Abstract:
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide an ornamented inflatable device comprising a first layer of material and a second layer of material having an inflatable chamber therebetween, at least a portion of the first layer being transparent, a first decorative ornamentation applied to the transparent portion of the first layer, and a second decorative ornamentation applied to the second layer on the side of the second layer that faces the transparent portion of the first layer, wherein said first decorative ornamentation and said second decorative ornamentation share a common theme, and when viewed simultaneously by one looking through the transparent portion of the first layer into the inflated chamber, cooperate to form a three-dimensional depiction relating to that common theme.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/286,908, entitled “INFLATABLE DEVICE WITH LAYERED ORNAMENTATION,” filed Dec. 16, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    At least one example in accordance with the present invention relates generally to inflatable devices. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of Related Art 
         [0005]    Inflatable devices or toys, such as recreational aquatic floats, snow tubes and other inflatable products, are oftentimes used by children. A typical inflatable device may include decorative ornamentation applied to the outer surface of the inflatable device, wherein the decorative ornamentation is intended to make the inflatable device more visually appealing to a child. Moreover, inflatable devices like chair cushions also may bear fanciful ornamentation on outer surfaces. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Aspects in accord with the present invention are directed to an inflatable device with layered ornamentation. 
         [0007]    In one aspect the present invention features an ornamented inflatable device comprising a first layer of material and a second layer of material having an inflatable chamber therebetween, at least a portion of the first layer being transparent, a first decorative ornamentation applied to the transparent portion of the first layer, and a second decorative ornamentation applied to the second layer on a side of the second layer that faces the transparent portion of the first layer, wherein said first decorative ornamentation and said second decorative ornamentation share a common theme, and when viewed simultaneously by one looking through the transparent portion of the first layer into the inflated chamber, cooperate to form a three-dimensional depiction relating to that common theme. 
         [0008]    According to one embodiment the first decorative ornamentation is applied to the transparent portion of the first layer on a side of the first layer that faces the second decorative ornamentation. In one embodiment, the ornamented inflatable device further comprises loose ornamental material located within the inflatable chamber and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation. According to one embodiment, the first layer of material and the second layer of material are welded together to form the inflatable chamber therebetween 
         [0009]    According to another embodiment, the ornamented inflatable device comprises at least one columnar member extending between the first and second layers of material. In one embodiment, the at least one columnar member bears a third decorative ornamentation that shares the common theme with the first and second decorative ornamentation. In another embodiment, the ornamented inflatable device further comprises loose ornamental material located within the at least one columnar member and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation. 
         [0010]    In another aspect the present invention features a method of creating an ornamented inflatable device, the method comprising acts of welding a first panel of PVC to a second panel of PVC to form an inflatable chamber therebetween, wherein at least a portion of the first panel is transparent, printing a first ornamentation on the first panel; printing a second ornamentation on a side of the second panel that faces the first panel, and configuring the first panel relative to the second panel so that, when viewed simultaneously by one looking through the transparent first layer into the inflated chamber, the first panel and the second panel cooperate to form a three-dimensional effect. 
         [0011]    According to one embodiment, the act of welding includes welding the first panel to the second panel around an outer edge of the first panel and an outer edge of the second panel. In one embodiment, the act of welding includes welding the first panel to the second panel around a center weld portion. 
         [0012]    According to another embodiment, the act of printing a first ornamentation includes printing the first ornamentation on a side of the first panel that faces the second ornamentation. In one embodiment, the method further comprises placing loose ornamental material within the inflatable chamber. 
         [0013]    According to one embodiment, the method further comprises welding at least one columnar member to the first panel and the second panel, the at least one columnar member extending through the inflatable chamber. In one embodiment, the method further comprises placing loose ornamental material within the at least one columnar member. 
         [0014]    In one aspect the present invention features an inflatable device comprising a first layer of material and a second layer of material having an inflatable chamber therebetween, at least a portion of the first layer being transparent, a first decorative ornamentation applied to the transparent portion of the first layer, and a second decorative ornamentation applied to the second layer on a side of the second layer that faces the transparent portion of the first layer, wherein said first decorative ornamentation comprises a depiction of at least one foreground image and the second decorative ornamentation comprises a depiction of a background image that is contextually related to said foreground image and spaced apart therefrom across the inflated chamber. 
         [0015]    According to one embodiment, the first decorative ornamentation is applied to the transparent portion of the first layer on a side of the first layer that faces the second decorative ornamentation. In one embodiment, the inflatable device further comprises loose ornamental material located within the inflatable chamber and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation. 
