METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PUMPING FLUIDS

Field of the invention

[001] The invention relates to methods and systems for pumping fluids. Background of the invention

[002] Sudden floods are a well known natural disaster and have recently caused loss of lives in many places around the world. Emergency equipment, such as boats, rafts, folding bridges are known in the art of civil engineering, but they are typically large and expensive and are hard to store and maintain in an operational condition for years in anticipation of a sudden flood. Also, these means are single purpose and can be used only for the purpose that they were designed for: A bridge can not be used to float a wounded child, a boat cannot be used as a shelter against snow and rain, and a shelter cannot be used for passing people across a water stream.

[003] A low cost solution of inflatable pumps is known in the prior art (e.g. US patent number US4521166: Inflatable air pump; US patent number US5297944: Inflatable pump and article; and US patent number USRE37983: Air pump). However, those prior art inflatable pumps are using the elasticity of the pumped fluid as the sole source of energy for retraction of the pump to its original form, and are therefore very slow.

[004] Therefore, there is a great need for general purpose, minimal volume, low cost and simple means and methods of pumping.

Summary of the invention

[005] A pump, including: (a) a first expandable compartment, including: a first compartment intake valve that allows a flow of first fluid into the first expandable compartment from outside the pump, and a first compartment output valve, that is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from the first expandable compartment outwards of the pump; (b) a second expandable compartment, including: a second compartment intake valve that allows a flow of first fluid into the second expandable compartment from outside the pump, and a second compartment output valve, that is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from the second expandable compartment outwards of the pump; and (c) an expandable supporting compartment that is connected to the first

expandable compartment and to the second expandable compartment, and which is adapted to contain second fluid; wherein a shape of the expandable supporting compartment is adapted to be changed upon an applying of force onto a first supporting compartment portion of the expandable supporting compartment as a result of shifting of second fluid from the first supporting compartment portion to a second supporting compartment portion; and upon an applying of force onto the second supporting compartment portion of the expandable supporting compartment as a result of shifting of second fluid from the second supporting compartment portion to the first supporting compartment portion; wherein a changing of the shape of the expandable supporting compartment that is brought about by the applying of force onto the first supporting compartment portion results in a flowing of first fluid into the second expandable compartment via the second compartment intake valve, and a changing of the shape of the expandable supporting compartment that is brought about by the applying of force onto the second supporting compartment portion results in a- flowing of first fluid into the first expandable compartment via the first compartment intake valve.

[006] A modular system, the modular system including multiple inflatable modules, each of the multiple inflatable modules comprising: (a) an inflatable body that is adapted to be inflated from a contracted state to inflated state; and (b) multiple connectors, connected to the inflatable body, for connecting the inflatable module to at least one other inflatable module.

Brief description of the drawings

[007] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the different views, in which:

[008] Figure Ia illustrates a pump, according to an embodiment of the invention;

[009] Figure Ib is a diagonal view illustration of the pump, according to an embodiment of the invention; [0010] Figure 2 illustrates a method for pumping using the pump, according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0011] Figure 3 illustrates an inflatable object, which includes the pump, according to an embodiment of the invention; [0012] Figures 4a and 4b illustrate the pump, according to an embodiment of the invention; [0013] Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a modular system, according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0014] Figure 6 illustrates several utilization of the modular system, according to different embodiments of the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings [0015] According to an aspect of the invention, the herein disclosed invention teaches a very high duty cycle inflatable pump. A multiple compartment pump that conveniently uses a single motion of the user's muscle for two, rather than one purpose - both for pumping fluid into a destination compartment, and for restoring the shape of the pump to be ready for a new pumping cycle immediately after the end of a previous pumping cycle. While prior art inflatable pumps have a single inflating cycle per one muscle cycle of the user's body, the present invention has two inflating cycles per one muscle cycle of the user's body, thus offering much faster pumping than the prior art.

[0016] Figures Ia and Ib illustrate pump 200, according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein figure Ib is a cross section, and figure Ib offers a diagonal view.

Pump 200 includes first expandable compartment 210 and second expandable compartment, wherein (a) first expandable compartment 210 includes: (i) first compartment intake valve 212 that allows a flow of first fluid into first expandable compartment 210 from outside pump 200, and (ii) first compartment output valve 214 that is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from first expandable compartment 210 outwards of pump 200; and (b) second expandable compartment 220 includes: (i) second compartment intake valve 222 that allows a flow of first fluid into second expandable compartment 220 from outside pump 200, and (ii) second compartment output valve 214, that is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from second expandable compartment 220 outwards of pump 200.

