Inflatable cases and methods
The invention provides systems and methods for inflating a device, such that the device forms a protective case securely enclosing a product, thus insulating and cushioning against the potential of impairment, damage and breakage. In one exemplary embodiment, the inflatable device is an inflatable bladder formable into a protective case that encloses the consumer device and provides an exceptional amount of protection in a lightweight device.
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This invention is a continuation in part application and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/467,009, filed Apr. 30, 2004, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to the field of inflatable storage devices, and in particular to inflatable storage devices, such as cases, that may be used to store and protect a wide variety of items.
Small and lightweight consumer products are a large part of our daily life. Unfortunately, so are replacement costs associated with damage and breakage. Products are constantly being dropped, bumped, sat on, thrown, stepped on and fallen on resulting in substantial economic loss to the buyer. Such loss is ideal for the manufacturers that make money off repeat sales, but harmful for the consumers who spend their hard-earned dollars to replace broken items. Consumers desire a protective case that is effective, lightweight and aesthetically pleasing for protecting their valuables from harm.
In addition, OEM's seek a protective device that is easily incorporated into their own products, without losing any aesthetic appeal. Ideally, the protective device provides a layer of insulation against the typical environmental factors that can ruin a product, while remaining an inconspicuous and integrated component of the product's design.
Existing protective cases are often manufactured using a plastic material or an equivalent. The use of plastics produces a hard-shelled product that provides an adequate measure of protection at the price of both aesthetics and limited use. Since the case is typically larger that the product to be protected, products are often inadequately confined within such a case, allowing for movement that may cause damage.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONHence, this invention is related to functional and aesthetically pleasing inflatable and deflatable protective cases. In some embodiments, the cases conform to the shape of consumer products and insulate them against impairment, damage and breakage. The protective cases may be sold separately as stand-alone products for protecting sunglasses, cellular phones, PDA's, cameras, binoculars or the like. Alternatively, the cases may also be removably secured or integral with other items such as suitcases, briefcases, jackets, backpacks or the like.
In specific embodiments, the invention provides both methods and apparatus for protecting consumer products and other items against impairment, damage and breakage. The applications for inflatable cases are many ranging from the marine industry to the perfume industry to the electronics industries. Air-inflated cases can be used alone with any small device that needs protecting from damage. The protective bladders can also be incorporated into existing products such as suitcases, jackets, backpacks and the like to provide a protective pouch.
In one particular embodiment, the inflatable device comprises an inflatable bladder that is formable into a protective case that at least partially encloses the consumer device and provides an exceptional amount of protection. The inflatable device is manufactured so that it may be formed into an individual case (such as by folding the bladder over itself and securing the sides together to form an enclosure) or integrated with other items, such as a suitcase, briefcase or the like. The inflatable device may also be incorporated (such as by sewing, gluing or the like) into clothing such as a jacket, pant, backpack or the like. To fill the device with air, the inflatable bladder is coupled to a pump assembly having a compressible pump and a one-way air intake valve. The pump assembly infuses air into the inflatable bladder through a one-way or other valve. In operation, the pump assembly allows for a one-way flow of air, i.e. from the pump assembly into the bladder. To release the air from the bladder, an air release valve is coupled to the inflatable bladder. The air release valve deflates the bladder when not in use.
In an alternative embodiment, the inflatable storage case has an inflatable bladder that may be manipulated into the shape of an inflatable case. For convenience, the bladder may be placed into an outer layer of material that forms an exoskeleton. When the bladder is inflated, the outer layer creates the shape of the inflatable case. In this way, a generic bladder of various sizes/shapes may be produced (such as for an OEM) and then inserted into an exoskeleton which provides the appropriate appearance and/or shape. For example, a case for eyewear may be formed by providing an exoskeleton in the form of a bag and inserting the bladder into the bag.
