US20090211168A1

US20090211168A1 - Inflatable bounce house with animated display

Info

Publication number: US20090211168A1
Application number: US12/036,208
Authority: US
Inventors: Brett Bogar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-22
Filing date: 2008-02-22
Publication date: 2009-08-27

Abstract

Various embodiments of this invention disclose an inflatable bounce house with an animated display.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention generally relates to bounce houses. Moreover, it pertains specifically to an inflatable bounce house with an air powered animated display. The animated display can be an ornamental attachment to the inflatable bounce house, or it can be within an integrated wall portion of the inflatable bounce house.

BACKGROUND

Inflatable bounce houses are an important part of many children's parties. Once inflated, the bounce house offers a safe and fun activity for children, and some of the adult party goers as well. Inflatable bounce houses typically resemble a large play house or castle that can be entered via a flap door in the front of the inflatable bounce house. Once inside, the inflated bottom of the inflatable bounce house acts as a fully enclosed trampoline. The user jumps up and down on the bottom and is prevented from flying off by the sides of the inflatable bounce house. Although many types of inflatable bounce houses are available with two-dimensional graphics or even three-dimensional life-size display objects, none of these inflatable bounce houses have animated displays. Animated displays are important because they add a sense of fun, motion, and wonderment to the viewers and users of an inflatable bounce house. The animated displays can simulate many things, including a snow storm or a confetti parade. There is a need in the art for an inflatable bounce house with an animated display.
In the area of inflatable bounce houses, many types are currently available. One such inflatable bounce house is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 7,108,608, to Field et al., which discloses an inflatable bouncer with three-dimensional displays. Although, the three-dimensional displays can be interesting at first, they are not animated and do not provide a sense of motion to the user of the inflatable bounce house. Thus, the Field bounce house fails to disclose an inflatable bounce house with an animated display.
Another inflatable bounce house is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,357, to Rubio et al., which discloses an inflatable bounce house with removable and exchangeable inflatable graphics. Although the Rubio bounce house can take on different themes depending on what graphics are attached to it, the graphics are stationary and in no way animated. Thus, the Rubio bounce house fails to disclose an inflatable bounce house with an animated display.
There are numerous visual animated displays that are not related to inflatable bounce houses. There are many seasonal themed visual animated displays available. One such visual animated display is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,580, to Moomaw, which discloses a giant winter season snow globe. The Moomaw animated display is an inflatable globe with a stationary evergreen tree in its interior, around which an air-powered snow storm is simulated. Although Moomaw discloses an animated display, it does not disclose that this animated display is an ornamental feature or integrated part of an inflatable bounce house.
Another visual animated display is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,500 to Sharp, which discloses a decorative display where a large number of eye-catching particles are agitated within an enclosed space. Although Sharp's device discloses an air powered animated display, the device is not inflatable and is not an ornamental feature or integrated part of an inflatable bounce house.
Thus, there remains a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable bounce house with an animated display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses an inflatable bounce house with an air powered animated display.
One embodiment of this invention is an inflatable bounce house, comprising a plurality of inflatable walls, and a plurality of wall connectors. The plurality of inflatable walls and the plurality of wall connectors define an enclosed interior space within the inflatable bounce house. The plurality of inflatable walls have an exterior surface and an interior surface that enclose an inflation fluid. The plurality of inflatable walls are transparent and contain a plurality of particles. The plurality of wall connectors have an opening to allow entrance and exit from the inflatable bounce house. The particle containing inflatable walls further comprise one or more restraining screens, such that the plurality of particles are prevented from leaving.
Another embodiment of this invention is an inflatable bounce house, comprising a plurality of inflatable walls, a plurality of wall connectors, and one or more ornamental portions. The plurality of inflatable walls and the plurality of wall connectors define an enclosed interior space within the inflatable bounce house. The plurality of inflatable walls have an exterior surface and an interior surface that enclose an inflation fluid. The ornamental portions have an exterior surface and an interior surface that enclose an inflation fluid. The ornamental portions are transparent and contain a plurality of particles. The plurality of wall connectors have an opening to allow entrance and exit from the inflatable bounce house. The ornamental portions further comprise one or more restraining screens, such that the plurality of particles are prevented from leaving.
Another embodiment of the invention is an inflatable bounce house, comprising a plurality of inflatable walls, a plurality of wall connectors, and one or more ornamental portions. The plurality of inflatable walls and the plurality of wall connectors define an enclosed interior space within the inflatable bounce house. The plurality of inflatable walls have an exterior surface and an interior surface that enclose an inflation fluid. The plurality of inflatable walls are transparent and contain a plurality of particles. The ornamental portions have an exterior surface and an interior surface that enclose an inflation fluid. The ornamental portions are transparent and contain a plurality of particles. The plurality of wall connectors has an opening to allow entrance and exit from the inflatable bounce house. The particle containing inflatable walls further comprise one or more restraining screens, such that the plurality of particles are prevented from leaving. The ornamental portions further comprise one or more restraining screens, such that the plurality of particles are prevented from leaving.
An object of the present invention is to provide a fun, animated, and exciting inflatable bounce house that will overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sparkling and colorful animated display that is attached to or part of an inflatable bounce house.
Other features and advantages are inherent in the inflatable bounce house claimed and disclosed will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the inflatable bounce house.