[0017] Pump 200 further includes expandable supporting compartment 230 that is connected to first and second expandable compartments 210 and 220, and which is

adapted to contain second fluid (conveniently in such a way that enables shifting of the second fluid from one portion of supporting expandable compartment 230 to another portion thereof).

[0018] The pumping by pump 200 is made by the alternate insertion and extraction of first fluid into and from each of the expandable compartments 210 and 220 that is facilitated by alternate applying of force onto different portions of pump 200, as disclosed below.

[0019] A shape of expandable supporting compartment 230 is adapted to be changed (a) upon an applying of force onto a first supporting compartment portion (not denoted, conveniently in the proximity of first expandable compartment 210) of expandable supporting compartment 230 as a result of shifting of second fluid from the first supporting compartment portion to a second supporting compartment portion(not denoted, conveniently in the proximity of second expandable compartment 220); and (b) upon an applying of force onto the second supporting compartment portion of expandable supporting compartment 230 as a result of shifting of second fluid from the second supporting compartment portion to the first supporting compartment portion.

[0020] A changing of the shape of expandable supporting compartment 230 that is brought about by the applying of force onto the first supporting compartment portion results in a flowing of first fluid into second expandable compartment 220 via second compartment intake valve 222, and a changing of the shape of expandable supporting compartment 230 that is brought about by the applying of force onto the second supporting compartment portion results in a flowing of first fluid into first expandable compartment 210 via first compartment intake valve 212. [0021] According to an embodiment of the invention, first compartment output valve 214 is adapted to allow a flow first fluid outwards of pump 200 as a result of an applying of force onto first expandable compartment 210, and wherein second compartment output valve 224 is adapted to allow a flow first fluid outwards of pump 200 as a result of an applying of force onto second expandable compartment 220. [0022] It is noted that force is conveniently applied onto first expandable compartment 210 conjointly with the first supporting compartment portion (since those two portions of pump 200 are conveniently proximate to each other), and that

force is conveniently applied onto second expandable compartment 220 conjointly with the second supporting compartment portion (since those two portions of pump 200 are conveniently proximate to each other). Additional discussion of the applying of forces onto pump 200 is offered below. [0023] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first fluid is air, wherein: (a) first expandable compartment 210 includes first compartment intake valve 212 that allows a flow of air into first expandable compartment 210 from outside pump 200, and first compartment output valve 214, that is adapted to allow a flow of air from first expandable compartment 210 outwards of pump 200; and (b) second expandable compartment 220 includes second compartment intake valve 212 that allows a flow of air into second expandable compartment 220 from outside pump 200, and second compartment output valve 224, that is adapted to allow a flow of air from second expandable compartment 220 outwards of pump 200.

[0024] For the convenience of description, the term air will be conveniently used for the description of pump 200 instead of the first fluid (being pumped), instead of the second fluid (which is contained in expandable supporting compartment 230) or instead of both terms. It should however be noted that other first and second fluids such as (though not limited to) water and gasoline could be implemented as well, according to other embodiments of the invention, and that the use of the term air is not intended to limit the invention to the implementing of air in any way.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the invention, expandable supporting compartment 230 includes supporting compartment intake unidirectional valve 232 that is adapted to allow insertion of second fluid into expandable supporting compartment 230. [0026] According to an embodiment of the invention, pump 200 could be used to empty an external object (not illustrated, which is, according to an embodiment of the invention, a contractive object), e.g. by the deflation thereof, or by the emptying of the external object from fluids (such as emptying water from a boat, or pumping gasoline out of a gasoline tank). According to such an embodiment of the invention, first compartment intake valve 212 allows a flow of first fluid into first expandable compartment 210 from the external object, and second compartment intake valve 222

