Methods and apparatus for enhancing inflatable devices

• US 20040116039A1
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mueller, George G., Dowling, Kevin J., Osterhout, Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 7,364,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/220
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1041 Holding or sealing means, e.g. handling rods, clamps or plugs
• 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: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/023 Chinese lanterns; Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for enhancing an inflatable device. In one example, a first component adapted to generate at least one of light and sound is coupled to a second component that is adapted to facilitate insertion into an inflatable device. The first component may be an LED-based light source configured to generate single or multi-colored light in an interior space of the inflatable device once inserted into the inflatable device. The second component may be particularly configured with one or more valves or seals to facilitate a transfer of a substance (e.g., an inflating substance) into the inflatable device once the first and second components are inserted into the inflatable device. The second component also may be configured to conveniently facilitate an effective seal between the second component and the inflatable device.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one first component adapted to generate at least one of light and sound; and

at least one second component coupled to the at least one first component and adapted to facilitate insertion of the apparatus into an inflatable device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one first component is configured to generate at least one of the light and the sound in response to at least one detectable condition proximate to the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in combination with the inflatable device, wherein the apparatus is configured such that when the apparatus is inserted into the inflatable device, the at least one of the light and the sound, when generated, is projected into an interior space of the inflatable device.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the inflatable device is a balloon.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the balloon includes at least one pattern on an exterior surface of the balloon.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein the balloon includes confetti disposed in the interior space of the balloon.

7. The combination of claim 4, wherein the at least one first component includes at least one LED configured to generate the light.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the at least one LED is configured such that the generated light includes variable multi-colored light.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein the at least one second component includes a tether attachment feature, and wherein the combination includes a tether coupled to the tether attachment feature.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the tether is formed of a side emitting fiber material, and wherein the at least one second component is configured such that at least some of the generated light is directed into the tether.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one first component includes at least one LED configured to generate the light.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one LED is configured such that the generated light includes variable multi-colored light.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the at least one LED is configured to generate at least first radiation having a first wavelength and second radiation having a second wavelength different than the first wavelength; and

the at least one first component further comprises at least one controller coupled to the at least one LED and configured to independently control a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to generate the variable multi-colored light.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the at least one LED so as to generate the light in response to at least one external signal received by the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the at least one external signal via a wireless link.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the at least one external signal from a user interface device.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one external signal indicates at least one detectable condition proximate to the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the at least one first component further comprises at least one storage device coupled to the at least one controller and configured to store at least one illumination program; and

the at least one controller is configured to execute the at least one illumination program so as to generate the light.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one second component is adapted to accommodate at least one power source for the at least one first component.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one second component includes a power switch to facilitate a coupling of the at least one power source to the at least one first component.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one second component includes at least one passage to facilitate a transfer of a substance from outside of the inflatable device to inside of the inflatable device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one second component further includes at least one of a valve and a seal to facilitate control of the transfer of the substance through the passage.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one of the valve and the seal includes a self-sealing mechanism.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one of the valve and the seal includes a pressure sensitive device.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one of the valve and the seal includes a spring loaded seal.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one second component includes at least one formation adapted to facilitate a seal between the apparatus and the inflatable device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one formation includes at least one recess adapted to accommodate an O-ring, such that when the apparatus is inserted into the inflatable device, the O-ring is placed around an exterior surface of the inflatable device and positioned along the at least one recess so as to create the seal between the apparatus and the inflatable device.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one formation includes at least one protrusion.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one second component includes at least one tether attachment feature.

30. A method, comprising an act of:

projecting at least one of light and sound into an interior space of an inflatable device so as to enhance an effect of the inflatable device.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising an act of:

varying the at least one of the light and the sound in response to at least one detectable condition proximate to the inflatable device.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising an act of:

inserting at least one LED-based light source into the inflatable device such that light, when generated by the at least one LED-based light source, is projected into the interior space of the inflatable device.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising an act of:

inserting at least one of a reflective material and a refractive material into the inflatable device so as to interact with the light when generated.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising an act of:

b) controlling the at least one LED-based light source so as to generate variable multi-colored light.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the act b) comprises an act of:

executing at least one illumination program so as to generate the variable multi-color light.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the inflatable device includes a tether, and wherein the method further comprises an act of illuminating the tether with at least some of the light generated by the at least one LED-based light source.

37. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one LED-based light source configured to generate variable multi-colored light; and

a platform on which the at least one LED-based light source is disposed, the platform configured to facilitate insertion of the apparatus into an inflatable device, such that when the apparatus is inserted into the inflatable device, the variable multi-colored light, when generated, is projected into an interior space of the inflatable device.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the platform includes at least one passage to facilitate a transfer of a substance from outside of the inflatable device to inside of the inflatable device.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the platform further includes at least one of a valve and a seal to facilitate control of the transfer of the substance through the passage.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the platform further includes at least one formation adapted to facilitate a seal between the apparatus and the inflatable device.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the platform is configured as a housing adapted to accommodate at least one power source for the at least one LED-based light source.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, further including at least one optic to spread or focus the light generated by the at least one LED-based light source.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the platform includes at least one tether attachment feature.