ANIMATED THREE-DIMENSIONAL INFLATABLE DISPLAYS

Abstract: A three dimensional, animated figure (4) made from an inflatable, sculptured envelope of soft pliable material into which is blown a constant flow of ambient air wherein said flow of air is modulated to cause a lifelike movement of the sculptured figure. The inflatable envelope (4) can be attached to the face of a billboard (15) to create a three-dimensional, movable display.

Description: - - ANIMATED THREE- DIMENSIONAL INF ATABLE DISPLAYS Description Field of Invention The sheer proliferation of billboards and advertising signs along the highways and city streets has lessened the impact of this form of commercial advertising on the minds of the passεrsby. Advertising agencies have tried to improve the attention-getting quality of their displays by creating three-dimensional, lifelike designs which appear to escape the confines of the two-dimensional billboard. Other advertisers have tried to animate their billboard with moving components. However, the creation of three-dimensional figures commensurate with the gigantic dimensions of billboards require large quantities of materials and • very complex supporting infrastructures. Although the use of inflatable structures, because of their light weight and simplicity of ccnstruction, would seem to be ideally adapted to the construction of three-dimensional billboards, they have been found to be too vulnerable to the atmospheric elements. Changes in ambient temperature can cause a substantial size variation in a sealed inflated structure. The plastic laminated material necessary to provide an airtight inflatable enclosure tends to deteriorate quickly under the effect of solar radiation. Prior Art An inflatable figure animated by the flow of ambient air is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,348,250, Gardner et al. Use of pneumatic techniques to operate movable displays can be found in tr -• :?! - 2- U.S. Patents No. 1,098,303, Steiner, et al No. 2,047,377 and 2,065,473, Liwschutz; and No. 1,916,988, Pieschke. This prior art has not previously been applied to outdoor billboard advertising. _- Summary of the Invention The first principal object of this invention is to provide an inflatable, sculptured structure which may be attached to the face of an advertising billboard in order to create a three-dimensional display thereon. - The second principal object of this invention is to create a three-dimensional billboard display which can easily be given lifelike animation. It is also a main object of this invention to provide such an inflatable structure made of soft, pliable material which is not necessarily airtight. A further object of this invention is to provide various techniques for the mounting of three-dimensional structures on a vertical billboard. These and other objects of the invention are achieved with an inflatable, collapsible envelope made of soft pliable material which is subject to a constant input of lightly pressurized ambient air from a blower. The ambient air is continuously leaked out of the inflated envelope through bleeding holes or through the porous skin material. The input flow of air is modulated to cause, a controlled collapsing of certain parts of the structure in order to create the impression of lifelike movement therein. -3- Brief Description of the Drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional billboard with an animated structure shown in a first position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the billboard shown in Figure 1 with the animated structure shown in a second position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the billboard shown in Figure 1 with the animated figure shown in a third position; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the billboard shown in Figure 1 with the animated figure shown in a fourth position; Figure 5 is a partial detail view of the animated structure shown in Figure 1 with a cutaway portion showing a first type of billboard attachment; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the animated structure shown in Figure 1 with a second type of billboard attachment and the functional components; Figure 7 is a perspective enlarged view of an edge-mounted assembly; Figure 8 is a back view of. the billboard shewn in Figure 1; and Figure 9 is a diagra matical representation of the control system. Brief Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawing and more specifically to Figures 1 through 8, there is illustrated a three-dimensional billboard 1 - mounted on posts 3. The billboard 1 comprises a planar frame 2 and a projecting animated structure 4. The animated structure 4 is made of two inflated envelopes 5 and 6. The first envelope 5 which is secured to the face of a board 2 is sculptured to represent a human hand. The second inflated envelope is sculptured to represent a beverage can having circular top 13 and base 14 held between the thumb 9 and fingers 10 of palm 12 of the hand 5. The two envelopes 5 and 6 are of soft pliable material made of tightly woven synthetic libers. The envelopes 5 and 6 form two chambers, A and B, respectively, which are not completely air tight due to the nature of the woven material. Chamber A which occupies the inside of the hand-shaped envelope 5 has an intake orifice 31 which opens into a pair of ducts 40. One of the ducts leads to a first blower 38 which draws ambient air through the orifice 31 into the chamber A. The second duct leads to a bi-directional blower 39 which can either draw air from the outside through orifice 31 then through ducts 41 into chamber B which is formed by the inside of the can-shaped envelope 6; or suck air out of chamber B toward the outside. Illustrated in Figure 5 is a first method for attaching the hand-shaped envelope 5 to the face of the billboard 2. The edges of the envelope 5 are pinched under an inside ring 33 fastened to an outside ring 32. The outside ring 32 has a wider rim which forms a small shoulder extending beyond the inside ring 33 and is secured to the face of the billboard by a series of brackets 34 Ol iPI held in place by wood screws. This method of attachment provides for a quick separation of the envelope from the face 2 of the billboard. Figure 6 illustrates a second method for attaching the envelope 5 to the face 2 of the billboard. In this second embodiment the edges of the envelope 5 are caught between the face of the billboard 2 and a circular member 35 which is secured against the face of the billboard 2 by wood screws. The blowers 38 and 39 which in the previous embodiment were mounted directly against the face 2 of the billboard are now mounted on the circular member 35. A zippered opening 36 provides access to the chamber A for installation and maintenance of the blowers 38 and 39. Animation of the three-dimensional structure is achieved by modulating the flow of air into chambers A and B through control of the blowers 38 and 39. Tethers 16 and 17 provide additional assistance in the movement and- support of the sculptured structure 4. The tethers 16 and 17 are attached to the wall of the envelope 6 and run over the top edge 15 of the billboard through a set of double pulley assemblies 18 and are both connected to a winch 23 in the back of the billboard. The winch 23 is driven by a bi-directional motor 24. When the winch 23 is activated one of the tethers 16 or 17 is wound around the winch 23 while the other tether is unwound. This applies a lateral pull on the structure 4, causing it to twist to one side. A resilient tensioner 22 is mounted on each tether 16 and 17 in order to accommodate the difference in tension due to the uneven geometry of the animated structure 4. Both \J __A J- tethers 16 and 17 can also be pulled back together to assist in the vertica movement of the sculptured structure 4. This is accomplished by mean of a seasaw lever 26 which captures a section of the tether betwee two stationary pulleys 30. One arm of the seesaw lever 26 is linked b means of connecting rod 27 to the rotary arm 28 of a motor 25. Fo each turn of the rotary arm 28, the tethers 16 and 17 are alternatel pulled and released, thus causing vertical movement of the sculpture structure 4. The pulley assemblies used to hold the tethers 16 and 17 as they ride above the top 15 of the billboard are illustrated in Figure 7. The supporting block 20 is fastened to the top edge of the billboard. Projecting from the block 20 towards the front and back of the billboard are two brackets 21 supporting pulleys 19 which are slanted toward the area where the tethers 16 and 17 are attached to the sculptured Figure 4. The control and timing sequences for the animation of the sculptured structure 4 are illustrated in Figure 9. A timing motor 42 drives a shaft 43 upon which are mounted several cams 44, 45, 46 and 47. These cams control a series of switches 48, 49, 50 and 51 which activate or deactivate the blowers 38 and 39, the winch motor 24 and the seesaw lever motor 25. The cams and switches are illustrated in the reset or static position during which the sculptured Figure 4 is immobile with the two chambers A and B fully inflated. The power applied through switches 48 and 49 cause blowers 38 and 39, respectively, to maintain a steady flow of cold air into chambers A and B. The amount of air which escapes through the webbing of the material that makes the envelopes 5 and 6 is more than compensated by the action of the two blowers. As the shaf t 43 continues its clockwise rotation, switch 49 is tripped by cam 45, causing the blower 39 to change direction and to suck air out of chamber B. Envelope 6, representing the can, which is subjected to lateral pressure from the thumb S and the fingers 10 which remain fully pressurized, begins to collapse. The impression as illustrated in Figure 2 is thus created of the hand crushing the can. As cam 46 trips switch 50, the winch motor 24 is turned on causing a lateral movement of the entire sculptured figure. Then as cam 47 trips switch 51 the winch motor direction is reversed and the hand and can figure is returned to the rest position. During the return maneuver, cam 45 causes the blower 39 to change direction and again blow air into chamber B. The envelope 6 regains its normal, fully inflated state. Cam 43 soon trips switch 48 which energizes motor 25 putting in motion the seesaw lever 26 while blower 38 is shut off. The drop of pressure within envelope 5 and the release of tethers 16 and 17 cause the sculptured figure to droop slightly as illustrated in Figure 4 with backing ridges 11 forming in the lower section of envelope 5. As the seesaw lever begins to move, the normally closed switch 53 located below one arm of the seesaw lever 26 is deactivated. The closure of the switch 53 keeps motor 25 energized until a full revolution has been accomplished and switch -^D £ ^ - 8 - 53 is reopened by contact with the arm of the seesaw lever 26. In the meantime, switch 48 has been tripped by cam 44 and the animation time sequence is started anew. A greater impact upon the viewers of the animated billboard can be achieved if the written message 7 and 8 on the face 2 of the billboard can be adpated to each phase of the animation sequence as shown in Figures 1 through 4. Every one of the inflatable structures described herein may be made out of an air-tight, laminated, plastic material rather than from a woven cloth. In such case it would be necessary to provide bleeding holes preferably along seams in order to relieve the air pressure build-up within the inflated envelope. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and various techniques have been suggested, other embodiments may be devised and modifications may be made thereon without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. 1. A three dimensional display suitable for outdoors roadside advertising which comprises: a billboard having a generally vertical, planar, message- carrying surface; a sculptured, collapsible envelope made of soft pliable m erial; means for attaching said envelope, along its periphery, to a portion of said surface; and means for moving ambient air between said envelope and said surface portion. 2. The structure claimed in Claim 1 wherein said envelope is made of a plurality of sections sewn together, shaped and dimensioned to assume the oversized outline of a predetermined item when inflated with ambient air. 3. The structure claimed in Claim 2 having an intake orifice located within said portion; and said means for moving is a motor-driven blower mounted against said portion, under said envelope, said blower drawing ambient air through said orifice. OMPI 4. The structure claimed in Claim 3 which further comprises: a second sculptured collapsible envelope made of thin pliabl material having an intake orifice and at least one exhaust hole; means mounted against said portion for moving ambient ai into said second envelope; means for attaching said second envelope to said firs envelope; and means for modulating the flow of air into said secon envelope. 5. The structure claimed in Claim 4 which further comprises: at least one tether having a first end attached to sai envelope; and stationary mounted means for pulling said tether and fo applying a moving force to said envelope. 6. The structure claimed in Claim 5 wherein: said means for moving air comprise at least one blower, an a motor driving said blower and said means for modulating comprise means for alternately turning the motor on and off. OM

Claims: Claims -π - 7. The structure claimed in Claim 6 wherein said means for pulling comprise: a winch mounted on said panel, connected to said tether; and 5 means for alternately turning the winch in opposite directions. 8. The structure claimed in Claim 7 wherein said means for pulling further comprise: a second tether having a first end attached to said structure ^ and a second end wound around said winch in a direction opposite to the winding of said first tether; a plurality of pulley means for guiding said tethers in opposite directions, away from the winch; and means for simultaneously deflecting each tether from its 5 linear travel between two of said pulleys. 9. The structure claimed in Claim 1 wherein said envelope is made of woven air-permeable material. 20

Inventors: OWEN C, VICINO R
Applicants: VICINO R
Application year: 1980
Main classification: G09F19
IPC codes: G09F19