Abstract:
An inflatable noisemaker comprising a tubular envelope having first and second ends and constructed to enclose a gas under pressure. A sealable opening is disposed proximate the first end for inflating the envelope. An active light emitting module is enclosed within a transparent chamber disposed within the envelope and configured with an activation device. The active light emitting module may comprise first and second cells stacked in series polarity, a removable insulating strip disposed between the first and second cells, and a light emitting device (LED) having first and second leads coupled to respective negative and positive terminals of the stacked cells. A housing including a spring for biasing the LED, the cells, and the insulating strip together may be provided. In an alternate embodiment, a single cell and a switch may be used in the active light emitting module.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to inflatable amusement devices and more particularly to inflatable noisemakers having additional features such as illumination. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Inflatable noisemakers are known, including air-filled tubes that can be slapped against each other lengthwise, to create drum-like sounds. The sounds thus created may be used for acoustically signaling applause or other communication. Conventional noisemakers of this type include the so-called “BamBams®” marketed by www.bambams.com. One feature of the model GB101 BamBams® includes a 5″ Glow-Stick inserted in the BamBam tube. The Glow-Stick must be broken to activate the glow feature. The “ThunderStix®,” manufactured and marketed by Vonco Products, Inc., Lake Villa, Ill. 60046 (See also www.Vonco.com), features a self-sealing valve that seals upon completing its inflation by filling it with air in the manner of blowing up a balloon. Another example is the Inflatable Noisemaker described by Marc I. Epstein in U. S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0157525, which is characterized by incorporating pebbles within the noisemaker to enhance the loudness when two of the noisemakers are slapped together. 
         [0005]    Of the known inflatable noisemakers, only the “BamBams®” model described above provides some form of illumination. However, this passive form of illumination typically lacks brightness, which has limited effectiveness except when the ambient illumination is very, very low. What is needed is an inflatable noisemaker having an internal illumination apparatus that provides a very bright tube of light that is highly visible, even in a brightly illuminated arena or auditorium. Such an illumination apparatus is preferably low in cost, simple to manufacture, and easy to use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly there is disclosed an inflatable noisemaker, comprising: a tubular envelope having first and second ends and constructed to enclose a gas under pressure and further having a sealable opening disposed proximate the first end for inflating the envelope; and an active light emitting module enclosed within a transparent chamber disposed within the envelope and configured with an activation device. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, the active light emitting module comprises a battery, for example first and second cells stacked in series polarity, wherein the stacked cells have a negative terminal at one end and a positive terminal at the opposite end of the stacked cells; a removable insulating strip disposed between the first and second cells and extending laterally from the stacked cells; a light emitting device (LED) having first and second leads, wherein the first lead of the LED is coupled to a negative terminal of the stacked cells and the second lead is coupled to a positive terminal of the stacked cells; and a housing including a spring for biasing the LED, the cells, and the insulating strip together. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an illuminated noisemaker according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged view of a first end of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  depicting structures of the inflating mechanism; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates an enlarged view of a second end of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  depicting structures of the illuminating mechanism; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross section view of the second end of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  taken along the line IV-IV; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a pictorial circuit diagram of one embodiment of an active light emitting module for use in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a pictorial diagram of the one embodiment of the active light emitting module shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates a circuit diagram of an alternate embodiment of an active light emitting module for use in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In the following description structures identified with the same reference numbers in several figures refer to the same structures appearing in the differing views. Referring to  FIG. 1  there is illustrated an illuminated noisemaker  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. A tubular envelope  12  for enclosing a gas under slight pressure and fabricated of a plastic membrane approximately 1 to 5 mils thick, is defined by a first end  14  and a second end  22 . The envelope  12  of the described embodiment may typically be approximately 24 inches long and approximately 3 inches in diameter when inflated, although a wide range of dimensions are possible for use with the present invention. The envelope  12  may be supplied in pairs, each in a deflated state, generally folded, and enclosed in a small package (not shown). After removal from the package, inflation is accomplished by blowing through the gas passage of an inflation device or valve  16  incorporated into the first end of the envelope  12  until the envelope  12  is filled with air. Although the valve  16  as described below is the preferred embodiment of the inflation device, other inflation devices such as a re-sealable tube or a re-sealable check valve may also be used with the present invention. One example of the re-sealable check valve is the type of valve that is used for inflating vehicle tires, inflatable toys, and the like. 
