Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates generally to pillows, and more particularly, to an improved inflatable pillow having a built-in electric air pump to inflate the pillow by electricity. Background Art

[0002] As the times progress, more and more people have their own cars, long time sitting in the driver's seat usually causes a hurt to his or her neck, which is harmful to people's health. The existing U-pillow is solid and is not inflatable, which is insufficient for portability and flexibility, and can not relieve the neck injury of people. Office worker is seated most of the time, which is more easily to cause a neck injury; he or she cannot get treatment and relax to the neck injury. An easily operated, carried, and comfortable pillow is much desired.

Technical Problem

[0003] A main object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable pillow, which can be inflated quickly and easily, is convenient and easy-to-carry, and comfortable.

Solution to Problem

Technical Solution

[0004] To obtain the above object, an inflatable pillow provided in the present invention comprises: a bladder with an internal chamber therein; an electronic box embedded in the bladder; and a check valve assembly embedded in the bladder to provide air to the internal chamber in the bladder. An electric air pump, a PCB and a battery are placed inside the electronic box and electrically connected therebetween. The PCB controls the electric air pump switched on or off. The pump has an air conduit or opening communicating an internal cavity in the pump with the internal chamber in the bladder. Thereby the pillow can be inflated automatically by the electric air pump.

[0005] In some embodiments, the PCB is integrated a time-control module; and the time- control module controls the electric air pump to operate for a certain time after being actuated and then automatically being switched off.

[0006] In some embodiment, a switch is set on the PCB for switching on and off the electric air pump, and the switch can be operated from a surface of the pillow by a user.

[0007] In some embodiment, a USB connector is set on the PCB and forms a port exposed to an outer surface of the pillow for charging the battery from an outer power source.

[0008] In some embodiment, a light indicator is set on the PCB and extends to an outer

surface of the pillow for indicating a working status of the electric air pump and/or battery charging and/or remaining capacity of the battery. [0009] In some embodiment, the electric air pump forms an air conduit or opening passing through a hole in a side wall of the electrics box; and the air conduit or opening acts as an air inlet and outlet when inflating or deflating the bladder.

[0010] In some embodiment, the check valve assembly comprises a valve body embedded in the bladder and defining an opening at its center; and the opening communicates the inner chamber of the bladder with the ambient air.

[0011] In some embodiment, a sealing cap is captured on a top of the valve body, is capable of sealing the opening when is covered on valve body, and can open the valve body to the ambient air when is removed from the opening.

[0012] In some embodiment, a flap is set under the opening and is used to block the opening when the pillow is properly inflated for maximum comfort, or when the air bladder is empty and the pillow is being stored or transported.

[0013] In some embodiment, a push rod is set in the opening; and the flap is attached to a bottom end of the push rod, and can be pushed to leave the opening by the push rod.

[0014] In some embodiment, the push rod is resiliently and movably fitted in the opening of the valve body.

[0015] In some embodiment, a spring is set around push rod and resiliently engaged with the push rod.

[0016] In some embodiment, the push rod has a broader top plan thus forming an extensive fringe, and an inner wall of the opening forms a protruding member; the spring is set between the extensive fringe and the protruding member; whereby the spring is compressed when push down the push rod, and the flap attached at the bottom end of the rod is pushed away from the opening for air discharging; and the push rod bearing the flap can restore an original place under the resilient force of the spring.

[0017] In some embodiment, the sealing cap covers and seals the opening by interference fit between an annular wall of the cap and an inner wall of the opening.

[0018] In some embodiment, the bladder defines a gas port for air inlet and outlet, and the check valve assembly comprises a sealing member under the gas port; the sealing member is used to block gas or air in the bladder when the inflatable pillow is inflated, and can be removed to deflate the pillow.

[0019] In some embodiment, the bladder is made from elastic materials, and has a U-shape.

[0020] In some embodiment, the electric air pump, the PCB and the battery are built-in elements in the pillow; and the pillow has a U shape.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

Advantageous Effects

[0021] In accordance with the embodiments, the present invention has advantages that: the PCB can control the bladder to be automatically inflated in a very short time and auto- matically switch off the electric air pump after a preset time; and the pillow can be deflated for being stored; which is convenient to inflate the pillow, and avoids the inconvenience to carry the traditional solid U-pillow. A comfortable pillow is available since it is full of gas instead of being solid, and the inflating time is preset according to the pillow properly inflated for maximum comfort.

