Inflatable plastic articles with sealed internal illumination

• US 20080090487A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alvimar Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alvimar Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Randall, James W.
• Application Number:
  US11/705,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20080090487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/225
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1058 associated with light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08

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.

Claims

1. An inflatable blimp replica formed of thin plastic sheet and operable with an electric battery, comprising:

a. an inflatable main chamber having top and bottom walls and side walls which define the perimeter of the air space within said main chamber, valve means in one of said walls for inflating and deflating said main chamber, and a gondola extending downward from said bottom wall,

b. an inner chamber having a central part, an open top part and a closed bottom part, wherein said top part intersects and is heat sealed in an air tight manner to said top wall, said central part extends downward through said main body, and said bottom part extends into said gondola, such that said main chamber can be closed and inflatable notwithstanding the intersection of said inner chamber through said top wall, said inner chamber'"'"'s top end being open to the atmosphere, and

c. an illumination sub-assembly within said inner chamber, comprising;

i. at least one LED in said bottom part of said inner chamber,

ii. means at said top part for receiving and holding said electric battery,

iii. electrical conductor wires extending through said inner chamber and interconnecting said battery and said LED, and

iv. control means for controlling when at least one said LED is switched on and off,

said electrical wires which interconnect said battery and said LED being within said inner chamber but outside said air space within said main chamber, and said gondola having at least one wall area that is transparent or translucent and through which light from said at least one LED, when it is turned on, is visible.

2. An inflatable blimp replica according to claim 1, wherein said transparent or translucent wall areas comprises windows.

3. An inflatable blimp replica according to claim 1, wherein said control means of said illumination circuit further comprises an on-and-off switch.

4. An inflatable blimp replica according to claim 3 wherein said control means further comprises means for turning said switch on and off at predetermined intervals of time.

5. An inflatable blimp replica according to claim 4, where said predetermined intervals correspond to turning LEDs on and then off according to a predetermined sequence.

6. An inflatable blimp replica according to claim 1, wherein said second chamber further comprises a secondary tubular part extending laterally from and being in communication with said central part, toward at least one of said ends of said main chamber.

said illumination means further comprises additional wires extending from said central part of said inner chamber through said secondary tubular part and additional LEDs connected along the length of said additional wires, whereby LEDs are situated in said gondola and along the length of said main chamber but within said inner chamber, said control means being adapted to control all the LEDs in said circuit, said main chamber having selected wall areas that are transparent or translucent and through which light from said LEDs, when they are turned on, is visible.

7. An inflatable blimp replica according to claim 1, wherein said inner chamber further comprises tubular segments extending in a rear-to-front mode along the side walls of said main chamber, and said illumination means further comprises additional LEDs and wires connecting said additional LEDs to said battery and control means, said main chamber having selected wall areas that are transparent or translucent and through which light from said LEDs, when they are turned on, is visible.

8. An inflatable blimp replica according to claim 6, wherein said tubular segments define a single continuous air passage within said inner chamber.

9. An inflatable blimp replica according to claim 6, wherein said secondary tubular part of said inner chamber extends to and is secured to said front end of said main chamber.

10. An inflatable blimp replica according to claim 1, wherein said illumination means further comprises a plurality of LEDs situated in said bottom end of said inner chamber and within said gondola, and said gondola having at least one wall area that is transparent or translucent and through which light from said at least one LED, when it is turned on, is visible.

11. An inflatable article formed of thin plastic sheet and operable with an electric battery, comprising:

a. an inflatable main chamber having top, bottom and side walls which define the perimeter of the air space within said main chamber, valve means in one of said walls for inflating and deflating said main chamber,

b. an inner chamber having a central part, an open top part and a closed bottom part, wherein said top part intersects and is heat sealed in an air tight manner to said top wall, said central part extends downward into said main body, such that said main chamber can be closed and inflatable notwithstanding the intersection of said inner chamber through said top wall, said chamber'"'"'s top end being open to the atmosphere, and

c. an illumination circuit within said inner chamber, comprising;

i. at least one LED in said bottom part of said inner chamber,

ii. means at said top end for receiving and holding said battery,

iii. electrical conductor wires extending through said inner chamber and interconnecting said battery and said LED, and

iv. control means for controlling when said at least one LED circuit is switched on and off,

d. said electrical wires which interconnect said battery and said LED being within said inner chamber but outside said air space within said main chamber, and said gondola having at least one wall area that is transparent or translucent and through which light from said at least one LED, when it is turned on, is visible.

12. An inflatable article formed of thin plastic sheet and operable with an electric battery, comprising:

a. an inflatable main chamber having top and bottom walls and side walls which define the perimeter of the air space within said main chamber, and valve means in one of said walls for inflating and deflating said main chamber,

b. an inner chamber having a central part, an open top part and a closed bottom part, wherein said top part intersects and is heat sealed in an air tight manner to said bottom wall, said central part extends upward through said main body, such that said main chamber can be closed and inflatable notwithstanding the intersection of said inner chamber through said bottom wall, said inner chamber'"'"'s bottom end being open to the atmosphere, and

c. an illumination sub-assembly within said inner chamber, comprising;

i. at least one LED in said top part of said inner chamber,

ii. means at said bottom part for receiving and holding said battery,

iii. electrical conductor wires extending through said inner chamber and interconnecting said battery and said LED, and

iv. control means for controlling when at least one said LED is switched on and off,

said electrical wires which interconnect said battery and said LED being within said inner chamber but outside said air space within said main chamber, and said gondola having at least one wall area that is transparent or translucent and through which light from said at least one LED, when it is turned on, is visible.

13. An inflatable blimp replica formed of thin plastic sheet, comprising:

a. an inflatable main chamber having top and bottom walls and side walls which define the perimeter of the air space within said main chamber, valve means in one of said walls for inflating and deflating said main chamber, and a gondola extending downward from said bottom wall,

b. an inner chamber having a central part, an open top part and a closed bottom part, wherein said top part intersects and is heat sealed in an air tight manner to said top wall, said central part extends downward through said main body, and said bottom part extends into said gondola, such that said main chamber can be closed and inflatable notwithstanding the intersection of said inner chamber through said top wall, said inner chamber'"'"'s top end being open to the atmosphere, and

c. an illumination sub-assembly within said inner chamber, comprising;

i. at least one LED in said bottom part of said inner chamber,

ii. an electric battery,

iii. means at said top part for receiving and holding said electric battery,

iv. electrical conductor wires extending through said inner chamber and interconnecting said battery and said LED, and

v. control means for controlling when at least one said LED is switched on and off,

said electrical wires which interconnect said battery and said LED being within said inner chamber but outside said air space within said main chamber, and said gondola having at least one wall area that is transparent or translucent and through which light from said at least one LED, when it is turned on, is visible.