         [0016]    In the present invention, the valve  16  may, for example, be a small, flat, elongated envelope fabricated of polyethylene film approximately 1 to 2 mils thick, or a similar material and thickness may be used. The valve, which may be approximately 3 inches long, is positioned with about one third of its length extending from the first end of the envelope  12 , the remaining length extending into the envelope  12 . The valve  16  is retained in position at a defined portion of the first end of the envelope  12  by a hot press seal applied to the end  14  of the envelope  12 . The hot press seal, which also defines the border of the envelope  12  at the first end, is shown at reference number  40  in  FIG. 2  to be described hereinbelow. Further, the valve  16 , being flexible and configured as a flat envelope, becomes self-sealing when the air pressure within the envelope  12  exceeds the ambient air pressure. In this way the envelope  12  and the valve  16  are sealed automatically at the same time. Further, squeezing the external portion of the valve  16  between the thumb and forefinger may also function to ensure that the valve is sealed. A removable tube or straw  18  may be supplied in the package to facilitate inflating the envelope  12  by inserting the straw  18  through the gas passage of the valve  16  envelope and blowing through the straw  18 . Following inflation, the straw  18  may be removed and the valve  16  and envelope  12  sealed together as described above. To deflate the envelope  12 , insert the straw  18  through the gas passage of the valve  16  and lightly squeeze the envelope  12 . The valve  16  is re-sealable. Thus, the envelope  12  may be re-inflated as necessary. 
         [0017]    Continuing with  FIG. 1 , the second end  22  of the envelope  12  contains an active light emitting module  24  that is activated by an activation device  28  operatively coupled to the active light emitting module  24 . The active light emitting module  24  is enclosed within a transparent chamber or envelope  20  (hereinafter, transparent envelope  20 ) that extends into the second end  22  of the envelope  12 . The transparent envelope  20 , the active light emitting module  24 , and the activation device  28  are shown in phantom lines within the second end  22  of the envelope  12 . The function of the transparent envelope  20  is to retain the active light emitting module  24  in a stable position at the second end of the envelope  12 , whereby the orientation of the light emitting device  50  (See  FIG. 6 ) of the light emitting module  24  is maintained toward the opposite first end  14  of the envelope  12 . This orientation provides a uniformly illuminated noisemaker  10 , clearly visible from all directions from the longitudinal axis of the illuminated noisemaker  10 . 
         [0018]    Continuing with  FIG. 1 , a small portion  26  (an outward end) of the transparent envelope  20  extends from the end  22  of the envelope  12 . Further, a “pull tab” end of the activation device  28  extends from the outward end  26  of the transparent envelope  20 . The active light emitting module  24  includes a light emitting device (LED) and a battery in an electric circuit, and the activation device  28  for causing the electric circuit to enter an operative state, as will be described hereinbelow. In one embodiment to be described (See  FIGS. 5 and 6 ), the activation device  28  functions as a removable insulator between two parts of the electric circuit that, upon removal, closes the circuit to cause the light emitting device (LED) to become illuminated. In another embodiment to be described (See  FIG. 7 ), the activation device  28  functions to close a single pole, single throw (SPST) switch to close the electric circuit to cause the light emitting device (LED) to become illuminated. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2  there is illustrated an enlarged view of a first end of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  depicting structures of the inflating mechanism. Shown are the envelope  12  and its first end  14 , the inflation device or valve  16 , and the removable inflation tube or straw  18 . It will be observed that the valve  16  is formed of a first  30  and second  32  layer of the polyethylene film, which may be hot-sealed together along the lines  34 . The first layer  30  extends slightly past the second layer  32  to enable grasping the layers when preparing to inflate the envelope  12 . An indicating mark  36  imprinted on the surface of the valve  16  may be included to indicate the location of the gas passage between the first  30  and second  32  layers of the valve  16 . An arrow  38  may be included to indicate the direction of insertion of the straw  18  or the direction air is to be introduced into the envelope  12 . During manufacture, the valve  16  is positioned as shown in the figure and the envelope  12  and valve  16  bonded together using a hot seal method or other suitable process. The portions of the valve  16  and the indicating mark  36  within the envelope  12  are shown in dashed lines. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3  there is illustrated an enlarged view of a second end of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  depicting structures of the illuminating mechanism. Shown are the envelope  12  and its second end  22 , the active light emitting module  24 , the transparent envelope  20 , and the activation device  28  equipped with a “pull” tab. Portions of the transparent envelope  20 , the active light emitting module  24 , and the activation device  28  are shown in phantom lines within the second end  22  of the envelope  12 . A small portion  26  (an outward end) of the transparent envelope  20  extends from the end  22 . It will be observed that the layers of the envelope  20  may be hot-press sealed together along the lines  44  to better retain the active light emitting module therewithin. During manufacture, the transparent envelope  20  is positioned as shown in the figure and the envelope  12  and transparent envelope  20  bonded together using a hot-press seal or other suitable method along the line  42 . The portions of the transparent envelope  20 , the active light emitting module  24  within the envelope  12  are shown in dashed lines. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 4  there is illustrated a cross section view of the second end of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , inflated for use, taken along the line IV-IV. This view of the second end  22  of the envelope  12  represents the appearance of the inflatable noisemaker at or just after sealing of the gas passage in the valve  16  at the first end  14  of the envelope  12 . Also shown in  FIG. 4  are the phantom-lined outline of the active light emitting module  24  and the actuating device  28  in position prior to activating the light emitting module  24 , disposed between the first and second layers of the transparent envelope  20 , which may be sealed together along the lines  44  using a hot-press or other suitable method. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 5  there is illustrated a pictorial circuit diagram of one embodiment of an active light emitting module  24  for use in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . The circuit is a series combination of a light emitting device  50 , a battery  60 , a compression spring  68 , and a metal washer  70 . The light emitting device (LED)  50  may be a light emitting diode having a cathode  52  coupled to a first (cathode) lead  56  and an anode  54  coupled to a second (anode) lead  58 . The cathode lead  56  is connected to the metallic washer  70  and the anode lead  58  is connected to the positive terminal of a first small button cell  62 , one of a plurality of button cells that together provide a battery  60  having sufficient voltage to energize the light emitting device  50 . The metallic washer  70  is connected to the compression spring  68 , which in turn is connected to a negative terminal of a third (in the illustrated embodiment) small button cell  66 . 
         [0023]    Inserted between the negative terminal of the first button cell  62  and the positive terminal of a second small button cell  64  is an internal end of the activating device  28 . The activating device  28  may be formed of an insulating material approximately 5 to 15 mills thick, thus forming a removable insulating strip that separates the first  62  and second  64  cells. It should be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that the circuit of the active light emitting module  24  forms a series circuit of an LED  50 , a three-cell battery assembly  60 , and an activating device  28 , which, when the external end of the activating device  28  is pulled away from the three cell battery  60 , permits the cells  62  and  64  to contact each other in the manner of switch contacts to complete the electric circuit and cause the LED  50  to become illuminated. The removable insulating strip or activating device  28  may be formed of a length of polyethylene ribbon with a “pull” tab attached to facilitate removal. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 6  there is illustrated a pictorial diagram of the one embodiment of the active light emitting module shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the components of the electric circuit are assembled in a battery holder or cylindrical housing  78  formed of a pair of half shells. A half shell in the illustrated embodiment is defined as a portion of a hollow cylinder cut lengthwise along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder and across the diameter of the cylinder through the full length of the cylinder. The half shells of the housing  78  may be molded of polystyrene or other thermoplastic material according to particular requirements of the application. In the figure, one of the half shells of the housing  78  is removed to show the arrangement of the components of the electric circuit for the active light emitting module  24 . 
