Inflatable decorative device

Abstract

An inflatable decorative device has a base, a blowing system, an inflatable cover mounted on the base to provide a chamber, and at least a portion of the cover being transparent. A plurality of lightweight elements are circulated in the chamber by the blowing system. A scene with a snowing effect is created by the circulating lightweight elements inside the inflatable decorative device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an inflatable decorative device for exhibition, and more particularly to an inflatable decorative device that shows a whole scene within the decorative device.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional decorative devices for exhibitions include some inflatable figures that are made of cloth sewn together to achieve particular figures (animals, special icons, cartoon characters etc) for enhancing attraction or for advertisement. When the inflatable figures are exhibited, air-injecting devices have to be connected with the inflatable figures so as to make the inflatable figures float or erect. Thereby, the inflatable figures are attractive.

However, the inflatable figures only show particular images respectively and are static. Therefore, if a scene having multiple characters is displayed in the exhibitions, many inflatable figures corresponding to the characters have to be prepared to perform the scene. Moreover, because the exhibitions of the inflatable figures are in an open environment, some special effects, such as blowing snow, can not be present in the open environment.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional decorative device of the inflatable figures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an inflatable decorative device that constructs a closed environment to present a whole scene completely.

Another main objective of the present invention is to provide an inflatable decorative device that further contains a snowing device

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the inflatable decorative device in accordance with the present invention comprises a base, a blowing device, a transparent cover, an optional spraying pipe, multiple inflatable models and optional plastic particles.

The base is composed of a top, a bottom, an inner wall and an outer wall formed between the top and the bottom, wherein the outer wall surrounds the inner wall to define an inner area inside the inner wall for receiving the blowing device and an intermediate area is defined between the inner wall and the outer wall.

The transparent cover is mounted on the base to provide a chamber.

The blowing device has two injecting tubes respectively communicating with the intermediate area and the chamber.

The optional spraying tube aligns with one of the injecting tubes in the blowing device and extends into the chamber within the transparent cover.

The multiple inflatable models are permeable, placed between the top of the base and the transparent cover, and communicated with the intermediate area, wherein the multiple inflatable models are communicated with each other to achieve an airflow route.

The optional plastic particles are stacked around the spraying tube near the injecting tube of the blowing device.

The inflatable decorative device has the closed chamber provided between the transparent cover and the base, therefore, the plastic particles are blown upward by the blowing device. Moreover, the inflatable models inflated inside the transparent cover also play parts of a scene in the inflatable decorative device. Therefore, the whole scene with multiple models and the optional appearance of snowing is achieved within the decorative device of the present invention.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate references to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an inflatable decorative device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an operationally cross-sectional side view of the inflatable decorative device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of the inflatable decorative device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an operationally cross-sectional side view of the inflatable decorative device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An inflatable decorative device in accordance with the present invention comprises:

a base composed of a top, a bottom, an inner wall and an outer wall defined between the top and the bottom, wherein the outer wall surrounds the inner wall to define an inner area inside the inner wall for receiving the blowing device and an intermediate area is defined between the inner wall and the outer wall;

a transparent cover mounted on the base to provide a chamber;

a blowing device having a first injecting tube communicating with the intermediate area; and

multiple inflatable models being permeable, placed between the base and the transparent cover and respectively communicated with the intermediate area, wherein the multiple inflatable models are communicated with each other to achieve an airflow route.

By injecting air into the inflatable model, all inflatable model are propped up and excess air is allowed to enter the chamber to inflate the transparent cover until the whole inflatable decorative device is in a pressure balance. The inflatable models show the whole scene within the inflatable decorative device

In order to creative the snowing-like appearance, the inflatable decorative device further has

a second injecting tube connecting to the first injecting tube to extend into the chamber;

a spraying tube aligning with the second tube and extending into the transparent cover; and

plastic particles stacked around the spraying tube near the tube of the blowing device.

By providing the closed chamber between the transparent cover and the base, therefore, the plastic particles are cyclically blown upward by the blowing device. Moreover, a scene with snowing is performed by the multiple inflatable models and the flying plastic particles inside the decorative device.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the inflatable decorative device in accordance with the present invention has a base (10), a blowing device (20), a transparent cover (30), a spraying pipe (31), multiple inflatable models (40) and plastic particles (32).

