Abstract:
An inflatable decorative device is provided. The device has a base; an inflatable cover mounted on the base to provide a chamber containing a plurality of lightweight elements, at least a portion of the cover being transparent; a blowing system adapted to inflate the cover, the blowing system being further adapted to circulate the plurality of lightweight elements within the chamber; and a spraying tube fluidly coupled to the blowing system. The spraying tube being adapted to distribute the blowable elements within the chamber and including: an inlet adapted to receive the plurality of blowable elements; and an outlet located above the inlet when the inflatable decorative device is inflated.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/994,237 filed Nov. 23, 2004, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/741,885, filed Dec. 5, 2005, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to an inflatable decorative device for exhibition, and more particularly to an inflatable decorative device that shows a whole scene within the decorative device.  
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0003]     Conventional decorative devices for exhibitions include some inflatable figures that are made of cloth sewn together to achieve particular figures (animals, special icons, cartoon characters etc) for enhancing attraction or for advertisement. When the inflatable figures are exhibited, air-injecting devices have to be connected with the inflatable figures so as to make the inflatable figures float or erect. Thereby, the inflatable figures are attractive.  
         [0004]     However, the inflatable figures only show particular images respectively and are static. Therefore, if a scene having multiple characters is displayed in the exhibitions, many inflatable figures corresponding to the characters have to be prepared to perform the scene. Moreover, because the exhibitions of the inflatable figures are in an open environment, some special effects, such as blowing snow, can not be present in the open environment.  
         [0005]     The present invention has arisen to mitigate or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional decorative device of the inflatable figures.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Embodiments of the invention provide an inflatable decorative device. The device has a base; an inflatable cover mounted on the base to provide a chamber containing a plurality of lightweight elements, at least a portion of the cover being transparent; a blowing system adapted to inflate the cover, the blowing system being further adapted to circulate the plurality of lightweight elements within the chamber; and a spraying tube fluidly coupled to the blowing system. The spraying tube being adapted to distribute the blowable elements within the chamber and including: an inlet adapted to receive the plurality of blowable elements; and an outlet located above the inlet when the inflatable decorative device is inflated.  
         [0007]     Other embodiments of the invention provide an inflatable decorative device having a decorative figure disposed between the base and the cover. The decorative figure can be inflatable or non-inflatable. The decorative figure can be, for example, stuffed or rigid.  
         [0008]     The inflatable decorative device has the closed chamber provided between the cover and the base, therefore, the blowable elements are blown upward by the blowing device. Moreover, the decorative model inside the cover also plays parts of a scene in the inflatable decorative device. Therefore, the whole scene with the at least one decorative model and the appearance of falling particles (such as snow or leaves, for example) is achieved within the decorative device of the invention.  
         [0009]     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate references to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Further advantages and details of the invention follow from the exemplary embodiments and are explained in the following with the aid of the Figure, in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of an inflatable decorative device in accordance with the invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an cross-sectional side view of the inflatable decorative device in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of the inflatable decorative device in accordance with the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of the inflatable decorative device in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of yet another embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an example of a collapsible spraying tube in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     An inflatable decorative device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention has a base; a cover mounted on the base to provide a chamber, at least a portion of the cover being transparent; a blowing device; and at least one model placed between the base and the cover.  
         [0018]     The base optionally comprises a top, a bottom, an inner wall and an outer wall formed between the top and the bottom, wherein the inner wall defines an inner area and the outer wall surrounds the inner wall to define an intermediate area between the inner wall and the outer wall. The blowing device optionally includes a first injecting tube communicating with the intermediate area.  
         [0019]     The base can be inflatable or non-inflatable.  
         [0020]     In the case of inflatable models, by injecting air into the at least one inflatable model, all inflatable models are propped up and excess air is allowed to enter the chamber to inflate the cover until the whole inflatable decorative device is in a pressure balance. The models are at least a part of the scene within the inflatable decorative device.  
         [0021]     In order to create a snowing-like appearance, the inflatable decorative device further has a second injecting tube connecting to the first injecting tube and communicating with the chamber; a spraying tube aligned with the second tube and communicating with the cover; and plastic particles stacked around the spraying tube near the tube of the blowing device.  
         [0022]     By providing the closed chamber between the cover and the base, therefore, the plastic particles are cyclically blown upward by the blowing device. Moreover, a scene with snowing is performed by the at least one inflatable model and the flying plastic particles inside the decorative device.  
         [0023]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of the inflatable decorative device in accordance with the present invention has a base ( 10 ), a blowing device ( 20 ), an inflatable cover ( 30 ), at least a portion of which is transparent, a spraying pipe ( 31 ), at least one model ( 40 ) (which may or may not be inflatable) and a plurality of particles ( 32 ).  
         [0024]     The base ( 10 ) has a top, a bottom ( 15 ), an inner wall ( 12 ) and an outer wall ( 11 ) formed between the top and the bottom ( 15 ). The outer wall ( 11 ) surrounds the inner wall ( 12 ). The outer wall ( 11 ) is made of permeable material. The inner wall ( 12 ) defines an inner area for receiving the blowing device ( 20 ). Moreover, an intermediate area ( 14 ) is defined between the inner wall ( 12 ) and the outer wall ( 11 ). The base ( 10 ) further has an opening ( 13 ) transversally formed through the inner wall ( 12 ) and the outer wall ( 11 ) to allow air to enter the inner area. The top of the base ( 10 ) is a funnel-shaped top ( 16 ) to direct and accommodate the particles ( 32 ). The particles may be made of Styrofoam® (foamed polystyrene), fabric pieces or other materials.  
         [0025]     The cover ( 30 ) is inflatable and mounted over the top of the base ( 10 ). When the cover ( 30 ) is completely inflated, a chamber ( 3 ) is provided within the cover ( 30 ). Selectively, the cover ( 30 ) can be partially transparent in optional modifications. Moreover, parts of the cover ( 30 ) can be permeable in case the chamber ( 3 ) is over-pressurized.  
         [0026]     The blowing device ( 20 ) is received inside the inner area within the base ( 10 ) and has a fan ( 21 ) with a motor ( 22 ), a pipe ( 33 ) with a filter ( 331 ), and a manifold comprising two injecting tubes ( 25 ,  26 ). The fan ( 21 ) is mounted on a rack ( 24 ) and has a bottom inlet ( 23 ) and a connector ( 231 ). The pipe ( 33 ) connects to the bottom inlet ( 23 ) of the fan ( 21 ) and communicates with the cover ( 30 ). The pipe ( 33 ) has a distal end and the filter ( 331 ) is attached to the distal end. The manifold has a first injecting tube ( 25 ) having one end connected to the connector ( 231 ) on the fan ( 21 ) and the other end penetrating the inner wall ( 12 ) to communicate with the intermediate area ( 14 ). The manifold has a second injecting tube ( 26 ) having one end connected to the first injecting tube ( 25 ) near the connector ( 231 ) and the other end extending to the funnel-shaped top ( 16 ) of the base ( 10 ) to enter the chamber ( 3 ). Particularly, the end of the second injecting tube ( 26 ) is attached at the center of the funnel-shaped top ( 16 ), i.e. a nadir on the funnel-shaped top ( 16 ).  
         [0027]     The at least one model ( 40 ) can be made of inflatable and permeable material and secured between the base ( 10 ) and the cover ( 30 ). The at least one model ( 40 ) may be a plurality of inflatable models connected with each other to define an airflow route. If inflatable, each model ( 40 ) has a connecting pipe ( 17 ) communicating to the intermediate area ( 14 ). When the fan ( 21 ) transmits the air into the intermediate area ( 14 ), the air blows into the inflatable models ( 40 ) to inflate them. Then, some excess air permeates out from the inflatable models ( 40 ) to enter the chamber ( 3 ). Alternatively, models ( 40 ) can be stuffed or rigid.  
         [0028]     The spraying tube ( 31 ) is secured on the funnel-shaped top ( 16 ) of the base ( 10 ) to extend to the chamber ( 3 ) and has an adjacent end, a distal end and multiple fastening strips ( 312 ). The multiple fastening strips ( 312 ) connect between the adjacent end of the spraying tube ( 31 ) and the funnel-shaped top ( 16 ) to keep the spraying tube ( 31 ) stable. Thereby, the spraying tube ( 31 ) is not directly connected with the second injecting tube ( 26 ) and a gap is defined between the spraying tube ( 31 ) and the second injecting tube ( 26 ) to allow particles ( 32 ) to fill the gap. The distal end of the spraying tube ( 31 ) extends into the chamber ( 3 ) to attach to a top of the chamber ( 3 ) and has a sprayer ( 314 ) mounted at the top of the chamber ( 3 ) to spray the particles ( 32 ). The spraying tube ( 31 ) partially erects inside one inflatable model (e.g., a tree) and is held still when the at least one inflatable model ( 40 ) inflates.  
         [0029]     When the inflatable decorative device operates, the motor ( 22 ) starts to drive the fan ( 21 ) to conduct airflow. The airflow is diverged into two ways, one is in the first injecting tube ( 25 ) and the other is in the second injecting tube ( 26 ). The airflow passing the first injecting tube ( 25 ) inflates the multiple models ( 40 ) (if inflatable). Excess air inside the inflatable models ( 40 ) permeates out to enter the chamber ( 3 ) so that the cover ( 30 ) is gradually inflated. The airflow passing the second injecting tube ( 26 ) directly injects into the spraying tube ( 31 ) and brings the particles ( 32 ) to float upward and spray in the chamber ( 3 ). After the airflow enters the chamber ( 3 ), excess air is extracted by the fan ( 21 ) via the pipe ( 33 ). Therefore, a scene of falling particles is continuously presented in the decorative device of this invention.  
         [0030]     With further reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another embodiment of the inflatable decorative device in accordance with the present invention has a similar structure with the former one except for the blowing device ( 20 ′). The blowing device ( 20 ′) in the present embodiment comprises two fans ( 21   a,    21   b ) with two respectively corresponding motors ( 22   a,    22   b ). The two fans ( 21   a,    21   b ) are respectively connected to a first injecting tube ( 25   a ) and a second injecting tube ( 26   b ). The pipe ( 33 ) is connected to the fan ( 21   b ) combined with the second injecting tube ( 26   b ).  
         [0031]     By providing a closed environment, i.e. the chamber ( 3 ), between the cover ( 30 ) and the base ( 10 ), the particles ( 32 ) are cyclically blown upward by the blowing device ( 20 ,  20 ′). Moreover, a scene (such as with a snowing-effect) is performed by the at least one model ( 40 ) and the flying particles ( 32 ) inside the decorative device. The particles ( 32 ) can be pieces of fabric to represent leaves blowing in an autumn scene, or other sheet-like particles.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show an embodiment of the invention in which the spraying tube ( 31 ′) is rigid and is in multiple parts ( 31   a,    31   b ) connected by a hinge ( 39 ) so that it can be collapsed for easy storage. Other type of connections such as, for example, a sleeve connection, a telescoping connection or a bayonet connection can be used. The spraying tube ( 31 ′) can be, for example, plastic, metal, paper, wood, glass or other material.  
         [0033]     The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  has a blowing device ( 20 ″), a power cord ( 510 ) and a plurality of lights ( 520 ). The models ( 40 ) can be inflated, stuffed or rigid, and can be, for example, fabric, plastic, metal, paper, wood, glass or other material. The particles ( 32 ) in this example are plastic balls to simulate snow, however, the particle ( 32 ) could alternatively be pieces of fabric or other material to simulate leaves or other particulate matter.  
         [0034]     The invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments.  
         [0035]     It will be apparent, based on this disclosure, to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.