Abstract:
Inflatable funnel that can be inflated into any shape, deflated into any shape, folded up into any shape and stored in a minimal amount of space.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The complete subject matter of the above-referenced U.S. Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety. In addition, this application makes reference to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/654,402, entitled “Inflatable Funnel”, and filed Feb. 18, 2005, the complete subject matter of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.  
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     [Not Applicable] 
       MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE  
       [0003]     [Not Applicable] 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Most funnels are used for adding oil to an engine and are made of hard bulky plastic. With most funnels, the more liquid you would like to hold, the bigger the funnel and storage space it will take up. Most funnels don&#39;t bend very well in hard to reach places. Prior patents for the collapsible funnels have been issued and are not truly collapsible to a point of fitting into small places for storage. Savage U.S. Pat. No. 743,570 shows an inflatable snake or the like that is provided with a valve for inflation and “slow leakage” (p. 1, line 40), so that the toy assumes various shapes during inflation and deflation.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A broad object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can be constructed of many inflatable pockets, filled with air through a valve and a plug is placed in the valve to prevent air from releasing the many inflatable pockets.  
         [0006]     Another object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can have many sloped inflatable pockets.  
         [0007]     A further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can release air from a valve thus causing the air in the many inflatable pockets to be released and or collapsed.  
         [0008]     Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can release air from a valve thus causing the air in the many sloped inflatable pockets to be released and or collapsed.  
         [0009]     Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can have a valve located on any of the inflatable pockets.  
         [0010]     Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can have a valve located on any of the sloped inflatable pockets.  
         [0011]     Still a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can have some inflatable pockets.  
         [0012]     Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an inflatable funnel which can have some sloped inflatable pockets.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a wired diagram of the inflatable funnel with components.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates the inflatable funnel.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow diagram of the inflatable funnel.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a wired diagram of the inflatable funnel. The inflatable funnel ( 101 ) is connected to the tube ( 102 ). There can be any number of tubes ( 102 ) connected to the inflatable funnel ( 101 ). There&#39;s a valve ( 103 ) which is connected to the inflatable funnel ( 101 ). There&#39;s also a plug ( 104 ) which can be connected to the valve ( 103 ) and an optional one at the end of the tube(s) ( 102 ). The inflatable funnel ( 101 ) is comprises of many inflatable pockets ( 105 ,  106 ,  107 ,  108   109 ), when combined together, they create the inflatable funnel ( 101 ). These same inflatable pockets ( 106 ,  107 ,  108  &amp;  109 ) deflate and are the pieces which make the inflatable funnel ( 101 ) collapse for storage. When fully assembled, you should have a complete inflatable funnel ( FIG. 3 ). The funnel and its components are made of vinyl and can vary in size.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates the inflatable funnel. The funnel is inflated through ( 203 ). During the inflation, through the valve ( 203 ), parts ( 201 ) and ( 202 ) are filled with air pressurizing areas ( 201  and  202 ), refer to  FIG. 1  for more details. In order to prevent the air from leaking out of the valve ( 203 ), a plug ( 204 ) is inserted in to the valve ( 203 ). Deflating the funnel is done through the valve ( 203 ). The un-pressurized parts/areas are discussed in more detail in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow diagram of the inflatable funnel. The inflatable funnel must be unfolded in order to used. In order to do so you should unravel/unfold ( 306 ,  305 ,  304  and  302 ). After unraveling/unfolding, remove plug ( 309 ) from the valve ( 303 ) and fill the funnel with air, through the valve ( 303 ). Air should pressurize/inflate ( 301  and  302 ), ( 304 ,  305 ,  306 ,  307  and  308 ) will not be inflated. Make sure the plug ( 309 ) is inserted into the valve ( 303 ) to keep air in sections ( 301  and  302 ). Remove the plug ( 310 ) from the end of the tube ( 307 ). Once pressurized, liquid, particles or fluid can be poured in to the inflatable funnel, which will travel through sections ( 308 ,  304 ,  305 ,  306  and  307 ). To stop flow of liquid, particles or fluid, fold in half section ( 304  or  305  or  306 ) or use the plug ( 310 ). When you are done with the inflatable funnel, squeeze the valve ( 303 ) to un-pressurized the funnel ( 301  and  302 ). You can proceed to fold up the funnel by folding sections ( 306 ,  305 ,  304  and  302 ) together.  
         [0019]     Steps to inflate the funnel are as follows: Refer to  FIG. 2 , remove plug ( 204 ) from valve ( 203 ); Blow air into valve ( 203 ) until air fills up in areas ( 201  and  202 ); Insert plug ( 204 ) back into valve ( 203 ).  
         [0020]     Steps to deflate the funnel are as follows: Refer to  FIG. 2 , remove plug ( 204 ) from valve ( 203 ); Squeeze areas ( 201  and  202 ); Air will exit valve ( 203 ). At this point, leave plug ( 204 ) out of the valve ( 203 ) or insert the plug ( 204 ) back into the valve ( 203 ).  
         [0021]     Steps to fold away/store the inflatable funnel are as follows: Refer to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , remove plug ( 204 ) from valve ( 203 ). Squeeze areas ( 201  and  202 ). Air will exit valve ( 203 ). At this point leave plug ( 204 ) out of the valve ( 203 ) or insert the plug ( 204 ) back into the valve ( 203 ). Flatten, fold and store.