US20080318490A1

US20080318490A1 - Dual output blower for an imflatable puppet

Info

Publication number: US20080318490A1
Application number: US11/820,324
Authority: US
Inventors: Sheng-Hung Hsu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-19
Filing date: 2007-06-19
Publication date: 2008-12-25

Abstract

A dual output blower for inflatable puppet has a fan and a valve assembly. The fan has an inlet, a primary outlet and a valve outlet. The valve assembly comprises a body, a switching board and a driver. The body has a valve chamber formed in the body, a valve inlet, two valves and a blower output, each communicating with the valve chamber. The switching board is rotatably mounted in the valve chamber. The driver is mounted securely on the switching board and rotates the switching board to determine which valve of the valve assembly inputs and outputs air. When an inflatable puppet is connected to one of the valves of the valve assembly, the driver may control the orientation of the switching board to guide the air and make the inflatable puppet perform novel and entertaining movements.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a blower, and more particularly to a dual output blower for inflatable puppets that makes the inflatable puppet perform entertaining movements.
2. Description of Related Art
Inflatable puppets are made of fabric, plastic or any flexible material and have various eye-catching appearances. Large inflatable puppets are used in exhibitions, conferences or such like and are inflated by fanblowers to attract people's attention.
Inflatable puppets inflated by fanblowers remain static relative to the ground so the inflatable puppets have no entertaining expansion or movement. Alternatively, expandable portions of the inflatable doll grow in a uniform or simple manner, with all portions of the doll growing at the same rate, so that the inflatable doll becomes tiresome.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a dual output blower for inflatable puppet to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a dual output blower for an inflatable puppet that can be mounted in an inflatable puppet and make the inflatable puppet perform novel and entertaining movements.
To achieve the objective, the dual output blower in accordance with present invention comprises a fan and a valve assembly.
The fan has an inlet, a primary outlet and a valve outlet.
The valve assembly comprises a body, a switching board and a driver. The body has a valve chamber formed in the body a valve inlet, two valves and a blower output, each communicating with the valve chamber. The switching board is rotatably mounted in the valve chamber. The driver is mounted securely on the switching board and rotates the switching board to determine which valve of the valve assembly inputs and outputs air.
When, an inflatable puppet is connected to one of the valves of the valve assembly, the driver may control the orientation of the switching board to guide the air and make the inflatable puppet perform novel and entertaining movements.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dual output blower in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the dual output blower in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an operational top view in partial section of the dual output blower in FIG. 1 mounted in an inflatable puppet;

FIG. 4 is an operational side view in partial section of the dual output blower in FIG. 1 mounted in the inflatable puppet;

FIG. 5 is an operational top view of the dual output blower in FIG. 1 showing air flowing out of one side;

FIG. 6 is an operational side view in partial section of the dual output blower in FIG. 1 mounted in an inflatable puppet; and

FIG. 7 is an operational top view of the dual output blower in FIG. 5, showing air blowing out of an other side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the dual output blower (1) in accordance with present invention comprises a fan (10), a valve assembly (20), a guiding tube (30) and an optional base (40).
The fan (10) can generate airflow and has a bottom, two sides, an inlet (11), a primary outlet (12) and a valve outlet (13). The primary outlet (12) and the valve outlet (13) are respectively formed oppositely in the sides of the fan (10).
The valve assembly (20) comprises a connector (24), a body (21), a switching board (22) and a driver (23).
The body (21) has a valve chamber (210), a blower outlet (211), a second valve (212), a valve inlet (213) and a first valve (214).
The valve chamber (210) is formed inside the body (21). The blower outlet (211), the second valve (212), the valve inlet (213) and the first valve (214) are formed through the body (21) and communicate with the valve chamber (210). The blower outlet (211) and the valve inlet (213) defined opposite to each other. The second valve (212) and the first valve (214) are defined opposite to each other and the blower outlet (211) connects to the connector (24) that is connected to the fan (10).
The switching board (22) is rotatably mounted in the valve chamber (210) to select which of the first and second valves (212, 214) inputs and outputs air. The driver (23) has an axle extending in the valve chamber (210) of the body (21) of the valve assembly (20), the axle is mounted securely to the switching board (22) and selectively rotates the switching board (22). The guiding tube (30) has two ends connected respectively to the valve outlet (13) of the fan (10) and the valve inlet (213) of the valve assembly (20).
The base (40) is mounted securely on the bottom of and supports the fan (10).
With further reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, an inflatable puppet (2) has a primary structure (3) and a secondary structure (4). The primary structure (3) has a mounting chamber (3A) and a blower recess (3B). The secondary structure (4) is formed integrally in the mounting chamber (3A) of the primary structure (3) and protrudes selectively from the mounting chamber (3A).
The dual output blower (1) in accordance with present invention is mounted in the blower recess (3B). The primary outlet (12) of the fan (10) connects to the primary structure (3), the first valve (214) of the valve assembly (20) connects to the secondary structure (4), and the second valve of the valve assembly (20) communicates with the blower recess (3B).
When the dual output blower (1) is operated, the driver (23) of the valve assembly (20) rotates the switching board (22) to an orientation that allows the blower outlet (211) and the second valve (212) to communicate and the valve inlet (213) communicate with the first valve (214).
In this orientation, air is sucked into the fan (10) from the secondary valve (212) and directed to the primary outlet (12) and the guiding tube (30), to respectively fill the primary structure (3) and supply air through the valve inlet (213) to the first valve (214) and fill the secondary structure (4), making the secondary structure (4) extend from the mounting chamber (3A) of the primary structure (3).
With further reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the driver (23) of the valve assembly (20) rotates the switching board (22) to a different orientation, that allows the blower outlet (211) to communicate with the first valve (214), and the second valve (212) to communicate with the valve inlet (213).
In this orientation, the air from the valve structure (4) is sucked into the first valve (214) to the fan (10) and through the guiding tube (30) to the second valve (212) for discharge. Meanwhile the primary outlet (12) of the fan (10) keeps inflating the primary portion of the inflatable puppet (2).
Accordingly, the secondary structure (4) controllably expands out of and shrinks into the mounting chamber (3A) of the first structure (3) and the inflatable puppet (2) performs entertaining and novel movements.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A dual output blower for inflatable puppet comprising

a fan having

a bottom;

two sides;

an inlet;

a primary outlet;

a valve outlet;

a valve assembly comprising

a body having

a valve chamber being formed inside the body;

a blower outlet, a second valve, an valve inlet and a first valve being formed through the body and communicating the valve chamber;

a switching board being rotatably mounted in the valve chamber; and

a driver having an axle extending in the valve chamber of the body of the valve assembly, and mounted securely on and selectively rotating the switching board;

a guiding tube having two ends connected respectively to the valve outlet of the fan and the valve inlet of the valve assembly.

2. The dual output blower as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the blower outlet and the valve inlet of the body of the valve assembly are opposite to each other; and

the second valve and the first valve of the body of the valve assembly are opposite to each.

3. The dual output blower as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the body of the valve assembly further has a connector; and

the blower outlet connects to the connector being connected to the inlet of the fan.

4. The dual output blower as claimed in claim 3, wherein the primary outlet and the valve outlet of the fan are respectively formed oppositely in the sides of the fan.

5. The dual output blower as claimed in claim 4 further has a base being mounted securely on the bottom of and supporting the fan.