Abstract:
An inflatable display that has an interchangeable fan assembly in a position on the inflatable figure that allows optimum airflow into the display. One interchangeable fan assembly can be used for a plurality of inflatable figures by detaching the interchangeable fan assembly from the receiving opening on one figure and attaching it to the same on another figure with a compatible receiving opening.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The apparatus and method of the present invention relate to cold-air displays that maintain their inflated state through the use of continuously blowing electric fans. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Inflatable displays have become increasingly popular in recent years. These types of displays have a wide range of application, shape and size, including, but not limited to, figures for holiday and seasonal decoration, marketing, advertising, entertainment, and event attraction. The inflatable displays are made from a permeable fabric that allows air to pass through the fabric at approximately the same rate as the air being blown into the inflatable display. The process of continuously blowing air being supplied from the fan occurring at substantially the same rate as air escaping the fabric allows the display to maintain its three-dimensional shape without the use of an internal or external frame or structure. These are known in the industry as “cold-air” inflatable displays. 
   Because most of these displays require a significant amount of airflow from the fan to maintain their inflated state, the fan assembly has been rather large and heavy and has been positioned at the bottom of the inflatable display adjacent the ground for support. A typical fan utilized in prior cold-air inflatable displays has a motor winding with sleeves and bearings configuration. Prior cold-air inflatable displays house the fan within a base positioned at the bottom of the figure into which the fan circulates blown air. Since the base housing the fan rests adjacent the ground, certain measures must be taken by the operator in order to ensure sufficient airflow into the fan. Specifically, the base housing the fan must be positioned at a height far enough above the ground to allow sufficient air to enter the fan. Permanently affixed legs or removable legs secured to the base have been utilized to raise the base housing the fan at a sufficient level above the ground enabling a proper airflow into the fan. If the fan is disposed too close to the ground, the flow of air into the fan may be limited and the figure may not be inflated in the manner desired. Thus, unacceptable inflation of the figure may result because the fan is positioned too low to the ground, or because the legs of the base sink further into the ground after it has already been positioned, or because unwanted debris accumulate between the fan and the ground. 
   The fan assemblies in prior inflatable displays also have been configured such that the fan assembly and/or the base which houses the fan are permanently affixed to the fabric of the inflatable figure in a variety of ways. For example, the fabric may be directly attached to the fan housing or base or secured to the fan housing or base via a fastening member. Further, because not all inflatable displays have the same shape on their bottom surfaces, the fan and base housing assemblies are unique for each type of display. Thus, in prior inflatable devices the fan assembly is a permanent component of each display. For example, if a consumer were to purchase a jack-o-lantern inflatable display for the Halloween season, a snowman inflatable display for the holiday season, and an Uncle Sam inflatable display for Independence Day, the consumer would be purchasing three complete packages of each inflatable figure, fan assembly, and other components. As the fan assembly is a significant cost component of inflatable devices, the lack of interchangeability between fan assemblies for different displays significantly increases the cost to purchasers of multiple inflatable devices. There is no present apparatus or method utilizing a fan assembly that is interchangeable with several different inflatable figure displays. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In the present invention, a cold-air inflatable display maintains its inflated state from one or more lightweight continuously blowing electric fan(s) positioned on the display in such a manner as to permit optimum airflow through the fan and into the display. The fan assembly is advantageously positioned on a lower portion of the display above the surface-touching bottom of the display so that the fan is elevated above the ground avoiding the problem of insufficient airflow into the display. This ensures that the airflow to the fan will not be limited preventing the fan from inflating the display with sufficient air pressure to properly maintain its shape. The positioning of the fan on a lower portion elevated above the ground further eliminates the need for a base housing for supporting the fan and legs for elevating the fan and base housing above the ground. 
   The invention also includes an interchangeable fan assembly that can be utilized with multiple displays, thus reducing cost to purchasers and increasing their ability to enjoy the benefits of numerous inflatable displays. By affixing the fan assembly to a standard-sized piece of fabric that is detachable from one display and reattachable to another display by joining the male fastening device of the standard-sized piece of fabric with the female fastening device of the other display, a fan assembly can be incorporated and used with any given number of comparable displays. Since the fan assembly is not positioned on the surface-touching bottom of the display, there is no difficulty finding a specified location on the lower portion of each display that allows for a convenient location for the fan assembly ensuring optimum airflow into the display. 