FIG. 2 is a detailed illustration of one embodiment of an ornamental portion of the inflatable bounce house.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention. However, one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiments of the invention.
In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of one or more embodiments of the invention. For instance “transparent” refers to both transparency and translucency. “Plastic” refers to any natural or synthetic polymer resin such as cellulose, polyethylene or polystyrene.
FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the inflatable bounce house. FIG. 1 shows an inflatable bounce house 100 with inflatable walls 105, 106, 107, and 110, wall connectors 120, ornamental portions 130, opening 140, inflatable entrance/exit ramp 150, and air blower 160. Inflatable bounce house 100 can be any shape including, but not limited to, a house, a fortress, a church, a castle, a ship, a car, a truck, a stadium, an animal, or a tree. As shown in FIG. 1, the inflatable wall 105 is preferably an inflated bottom wall that allows the user to bounce inside inflatable bounce house 100. The structure of inflatable bounce house 100 is provided by inflatable walls 106, 107, and 110. When inflated, inflatable walls 106, 107, and 110 maintain a positive air pressure that prevents them from collapsing and keeps bouncing users contained within the inflatable bounce house 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the inflatable walls are preferably all interconnected to allow air from a single air blower 160 to reach all of the inflatable walls 105, 106, 107, and 110 and ornamental portions 130. Inflatable bounce house 100 can be made with disconnected walls, but more than one blower may be required. The one or more air blowers 160 that inflate and keep positive air pressure in the inflatable walls 105, 106, 107, and 110 are standard electric or gas powered blowers known to the industry.
Inflatable walls 105, 106, 107, and 110 are preferably made from brightly colored plastic, but can be made from any air impervious material such as resin infused cloth. As shown in FIG. 1, wall connectors 120 connect the inflatable walls. Wall connectors 120 are preferably made from a mesh of material, such as nylon, that can be easily seen through, but keeps users safely enclosed in the inflatable bounce house 100. Wall connectors 120 can be made from any natural or synthetic fabric or plastic. Inflatable bounce house 100, as shown in FIG. 1, preferably has no roof, but a plastic or fabric roof can be added without deviating from the scope of the invention. The shape of inflatable walls 105, 106, 107, and 110 can be any irregular or regular shape such as a sphere, a cube, a cylinder, a tetrahedron, or a pyramid.
As shown in FIG. 1, inflatable walls 110 are preferably transparent and contain particles 170 that when blown by the air moving through the wall, move around the interior of inflatable walls 110 in an animated way. The particles 170 in the inflatable walls 110 are preferably made from a physically light, metallic-looking, and/or shiny substance such as Mylar, confetti, Styrofoam, or painted Styrofoam, and are loose within the interior of inflatable walls 110. However, particles 170 can be long strips that are attached on one end to the interior of inflatable walls 110, such that the long strips wave and dance in an animated manner. Preferably the particles 170 will match the colors and theme of the rest of inflatable bounce house 100. Preferably inflatable walls 110 are transparent on all sides, but they can be partly opaque, such that only the users of inflatable bounce house 100 can see the animated display, or so that only those on the exterior can see the animated display. Inflatable walls 110 can also be transparent with an opaque two dimensional graphic printed on that enhances the animation within inflatable walls 110.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ornamental portions 130 of inflatable bounce house 100 are preferably attached to one of the inflatable walls. The ornamental portions 130 allow the inflatable bounce house to display additional animation that incorporates and expands the theme of inflatable bounce house 100.
FIG. 2 is a detailed illustration of an ornamental portion of the inflatable bounce house. As shown in FIG. 2, the ornamental portion 230 is preferably inflated, transparent, and contains particles 270 that are animated as air passes into the ornamental portion 230 through opening 280 and then out through opening 285. Openings 280 and 285, have air permeable restraining screens 290 and 295, which allow air to blow into and out of the ornamental portion 230, but do not allow particles 270 to leave. Preferably the particles 270 of ornamental portion 230, are made from a physically light, metallic-looking, and/or shiny substance such as Mylar, confetti, Styrofoam, or painted Styrofoam, and are loose within the interior of ornamental portion 230. However, particles 270 can be strips that are attached on one end to the interior of ornamental portion 230, such that the strips wave and dance in an animated manner. Preferably the particles 270 will match the colors and theme of the rest of inflatable bounce house. Preferably ornamental portion 230 is transparent on all sides, but it can be partly opaque. Ornamental portion 230 can also be transparent with an opaque two dimensional graphic printed on that enhances the animation within the ornamental portion 230. The shape of ornamental portion 230 can be any irregular or regular geometric shape, such as a sphere, a cube, a cylinder, a tetrahedron, or a triangle.
In summary, the present invention is an inflatable bounce house with an air powered animated display.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Also, although not explicitly recited, one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced in combination or conjunction with one another. Furthermore, the reference or non-reference to a particular embodiment of the invention shall not be interpreted to limit the scope the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims that are appended hereto.

