Abstract:
A self-inflating inflatable display features a body having an air impermeable flexible skin defining an interior enclosure of the body that is exandable and compactable by respective introduction and removal of air from the interior enclosure through at least one opening in the body. An air delivery device is fixed to the body and defines an openable and closable air flow passage communicating with the interior enclosure of the body and an external environment thereoutside through a respective opening in the body. The air delivery assembly includes an air conveying mechanism selectively operable to convey air from the exterior environment into the interior enclosure through the air flow passage to effect inflating of the body. There is no need to transport separate equipment for filling the inflatable, and the air conveying mechanism may be battery operated to allow operation at locations lacking easy access to mains power.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/176,972, filed May 11, 2009. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to inflatable displays and more particularly to an inflatable display featuring built-in equipment operable to effect inflation of the display without need for a separate air pump or compressor and outside power source. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Use of inflatable displays as marketing, advertising, promotion and attraction tools has become quite commonplace. 
         [0004]    A sealed air inflatable makes use of air impermeable material to form a flexible skin that encloses an interior space but leaves a closeable opening used to pumped or blow air or other gas into the interior space to fully inflate the display to its intended shape and is then closed off to seal the gas inside the inflatable so that this shape is retained by the pressure of the gas inside. When the display is no longer needed, for example at the end of an event at which the unit was used to form a display at a temporary location, the opening is re-opened to release the pressure differential between the inflatable&#39;s interior and the surrounding environment, and the inflatable can then be compacted or folded down into a reduced volume for transport or storage. 
         [0005]    A cold air inflatable uses a skin of air permeable material and uses a continuously run fan to blow air into the interior space to replace air escaping outward therefrom to the surrounding environment to retain its shape instead of an initial filling and sealing off of the interior space like a sealed air inflatable. While this tends to better retain the shape of the inflated display compared to sealed air inflatables, where some air will escape over time after the initial filling through imperfections in the sealing of the unit&#39;s interior space, a cold air inflatable is not as energy efficient over time due to the need to continuously run the fan or blower. 
         [0006]    Conventional sealed air inflatables rely on separate equipment to perform the inflation of the unit, such as a separately purchased air pump or compressor, which typically are not battery powered and accordingly rely on mains power for operation. Due to the need for constant air distribution, cold air inflatables use fans that are incorporated into the construction of, or at least provided with, the display, but also rely on mains power due to their relatively higher power consumption. Conventional sealed air inflatables thus require transport and set up of multiple items, and both types of inflatable displays are typically either limited to locations where mains power is readily available or require additional transport of sufficient power generating equipment. 
         [0007]    In view of the forgoing shortcomings of the prior art, there is a desire for a more portable inflatable display that can be more easily transported and set up, or used at a wider range of locations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a self-inflating inflatable display comprising: 
         [0009]    a body having an air impermeable flexible skin defining an interior enclosure of the body that is exandable and compactable by respective introduction and removal of air from the interior enclosure through at least one opening in the body; and 
         [0010]    an air delivery device fixed to the body and defining an openable and closable air flow passage communicating with the interior enclosure of the body and an external environment thereoutside through a respective opening in the body, the air delivery assembly comprising an air conveying mechanism selectively operable to convey air from the exterior environment into the interior enclosure through the air flow passage to effect inflating of the body. 
         [0011]    Preferably the air conveying mechanism comprises a fan. 
         [0012]    Preferably there is provided a power source fixed to the body and conductively connected to the air conveying mechanism to effect selective powering thereof. 
         [0013]    Preferably the power source is disposed substantially within the interior enclosure. 
         [0014]    Preferably the power source comprises a control device operable from the external environment to activate the air conveying mechanism. 
         [0015]    Preferably the air delivery device and the power source are disposed at opposite sides of the interior enclosure. 
         [0016]    Preferably the power source comprises a battery carrier fixed to the body and arranged to carry at least one battery. 
         [0017]    Preferably the power source and the air delivery device are conductively connected through a flexible connection disposed at least partially within the interior enclosure. 
         [0018]    Preferably there is provided a closure member operable from the outside environment to move between open and closed positions to open and seal off the air flow passage respectively. 
         [0019]    Preferably the closure member is threaded to mate with a threaded end of the air flow passage. 
         [0020]    Preferably the closure member is tethered to the air delivery device. 
