Patent Publication Number: US-2006009098-A1

Title: Inflatable object with an illuminating device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to an inflatable object, more particularly to an inflatable object with an illuminating device.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      The structure of a conventional inflatable object, such as an animal-shaped inflatable object, requires a completely airtight structure so as to form the predetermined shape. To enhance decorative effect of the inflatable object when placed in a dark or shaded area, the inflatable object is illuminated from an external portion thereof, or a rear side of the inflatable object is provided with an indented portion for receiving a lamp unit, so that the light seems to radiate from an interior of the inflatable object.  
      When the interior of the conventional inflatable object is to be mounted with a lamp unit, simply extending an electrical wire through the inflatable object to connect the lamp unit to an external power supply without the utilization of any special configuration will result in damage to the airtight structure of the inflatable object. Furthermore, such a structure makes it difficult to replace or repair the lamp unit when it has a defect.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable object that has an illuminating device provided in an interior thereof and connected to an external power supply without affecting the airtight structure of the inflatable object.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable object that may securely position an illuminating device in an interior thereof.  
      According to this invention, an inflatable object comprises an inflatable body defining an air chamber, an illuminating device disposed within the inflatable body, a hollow second positioning member welded to the inflatable body, and an electrical adaptor fitted sealingly in the second positioning member. The illuminating device includes a hollow first positioning member welded to the inflatable body, and a light emitting member fitted sealingly in the first positioning member. The electrical adaptor is fitted sealingly in the second positioning member, and has a terminal which has an inner terminal end extending into the air chamber, and an outer terminal end exposed from the inflatable body. The light emitting member is electrically coupled to the inner terminal end. The outer terminal end is adapted to enable electrical coupling to a power source. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an inflatable object according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary sectional view of an illuminating device of the preferred embodiment;  
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary partly exploded perspective view, illustrating a second positioning member and an electrical adaptor of the preferred embodiment; and  
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary sectional view of the second positioning member and the electrical adaptor in an assembled state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to FIGS.  1  to  4 , the preferred embodiment of an inflatable object according to the present invention is shown to comprise an inflatable body  1 , an illuminating device  2 , a hollow second positioning member  31 , and an electrical adaptor  32 .  
      The inflatable body  1  defines an air chamber  100 , and is made in a conventional manner, that is, by heat-sealing a plurality of plastic sheets to form a hollow body that produces a predetermined shape after inflation. In this embodiment, the inflatable body  1  forms a snowman after inflation. The inflatable body  1  has a partition member  12  that divides the air chamber  100  into first and second air chambers  101 ,  102 . An outer surface of the inflatable body  1  is provided with a plurality of fasteners  11  to engage a rope (not shown) so that the rope can securely position the inflatable body  1  on the ground or on a support surface after inflation.  
      The illuminating device  2  is disposed within the inflatable body  1 , and includes a hollow first positioning member  22  and a light emitting member  21 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The first positioning member  22  includes an annular flange  221  welded to the partition member  12 , and an internally threaded hole  222 . The light emitting member  21  has a bulb seat  211  with an external thread that engages threadedly and sealingly the internally threaded hole  222  in the first positioning member  22 . The light emitting member  21  further has a first light emitting body  223  and a second light emitting body  224 . In this embodiment, the first and second light emitting bodies  223 ,  224  are light emitting diodes (LEDs) having different colors. The first light emitting body  223  extends into the first air chamber  101  from the first positioning member  22 , whereas the second light emitting body  224  extends into the second air chamber  102  from the first positioning member  22 . Light distribution within the inflatable body  1  is made more uniform by such use of the first and second light emitting bodies  223 ,  224  in the first and second air chambers  101 ,  102 , respectively. Moreover, provision of the first and second light emitting bodies  223 ,  224  as separate elements enable the emission of light of a variety of colors from the inflatable body  1  through the light emitting member  21  so as to achieve a decorative effect.  
      The hollow second positioning member  31  (see  FIG. 3 ) has a flange portion  311  welded to the outer surface of the inflatable body  1 , and an internally threaded hole  312 , which is large enough to permit the hand of a user to pass therethrough.  
      The electrical adaptor  32  (see  FIG. 3 ) includes an adaptor housing  320  having a first side  322  confronting an interior of the inflatable body  1 , and a second side  321  opposite to the first side  322 . A terminal  33  is provided inside the adaptor housing  320 , and has an inner terminal end  332  (see  FIG. 4 ) proximate to and protruding out of the first side  322 , and an outer terminal end  331  proximate to the second side  321 . The adaptor housing  320  further has an external thread  324  and a flanged head portion  323 . The external thread  324  engages the internally threaded hole  312  in the second positioning member  31 . A seal ring  325  (see  FIG. 4 ) is disposed between the second positioning member  31  and the electrical adaptor  32 .  
      An inner connector  23  is electrically coupled to the inner terminal end  332  of the electrical adaptor  32 , as well as to the light emitting member  21  within the inflatable body  1 . The outer terminal end  331  is adapted to be electrically coupled to a power source through a transformer  4  and an outer connector  5 .  
      During assembly, the electrical adaptor  32  is first removed from the second positioning member  31 , after which the user reaches into the inflatable body  1  through the internally threaded hole  312  in the second positioning member  31  to attach the light emitting member  21  to the first positioning member  22 . The inner connector  23  is then pulled out from the inflatable body  1  for connection with the inner terminal end  332  of the electrical adaptor  32 . Next, the seal ring  325  is sleeved on the electrical adaptor  32 , and the electrical adaptor  32  is inserted threadedly and sealingly into the second positioning member  31  by engaging the external thread  324  with the internally threaded hole  312  in the second positioning member  31 . Through the presence of the seal ring  325 , the seal between the second positioning member  31  and the electrical adaptor  32  is enhanced such that air does not pass between these elements when the electrical adaptor  32  is tightly engaged with the second positioning member  31 . After inflation, the outer connector  5  is electrically coupled to the outer terminal end  331  of the electrical adaptor  32  so as to enable the supply of electricity to the light emitting member  21  through the inner connector  23 , thereby completing the assembly. A tight seal and easy electrical connections of the inflatable object are thus achieved, and the decorative appearance of the inflatable object is also enhanced.  
      When it is desired to replace the light emitting member  21 , the electrical adaptor  32  is simply detached from the second positioning member  31 , thereby resulting in the deflation of the inflatable body  1  by the air filled therein escaping via the internally threaded hole  312  in the second positioning member  31 . The inner connector  23  is then removed from the inner terminal end  332  of the electrical adaptor  32 . The user subsequently extends his or her hand into the inflatable body  1  via the internally threaded hole  312 , and removes the light emitting member  21  from the first positioning member  22  for replacement.  
      From the aforementioned description of the present invention, it is apparent that through the presence of the first positioning member  22 , the light emitting member  21  can be positioned stably in the interior of the inflatable body  1 , light distribution within the inflatable body  1  is uniform, and the interior of the inflatable body  1  may be lighted-to different colors by the first and second light emitting bodies  223 ,  224 . Furthermore, through the tight seal and releasable engagement between the electrical adaptor  32  and the second positioning member  31 , the inner and outer terminal ends  332 ,  331  of the electrical adaptor  32  can be connected releasably to the light emitting member  21  and the external power source without affecting the airtight structure of the inflatable object.  
      While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.