Claims

1. An inflatable bounce house, comprising:

a plurality of inflatable walls, and

a plurality of wall connectors;

wherein said plurality of inflatable walls and said plurality of wall connectors define an enclosed interior space within said inflatable bounce house;

wherein said plurality of inflatable walls have an exterior surface and an interior surface that enclose an inflation fluid;

wherein one or more of said plurality of inflatable walls are transparent and contain a plurality of particles; and

wherein one or more of said plurality of wall connectors has an opening to allow entrance and exit from said inflatable bounce house.

2. The inflatable bounce house of claim 1, wherein said particle containing inflatable walls further comprise an one or more air permeable restraining screens, such that said plurality of particles are prevented from leaving.

3. An inflatable bounce house, comprising:

a plurality of inflatable walls,

a plurality of wall connectors, and

an one or more ornamental portions;

wherein said one or more ornamental portions have an exterior surface and an interior surface that enclose an inflation fluid;

wherein said one or more ornamental portions are transparent and contain a plurality of particles; and

4. The inflatable bounce house of claim 3, wherein said one or more ornamental portions further comprise an one or more restraining screens, such that said plurality of particles are prevented from leaving.

5. An inflatable bounce house, comprising:

a plurality of inflatable walls,

a plurality of wall connectors, and

an one or more ornamental portions;

wherein one or more of said plurality of inflatable walls are transparent and contain a plurality of particles;

6. The inflatable bounce house of claim 5, wherein said particle containing inflatable walls further comprise an one or more restraining screens, such that said plurality of particles are prevented from leaving; and

wherein said one or more ornamental portions further comprise an one or more restraining screens, such that said plurality of particles are prevented from leaving.