allows a flow of first fluid into second expandable compartment 220 from the external object.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the invention, first compartment output valve 214 is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from first expandable compartment 210 into external object 300 (illustrated in figure Ib, which is not the external object aforementioned from which first fluid is emptied), and second compartment output valve 224 is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid second expandable compartment 220 into external object 300. It is noted that, According to an embodiment of the invention, external object 300 is an expandable object. [0028] According to an embodiment of the invention, first compartment output valve 214 is adapted to allow flow of first fluid from first expandable compartment 210 into first compartment 310 (illustrated in figure 3) of external object 300, and second compartment output valve 224 is adapted to allow flow of first fluid from second expandable compartment 220 into second compartment 320 (illustrated in figure 3) of external object 300.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the invention (e.g. such as the one illustrated in figure 3), pump 200 is a part of external object 300.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the invention, expandable supporting compartment 230 substantially enclose on first expandable compartment 210 and on second expandable compartment 220.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of expandable supporting compartment 230 is enclosed in one of the following ways: (a) within first expandable compartment 210; (b) within second expandable compartment 220; and (c) between the first and second expandable compartments 210 and 220. [0032] According to an embodiment of the invention (such as the one illustrated in figures 4a and 4b), expandable supporting compartment 230 includes multiple supporting compartment expandable units 238, wherein each of the multiple supporting compartment expandable units 238 is connected to at least one another supporting compartment expandable unit 238, so as to allow a flow of second fluid between the connected supporting compartment expandable units 238.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the invention, a contracted volume of pump 200, in which first expandable compartment 210, second expandable

compartment 220, and expandable supporting compartment 230 are contracted, is substantially smaller than a second volume of pump 200, in which expandable supporting compartment 230 and at least one of the first and second expandable compartments 210 and 220 are expanded. [0034] According to an embodiment of the invention, expandable supporting compartment 230 is adapted to at least partially mechanically support first inflatable compartment 210 and second inflatable compartment 220 when expanded.

[0035] It is noted that, according to an embodiment of the invention, expandable supporting compartment 230 is an inflatable supporting compartment that includes supporting compartment intake unidirectional valve 232 for inflating expandable supporting compartment 230. The inflatable supporting compartment could be inflated with air, according to an embodiment of the invention (e.g. from the lungs of a user), but could also be inflated in other second fluids, according to different embodiments of the invention, such as (though not limited to) water, gasoline, or high pressure gas.

[0036] It is noted that the second fluid used to inflate the inflatable supporting compartment may be selected (conveniently during a design phase of pump 200) according to second fluids which will supposedly be available during the inflating of the inflatable supporting compartment, and according to the expected utilizations of pump 200. It is clear to a person who is skilled in the art that whereas air is usually available for the inflation of the inflatable supporting compartment, filling (or inflating) the inflatable supporting compartment with liquid rather than with gas have different advantages (which will become clearer as the operation principles of pump 200 are disclosed below in more details), such as better utilizing of the pressure applied by the user for the pumping.

[0037] According to an embodiment of the invention, the connecting of each of first inflatable compartment 210 and second inflatable compartment 220 to expandable supporting compartment 230 allows expandable supporting compartment 230 to at least partially mechanically support first inflatable compartment 210 and second inflatable compartment 220 when expanded.

[0038] According to an embodiment of the invention, external object 300 is an inflatable object that is adapted to be inflated with gas (e.g. air) by pump 200,

wherein expandable compartments 210 and 220 are inflatable compartments, wherein each of said inflatable compartments includes an intake valve that allows a flow of gas into the inflatable compartment from outside pump 200, and an output valve, that is adapted to allow a flow of gas from the inflatable compartment into external object 300, or into a compartment thereof.

[0039] Having the configuration of the different compartments of pump 200 as disclosed above, pump 200 is therefore adapted, according to an embodiment of the invention, to efficiently pump air into external object 300. Additionally, as the compartments of pump 200 are expandable (either by inflation or otherwise), pump 200 can be stored compactly before being put to actual use as a pump, and therefore can serve in many situations which require compact storing of a pump, some of which are discussed below.

[0040] Conveniently, in order for pump 200 to be operative, expandable supporting compartment 230 should be expanded (e.g. by inflating expandable supporting compartment 230 via supporting compartment intake unidirectional valve 232, which can according to an embodiment of the invention be done manually, like inflating an inflatable swim ring, etc).

[0041] Expandable supporting compartment 230 conveniently serves two ends. Firstly, it provides mechanical support for pump 200, by having an inherent structural strength when expanded, by the containing of the second fluid (if liquid), or by a relatively high pressure thereof (if the second fluid is gas), if it is expanded. Secondly, expandable supporting compartment 230 conveniently provides pump 200 with both the flexibility and the reactiveness needed for pumping.

