Air bed having an improved built-in air pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbeds require external pumps for inflation, which can be inconvenient due to storage issues and slow inflation times, especially when multiple air mattresses need to be inflated simultaneously, and built-in manual pumps are inefficient as they require repeated stepping to inflate.
Innovation Solution
An air mattress with a built-in manual air pump featuring a tube-like construction, compression spring, and bellow system connected to a valve assembly that allows continuous inflation without the need to repeatedly step on the pump, and a valve system that accommodates various pump sizes for efficient inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If external manual air pumps are used for inflation, then no additional manual labor is required beyond operating the pump, but inflation is slow and requires varying amounts of manual labor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the air pump and valve assembly into a single integrated built-in unit within the air mattress. The pump chamber, compression spring, bellow, and valve mechanism are merged into one cohesive structure that eliminates the need for separate external pumping devices, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and inflation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression spring is pre-loaded and positioned within the pump chamber before use. When the user steps on the valve assembly, the pre-compressed spring immediately drives the bellow to pump air into the mattress, eliminating the need for repeated manual pumping actions and enabling continuous inflation.
2Productivity
If external electric air pumps are used for inflation, then quick inflation is achieved with little to no manual labor, but the user must own, borrow, or rent a pump which creates storage issues and complicates simultaneous inflation of multiple mattresses
Solution Approach 1:
The air pumping functionality is merged directly into the air mattress structure itself. The built-in pump assembly includes all necessary components (pump chamber, spring, bellow, valve) integrated within the mattress, eliminating the need for separate external pumping devices and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The air mattress becomes self-sufficient by incorporating its own manual pumping mechanism. Users can inflate the mattress using the built-in assembly by simply stepping on the valve assembly, eliminating the need to own, borrow, or rent external pumps and reducing storage requirements.
3Device complexity
If built-in manual air pumps are used for inflation, then storage issues are eliminated and multiple mattresses can be inflated, but the user must repeatedly step on the pump which is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The compression spring is pre-compressed and stored within the pump chamber during manufacturing. When inflation is needed, the user simply needs to step on the valve assembly to release the pre-stored mechanical energy, which immediately drives the bellow to pump air. This eliminates the need for repeated pumping motions and significantly reduces inflation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The built-in pump mechanism is designed to provide continuous air pumping action once activated. The compression spring maintains constant pressure on the bellow, enabling continuous air flow into the mattress without requiring the user to repeatedly engage and disengage the pumping mechanism, thus reducing total inflation time.
4Device complexity
If a fixed-size pump connection is used in built-in pumps, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate various pump sizes for efficient inflation
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate different pump nozzle sizes. The valve body includes multiple opening configurations and the cap can be adjusted or removed to accept various pump connections, enabling the same built-in valve assembly to work with different pump types and sizes while maintaining structural simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The built-in air pump enables faster inflation of air mattresses with continuous pumping capability and the valve system allows for compatibility with different pump sizes, improving efficiency and convenience in inflation processes.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring located within the inner cavity of the tube-like construction... the compression spring may act upon the bellow to cause it to contract and/or expand
Implementation Method 2
a bellow connected to a side surface of the tube-like construction... when the compression spring is not pressed (e.g., not stepped on), the bellow may contract. Conversely, when the compression is pressed (e.g., stepped on), the bellow may expand
Implementation Method 3
The diaphragm valve may be positioned at a bottom portion of the valve body... The diaphragm valve may be configured to prevent air from entering the valve assembly when the air mattress device is inflated
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a valve assembly disposed on a top surface of an air mattress and connected to a built-in air pump. The built-in air pump can comprise: a tube-like construction defining an inner cavity between the top surface and the bottom surface; a compression spring located within the inner cavity and attached to the top surface and the bottom surface; a bellow connected to a side surface of the tube-like construction, the bellow providing an air pathway from the inner cavity to the interior volume of the air mattress; a top end cap attached to a top portion of the compression spring and abutting the top surface; and a bottom end cap attached to a bottom portion of the compression spring and abutting the bottom surface.