Inflatable device

An inflatable device for use as a bar, carnival stand, exposition stall or the like. The bar is comprised of bar segments, canopy and roof tubes for canopy supports, the segments and tubes having fluid communication therebetween, and the tubes in fluid communication with one another. A durable counter rests upon interior walls positioned transversely in the segments to form a countertop of the bar. The device is inflated by an electric fan or blower.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention pertains to an inflatable device for advertising 
applications or the like. More particularly, the inflatable device is 
designed and otherwise adapted for use as a bar, carnival stand, 
convention or exposition stall adapted for easy installation, take down 
and portability. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Large inflatable, tethered balloons which are shaped like animals, 
dinosaurs and cartoon characters have been used in the past for 
advertising purposes. Such inflatable images are generally very large to 
provide maximum visibility for installation on a roof top, lawn space or 
in a parking lot, while tethered to the ground or other surface. 
The inflatables can be suspended by a gas (generally air) communicating 
therethrough. The device is typically inflated by means of a continuously 
running electric fan. As the fan provides pressurized gas, the inflatable 
assumes a designated shape, such as a dinosaur, gorilla, elephant or 
cartoon character. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,177, to Colting, overcomes the disadvantage of many 
inflatables, that their immutable shape is designated for only a single 
purpose whereby a different inflatable is required for each application. 
Colting provides a cylindrical base with a means for attachment of various 
inflatable characters. 
Many similar balloon devices are lighter than air to float in the sky while 
anchored from below. U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,233, to Winker, et al., for 
example, discloses a tethered aerodynamic balloon with integral fins. 
Analogous balloons have also been sculpted or otherwise adapted for use as 
toys. See, U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,588, to Hurst; U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,198, to 
Ishiwa; U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,546 to Rakonjac; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,675 
to D. Stoddard. 
However, none of the foregoing has any practical utility other than for 
airborne advertising or for use as a toy. 
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an 
inflatable device designed for practical use to serve as a bar having a 
canopy suspended above it. Alternatively, but in a similar manner, the 
inflatable device can function as a self-enclosed carnival or festival 
stand. Further, the inflatable device can have utility as a convention or 
exposition stall. 
Similar bars, stands or stalls are usually constructed of wood, or thick, 
inflexible plastic or glass panels adapted for connection by standard 
hinges or fasteners when assembled at a designated site. Such panels are 
generally sturdy and heavy enough to require transportation by truck and 
their installation is generally done by movers, maintenance or 
construction workers. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a bar which is lightweight 
and easily portable to facilitate set up by simply inflating the device 
and tear down by deflation. 
The bar can also be used as an advertising and promotional device by 
incorporation of product marks or emblems, corporate logos or other 
indicia into the elastomeric material comprising the bar or by attachment 
of advertising posters, designs and literature in pouches for attachment 
to the bar. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by an inflatable 
device comprising an inflatable bar which includes a canopy removably 
suspended in position above the bar. A suspension means is provided for 
the purpose of retaining the canopy in position. 
The device also incorporates an inflating means having fluid communication 
with the bar and suspension means for delivery of a fluid to inflate the 
device. 
The bar is preferably comprised of four bar segments, each bar segment 
interconnected by a roof tube. The tubes are attached together at their 
outer ends, thereby enabling fluid communication between the bar segments 
and roof tubes, and between the roof tubes themselves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
The inflatable device 10 according to the present invention and primary 
components thereof are shown in the various views of FIGS. 1-11, to which 
attention is now directed. The inflatable device comprises five primary 
pieces when in disassembled condition: a counter cell 12, an air intake 
port 14 (FIG.12), an air blower 16 (FIG.6), a counter segment 18, a roof 
tube 24, a top canopy 30, and side curtains 36A-D. 
Referring now to FIG. 7, a plan perspective, the drawing indicates the 
interrelation of the fundamental device components. When it is formed to 
resemble a bar, the device preferably has four sides. But when constructed 
for use as a bar, the device could have only a single side with one, two 
or more roof tubes 24 for support stanchions and suitable tethers for 
anchoring and for further support. However, the formation with four sides 
as shown in FIGS. 1-7, has been found preferable to serve as a 
self-enclosed bar, festival stand or stall for an exhibition, state fair, 
political campaign or like gathering. 
The positioning for intake port 14, in a support tube 24 as shown in FIG. 
12, is preferable for being remote to central activities within the area 
of the four enclosed sides or segments 18. Alternatively, the intake port 
14 could be positioned in a cell 12 of the bar segment 18. (See FIGS. 
8-9). 
Air blower 16 is adapted to provide air pressure for inflating the device 
10 and for maintenance of such pressure in the inflated device in a range 
between eight to twenty- seven psi. More preferably, the device is 
inflated by cool air to a range between fourteen to twenty-one psi. 
