EP3263198B1 - Disco ball - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a disco ball with an outer shell, which is occupied outside with mirror pieces. The invention also relates to a method for mounting a disco ball.

Disco balls are well known in the art. Disco balls usually have an inner styrofoam ball, which is provided on the outside with mirror pieces; the mirror pieces are glued to the exterior of the polystyrene ball. In addition, the disco ball has hangers that enable the disco ball to be suspended securely from a ceiling, support structure or the like.

From the Internet article " Inflatable Fabric Structure: The World's Largest Disco Ball "by ARCHITEN LANDRELL of 06. September 2014 (URL: http://www.architen.com/projects/inflatable-fabric-structure-disco-ball/, available on 07.11.2017 ) is a disco ball revealed from a black PVC material that was wrapped in a polypropylene net. Mirrors are attached to the network by cables.

The problem with the disco balls is that there is an increasing demand for very large disco balls, which can be several meters in diameter. On the one hand, disco balls with a diameter of 3 - 4 meters, as actually used, are transportable on conventional roads only under special safety precautions, and on the other hand, the large disco balls have a considerable weight of several 100 kilograms, sometimes several tons.

Inflatable disc balls are known in the art. For example, at the 'Bestival' in Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight in September 2014, a disco ball with a diameter of 10.33 m was made publicly available, which includes an inner shell of PVC fabric that is inflatable and an outer shell from a net surrounding the inner shell, wherein on the outside of the network several thousand styrene mirrors are fastened by means of cable ties.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a disco ball that is easily transportable despite its size and also has a lower weight.

The object is achieved in terms of the device with a disco ball with the features of claim 1.

The invention makes use of the idea of providing a disco ball with an expandable interior construction that is in a contracted state during transport and has a low volume and therefore can be transported very easily while expanding on events in use and certainly with diameters of several meters over one Event area can hang and visually seen from the outside, no difference to conventional Styropordiskokugeln has.

In particular, the invention makes use of the amazingly simple idea of providing an inflatable disco ball that is in a limp state during transport and has a low volume and therefore can be easily transported while inflating at events is.

The outer shell is laid out around the inner construction. It can lie flat on the inner shell.

According to the invention, the outer shell has a plurality of approximately lenticular segments, which are arranged side by side and adjacent lenticular segments are connected to each other to the outer shell. The lenticular segments are mutually releasably or separably connected to each other. This makes it possible to transport the outer shell not in one piece, but in several segments and only at the venue to assemble the segments to the outer shell.

The disco ball according to the invention has an inflatable inner shell, which is spherical in the inflated state and which also holds the outer shell in a spherical shape. The invention makes use of the surprisingly simple idea of providing a conventional inner shell, which is made of a flexible plastic and is substantially impermeable to air, preferably completely impermeable to air, and to cover this loose inner shell with an outer shell, wherein the outer shell preferably with the known mirror pieces a disco ball is provided. By inflating the inner shell, the outer shell is simultaneously brought to a spherical shape.

It has been found to be particularly preferred to use lenticular segments, wherein preferably sixteen, but also a higher number or a lower number of segments can be used.

The segments run along the outer shell from the north to the south pole, they are tapered at the north and south pole and at the equator of the disco ball, the segments have their highest width. The lenticular segments are each occupied on its outer side with mirror pieces, the mirror pieces can all be the same design, but they can also have different outer shapes; Conveniently, the mirror pieces glued to the outer sides of the segments and cover the outer sides of the segments substantially completely, preferably completely. Preferably, all outer sides are covered with mirror pieces. The mirror pieces are adapted at the edges of the segments, preferably the contour of the segments, ie they deviate from the shape of the mirror pieces used along the remaining inner surface of the segments. The mirror pieces may all be identical, they are preferably square, but they may also have different designs, they may in particular also be rectangular, circular, hexagonal, etc. formed. The shapes of the mirror pieces can also be used mixed.

