Patent ID: 7611396

Claim:
An illuminated inflatable display apparatus, comprising: an inflatable balloon comprising a front wall and a rear wall, wherein the rear wall includes an area that is at least partially transparent to light; and a projector positioned exterior to and adjacent the rear wall of the balloon, the projector comprising a housing with an outlet proximate the transparent area of the rear wall, a light source directing light toward the housing outlet, and a light filter element positioned in the housing, wherein the light from the light source passes selectively through the light filter element to project a display image defined by the light filter element on an inner surface of the front wall of the balloon, wherein the housing comprises a first shell supporting the light source and a second shell that is pivotally mounted onto the first shell, the first and second shells defining the outlet of the housing and the first shell abutting an exterior surface of the rear wall, whereby the first shell is immobile relative to the rear wall and the second shell moves relative to the first shell, wherein the light filter element comprises a first component attached to the first shell and a second component attached to the second shell, the first component defining a stationary portion of the display image and second component defining a mobile portion of the display image, wherein the second shell is mounted to move generally vertically toward and away from the first shell with the second shell being supported on the first shell with a pin passing through mounting guides on the second shell.