EXPANDABLE INFLATABLE STRUCTURE

Abstract

An inflatable, expandable structure comprises a first inflatable member and a first air blower adapted to provide a continuous flow of air to erect the first inflatable member, and a second inflatable member engaged with and in fluid communication with the first inflatable member. The second inflatable member is expandable from a first position wherein the second inflatable member is substantially deflated and secured substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member, to a second position where the second inflatable member is inflated and extends outward from the first inflatable member. A movable curtain or curtains may cover one or more entrances to the space formed by the inflated structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/730,922 filed on Oct. 27, 2005, now pending, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inflatable structures such as tents, shelters, and lawn ornaments, are well known. However, such conventional inflatable structures do not allow the inflatable structure to be selectively increased or expanded in size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable structure than can be expanded to increase the overall size of the structure.

The present invention comprises a first inflatable member and a first air blower adapted to provide a continuous flow of air to erect the first inflatable member. The device further comprises a second inflatable member engaged with and selectively in fluid communication with the first inflatable member. The second inflatable member is expandable from a first position wherein the second inflatable member is substantially deflated and secured substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member, to a second position wherein the second inflatable member is inflated and extends outwardly from the first inflatable member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following description of the invention will make reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention, with the second inflatable member collapsed and secured to the first inflatable member;

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the entrance/exit portion that allows a person to enter or exit the space formed by the first inflatable member;

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the second inflatable member in the collapsed position and having an entrance/exit portion that allows a person to enter and exit the space formed by the structure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fastener disposed on the outermost inflatable archway support member, adapted to receive and secure the second inflatable member in its collapsed state;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view representing the connection between the inflatable base support members of the first inflatable member and the inflatable base support members of the second inflatable member, including a tie-off used to selectively prevent air flow into the second inflatable member;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view thereof showing the second inflatable member collapsed upon the end of the first inflatable member and held thereto by fasteners and a closed tie-off to prevent air flow into the second inflatable member;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the second inflatable member in its expanded state;

FIG. 9 is a top view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a rear view thereof, showing the entrance/exit portion that allows a person to enter and exit the second inflatable member;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view showing the second inflatable member in the expanded position, with the inflatable base support members of the first inflatable member connected to and in fluid communication with the inflatable base support of the second inflatable member, and with the tie-off in open or released condition to allow air flow into the second inflatable member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, one embodiment of the present invention is a structure 10 for use as a lawn decoration and play house. The structure 10 generally comprises a first inflatable member 12 and a first air blower 14 adapted to provide a continuous flow of air to erect the first inflatable member 12, in known manner. The first air blower 14 may be connected to the first inflatable member by a sleeve 16 (FIG. 2). Referring to FIGS. 8-11, the device 10 further comprises a second inflatable member 18 engaged with and selectively in fluid communication with the first inflatable member 12. The second inflatable member 18 is expandable from a first position wherein the second inflatable member is substantially deflated and secured substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), to a second position where the second inflatable member 18 is inflated and extends outwardly from the first inflatable member 12 (See FIGS. 8 and 9).

Returning to FIGS. 1-7, the first inflatable member 12 includes a plurality of fasteners 20 adapted to removably secure the collapsed second inflatable member 18 to the first inflatable member 12 at a position substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member 12. As seen in FIG. 5, each of the fasteners 20 may comprise a first strap portion 22 having a first end portion 26 connected to the first inflatable member 12, and a second end portion 28 having a hook fastener portion 30. Each of the fasteners 22 further comprise a second strap portion 24 having a first end portion 32 connected to the first inflatable member 12 and a second end portion 34 having a loop fastener portion 36. The hook fastener portion 30 is adapted to removably engage with the loop fastener portion 36 to wrap around and secure the collapsed second inflatable member 18 to the first inflatable member 12 at a position substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member 12. [See FIG. 1].

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-7, the first inflatable member 12 further comprises a plurality of inflatable base support members 38 and the archway support members 40, respectively, that are in fluid communication with each other. The inflatable base support members 38 are disposed on opposite sides of the first inflatable member 12 and are in contact with the ground. The first air blower 14 is connected by the sleeve 16 to one of the inflatable base support member 38. Activation of the first air blower 14 causes ambient air to enter into and inflate the inflatable base support members 38 and the inflatable archway supports 40 to erect the first inflatable member 12. A second blower 42 is preferably connected by a sleeve 44 to the other inflatable base support member 38 to assist in inflating the base support members 38 and the inflatable archway supports 40. The base support members are also attached to and in fluid communication with decorative support members 39, which serve to provide further stability to the structure.

The inflatable base support members 38, decorative support members 39, and inflatable archway support members 40 of the first inflatable member 12 are made from well known air-permeable materials such as nylon. Similarly, the inflatable base support members 46 and inflatable archway support members 48 of the second inflatable member 18 are made from an air permeable material. The first inflatable member 12 may further comprise a mesh netting 52 spanning between adjacent inflatable archway support members 40 and connected by conventional means such as sewing. The mesh netting 52 may be made from nylon.