         [0021]    Preferably the air delivery device is disposed substantially within the interior enclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a schematic side elevational view of a self-inflating sealed air inflatable display according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a schematic side elevational view of the inflatable display of  FIG. 1  from an opposite side thereof. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the inflatable display of  FIGS. 1 and 2  as taken along line III-III thereof. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is perspective view of fan and power supply assemblies of the inflatable display, each shown exploded along a respective vertical axis lying in a respective vertical plane. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-section of a closure plug of the fan assembly of  FIG. 4  at the respective vertical plane thereof. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a closure plug tether of the fan assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-section of an outer inlet cap of the fan assembly of  FIG. 4  at the respective vertical plane. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  shows a cross-section of an inner inlet cap of the fan assembly of  FIG. 4  at the respective vertical plane thereof. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  show a fan blade or impeller of the fan assembly of  FIG. 4  in cross-section at the respective vertical plane and in plan view, respectively. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  show a housing of the fan assembly of  FIG. 4  in cross-section at the respective vertical plane and in perspective view, respectively. 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of a motor of the fan assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0034]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  show an outlet cap of the fan assembly of  FIG. 4  in cross-section at the respective vertical plane and in perspective view, respectively. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  show a battery box cover of the power source assembly of  FIG. 4  in cross-section at the respective vertical plane and in perspective view, respectively. 
           [0036]      FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of a switch of the power source assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 15  is a cross-section of an outer rim member of the power source assembly of  FIG. 4  at the respective vertical plane. 
           [0038]      FIG. 16  is a cross-section of a battery box of the power source assembly of  FIG. 4  at the respective vertical plane. 
           [0039]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a battery compartment divider of the power source assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0040]      FIGS. 1 to 3  schematically illustrate a sealed air inflatable display  10  having a body  12  that, in a conventional manner, has a flexible skin  14  formed of air impermeable fabric or material to enclose an interior space  16  that can be expanded in volume through the forced introduction of air into this interior space inside the body so that the so inflated display will take on a predetermined three dimensional shape. The interior space is sealed off by closing any opening in the skin through which the air was delivered to trap the air inside and thus retain the predetermined inflated shape of the body for use as a promotional, advertising, marketing or attraction tool. When the display is no longer needed or desired at the site at which it was inflated, one or more openings in the skin are opened to allow the air from inside the body to escape, and the skin is collapsed down to minimize the interior volume. 
         [0041]    The inflatable display differs from conventional sealed air displays however in that the body incorporates a fan assembly  18  and a power source assembly  20  fixed to the skin  14  for easy transport and storage of the inflatable body and equipment needed to inflate it together in a single integral assembly. At or just above the bottom  22  of the body  12  that sits atop the ground or other generally horizontal support structure on which the display is intended for placement, the fan assembly  18  has an outer end thereof disposed within an air flow opening  24  extending horizontally through the body  12  and sealed to the body  12  fully around this air flow opening  24  so that the rest of the fan assembly  18  projects horizontally into the interior space of the body  12  at or just above the bottom  22  of the display. The power source assembly  20  is mounted in the same manner in a power supply opening likewise situated just above the bottom  22  of the display at an opposite side of the interior space  16  thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible skin  14  of the body  12  is configured in a known matter to take on a shape reflective of a consumable liquid product bottle, thus giving the body  12  a circular horizontal cross-section when inflated so that the fan assembly  18  and power source assembly  20  are situated diametrically opposite one another over the circular bottom  22  of the display. It will be appreciated that this shape is presented in an exemplary context only, and a display in accordance with the present invention may take on any of a variety of three dimensional shapes when inflated. A lower portion of the display body including the bottom thereof may be given a rigid structure to provide continuous support for the assembled fan and power supply units, with the flexible skin of the display body sealed to the rigid bottom portion to lift away from the rigid bottom under inflation of the display. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , sealed to the body  12  over the full perimeter boundaries of their respective openings therein, the fan assembly  18  and power source assembly  20  fully occupy these openings. The power source assembly thus fully closes off the power source opening in the body  12  in a substantially air-tight sealing manner. The fan assembly  18  is also fully sealed to the body  12  around its position seated at the air flow opening  24 , but defines an air flow passage that communicates the interior space  16  of the body  12  with the outside environment externally surrounding the body  12 . An openable and closable closure plug  26  is reversibly engagable at the outer end of the fan assembly  18  to selectively open the air flow passage to allow delivery of air into the body for inflation thereof or exit of air from the body for deflating thereof, and selectively close the air flow passage after inflation of the body to trap the air therein and retain the body in its inflated condition. 
