Abstract:
An attention-attracting device arranged such that strength can be secured against an external force and a light source can be installed at the upper, middle or lower portion in an envelope where characters, pictures, or the like, are displayed in order to attract attention. The attention-attracting device includes a stand ( 10 ) equipped with an air blower ( 70 ), one or a plurality of telescopic poles ( 20 ) standing on the stand ( 10 ), an envelope ( 30 ) attached to the stand ( 10 ) and covering the telescopic poles ( 20 ), a frame ( 40 ) attached to the telescopic pole ( 20 ) and inside of the envelope ( 30 ), and a lamp ( 50 ) attached to the frame ( 40 ) (or to the middle position of the telescopic pole or the upper portion of the stand), the lamp ( 50 ) being connected electrically with an electronic ballast ( 11 ).

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    The present application is based on and claims the priority benefit of Japanese Patent Application 2006-160544 filed on Jun. 9, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an attention-attracting device used in a commercial stand or the like. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    There has been known a device having a light source inside which is disposed in front of a shop as a commercial stand. This type of the commercial stand sometimes has promotional commercials printed on an envelope made of cloth, plastic film or the like. 
         [0006]    There has been known a spotlight projector used in a construction site or the like as night illumination in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2005-150123, as a related art to the present invention. A balloon disposed at an upper end of a telescopic pole of the spotlight projector is provided internally with an illumination unit. 
         [0007]    However, the conventional commercial stand with an envelope outside is easy to be turned down by strong winds or the like. Further, in the case where the cylindrical long balloon is swollen by blowing air inside, it is difficult for the conventional commercial stand to stand by itself. Furthermore, in the case where the air in the balloon is released so as to be stored, the direction to which the balloon will fall cannot be predicted, thereby, causing a possible danger to the surroundings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention has been accomplished in view of the aforementioned problems, and it is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide an attention-attracting device in which a telescopic pole is installed in the balloon, enabling secured strength to external forces and easy set and storage; and one or a plurality of illuminating lamps are installed in the balloon, enabling easy view of characters and/or pictures provided on an envelope. 
         [0009]    To attain the objectives described above, the attention-attracting device according to the present invention includes a stand equipped with an air blower; one or a plurality of telescopic poles standing on the stand; an envelope attached to the stand and covering the telescopic poles; and a frame attached to the telescopic poles and to the inside of the envelope. 
         [0010]    Further, it is desirable that one or a plurality of lamps is installed in the envelope, particularly, in the frame or the stand inside the envelope. In this instance, it is desirable that a reflection plate is provided at an upper portion or a lower portion, or both the upper and lower portions. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, it is desirable that the stand and the envelope are attached together by a lower fastener-typed connection means, and the frame and the envelope are attached together by an upper fastener-typed connection means. 
         [0012]    It is desirable that the envelope is made of cloth or plastic film and is provided with a character and/or a picture. 
         [0013]    Moreover, a variation of the attention-attracting device according to the present invention includes one or a plurality of lamps attached to a middle frame which is provided in the middle of the plurality of telescopic poles. 
         [0014]    According to the attention-attracting device of the present invention with the above-mentioned configurations, since the strength thereof with respect to an external force is secured by providing in the envelope the telescopic pole which is leveled up and down by the pressure of air blown into the envelope, the envelope can be prevented from falling down even when the external force is exerted thereon by strong winds. Further, while the envelope is expanded by the pressure of air from an air blower, the telescopic pole provided inside the envelope is extended to rise, ensuring a smooth expansion of the envelope. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, when the operation of the air blower is stopped, the pressure of air inside the envelope is gradually decreased, meanwhile the upper structures such as the frame and the like is lowered down. Since the air is released at a relatively small amount, the lowering-down speed can be restrained so as to reach the storage state safely. 
         [0016]    The lamp is provided at the upper, middle or lower portion of the telescopic pole, by using the reflection plate, lights can be reflected to the lower portion of the envelope efficiently, the displayed characters and/or pictures can be read easily, improving the reminding effect. 
         [0017]    The lamp, namely the light source, is covered by the semi-translucent envelope which is made of cloth or plastic film, the glare thereof when viewed from outside can be reduced, and lights can be dispersed to the entire area of the envelope as well. 
         [0018]    Additionally, the falling of the attention-attracting device due to winds or the like can be further prevented by providing a plurality of the telescopic poles therein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an attention-attracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the attention-attracting device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the attention-attracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention in which 4 telescopic poles are provided. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the attention-attracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention in which 4 telescopic poles are provided and a lamp is attached to an upper portion of an envelope. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the attention-attracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention in which 4 telescopic poles are provided and the lamp is attached to a middle portion of the envelope. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the attention-attracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention in which 4 telescopic poles are provided and the lamp is attached to a lower portion of the envelope. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an attention-attracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the attention-attracting device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a reference numeral  10  denotes a stand on which an electronic ballast  11  is mounted. The stand includes a bottom portion  10   a , a table portion  10   b  and a cylindrical portion  10   c  for inserting therein a pole. The electronic ballast  11  is attached on the table portion  10   b.    
         [0027]    In the cylindrical portion  100 , there is erected a telescopic pole  20 . The telescopic pole  20  consists of a lower pole  21  inserted into the cylindrical portion  10   c , a middle pole  22  slidably inserted into the lower pole  21 , and an upper pole  23  slidably inserted into the middle pole  22 . The middle pole  22  and the upper pole  23  can be extended and retracted by sliding mutually. The middle pole is configured as one in the present embodiment; it is acceptable to configure the middle pole as a plurality of poles according to the height of the attention-attracting device. 
         [0028]    The stand  10  is attached with an envelope  30  which covers the telescopic pole  20  by a lower fastener-typed connection means to be described below. The envelope  30  is made of cloth or a plastic film or the like having flexibility. It is desirable for the envelope  30  to be configured suitable for the attention-attracting device used in a commercial stand by printing thereon characters and pictures which attract attention, sticking thereon a seal with characters and pictures provided for attracting attention, covering thereon a cover with characters and pictures provided for attracting attention, or binding thereon a belt with characters and pictures provided for attracting attention. 
         [0029]    Hereinafter, the lower fastener-typed connection means which connects the stand  10  and the envelope  30  will be described. The lower fastener-typed connection means consists of a circular row of teeth  12   a  consisting of one part of a pair of male and female teeth in a fastener formed at the peripheral portion of a lower circular sheet  12 , and a circular row of teeth  32   a  consisting of the other part of male and female teeth in the fastener formed along an inner peripheral edge  32  of a lower circular opening of the envelope  30 . 
         [0030]    The lower circular sheet  12  is sandwiched by the stand  10  and a ring  13  and is screwed to the stand  10  together with the ring  13 . 
         [0031]    In addition to the approximately cylindrical shape as illustrated in the drawings, it is acceptable to form the envelope  30  into various shapes such as a shape of an approximately conical frustum or a reversed conical frustum, a human shape, an animal shape, a building&#39;s shape, a cartoon character&#39;s shape, or the like. 
         [0032]    The upper portion of the telescopic pole  20 , in other words, the upper portion of the upper pole  23  is attached with a frame  40 . The frame  40  consists of a lamp holder  41  attached to a hub, plural spokes  42  extended from the hub to form a conical frustum shape, and a ring  43  located at the bottom surface of the conical frustum. 
         [0033]    The lamp holder  41  is installed with a lamp  50  as a light source of the attention-attracting device for attracting attention. The lamp  50  is electrically connected with the electronic ballast  11 . Although a cable connecting the lamp holder and the electronic ballast  11  is not illustrated in the drawings, the cable may be wired inside the telescopic pole  20 , or may be wired by fastening outside the telescopic pole  20 , for example, on the upper portion of the middle pole  22  or the lower pole  21 , or the like. 
         [0034]    The frame  40  and a bowl-shaped reflection plate  60  attached to the outside of the upper portion of the envelope  30  are attached to the envelope  30  via a lower fastener-typed connection means or the like to be described below. The upper portion of the envelope  30  is formed with a circular opening  31 . The reflection plate  61  is attached so as to cover the circular opening  31 . 
         [0035]    Hereinafter, descriptions will be given to the upper fastener-typed connection means which connects the frame  40  with the envelope  30 . The upper fastener-typed connection means consists of a circular row of teeth  61   a  consisting of one part of a pair of male and female teeth in a fastener formed at the peripheral portion of an upper circular sheet  61 , and a circular row of teeth  31   a  consisting of the other part of male and female teeth in the fastener formed along the inner peripheral edge of an upper circular opening  31  of the envelope  30 . 
         [0036]    The upper circular sheet  61  is sandwiched by the reflection plate  60  and the ring  43  of the frame  40  and is screwed to the ring  43  together with the reflection plate  60 . 
         [0037]    An air hole  10   d  is formed in the table  10   b  of the stand  10 . To the air hole  10   d , a blower  70  for swelling the envelope  30  is attached. The electronic ballast  11  and the blower  70  are covered by a circular cover  80  having a slit enabling air release. It is desirable that the blower  70  is a fan-typed mini-blower. 
         [0038]    When the blower  70  is actuated to swell the envelope  30 , the telescopic pole  20  is extended by the air pressure to raise the frame  40 . When the envelope  30  is completely swollen, the height or position of the frame  40  is maintained. While the blower  70  is stopped, the frame  40  is descended by its deadweight. 
         [0039]    The telescopic pole  20  functions as a guide to the ascending and descending of the frame  40 . If the telescopic pole  20  were not provided, when the blower  70  is stopped and the frame is descended, it is hard to know which direction the frame  40  will fall to, therefore, it is difficult for one person to cope with it, and it is also easy for the lamp  50  to be damaged. 
         [0040]    In addition, in the case where the envelope  30  is replaced by a new one, first, set the envelope  30  to the storing state, open the upper and lower fasteners of the envelope  30 , and take out the old envelope  30  from the frame  40  and the stand  10 . 
         [0041]    Then, cover the new envelope on the frame  40  and the stand  10 , match the upper and lower fasteners of the new envelope with the respective fasteners attached to the frame  40  and the stand  10  and fasten the fasteners. Note that the aforementioned fastener-typed connection means is not limited as the engaging means; it is possible to use various engaging means having a male member and a female member which can engage with each other or released from each other freely, such as hooks, snaps, buttons or the like. 
         [0042]    In the above-mentioned embodiment, the telescopic pole is only one. However, if the envelope is large-sized (long in the vertical direction), plural poles can prevent the attention-attracting device from being turned down by winds or the like better than one pole. In this case, the telescopic pole may be 2, 3 or even more. As one example, an embodiment where the number of the telescopic poles is 4 will be given below with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the attention-attracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention in which 4 telescopic poles are provided.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the attention-attracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention in which 4 telescopic poles are provided and the lamp is attached to the upper portion of the envelope.  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the attention-attracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention in which 4 telescopic poles are provided and the lamp is attached to the middle portion of the envelope.  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the attention-attracting device according to an embodiment of the present invention in which 4 telescopic poles are provided and the lamp is attached to the lower portion of the envelope. 
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a reference number  110  denotes a stand on which an electronic ballast  111  is mounted. The stand  110  includes a bottom portion  110   a , a table portion  110   b  and four cylindrical portions  110   c  for inserting therein the poles respectively. The electronic ballast  111  is attached on the table portion  110   b.    
         [0045]    In each of the cylindrical portions  110   c , there is erected a telescopic pole  120 . The telescopic pole  120  consists of a lower pole  121  inserted into the cylindrical portion  110   c , a middle pole  122  slidably inserted into the lower pole  121 , and an upper pole  123  slidably inserted into the middle pole  122 . The middle pole  122  and the upper pole  123  can be extended and retracted by sliding, mutually. 
         [0046]    The stand  110  is attached with an envelope  130  which covers the telescopic pole  120  by a lower fastener-typed connection means to be described below. The envelope  130  is made of cloth or a plastic film or the like having flexibility. It is desirable for the envelope  130  to be configured suitable for the attention-attracting device used in a commercial stand by printing thereon characters and pictures which attract attention, sticking thereon a seal with characters and pictures provided for attracting attention, covering thereon a cover with characters and pictures provided for attracting attention, or binding thereon a belt with characters and pictures provided for attracting attention. 
         [0047]    Hereinafter, the lower fastener-typed connection means which connects the stand  110  and the envelope  130  will be described. The lower fastener-typed connection means consists of a circular row of teeth  112   a  consisting of one part of a pair of male and female teeth in a fastener formed at the peripheral portion of a lower circular sheet  112 , and a circular row of teeth  132   a  consisting of the other part of male and female teeth in the fastener formed along an inner peripheral edge  132  of a lower circular opening of the envelope  130 . 
         [0048]    The lower circular sheet  112  is sandwiched by the stand  110  and a ring  113  and is screwed to the stand  110  together with the ring  113 . 
         [0049]    In addition to the approximately cylindrical shape as illustrated in the drawings, it is acceptable to form the envelope  130  into various shapes such as a shape of an approximately conical frustum or a reversed conical frustum, a human shape, an animal shape, a building&#39;s shape, a cartoon character&#39;s shape, or the like. 
         [0050]    An upper portion of each of the four telescopic poles  120 , in other words, the upper portion of the upper pole  123  is attached with a circular frame  140 . The frame  140  is provided inside with reinforcing ribs  140   a  which are crossed at the center to form a central crossed portion  140   b . The central crossed portion  140   b  is attached with a lamp holder  141  for holding a lamp  150 . The circular portion of the circular frame  140  is disposed with a hole  140  into which the upper end of the telescopic pole is inserted and attached. 