[0042] Referring now to figure Ib, which is a diagonal view illustration of pump 200, according to an aforementioned embodiment of the invention. According to an embodiment of the invention, expandable supporting compartment 230 substantially enclose on first inflatable compartment 210 and on second inflatable compartment

220. It is noted that said enclosing can be ambient, or can be only partial, e.g. only on four sides of each of inflatable compartments 210 and 220, as illustrated in figure Ib. According to such an embodiment of the invention, two sides of expandable supporting compartment 230 (e.g. a top side and a bottom side) or portions thereof can serve as sides of inflatable compartments 210 and 230 as well.

[0043] Figure 2 illustrates method 500 for pumping using pump 200, according to an embodiment of the invention. It is noted that method 500 should be preferably considered in view of pump 200, embodiments of which are illustrated in figures Ia and Ib. [0044] Method 500 starts with stage 510 of expanding expandable supporting compartment 230 (e.g. as disclosed above). Conveniently, the expanding of expandable supporting compartment 230 results in expansion of expandable compartments 210 and 220 as well, because the latter are mechanically connected to expandable supporting compartment 230 (e.g. by having shared surfaces as disclosed above, etc). As aforementioned, according to an embodiment of the invention, the expending is carried out by manually inflating expandable supporting compartment 230 via supporting compartment intake unidirectional valve 232.

[0045] Once expandable supporting compartment is expanded, it can conveniently serves for the two aforementioned ends, i.e. to provide mechanical support for pump 200, and to provide pump 200 with the flexibility and the reactiveness needed for pumping.

[0046] Stage 510 of expanding is followed by stage 520 of contracting (e.g. deflating, if the first fluid is gaseous) first expandable compartment 210. The contracting is conveniently carried out by manually pressing (i.e. applying force onto) one or more sides of first expandable compartment 210 inwards. It is noted that, conveniently, the size and shape of first expandable compartment 210 (as well as those of second expandable compartment 220) are fit for the contracting of expandable compartments 210 and 220 manually by foot, wherein conveniently first expandable compartment 210 is contracted by a first foot of a user, and second expandable compartment 220 is contracted by the other foot of the user, wherein the user stands on pump 200, and contracts inflatable compartments 210 and 220 alternately, by shifting weight from the first foot to the other foot.

[0047] According to an embodiment of the invention, first expandable compartment 210 includes first compartment pressurizing surface 216, which is adapted to facilitate a contraction of first expandable compartment 210 when force is applied to first compartment pressurizing surface 216 toward first expandable compartment 210, and second expandable compartment 220 includes second

compartment pressurizing surface 226, which is adapted to facilitate a contraction of second expandable compartment 220 when force is applied to second compartment pressurizing surface 226 toward second expandable compartment 220.

[0048] According to an embodiment of the invention, first expandable compartment 210 is adapted to provide mechanical support for first compartment pressurizing surface 216 when expanded, and second expandable compartment 220 is adapted to provide mechanical support for second compartment pressurizing surface 226 when expanded.

[0049] The contracting of first expandable compartment 210 results in stage 522 of extracting first fluid via first compartment output valve 214 (e.g. into external object 300, an example for which is inflating external object 300, by the flow of air which is pressured from the deflating first expandable compartment 210 into external object 300 via first compartment output valve 214). Conveniently, stage 522 results in emptying (or almost emptying) first expandable compartment 210 from first fluid, as ensuring more efficient a pumping.

[0050] Stage 520 is accompanied by stage 524 of flowing of first fluid into second expandable compartment 220 via second compartment intake valve 222, that results from a changing of the shape of expandable supporting compartment 230 that is brought about by an applying of force onto the first supporting compartment portion, conjointly with the force applied onto first expandable compartment 210 during stage 520 (i.e. conveniently as a result of shifting of second fluid from the first supporting compartment portion to the second supporting compartment portion).

[0051] Conveniently, stage 524 results in the expanding of second expandable compartment 220 to a full second expandable compartment size (or a close size), so as to facilitate more efficient a pumping in method 500.