The inflatable device formed as an inflatable bar is further disclosed in 
FIG. 2, which is a front elevation thereof. The two sides of the device, 
FIG. 3, are substantially identical. Referring to FIG. 4, a back elevation 
of the inflatable device, panel 20 forms an access door 21 within the back 
counter segment 18 for entry and exit from the bar 10. The panel 20 forms 
an essentially airtight connection with, and is secured to, segment 18 by 
a zipper or VELCRO.TM. seal 21A. 
Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be understood that each counter 
segment 18 is formed by a series of interconnected counter cells 12, each 
having a top 13A, bottom 13B and side walls 13C as well as internal walls 
13D with a small hole 13E therethrough for fluid communication between the 
cells. The internal walls 13D of a cell 12 provide stability to the 
counter segments and allow tops of segments 18 to be horizontally level. 
At the same time, air delivered by blower 16 traverses throughout the 
device. 
Top canopy 30, shown by FIGS. 1-5 and 7, is formed either as an enclosed 
airtight plenum assembly in fluid communication with support tubes 24, or 
as a single material piece, and is suspended in position above the bar by 
support tubes or roof tubes 24. A lower end of each tube 24 is 
interconnected and in fluid communication with counter segments 18. 
Meanwhile, the upper tube ends are also interconnected to form a roof tube 
assembly, with fluid communication between the segments 18 and each 
support tube 4 of the assembly. 
Each roof tube 24 preferably includes several stays or rings 4A, which may 
be installed inside or on the outer surface of a roof tube, for 
maintaining the columnar shape of each roof tube; and, material forming 
the tubes may be sealed by zipper or VELCRO.TM. connectors. A single, 
horseshoe shaped roof tube could suffice for a one-sided bar; or, a bar 
with one segment. Stability for the device is enhanced and complete 
enclosure achieved by an inflatable device having four sides as indicated 
by FIGS. 1-7. 
The roof tubes 24 project upward, away from and essentially orthogonal to 
the plane of the interconnected counter segments 18 to form an upstanding 
column portion, then the tubes further extend, at an angle from the column 
portion to form a buttress portion of the tube, to a point for 
interconnection of the tubes to surmount the bar. (See FIG. 12.) 
The top canopy 30 generally includes a side curtain 36 suspended from an 
edges of the canopy by suitable grommets 38 in the canopy and curtain 
edges, and the string or belt connectors 40 shown in FIG. 13. The top 
canopy 30 is removably attached to the tube assembly and the side curtain 
portions may be removably attached to the top canopy and further removably 
attached to one or more tubes 24 of the tubing assembly. Alternatively the 
top canopy and side curtain edges may be sewn together, or connected by 
zipper or VELCRO.TM. connectors. 
Referring now to FIGS. 10-11, a flat countertop 46 is provided for the 
assembly and for facility in construction and storage. The countertop is 
formed by connecting several individual panels 46 together with plastic 
hinges 48. The countertop can be folded upon itself for storage. 
Each of the hinges 48 has a center folding groove and a pair of side 
grooves; and, each of the side grooves is dimensioned to receive and 
frictionally retain a panel 46 within the groove. The hinges described are 
vinyl or other polymeric material and the countertop panels are preferably 
constructed of a hard material such as thick plastic, wood or metal. The 
external walls of counter segments 18, roof tubes 24, and canopy 30, can 
be preferably constructed by using a variety of plastic materials 
including polypropelene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate (Mylar), 
coated nylons and other known resins for wrapping and sealing. 
Constructed in this way, each of the counter or bar segments is formed as 
an elongate, airtight tube which has a generally rectangular shape. A 
series of interior walls 13D traverse the tube to form the cells within 
the duct and a means for support of the countertop 46. The hole 13E 
through each of these interior walls forming a cell 12 allows for fluid 
communication between the cells. A layer of material 49 is provided for 
covering the countertop 46 of the bar segment. The covering material 49 
edges may be sewn together, or connected by zipper or VELCRO.TM. 
connectors to material forming the bar segment. 
An access door 21, shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, at the back of the bar or stall 
is sealed to the back segment wall by a zipper or VELCRO.TM. seal to 
provide a means for removably securing the access door to the inside wall 
and complementary portion of opposed outside wall of the back bar or 
counter segment 18 enabling entry and exit from behind the bar. 
Reference to FIGS. 15-19 indicates that the inflatable device further 
includes one or more reclosable pouches 50 which are removably secured 
upon the inside wall of a bar segment. And poster display pouches 51 with 
clear front portions 51A can also be removably adhered to the column 
portions of the roof tubes 24 as shown. (See FIGS. 1,2,7,17 and 19.) 
While there have been illustrated and described what are at present 
considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will 
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and 
modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements 
thereof without departing from the true scope of the present invention. In 
addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular suggestion 
or material to the teaching of the present invention without departing 
from the central scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present 
invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the 
best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention, but that 
the present invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of 
the appended claims.