In one particular embodiment, the bladder may be constructed of a weldable material. In this way, the bladder may be folded on top of itself and then exterior welded on at least two sides, thus forming an enclosed case body with an opening for inserting a consumer product. Also, in some aspects, the bladder may include one or more windows or openings to provide access into the case and/or to provide visual access to portions of the item being held, such as a cell phone or PDA.
In yet another embodiment, the pump assembly may additionally have a pump chamber that is coupled to the inflatable bladder through a one-way air intake valve. The pump chamber has a resilient material, such as a compressible low-density polyethylene or sponge material, located within the pump chamber. The pump chamber also has at least one hole that both introduces air into the pump chamber and contains the air within the chamber for displacement into the bladder. When the compressible material is squeezed while simultaneously covering the hole with a finger, the trapped air is forced from the pump chamber into the bladder. When a finger is removed from the hole and the compressible material is released, air is allowed to return to the pump chamber. In this manner with repeated operation, the pump assembly gradually fills the bladder with air.
In still another aspect, the inflatable bladder may haves a number of air cells. The air cells may be connected together by a single continuous air path. The air cells may be positioned longitudinally in the inflatable bladder thereby forming a plurality of longitudinal columns of air when inflated. The air cells in one aspect may be formed by fusing sections of the inflatable bladder. The fusing of the bladder creates a number of airless sections or ribs that separate adjacent air cells. This ribs also provide structural stability, thereby providing an additional measure of protection for the item.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In one aspect, the invention provides systems and methods for inflating a device such that the device forms a protective case securely around at least a portion of a product, thus insulating and cushioning against the damage caused by everyday wear-and-tear. The invention is best applied to create a protective case for consumer products that are relatively small and lightweight. In use, the resulting protective case may be used for shipping, storing, carrying or using a product. Cases may be manufactured in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and textures and can be silk screened or other wise marked for private labeling.
One particular advantage of the invention is the capability of inflating the device with a simple compression pump assembly having a one-way valve. The pump assembly provides quick inflation of the device with little physical exertion at a minimal cost. Additionally, air does not escape during inflation.
Another advantage of the invention is an air release valve that deflates the device when not in use. The release valve is important for storing and carrying the device in a compact space. It is possible to combine the function of the one-way intake valve and the air release valve into a single valve without departing from the intended scope of the invention.
By providing an inflatable case, the case is soft and pliable, yet sturdy enough to protect its contents. For example, the case may be worn by a skier to protect the skier's eyewear. If the skier falls, the case is soft enough so that the case will not harm the skier. At the same time, the case is strong enough to protect the eyewear.
The cases are also extremely lightweight, thereby making them attractive for a variety of applications, such as backpacking and hiking. Also, when not in use (or at a point of sale display or during shipping) the cases take up minimal space.
Inflatable Protective Case
Referring now to the drawings, the systems and methods of the invention will be described in detail. Referring first to
Pump assembly 15 is coupled to air cells 30 through one-way valve 20, although other types of values may be used. One-way air valve 20 allows air to enter air cells 30 of inflatable bladder 40 but does not allow air to return to pump assembly 15. One example of one-way air valve 20 is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,708 previously incorporated by reference. Pump assembly 15 is illustrated in
In operation, hole 5 is covered and the compressible material is squeezed. Covering hole 5 traps air within pump chamber 55. Hole 5 may be covered with a finger or palm. Manually compressing the material encapsulated within pump cavity 55 provides air displacement into air cells 30 of bladder 40 through one-way valve 20.
Repeated manual operation of pump assembly 15 gradually infuses air into air cells 30 and shapes the protective case by following the contour of a consumer product in contact with bladder 40, thus creating the support and protection against damaging events. When inflatable bladder 40 is filled with air, compression of the bladder is limited, thus providing a significant protective cushioning between an external compressing force and a product located on the opposite side of the bladder. When pumping air from pump chamber 55, air cells 30 begin to form around the product bladder 40 is designed to protect. At full inflation, air cells 30 hold the product on all high points, not allowing it to move inside the resulting protective case.