         [0051]    The lamp holder  141  is installed with the lamp  150  as a light source for attracting attention. The lamp  150  is electrically connected with the electronic ballast  111 . Although a cable connecting the lamp holder and the electronic ballast  11  is not illustrated in the drawings, the cable may be wired inside the telescopic pole  120 , or may be wired by fastening outside the telescopic pole  120 , for example, on the upper portion of the middle pole  122  or the lower pole  121 , or the like. 
         [0052]    The frame  140  and a bowl-shaped reflection plate  160  attached to the outside of the upper portion of the envelope  130  are attached to the envelope  130  via a lower fastener-typed connection means or the like to be described below. The upper portion of the envelope  130  is formed with a circular opening  131 . The reflection plate  161  is attached so as to cover the circular opening  131 . 
         [0053]    Hereinafter, descriptions will be given to an upper fastener-typed connection means which connects the frame  140  with the envelope  130 . The upper fastener-typed connection means consists of a circular row of teeth  161   a  consisting of one part of a pair of male and female teeth in a fastener formed at the peripheral portion of an upper circular sheet  161 , and a circular row of teeth  131   a  consisting of the other part of male and female teeth in the fastener formed along the inner peripheral edge of an upper circular opening  131  of the envelope  130 . 
         [0054]    The upper circular sheet  161  is sandwiched by the reflection plate  160  and the circular frame  140  and is screwed to the circular frame  140  together with the reflection plate  160 . 
         [0055]    An air hole  110   d  is formed in the table  110   b  of the stand  110 . To the air hole  110   d , a blower  170  for swelling the envelope  130  is attached. The electronic ballast  111  and the blower  170  are covered by a circular cover  180  having a slit enabling air release. It is desirable that the blower  170  is a fan-typed mini-blower. 
         [0056]    When the blower  170  is actuated to swell the envelope  130 , the telescopic pole  120  is extended by the air pressure to raise the frame  140 . When the envelope  130  is completely swollen, the height or position of the frame  140  is maintained. While the blower  170  is stopped, the frame  140  is descended by its deadweight. 
         [0057]    The four telescopic poles  120  function as a guide to the ascending and descending of the frame  140 . 
         [0058]    In addition, in the case where the envelope  130  is replaced by a new one, first, set the envelope  130  to the storing state, open the upper and lower fasteners of the envelope  130 , and take out the old envelope  130  from the frame  140  and the stand  110 . 
         [0059]    Then cover the new envelope on the frame  140  and the stand  110 , match the upper and lower fasteners of the new envelope with the respective fasteners attached to the frame  140  and the stand  110  and fasten the fasteners. Note that the aforementioned fastener-typed connection means is not limited as the engaging means; it is possible to use various engaging means having a male member and a female member which can engage with each other or released from each other freely, such as hooks, snaps, buttons or the like. 
         [0060]      FIG. 4  shows an example of the attention-attracting device having 4 telescopic poles  120  and the lamp  150  being attached to the upper portion. The lamp  150  is attached to the lamp holder  141  attached to the circular frame  140 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 5  shows an example of the attention-attracting device having 4 telescopic poles  120  and the lamp  150  being attached to a middle frame  240  installed at a middle position of the telescopic pole  120 . Similar to the frame  140 , the middle frame  240  is provided inside with reinforcing ribs crossed at the center to form a central crossed portion. The upper and lower surfaces of the central crossed portion are provided with a lamp holder  141   a  and a lamp holder  141   b , respectively, for holding two lamps  150 . Although not shown in the drawings, the circular portion of the middle frame  240  is provided with an inserting hole for the telescopic pole  120 . The telescopic pole  120  is attached by being inserted to the inserting hole. 
         [0062]      FIG. 6  shows an example of the attention-attracting device having 4 telescopic poles  120  and the lamp  150  being installed on the stand  110 . In this case, the lamp  150  is installed to the lamp holder  141  provided in the center of the stand. The light from the lamp  150  is reflected by the reflection plate  161  attached to the table  110   b  of the stand  110 , providing easier view of the characters and/or pictures provided on the envelope  130 . 
         [0063]    Regarding the attention-attracting device illustrated in  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , although there is one lamp disposed in the upper position in  FIG. 4 , two lamps disposed vertically in the middle position in  FIG. 5 , and one lamp disposed in the lower position in  FIG. 6 , it is not limited thereto. The number of the lamps may be altered, and the lamps may be installed in both of the upper and middle positions, or both of the upper and lower positions, so as to attract attention better. 
         [0064]    Although the present invention has been explained in relation to the preferred embodiments and drawings but not limited, it should be noted that other possible modifications and variations made without departing from the gist and scope of the invention will be comprised in the present invention. Therefore, the appended claims encompass all such changes and modifications as falling within the gist and scope of the present invention.