Abstract:
The invention is directed to an inflatable display that has a plurality of inflatable compartments. A first inflatable compartment is continuously inflated by a first fan element and at least a second inflatable compartment is periodically inflated by a second fan element. The inflatable display may be produced from permeable material and configured to represent a predetermined shape or design when inflated, such as a witch and caldron, Santa Claus and a chimney, or the Easter Bunny and an Easter egg. Further, the inflatable display may include a string of lights enclosed within a plastic shell to avoid damaging the inflatable display material by heat or fire. Also, the period associated with the operational inflation/deflation may be controlled by a variable controller connected to the second fan element.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority from provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/630,535 entitled MULTI-COMPONENT AIR INFLATABLE DISPLAY filed in the name of William Machala on Nov. 23, 2004, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The apparatus and method of the present invention relate to inflatable air displays with multiple inflatable compartments that maintain their inflated state through the use of a system of automatic fans or other inflation devices. 
   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 a fan or other inflation device occurring at substantially the same rate as air escaping the fabric allows the display to maintain a 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. 
   Typically, the cold-air inflatable display is a single figure comprised of pieces of permeable fabric configured to create an individual figure when inflated. For example, a consumer may decide to decorate their house with a jack-o-lantern inflatable display for the Halloween season, a snowman inflatable display for the holiday season, or an Uncle Sam inflatable display for Independence Day. As such, typically, the single figure is inflated and part of a static display. There is no present apparatus or method utilizing a fan assembly or other inflation assembly to inflate a single assembly having multiple inflation dynamic compartments. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In the present invention, an inflatable display is configured with multiple inflation compartments. A first compartment is inflated by a first fan element. The first compartment is operatively connected with a second inflatable compartment. For example, the second inflatable compartment may be situated within the first compartment. A second fan element is associated and configured to inflate the second compartment. A further aspect of the invention involves periodically turning the second fan on and off. According to an embodiment of the invention, there are a series of holes or slits formed in the surface of the second compartment, which enable a repeated inflation and deflation of the second compartment, while maintaining a fully inflated first compartment—thereby animating the inflatable display. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, the second compartment may be configured with a series of weights to assist in deflation when the second fan is deactivated. Accordingly, the air in the second compartment will escape and the second compartment will deflate. The multiple compartment, animated display assembly enables a greater range of display options, as well as achieves a greater overall visual effect to an observer. 
   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. 1A  is a front perspective view of a multiple compartment inflatable display illustrated with a second compartment in a deflated state according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1B  is a rear perspective view of a multiple compartment inflatable display illustrated with a second compartment in a deflated state according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2A  is a front perspective view of a multiple compartment inflatable display illustrated with a second compartment in an inflated state according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2B  is a rear perspective view of a multiple compartment inflatable display illustrated with a second compartment in an inflated state according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The apparatus and method of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A,  2 B,  3  and  4 . The invention is directed to an inflatable display unit  10 . 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 fan elements  15  and  25 . Inflatable display  10 , shown in this embodiment as a chimney and Santa Claus, may be configured in any character, 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, a ballast or a tether that fastens to either the ground or another structure and is secured to said inflatable display by securing devices, such as a securing ring attached to inflatable display  10 . 
   The inflatable display may include interior lighting arrangement  41  (shown in  FIGS. 1B and 2B ) that includes one or more light bulbs  40  secured to a power cord. Protective covers are secured around each light bulb  40  to protect the permeable fabric of inflatable display  10  from heat produced from each bulb. Interior lighting arrangement  41  is attached to fan assembly ( 15  and  25 ) through an electrical connector on the bottom end of a power cord that mates with fan assembly ( 15  and  25 ). Advantageously, if an operator does not want to illuminate the display, he/she may simply detach the electrical connector from the fan assembly element to remove power from interior lighting arrangement  41 , without necessarily removing lights from within the display. 
   As illustrated, fan elements  15  and  25  are preferably implemented as 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. Advantageously, fan elements  15  and  25  can be easily removed from their respective housings for cleaning or replacement whenever necessary. Fan elements  15  and  25  are covered with safety grill to guard against unwanted debris from entering the display as well as contacting fan blades. 
   Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A and  2 B, inflatable display  10  is comprised of two inflatable compartments  10 A and  10 B. By way of example only, inflatable display  10  in  FIGS. 1A–2B  is shown as a chimney (first) inflatable compartment  10 A formed with a Santa Claus (second) inflatable compartment  10 B. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, other embodiments may comprise any number, shape or size compartments and associated fan elements or any characteristic components corresponding to any holiday or seasonal display, such as a rabbit and an Easter egg, a witch and a caldron, or many others. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A–2B , the first compartment  10 A is inflated by fan element  15  that is attached to compartment  10 A via an air intake tube  16 . Air tube  16  may be made of the same material as inflatable display  10 , itself, and integrally formed as part of inflatable device  10 . Further, air intake tube  16  may include fasteners on one end so that it is joined with fan element  15 . This allows the inflatable elements to be interchangeable, simply by attaching a different inflatable display  10  to fan assembly ( 15  and  25 ). 