In addition, the mirrors can also be colored. All mirrors can be the same color or they can have different colors among each other.

Conveniently, Velcro strips are provided on longitudinal edges on each of the lenticular segments on the inside, and a complementary Velcro strip is joined on the inside via Velcro strips of adjacent lenticular segments.

The lenticular segments are preferably stacked in a box during transport. They are lifted out of the box after transport, placed next to each other and preferably the Velcro strips along the edges of the lenticular segments are connected to each other with a complementary Velcro tape. It is alternatively also conceivable to apply the lenticular elements directly to the inner ball and fasten it there by means of Velcro strips, for example.

However, it is also conceivable to otherwise connect the lenticular segments with each other, for example by button-like connections, by clamping connections or the like.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a ring is provided at a north pole, are attached to the tips of each lenticular segment and the ring has hangers, from which depart cables for suspending the disco ball. Due to the mirror pieces applied to them, the lenticular segments can have considerable weights of many kilograms, sometimes up to 100 kilograms per segment. To secure the segments, the tips of each lenticular segment are attached to the ring, preferably a metal ring. For this purpose, the metal ring may have holes or holes. The lenticular segments may also have holes and through the holes screws are guided, with which the tips of the segments can be attached to the holes of the ring.

The entire disco ball is also hung on the ring with its weight. For this purpose, further hanging devices in the form of holes, loops or the like are provided on the ring, which can carry a corresponding weight.

Preferably, a compressor or blower is arranged at the north pole, which communicates with the inner shell via a supply air shaft. It has been found that inner shells, which are made of plastic, such as polyurethane, polyethylene or the like, lose air over time or change their volume due to temperature fluctuations in the room. To compensate for this change in volume or the loss of air, a compressor is provided, which can blow ambient air into the inner shell via a supply air shaft.

Furthermore, an overflow valve is provided which automatically lets air out of it when the internal pressure of the inner shell becomes too high.

The object is achieved in its second aspect by a method having the features of claim 6 by an outer shell is provided with externally applied mirror pieces available and in the outer shell an expandable inner structure is introduced.

According to the invention an inflatable inner shell is used as an internal construction. The inner shell is inserted into the outer shell, then it is inflated and then by expanding the outer shell to a spherical shape.

The invention makes use of the very simple but very effective idea to bring the very large volume disco balls during transport to a small form, preferably by the disc ball can be inflated or air can be let out of it. During a transport, the disco ball is in a floppy and disassembled state, during use during an event, the disco ball is inflated and suspended over an event area.
For inflation preferably ambient air is used. But it can also be used other gases.

According to the invention identical lenticular segments are provided, which are arranged side by side at their edges and form a flabby outer shell. The lenticular segments have already been described above.

The described methods are particularly suitable for mounting one of the disco balls described above.

Conveniently, each of the lenticular segments is attached to the ring with a tip and the disco ball suspended from hangers of the ring on a ceiling. The segments can be firmly screwed and mounted by means of screws or other fasteners to a stable ring, preferably a metal or steel ring. The usual safety regulations must be observed.

In a further development of the invention, the disco ball is equipped with a compressor, the compressor is air-conducting with the inner shell in conjunction and can adjust the internal air pressure with pressure fluctuations of the inner shell by air or air outlet.

After use, the outer shell can be removed again and the inner structure shrunk by either disassembling the inner rod or venting the inner sleeve.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht der erfindungsgemäßen Diskokugel,

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht eines linsenförmigen Segmentes der Diskokugel in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine Detailansicht in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

eine schematische Aufsicht der Diskokugel auf den Nordpol mit Innen- und Außenhülle und Lufteinlass,

Fig. 5

eine Diskokugel in einer schematischen Schnittansicht,

Fig. 6

eine Diskokugel in Fig. 4 mit einem in den Lufteinlass eingebrachten Kompressor.