The base (10) is composed of a top, a bottom (15), an inner wall (12) and an outer wall (11) formed between the top and the bottom (15). The outer wall (11) surrounds the inner wall (12). The outer wall (11) is made of permeable material. The inner wall (12) defines an inner area for receiving the blowing device (20). Moreover, an intermediate area (14) is defined between the inner wall (12) and the outer wall (11). The base (10) further has an opening (13) transversally formed through the inner wall (12) and the outer wall (11) to allow air to enter the inner area. The top of the base (10) is a funnel-shaped top (16) to direct and accommodate the plastic particles (32). The plastic particles are preferably made of Styrofoam® (foamed polystyrene).

The transparent cover (30) is inflatable and mounted over the top of the base (10). When the transparent cover (30) is completely inflated, a chamber (3) is provided within the transparent cover (30). Selectively, the transparent cover (30) can be partially transparent in optional modifications. Moreover, parts of the transparent cover (30) can be permeable in case the chamber (3) is over-pressurized.

The blowing device (20) is received inside the inner area within the base (10) and has a fan (21) with a motor (22), an inducing pipe (33) with a filter (331), and a manifold composed two injecting tubes (25, 26). The fan (21) is mounted on a rack (24) and has a bottom inlet (23) and a connector (231). The inducing pipe (33) connects to the bottom inlet (23) of the fan (21) and extends into the transparent cover (30). The inducing pipe (33) has a distal end and the filter (331) is attached to the distal end. The manifold has a first injecting tube (25) having one end connected to the connector (231) on the fan (21) and the other end penetrating the inner wall (12) to communicate with the intermediate area (14). The manifold has a second injecting tube (26) having one end connected to the first injecting tube (25) near the connector (231) and the other end extending through the funnel-shaped top (16) of the base (10) to enter the chamber (3). Particularly, the end of the second injecting tube (26) is attached at the center of the funnel-shaped top (16), i.e. a nadir on the funnel-shaped top (16).

The multiple inflatable models (40) are made of inflatable and permeable material and secured between the base (10) and the transparent cover (30). The multiple inflatable models (40) are connected with each other to perform an airflow route. Each inflatable model (40) has a connecting pipe (17) communicating to the intermediate area (14). When the fan (21) transmits the air into the intermediate area (14), the air blows into the inflatable models (40) to inflate them. Then, some excess air permeates out from the inflatable models (40) to enter the chamber (3).

The spraying pipe (31) is secured on the funnel-shaped top (16) of the base (10) to extend to the chamber (3) and has an adjacent end, a distal end and multiple fastening strips (312). The multiple fastening strips (312) connect between the adjacent end of the spraying pipe (31) and the funnel-shaped top (16) to keep the spraying pipe (31) stable. Thereby, the spraying pipe (31) is not directly connected with the second injecting tube (26) and a gap is defined between the spraying pipe (31) and the second injecting tube (26) to allow plastic particles (32) to fill the gap. The distal end of the spraying pipe (31) extends into the chamber (3) to attach to a top of the chamber (3) and has a sprayer (314) mounted at the top of the chamber (3) to spray the plastic particles (32). Preferably, the spraying pipe (31) partially erects inside one inflatable models (e.g., a tree) and is held still when the multiple inflatable models (40) inflate.

When the inflatable decorative device operates, the motor (22) starts to drive the fan (21) to conduct airflow. The airflow is diverged into two ways, one is in the first injecting tube (25) and the other is in the second injecting tube (26). The airflow passing the first injecting tube (25) inflates the multiple inflatable models (40). Excess air inside the inflatable models (40) permeates out to enter the chamber (3) so that the transparent cover (30) is gradually inflated. The airflow passing the second injecting tube (26) directly injects into the spraying pipe (31) and brings the plastic particles (32) to float upward and spray in the chamber (3). After the airflow enters the chamber (3), excess air is extracted by the fan (21) via the inducing pipe (33). Therefore, a scene of snowing is continuously presented in the decorative device of this invention.