[0022] The above-mentioned features, as well as other features, aspects, and advantages of the present technology will now be described in connection with various embodiments of the invention, in reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Brief Description of Drawings

Description of Drawings

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a partially exploded plan view of an inflatable pillow in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of an electronics box in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the inflatable pillow in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of the inflatable pillow in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates an inner structure of the electronics box in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates a side plan view of the electronics box of FIG. 5; and

[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates a check valve assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; where (a) represents a perspective view with a flap opened thereof, (b) represents another perspective view with the flap closed.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Best Mode

[0030] The provided figures and the following description of certain embodiments of the invention are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments, but rather, are provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention.

[0031] Referring to FIGS 1-2, an inflatable pillow 100 is proposed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, comprising, a bladder 1, a check valve assembly 20 and an electronics box 10. Such electronics as an electric air pump 5, a PCB 7 and a battery 8 are set in the electronics box 10, which thereby forms built-in electronics. In the first embodiment, the built-in PCB 7 is horizontally placed on the built-in battery 8, and both are located beside the built-in electric air pump 5. A top cover 11 is set on the box 10 to close the box 10 in the bladder 1. The built-in electric air pump 5 is fixed in the box 10 by multiple fixing rods 6. It is understood that the placement of these built-in electronics in the box 10 is various.

[0032] The PCB 7 has provided with a switch 9 and a USB connector 4. The top cover 11 accordingly defines a switch hole and a USB port (not labeled) for the switch 9 and USB connector 4 passing therethrough and exposing to the surface of the bladder 1 so that the battery 8 can be charged through the USB connector from an external power source, and the user can start the electric air pump 5 by the switch 9.

[0033] The bladder 1 has a shape for a U pillow in this embodiment, and is made from

elastic materials, such as rubber materials.

[0034] In one embodiment, the check valve assembly 20 is set at one end of the bladder 1, and comprises a sealing member 2. A gas port 3 is defined in the bladder 1 for air inlet and outlet, and is located under the sealing member 2. The sealing member 2 can be removed to cover the gas port 3. Thereby the sealing member 2 seals the gas port 3 so as to block gas or air in the bladder 1 when the inflatable pillow 100 is inflating or in use; and the sealing member 2 is removed to deflate the pillow 100.

[0035] In accordance with another embodiment, referring to FIG. 3, the electronics box 10 is embedded in the pillow 100 with the top of the switch 9 exposing to the surface for touching. It is very convenient for carrying.

[0036] Referring to FIGS 4-6, the inflatable pillow 100 provided in accordance with the second embodiment, has a U-shape. The electronics box 10 and the check valve assembly 20 are set each at one end of the U-pillow 100 in an illustrational embodiment. The battery 8 is placed on the inner bottom of the electronics box 10, the PCB 7 vertically mounted on the battery 8, and the electric air pump 5 is located above the battery 8 beside the PCB 7. It is understood that the arrangement of electric air pump 5, the PCB 7 and the battery 8 in the electronics box 10 is various, and can be adjusted if necessary.

[0037] On top side of the PCB 7, the switch 9, the USB connector 4, and further a light indicator 12 are provided, and each pass through the corresponding hole of the top cover 11 of the box 10 to extend outside. The switch 9 extends to outer surface of the bladder 1 for operation by the user to start pump 5. The USB connector 4 extends outside for charging from outer power source. The light indicator 12 extends outside for indicating an inflating operation or battery charging or remaining capacity.

[0038] The PCB 7 is electrically connected with the battery 8 and the electric air pump 5 for controlling the pump 5.

[0039] In some embodiment, the PCB 7 has integrated with a time-control module, which controls the pump 5 operating for a preset time, whereby after pressing the switch 9, the pillow can be automatically inflated for the set time and will be automatically switched off. [0040] The built-in electric air pump 5 is fixed in the box 10 by several fixing rod 6, and forms an air conduit or opening 13 at one end thereof passing through a hole in the side wall of the box 10 to communicate with the inner chamber of the bladder 1. The air conduit or opening 13 acts as an air inlet and outlet for inflating and deflating the bladder 1.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 7, the check valve assembly 20 in accordance with one embodiment is used to provide air to the internal chamber in the bladder 1. The check valve assembly 20 comprises a valve body 21 embedded in the bladder 1 and defining an opening 25 at its center. The opening 25 communicates the inner chamber of the bladder 1 with the ambient air. A sealing cap 23 is captured on the top of the valve body 21, is capable of sealing the opening 25 when is covered on valve body 21 in place, and can open the valve body 21 to the ambient air when is removed from the opening 25. A flap 22 is set under the opening 25, and is used to block the opening 25 when the pillow 100 is properly inflated for maximum comfort, or when the air bladder 1 is empty and the pillow is being stored or transported. There are a push rod 24 set in the opening 25. The flap 22 is attached to the bottom end of the push rod 24, and can be pushed to leave the opening 25 by the push rod 24. A spring 26 is set around push rod 24 and resiliently engaged with the push rod 24. Thereby the push rod is re- siliently and movably fitted in the opening 25 of the valve body 24.

[0042] Specifically, the push rod 24 has a broader top plan thus forming an extensive fringe, and the inner wall 28 of the opening 25 forms a protruding member. The spring 26 is set between the extensive fringe and the protruding member 29. When push down the push rod 24, the spring 26 is compressed, and the flap 22 attached at the bottom end of the rod 24 is pushed away from the opening 25 for air discharging. The push rod 24 bearing the flap 22 can restore the original place under the resilient force of the spring 26. The sealing cap 23 covers and seals the opening 25 by interference fit between an annular wall 27 of the cap 23 and the inner wall 28 of the opening 25.

[0043] Therefore, upon the pump 5 being actuated, air is allowed to flow into an internal cavity in pump 5 from the air conduit or opening 13 for negative pressure, thus ambient air is absorbed into the inner chamber of the bladder 1 from the opening 25 of the check valve assembly 20. The flap 22 is used to block opening 25 when the pillow is properly inflated for maximum comfort, or when the air bladder 1 is empty and the pillow is being stored or transported. The sealing cap 23 can further seal the opening 25.

[0044] The user can press the switch 9 to actuate the pump 5 when he or she needs use the pillow 100, the pump 5 will operate for a preset time under a control of the time- control module in the PCB 7, and the bladder 1 is inflated due to a negative pressure caused by the pump 5. The preset time is set according to when the pillow 100 can be properly inflated for maximum comfort. The pump 5 will be switched off at the end of the preset time automatically, which does not need any operation of the user, and the valve assembly 20 is closed by the flap 22 under an air pressure in the inner chamber of the bladder 1.

[0045] If the user needs to deflate the bladder 1 for storing it, he or she can remove the

sealing cap 23 from the opening 25 of the valve body 21, push down the push rod 24 on its top plan by finger or the like, thus the gas can be discharged from the opening 25.

[0046] As used in the description and claims, the singular form "a", "an" and "the" include both singular and plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. At times, the claims and disclosure may include terms such as "a plurality," "one or more," or "at least one;" however, the absence of such terms is not intended to mean, and should not be interpreted to mean, that a plurality is not conceived.

[0047] As used herein, the term "comprising", "comprises" or "composed of is intended to mean that the devices, systems, and methods include the recited elements, and may additionally include any other elements. "Consisting essentially of shall mean that the devices, systems, and methods include the recited elements and exclude other elements of essential significance to the combination for the stated purpose. Thus, a system or method consisting essentially of the elements as defined herein would not exclude other materials, features, or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel char- acteristic(s) of the claimed invention. "Consisting of shall mean that the devices, systems, and methods include the recited elements and exclude anything more than a trivial or inconsequential element or step. Embodiments defined by each of these transitional terms are within the scope of this disclosure.

[0048] The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way of illustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which the subject matter may be practiced.

Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein individually or collectively by the term "invention" merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept, if more than one is disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.