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Inflatable plastic articles with sealed internal illumination

a technology of internal illumination and inflatable plastics, which is applied in the field of inflatable plastics, can solve the problems of air leakage, duplicate extremely expensive products such as race cars, airplanes, famous buildings, and add substantial cost to an otherwise inexpensive product, and achieve the effects of avoiding air leakage risk, minimizing air leakage risk, and avoiding excessive costs

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-04-17
ALVIMAR MFG
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an inflatable replica with a unique construction that allows for internal electrical illumination without the risk of leakage or excessive cost. The inflatable replica has a main chamber and a secondary chamber that contains the illumination sub-assembly. The main chamber is sealed to contain air, and the secondary chamber contains the illumination sub-assembly, wires, and a battery. The secondary chamber is open at one end to the atmosphere and sealed at the other end to prevent air leakage. The inflatable replica can be designed and manufactured safely and easily, and it is suitable for use in various inflatable articles such as blimps and beer bottle replicas."

Problems solved by technology

For a relatively small cost they can replicate extremely expensive products such as race cars, airplanes, famous buildings, etc.
In illuminated inflatable articles in the prior art, a significant problem is air leakage at the junction where electric wires from a stationary or battery powered source must intersect and pass through the plastic sheet to reach the electric light bulbs or other light medium situated within the inflatable replica.
Efforts to prevent air leakage are often unreliable or temporary and invariably add substantial cost to an otherwise inexpensive product.

Method used

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  • Inflatable plastic articles with sealed internal illumination
  • Inflatable plastic articles with sealed internal illumination
  • Inflatable plastic articles with sealed internal illumination

Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

first embodiment

[0046]In further embodiments there are a plurality of LEDs within gondola 17, or LEDs may be positioned along the length of chamber 20 extending from end to rear end or top-to-bottom, or elsewhere as later described, and appropriate wiring and electrical or electronic circuitry and components are provided. In this first embodiment the LEDs are standard commercially available products, and the battery box 35 includes three standard 1½ volt batteries 33 in series. As alternatives to LEDs, incandescent light bulbs may be used. Circuit control means may be well-known stock items readily available from standard commercial sources. Obviously, the batteries 33 can be replaced with an appropriate circuit and wiring means to power illumination subassembly 30 from a standard 120 volt power source.

embodiment 40

[0047]FIGS. 9, 9A and 10 illustrate a further embodiment 40 of an illuminated inflatable blimp. Here, inner chamber 42 contains the illumination sub-assembly formed generally in a cross-shape, see FIG. 9A, with vertical portion 43 extending from top to bottom as before, and horizontal portion 44 extending from front end 12 to rear end 13 of the blimp, and with LEDs 31 distributed along the length of the vertical and horizontal portions.

[0048]The many possible variations of illumination sequencing, include simple flashing on-and-off of all the LEDs, to turning the LEDs on sequentially from front to rear or random sequences, etc.

[0049]As with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-8, inner tubular chamber 42 of blimp 40 in FIG. 9 of cross-shape is open to the atmosphere at its top end 45, and its walls will generally collapse inwardly from air pressure indicated by arrows P in the main chamber when it is inflated. The front end 44A of chamber part 44 is heat sealed at 46 to front end 12 of main bo...

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PUM

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Abstract

An inflatable blimp replica formed of thin plastic sheet, includes: a. an inflatable main chamber having walls which define the perimeter of the air space within the main chamber, and a gondola extending downward from the bottom wall, b. an inner chamber having a central part an open top part, and a closed bottom part, wherein the top part intersects and is heat sealed in an air tight manner to the top wall, the central part extends downward through the main body, and the bottom part extends into the gondola, such that the main chamber can be closed and inflatable notwithstanding the intersection of the inner chamber through the top wall, and c. an illumination sub-assembly within the inner chamber including at least one LED, a replaceable electric battery at the top part, and control means for controlling when the LED is switched on and off.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001]This application is based on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 851,803 filed on Oct. 13, 2006 and claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention is in the field of inflatable articles formed of thin sheet plastic as replicas of real products such as blimps, automobiles, beer bottles, animals, humans, characters, lawn decorations and furniture.[0004]2. Prior Art[0005]The prior art includes inflatable replicas both with and without internal or integrated electrical illumination. Inflatable replicas without illumination are exemplified by applicant's U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,512,002 and 6,659,837 for inflatable cars, U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,902 for an inflatable chair, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,107 for an inflatable polyhedron calendar. Inflatable replicas with internal illumination are exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,609,411, and 2,936,366.[0006]These inflatable replicas have great use as ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A63H27/18
CPCA63H27/10A63H2027/1058A63H33/22
Inventor RANDALL, JAMES W.
Owner ALVIMAR MFG