[0052] Stage 520 is followed by stage 530 of contracting (e.g. deflating, if the first fluid is gaseous) second expandable compartment 220. The contracting is conveniently carried out by manually pressing (i.e. applying force onto) one or more sides of second expandable compartment 220 inwards. [0053] The contracting of second expandable compartment 220 results in stage 532 of extracting first fluid via second compartment output valve 224 (e.g. into external object 300, an example for which is inflating external object 300, by the flow

of air which is pressured from the deflating second expandable compartment 220 into external object 300 via second compartment output valve 224). Conveniently, stage 522 results in emptying (or almost emptying) second expandable compartment 220 from first fluid, as ensuring more efficient a pumping. [0054] Stage 530 is accompanied by stage 534 of flowing of first fluid into first expandable compartment 210 via first compartment intake valve 212, that results from a changing of the shape of expandable supporting compartment 230 that is brought about by an applying of force onto the second supporting compartment portion, conjointly with the force applied onto second expandable compartment 220 during stage 530 (i.e. conveniently as a result of shifting of second fluid from the second supporting compartment portion to the first supporting compartment portion).

[0055] Conveniently, stage 534 results in the expanding of first expandable compartment 210 to a full first expandable compartment size (or a close size), so as to facilitate more efficient a pumping in method 500. [0056] Since typically the volume of external object 300 is substantially larger than the combined volume of expandable compartments 210 and 220, stages 520 and 530 are conveniently iterated alternately, until a sufficient inflation of inflatable object 300.

[0057] As mentioned above, each of expandable compartments 210 and 220 includes a compartment intake valve 212 and 222 (respectively), that allows a flow of first fluid into said expandable compartment from outside pump 200 (and, according to an embodiment of the invention, a free flow of first fluid, e.g. air, into said expandable compartment). Also aforementioned is the fact that expandable supporting compartment 230 conveniently provides pump 200 with both the flexibility and the reactiveness needed for pumping.

[0058] Once the deflating pressure is removed from one of expandable compartments 210 and 220, expandable supporting compartment 230 tends to increase the size of said expandable compartment, due to said reactiveness (resulting from the shifting of second fluid between the first and the second supporting compartment portions).

[0059] According to an embodiment of the invention, first compartment intake valve 212 is adapted to allow more first liquid to flow into first expandable

compartment 210 from outside pump 200, in response to expansion of first expandable compartment 210; that is, the expanding first expandable compartment 210 receives more first fluid from outside of pump 200 via first compartment intake valve 212 than when contracted. This is achieved, according to an embodiment of the invention, by an increasing in a size of an opening of first compartment intake valve 212 resulting from stretching force applied on first compartment intake valve 212 during the expansion of first expandable compartment 210 (e.g. because one or more sides of first expandable compartment 220 are stretched during said expansion).

[0060] Likewise, according to an embodiment of the invention, second compartment intake valve 222 is adapted to allow more first fluid to flow into second expandable compartment 220 from outside pump 200 in response to expansion of second expandable compartment 220.

[0061] Figure 3 illustrates external object 300, which includes pump 200, according to an embodiment of the invention. It is noted that, according to an embodiment of the invention, pump 200 is a part of external object 300. Conveniently, external object 300 that is discussed in relation to figure 3 is an expandable object (i.e. the size of which is increasable as first fluid is pumped into which), and conveniently an inflatable object (i.e. the size of which is increasable as gas, e.g. air, is pumped into which). [0062] Conveniently, the volume of external object 300 is substantially larger than that of pump 200. Conveniently, pump 200 or significant portions thereof are made from the same materials (and conveniently from the same actual sheets of material) of external object 300.

[0063] According to an embodiment of the invention, pump 200 or significant portions thereof, external object 300 or significant portions thereof, or the both of which, are made from a flexible polymer material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or laminated polyethylene.

[0064] External object 300, according to an embodiment of the invention, includes two compartments 310 and 320, which are adapted to take in first fluid separately from each other. Dividing objects (especially expandable and/or inflatable ones) into two or more compartments is a known practice, and may be utilized towards several ends, such as redundancy, increasing of structural strength, and so

forth. Pertaining to the increasing of the structural strength of external object 300, it is noted that according to different embodiments of the invention, external object 300 is divided into compartments 310 and 320 in different manners which are aimed to increase the structural strength of external object 300 against folding or twisting external object 300 in one or more directions.

[0065] It is noted that, conveniently, compartments 310 and 320 are isolated from each other, so that first fluid can not pass from compartment 310 to compartment 320 and vice versa. This increases redundancy.

[0066] Returning to pump 200, according to an aforementioned embodiment of the invention, first compartment output valve 214 is adapted to allow flow of first fluid from first expandable compartment 210 into first compartment 310 of external object 300, and second compartment output valve 224 is adapted to allow flow of first fluid from second expandable compartment 220 into second compartment 320 of external object 300. It is clear to a person who is skilled in the art that such an embodiment of the invention could be implemented whether pump 200 is included in external object 300 or separate from which.