The invention will be described with reference to an embodiment in five figures, in which:

Fig. 1

a top view of the disco ball according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a plan view of a lenticular segment of the disco ball in Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

a detailed view in Fig. 2 .

Fig. 4

a schematic view of the disco ball on the north pole with inner and outer shell and air inlet,

Fig. 5

a disco ball in a schematic sectional view,

Fig. 6

a disco ball in Fig. 4 with a compressor inserted in the air inlet.

An inventive disco ball 1 has an inner 2 and an outer shell 3, in Fig. 1 only the outer shell 3 is facing a north pole N of the disco ball 1 shown. The outer shell 3 comprises sixteen lenticular segments 4.

It is also a different number of segments 4 conceivable, it can be used in particular more, but also fewer segments 4 to form the outer shell 3.

The segments 4 are preferably lenticular, but they may also have different outer shapes. The segments 4 of a disco ball 1 are preferably exactly identical. However, it may also be deviations of the design and shape of the segments 4 of the disco ball 1 vorfindbar, in particular, the segments 4 may have different widths at an equator of the disco ball 1.

One of the in Fig. 1 shown segments 4 shows Fig. 2 in a plan version and in a top view. The segment 4 is in Fig. 2 plan laid out while the segments 4 according to Fig. 1 arranged to form the outer shell 3 semicircular curved and so are also connected to each other.

The lenticular segments 4 have on their outer surface, the outer surface completely covering, mirror pieces 6. The mirror pieces 6 are in the embodiment in Fig. 2 formed predominantly square and glued directly next to each other on the outside of the lenticular segment 4. However, other forms of attachment are conceivable. A reflective surface of the mirror pieces 6 faces outward.

Other shapes, in particular the outer circumference of the mirror pieces 6, can also be used. They may in particular be circular, triangular, hexagonal or otherwise formed. The mirror pieces 6 of a disco ball 1 can also have mutually different shapes. Preferably, however, the outside of the lenticular segments 4 is completely covered by the mirror pieces 6.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the lenticular segment 4 with square mirror pieces 6. The mirror pieces 6 at the edge of the lenticular segment 4 are adapted to the contour of the lens shape. It is alternatively also possible to maintain the shape of the mirror pieces 6 over preferably each of the segments 4 and to vary the distances between the mirror pieces 6 and thus to achieve a uniform distribution.

Fig. 4 Fig. 12 shows an embodiment of the north pole N of the disco ball 1 used to suspend the disco ball 1 on a supporting structure such as a ceiling, a metal frame or the like. The north pole N is surrounded by a closing ring 7, which is preferably formed of metal. The closing ring 7 has, on the one hand, bores 8 which are assigned in pairs to a respective tip 9 of a lenticular segment 4. The lenticular Segment 4 also has holes which have an equal distance from each other as the holes 8 of a pair of the end ring 7. Through the two holes and holes 8 is inserted through a screw from the inside out to each of the lenticular segments 4 firmly and securely on Locking ring 7 to fix. The closing ring 7 has circumferentially preferably equidistantly spaced holes 8; in Fig. 4 would therefore thirty-two holes 8 are provided for the sixteen lenticular segments 4.

In addition, 7 hanging devices 11 are provided on the end ring, it may also be holes, but also to eyelets or the like are pulled through the ropes or other suspension means to the disco ball 1 with its entire weight on a ceiling, support structure or the like hang. Disco balls 1 may have considerable weights, with a diameter of 4 - 5 meters, the weight of the disco ball 1 due to the large number of mirror pieces 6 amount to several 100 kilograms. The hangers 11 and the end ring 7 must therefore have a corresponding carrying capacity including the required safety provisions.

The lenticular segments 4 are also connected to each other on an inner side. This can be done by various types of connection, in particular a Velcro strip can be guided along each edge inside of the lenticular segments 4, and the Velcro strips can be joined together by a complementary Velcro, so that the coherent outer shell 3 is formed, which conceals the Velcro.