The plurality of air cells 30 within inflatable bladder 40 are linked together by a single continuous air path. In this manner, air infused from pump assembly 15 will travel along the path from air cell to air cell until bladder 40 reaches full inflation. Multiple one-way air valves (not shown) may separate various air cells to create separation in case of puncture. Therefore, multiple air cells remain inflated if one or more air cells is punctured.
Air release valve 25 operates to deflate inflatable bladder 40. Release valve 25 is coupled to an air cell thereby providing an air exit path from each air cell that is linked together by the single continuous air path. Squeezing or pushing on bladder 40 while holding air release valve 25 eliminates air from the bladder, returning it to its deflated state and allowing it to be folded or flat packed.
Although shown with a specific size and shape, it will be appreciated that case 10 may be made to any size and shape. Further, the pump chamber 55 may be incorporated as an extension or flap that is connected to the bladder, or incorporated somewhere within the bladder itself (so that a separate flap is not needed). Also, pump chamber 55 could also be hinged to the bladder.
One particular advantage of case 10 that is that may be incorporated into a wide variety of case designs. This permits case 10 to be manufactured as an OEM product and then incorporated into other types of carriers as described hereinafter. Also, case 10 can be formed into a stand alone case by folding the bladder over itself and connecting its edges as described herein. Hence, case 10 may be manufactured in essentially any requested size or shape and then incorporated by an end user into another type of product, or made into a stand alone case.
To create the shape of inflatable protective case 41, a bottom 68 and a side 60 of the protective case 41 are exterior seam welded, thereby creating an opening (shown in
Also shown in
Also, exoskeleton 100 may include a fastener 102, such as a VELCRO strip to connect with fastener 80 on case 10. Although shown with VELCRO, it will be appreciated that essentially any type of fastener may be used. Also, a variety of attachment mechanisms may be secured to exoskeleton 100 to permit case 105 to be attached to another object.
As just mentioned,
To attach case 41 to the piece of luggage, essentially any type of connector may be used as described herein. In this way, case 41 may be permanently or removably attached to the piece of luggage. In some examples, case 41 may simply be inserted into an existing pocket of the luggage and will not need any attachment means. Also, case 41 could be integrally formed within a pocket of the piece of luggage at the time of manufacture, so that the bladder 40 is an integral part of the luggage. Alternatively, a bladder may be inserted into the pocket after manufacture as a retrofit item.
As shown in
Use of the Inflatable Protective Case
In one embodiment, the bladder forms a protective case that functions as a stand-alone product. Examples of consumer items that may be held in such a case include but are in no way limited to the following: personal electronics such as mobile phones, PDAs, MP3 players, personal music players, game boys/hand held computer games, data/memory storage, GPS, cameras, CD, DVD & audio players, and laptops; eyewear such as sunglasses, glasses and goggles; sporting goods such as rifle scopes/spotters, binoculars, fishing reels, compasses, pistols, pool cues and golf clubs; and miscellaneous consumer products such as scientific instruments, music mouthpieces, cigars, perfume bottles, jewelry/watches, personal items (e.g. keys, wallet, etc.) and measuring instruments.
In another embodiment, the bladder forms a protective case that at least partially encloses a consumer item. The case is adapted to be integrated with other products. The resulting protective case may be implemented into products including but in no way limited to clothing, suitcases, briefcases, backpacks, surfboard cases (protect edges of boards), travel golf cases, ski/snowboard cases, waterski/wakeboard cases camera cases, rifle cases, general travel cases and shipping cases fishing rod/reel cases, fanny packs, purses, tote bags, diaper bags, duffel bags, sport bags, saddle bags, life jackets, ski vests and hard storage cases (e.g. tool boxes, tote boxes, storage bins for motorized land and water crafts).
