub-bodies, forming a stable, extended actuating device that is easy to operate manually and free from the risk of incorrect operation.

[0018] According to an alternative second embodiment, the connecting element is designed as a connecting element that engages the first sub-body with the second sub-body in the second operating position by means of a relative movement parallel to the central longitudinal axis. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a shaped element projecting beyond the outer surface of the first sub-body (which is internal to the second sub-body) and retractable against a spring force, which, in the second operating position, engages in an opening in the outer wall of the second sub-body (which is external to the first sub-body) corresponding to the outer contour of this shaped element.

[0019] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings. The drawings show, in each case, a section along the central longitudinal axis L of the pump body 1 and the air pump, respectively:

[0020] Figure 1: Air pump with operating device in the off position

[0021] Figure 2: Air pump with actuating device in operating position; piston at the lowest point in the pump body

[0022] Figure 3: Air pump with actuating device in operating position; piston partially withdrawn from pump body

[0023] The embodiment of the air pump according to the invention, as shown in the figures of the exemplary embodiment, consists of a pump body 1 in the form of a thin-walled, hollow cylinder, which has a cover on one end face that seals the pump body airtight and has an integrated air outlet 10, and is open on the opposite end face, a piston 2 which abuts the inner wall of the pump body 1 and is slidably mounted parallel to its central longitudinal axis L, and an actuating device 3 connected to this piston 2, which is formed from a first sub-body 31 and a second sub-body 32. An airtight connecting element to a pump head (not shown in the figures) can be connected to the air outlet 10, via which the mechanical ora fluidic connection can be established to the air inlet valve of the body to be inflated by means of the air pump, for example an air hose for a bicycle tire.

[0024] Both sub-bodies 31, 32 of the actuating device 3 are also each designed as thin-walled, hollow cylindrical bodies, with the outer diameter of the first sub-body 31 being slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the second sub-body 32, so that the first sub-body 31 is completely enclosed within the cavity or interior of the second sub-body when the air pump is in the inactive position shown in Figure 1. The first sub-body 31 of the actuating device 3 is therefore referred to in the context of this invention as the "inner" sub-body 31, while the second sub-body 32 is correspondingly referred to as the "outer" sub-body 32. These attributes define the relative arrangement of the two sub-bodies 31, 32 to each other.

[0025] The first sub-body 31 is closed at a first end face by means of a cover 311. This cover 311 has a rim that projects beyond the outer diameter of the first sub-body 31. This rim, resembling a knob, can be manually gripped by an operator of the air pump and allows translational movement to be applied to the first sub-body 31. This movement enables the actuating device 3 to be moved in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis L of the pump body 1. The first sub-body 31 is open at the opposite second end face 310. In the region of this second end face 310, the first sub-body 31 has an external thread 41 formed on its outer circumference. This thread is limited in the direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis L by a stop ring 40 on the second end face 310.The outer diameter of this stop ring 40 is dimensioned larger than the outer diameter of the external thread 41.

[0026] The second sub-body 32 is open at a first end face 320 and closed at a second end face opposite it by the piston 2, which is fitted airtight onto the hollow cylinder. In the area of ​​the aforementioned first end face 320, the second sub-body 32 has an internal thread 42, which, in an operating position of the air pump shown in Figures 2 and 3, is screwed into the external thread 41 of the first sub-body 31. This internal thread 42 of the second sub-body 32 is formed on the concave surface of an annular shoulder, oriented towards the central longitudinal axis L. This shoulder defines the first end face 320 of the second sub-body 32 and reduces its free inner diameter.

[0027] The outer diameter of the second (and, in relation to the first sub-body 31, outer) sub-body 32 is dimensioned slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the pump body 1, so that the second sub-body 32 is completely enclosed within the cavity or interior of the pump body 1 when the air pump is in the out-of-service position shown in Figure 1. In this position, the piston 2 is in its lowest position (relative to the pump body 1).

[0028] Figure 1 visualizes the deactivation position of the actuating device 3. This is characterized in that the screw connection between the first sub-body 31 and the second sub-body 32 of the actuating device 3, which can be produced by means of the two threads 41, 42, is loosened, the first sub-body 31 is completely pushed into the cavity of the second sub-body 32 along a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis L of the pump body 1 (or until the end face of the edge formed on the cover 311 abuts the oppositely oriented end face 320 of the second sub-body 32), and the second sub-body 32 is completely pushed into the cavity of the pump body 1, or until the piston 2 abuts the bottom of the cavity.In this out-of-service position, the longitudinal extent of the air pump is reduced to the longitudinal extent of the pump body 1, which allows the air pump to be stored in a space-saving manner in this position.

