U.S. patent number 3,745,677 [Application Number 05/153,370] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-17 for inflatable and illuminable figure.
Invention is credited to James G. Moran.
United States Patent |
3,745,677 |
Moran |
July 17, 1973 |
INFLATABLE AND ILLUMINABLE FIGURE
Abstract
An inflatable and illuminable figure, including a cell formed of
complementary members having interengaging margins which sealingly
secure the margins of an opening formed in the figure, the cell
forming members removably supporting a light source and being
relatively rigid and fire resistant to prevent transfer of
excessive heat to the inflatable figure whether the figure is
inflated or deflated.
Inventors: |
Moran; James G. (Burbank,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
22546928 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/153,370 |
Filed: |
June 15, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/540; 362/320;
446/220 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
17/00 (20130101); G09F 13/00 (20130101); G09F
19/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
13/00 (20060101); G09F 19/12 (20060101); F21V
17/00 (20060101); G09f 019/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;40/126B,130
;46/87,88,90 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Michell; Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Pitrelli; John F.
Claims
I claim:
1. An inflatable and illuminable figure, comprising:
a. a figure formed of foldable light transmitting material and
adapted to be inflated, the figure having initially, an opening,
the margin of which is flexible;
b. inner and outer cell members having interengaging annular rims
including radially extending confronting portions and axially
extending confronting portions to effect a mechanical connection
between the cell members, portions of the rims adapted to sealingly
receive and retain the margin of said opening therebetween;
c. the inner cell member having a light transmitting wall;
d. the outer cell member having means for removably mounting a lamp
and its socket therein to position the lamp within the cell
e. the cell members being relatively rigid and the lamp being
secured in spaced relation to walls thereof, thereby to space the
inflatable material, when deflated, from the lamp.
2. An inflatable and illuminable figure, as defined in claim 1,
wherein:
a. the outer cell member includes an axially directed wall
extending inward for insertion into the opening in the figure to
retain the cell members in concentric relation to the opening
during interengagement of their rims.
3. An inflatable and illuminable figure, as defined in claim 1,
wherein:
a. the cell members are dispoed at the bottom of the figure;
b. the lamp mounting means includes a downwardly projecting
portion;
c. and the outer cell member includes a downwardly directed spacing
skirt.
4. An inflatable and illuminable figure, as defined in claim 1,
wherein:
a. the axially extending portion of the interengaging rim of the
outer cell member fits within the rim of the inner cell member.
5. An inflatable and illuminable figure, as defined in claim 1,
wherein:
a. the interengaging rim of the outer cell member fits over the rim
of the inner cell member.
6. An inflatable and illuminable figure, as defined in claim 1,
wherein:
a. the interengaging rim of one of the cell members has an axially
directed circular channel and the other cell member has a mating
axially directed rib.
7. An inflatable and illuminable figure, as defined in claim 1,
wherein:
a. the inner cell member is provided with external projections for
supporting the inner cell member during assembly of the outer cell
member thereon, and also spacing the material comprising the figure
from contact with the normal outer surface of the inner cell member
when the figure is collapsed.
8. An inflatable and illuminable figure, as defined in claim 1,
wherein:
a. the wall of the inner cell member includes at least on integral
lens to concentrate light from the lamp on a selected portion of
the figure.
9. An inflatable and illuminable figure, as defined in claim 1,
wherein:
a. the initial opening in the figure permits insertion of the inner
cell member for disposition in confronting relation with the
margins of the opening;
b. and the outer cell member is provided with a marginal skirt
dimensioned to fit snugly in the opening to retain the margins
thereof until engaged by the rims of the inner and outer cell
members. 10An inflatable and illuminable figure, comprising:
a. a figure formed of translucent foldable material capable, when
deflated, to form a compact bundle, and having an opening in its
side wall;
b. a relatively rigid inner cell member including a marginal
portion underlying the margin of the opening;
c. a relatively rigid outer cell member including a marginal
portion overlying the margin of the opening and means for retaining
the outer cell member in concentric relation with the opening;
d. the marginal portions of the cell members being shaped to
interlock and sealingly secure the margin of the opening
therebetween to form a fluid tight figure capable of being
inflated;
e. the outer cell member conforming to the curvature of the
inflated figure and having an outwardly extending portion and a
complementary inwardly extending portion forming a socket mounting
aperture, defining an acute angle to the normal surface of the
outer cell member;
f. a lamp socket removably received in the mounting aperture and
supporting a lamp in spaced relation to the walls of the inner call
member;
g. the inner cell member projecting into the inflated figure and
having optical properties to effect a predetermined distribution of
light within the inflated figure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Reference is directed to my previous patents concerning illuminated
inflatable figures, namely, U.S. Pat. No. 2,748,256 and U.S. Pat.
No. 3,363,350 and my copending application, Ser. No. 42,968, filed
June 3, l970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,672,083. Material suitable for
inflation is easily damaged by excessive heat. While inflatable
material may be selected which is fire resistant, the material may
not be sufficiently so as to avoid, expecially when deflated,
catching fire if contacted by an operating high intensity light
bulb. Also, it is essential that the cost of the materials as well
as cost of assembly be maintained at a minimum.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improvement of the previous
inventions and is summarized in the following objects:
First, to provide an inflatable and illuminable figure wherein a
light source is removably contained in a cell set in a side of the
figure, the cell including a pair of complementary members
sealingly securing the margins of an opening therebetween, the
outer member removably supporting a light source, and the inner
member being translucent or transparent to distribute light within
the figure.
Second, to provide an inflatable and illuminable figure, as
indicated in the preceding object, wherein the complementary cell
forming members are relatively rigid, fire resistant and tend to
diffuse heat, thereby preventing excessive heating of the material
comprising the inflatable figure should the material be brought
into direct contact with the cell while the light source is
active.
Third, to provide a cell for inflatable and illuminable figures, as
indicated in the preceding object, wherein the surface of the inner
cell member may be provided with projections tending to dissipate
heat and to space the material when deflated from continuous
contact with the cell wall, the projections also serving to produce
a varied light pattern on the inflated walls of the figure.
Fourth, to provide an illuminable cell for inflatable figures
wherein the walls of the cell may have integral focusing lenses for
concentrating the light on selected portions of the figure.
Fifth, to provide an illuminable cell for inflatable figures which
is particularly easy to install in that the inner portion of the
cell is readily supported in a stable position within the
inflatable figure, and the outer portion of the cell fits in and is
retained by the margins of an opening in the figure for clamping
and sealing engagement with the inner portion.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an essentially diagrammatic side view of the inflatable
figure.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the illuminating cell, taken
from 2--2 of FIG. 1, with adjacent portions of the inflatable
figure shown fragmentarily.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the illuminating cell,
taken through 3--3 of FIG. 2, with adjacent portions of the
illuminable figure shown fragmentarily.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing a modified form of
the connection between the two cell members, the view being taken
within a circle corresponding to Circle 4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a similar fragmentary sectional view, showing a further
modified form of the connection.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the inner cell member,
showing projections thereon.
FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the cell, taken through
7--7 of FIG. 2, showing the portions of the cell as they appear
just prior to sealing engagement with the margins of an opening in
the inflatable figure.
FIG. 8 is a partial side view, partial sectional view, of a
modified form of the luminating cell, intended to be mounted in the
bottom wall of the figure, the adjacent portions of the figure
being shown in section.
FIG. 9 is a side view of a further modified form of the cell, in
which the outer portion thereof is bulbular, with adjacent portions
of the figure being shown fragmentarily.
An inflatable FIG. 1 is provided, which may except for the
provision of illuminable means, be conventional. The figure is
formed of fluid tight fabric or a combination of fabric and pastic
material, or of sheet plastic material. Its shape may simulate an
animate or inanimate object. Its base may include a water fillable
base ring, such as suggested in the previously mentioned U.S. Pat.
No. 3,363,350. A conventional inflation fitting 2 is provided.
In the exercise of the present invention, the inflatable figure is
provide with a wall opening, having a flexible margin 3. Fitted
within the opening is an illuminable cell which includes an inner
cell member 4, which is bulbular or generally spherical in contour.
The cell member 4 includes a peripheral flange 5, dimensioned to
underlie the flexible margin 3 of the opening, with the flexible
margin folded over the radially inner side of the flange 5. A
relatively flat outer cell member 6 is provided with a flange 7,
which overlies the flange 5, and a rim 8 which fits within the
radially inner side of the flange 5 so as to clamp the margin
3.