Other Embodiments
Insulated protective case 700 is constructed in much the same manner as the embodiment described in conjunction with
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to a specific exemplary embodiment thereof. It will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, the invention being limited only by the provided claims.
Claims
1. An inflatable device for protecting a consumer device, comprising:
- an inflatable bladder, wherein the bladder is formable into a case that at least partially encloses the consumer device;
- a pump assembly comprising a compressible pump and a one-way air intake valve, the pump assembly operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder through the one-way valve, wherein the pump assembly operates to inflate the bladder through the one-way valve, thereby permitting a one-way flow of air from the pump assembly into the bladder; and
- an air release valve, operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder, wherein the air release valve operates to deflate the bladder.
2. An inflatable device as in claim 1, wherein the compressible pump further comprises:
- a pump cavity coupled to the inflatable bladder through the one-way air intake valve; and
- a compressible material located within the pump cavity, the compressible material operating to provide air displacement from the pump cavity into the bladder.
3. An inflatable device as in claim 2, wherein the pump cavity comprises a flap that is an integral part of the inflatable bladder.
4. An inflatable device as in claim 3, wherein the flap further comprises a hook and loop fastener material, such that the flap may be folded and removably secured to the inflatable bladder using the hook and loop fastener material.
5. An inflatable device as in claim 1, wherein the compressible pump further comprises:
- a pump cavity coupled to the inflatable bladder through the one-way air intake valve;
- a compressible material located within the pump cavity; and
- a hole coupled to the pump cavity, the hole operable for both introducing air into the pump cavity and containing the air within the cavity for displacement into the bladder using the compressible material.
6. An inflatable device as in claim 1, further comprising an exoskeleton, and wherein the inflatable bladder is inserted into the exoskeleton.
7. An inflatable device as in claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder further comprises a perimeter and an extension formed at the perimeter, thereby providing points for attaching the inflatable device to an object.
8. An inflatable device as in claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder is constructed from a group of materials consisting of urethane, polyvinylchloride (PVC) or Mylar.
9. An inflatable device as in claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder is folded in half and exterior welded on two sides thereby defining an opening for inserting the consumer product.
10. An inflatable device as in claim 9, wherein the exterior welding further comprises RF welding.
11. An inflatable device as in claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder is comprised of a sealable and weldable material.
12. An inflatable device as in claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder further comprises a plurality of air cells having a single continuous air path, the plurality of air cells positioned longitudinally in the inflatable bladder thereby forming a plurality of longitudinal columns of air when inflated.
13. An inflatable device as in claim 12, wherein the plurality of air cells are formed by fusing sections of the inflatable bladder, thereby creating the air cells by providing a plurality of ribs that separate adjacent air cells and provide structural support.
14. An inflatable device as in claim 13, wherein the plurality of ribs further comprise thin longitudinal strips of fused inflatable bladder measuring less than about ⅛ inch in thickness, and wherein the case defines a window.
15. An inflatable device as in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of one-way air cell valves connecting the plurality of air cells, the air cell valves operable for isolating the air cells in case of puncture.
16. An inflatable device as in claim 1, further comprising a hooking point for allowing the case to be removably attached to other items.
17. An inflatable device as in claim 1, wherein the case is adapted to receive goods selected from a group consisting of personal electronics, sporting goods and eyewear.
18. An inflatable device as in claim 1, wherein the case is integrated with carriers selected from a group consisting of luggage, briefcases and backpacks.
19. An inflatable storage case for protecting consumer products from damage comprising:
- an inflatable bladder, wherein the bladder defines at least a portion of the inflatable case;
- an outer layer of material that is adapted to receive to the inflatable bladder, wherein the outer layer of material forms an exoskeleton to create a shape of the inflatable case;
- a pump assembly comprising a compressible pump and a one-way air intake valve, the pump assembly operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder through the one-way valve, wherein the pump assembly operates to inflate the bladder through the one-way valve, thereby permitting a one-way flow of air from the pump assembly into the bladder; and
- an air release valve, operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder, wherein the release valve operates to deflate the bladder.