   It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foregoing brief description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of this invention, but are not intended to be restrictive thereof or limiting of the advantages which can be achieved by this invention. Thus, the accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate preferred embodiments of this invention, and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles of this invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features and advantages of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, will be apparent from the following detailed description, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an inflatable display with an embodiment of the interchangeable fan assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a back perspective view of an inflatable display with an embodiment of the interchangeable fan assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of an embodiment of the interchangeable fan assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of an embodiment of a fan unit of the interchangeable fan assembly; and 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a fan assembly from one inflatable display being interchanged with alternative inflatable displays configured to receive the fan assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The apparatus and method of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , inflatable display  10  includes interchangeable fan assembly  12 , in this embodiment comprising three electric fans  13 , female fastening device  24  for receiving said interchangeable fan assembly, interior lighting arrangement  21 , and power source  17 . The material of inflatable display  10  is preferably made from a permeable fabric that allows air to escape at approximately the same rate as air being blown into the inflatable display by said interchangeable fan assembly  12 . Inflatable display  10 , shown in this embodiment as a snowman, may be configured in any shape or size, depending on the specific need and purpose of the display. Inflatable display  10  is held in position by a securing mechanism, such as tether  27 , that fastens to either the ground or another structure and is secured to said inflatable display by securing devices, such as securing ring  26  attached to inflatable display  10 . 
   Interior lighting arrangement  21  includes one or more light bulbs  22  secured to a power cord  28 . Protective covers  25  are secured around each light bulb to protect the permeable fabric of inflatable display  10  from heat produced from each bulb. Interior lighting arrangement  21  is attached to interchangeable fan assembly  12  through electrical connector  23  on the bottom end of power cord  28  that mates with electrical connector  18  of interchangeable fan assembly  12 . When interchangeable fan assembly  12  is switched from one display to another, an operator detaches electrical connector  18  on interchangeable fan assembly  12  from electrical connector  23  on interior lighting arrangement  21 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , interchangeable fan assembly  12  is comprised of one or more electric fans  13  connected to power source  17  and electrical connector  18 . The housing of electric fan  13  is secured to standard-sized fabric  29  by fastening frame  15  sewn into standard-sized fabric  29 . Fastening frame  15  borders the housing of electric fan  13  thereby securing the fan to standard-sized fabric  29  and holding the fan in place. 
   Electric fan  13  is preferably a lightweight plastic sleeveless bearing fan. The lightweight of the electric fan assembly and the plastic housing enables the fan assembly to be secured to the fabric of the inflatable display at a position elevated above the surface-touching bottom of the display without distorting the shape of the inflatable display and without the need for a base to support and elevate the fan above the ground to achieve sufficient air intake. Electric fan  13  can be easily removed from its housing  15  for cleaning or replacement whenever necessary. Electric fan  13  is covered with safety grill  16  to guard against unwanted debris from entering the display as well as contacting fan blades  30 . Around the edge of standard-sized fabric  29  is male fastening device  20  for attaching interchangeable fan assembly  12  through a receiving opening to female fastening device  24  of inflatable display  10 . Male fastening device  20  for attaching interchangeable fan assembly  12  to female fastening device  24  is illustrated in the preferred embodiment to comprise a zipper system, but other means of attachment such as fasteners, buttons, hook and loop fastening tape, or the like can be used. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , secured to inflatable display  10   a  is interchangeable fan assembly  12 . User detaches interchangeable fan assembly  12  from female fastening device  24   a , and then detaches electrical connector  18  from electrical connector  23   a . Interchangeable fan assembly  12  can now be removed for insertion and use with another inflatable display  10   b  (or  10   c ) by attaching electrical connector  18  to electrical connector  23   b  (or  23   c ) and then securing interchangeable fan assembly  12  through a receiving opening to inflatable display  10   b  (or  10   c ) by joining male fastening device  20  to female fastening device  24   b  (or  24   c ). Interchangeable fan assembly  12  is secured to a standard-sized piece of permeable fabric fitted for attachment to either female fastening device  24   b  or  24   c  on inflatable display  10   b  or  10   c , respectively. 
   Although illustrative preferred embodiments have been described herein in detail, it should be noted and will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous variations may be made within the scope of this invention without departing from the principle of this invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages. The terms and expressions have been used as terms of description and not terms of limitation. There is no intention to use the terms or expressions to exclude any equivalents of features shown and described or portions thereof and this invention should be defined in accordance with the claims which follow.