Inflatable figure assembly

• US 7,198,538 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2003
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gemmy Industries Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gemmy Industries Corporation
• Inventors: Chin-Cheng, Tsai
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cegielnik; Urszula M
• Application Number:
  US10/705,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20040180604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 446220-226, 446/176, 446/178, 446/179, 326/255, 326/256, 326/378, 326/360, 326/441, 326/410
• US Class Current: 446/220
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1033 Inflation devices or methods for inflating balloons
• 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 3/06 Air-filled or inflatable toy figures connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0025 display surface tensioning means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/08 Dolls, faces, or other representations of living forms with moving parts in the nature of toys A63H
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A displayable inflatable figure has a main hollow body that is of a soft and air-permeable fabric. An extended part at the bottom includes a fan assembly to force air flow into the main body. An internally attached lighting system is fastened to provide illumination without external lighting. When connected with power, the fan continuously pumps air into the body. When air is filled in the body, excessive air leaks out from the fabric so that the figure can keep a good shape.

Claims

1. An inflatable figure assembly, comprising:

a hollow main body, wherein said hollow main body is made of soft permeable fabric and forms a figure when inflated;

a fan and stand assembly having

a base,

a fan system attachable to the base,

an air passage for channeling air through the base and into the fan system and then into the hollow main body above the base, and

a fastening device attaching a portion of the hollow main body to the base; and

a lighting system supported inside the inflated hollow main body, the lighting system comprising a power cord and at least one lighting body that illuminates the figure from within,

wherein the hollow main body allows air to diffuse through it at a rate no faster than the fan system discharges air into the hollow main body.

2. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting body further comprises a bulb connected to a power cord.

3. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting body comprises a bulb and a cover.

4. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 1, further comprising tie-down rings secured to said hollow main body.

5. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 4, comprising an anchor attachable to each tie-down ring.

6. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting body is a plurality of lighting bodies.

7. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of lighting bodies further comprises a bulb connected to a power cord.

8. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of lighting bodies comprises the bulb and a cover.

9. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 1, wherein the fan system discharges the air directly into the hollow main body.

10. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 1, wherein the fan system is located inside the base.

11. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 10, further comprising a hole in the base, wherein the air is received through the hole.

12. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 11, wherein the hole is in a bottom of the base and the air is received upwardly through the hole.

13. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hole in the base, wherein the air is received through the hole.

14. The inflatable figure assembly of claim 13, wherein the hole is in a bottom of the base and the air is received upwardly through the hole.