20. An inflatable case as in claim 19, wherein the outer layer of material defines an opening for inserting the consumer product.
21. An inflatable case as in claim 19, wherein the inflatable bladder is constructed from a material selected from a group consisting of urethane, polyvinylchloride (PVC) or mylar.
22. An inflatable case as in claim 19, wherein the inflatable bladder further comprises a plurality of air cells having a single continuous air path, the plurality of air cells positioned longitudinally in the inflatable bladder thereby forming a plurality of longitudinal columns of air when inflated.
23. An inflatable case as in claim 22, wherein the plurality of air cells are formed by fusing sections of the inflatable bladder, thereby creating the air cells by providing a plurality of ribs that separate adjacent air cells.
24. An inflatable case as in claim 19, wherein the compressible pump further comprises:
- a pump cavity coupled to the inflatable bladder through the one-way air intake valve; and
- a compressible material located within the pump cavity, the material operating to provide air displacement from the pump cavity into the bladder.
25. An inflatable case as in claim 24, wherein the pump cavity is located on a flap that is an integral part of the inflatable bladder.
26. An inflatable case as in claim 19, wherein the compressible pump further comprises:
- a pump chamber coupled to the inflatable bladder through the one-way air intake valve;
- a compressible material located within the pump chamber; and
- a hole coupled to the pump chamber, the hole operable for both introducing air into the pump chamber and containing the air within the chamber for displacement into the bladder using the compressible material.
27. An inflatable protective case for insulating consumer products from damage comprising:
- an inflatable bladder, wherein the bladder defines at least a portion of the protective case;
- a compressible pump assembly comprising a pump chamber coupled to the inflatable bladder, a compressible material located within the pump chamber, and a hole coupled to the pump chamber, the hole operable for both introducing air into the pump chamber and containing the air within the pump chamber for displacement into the bladder using the compressible material;
- a one-way air intake valve operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder and the compressible pump assembly, wherein the one-way air intake valve permits a one-way flow of air from the pump cavity into the bladder; and
- an air release valve, operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder, wherein the release valve operates to deflate the bladder.
28. An inflatable protective case as in claim 27, further comprising an outer layer of material that is adapted to receive at least a portion of the inflatable bladder, wherein the outer layer of material forms an exoskeleton to create a shape of the inflatable case.
29. A inflatable protective case as in claim 27, wherein the protective case is adapted to receive goods selected from a group consisting of eyewear, sporting goods and consumer electronics.
30. An inflatable protective case as in claim 27, wherein the inflatable bladder is comprised of urethane, polyvinylchloride (PVC) or mylar.
31. An inflatable case as in claim 27, wherein the inflatable bladder further comprises a plurality of air cells having a single continuous air path, the plurality of air cells positioned longitudinally in the inflatable bladder thereby forming a plurality of longitudinal columns of air when inflated.
32. An inflatable case as in claim 31, wherein the plurality of air cells are formed by fusing sections of the inflatable bladder, thereby creating the air cells by providing a plurality of ribs that separate adjacent air cells.
33. An inflatable case as in claim 27, wherein the pump chamber comprises a flap that is an integral part of the inflatable bladder.
34. An inflatable case as in claim 27, wherein the protective case is integrated with carriers selected from a group consisting of luggage, briefcases, and backpacks.
35. An inflatable protective case for insulating a personal electronic device from damage comprising:
- an inflatable bladder, wherein the bladder defines at least a portion of the protective case;
- a compressible pump assembly comprising a pump chamber coupled to the inflatable bladder, a compressible material located within the pump chamber, and a hole coupled to the pump chamber, the hole operable for both introducing air into the pump chamber and containing the air within the pump chamber for displacement into the bladder using the compressible material;
- an air intake valve operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder and the compressible pump assembly, wherein the air intake valve permits air flow from the pump cavity into the bladder;
- a transparent cover coupled to the inflatable bladder, wherein the transparent cover allows a personal electronic device display to be visible; and
- an air release valve, operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder, wherein the release valve operates to deflate the bladder.