         [0043]    To inflate the body  12 , the user flips a control switch  28  found on the outer end of the power source assembly  20  facing outward from the body  12  into an on position after having ensured that the closure plug  26  at the outer end of the fan assembly  18  has been disengaged to open the airflow passage. Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flexible cord  30  or bundle of wires disposed within the body&#39;s interior space conductively links batteries of the power supply assembly to a motor of the fan assembly  18  to activate the fan when the control switch  28  is turned to an on position. The motor drives a fan to draw air from the outside environment and force it onward through the air flow passage into the interior space  16  of the body  12  to effect inflation thereof. Once fully inflated, the user or operator may turn the switch to the off position to deactivate the motor driven fan and then reengage the closure plug  26  to close off the air flow passage, and thereby fully enclose the interior space of the body to keep the air forced thereinto trapped inside and thereby keep the body inflated. 
         [0044]    If the body  12  is not fully sealed, for example due to minor imperfections in sealing between different elements of the display&#39;s construction, some leakage will occur. Resulting slow deflating of the display may be counteracted by periodically re-opening the closure plug and briefly running the fan to refill the interior space with air to the necessary pressure to expand the body to its fully inflated shape defining its intended display. The fan is deactivated and the plug is then re-closed again until such time as a further such top-up of air is required, or until such time as the display is no longer required. 
         [0045]    When the display is no longer needed, the plug is disengaged to open the air flow passage to allow the air inside the body to escape to the surrounding environment. Other selectively openable valves, ports or openings may be provided in the body  12  to allow for faster deflating of the display by providing additional air flow passages between the body interior and the exterior environment. Of course when such additional air discharge passages are included in the body, effective inflating of the display requires that the operator ensure each such additional opening is closed during operation of the fan to fill the inflatable with air through the fan assembly&#39;s air flow passage. The display is collapsed by release of the air from therein, and this collapse may be hastened by manual encouragement by the operator forcing the display skin walls down toward the bottom of the display. With the display deflated, the inflatable body and the built-in inflating equipment defined by the fan and power source assemblies can be easily transported together to another location for storage or subsequent re-use at this new location. 
         [0046]      FIG. 4  shows the fan assembly  18  and the power source assembly  20  in exploded states on the left and right sides of the figure respectively. 
         [0047]    In order from its outer end outwardly facing the surrounding external environment to its inner end furthest within the inflatable body&#39;s interior space  16 , the fan assembly  18  features the closure plug  26 , an outer inlet cap  32 , an inner inlet cap  34 , a fan impeller  36  disposed within a housing  38 , a motor  40  disposed within the housing  38  and an outlet cap  42  fitted over an outlet end of the housing  38  opposite the inlet caps  32 ,  34 , these elements all being concentric with a central longitudinal axis  44  of the fan assembly. 
         [0048]    The closure plug  26 , shown in isolation in  FIG. 5  features a hollow externally threaded circular shaft portion  46  closed at an outer end thereof by a circular cap portion  48  that is concentric with and greater in diameter than the shaft portion  46  so as to project radially outward therefrom. A tether retainer  50  features a circular stem  52  projecting from the cap portion  48  in a direction opposite the threaded shaft portion  46  and an enlarged head  54  of greater diameter than the stem  52  fixed at an end of the stem  52  opposite the cap portion  48 . A tether  56 , shown in isolation in  FIG. 6 , features a flexible strip  58  having a smaller circular loop  60  carried at one end thereof and a larger circular loop  62  carried at an opposite end. The smaller loop  60  has an inner diameter that is greater the outer diameter of the tether retainer&#39;s stem  52  but less than the outer diameter of the tether retainer&#39;s head  54 , so that the installed tether has its smaller loop encircled about the stem  52  and prevented from sliding thereof by the head  54 . The larger loop  62  at the opposite end of the strip  58  is fixed to the inner inlet cap  34  when the fan assembly is installed, as described herein further below. 
         [0049]    The outer inlet cap  32  shown in isolation in  FIG. 7  is annular about the fan assembly&#39;s longitudinal axis  44  and features a mounting flange  64  projecting radially outward from the rest of the outer inlet cap  32  at an end thereof opposite the housing  38 . This flange defines the greatest outer diameter of the fan assembly  18  at any point along the longitudinal axis  44  thereof and provides a flat annular ledge projecting outward from the rest of the fan assembly for sealing to the body  12  of the inflatable display  10 , for example by heat welding. 
