Inflatable ornament and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

An inflatable ornament includes a hollow shell ( 110 ) formed of a flexible material ( 111 ) and having an opening ( 112 ) therein. An airway ( 120 ) formed of the flexible material is coupled to the opening and extends between the opening and a fan ( 130 ). The fan and the hollow shell are in fluid communication with each other along an axis ( 140 ) extending through the airway between the fan and the hollow shell. The fan is located to the side of the hollow shell and does not support the hollow shell or lie between the hollow shell and a surface on which the hollow shell sits.

1 . An inflatable ornament comprising: 
 a hollow shell formed of a flexible material and comprising an opening;    an airway comprising: 
 a first end coupled to the hollow shell at the opening; and  
 a second end; and  
   a fan coupled to the airway at the second end such that the fan and the hollow shell are in fluid communication with each other along an axis extending through the airway between the fan and the hollow shell,    wherein: 
 the opening is the only opening in the hollow shell;  
 the airway extends away from the hollow shell when the airway and the hollow shell are inflated by the fan;  
 the hollow shell comprises a long dimension; and  
 the axis is neither parallel nor substantially parallel to the long dimension of the hollow shell.  
   
   
   
       2 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a weight inside the hollow shell.    
   
   
       3 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 2  wherein: 
 the weight comprises a sealed tube containing a quantity of sand; and    the sealed tube is attached to the hollow shell.    
   
   
       4 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a support for the hollow shell located at a base of the hollow shell.    
   
   
       5 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a plurality of lights inside the hollow shell.    
   
   
       6 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 5  wherein: 
 the plurality of lights are distributed along at least a portion of the long dimension of the hollow shell; and    each one of the plurality of lights comprises: 
 a bulb;  
 a socket capable of receiving the bulb and of distributing electrical power to the bulb; and  
 a cover enclosing the bulb and at least partially enclosing the socket.  
   
   
   
       7 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a fastener inside the hollow shell; and    an electrical power cord extending between the fan and the fastener,    wherein: 
 each one of the plurality of lights is attached to the electrical power cord.  
   
   
   
       8 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a tether loop attached to the hollow shell.    
   
   
       9 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the flexible material is a gas-permeable material.    
   
   
       10 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the fan comprises an on/off switch.    
   
   
       11 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an electrical power cord attached to the fan and having a plug at an end thereof,    wherein: 
 the electrical power cord supplies electrical power to the fan such that the fan operates continuously while the plug is connected to a source of electrical power; and  
 the plug comprises a fuse capable of interrupting electrical power to the fan.  
   
   
   
       12 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a fastener inside the hollow shell; and    a second electrical power cord extending between the fan and the fastener and having a plurality of lights attached thereto,    wherein: 
 the fan does not comprise an on/off switch; and  
 the second electrical power cord is electrically connected to the electrical power cord.  
   
   
   
       13 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the hollow shell comprises a vent capable of being selectively opened and closed in order to, respectively, release or trap a gas inside the hollow shell.    
   
   
       14 . An inflatable ornament capable of being supported on a surface, the inflatable ornament comprising: 
 a hollow shell formed of a flexible material and comprising an opening, the hollow shell capable of retaining a gas therein;    an airway formed of the flexible material and comprising: 
 a first end coupled to the hollow shell at the opening; and  
 a second end; and  
   a fan coupled to the airway at the second end such that the fan and the hollow shell are in fluid communication with each other along an axis extending through the airway between the fan and the hollow shell,    wherein: 
 the airway extends away from the hollow shell when the airway and the hollow shell are inflated by the fan such that the fan is not located between the surface and the hollow shell.  
   
   
   
       15 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 14  wherein: 
 the hollow shell comprises a long dimension; and    the axis is neither parallel nor substantially parallel to the long dimension of the hollow shell.    
   
   
       16 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 14  wherein: 
 the hollow shell has a first volume;    the airway has a second volume; and    the first volume is greater than the second volume.    
   
   
       17 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 16  wherein: 
 the first volume exceeds the second volume by at least a factor of twenty.    
   