         [0016]    According to another embodiment, the inflatable device comprises at least one columnar member extending between the first and second layers of material. In one embodiment, the at least one columnar member bears a third decorative ornamentation that shares the common theme with the first and second decorative ornamentation. In another embodiment, the inflatable device further comprises loose ornamental material located within the at least one columnar member and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various FIGs. is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an exploded view diagram of an inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 1B  illustrates an assembled view diagram of an inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 1C  illustrates a cross sectional view diagram of an inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a conical or tubular column in accordance with aspects of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of an assembled inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of another inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of another inflatable device in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    For the purposes of illustration only, and not to limit the generality, the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. This disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. 
         [0026]    As described above, a typical inflatable device may include decorative ornamentation applied to the outer surface of the inflatable device. Such decorative ornamentation may be limited by the size and material of the inflatable device. For example, the decorative ornamentation may be limited to the surface area of the outer surface of the inflatable device and/or may also be limited to a two dimensional configuration. 
         [0027]    As described herein, the current invention provides an inflatable device with layered ornamentation, capable of providing a three-dimensional decorative ornamentation in the inflatable device. According to one embodiment, at least one portion of an outer surface of the inflatable device is transparent, so that a decorative ornamentation may be applied to said transparent portion and to an opposing portion of the inflatable device seen through the transparent portion so as to create a three-dimensional effect between the two spaced-apart ornamentations. In one embodiment, the two ornamentations may share a theme or concept such that the ornamentations cooperate visually to depict the theme or concept in a three-dimensional manner. In addition, according to one embodiment, other ornamentation may be provided between the layers to produce additional three-dimensional effects, as described in greater detail below. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an exploded view diagram of an inflatable device  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The inflatable device  100  is an inflatable float or snow tube generally having the shape of an inner tube. The assembled inflatable device  100  includes a top panel  102  and a bottom panel  104 . All or part of the top panel  102  may be made of transparent material, so that one set of ornamentation  106  may be printed on the transparent portion  102 , while other ornamentation  108  may be printed on the opposed portion (e.g., bottom panel  104 ) of the tube that may be seen through the transparent portion  102 , to give a three-dimensional effect to the ornamentation. According to one embodiment, the top panel  102  may also include handles  110  coupled to the top panel  102  which are configured to allow a user to grip the device  100 . According to another embodiment, the top panel  102  may also include an air valve  112  coupled to the top panel  102  which is configured to allow a user to inflate the device  100 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 1B  illustrates an assembled view diagram of an inflatable device  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Upon being assembled, the top panel  102  and bottom panel  104  are welded together to form the inflatable device  100  having an inflatable interior chamber  105  between the top panel  102  and the bottom panel  104 . According to one embodiment, the top panel  102  and the bottom panel  104  are welded together around an outer edge  118  of the top panel  102  and bottom panel  104 . According to another embodiment, the top panel  102  and the bottom panel  104  are welded together around a center weld portion  116 . According to one embodiment, the center weld portion  116  is circular. According to one embodiment, the assembled inflatable device  100  has a diameter  101  of forty-eight inches; however, it is to be appreciated that the inflatable device  100  may be of any appropriate size and shape. Upon being welded together, the spacing between ornamentation  106  and ornamentation  108  creates a three-dimensional effect so that ornamentation  106  appears to be flying in the sky over ornamentation  108 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 1C  illustrates a cross sectional view of the inflatable device  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Upon being assembled, the top panel  102  and bottom panel  104  are welded together to form the inflatable device  100  having an inflatable interior chamber  105  between the top panel  102  and the bottom panel  104 . According to one embodiment, the top panel  102  and the bottom panel  104  are welded together around an outer edge  118  of the top panel  102  and bottom panel  104 . According to another embodiment, the top panel  102  and the bottom panel  104  are welded together around a center weld portion  116 . According to one embodiment, the center weld portion  116  is circular. 
         [0031]    In addition, referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C and  2  and according to one embodiment, the inflatable device  100  may also include conical or tubular columns  114  which extend between the top panel  102  and the bottom panel  104  of the inflatable device  100 . According to one embodiment, the tubular columns  114  are welded to the top panel  102  and the bottom panel  104 . According to one embodiment, a top portion  202  of a column  114  is coupled to the top panel  102  of the inflatable device  100  and a bottom portion  204  of a column  114  is coupled to the bottom panel  104  of the inflatable device  100 . According to one embodiment, the top portion  202  has a greater circumference than the bottom portion  204 ; however, it is to be appreciated that the columns  114  may be configured differently. According to one embodiment, the conical or tubular columns  114  may also include at least one hole (not shown) configured to allow fluid communication between the inflatable interior chamber  105  and an interior portion  115  of the tubular columns  114 . For example, according to one embodiment, when air is blown into the inflatable device  100 , via the air valve  112 , the air separates the top panel  102  from the bottom panel  104 . As the top panel  102  and the bottom panel  104  move farther apart, the columns  114  attached to the top panel  102  and the bottom panel  104  are stretched out. As the columns  114  are stretched out, air from the inflatable interior chamber  105  is able to enter the interior portion  115  of the columns  114  via the at least one hole. According to one embodiment, the at least one hole is located near where a column  114  and a panel  102 ,  104  are welded together. 
