Barrier device

Abstract

A barrier device forms an inflatable barrier that restricts an object from passing through an opening at the periphery of a support structure, such that a substantial portion of the opening is blocked. The support structure may include furniture. A bladder is inflated with a gas to conform to the size of the opening. The bladder has a first region and a second region that fold over each other to conform to the size of the opening for providing a more substantial barrier. A first end and a second end have an inlet for enabling passage of the gas to and from an interior region of the bladder. In this manner, the size of the bladder can be adjusted. A handle on either end facilities mobility of the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a bladder comprising an interior region, said interior region being configured to contain a gas, said bladder being configured to be suitably designed such that when inflated with the gas said bladder is operable to expand to at least partially cover an opening at the periphery of a support structure, thereby restricting an object from passing there through,   said bladder further comprising a first region and a second region disposed to extend along a longitudinal axis of said bladder, said first region and said second region being configured to at least partially fold at a junction for enabling said bladder to conform to a dimension of said opening,   said bladder further comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion and/or said second end portion comprising an inlet, said inlet being configured to enable passage of said gas to and from said interior region.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , in which said bladder comprises a substantially cylindrical shape when containing said gas. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , in which said bladder comprises a generally flat, rectangular shape when not containing said gas. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , in which said gas comprises air. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , in which said bladder containing said gas has a length of about six feet, and a height of about five inches. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , in which said first end portion and said second end portion have a diameter of about five and three-quarter inches. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , in which said bladder comprises a black color. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , in which said inlet comprises a nozzle being configured to be operable to receive air from a mouth. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , in which said nozzle comprises a cap being configured to at least partially restrict passage of said gas through said inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , in which said first end portion and/or said second end portion comprises a handle. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , in which said handle comprises a nylon strap. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , in which said support structure is at least a portion of a furniture. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , in which said furniture is a sofa and the opening is a peripheral space under the sofa. 
     
     
         14 . A device comprising:
 means for containing a gas, said gas containing means being able to at least partially cover an opening while containing said gas;   means for enabling said gas containing means to conform to a dimension of said opening;   means for enabling said dimension conforming means to at least partially block an item from passing through said opening; and   means for releasing said gas, said gas releasing means being able to at least partially enable storage.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , in which said gas containing means comprises a generally cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , further containing means for folding to conform to said dimension of said opening. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , further containing means for gripping said gas containing means. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further containing means for supporting said gas containing means. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , in which said gas containing means has a length of about six feet, and a height of about five inches. 
     
     
         20 . A device consisting of:
 a bladder comprising an interior region being configured to contain a gas, said bladder comprising a black color, said bladder being configured to at least partially cover an opening while containing said gas, said opening comprising a gap disposed at a periphery of a support structure, said bladder containing said gas has a length of about six feet, and a height of about five inches,   said bladder further comprising a first region and a second region disposed to extend along a longitudinal axis of said bladder, said first region and said second region being configured to at least partially fold at a junction for enabling said bladder to conform to a dimension of said opening,   said bladder further comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion and/or said second end portion comprising an inlet configured to enable passage of said gas to and from said interior region, said inlet comprising a nozzle being configured to regulate passage of said gas to and from said interior region, said nozzle comprising a cap, said cap being configured to restrict passage of said gas, said first end portion and/or said second end portion further comprising a handle, said handle being configured to be gripped.