Inflatable device with layered ornamentation

Abstract

According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide an ornamented inflatable device comprising a first layer of material and a second layer of material having an inflatable chamber therebetween, at least a portion of the first layer being transparent, a first decorative ornamentation applied to the transparent portion of the first layer, and a second decorative ornamentation applied to the second layer on the side of the second layer that faces the transparent portion of the first layer, wherein said first decorative ornamentation and said second decorative ornamentation share a common theme, and when viewed simultaneously by one looking through the transparent portion of the first layer into the inflated chamber, cooperate to form a three-dimensional depiction relating to that common theme.

1 . An ornamented inflatable device comprising:
 a first layer of material and a second layer of material having an inflatable chamber therebetween, at least a portion of the first layer being transparent;   a first decorative ornamentation applied to the transparent portion of the first layer; and   a second decorative ornamentation applied to the second layer on a side of the second layer that faces the transparent portion of the first layer;   wherein said first decorative ornamentation and said second decorative ornamentation share a common theme, and when viewed simultaneously by one looking through the transparent portion of the first layer into the inflated chamber, cooperate to form a three-dimensional depiction relating to that common theme.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first decorative ornamentation is applied to the transparent portion of the first layer on a side of the first layer that faces the second decorative ornamentation. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one columnar member extending between the first and second layers of material. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one columnar member bears a third decorative ornamentation that shares the common theme with the first and second decorative ornamentation. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising loose ornamental material located within the inflatable chamber and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising loose ornamental material located within the at least one columnar member and sharing the common theme with the decorative ornamentation. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer of material and the second layer of material are welded together to form the inflatable chamber therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . A method of creating an ornamented inflatable device, the method comprising acts of:
 welding a first panel of PVC to a second panel of PVC to form an inflatable chamber therebetween, wherein at least a portion of the first panel is transparent;   printing a first ornamentation on the first panel;   printing a second ornamentation on a side of the second panel that faces the first panel; and   configuring the first panel relative to the second panel so that, when viewed simultaneously by one looking through the transparent first layer into the inflated chamber, the first panel and the second panel cooperate to form a three-dimensional effect.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the act of welding includes welding the first panel to the second panel around an outer edge of the first panel and an outer edge of the second panel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the act of welding includes welding the first panel to the second panel around a center weld portion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the act of printing a first ornamentation includes printing the first ornamentation on a side of the first panel that faces the second ornamentation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising welding at least one columnar member to the first panel and the second panel, the at least one columnar member extending through the inflatable chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising placing loose ornamental material within the at least one columnar member. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising placing loose ornamental material within the inflatable chamber. 
     
     
         15 . An inflatable device comprising:
 a first layer of material and a second layer of material having an inflatable chamber therebetween, at least a portion of the first layer being transparent;   a first decorative ornamentation applied to the transparent portion of the first layer; and   a second decorative ornamentation applied to the second layer on a side of the second layer that faces the transparent portion of the first layer;   wherein said first decorative ornamentation comprises a depiction of at least one foreground image and the second decorative ornamentation comprises a depiction of a background image that is contextually related to said foreground image and spaced apart therefrom across the inflated chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first decorative ornamentation is applied to the transparent portion of the first layer on a side of the first layer that faces the second decorative ornamentation. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one columnar member extending between the first and second layers of material. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one columnar member bears a third decorative ornamentation that shares a common theme with the first and second decorative ornamentation. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising loose ornamental material located within the inflatable chamber and sharing a common theme with the decorative ornamentation. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising loose ornamental material located within the at least one columnar member and sharing a common theme with the decorative ornamentation.