   Fan element  15  is responsible for maintaining first inflation compartment  10 A in an inflated state. Further, second air intake tube  17  is used to connect first inflation compartment  10 A with portion  11  of second inflation compartment  10 B. For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , portion  11  is implemented as the body of Santa Claus. The second intake tube  17  allows inflatable display  10  to maintain portion  11  in an inflated state so long as fan element  15  is turned on. It is to be understood that depending on the actual implementation, the fan element may be configured in a manner such that it is raised above the ground, whether it is elevated by a stand or platform or by being fastened to a portion of the inflatable display. 
   Second air intake tube  26  is fastened to second fan element  25 , in order to achieve an animating effect for inflatable display  10 . More specifically, second inflatable compartment  10 B is divided into two portions, static portion  11  (the Santa Claus body  11 ) and dynamic inflation portion (extension portion  12 ), separated by partition  33 .  FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate inflatable display  10  in a first state, wherein second inflatable compartment  10 B is hidden within first inflatable compartment  10 A (and extension portion  12  is un-inflated). In contrast,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate second inflatable compartment  10 B extending through an aperture in first inflatable compartment  10 A (extension portion  12  is inflated). 
   Second inflatable compartment  10 B is divided into statically inflated portion  11  and dynamically inflated portion  12  (discussed above as the extension portion). Dynamically inflated portion  12  is connected with air intake tube  26  and consequently to fan element  25 . In order to actuate second inflatable compartment  10 B, power is periodically supplied to fan element  25 . Upon supplying power to fan element  25 , air is blown into dynamically inflatable portion  12 , which expands as it receives the air. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , when air is introduced into dynamically inflatable portion  12 , static inflatable portion  11  rises into view and is no longer hidden. Dynamically inflatable portion  12  is secured to the base of first inflatable compartment  10 B and is made from enough material, so that when in the inflated state, static inflatable portion  11  passes through the aperture in the first inflatable compartment and is held in full view of an observer. If power is removed from fan element  25 , air escapes from dynamic inflatable portion  12  through exhaust ports  30 . It is to be understood that the precise number, size, configuration of and form of exhaust ports  30  may vary based on the needs and design of the embodiment. For example, the exhaust ports may be formed as holes formed in a lateral ring (as illustrated in the figures) in dynamic inflatable portion  12 . However, in other embodiments they may be formed as slits running lengthwise along an edge of the dynamic portion or they may take any other form that facilitates the effect of allowing the air in the dynamic portion to escape. 
   It is to be understood that during the periods of time when dynamic inflation portion  12  is fully inflated, fan element  25  is operated at a speed to overcome the effect of ports allowing air to escape. Also, depending on the application, it is to be understood that the frequency associated with supplying power to and removing power from fan element  25  may be either predetermined by manufacturer or controlled by variable control switch  27  attached to fan element ( 15 ,  25 ) assembly, as shown in  FIG. 2A . Moreover, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1B and 2B , inflatable display  10  may include a string  41  of lights  40  that are disposed at intervals within first or second inflatable compartments ( 10 A/ 10 B). 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention. More specifically,  FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , wherein the dynamic inflation portion is fully inflated. As discussed above, the invention implements a multiple fan assembly ( 15  and  25 ). The first fan element  15  is connected with air intake tube  16  to first inflation compartment  10 A. 
   Generally, during operation, fan element  15  is always on and maintains the first inflation compartment  10 A in an inflated state. In contrast, fan element  25  is switched between a powered state and an unpowered state. Consequently, fan element  25  supplies air through air intake  26  to dynamic inflation portion  12  of second inflation compartment  1 GB. This achieves the effect of second inflation compartment  10 B rising above first inflation compartment  10 A. With respect to the embodiment discussed herein, Santa  10 B rises from chimney  10 A, while power is supplied to fan element  25 , and falls back into chimney  10 A when the power is removed from fan element  25 , as the air in dynamic inflation portion  12  escapes through exhaust ports  30 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the dynamic inflation portion  12  is not configured with exhaust ports  30 . Instead, dynamic portion  12  is configured with at least one ballast element  43 . The weight provided by ballast element  43  assists in bringing the static inflation portion  11 , back within the inflatable compartment. It is to be understood that the number of ballast elements, the attachment points, and the weight of the ballast element may vary greatly among implementations. 
   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.