[0029] Figure 2 visualizes the production of the operating position of the actuating device 3. For this purpose, the first and inner sub-body 31 is translationally pulled out of the second and outer sub-body 32 along the direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis L of the pump body 1, and the two threads 41, 42 of both sub-bodies 31, 32 are brought into mutual engagement by means of a relative rotational movement about the central longitudinal axis L and screwed against each other until the stop ring 40 abuts against the annular shoulder into which the internal thread 42 of the second sub-body 32 is inserted, thereby also limiting this relative rotational movement between the two sub-bodies 31, 32; see detail “A” in Figure 2. The two sub-bodies 31, 32 are connected to each other in this operating position in a rotationally and tensilely fixed manner.

[0030] The longitudinal extension of the second and outer sub-body 32 in the direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis L of the pump body 1 is such that the first end face 320 of the second sub-body 32, opposite the piston 2, is approximately flush with the end face of the pump body 1 furthest from the air outlet 10 when the piston 2 is in its lowest position within the pump body 1, as visualized in Figure 2. This ensures that the first sub-body 31, which is rotationally and tensilely fixed to the second sub-body 32, remains completely outside the pump body 1 even in this lowest position of the piston 2, and that the outer surface of the first sub-body 31 remains accessible to an operator of the air pump even in this position.Thus, the air pump can be gripped and held on this outer surface of the first part body 31 at any stage of the pumping process, and especially in the lowest position of the piston 2, which simplifies and stabilizes the manual guidance of the air pump during the pumping process.

[0031] Figure 3 also visualizes the actuating device 3 in the operating position, in which the two sub-bodies 31, 32 are screwed together and the actuating device

[0032] 3 is led out of the cavity of the pump body 1 by a translational displacement path larger than the initial position shown in Figure 2.

[0033] The return of the actuating device 3 from the operating position with coupled sub-bodies 31, 32 to the out-of-service position with uncoupled sub-bodies 31, 32 is carried out in the inverse manner.

[0034] Reference symbol list

[0035] 1 Pump body

[0036] 10 air outlets

[0037] 2 pistons

[0038] 3 Actuating device

[0039] 31 internal part of the actuating device (3)

[0040] 310 Front face of the inner subbody (31)

[0041] 311 lids

[0042] 32 external part of the actuating device (3)

[0043] 320 Front face of the outer part body (32)

[0044] 4 Fasteners

[0045] 40 Stop ring

[0046] 41 External thread of the inner subbody (31)

[0047] 42 Internal threads of the outer partial body (32)

[0048] L Central longitudinal axis of the air pump or pump body or actuating device

Claims

Patent claims 1) Air pump comprising a cylindrical pump body (1), a piston (2) mounted to seal against the inner wall of the pump body and displaceably parallel to its central longitudinal axis (L), and an actuating device (3) connected to the piston (2), characterized in that the actuating device (3) is formed from a plurality of sub-bodies (31, 32), wherein a first sub-body (31) is telescopically displaceable within a second sub-body (32) encompassing it, wherein the first sub-body (31) is positioned within a cavity formed by the second sub-body (32) in a first out-of-service position of the actuating device (3), and is positioned outside the cavity formed by the second sub-body (32) in a second operating position of the actuating device (3).and wherein the first sub-body (31) and the second sub-body (32) each have connecting means that cooperate in this second operating position of the actuating device (3) and that couple both sub-bodies (31, 32) to each other in this second operating position in a rotationally and tensilely resistant manner. 2) Air pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means is designed as a connecting means (4) coupling the first partial body (31) with the second partial body (32) in the second operating position by means of a rotary relative movement oriented about the central longitudinal axis. 3) Air pump according to claim 2, characterized in that the connecting means (4) is designed as ■ an external thread (41) on an end face (310) of the first part body (31) oriented towards the second part body (32) in the second operating position of the actuating device (3), and an internal thread (42) on an end face (320) oriented towards the first part body (31) in the second operating position second subbody (32), ■ and a stop ring (40) that limits the external thread (41) of the first partial body (31) at its end face in a direction parallel to its central longitudinal axis (L) and projects beyond the outer contour of the external thread (41) in a direction perpendicular to it. 4) Air pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means is designed as a connecting means which locks the first part body with the second part body in the second operating position by means of a relative movement parallel to the central longitudinal axis.

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