Inflatable product with integrated air pump

A pump for use in connection with inflatable products, the pump comprising:

• a housing defining an interior housing chamber having an open inner end and an open outer end opposite the inner end;
• a motor mounted to the housing;
• an air mover fixed to the motor and driven by the motor when the motor is activated;
• a power supply mounted to the housing;
• a switch having electrically connected to the motor and the power supply, the switch having an activated position in which electrical current is allowed to flow from the power supply to the motor, and a deactivated position in which electrical current is prevented from flowing from the power supply to the motor;
• and
• a cover sized and configured to mount to the outer end of the housing to seal the interior housing chamber in a closed position, and to allow air to flow through the outer end in an open position, the cover having a switch activator configured to place the switch in the deactivated position as the cover is advanced from the open position to the closed position.

A method of inflating an inflatable product, the method comprising:

• opening a cover to establish a fluid communication between an interior chamber of the inflatable product and ambient air;
• activating a pump to direct a flow of air between the interior chamber and the ambient air;
• and
• closing the cover to seal the interior chamber of the inflatable product from the ambient air, the step of closing the cover simultaneously deactivating the pump.