Abstract:
An inflatable figure assembly is disclosed that has an inflatable, semi-permeable body and a base unit with a continuously operating fan. The body is releasably secured to the base unit with a zipper that facilitates manufacture and interchangeability of a plurality of different bodies with the base unit. Internal lighting is optionally provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/042,622, filed Jan. 9, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,843, and claims the priority date of that application for all common subject matter disclosed herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to inflatable figures useful for consumer or commercial applications. More particularly, the invention relates to inflatable figures attached to a fan mechanism that supplies pressurized air to the interior cavities of such figures continuously during use. These inflatable figures can be displayed in yards, homes or businesses for seasonal decorating or other personal or business purposes. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Inflatable figures have previously been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,431,729; 6,322,230; 6,186,857; 5,710,543; and 4,179,832. Such figures are often made from plastic, nylon or other similar materials or fabrics that are inflatable for display purposes but can be folded and stored in a reduced volume when deflated. Inflatable figures are often made to simulate people, fictional characters, animals, or inanimate objects. Some inflatable figures have interiors devoid of any apparatus and others are provided with interior baffles, lighting or other components or structures. Inflatable figures often comprise rings, loops or other similarly effective devices for attaching tethers, guys or tie-downs to stakes or anchors, depending upon the size, configuration, intended display site and possible exposure to wind. 
     Some inflatable figures are made of materials that are substantially impermeable to air and can be inflated, then sealed to prevent air loss during use. Vinyl plastic is often used in making such figures, but vinyl is relatively heavy and is susceptible to punctures and melting upon contact with heat sources such as internal lighting. 
     Other inflatable figures are attached to inflation fans that run continuously during use. This latter type of inflatable figures are typically made using lighter weight, semipermeable fabrics such as nylon. The figures can have an interior cavity that is substantially continuous except for the air inlet port; or can contain one or more access ports that can be selectively opened and closed; or can contain one or more vent ports that are open continuously but have a total cross-sectional area sufficiently restricted to permit the figure to inflate and remain in some state of inflation during use. Examples of vented figures are the so-called “undulating figures” having vented extremities that alternately fill and collapse to simulate motion. 
     In the past, inflatable figures having attached base units comprising fans that operate continuously during use have typically been made by permanently or semi-permanently attaching the lower portion of the fabric body of the figure to the underlying base. Such construction is shown, for example, in the copending application referenced above. The manufacture of inflatable figures in this way has been found to be inefficient and costly. First, the entire fabric body must be handled and manipulated during the attachment process. Second, once a particular figure is attached, the base unit is effectively dedicated to that particular figure or character configuration. This prevents a single base unit from being selectively used with one or more different figures. 
     Although freestanding fans have been provided in the past that are connected to large inflatable figures using flexible hoses, this technique is not satisfactory for use with self-contained inflatable figures having a fan-containing base unit to which the body of the figure itself is attached. 
     The disadvantages of the prior art inflatable figures are avoided through use of the invention disclosed herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An inflatable figure assembly is disclosed herein that preferably comprises a base unit and a figure body that are selectively attachable by means of first and second cooperating zipper portions. A first zipper portion is desirably affixed to an outwardly extending, preferably circular, edge of a fabric collar that is permanently or semi-permanently attached to a base unit comprising a fan. A second zipper portion is desirably affixed to a cooperatively extending and aligned, preferably circular, lower edge of the figure body. The first and second zipper portions are preferably attachable to zip the figure body onto the base unit whenever and wherever desired. 
     When constructed in this manner, the base unit and figure body can be conveniently made at different locations and packaged independently. If desired, a single base unit can be packaged and sold with two or more different figures that can be selectively attached by the user as needed. If desired, a manufacturer can inventory a supply of base units to which any of several differently figures can be selectively attached upon receipt of orders for a particular figure. Because the collapsed figure bodies typically pack into a smaller volume than the base units, the total warehouse space required to maintain stock sufficient to fill orders can be significantly reduced as compared to stocking the same number of figure bodies, each having a permanently or semi-permanently attached base unit. Additionally, it may not be necessary to stock base units sufficient to “make-up” all the inventoried figure bodies in the manner that would otherwise be required. 
     As used herein, the term “permanently or semi-permanently attached” means that a lower portion of the fabric or material of a figure body is secured to a housing portion of a fan-containing base unit using such devices or in such manner that either removal is not possible without destroying a portion of the article or removal requires the use of tools. Thus, for example, permanent attachment can include using the clamping frame to secure fabric to a base unit, and attaching the clamping frame to the base unit with rivets or with biased snap fasteners that are not reversibly disengageable. Semi-permanent attachment can include a similar configuration where the clamping frame is attached to the base unit with screws that can be removed using a screwdriver. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The apparatus of the invention is further described and explained in relation to the following figures of the drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an inflatable figure of the invention made in the configuration of a spider; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the inflatable figure of FIG.  1  and additionally showing an electrical power cord; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view looking downwardly on top of the base unit from inside the spider head; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom view of the base unit as installed in the head of the inflatable figure; and 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing a decorative light string as installed inside the tail section of the spider. 
     Like reference numerals are used to describe like parts in all figures of the drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-4, inflatable figure assembly  10  preferably comprises body  12  and base unit  20 . Body  12  is depicted in the drawings in the shape of a spider, although it will be appreciated that this is merely illustrative of an infinite number of different figures that can be fabricated to form inflatable FIGS. 10 of the invention. Spider body  12  as shown further comprises head section  14 , tail section  16  and a plurality of legs  18 . Spider body  12  is preferably made of a semi-permeable fabric, such as nylon or another similarly effective materials, that is relatively lightweight but allows less air to diffuse from body  12  than is introduced into it by a fan in the base unit, as discussed below. Because the fan operates continuously during use, the amount of air discharged by the fan into spider body  12  is desirably sufficient to inflate all sections of body  12  to a fully expanded configuration and thereafter maintain the shape of body  12  notwithstanding some loss of air through the body walls. The interior portions of each section of spider body  12  are in fluid communication and combine to form interior cavity  50 . 
     A significant feature of the present invention is depicted and discussed in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the preferred embodiment depicted therein. A downwardly extending skirt portion of head section  14  of spider body  12  is preferably provided with a downwardly facing, generally circular opening that terminates in a first zipper section  40  sewn onto the skirt. First zipper section  40  desirably extends completely around the opening and is provided to facilitate attachment to base unit  20 . It will be appreciated that attachment loops, D-rings or the like can also be provided on the outside of inflatable FIG. 10 to aid in securing the figure to an underlying support surface  58  as seen in FIG. 2, or to another support structure. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , base unit  20  preferably comprises a plurality of hinged legs  22  that collapse around the hinges for shipment and rotate to a fully extended position for use; cross-braces  24  that maintain legs  22  in their fully extended position; and fan support member  26  attached to legs  22  and elevated above support surface  58  (FIG.  2 ). Fan  28  is connected to fan support member  26  and oriented so as to receive inlet air through air inlet  30  in the bottom of fan support member  26  and discharge pressurized air into cavity  50  above fan support member  26 . Electrical power cord  56  (visible in FIG. 2) is provided for connection to an external source of electrical current. Legs  22 , or another similarly effective support structure, are desirably adapted to elevate air inlet  30  at least 14 inches above underlying support surface  58  to comply with requirements of Underwriters&#39; Laboratory. 
     Base unit  20  preferably further comprises fabric ring  32 , clamp member  34 , fasteners  36 , and second zipper portion  38  for use in connecting base unit  20  to first zipper portion  40  of head section  14 . Fabric ring  32  is preferably made of the same or a stronger material as that used for spider body  12  and has a central aperture capable of fitting over and around fan  28 . During manufacture of base unit  20 , fabric ring  32  is desirably positioned around fan  28  and against the upwardly facing surface of fan support member  26 . Clamping member  34  is then applied over the top of fabric ring  32  and is secured to fan support member  26  so as to firmly hold fabric ring  32  in contact therewith. Clamping member  34  is depicted in FIG. 3 as a unitary structure that surrounds fan  28  but can alternatively comprise a plurality of individual sections, each of which is preferably attached to fan support member  26  using fasteners  36  such as screws, rivets or snap-in protrusions that are not easily disengaged during normal use. 
     Fabric ring  32  further comprises an outside peripheral edge to which a second zipper portion  38  is secured, preferably by sewing. The size and shape of first zipper portion  40  of head section  14  and second zipper portion  38  of fabric ring  32  are preferably such that they are alignable and releasably attachable using a conventional zipper fastening device  42 . Through use of a zipper connection as disclosed herein to attach spider body  12  to base unit  20  of inflatable FIG. 10, it is now possible to make and store the figure bodies apart from the base units for subsequent attachment when and where desired. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, an enlarged, broken-away interior portion of tail section  16  is depicted for the purpose of illustrating how decorative light string  46  as shown in FIG. 1 can be attached to spider body  12  inside cavity  50 . As shown in FIG. 5, electrical conductor  52  of decorative light string  46  is supported inside cavity  50  by a light string attachment device such as tie  48 , which is depicted as being suspended from seam  44  in tail section  16 . Bulb unit  54  is merely an example of transparent or translucent protective covers that can be used to prevent direct contact between an incandescent bulb and the material of which spider body  12  is constructed. 
     Other alterations and modifications of the subject invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure and the inventor intends that the invention be limited only by the maximum enforceable scope of the appended claims to which he is legally entitled.