36. The inflatable protective case as in claim 35, wherein the inflatable bladder further comprises a pull-down flap portion, wherein the flap portion covers the transparent cover such that the flap portion protects the personal electronic device when engaged and exposes the electronics through the transparent cover when disengaged.
37. A method for providing an inflatable protective case for insulating a consumer product, the method comprising:
- providing an inflatable protective case, wherein the case comprises an inflatable bladder, wherein the bladder defines at least a portion of the inflatable case, a pump assembly operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder comprising a compressible pump and an air intake valve, and a release valve operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder; and
- operating the pump assembly to cause air from the pump assembly to pass through the intake valve and to inflate the bladder.
38. The method of claim 37, further comprising providing an outer layer of material, and inserting the bladder into the outer layer of material.
39. The method of claim 37, wherein the pump assembly further includes a hole, and closing the hole with a finger while operating the pump assembly, and further comprising activating the release valve to deflate the bladder.
40. The method of claim 37, further comprising inserting an article into the protective case prior to operating the pump assembly.
41. The method of claim 37, further comprising coupling the inflatable protective case to an object.
42. An inflatable protective case for insulating a flip-style personal electronic device from damage comprising:
- an inflatable bladder comprising a first portion and a second portion;
- a compressible pump assembly comprising a pump chamber coupled to the inflatable bladder, a compressible material located within the pump chamber, and a hole coupled to the pump chamber for introducing air into the pump chamber for displacement into the bladder;
- an air intake valve operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder and the compressible pump assembly, wherein the air intake valve permits a one-way flow of air from the pump cavity into the bladder;
- wherein at least one of the first or the second portion defines a window to allow at least a portion of the display device to be visible from outside the case; and
- a release valve operatively coupled to the inflatable bladder, wherein the release valve operates to deflate the bladder.
43. An inflatable protective case as in claim 42, further comprising a first transparent cover coupled to the first portion and a second transparent cover portion coupled to the second portion, wherein the first transparent cover and the second transparent cover allow a device display to be visible.
44. An inflatable protective case as in claim 42, wherein the first transparent cover and the second transparent cover comprise a contiguous transparent cover.
45. An inflatable protective case as in claim 42, wherein the first portion of the bladder and the first transparent cover form a protective case around the base electronics of the flip-style personal electronic device and wherein the second portion of the bladder and the second transparent cover form a protective case around the flip-up electronics of the flip-style personal electronic device.
46. An inflatable case for protecting a consumer device from damage comprising:
- a first inflatable bladder;
- a first pump assembly comprising a first compressible pump and a first air intake valve, the first pump assembly operatively coupled to the first inflatable bladder through the first valve, wherein the first pump assembly operates to inflate the first bladder through the first valve;
- a first air release valve operatively coupled to the first inflatable bladder, wherein the air release valve operates to deflate the first bladder;
- a second inflatable bladder;
- a second pump assembly comprising a second compressible pump and a second air intake valve, the second pump assembly operatively coupled to the second inflatable bladder through the second valve, wherein the second pump assembly operates to inflate the second bladder through the second valve;
- a second air release valve operatively coupled to the second inflatable bladder, wherein the air release valve operates to deflate the second bladder.
47. An inflatable case as in claim 46, wherein the first inflatable bladder is exterior welded to the second inflatable bladder on at least two sides thereby forming the case with an opening for inserting the consumer product.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 28, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 19, 2006
Applicant: Bwana Gear, LLC (Golden, CO)
Inventors: Michael Schuster (Broomfield, CO), James Schuster (Arvada, CO), Theodore-James Izzo (Evergreen, CO)
Application Number: 10/835,554
International Classification: A41D 13/015 (20060101);