US4215778A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable instrument case
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1979-05-29
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Granted: 1980-08-05
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Expires: 1999-05-29
Abstract
Abstract An inflatable instrument case for musical instruments includes upper and lower complementary sections, each including an inner wall and an outer wall member, forming a cavity therein between. Such cavity is inflatable. Each inner wall, of each complementary section, includes a portion thereof having an inflatable section which is independently inflatable from the cavity in each complementary section. Thus, an interior cavity is provided, surrounded by an inflatable structure, such that the inflatable structure is encapsulated within the cavities formed within the complementary sections. The exterior surface of each complementary section may be covered with a flexible material, simulating a leather-like appearance. A musical instrument may be carried within the structure, totally protected as if by floating within a column of air, and surrounded by the interior inflatable covering thereover. A flexible locking means is provided for releasably securing the complementary sections together, having one marginal edge of each section pivotably secured to each other, in hinge-like fashion.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Kovins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:57
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10G; G10G7/00; G10G7/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
An inflatable instrument case for musical instruments or the like comprising upper and lower complementary sections each including a plurality of inflatable elements, each of said plurality of inflatable elements having a pair of opposed sides and uppermost and lowermost surface, each of said plurality of inflatable elements fixedly secured on at least one of said opposed sides of an adjacent inflatable element, said opposed ends of each of said inflatable elements being proximate to the second ends of an adjacent inflatable element when said opposed sides thereof are secured together, said uppermost surfaces of each of said plurality of said inflatable elements providing a recessed area, said recessed areas forming an open-ended chamber in said upper section and an open-ended chamber in said lower section, said recessed areas bounded by a pair of flexible webs defining said recessed areas, said upper and lower complementary sections dimensioned to be selectively disposed in an overlaying relationship with the uppermost surfaces thereof disposed in a touching relationship, said open-ended chambers forming an enclosed storage chamber, means for communicating air to each of said plurality of inflatable elements of both said upper and said lower complementary sections, means for communicating air to said pair of flexible webs whereby said pair of flexible webs may be inflated and whereby said pair of flexible webs is contained totally within the interior of said upper and said lower complementary sections, and means for selectively joining said upper and said lower complementary sections together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
An inflatable instrument case for musical instruments or the like comprising upper and lower complementary sections each including a plurality of inflatable elements, each of said plurality of inflatable elements having a pair of opposed sides and uppermost and lowermost surface, each of said plurality of inflatable elements fixedly secured on at least one of said opposed sides of an adjacent inflatable element, said opposed ends of each of said inflatable elements being proximate to the second ends of an adjacent inflatable element when said opposed sides thereof are secured together, said uppermost surfaces of each of said plurality of said inflatable elements providing a recessed area, said recessed areas forming an open-ended chamber in said upper section and an open-ended chamber in said lower section, said recessed areas bounded by a pair of flexible webs defining said recessed areas, said upper and lower complementary sections dimensioned to be selectively disposed in an overlaying relationship with the uppermost surfaces thereof disposed in a touching relationship, said open-ended chambers forming an enclosed storage chamber, means for communicating air to each of said plurality of inflatable elements of both said upper and said lower complementary sections, means for communicating air to said pair of flexible webs whereby said pair of flexible webs may be inflated and whereby said pair of flexible webs is contained totally within the interior of said upper and said lower complementary sections, and means for selectively joining said upper and said lower complementary sections together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An inflatable instrument case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communicating means comprises a plurality of air valves operably connected to selected said inflatable elements and a plurality of apertures located in selected said side walls for communicating air between selected adjacent said inflatable elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An inflatable instrument case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selective joining means comprises hinge means and latch means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
An inflatable instrument case as claimed in claim 3, wherein said hinge means comprises a plurality of substantially flat flexible hinge elements each having a first end and a second end, said first ends fixedly secured to an edge of said upper section and said second ends fixedly secured to an adjacent edge of said lower section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
An inflatable instrument case as claimed in claim 3, wherein said latch means comprises a plurality of flexible strips each fixedly secured on the first end thereof to said upper section, a plurality of hooked type "VELCRO" pads fixedly secured to the second ends of each of said semi-flexible strips, a plurality of looped type "VELCRO" pads being fixedly secured to said lower section, each of said plurality of looped "VELCRO" pads for engaging one of each of said plurality of hooked "VELCRO" pads and thereby securing said upper and lower sections in said overlaying relationship.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An inflatable instrument case as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a handle fixedly secured to said lower section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
An air inflatable case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior of said pair of flexible webs is pneumatically decoupled to the interior of said upper and lower complementary sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a leather-like material, said leather-like material being disposed fixedly secured to the exterior surface of at least one of said upper and lower complementary sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further comprising indicia, said indicia being disposed on the exterior surface of said leather-like material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-08-05 | 1984-02-04 | 1984-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-05 | 1988-02-04 | 1988-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-05 | 1992-02-04 | 1992-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |