Bicycle operated air pump

A method for pumping air using a bicycle having a frame, a crank assembly rotatably mounted to said frame, a wheel rotatably mounted to said frame, a wheel sprocket rotatably mounted to the wheel for rotating the wheel when the wheel sprocket is rotated in a forward direction, and a drive chain having upper and lower chain runs interconnecting said crank assembly and said wheel sprocket and extending along upper and lower paths, said lower path extending through a chain tensioning device, said method comprising:

• providing an air pump having a drive sprocket and pumping means operable for pumping air in response to rotation of said drive sprocket;
• positioning said air pump proximate said bicycle so that said air pump is stationary relative to said bicycle;
• moving the lower chain run away from its path and engaging said lower run with said drive sprocket on said air pump so as to substantially deflect the chain tension device to a forward position, thereby placing the lower chain run in tension between the chain tensioning device and the drive sprocket during rotation of the wheel sprocket in a reverse direction;
• and
• rotating said crank assembly and said wheel sprocket in the reverse direction so that said lower run of the drive chain moves past said drive sprocket and rotates said drive sprocket thereby causing said pumping means to pump air in response to said rotation of said crank assembly.

An air pump designed for use with a bicycle having a frame, a first elongate tube, a wheel rotatably mounted to the frame, a crank assembly rotatably mounted to the frame, at least one gear attached to the wheel, the at least one gear being designed to cause the wheel to rotate in a first direction when the gear is driven in the first direction, a drive chain designed and having a length and tension selected so that the chain engages and couples the crank assembly and the at least one gear so as to transmit rotational drive from the crank assembly to the at least one gear when the crank assembly is caused to rotate, the chain including first and second runs extending along upper and lower paths, respectively, located adjacent the first elongate tube, the air pump comprising:

• a housing having a hollow interior;
• clamp means integral with said housing, for releasably securing said housing to a selected portion of the first tube so as to permit said housing to be quickly secured to, and quickly detached from, the first tube;
• a sprocket rotatably mounted to said housing in fixed, predetermined spaced relation to said clamp assembly, said sprocket being designed to engage and be rotatably driven by the chain, wherein said sprocket is sized and said predetermined spaced relation is selected so that when said housing is secured to the first tube and one of the first and second runs of the chain is engaged with said sprocket, said one run of chain will be deflected form its respective path an amount sufficient to increase the tension in the chain such that said one run is maintained in driving engagement with said sprocket when the chain is driven by the crank assembly;
• and
• pump means, positioned in said interior of said housing and coupled with said sprocket, for providing a stream of compressed air in response to rotation of said sprocket.

An air pump designed for use with a bicycle having a frame, a chain stay having first and second ends, a wheel rotatably mounted to the frame adjacent the first end of the chain stay, a crank assembly rotatably mounted to the frame adjacent the second end of the chain stay, a free wheel attached to the wheel, the free wheel being designed (a) to cause the wheel to rotate in a first direction when the free wheel is driven in a first direction, and (b) to rotate independently of the wheel when the free wheel is driven in an opposite direction, a drive chain interconnecting and engaging the crank assembly and free wheel so as to transmit rotational drive from the crank assembly to the free wheel, the chain having upper and lower runs extending along upper and lower paths, respectively, located adjacent and substantially parallel to the chain stay, and a derailleur for adjusting the position of the chain relative to the free wheel and for maintaining the chain under a predetermined tension, the air pump comprising:

• a housing having a hollow interior;
• a clamp assembly, including an integral lip on said housing and a movable, hand-actuated clamp plate, for releasably securing said housing to a selected portion of the chain stay by clamping the chain stay between the lip and the movable, hand-actuated clamp plate so as to permit said housing to be quickly secured to, and quickly detached from, the chain stay;
• a sprocket rotatably mounted to said housing in fixed, predetermined spaced relation to said clamp assembly, said sprocket being designed to engage and be rotatably driven by the chain, wherein said sprocket is sized and said predetermined spaced relation is selected so that when said housing is secured to the chain stay near a mid-length portion thereof, and one of the upper and lower runs of the chain is wrapped around said sprocket so as to engage said sprocket, said one run of the chain will be deflected from its respective path an amount sufficient to increase the tension in the chain such that said one run is maintained in driving engagement with said sprocket when the chain is driven by the crank assembly;
• a crankshaft rotatably mounted in said interior of said housing, said crankshaft being coupled with said sprocket so that rotation of said sprocket causes said crankshaft to rotate;
• and
• a pump assembly, positioned in said interior of said housing and coupled with said crankshaft, for providing a stream of compressed air in response to rotation of said crankshaft.

A device for pumping air comprising:

• a bicycle having a frame, a first elongate tube, a wheel rotatably mounted to said frame, a crank assembly rotatably mounted to said frame, at least one gear attached to said wheel, said at least one gear being designed to cause said wheel to rotate in a first direction when said gear is driven in the first direction, a drive chain running through a chain tensioning device that applies tension to the chain so that the chain engages and couples said crank assembly and said at least one gear to transmit rotational drive from said crank assembly to said at least one gear when the crank assembly is rotated in a forward direction, said chain including first and second runs extending along upper and lower paths, respectively, located adjacent said first tube;
• a housing having a hollow interior;
• clamp means, coupled to said housing, for releasably securing said housing to a selected portion of said first tube so as to permit said housing to be quickly secured to, and quickly detached from, said first tube;
• a sprocket rotatably mounted to said housing in fixed, predetermined spaced relation to said clamp assembly, said sprocket being designed to engage and be rotatably driven by said chain, wherein said sprocket is sized and said predetermined spaced relation is selected so that when said housing is secured to said first tube and said second run of said chain is engaged with said sprocket, said second run of chain will be deflected from its path an amount sufficient to deflect the chain tensioning device forward and increase the tension in the chain such that said second run is maintained in driving engagement with said sprocket when the chain is driven by the crank assembly in a reverse direction;
• and
• pump means, positioned in said interior of said housing and coupled with said sprocket, for providing a stream of compressed air in response to reverse rotation of said crank assembly.