Airbed with built-in air pump

Abstract

An airbed having a built-in pump. The pump is removably received within a receptacle. When the pump is placed in the receptacle, an outlet port for the pump is in fluid communication with a valve. The valve is operated via a solenoid. In an embodiment, the valve is opened while the pump is operating to inflate the airbed. The valve is also opened to deflate the airbed. In accordance with an embodiment, the pump utilizes a dual fan configuration, having two sets of fan blades on opposite sides of a disc. Air inlets are provided for the fan housing of the pump on both the top and the bottom so that each set of blades may draw air into the pump.

1 . An airbed, comprising: 
 an air chamber;    a receptacle attached to the air chamber and configured to receive a pump, the receptacle comprising an opening in fluid communication with the air chamber and configured and arranged to be in fluid communication with a pump installed in the receptacle;    a valve located inside the air chamber and positioned to close the opening; and    a solenoid positioned inside the air chamber and connected to the valve, the solenoid being arranged and configured to move the valve between a first position in which the opening is closed by the valve and a second position in which the opening is not closed by the valve.    
   
   
       2 . The airbed of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is connected to the receptacle by a conduit, and wherein the conduit extends out the receptacle and turns to extend along the receptacle.  
   
   
       3 . The airbed of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical circuit extending from the solenoid to an interior of the receptacle, the circuit for supplying a signal to the solenoid for operation.  
   
   
       4 . The airbed of  claim 3 , wherein the electrical circuit supplies power to the solenoid.  
   
   
       5 . The airbed of  claim 3 , wherein the electrical circuit connects to a pump in the receptacle, and wherein at least a portion of the operation of the solenoid and the pump is controlled by the same controller.  
   
   
       6 . The airbed of  claim 1 , further comprising a solenoid mounting base connected to the receptacle and configured to receive the solenoid.  
   
   
       7 . An airbed, comprising: 
 an air chamber;    a pump;    a receptacle attached to the air chamber and configured to receive the pump, the receptacle comprising an opening in fluid communication with the air chamber and configured and arranged to be in fluid communication with the pump when the pump is installed in the receptacle;    a valve located inside the air chamber and positioned to close the opening; and    a solenoid positioned inside the air chamber and connected to the valve, the solenoid being arranged and configured to move the valve between a first position in which the opening is closed by the valve and a second position in which the opening is not closed by the valve.    
   
   
       8 . The airbed of  claim 7 , wherein the opening is connected to the receptacle by a conduit, and wherein the conduit extends out the receptacle and turns to extend along the receptacle.  
   
   
       9 . The airbed of  claim 7 , further comprising an electrical circuit extending from the solenoid to an interior of the receptacle, the circuit for supplying a signal to the solenoid for operation.  
   
   
       10 . The airbed of  claim 9 , wherein the electrical circuit connects to the pump when the pump is in the receptacle, and wherein at least a portion of the operation of the solenoid and the pump is controlled by the same controller.  
   
   
       11 . The airbed of  claim 7 , wherein the pump comprises a fan comprising two sets of blades.  
   
   
       12 . The airbed of  claim 11 , wherein the fan comprises a disk with the two sets of blades positioned on opposite sides of the disk.  
   
   
       13 . The airbed of  claim 12 , wherein the two sets of blades are backwardly curved.  
   
   
       14 . The airbed of  claim 12 , wherein the two sets of blades comprise first and second sets of blades, and further comprising a fan housing for receiving the fan and directing air to the opening, the fan housing comprising first and second sets of vents for drawing air into the first and second sets of blades, respectively.  
   
   
       15 . The airbed of  claim 11 , wherein the two sets of blades comprise first and second sets of blades, and further comprising a fan housing for receiving the fan and directing air to the opening, the fan housing comprising first and second sets of vents for drawing air into the first and second sets of blades, respectively.  
   
   
       16 . The airbed of  claim 7 , further comprising a solenoid mounting base connected to the receptacle and configured to receive the solenoid.  
   
   
       17 . An airbed, comprising: 
 an air chamber;    a pump comprising a fan comprising two sets of blades; and    a receptacle attached to the air chamber and configured to receive the pump, the receptacle comprising an opening in fluid communication with the air chamber and configured and arranged to be in fluid communication with the pump when the pump is installed in the receptacle;    wherein the pump, the fan, and the two sets of blades are arranged and configured so that the two sets of blades direct a fluid toward the opening when the pump is operating.    
   
   
       18 . The airbed of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid is air.  
   
   
       19 . The airbed of  claim 17 , wherein the fan comprises a disk with the two sets of blades positioned on opposite sides of the disk.  
   
   
       20 . The airbed of  claim 19 , wherein the two sets of blades are backwardly curved.  
   
   
       21 . The airbed of  claim 19 , wherein the two sets of blades comprise first and second sets of blades, and further comprising a fan housing for receiving the fan and directing air to the opening, the fan housing comprising first and second sets of vents for drawing air into the first and second sets of blades, respectively.  
   
   
       22 . The airbed of  claim 17 , wherein the two sets of blades comprise first and second sets of blades, and further comprising a fan housing for receiving the fan and directing air to the opening, the fan housing comprising first and second sets of vents for drawing air into the first and second sets of blades, respectively.