Apparatus for the protection of a package, plant, animal, or human

Abstract

An inflatable apparatus which protects a package, plant, animal, or human from the elements, from impact from a fall, or from a predator when said package, plant, animal or human is placed with the apparatus. The apparatus can be inflated quickly because the entire apparatus does not have to be inflated to obtain its full size. The interior of the ball provides for a compartment separate from an inflatable compartment so that the compartment which is inflated with pressurized gas in order to hold the form of the apparatus can contain an atmosphere completely separate from the inner-most compartment of the apparatus in which a package, plant, animal, or human can be placed.

1 . An apparatus comprised of: Three or more flexible, concentric compartments, labeled as the outer-most, next to outer-most, and inner-most compartments which are formed in the shape of a sphere by the pressurization of only the outer-most compartment. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: There is a mechanism which is a part of the outer-most compartment of the apparatus allowing the compartment to be inflated and sealed. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: There are tube connections from the atmosphere to the compartments within the outer-most compartment allowing those compartments to fill with atmosphere as the outer-most compartment is being pressurized. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: All membranes are clear, colored, or mirrored. 
     
     
         6 . The ball in  claim 1  where: There are more than three components. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: The outer-most compartment is only sufficient in volume to inflate the compartment so that the ball takes on the shape of a sphere. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: The compartments within the outer-most compartment are not pressurized. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: There is an outer-most membrane which separates the outer-most compartment from the atmosphere. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: The three or more compartments are separated by membranes. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: The outer-most membrane of the apparatus is connected to the next to outer-most membrane by connections that are flexible and keep the outer-most membrane at a fixed distance from the next to outer-most membrane. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: Each membrane and the next membrane within the apparatus are connected in the same manner as  claim 11 . 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: Fins may or may not extend outward from the outer-most membrane. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: There is an opening from the outside of the apparatus to the inner-most compartment large enough for a package, plant, animal, or human to pass through. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus in  claim 1  where: The inner-most compartment is large enough for a package, plant, animal, or human.