         [0050]    The inner inlet cap  34  is received in the central opening of the annular outer inlet cap  32  so that a radially outward projecting flange  66  of the inner cap is received and locked into an internal annular groove  68  of the outer inlet cap  34 . At an end of the outer inlet cap  32  opposite the flange  64  thereof when the inner inlet cap  34  is assembled thereto, the inner inlet cap  34  features an annular web  70  extending radially inward from an outer annular wall  72  from which the inner cap&#39;s flange  66  projects radially outward. An inner annular wall  74  projects toward the flanged end of the outer inlet cap  32 , from the same side of the web  70  as the outer annular wall  72  projects to support the inner cap&#39;s flange  66 , passing by the inner cap&#39;s flange  66  and the end of the inner cap nearest the flanged end of the outer inlet cap  32 , but not past this flanged end of the outer inlet cap  32 . The inner annular wall  74  is internally threaded to define a central threaded bore  76  of the inner inlet cap  34  concentric with the fan assembly&#39;s longitudinal axis  44 . The threaded bore  76  is configured to matingly engage with the threaded hollow shaft  46  of the closure plug  26  to allow a user to selectively close off the threaded bore  76  to block air passage therethrough. 
         [0051]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a gasket  77   a  may be seated in annular recess  77   b  provided in the side of the closure plug&#39;s circular cap portion  48  from which the threaded hollow shaft  46  projects to provide an improved air-tight seal between the cap portion  48  of the closure plug  26  and the end face of the inner annular wall  74  on which the bore threads are formed. Passage of air through the opening of the annular outer sleeve  32  at areas other than the threaded bore  76  is blocked by the inner inlet cap  34 . The larger loop  62  of the tether  50  is sized to fit around the base of the inner annular wall  74  of the inner inlet cap to retain the tether and the attached closure plug  26  with the rest of the assembled fan installation. An annular washer or ring  79  has a circular opening sized to frictionally engage around the inner annular wall  74  over the larger loop  62  of the tether  50  to prevent the tether from sliding off the end of the annular wall  74  to prevent separation of the closure plug  26  from the rest of the fan assembly when installed. 
         [0052]    At a point along the fan assembly&#39;s longitudinal axis  44  approximately equal to the web  70  connected to the end of the threaded bore  76 , the inner inlet cap  34  features an annular ledge  78  projecting radially outwardly away from the axis  44  parallel to, but not as far as, the inner cap&#39;s flange  66 . An end  80  of the outer inlet cap  32  opposite the flange  64  thereof sits atop the ledge  78  when the inlet caps are assembled together. An annular rim  82  projects parallel to the longitudinal axis from a side of the ledge  78  opposite the inner cap flange  66 . An inner surface of the rim  82  is stepped to form an inner shoulder  84  part way therealong so that a narrower distal portion of the rim  82  furthest from the ledge  78  will seat against a mating step  86  provided in a cylindrically annular outer wall  88  of the fan housing  38  shown in isolation in  FIG. 10 . An inlet side end face  90  of the fan housing cylindrical wall  88 , formed by the thinner portion of the step  86  in the cylindrical wall  88 , has the inner shoulder  84  of the inner inlet cap  34  seated atop it when the inner inlet cap  34  is installed on the fan housing  38 . The fan housing and inner inlet cap are sealed and secured together at this mating of the pieces, for example by adhesive. 
         [0053]    In the hollow interior of the cylindrical wall  88 , the fan housing  38  features a mounting support  92  integrally connects to the cylindrical  88  over the full diameter thereof at a distance from the inlet end face  90  past the step  86 , at which the end of the inner inlet cap  34  defined by the rim  82  thereof sits when the inner inlet cap  24  and the fan housing  38  are assembled. A circular central recess  94  of the mounting support  92  is recessed thereinto from a side thereof opposite the inlet end face  92  of the cylindrical wall  88  and is centered on the longitudinal fan assembly axis  44 . A hole  96  of smaller diameter than the central recess  94  is also centered on the longitudinal axis  44  and communicates with the central recess  94  so that they cooperatively communicate the side of the mounting support nearest the inlet end face  90  with the opposite side of the mounting support  92 . The central recess  94  is sized to receive an end face  98  of a housing  100  of the electric motor  40  shown in isolation in  FIG. 11  so that the motor&#39;s driven shaft  102  projects centrally through the hole  96  along the longitudinal axis  44 . A pair of counterbores  104  at diametrically opposite sides of the hole  96  extend into the mounting support  92  from the side thereof nearest the inlet end face  90  of the cylindrical wall  88  to communicate their narrow ends with the central recess  94  so that threaded fasteners can be passed through the counterbores to engage into the end face  98  of the motor housing  100  and secure the motor to the mounting support  92 . 