As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the second inflatable member 18 comprises an inflatable archway support member 48 connected to and selectively in fluid communication with a pair of inflatable base support members 46. The inflatable base support members 46 are connected to and in fluid communication with the inflatable base support members 38 of the first inflatable member 12. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 11, the structure 10 includes an air tie-off 50 located at the interface of each corresponding inflatable base support members 46 with the inflatable base support member 38 of the first inflatable member 12. In the collapsed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tie-offs 50 are closed to prevent any air flow from the inflatable base support members 38 of the first member 12 into the inflatable base support members 46 of the second inflatable member 18. The inflatable base support members 46 and the inflatable archway support member 48 of the second inflatable member 18 are inflated upon release of the tie-offs 50 and fasteners 20, allowing air from the blower(s) to expand the second inflatable member 18 from the first position (FIGS. 1 and 2) to the second position (FIGS. 8 and 9). The second inflatable member 18 may further comprise a mesh netting 54 spanning from the inflatable archway support member 48 of the second inflatable member 18 to the inflatable archway support member 40 of the first inflatable member 12 and connected by conventional means such as sewing. The mesh netting 54 may be made from nylon.

As seen in FIG. 3, the first inflatable member 12 may further comprise an entrance way 62 having a curtain 64 adapted to allow a person to enter and exit the space formed by the first inflatable member 12 (for example by having the curtain constructed in two overlapping portions that may be parted in the middle). Similarly, the second inflatable member 18 may comprise an entrance way 66 having a curtain 68 adapted to allow a person to enter and exit via the second inflatable member 18.

In operation, activation of the air blowers 14 and 42 causes the inflatable base support members 38 and inflatable archway support members 40 to inflate and thus erect the first inflatable member 12. (FIGS. 1 and 2). When it is desired to expand the size of the structure, one may release the tie-offs 50 and fasteners 20, thereby allowing air from the blowers to flow from the inflatable base support members 38 of the first inflatable member 12 into the inflatable base support members 46 and inflatable archway support member 48 of the second inflatable member 18. As air flows into the inflatable base support members 46, the second inflatable member 18 is caused to expand outward from the first inflatable member 12 thereby increasing the overall size of the structure 10.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and/or scope of the specification and appended claims.

Claims

1. An inflatable, expandable structure comprising:

a first inflatable member;

a first air blower adapted to provide a continuous flow of air to erect said first inflatable member; and

a second inflatable member engaged with and selectively in fluid communication with said first inflatable member; said second inflatable member being expandable from a first position wherein said second inflatable member is substantially deflated and positioned substantially adjacent to said first inflatable member to a second position where said second inflatable member is inflated and extends outward from said first inflatable member.

2. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 1, wherein said first inflatable member comprises at least one fastener adapted to secure said second inflatable member to said first inflatable member in said first position.

3. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 2, wherein said first inflatable member further comprises a plurality of inflatable base support member connected to and in fluid communication with a plurality of inflatable archway support members; at least one of said support members being in fluid communication with said air blower to erect said first inflatable member.

4. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 3, wherein said second inflatable member further comprises a plurality of inflatable base support members connected to and in fluid communication with an inflatable archway support member; at least one of said base support members of said second inflatable member being connected to and selectively in fluid communication with at least one of said inflatable base support members of said first inflatable member to allow air flow into said inflatable base support members and said inflatable archway support, whereby upon release of said fastener said second inflatable member may be inflated to expand from said first position to said second position.

5. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 4, wherein inflation of said first inflatable member forms a space that may be entered by a person, and wherein said member further comprises an entrance way adapted to allow a person to enter into and exit from the space.

6. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 5, wherein said second inflatable member, in its deflated state, further comprises an entrance way adapted to allow a person to enter and exit the space formed by inflation of said first inflatable member.

7. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 6, further comprising a second air blower connected to at least one of the inflatable base support members of the first inflated member to facilitate the inflation and erection of said first inflatable member.

8. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 7, wherein said fastener of said first inflatable member comprises a first strap portion having a hook fastener portion and a second strap portion having a loop fastener portion; said hook fastener portion being adapted to removably engage with said loop fastener portion with said collapsed second inflatable member secured therebetween.

9. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 8, wherein said inflatable base support members and said archway support members of said first inflatable member are each made from an air permeable material.

10. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 9, wherein said inflatable base support members and said archway support member of said second inflatable member are each made from an air permeable material.

11. A structure comprising:

an inflatable member forming a space that is at least partially enclosed by the member when inflated,

an entrance portion of the member through which a person may enter into the space, and

a curtain attached to the member and covering the entrance portion, said curtain being movable to allow the person to enter the space.