Patent Publication Number: US-2007101466-A1

Title: Expandable inflatable structure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/730,922 filed on Oct. 27, 2005, now pending, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this specification. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Inflatable structures such as tents, shelters, and lawn ornaments, are well known. However, such conventional inflatable structures do not allow the inflatable structure to be selectively increased or expanded in size.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      One object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable structure than can be expanded to increase the overall size of the structure.  
      The present invention comprises a first inflatable member and a first air blower adapted to provide a continuous flow of air to erect the first inflatable member. The device further comprises a second inflatable member engaged with and selectively in fluid communication with the first inflatable member. The second inflatable member is expandable from a first position wherein the second inflatable member is substantially deflated and secured substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member, to a second position wherein the second inflatable member is inflated and extends outwardly from the first inflatable member.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      The following description of the invention will make reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;  
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention, with the second inflatable member collapsed and secured to the first inflatable member;  
       FIG. 2  is a top view thereof;  
       FIG. 3  is a front view showing the entrance/exit portion that allows a person to enter or exit the space formed by the first inflatable member;  
       FIG. 4  is a rear view showing the second inflatable member in the collapsed position and having an entrance/exit portion that allows a person to enter and exit the space formed by the structure;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a fastener disposed on the outermost inflatable archway support member, adapted to receive and secure the second inflatable member in its collapsed state;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view representing the connection between the inflatable base support members of the first inflatable member and the inflatable base support members of the second inflatable member, including a tie-off used to selectively prevent air flow into the second inflatable member;  
       FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view thereof showing the second inflatable member collapsed upon the end of the first inflatable member and held thereto by fasteners and a closed tie-off to prevent air flow into the second inflatable member;  
       FIG. 8  is a side view showing the second inflatable member in its expanded state;  
       FIG. 9  is a top view thereof;  
       FIG. 10  is a rear view thereof, showing the entrance/exit portion that allows a person to enter and exit the second inflatable member;  
       FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view showing the second inflatable member in the expanded position, with the inflatable base support members of the first inflatable member connected to and in fluid communication with the inflatable base support of the second inflatable member, and with the tie-off in open or released condition to allow air flow into the second inflatable member. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , one embodiment of the present invention is a structure  10  for use as a lawn decoration and play house. The structure  10  generally comprises a first inflatable member  12  and a first air blower  14  adapted to provide a continuous flow of air to erect the first inflatable member  12 , in known manner. The first air blower  14  may be connected to the first inflatable member by a sleeve  16  ( FIG. 2 ). Referring to  FIGS. 8-11 , the device  10  further comprises a second inflatable member  18  engaged with and selectively in fluid communication with the first inflatable member  12 . The second inflatable member  18  is expandable from a first position wherein the second inflatable member is substantially deflated and secured substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member  12  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), to a second position where the second inflatable member  18  is inflated and extends outwardly from the first inflatable member  12  (See  FIGS. 8 and 9 ).  
      Returning to  FIGS. 1-7 , the first inflatable member  12  includes a plurality of fasteners  20  adapted to removably secure the collapsed second inflatable member  18  to the first inflatable member  12  at a position substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member  12 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , each of the fasteners  20  may comprise a first strap portion  22  having a first end portion  26  connected to the first inflatable member  12 , and a second end portion  28  having a hook fastener portion  30 . Each of the fasteners  22  further comprise a second strap portion  24  having a first end portion  32  connected to the first inflatable member  12  and a second end portion  34  having a loop fastener portion  36 . The hook fastener portion  30  is adapted to removably engage with the loop fastener portion  36  to wrap around and secure the collapsed second inflatable member  18  to the first inflatable member  12  at a position substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member  12 . [See  FIG. 1 ].  
      With continued reference to  FIGS. 1-7 , the first inflatable member  12  further comprises a plurality of inflatable base support members  38  and the archway support members  40 , respectively, that are in fluid communication with each other. The inflatable base support members  38  are disposed on opposite sides of the first inflatable member  12  and are in contact with the ground. The first air blower  14  is connected by the sleeve  16  to one of the inflatable base support member  38 . Activation of the first air blower  14  causes ambient air to enter into and inflate the inflatable base support members  38  and the inflatable archway supports  40  to erect the first inflatable member  12 . A second blower  42  is preferably connected by a sleeve  44  to the other inflatable base support member  38  to assist in inflating the base support members  38  and the inflatable archway supports  40 . The base support members are also attached to and in fluid communication with decorative support members  39 , which serve to provide further stability to the structure.  
      The inflatable base support members  38 , decorative support members  39 , and inflatable archway support members  40  of the first inflatable member  12  are made from well known air-permeable materials such as nylon. Similarly, the inflatable base support members  46  and inflatable archway support members  48  of the second inflatable member  18  are made from an air permeable material. The first inflatable member  12  may further comprise a mesh netting  52  spanning between adjacent inflatable archway support members  40  and connected by conventional means such as sewing. The mesh netting  52  may be made from nylon.  
      As best shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the second inflatable member  18  comprises an inflatable archway support member  48  connected to and selectively in fluid communication with a pair of inflatable base support members  46 . The inflatable base support members  46  are connected to and in fluid communication with the inflatable base support members  38  of the first inflatable member  12 . As seen in  FIGS. 6 and 11 , the structure  10  includes an air tie-off  50  located at the interface of each corresponding inflatable base support members  46  with the inflatable base support member  38  of the first inflatable member  12 . In the collapsed position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the tie-offs  50  are closed to prevent any air flow from the inflatable base support members  38  of the first member  12  into the inflatable base support members  46  of the second inflatable member  18 . The inflatable base support members  46  and the inflatable archway support member  48  of the second inflatable member  18  are inflated upon release of the tie-offs  50  and fasteners  20 , allowing air from the blower(s) to expand the second inflatable member  18  from the first position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to the second position ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ). The second inflatable member  18  may further comprise a mesh netting  54  spanning from the inflatable archway support member  48  of the second inflatable member  18  to the inflatable archway support member  40  of the first inflatable member  12  and connected by conventional means such as sewing. The mesh netting  54  may be made from nylon.  
      As seen in  FIG. 3 , the first inflatable member  12  may further comprise an entrance way  62  having a curtain  64  adapted to allow a person to enter and exit the space formed by the first inflatable member  12  (for example by having the curtain constructed in two overlapping portions that may be parted in the middle). Similarly, the second inflatable member  18  may comprise an entrance way  66  having a curtain  68  adapted to allow a person to enter and exit via the second inflatable member  18 .  
      In operation, activation of the air blowers  14  and  42  causes the inflatable base support members  38  and inflatable archway support members  40  to inflate and thus erect the first inflatable member  12 . ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). When it is desired to expand the size of the structure, one may release the tie-offs  50  and fasteners  20 , thereby allowing air from the blowers to flow from the inflatable base support members  38  of the first inflatable member  12  into the inflatable base support members  46  and inflatable archway support member  48  of the second inflatable member  18 . As air flows into the inflatable base support members  46 , the second inflatable member  18  is caused to expand outward from the first inflatable member  12  thereby increasing the overall size of the structure  10 .  
      The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and/or scope of the specification and appended claims.