         [0054]    The fan impeller  36 , shown in isolation in  FIG. 9 , features a central bore  106  therethrough sized for engagement into the driven shaft  102  of the motor  40  projecting through the mounting support  92  of the fan assembly housing  38  to support the fan impeller  36  for driven rotation about the longitudinal axis  44  between the mounting support  92  and the inlet end face  90  of the fan assembly housing  38 . The fan impeller is of a conventional structure having a planar round disc-like base  108  with a plurality of vanes  110  projecting perpendicularly from the base at different radial positions about the central axis  44  passing through the central bore  106  defined by a bore collar  112  projecting from the base to the same side as the vanes. 
         [0055]    Referring again to  FIG. 10 , the mounting support  92  has a plate like annular base portion  114 , which is normal to the longitudinal axis and forms the connection to the cylindrical wall  88 , and an elevated portion  116 , which projects from the base portion toward the inlet end face  90  of the cylindrical wall. A face  118  of the elevated portion  116  opposite the planar base portion  114  is parallel to the plane of the base portion  114 , and the hole  96  and counterbores  104  extend into the mounting support  92  from this face  118 . Viewed in plan from the end face  90  of the housing  38 , the mounting support face  118  has shape generally resembling that of a circular saw blade, that is, generally round but with the periphery divided into separate sections that are separated by radii equally spaced about the central axis  44  and each arcuately curve inward from a circular path defining the outermost extent of the periphery from one of the section dividing radii to a next in a common direction about the central axis. Peripheral walls of the elevated portion  116  projecting from the base portion  114  along the axis and curving thereabout define these arcuate sections of the face&#39;s periphery. With the motor installed into the central recess of the mounting support  92 , an end portion  120  of the motor from which the driven shaft  102  extends and which is of smaller diameter than the motor housing end face  98  fills the central hole  96  in the mounting support  92 . The portion&#39;s of the fan housing&#39;s interior on opposite sides of the mounting support  92  are therefore only communicated with one another through openings  122  (see  FIG. 10B ) each defined in the mounting support  92  in a respective one of the radial planes dividing the periphery of mounting support face  118  into the different arcuate sections. Each such opening is bound on its four sides by the two adjacent arcuate peripheral walls of the elevated portion  116  meeting at this radial jutting of the periphery, the planar base portion  114  of the mounting support  92  and the planar part of the mounting support&#39;s elevated portion  116  defining the face  118  thereof. These openings  122  provided the only fluid communication between the opposing sides of the mounting support  92 . 
         [0056]    The end of the fan assembly housing  38  opposite that to which the inner inlet cap  34  is fitted features the outlet end cap  42 , which is shown in isolation in  FIG. 12 . The outlet end cap  42  has a basket or cage like structure provided with a plurality of large air flow openings  124  formed therein. A completely open annular end  126  of the outlet end cap  42  is stepped to form a complimentary fit with another stepped end of the fan housing  88  opposite the inlet face  90  thereof so that the fan housing fits together with the outlet cap in the same manner as the inner inlet cap. 
         [0057]    With the motor housing  100  contained within the fan assembly housing  38  between the mounting support  92  thereof and the outlet cap  42 , operation of the motor drives rotation of the fan impeller  36  on the opposite side of the mounting support  92 . With the closure plug  26  unscrewed from the threaded bore  76  of the inner inlet cap  34 , this draws air from the exterior environment outside the inflatable display body  12  through the threaded bore  76  of the inner inlet cap and into the fan assembly housing  38  along the longitudinal axis  44  of the fan assembly, which coincides with an axial direction of the fan impeller  36 . Here, where the air meets the centrifugal fan impeller, it is moved outward toward the inner surface of the fan assembly housing&#39;s cylindrical wall  88 , the fan being rotated in the appropriate direction to encourage air flow into the openings  122  of the mounting support  92 , thereby forcing the air to the side of thereof opposite the fan impeller for subsequent exit from the fan assembly housing  38  through the outlet cap  42  into the interior space of the inflatable display. In other words, with the outer inlet cap  32  sealed to the inflatable body around an opening in a wall thereof, the fan assembly&#39;s inlet caps, fan housing and outlet cap collectively define a sealed air flow passage that communicates the external environment with the interior space of the inflatable body only when the closure plug  26  is removed to open this passage, and through which air is delivered into the interior of the inflatable display body through operation of the fan. 