[0067] Figures 4a and 4b illustrate pump 200, according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein figure 4a is a diagonal view of pump 200, and figure 4b is a top view thereof. [0068] According to an aforementioned embodiment of the invention, expandable supporting compartment 230 includes multiple supporting compartment expandable units 238, wherein each of multiple supporting compartment expandable units 238 is connected to at least one another supporting compartment expandable unit 238.

[0069] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of expandable supporting compartment 230 (which could be one or more of the multiple supporting compartment expandable units 238, but not necessarily so) is enclosed in one of the following ways: (a) within first expandable compartment 210 (e.g. the supporting compartment expandable units denoted 238(11) and 238(12)); (b) within second expandable compartment 220 (e.g. the supporting compartment expandable units denoted 238(21) and 238(22)); and (c) between the first and the second expandable compartments 210 and 220 (e.g. the tubes connecting supporting compartment expandable units 238).

[0070] It is noted that, According to an embodiment of the invention, each of expandable compartments 210 and 220 includes multiple expandable units (not shown), wherein each of the multiple expandable units is connected to at least one another expandable unit that is included in the same expandable compartment out of expandable compartments 210 and 220.

[0071] According to an embodiment of the invention, a single expandable compartments intake valve (not shown) serves as first compartment intake valve 212 as well as second compartment intake valve 222, and is adapted to allow flows of first fluid from outside pump 200 into first expandable compartment 210 as well as into second expandable compartment 220.

[0072] In some of the embodiments of the invention discussed in detail above, pump 200 was used to pump first liquid into external object 300. However, it is clear to a person who is skilled in the art that the same pumping systems and procedures could also be used to extract first fluid from an external object, or to pump first fluid (e.g. water, gasoline) from one fluid reservoir (e.g. bottom of a boat or a gasoline task) elsewhere, with minor adaptations.

[0073] Since according to different embodiments of the invention: (a) pump 200 could be used for the pumping of liquid or of gas, (b) expandable supporting compartment 230 could be expanded with liquid or inflated with gas, and (c) pump 200 could be used to pump fluid into external object 300, or from a fluid reservoir (which could be an external object, other tank of fluid, or else), one could think of eight different configurations of pump 200, according to those three categorizations.

[0074] By way of example, some utilizations to several of those configurations will be offered, while incontrovertibly it will be clear to a person who is skilled in the art that many other utilizations are both feasible and desirable to the exemplified configurations as well as for configurations not exemplified.

[0075] Pumping gas (e.g. air) while implementing a gas (e.g. air) inflatable supporting compartment could be used to inflation of emergency buoy; pumping fluid while implementing a gas inflatable supporting compartment could be used to pump water from a well, pumping liquid while implementing a liquid (e.g. water) expandable supporting compartment could serve to pump water from the bottom of a boat, and pumping gas (e.g. air) while implementing a liquid expandable supporting

compartment could be used for inflating a tire, when higher pumping pressure is needed.

[0076] Figures 5a and 5b illustrate modular system 400, according to an embodiment of the invention. Modular system 400 includes multiple inflatable modules 410, each of the multiple inflatable modules 410 includes: (a) inflatable body 412 that is adapted to be inflated from a contracted state to inflated state; and (b) multiple connectors 414, connected to inflatable body 412, for connecting the inflatable module 410 (e.g. inflatable module 410(1)) to at least one other inflatable module 410 (e.g. inflatable module 410(2)). [0077] Conveniently, the multiple inflatable modules 410 are adapted to be inflated with air. However it is noted that according to other different embodiments of the invention, other fluids could be used for the inflation wherein the different fluids (including air) have different implication on the possible utilizations of modular system 400. [0078] It is noted that according to different embodiments of the invention, the multiple connectors 414 of each inflatable module 410 can be either similar to each other (as illustrated in figure 5), or of two or more types (e.g. male connectors and female connectors, not shown).

[0079] According to an embodiment of the invention, each connector 414 of the multiple connectors 414 includes socket 416 and projection 418, wherein projection 418(1) of a first connector 414(1) fits into socket 416(2) of second connector 414(2), and projection 418(2) of second connector 414(2) fits into socket 416(1) of first connector 414(1).

[0080] According to an embodiment of the invention, the sockets 416 and the projection 418 are designed so as to make it very hard to pull them apart, as the inflatable modules 410 are intended, according to an embodiment of the invention, for a single use only, thus not intended to be disassembled.

