Visual display and method of providing a visual display

• US 7,311,580 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bergman Design Consortium
• Original Assignee: Bergman Design Consortium
• Inventors: Moomaw, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cegielnik, Urszula M
• Application Number:
  US10/841,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20050250411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 446/179, 446/176, 446220-226, 404/14, 404/12
• US Class Current: 446/179
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/00 Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0025 display surface tensioning means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/00 Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/008 Inflatable advertising means
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/08 Dolls, faces, or other representations of living forms with moving parts in the nature of toys A63H

Abstract

Outer and inner inflatable members and a motor assembly including a fan are disposed on a base member. Air provided under pressure by the motor assembly including the fan passes through vents in the base member to inflate the inflatable members. Flakes are disposed in the space between the inflatable members. One vent, larger than the others, provides for the flakes to be lifted upwardly from the base member by the pressurized air. At least another vent in the base member provides for a movement of the flakes by the pressurized air in an annular direction in the space between the inflatable members. A permeable cap disposed on the outer inflatable member limits the pressure in the outer and inner inflatable members to a particular value.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional visual display comprising:

a base member,

an outer inflatable member disposed on the base member, wherein at least a portion of the outer inflatable member is transparent,

an inner inflatable member disposed within the outer inflatable member,

flakes movably disposed in a space defined by the base member, the inner inflatable member, and the outer inflatable member,

a motor assembly for generating pressurized air,

at least one vent for directing the pressurized air to inflate the outer inflatable member and to move the flakes in the space defined by the base member, the inner inflatable member and the outer inflatable member, and

a permeable cap disposed on the outer inflatable member for limiting the pressure of the air in the inner and outer inflatable members.

2. The visual display of claim 1, wherein the at least one vent includes

at least a first vent for moving the flakes upwardly from the base member in the space defined by the base member, the inner inflatable member and the outer inflatable member, and

at least a second vent for moving the flakes in an annular direction in the space defined by the base member, the inner inflatable member and the outer inflatable member.

3. The visual display of claim 2, wherein

the first and second vents provide for the inflation of the outer inflatable member.

4. The visual display of claim 1, further comprising an opening in the base member to obtain inflation of the inner inflatable member.

5. The visual display of claim 1, wherein

the motor assembly includes a fan and a motor, the fan adapted to be driven by the motor to generate a flow of the pressurized air, and

the at least one vent is adapted to introduce the pressurized air into the outer inflatable member to provide for inflation of the outer inflatable member.

6. The visual display of claim 1, further comprising

wherein, because of the limited pressure in the outer inflatable member, the flakes do not become attached to the permeable cap during their movement in the space defined by the base member, the inner inflatable member and the outer inflatable member.

7. The visual display of claim 1, wherein the flakes represent snow flakes.