         [0058]    Turning now to details of the power source assembly  20 , it features an air tight battery box  128 , a first set of battery contacts  130 , a battery compartment divider  132 , an outer rim member  134 , a second set of battery contacts  136 , a battery box cover  138  and a control switch  140 . 
         [0059]    With reference to  FIG. 16 , the battery box  128  features four side walls  142  and a single square end wall  144  cooperating to enclose five out of six sides of a three dimensional space and thereby define a battery compartment sizes to receive and store a plurality of individual batteries therein. The first set of battery contacts  130  are secured to the interior face of the end wall  144 , which may involve cooperation of interior projections formed on the end wall with holes metal sheet battery contacts to positively position the first set of battery contacts in appropriate positions and orientations along the end wall  144  to engage with respective terminals of batteries placed against the contacts when inserted into the compartment through the open end thereof. Each of the side walls  142  features a pair of parallel ribs  146  projecting a short distance into the battery compartment and extending from the end wall  144  toward the opposite open end of the battery box  128  along a central longitudinal axis  148  of the power source assembly. 
         [0060]      FIG. 17  shows the battery compartment divider  132  having four equally-sized planar fins  150  projecting outward from a central body  152  at ninety degree spacing between adjacent fins to give the divider a cruciform cross section in a plane normal to the power source longitudinal axis  148 . The thickness of each fin is such that installation of the divider is achieved by sliding the divider into the interior compartment of the battery box  128  to slide each fin into the space defined between the ribs  146  of a respective side wall  142 . The divider thus divides a portion of the battery compartments depth adjacent the end wall into four equally sized sections, each intended for receipt of an end of a respective battery. The fins sit atop the end wall  144  and a respective end of the central body  152  is recessed from the sitting ends of the fins to accommodate a central projection  154  extending into the battery compartment along the central longitudinal axis  148  from the end wall  144  a distance less than the length of the ribs  146 . A pair of bores  156  pass through the projection in a direction parallel to the central axis  148  and communicate with a parallel central bore  158  extending through the central body  152  of the divider  132 . These communicating bores accommodate passage of the wires  30  connecting the fan and power source assemblies into the battery compartment. 
         [0061]    The battery box  28  features an outwardly directed flange  160  extending fully therearound adjacent the open end thereof to project outward from all the side walls  142  in a direction normal to the central axis  148 . The rim member  134 , shown in isolation in  FIG. 15 , is square and features an inner groove  162  extending into it around its square central opening for receipt of the battery box flange  160  when these two components are assembled. The rim member  134  features a thin outwardly directed flange  164  projecting outward from the rest of the rim member  134  fully therearound at an end of rim member  134  situated nearest the open end of the battery box  128  when installed thereon. Like the outer cap flange of the fan assembly, this flange  164  forms the radially outwardmost extent of the power supply assembly at any point along the respective longitudinal axis  148  to form a suitable area at which the power supply assembly can be sealed to a wall surface of the inflatable body, for example by heat welding. With reference to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the rim member flange  164  of the illustrated embodiment sits generally flush with the open end of the battery box  128  when installed therein. 