         [0025]    The housing  78  of the active light emitting module  24  preferably includes a window  73  through which the internal end of the activating device  28  passes. The three button cells  62 ,  64 , and  66  are stacked together in a line with the compression spring  68  and the metallic washer  70 . A portion of the metal washer may be extended through the end of the housing  78  to enable connection of the cathode lead  56  thereto as shown. The LED  50  is shown adjacent the outer side of the opposite end of the housing  78 , wherein the anode lead  58  is shown in contact with the positive terminal of the first cell  62 . Upon assembly as described, the removed half shell is replaced, thus enclosing the components of the electric circuit. A resilient sleeve (not shown, as such a device—even a small rubber band—is well understood by persons skilled in the art.) or other similar component may then be slipped over the assembled housing to secure the half shells together. It should be apparent that, as the removable insulating strip  28  is withdrawn through the window  73  when pulled, the compression spring  68  biases the three cells together, completing the electric circuit. This action activates the circuit, causing the LED  50  to illuminate. In an embodiment that employs a resilient sleeve covering the housing  78 , a window opening in the resilient sleeve at the position of the window  73  of the housing  78  may be needed to allow passage of the removable insulating strip  28 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 7  there is illustrated a circuit diagram of an alternate embodiment of an active light emitting module  24  for use in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . The electric circuit is essentially the same as shown in  FIG. 5  except that a single pole, single throw (SPST) switch having normally closed (NC) contacts is inserted in the series circuit, and the removable insulating strip placed between the contacts of the switch instead of between two of the battery cells. This alternate construction is better suited to applications where a single cell is used as a battery  60 . 
         [0027]    The circuit of  FIG. 7  is a series combination of an LED  50  having a cathode  52  and anode  54 , a battery  60  having a negative terminal  74  and a positive terminal  76 , and an SPST switch  80  having a first  82  and a second  84  contacts. The first contact  82  is connected to the positive terminal  76  of the battery  60 . The anode  54  of the LED  50  is connected to the second contact  84  of the switch  80  through a lead  58 . The cathode  52  of the LED  50  is connected to the negative terminal  74  of the battery  60  through a lead  56 . Inserted between the first  82  and second  84  contacts of the switch  80  is the removable insulating strip or activating device  28 , which is operated in the same manner as in the previously described embodiment. Pulling the activating device at the “pull” tab permits the first and second contacts  82 ,  84  to close, completing the electric circuit to illuminate the light emitting device or LED  50 . 
         [0028]    As in the previous embodiment of the electric circuit for the active light emitting module  24 , the illumination will continue until the battery  60  is drained of its energy. Although this is the intended use in the illuminated noisemaker of this type, persons skilled in the art will understand that replacing the activating device  28  shown in the accompanying figures with an actuating device that enables the switch  80  to be turned OFF as well as ON would provide a reusable noisemaker and extend the life of the battery  60 . 
         [0029]    While the invention has been shown in only one of its forms, it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The illustrated embodiment is described to demonstrate the principles of the invention. Variations are certainly contemplated, such as replacing the removable insulating strip or activating device  28  with a switch having an actuator that enables both an ON and an OFF mode. Different battery arrangements, multi-cell or single cell may be used, which may dictate the type of switch or activating device is used in the circuit. The light emitting device may preferably be a solid state unit such as a light emitting diode, because of its low power requirements and low emission of heat during operation. In some applications it may be desirable to employ several light emitting devices of different colors, for example, or for providing a greater light output than is provided by a single LED. Further, other types of LEDs—light emitting devices—incandescent, gas-filled, electro-luminescent, etc. may be used in some applications. It should be pointed out, however, that the choice of components depends on the application, and the circuit employed, including the light emitting device, should be one that does not generate or dissipate much heat within the enclosed space of the envelope  20  (See  FIGS. 1 and 3 ).