Dynamic display air inflatable device

• US 7,322,137 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2005
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chrisha Creations Limited
• Original Assignee: Chrisha Creations Limited
• Inventors: Machala, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder; Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US11/127,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20060107564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 404/10, 404/39, 404/12, 404/22, 446/221, 446/178, 446/179, 446/220, 446/226
• US Class Current: 40/439
• 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

The invention is directed to an inflatable display that has a plurality of inflation modules. The modules are inflated by a fan element. More specifically, a first inflation module is formed from a permeable material and configured to represent a predetermined shape or design when inflated, such as a snowman, Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Uncle Sam or another seasonal or holiday character. The first inflation module is surrounded by a non-permeable material creating an enclosure around the first inflation module and forming a second inflation module. The first inflation module is formed with at least one exhaust port in its base, which has two purposes. First, the exhaust port acts to inflate the second inflation module. Second, the exhaust port in the first inflation module acts in coordination with a mesh screen formed in the surface of the second inflation module to create an airflow that agitates a plurality of “snowlike” particles within the second module, or particles corresponding to any holiday and/or seasonal display.

Claims

1. An inflatable display comprising:

a first inflation module consisting of a permeable fabric, wherein the first inflation module includes at least one exhaust port;

a second inflation module, wherein the second inflation module is transparent;

a fan element, operatively connected to the first inflation module;

a plurality of particles stored inside the second inflation module, but outside the first inflation module;

wherein the fan element is configured to provide a continuous air flow to inflate the first inflation module and inflate the second inflation module through the at least one exhaust port of the first inflation module.

2. The inflatable display of claim 1, wherein the first inflation module agitates the particles within the second inflation module through the at least one exhaust port of the first inflation module.

3. The inflatable display of claim 2, wherein the second inflation module includes an exterior exhaust port.

4. The inflatable display of claim 3, wherein the at least one exhaust port of the first inflation module includes a mesh cover to prevent a backflow of particles into the interior of the first inflation module.

5. The inflatable display of claim 4, wherein the first inflation module consisting of a permeable fabric is configured to assist in inflating the second inflation module.

6. The inflatable display of claim 3, wherein the first inflation module includes a vacuum agitation port.

7. The inflatable display of claim 6, wherein the second inflation module is configured with an agitation guide.

8. The inflatable display of claim 7, wherein the agitation guide works in coordination with the vacuum agitation port to bring the particles from a particle reservoir to a top portion of the second inflatable module.

9. The inflatable display of claim 8, wherein the first inflation module consisting of a permeable fabric is configured to assist in inflating the second inflation module.

10. The inflatable display of claim 1, further comprising a lighting apparatus disposed within the first inflation module.

11. The inflatable display of claim 10, wherein the lighting apparatus comprises:

a first power cord,

at least one light fixture, including a light bulb with a protective cover, secured to one end of said first power cord and an electrical connector disposed at the other end of said first power cord; and

a second power cord extending from said electrical connector connecting with said fan element.

12. The inflatable display of claim 1, wherein said fan element is connected to the first inflation module through an air intake tube.

13. The inflatable display of claim 1, wherein said at least one exhaust port of the first inflation module is formed in the base of the first inflation module.

14. An inflatable display comprising:

a first inflation module consisting of a permeable fabric disposed inside a second inflation module, wherein the first inflation module includes at least one exhaust port and wherein the second inflation module is transparent;

a fan element, operatively connected to the first inflation module;

a plurality of particles stored inside the second inflation module, but outside the first inflation module;

wherein the fan element is configured to provide a continuous air flow to inflate the first inflation module and inflate the second inflation module through the at least one exhaust port of the first inflation module.

20. The inflatable display of claim 14, further comprising a lighting apparatus disposed within the first inflation module.

21. The inflatable display of claim 20, wherein the lighting apparatus comprises:

a first power cord,

at least one light fixture, including a light bulb with a protective cover, secured to one end of said first power cord and an electrical connector disposed at the other end of said first power cord; and

a second power cord extending from said electrical connector connecting with said fan element.

22. The inflatable display of claim 14, wherein said fan element is connected to the first inflation module through an air intake tube.

23. The inflatable display of claim 14, wherein said at least one exhaust port of the first inflation module is formed in the base of the first inflation module.

15. An inflatable display comprising:

multiple inflation modules consisting of permeable fabric disposed inside a transparent inflation module, wherein at least one of the multiple inflation modules includes at least one exhaust port;

a fan element operatively connected to inflate each of said multiple inflation modules;

a plurality of particles stored inside said transparent inflation module, but outside the multiple inflation modules;

wherein the fan element is configured to provide a continuous air flow to inflate each of said multiple inflation modules and inflate the transparent inflation module through the at least one exhaust port.

16. The inflatable display of claim 15, further comprising a lighting apparatus disposed within the multiple inflation modules.

17. The inflatable display of claim 16, wherein the lighting apparatus comprises:

a first power cord,

at least one light fixture, including a light bulb with a protective cover, secured to one end of said first power cord and an electrical connector disposed at the other end of said first power cord; and

a second power cord extending from said electrical connector connecting with said fan element.

18. The inflatable display of claim 15, wherein said fan element is connected to the multiple inflation modules through an air intake tube.

19. The inflatable display of claim 15, wherein said at least one exhaust port of the first inflation module is formed in the base of the multiple inflation modules.

24. A method for inflating an inflatable display comprising:

inflating a first inflation module consisting of a permeable fabric disposed inside a second inflation module, wherein the second inflation module is transparent; and

providing a continuous air flow to inflate the second inflation module through at least one exhaust port of the first inflation module; and

agitating particles disposed between the first and second inflation modules through the at least one exhaust port of the first inflation module.

25. The method for inflating an inflatable display of claim 24, further comprising illuminating the inflatable display with a lighting apparatus disposed within the first inflation module.