Airbed with built-in pump having powered inflation and deflation

Abstract

A built-in pump for an airbed that provides both power inflation and power deflation. The built-in pump utilizes mechanical advantage to open valves for the pump. Separate inflate and deflate valves are utilized. A single direction, centrifugal fan is used to both inflate and deflate the airbed. The fan is activated when either of the valves is actuated, allowing air to flow into or out of the airbed. Separate channels associated with the inflate and deflate valves direct airflow in the appropriate direction.

1 . An inflatable product, comprising: 
 an air bladder; and    a pump in fluid communication with the air bladder, the pump comprising: 
 an inflate valve;  
 a fan;  
 a motor for driving the fan; and  
 a deflate valve;  
 the inflate valve, the fan, and the deflate valve being arranged so that actuation of the mechanical inflate valve while rotating the fan in a first direction causes the pump to inflate the bladder and actuation of the deflate valve while rotating the fan in the first direction causes the pump to deflate the bladder.  
   
   
   
       2 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is a single direction motor.  
   
   
       3 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein the inflate valve is a mechanical valve.  
   
   
       4 . The inflatable product of  claim 3 , wherein the deflate valve is a mechanical valve.  
   
   
       5 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein the deflate valve is a mechanical valve.  
   
   
       6 . The inflatable product of  claim 1 , wherein the pump further comprises a housing in which the fan is mounted, and wherein the housing comprises: 
 a first pathway for directing air drawn by the fan when the deflate valve is open from the bladder, through the fan, and out of the housing and bladder, and    a second pathway for directing air drawn by the fan when the inflate valve is open from outside the housing and bladder through the fan and into the bladder.    
   
   
       7 . The inflatable product of  claim 6 , wherein the inflate valve comprises two valves for opening and closing an inlet into the housing and an outlet into the bladder.  
   
   
       8 . The inflatable product of  claim 7 , wherein the two valves are mechanical valves, and are connected together for substantially simultaneous operation.  
   
   
       9 . The inflatable product of  claim 8 , further comprising a switch, the switch being arranged and configured to be engaged to turn on operation of the motor as the two valves are opened.  
   
   
       10 . The inflatable product of  claim 7 , wherein the deflate valve comprises two valves for opening and closing an inlet from the bladder and an outlet of the housing.  
   
   
       11 . The inflatable product of  claim 6 , wherein the deflate valve comprises two valves for opening and closing an inlet from the bladder and an outlet of the housing.  
   
   
       12 . The inflatable product of  claim 11 , wherein the two valves are mechanical valves, and are connected together for substantially simultaneous operation.  
   
   
       13 . The inflatable product of  claim 8 , further comprising a switch, the switch being arranged and configured to be engaged to turn on operation of the motor as the two valves are opened.  
   
   
       14 . An inflatable product, comprising: 
 an air bladder; and    a pump in fluid communication with the air bladder, the pump comprising: 
 a housing;  
 a mechanical inflate valve;  
 a fan;  
 a motor for driving the fan; and  
 a mechanical deflate valve;  
 the inflate valve, the fan, and the deflate valve being arranged so that actuation of the mechanical inflate valve while rotating the fan causes the pump to inflate the bladder and actuation of the deflate valve while rotating the fan causes the pump to deflate the bladder.  
   
   
   
       15 . The inflatable product of  claim 14 , wherein the inflate valve comprises two valves for opening and closing an inlet into the housing and an outlet into the bladder.  
   
   
       16 . The inflatable product of  claim 15 , wherein the two valves of the inflate valve are connected together for substantially simultaneous operation.  
   
   
       17 . The inflatable product of  claim 16 , further comprising a switch, the switch being arranged and configured to be engaged to turn on operation of the motor as the two valves are opened.  
   
   
       18 . The inflatable product of  claim 15 , wherein the deflate valve comprises two valves for opening and closing an inlet from the bladder and an outlet of the housing.  
   
   
       19 . The inflatable product of  claim 15 , wherein the deflate valve comprises two valves for opening and closing an inlet from the bladder and an outlet of the housing.  
   
   
       20 . The inflatable product of  claim 11 , wherein the two valves of the deflate valve are connected together for substantially simultaneous operation.  
   
   
       21 . The inflatable product of  claim 8 , further comprising a switch, the switch being arranged and configured to be engaged to turn on operation of the motor as the two valves are opened.