US 7,160,171 B1Granted

Pneumatic pump and vehicle

AssigneeRehco, LLC

InventorsJeffrey Rehkemper, Scott May, Charles Hartlaub

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Abstract

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pneumatic pump in combination with a pneumatic toy vehicle powered by a refillable compressed chamber. The improvement of the pump is defined by having a pipe that has an aperture to exhaust air being pumped therefrom. The pump further includes a means for launching the vehicle from the pump. The toy vehicle includes a pneumatic motor that when activated utilizes air in the chamber to propel the vehicle and activation of the motor is achieved by moving the vehicle. The vehicle includes an air inlet valve sized to securely engage the pipe of the pump such that movement of the vehicle during filling of the chamber is prevented. When securely engaged by the pipe, the vehicle is positioned against the launching means. A user operating the launching means pushes the vehicle, which activates the motor, such that the vehicle launches away from the pump.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A pneumatic pump for use with a toy vehicle that includes a pneumatic motor powered by a refillable chamber containing compressed air and an inlet, and wherein the pneumatic motor drives a wheel defined thereby and movement of said wheel initiates said pneumatic motor to utilize pressurized air in the chamber of said vehicle to continue driving said wheel such that said wheel when on a surface moves said toy vehicle, the pump comprising:

an air exhaust pipe having an exhaust aperture in a housing defined by the pump for engagement with said inlet such that the pump is utilized to re-fill the chamber of said vehicle;
a means for releasably securing the vehicle to the air exhaust pipe such that the vehicle is prevented from moving during filling of the chamber, wherein the securing means includes a diameter defined by the air exhaust pipe that is sized to fictionally engage the inlet defined on the vehicle such that the frictional engagement holds the vehicle against the pneumatic pump during the filling of said chamber;
and
a means for launching the vehicle from the pneumatic pump, that initiates the pneumatic motor, wherein the launching means is defined by having a frame that includes at least one pin that extends outwardly from the frame, a lever abutting the frame that pivots when pressed downwardly to move the such that the pin extends out of openings defined in the pneumatic pump and wherein the vehicle is positioned against said openings and prevented from moving away from said pump provided that when the lever is pushed downwardly, the pins extend out of the openings to move the vehicle and launch the vehicle away from the pneumatic pump, and
wherein the vehicle includes a pneumatic motor that drives a gear which is meshed to wheels defined thereon and movement of said wheels initiates said pneumatic motor to utilize pressurized air in the chamber of said vehicle, whereby virtue of the launching means moving said vehicle initiates said pneumatic motor.

2 more elements

An improved pneumatic pump for use with a pneumatic toy vehicle powered by a refillable chamber of compressed air, the improvement comprising:

a pipe having an aperture to exhaust air being pumped out of the pneumatic pump, the pipe having a predetermined diameter to releasably engage an air inlet valve of the toy vehicle;
and
a means for launching the vehicle from the pneumatic pump, the launching means is defined by having a frame that includes a pair of pins that extends outwardly from the frame, a lever abuts the frame and pivots when pressed downwardly to selectively move the frame such that the pins extends out of openings defined pneumatic pump,
said pneumatic toy vehicle includes a pneumatic motor that drives a gear which is meshed to wheels defined thereon and movement of said wheels initiates said pneumatic motor to utilize pressurized air in the chamber of said vehicle,
wherein when the air inlet of the toy vehicle is engaged by the pipe, the vehicle is releasably secured to the pump and positioned against the openings defined in the pump such that when the lever is pushed downwardly, the pins extend out of the openings to engage the vehicle and launch the vehicle away from the pneumatic pump, whereby when the launching means moving said vehicle said pneumatic motor initiates.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/847,608Filed 17 May 2004 · continuation in part
Priority: 24 Feb 2003
Granted: 9 Jan 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F01B 17/02
Reciprocating-piston machines or engines characterised by use of uniflow principle: engines
A63H 29/16
Driving mechanisms actuated by flowing media: by steam or compressed air
F04B 33/00
Pumps actuated by muscle power
F01B
Machines or engines, in general or of positive-displacement type