However, it is also conceivable that the lenticular segments 4 can be connected to each other by clamping closures, button-like closures or the like. The outer shell 3 is flaccid and is brought by the inflatable inner shell 2 to a spherical shape. Fig. 5 schematically shows the inflated disco ball 1 according to the invention with the inflated inner shell 2. The inner shell 2 is made of a plastic, such as polyurethane or the like; this is in any case a flexible plastic, which forms a usually flaccid inner shell 2 and assumes a spherical shape when inflated and has such a stability that the inner shell 2, the outer shell 3 despite the considerable weight of the outer shell 3 in a spherical shape suppressed.

The inner shell 2 has an air inlet 12 and an air outlet, which are closable. On the inside of the outer shell 3 additional safety ropes can be provided, the connect the segments 4 together and also prevent slack drooping of the segments 4 during the discharge of air from the inner shell.

Since the inflatable disco ball 1 is usually used for several hours or even days and must hang at events for several hours as bulging as possible over a venue, it may according Fig. 6 be provided, instead of the air inlet 12 to use a compressor 13 with a supply air duct 14, which constantly refills escaping air into the inner shell 2. The supply air duct 14 may be provided with a pressure relief valve 16 to prevent bursting of the inner shell 2 by overpressure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

disco ball

2

Interior Design / Interior Skin

3

outer shell

4

segment

6

mirror piece

7

end ring

8th

drilling

9

top

11

hanger

12

air intake

13

compressor

14

supply air duct

16

Pressure relief valve

N

North Pole

Claims (8)

1. Disco ball with an outer skin (3) which on the outside is fitted with mirror pieces (6) and has an expandable inner structure (2) comprising an inflatable inner skin which in expanded state is spherical and holds the outer skin (3) in a ball shape, and with a north pole (N), a south pole and an equator, characterised in that the outer skin (3) has a plurality of approximately lenticular segments (4), which run along the outer skin approximately from the north pole to the south pole, whereby the lenticular segments (4) are formed tapering towards the north pole and the south pole, and have their greatest width at the equator, the approximately lenticular segments (4) are arranged next to each other, and adjacent lenticular segments (4) are releasably connected together to form the outer skin (3), and the lenticular segments (4) are each fitted with mirror pieces (6) on the outside.
2. Disco ball according to claim 1,
   characterised in that the inner structure comprises an inner rod linkage with struts which can be connected together releasably.
3. Disco ball according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that a Velcro tape is provided on the longitudinal edges on the inside of each of the lenticular segments (4), and a complementary Velcro tape is joined on the inside over Velcro tapes of adjacent lenticular segments (4).
4. Disco ball according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that at the north pole (N), a ring (7) is provided on which the tips (9) of each lenticular segment (4) are attached, and the ring (7) has suspension devices (11) from which cables depart for suspension of the disco ball (1).
5. Disco ball according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterised by a compressor (13) which is arranged at the north pole (N) and is connected to the inner skin (2) via a supply air shaft (14).
6. Method for assembly of a disco ball with a north pole (N), a south pole and an equator by
   identical lenticular segments (4) being provided which are connected together at their edges and arranged next to each other and form a slack outer skin (3) with mirror pieces (6) applied on the outside, running along the outer skin from the north pole to the south pole, whereby the lenticular segments (4) are formed tapering towards the north pole and the south pole, and have their greatest width at the equator and an inflatable inner structure (2) being inserted into the outer skin (3), the inner skin being expanded and thus the outer skin (3) is expanded into a ball shape.
7. Method according to claim 6,
   characterised in that each of the lenticular segments (4) is attached to a ring (7) by a tip (9), and the disco ball (1) is suspended from a ceiling via suspension devices (11) of the ring (7).
8. Method according to one of claims 6 or 7,
   characterised in that the inner skin is constantly refilled with air by means of a compressor (13) in order to maintain a constant interior pressure.

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