Patent US4034495A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4034495A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable toy
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-03-10
•
Granted: 1977-07-12
•
Expires: 1995-03-10
Abstract
Abstract Structures are provided in inflatable toys having eyecatching optical effects. In one form of the invention, an added section of transparent flexible plastic is heat sealed to the outer wall of an inflatable enclosure and contains printed matter which cooperates with printed matter on the outer surface of the inflatable enclosure directly aligned therewith to provide interference effects which appear to change as the angle of sight of the observer and the inflatable assembly varies. In another form, an inflatable enclosure is made of transparent flexible plastic material and contains printed grid lines or other forms of printing having spaces or interstices provided on opposite surfaces of the inflatable enclosure and may be viewed directly through the enclosure so as to generate interference patterns. The invention is also concerned with an inflatable display or lamp containing an electric light secured within an inner wall of the enclosure which is exterior of the inflated volume.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome H. Lemelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:49
CPC Classifications
B; B44; B44F; B44F1/00; B44F1/06; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B44F1/08; B44F1/10; G; G09; G09F; G09F19/00; G09F19/12; G09F19/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
An inflatable structure comprising: an enclosure made substantially of flexible sheet material and capable of retaining a gas under pressure, said enclosure having opposed walls which are joined together and define respective first and second wall portions disposed so as to be predeterminately retained apart in fixed relation with respect to each other when the enclosure is internally gas pressurized and inflated, said first wall portion being disposed to face an observer in front of said second wall portion, a transparent part of said first wall portion through which said second wall portion of said enclosure may be viewed by an observer looking through said first wall portion of said enclosure, part of said second wall portion of said enclosure which is viewable through said transparent part of said first wall portion being printed with first indicia defining areas thereof which are interposed between areas therebetween of different light contrasting characteristics than the characteristics of said first indicia, second indicia printed on said transparent part of said first wall portion and arranged for cooperating with the images of said indicia printed on said second wall portion when viewed by an observer through said first wall portion, said first and second indicia being shaped and disposed on said first and second wall portions so as to provide a dynamic display effect which appears to move to an observer as the angle between the line of sight of the observer and said enclosure varies by the relative movement of either with respect to the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
An inflatable structure comprising: an enclosure made substantially of flexible sheet material and capable of retaining a gas under pressure, said enclosure having opposed walls which are joined together and define respective first and second wall portions disposed so as to be predeterminately retained apart in fixed relation with respect to each other when the enclosure is internally gas pressurized and inflated, said first wall portion being disposed to face an observer in front of said second wall portion, a transparent part of said first wall portion through which said second wall portion of said enclosure may be viewed by an observer looking through said first wall portion of said enclosure, part of said second wall portion of said enclosure which is viewable through said transparent part of said first wall portion being printed with first indicia defining areas thereof which are interposed between areas therebetween of different light contrasting characteristics than the characteristics of said first indicia, second indicia printed on said transparent part of said first wall portion and arranged for cooperating with the images of said indicia printed on said second wall portion when viewed by an observer through said first wall portion, said first and second indicia being shaped and disposed on said first and second wall portions so as to provide a dynamic display effect which appears to move to an observer as the angle between the line of sight of the observer and said enclosure varies by the relative movement of either with respect to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second wall portions comprise opposite walls of said enclosure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first wall portion defines part of the outside wall of said enclosure and said second wall portion is enclosed within the envelope formed by the walls of said enclosure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein said first wall portion is formed of a section of transparent sheet material sealed to a wall of said enclosure and said second wall portion is an extension of the wall to which said first wall portion is sealed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A structure in accordance with claim 4, including an opening in said second wall portion communicating the volume interior of the enclosure with the volume between said first and second wall portions whereby both may be inflated by applying gas pressure to either.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said first and second indicia comprises parallel bands of printed matter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein both said first and second indicia comprise parallel bands of printed matter which interfere with each other and mutually generate a moving effect to an observer as the observer and inflated structure relatively move.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second indicia comprise respective printed grid patterns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said first and second indicia comprises bands of opaque printed matter which extend outwardly from a central area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
165 words
An inflatable structure comprising: an enclosure made of flexible sheet material and capable of retaining a gas under pressure, a section of transparent plastic sheet material fixedly sealed to a wall of said enclosure across a first portion of said wall, said first portion of said wall beneath said transparent sheet material containing first indicia printed thereon and a second indicia printed on said section of transparent plastic sheet material, said section of transparent plastic sheet material being sealed to said wall of said enclosure so as to define a confined volume between said transparent sheet material and a portion of the wall of said enclosure, an opening in said first portion of said wall of said enclosure beneath said transparent sheet material communicating the volume interior of said enclosure with the volume between said section of transparent sheet material and said wall of said enclosure whereby both said volumes may be simultaneously inflated by applying a gas under pressure to either of said volumes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
165 words
An inflatable structure comprising: an enclosure made of flexible sheet material and capable of retaining a gas under pressure, a section of transparent plastic sheet material fixedly sealed to a wall of said enclosure across a first portion of said wall, said first portion of said wall beneath said transparent sheet material containing first indicia printed thereon and a second indicia printed on said section of transparent plastic sheet material, said section of transparent plastic sheet material being sealed to said wall of said enclosure so as to define a confined volume between said transparent sheet material and a portion of the wall of said enclosure, an opening in said first portion of said wall of said enclosure beneath said transparent sheet material communicating the volume interior of said enclosure with the volume between said section of transparent sheet material and said wall of said enclosure whereby both said volumes may be simultaneously inflated by applying a gas under pressure to either of said volumes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1567132A
Cited
US2170539A
Cited
US2482947A
Cited
US3026648A
Cited
US2927383A
Cited
GB893680A
Cited
US3686782A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-11 | 1981-01-10 | 1981-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-11 | 1985-01-10 | 1985-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-11 | 1989-01-10 | 1989-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |