US20060009098A1

US20060009098A1 - Inflatable object with an illuminating device

Info

Publication number: US20060009098A1
Application number: US10/887,847
Authority: US
Inventors: Yuan-Chen Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-12
Filing date: 2004-07-12
Publication date: 2006-01-12

Abstract

An inflatable object includes an inflatable body defining an air chamber, an illuminating device disposed within the inflatable body, a hollow second positioning member welded to the inflatable body, and an electrical adaptor fitted sealingly in the second positioning member and having a terminal. The terminal has an inner terminal end extending into the air chamber, and an outer terminal end exposed from the inflatable body and adapted to enable electrical coupling to a power source. The illuminating device includes a hollow first positioning member welded to the inflatable body, and a light emitting member fitted sealingly in the first positioning member and electrically coupled to the inner terminal end.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an inflatable object, more particularly to an inflatable object with an illuminating device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The structure of a conventional inflatable object, such as an animal-shaped inflatable object, requires a completely airtight structure so as to form the predetermined shape. To enhance decorative effect of the inflatable object when placed in a dark or shaded area, the inflatable object is illuminated from an external portion thereof, or a rear side of the inflatable object is provided with an indented portion for receiving a lamp unit, so that the light seems to radiate from an interior of the inflatable object.
When the interior of the conventional inflatable object is to be mounted with a lamp unit, simply extending an electrical wire through the inflatable object to connect the lamp unit to an external power supply without the utilization of any special configuration will result in damage to the airtight structure of the inflatable object. Furthermore, such a structure makes it difficult to replace or repair the lamp unit when it has a defect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable object that has an illuminating device provided in an interior thereof and connected to an external power supply without affecting the airtight structure of the inflatable object.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable object that may securely position an illuminating device in an interior thereof.
According to this invention, an inflatable object comprises an inflatable body defining an air chamber, an illuminating device disposed within the inflatable body, a hollow second positioning member welded to the inflatable body, and an electrical adaptor fitted sealingly in the second positioning member. The illuminating device includes a hollow first positioning member welded to the inflatable body, and a light emitting member fitted sealingly in the first positioning member. The electrical adaptor is fitted sealingly in the second positioning member, and has a terminal which has an inner terminal end extending into the air chamber, and an outer terminal end exposed from the inflatable body. The light emitting member is electrically coupled to the inner terminal end. The outer terminal end is adapted to enable electrical coupling to a power source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an inflatable object according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of an illuminating device of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary partly exploded perspective view, illustrating a second positioning member and an electrical adaptor of the preferred embodiment; and
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second positioning member and the electrical adaptor in an assembled state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the preferred embodiment of an inflatable object according to the present invention is shown to comprise an inflatable body 1, an illuminating device 2, a hollow second positioning member 31, and an electrical adaptor 32.
The inflatable body 1 defines an air chamber 100, and is made in a conventional manner, that is, by heat-sealing a plurality of plastic sheets to form a hollow body that produces a predetermined shape after inflation. In this embodiment, the inflatable body 1 forms a snowman after inflation. The inflatable body 1 has a partition member 12 that divides the air chamber 100 into first and second air chambers 101, 102. An outer surface of the inflatable body 1 is provided with a plurality of fasteners 11 to engage a rope (not shown) so that the rope can securely position the inflatable body 1 on the ground or on a support surface after inflation.
The illuminating device 2 is disposed within the inflatable body 1, and includes a hollow first positioning member 22 and a light emitting member 21, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The first positioning member 22 includes an annular flange 221 welded to the partition member 12, and an internally threaded hole 222. The light emitting member 21 has a bulb seat 211 with an external thread that engages threadedly and sealingly the internally threaded hole 222 in the first positioning member 22. The light emitting member 21 further has a first light emitting body 223 and a second light emitting body 224. In this embodiment, the first and second light emitting bodies 223, 224 are light emitting diodes (LEDs) having different colors. The first light emitting body 223 extends into the first air chamber 101 from the first positioning member 22, whereas the second light emitting body 224 extends into the second air chamber 102 from the first positioning member 22. Light distribution within the inflatable body 1 is made more uniform by such use of the first and second light emitting bodies 223, 224 in the first and second air chambers 101, 102, respectively. Moreover, provision of the first and second light emitting bodies 223, 224 as separate elements enable the emission of light of a variety of colors from the inflatable body 1 through the light emitting member 21 so as to achieve a decorative effect.
The hollow second positioning member 31 (see FIG. 3) has a flange portion 311 welded to the outer surface of the inflatable body 1, and an internally threaded hole 312, which is large enough to permit the hand of a user to pass therethrough.
The electrical adaptor 32 (see FIG. 3) includes an adaptor housing 320 having a first side 322 confronting an interior of the inflatable body 1, and a second side 321 opposite to the first side 322. A terminal 33 is provided inside the adaptor housing 320, and has an inner terminal end 332 (see FIG. 4) proximate to and protruding out of the first side 322, and an outer terminal end 331 proximate to the second side 321. The adaptor housing 320 further has an external thread 324 and a flanged head portion 323. The external thread 324 engages the internally threaded hole 312 in the second positioning member 31. A seal ring 325 (see FIG. 4) is disposed between the second positioning member 31 and the electrical adaptor 32.
An inner connector 23 is electrically coupled to the inner terminal end 332 of the electrical adaptor 32, as well as to the light emitting member 21 within the inflatable body 1. The outer terminal end 331 is adapted to be electrically coupled to a power source through a transformer 4 and an outer connector 5.
During assembly, the electrical adaptor 32 is first removed from the second positioning member 31, after which the user reaches into the inflatable body 1 through the internally threaded hole 312 in the second positioning member 31 to attach the light emitting member 21 to the first positioning member 22. The inner connector 23 is then pulled out from the inflatable body 1 for connection with the inner terminal end 332 of the electrical adaptor 32. Next, the seal ring 325 is sleeved on the electrical adaptor 32, and the electrical adaptor 32 is inserted threadedly and sealingly into the second positioning member 31 by engaging the external thread 324 with the internally threaded hole 312 in the second positioning member 31. Through the presence of the seal ring 325, the seal between the second positioning member 31 and the electrical adaptor 32 is enhanced such that air does not pass between these elements when the electrical adaptor 32 is tightly engaged with the second positioning member 31. After inflation, the outer connector 5 is electrically coupled to the outer terminal end 331 of the electrical adaptor 32 so as to enable the supply of electricity to the light emitting member 21 through the inner connector 23, thereby completing the assembly. A tight seal and easy electrical connections of the inflatable object are thus achieved, and the decorative appearance of the inflatable object is also enhanced.
When it is desired to replace the light emitting member 21, the electrical adaptor 32 is simply detached from the second positioning member 31, thereby resulting in the deflation of the inflatable body 1 by the air filled therein escaping via the internally threaded hole 312 in the second positioning member 31. The inner connector 23 is then removed from the inner terminal end 332 of the electrical adaptor 32. The user subsequently extends his or her hand into the inflatable body 1 via the internally threaded hole 312, and removes the light emitting member 21 from the first positioning member 22 for replacement.
From the aforementioned description of the present invention, it is apparent that through the presence of the first positioning member 22, the light emitting member 21 can be positioned stably in the interior of the inflatable body 1, light distribution within the inflatable body 1 is uniform, and the interior of the inflatable body 1 may be lighted-to different colors by the first and second light emitting bodies 223, 224. Furthermore, through the tight seal and releasable engagement between the electrical adaptor 32 and the second positioning member 31, the inner and outer terminal ends 332, 331 of the electrical adaptor 32 can be connected releasably to the light emitting member 21 and the external power source without affecting the airtight structure of the inflatable object.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. An inflatable object comprising:

an inflatable body defining an air chamber;

an illuminating device disposed within said inflatable body, and including a hollow first positioning member welded to said inflatable body, and a light emitting member fitted sealingly in said first positioning member;

a hollow second positioning member welded to said inflatable body; and

an electrical adaptor fitted sealingly in said second positioning member, and having a terminal which has an inner terminal end extending into said air chamber, and an outer terminal end exposed from said inflatable body, said light emitting member being electrically coupled to said inner terminal end, said outer terminal end being adapted to enable electrical coupling to a power source.

2. The inflatable object as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an inner connector electrically coupled to said inner terminal end, and to said light emitting member within said inflatable body.

3. The inflatable object as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second positioning members has an internally threaded hole, said light emitting member having a bulb seat inserted threadedly into said internally threaded hole in said first positioning member, said electrical adaptor further including an adaptor housing which receives said terminal and which is inserted threadedly into said internally threaded hole in said second positioning member.

4. The inflatable object as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inflatable body has a partition member that divides said air chamber into first and second air chambers, said first positioning member being welded to said partition member.

5. The inflatable object as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light emitting member has a first light emitting body extending into said first air chamber from said first positioning member, and a second light emitting body extending into said second air chamber from said first positioning member.

6. The inflatable object as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first and second light emitting bodies are light emitting diodes having different colors.