With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, another preferred embodiment of the inflatable decorative device in accordance with the present invention has a similar structure with the former one except the blowing device (20). The blowing device (20) in the present embodiment comprises two fans (21a, 21b) with two respectively corresponding motors (22a, 22b). The two fans (21a, 21b) are respectively connected to a first injecting tube (25a) and a second injecting tube (26b). The inducing pipe (33) is connected to the fan (21b) combined with the second injecting tube (26b).

By providing a closed environment, i.e. the chamber (3), between the transparent cover (30) and the base (10), the plastic particles (32) are cyclically blown upward by the blowing device (20). Moreover, a scene with a snowing-effect is performed by the multiple inflatable models (40) and the flying plastic particles (32) inside the decorative device.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. An inflatable decorative device comprising:

a base;

an inflatable cover mounted on the base to provide a chamber containing a plurality of lightweight elements, at least a portion of the cover being transparent; and

a blowing system adapted to inflate the cover, the blowing system being further adapted to circulate the plurality of lightweight elements within the chamber.

12. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 11, further comprising

an inflatable, permeable part disposed between the base and the cover, the blowing system being further adapted to inflate the inflatable, permeable part.

13. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 12, wherein the inflatable, permeable part is a plurality of inflatable, permeable models.

14. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of inflatable, permeable models are communicated with each other to achieve an airflow route.

15. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 12, further comprising

a spraying tube for distributing the lightweight elements within the chamber, the spraying tube including an inlet communicating with the chamber and adapted to receive the plurality of lightweight elements; and an outlet located above the inflatable, permeable part when the inflatable decorative device is inflated.

16. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 12, wherein the base is adapted to channel air from the blowing system to at least one of the cover and the inflatable, permeable part.

17. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 11, wherein the blowing system comprises at least one blowing device.

18. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 17, wherein the at least one blowing device includes a fan having a motor.

19. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 18, wherein the at least one blowing device includes a second fan having a motor.

20. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 17, the blowing system further comprising

a pipe connected to an inlet of the at least one blowing device and communicating with the chamber, a distal end of the pipe having a filter attached thereto.

21. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 11, wherein the lightweight elements are adapted to simulate snow.

22. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 11, wherein the lightweight elements are made from foamed polystyrene.

23. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 11, the base comprising

a top;

a bottom;

an inner wall formed between the top and the bottom; and

an outer wall formed between the top and the bottom, wherein the inner wall defines an inner area and the outer wall surrounds the inner wall to define an intermediate area between the inner wall and the outer wall.

24. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 23, wherein the blowing system comprises at least one blowing device.

25. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 24, wherein the at least one blowing device includes a first blowing device and a second blowing device.

26. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 25, wherein the blowing system further includes

a first injecting tube coupled to the first blowing device and communicating with the intermediate area in the base.

27. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 26, the blowing system further comprising

a second injecting tube coupled to the second blowing device and communicating with the chamber.

28. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 24, wherein the blowing system further includes

a first injecting tube coupled to the at least one blowing device and communicating with the intermediate area in the base.

29. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 28, the blowing system further comprising

a second injecting tube coupled to the at least one blowing device and communicating with the chamber.

30. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 29, further comprising

a spraying tube having an opening aligned with the second injecting tube and communicating with the chamber, the spraying tube for circulating the plurality of lightweight elements within the chamber.

31. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 29, the spraying tube further comprising

an adjacent end disposed in close proximity to the second injecting tube;

a distal end; and

multiple fastening strips, the fastening strips connecting the adjacent end of the spraying tube to the top of the base.

32. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 31, wherein the distal end of the spraying tube includes a sprayer attached to a top of the chamber.

33. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 23, further comprising

an inflatable, permeable part disposed between the base and the cover, wherein the inflatable, permeable part communicates with the intermediate area, and wherein the blowing system is further adapted to inflate the inflatable, permeable part.

34. The inflatable decorative device according to claim 23, the base further comprising

an opening defined through the outer wall and the inner wall to communicate with the inner area.