         [0062]      FIG. 13  shows the battery box cover  138  arranged to engage to the assembled battery box  128  and rim member  134  to close off the open end of the battery compartment. The battery box cover  138  features a planar cover portion  166  from which a rectangular switch compartment  168  depends at a central position on the cover. The on/off switch of  FIG. 14  fits substantially within the switch compartment  168 , with the switch housing  170  seated on the bottom of the switch compartment  168  and conductive electrical contacts  172  of the switch projecting into or through an opening  174  left in the bottom of the switch compartment to accommodate passage of wire conductors between the switch compartment and the battery compartment. Near, but inward from, two opposing sides of the generally square cover portion  166 , two generally U-shaped resiliently flexible catch tabs  176  integral with the cover portion each depend perpendicularly therefrom to the same side thereof as the switch compartment  168 , then curve away from the center of the cover portion and back toward the cover portion, then extend obliquely toward the respective peripheral edge thereof, and then finally extend perpendicularly past the cover portion  166  to the side thereof opposite the switch compartment at the respective peripheral side edge. A recess  178  in the portion of each tab  176  projecting linearly past the cover portion  166  is provided in a face of the tab facing away from the cover portion  166  at a position generally aligning therewith to catch on a mating feature on the battery box  128  to releasably secure the battery box cover  138  to the battery box. 
         [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 16 , two opposing ones of the side walls  142  of the battery box  128  deviate from their otherwise planar structure at a position just to the side of the battery box flange  160  opposite the open end of the battery compartment. Here, at the widthwise center of these two side walls, the inner surface slopes outwardly at an angle or curve substantially following the shape of a respective one of the catch tabs  176  where it angles outward toward the respective side edge of the cover portion  166  of the battery box cover. The open end of the battery box  128  is defined at the outer end of these sloped portions  180  of the two battery box walls, and the battery box wall juts a short distance back toward, without reaching, the inner end of the sloped portion  180  in a direction parallel to the battery box bottom  144 . Lowering the battery box cover  138  onto the battery box  128  to seat the planar cover portion  166  of the cover  138  generally flush with the open top of the battery box  128  brings the outwardly sloping portions of the catch tabs  176  into contact with the inward jutting ends  182  of the sloped wall portions  180  of the battery box, causing the tabs to flex inward to move past these jutting ends  182 , at which point the tabs  176  are resiliently released back outward to their above-described biased positions to catch the jutting end portions  182  of the two opposing side walls within the outward facing recesses  178  of the tabs  176 , and thereby secure the cover to the battery box. To release this snap fit and remove the cover, a user must manually force the tabs  176  inward again to allow the bottom of these recesses to clear the jutting portions  182  of the side walls and pull the cover from the open end of the battery box. 
         [0064]    In the same manner as the fan assembly, the power source assembly is sealed to the inflatable body wall surface around the respective opening therein by use of the flange  164  defining the greatest diameter cross-section of the assembly normal to its longitudinal axis. The actuable portion of the switch projects from or is at least accessible at the face of the cover portion  166  of the battery box cover opposite the switch compartment depending into the battery box interior, and this face of the battery box cover faces outwardly away from the inflatable body when the power source assembly is installed. The fan and power source assemblies are each nearly completely disposed within the inflatable, and thus do not project notably therefrom and thereby have minimimal if any noticeable effect on the appearance of the inflatable display. The wires connecting the power source and fan are also disposed entirely within the inflatable body, and thus do not detract from its outward appearance. Wiring of the on/off switch, battery contacts and motor to enable user-control over actuation and deactivation of the fan are well within the skill of the person of ordinary skill in the art, and thus are not described herein in detail. 
         [0065]    It will be appreciated that power supplies and air delivery units of different structural detail than those described herein above may be similarly be installed in a sealed manner with a body formed substantially of air-impermeable flexible material to define a self-inflating sealed air inflatable. Also, the fan and power source units need not necessarily be separated by a flexible conductive connection and positioned at different sides of the inflatable bottom as described herein. For example, the power source and fan could be integrated into a single assembly for installation at a common side of an inflatable, or even within a common single opening in the inflatable body wall. However, positioning separate units at the bottom of the display and at opposing sides thereof lends stability to the inflated display. While units disposed on opposite sides of, or at least spaced apart positions along, the display could be connected by a non-flexible connection containing the conductive electrical connections required to operate the air delivery unit, this would require production of units having different connection dimensions depending on the inflatable display body with which they are used. A relatively long flexible connection could be used with inflatable displays of a wide variety of sizes, as the flexible cord or wire grouping can simply be coiled up or otherwise contained within a smaller display not requiring the full length of the connection between the units. An alternate embodiment could use a built-in fan assembly arranged with a power cord featuring a conventional power plug configured to couple with a conventional mains power socket as an alternative to a battery based power supply. This would embodiment would still eliminate the need to transport inflating equipment separate from the display body, but would be limited to use in areas where mains power or a suitable generator are available. 
         [0066]    Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.