[0081] According to an embodiment of the invention, each of multiple inflatable modules 410 is substantially of the size of a bed mattress. Having such a size, the inflating of each multiple inflatable module 410 can consume considerable time using a standard pump.

[0082] According to an embodiment of the invention, however, each of multiple inflatable modules 410 have an incorporated pump 201 (similar to pump 200 disclosed above) incorporated therein, for the inflating of the inflatable module 410, incorporated pump 201 includes: (a) a first expandable compartment, including: a first compartment intake valve that allows a flow of first fluid (that is conveniently gaseous) into the first expandable compartment from outside pump 201, and a first compartment output valve, that is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from the first expandable compartment into inflatable body 412 (and conveniently to a first compartment thereof); (b) a second expandable compartment, including: a second compartment intake valve that allows a flow of first fluid into the second expandable compartment from outside pump 201, and a second compartment output valve, that is adapted to allow a flow of first fluid from the second expandable compartment into inflatable body 412 (and conveniently into a second compartment thereof); and (c) an expandable supporting compartment that is connected to the first expandable compartment and to the second expandable compartment, and which is adapted to contain second fluid (which is conveniently air, but can be any gas or liquid, as discussed above); wherein a shape of the expandable supporting compartment is adapted to be changed upon an applying of force onto a first supporting compartment portion of the expandable supporting compartment as a result of shifting of second fluid from the first supporting compartment portion to a second supporting compartment portion; and upon an applying of force onto the second supporting compartment portion of the expandable supporting compartment as a result of shifting of second fluid from the second supporting compartment portion to the first supporting compartment portion; wherein a changing of the shape of the expandable supporting compartment that is brought about by the applying of force onto the first supporting compartment portion results in a flowing of first fluid into the second expandable compartment via the second compartment intake valve, and a changing of the shape of the expandable supporting compartment that is brought about by the applying of force onto the second supporting compartment portion results in a flowing of first fluid into the first expandable compartment via the first compartment intake valve.

[0083] According to an embodiment of the invention, the inflatable body 412 of at least one inflatable module 410 includes a first inflatable module compartment 420

and a second inflatable module compartment 430, wherein first liquid (conveniently air) can not flow between first inflatable module compartment 420 and second inflatable module compartment 430, so that the two inflatable module compartments 420 and 430, are inflatable separately. [0084] Dividing inflatable objects into two or more compartments is a known practice, and may be utilized towards several ends, such as redundancy, increasing of structural strength, and so forth. Pertaining to the increasing of the structural strength of the inflatable modules 410, it is noted that according to different embodiments of the invention, inflatable object 300 is divided into compartments 310 and 320 in different manners which are aimed to increase the structural strength of inflatable object 300 against folding or twisting inflatable object 300 in one or more directions.

[0085] According to an embodiment of the invention, first compartment output valve 214 of incorporated pump 201 is adapted to allow a flow of air from first inflatable compartment 210 into first inflatable module compartment 420, and second compartment output valve 224 of incorporated pump 201 is adapted to allow a flow of air from second inflatable compartment 220 into second inflatable module compartment 430.

[0086] It is noted that according to different embodiments of the invention, incorporated pump 201 has different embodiments complying with the different embodiments of pump 200, wherein inflatable module 410 replaces inflatable module 300.

[0087] Considering the embodiment of the invention according to which each of multiple inflatable modules 410 is substantially of the size of a bed mattress, as well as other various embodiments of the invention, the connecting of multiple inflatable modules 420 into an assembled modular system 400 can be done in various ways, and serve for various ends. Continuing the same line, it is noted that, according to an embodiment of the invention, at least one inflatable module 410 is adapted to be shaped by the connecting of a first part (not denoted) of the inflatable module 410 to a second part (not denoted) of the inflatable module 410, using at least one connector 414 of the inflatable module 410. It will be clear to a person who is skilled in the art that the assembled modular system 400 can be assembled from one or more inflatable

modules 410 which were shaped in this way, and/or from one or more inflatable modules 410 that were not so shaped.

[0088] According to an embodiment of the invention, the inflatable modules 410 or significant portions of which, pump 200 or significant portions thereof, or the both of them, are made from a flexible polymer material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or laminated polyethylene.