         [0032]    According to another embodiment, the columns  114  may bear further ornamentation (not shown) that gives additional three-dimensional effects to the inflatable device  100 . According to one embodiment, loose objects (e.g., glitter or other artificial objects) (not shown) may be provided within the columns  114  or the inflatable interior chamber of the inflatable device  100  for further ornamental effect. According to another embodiment, the top panel  102 , bottom panel  104  and columns  114  are made of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC); however, it is to be appreciated that the top panel  102 , bottom panel  104  and columns  114  may be made of any other appropriate materials. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an assembled inflatable snow tube  300  according to one embodiment is provided. The inflatable snow tube  300  has a circular shape and has a bottom panel  304  welded to a top panel  306  to form an interior inflatable chamber  303 , as described above. The snow tube  300  has a winter scene (e.g., including snowflakes  302 ) printed on the inner side of the bottom panel  304 . The top panel  306  is transparent, and a team of reindeer  308  is printed on the top panel  306 . According to one embodiment, the team of reindeer  308  is printed on the underside of the top panel  306 ; however, it is to be appreciated that the team of reindeer  308  may also be printed on the top side of the top panel  306 . Upon being welded together, the spacing between the team of reindeer  308  and the winter scene  302  creates a three-dimensional effect so that the team of reindeer  308  appears to be flying in the sky over the winter scene  302 . In addition, conical or tubular columns  310  extend from the inner side of the bottom panel  304  to the underside of the top panel  306 . According to one embodiment, the columns  310  are transparent. According to another embodiment, the columns  312  are decorated with icicles or snow  312 , as desired, to add to the three-dimensional ornamental effects of the snow tube  300 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates another inflatable device  400  having layered ornamentation according to at least one embodiment of the instant invention. The device  400  may be intended for use by an adult and child. The device  400  includes a rear portion  402 , configured to support the weight of a child located in a seat area  403  of the rear portion  402 . The device  400  also includes at least two curved arms  404 , configured to encapture the torso of an adult located adjacent the device  400 . According to one embodiment, the device  400  includes a bottom layer  406  and a top layer  408 , wherein the bottom layer  406  is welded to the top layer  408  to form an inflatable interior chamber  410 . According to one embodiment, the bottom layer  406  and top layer  408  are welded together around an outer edge  412 . According to another embodiment, the bottom layer  406  and top layer  408  are welded together around the rear portion  402 . 
         [0035]    According to one embodiment, the top layer  408  is transparent. According to another embodiment, ornamentation  414  is printed on the transparent top layer  408 . According to one embodiment, the ornamentation  414  is printed on the underside of the transparent top layer  408 ; however, it is to be appreciated that the ornamentation  414  may also be printed on the top side of the transparent top layer  408 . In one embodiment, the ornamentation  414  is in the form of a fish  406 . According to another embodiment, additional ornamentation  416  (e.g., a sea scene) is printed on the inner side of the bottom layer  406 , so that when a user looks through the transparent top layer  408 , the two sets of ornamentation cooperate to provide a three-dimensional effect representing fish  406  swimming in the sea. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  illustrates another inflatable device  500  having layered ornamentation according to at least one embodiment of the instant invention. The device  500  is an inflatable chair cushion which has a transparent portion  502  on its top side, bearing ornamentation  504  in the form of birds or fireflies, while a portion  506  (e.g., a bottom side) of the inflatable chair cushion opposite the transparent portion  502  could depict a pond or a cottage  508 , so that the two ornamentations  504 ,  508 , when seen together, cooperate to represent a three-dimensional summer scene. According to one embodiment, the inflatable device  500  includes side portions  510 . The side portions  510  are welded to an outer edge  512  of the transparent portion  502  and an outer edge  514  of the bottom portion  506 . According to another embodiment, the transparent portion  502  and the bottom portion  506  are welded together directly. 
         [0037]    It is to be appreciated that the printing of ornamentations on the inflatable devices, according to embodiments of the instant invention, may be performed in any known way. As discussed above, ornamentations printed on the top panel  102  or layer  408  may be printed on the underside of the top panel  102  or layer  408 , which may prevent children or anyone else from coming directly into contact with the printed ornamentations. 
         [0038]    It also is to be appreciated that the inflatable devices with layered ornamentation, as discussed above, are not meant to be limited to the specific embodiments described herein. For example, layered ornamentation could be applied to inflatable pools, floating mattresses, inflatable bath pillows, inflatable lounge cushions, and a variety of other products. In addition, the layered ornamentation printed on an inflatable device of the instant invention may be designed to represent any type of figure, design, image, theme, etc.