   
       18 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 a fastener inside the hollow shell;    an electrical power cord extending between the fan and the fastener; and    a plurality of lights attached to the electrical power cord.    
   
   
       19 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 14  wherein: 
 the hollow shell comprises a vent capable of being selectively opened and closed in order to, respectively, release or trap the gas inside the hollow shell.    
   
   
       20 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 a weight inside the hollow shell.    
   
   
       21 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 20  wherein: 
 the weight comprises a sealed tube containing a quantity of sand; and    the sealed tube is sewn to the hollow shell.    
   
   
       22 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 a support coupled to the hollow shell and located between the hollow shell and the surface.    
   
   
       23 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 14  wherein: 
 the flexible material comprises a gas-permeable fabric.    
   
   
       24 . An inflatable ornament capable of being supported on a surface, the inflatable ornament comprising: 
 a hollow shell formed of a flexible, gas-permeable material capable of retaining a gas therein and comprising: 
 a base capable of resting on the surface;  
 a top suspended above the base when the inflatable ornament is inflated with the gas; and  
 an opening;  
   an airway formed of the flexible, gas-permeable material and comprising: 
 a first end coupled to the hollow shell at the opening; and  
 a second end; and  
   a fan coupled to the airway at the second end such that the fan and the hollow shell are in fluid communication with each other along an axis extending through the airway between the fan and the hollow shell;    a sealed tube sewn to the base of the hollow shell and containing a quantity of sand capable of stabilizing the inflatable ornament on the surface;    a first electrical power cord electrically coupled to the fan; and    a lighting system inside the hollow shell comprising: 
 a fastener coupled to the hollow shell;  
 a second electrical power cord extending between the fan and the fastener; and  
 a plurality of lights electrically coupled to the second electrical power cord,  
   wherein: 
 the airway extends away from the hollow shell such that the fan is not located between the surface and the base of the hollow shell when the airway and the hollow shell are inflated by the fan;  
 the hollow shell comprises a long dimension and has a first volume;  
 the airway has a second volume less than the first volume; and  
 the axis is neither parallel nor substantially parallel to the long dimension of the hollow shell.  
   
   
   
       25 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 24  wherein: 
 the plurality of lights are distributed along at least a portion of the long dimension of the hollow shell; and    each one of the plurality of lights comprises: 
 a bulb;  
 a socket capable of receiving the bulb and of distributing electrical power to the bulb; and  
 a cover enclosing the bulb and at least partially enclosing the socket.  
   
   
   
       26 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 25  wherein: 
 the hollow shell comprises a vent capable of being selectively opened and closed in order to, respectively, release or trap the gas inside the hollow shell.    
   
   
       27 . The inflatable ornament of  claim 26  wherein: 
 the first volume exceeds the second volume by at least a factor of twenty.    
   
   
       28 . A method of manufacturing an inflatable ornament capable of being supported on a surface, the method comprising: 
 providing a hollow shell formed of a flexible material and comprising an opening;    providing an airway formed of the flexible material and comprising: 
 a first end coupled to the hollow shell at the opening; and  
 a second end;  
   providing a fan capable of introducing a gas into the hollow shell to inflate the hollow shell; and    coupling the fan to the second end of the airway such that: 
 the fan and the hollow shell are in fluid communication with each other along an axis extending through the airway between the fan and the hollow shell;  
 the airway extends away from the hollow shell when the airway and the hollow shell are inflated by the fan; and  
 the fan is not located between the surface and the hollow shell.  
   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 providing a fastener inside the hollow shell; and    providing an electrical power cord having a plurality of lights attached thereto and extending between the fan and the fastener.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein: 
 each one of the plurality of lights comprises: 
 a bulb;  
 a socket capable of receiving the bulb and of distributing electrical power to the bulb; and  
 a cover enclosing the bulb and at least partially enclosing the socket.  
   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 providing the hollow shell with a vent capable of being selectively opened and closed in order to, respectively, release or trap the gas inside the hollow shell.