[0089] According to an embodiment of the invention, connectors 414 are scattered at a generally even distances along the perimeter of the inflatable module 410 to which they are connected. [0090] According to some embodiments of the invention, modular system 400, or even a single inflatable module 410, may be used for different rescue related utilizations, which is facilitated due to several features: the inflatable modules are conveniently buoyant, have small volume when contracted and large usable volume when inflated (and thus could be transported in large quantities to disaster stroke areas), are easy to operate and to inflate, and may serve for the assembling of many useful tools or system, because of the versatility of the connections between multiple inflatable modules 410, and because the ability to shape them as need, as disclosed above.

[0091] For example, a single inflated inflatable module 410 could conveniently serve as a mattress or as a blanket when unshaped (it should be noted that not inflated inflatable module 410 could also serve as a blanket, and that not inflated inflatable module 410 conveniently could also be connected to additional one or more inflatable modules 410, whether inflated or not, for construction of modular systems 400), as a floating life-saving belt or as a buoy when shaped. Likewise, several inflated inflatable module 410 which are assembled into an assembled modular system 400 can serve as a raft, as a shelter, as a support for crossing water obstacles, as a wide format sign and many other applications.

[0092] It is noted that conveniently, each of the inflatable modules 410 used in the assembling of assembled modular system 400 (or a single inflatable module 410, if used separately), can be not inflated at all, fully inflated, or at any degree or partial inflation. The degree of inflation of each of the inflatable module 410 could serve for the utilization of said inflatable module 410 in the assembled modular system 400, or

for larger structural consideration (e.g. allowing sufficient flexibility versus providing strength in different portion of assembled modular system 400).

[0093] The inflatable modules 410 are stored, according to a utilization of the invention, in packages of several dozens of inflatable modules 410 (e.g. rolled to a solid cylinder that consumes relatively little space and can be air dropped to a desired location.

[0094] Figure 6 illustrates several utilization of modular system 400, according to different embodiments of the invention. A set of four inflatable modules 410 are connected using their connectors, to become floating bridge 610. [0095] A set of six inflatable modules 410 are connected to become a raft 620.

[0096] A single inflatable module 410 can be rolled into a cylinder (not shown), wherein the cylinder is then locked onto itself using its connectors 414. Unused connectors 414 of said inflatable module 410 can be connected to other inflatable modules 410, so the cylinder can be connected to raft 620 or to bridge 610, e.g. for making it much more stable and heavy duty.

[0097] A single non inflated (or partially inflated) inflatable module 410 which is connected on top of an inflated inflatable module 410 could form sleeping bag 630.

[0098] It is clear to a person who is skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented by pre-fabricating a large amount of inflatable modules 410 and deploying them to risk areas ready for use, and can also be implemented by preparing a machine that can fabricate the inflatable modules 410 on site, supplied by raw material. The fabricating machine can then be deployed upon need, and fabricate inflatable modules 410 to the amount needed on site.

[0099] It should also be understood that while this description focused to an extent on emergency and flood situations, modular system 400 (as well as pump 200) disclosed herein can be used in many other applications, e.g. where one-time structures and comfort items are needed, such as in mass events, festivals, camping sites, beaches and more.

[00100] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one inflatable module 410 of modular system 400 includes inflatable module intake valve 442

(illustrated in figure 5a), for the inflation of said inflatable module other than by

incorporated pump 201. Inflatable module intake valve 442 could either serve for manual inflation of the mattress (e.g. if incorporated pump 201 malfunctions), but would usually serve for the inflation of said inflatable module 410 by an external pump. Thus, modular system 400 can be stored and/or provided with such external pump (which is conveniently portable) or compressor that can be used to inflate inflatable modules 410 faster than using incorporated pump 201.

[00101] It should also be noted that while this description focused to an extent on scenarios where many inflatable modules 410 are urgently needed at a very short time, the invention covers long term uses, such as (though not limited to) keeping a package of inflatable modules 410 in the trunk of a car, and using them one or two at a time as a mattress, blanket, roofing, tent etc. whenever the need arises.

[00102] The present invention can be practiced by employing conventional tools, methodology and components. Accordingly, the details of such tools, component and methodology are not set forth herein in detail. In the previous descriptions, numerous specific details are set forth, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it should be recognized that the present invention might be practiced without resorting to the details specifically set forth.

[00103] Only exemplary embodiments of the present invention and but a few examples of its versatility are shown and described in the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the present invention is capable of use in various other combinations and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.