| 摘要 |
<p>An internal air pump (100) for charging inflatables with air and method therefore is disclosed which is directed to an air pump mounted internal to an inflatable device (102) for injecting air therein. The inventive air pump is a thin-walled, lightweight, highly elastic, flexible plastic construction which is easily packaged within the inflatable device (102) and can be used to inflate the device to a desired air pressure. In its most fundamental embodiment, the internal air pump comprises a construction including an outer shell layer (104) having a continuous sidewall, a roof layer (106) and a floor layer (108) for defining an enclosed inner pump chamber (120). An inner sandwich layer is positioned adjacent to the outer shell layer (104) and includes a resilient component (118). At least one air intake valve (138) is mounted within the roof layer (106) for admitting air into the inner pump chamber (120). One or more exhaust ducts (124) are mounted in the outer shell layer (104) for discharging air from the inner pump chamber to an inflatable device (102). An external force applied to the air pump forces air from the inner pump chamber (120) to the exhaust ducts. The resilient component (118) enables the air pump (100) to self-adjust after the external force is removed. <IMAGE></p> |