The confronting portions of the flange 5 and rim 8 are preferably
provided with interlocking beads 9, so proportioned that the outer
cell member and the inner cell member may be snapped together. The
connection thus provided between the inner and outer cell members,
with the margin 3 firmly held between them, constitutes a complete
seal so that the figure may be inflated. If desired, a sealant or
bonding agent may be applied to the flexible margin 3, or the
contacting parts of the cells 4 and 6 may be coated. However, a
full seal is provided without such coating, the coating serving
mainly to prevent disassembly of the parts.
The outer cell member 6 is provided with a lamp socket mounting,
formed by inwardly and outwardly pressed complementary portions 11
and 12, defining a plane 13 disposed in acute angular relation with
the normal surface of the outer cell member. Formed in the plane 13
is an aperture having notched margins and arranged to receive a
lamp socket 14, having connecting means 15 so arranged that the
lamp socket may be inserted partially into the opening and turned
to a locked position from which it may be subsequently turned for
removal of the lamp socket. The lamp socket receives a lamp 16,
which is supported by the socket in spaced relation to the walls of
the inner cell member 4. An appropriate lamp cord 17 extends from
the socket. Louvered vent openings 18 are provided in the outer
cell member to permit circulation of air.
The inflatable FIG. 1 is formed of fire resistant material;
however, being relatively thin and flexible, contact with the lamp
16, while the lamp is connected, could damage the material
comprising the figure. This could only happen if the figure was in
a deflated condition and if the inner cell member 4 were flexible
or yieldable. To avoid this, both cell members 4 and 6 are formed
of relatively rigid and tough plastic material, such as a
polycarbonate resin. Still further, the inner cell member may have
projections 19, as shown in FIG. 6, to minimize surface contact. As
a result, the illuminable figure is particularly safe even though
mishandled.
Both cell members are preferably injection molded. The outer cell
member is preferably opaque, whereas, the inner cell member 4 is
transparent or translucent to distribute the light. Furthermore,
the inner cell member may be formed so that portions of its surface
may have special optical properties; in fact, may form lenses so
that light may be concentrated on desired portions of the
inflatable figure. Such lenses, suggested by 20 in FIG. 3, may be
arranged to concentrate light in, for example, the face portion of
an animate figure. Also, the projections 19 may have optical
properties to produce a pattern of spots in which the light is
intensified, this being accomplished without increasing the cost of
injection molding the inner cell member.
The clamping and sealing means provided between the cell members 4
and 6 and the intervening flexible margin 3 of the inflatable
figure may take various forms. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the
flanges 5 or 7 may be provided with an annular recess 21, and the
other member provided with a mating bead 22. Or, as shown in FIG.
5, the outer cell member 6 may be provided with an outer rim 23,
having an internal channel 24, which fits over an outwardly
extending bead 25 provided around the inner cell member 4. In each
case, the flexible margin 3 is not only clamped but sealed with
respect to the inner cell member 4.
While the illuminable cell so far described is shown as mounted on
the back side of the figure, it is possible to mount the cell in
the bottom wall of the figure, as shown in FIG. 8. If the cell is
so mounted, the construction is the same as previously described,
except that the contour of the inner cell member 4 may differ, and,
it is preferred to provide the outer cell member with a peripheral
spacing wall 27, having one or more slots 28 to accommodate the
lamp cord.
Reference is now directed to FIG. 9. While it is preferred to
provide a bulbular inner cell member 4, a relatively flat inner
cell member 29 and an bulbular outer cell member 30 may be
provided. In this respect, the cells are similar to the
construction shown in the copending application, Ser. No. 42,968,
but their interconnection being as described hereinbefore.
To facilitate assembly of the illuminable cell, the inner cell
member 4 may be provided with extensions forming feet 31, which,
after insertion of the cell member through the opening, rest on the
inside surface of the side of the figure opposite from the opening.
The outer cell member 6 is provided with a skirt 32 disposed
inwardly from its margin and of such dimension to fit snugly within
the margins 3 of the opening. The outer cell member 6 is easily
guided into registry with the inner cell member, then pressed
downwardly. As the beads 9 are forced in a relative axial
direction, the margin 3 is sealingly clamped. The interference fit
between the beads is calculated to permit some initial slippage of
the margin 3 and ensure a good seal.
The embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 may also be provided with
the centering skirt 32.
While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown and
described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of
the constructions set forth, but instead, the invention embraces
such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts
and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended
claims.
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