Inflatable sign

Abstract

A self-contained inflatable sign for temporary attachment to prominent portions of structures to provide a highly visible message day or night. The sign is an envelope made from translucent flexible panels which is inflated by a blower within the envelope which also contains a series of lights. A message banner is interchangeably held onto the envelope. When inflated the envelope becomes a strong illuminated sign capable of withstanding severe outdoor environments but light enough to be quickly and easily erected on highly visible but otherwise difficult to access portions of buildings or structures. An alternate version is specifically designed for mounting against the front of a commercial building as a marquee-type display.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An inflatable sign attachable to a building or the like which comprises: a .[.sheet.]. .Iadd.film .Iaddend.of transparent pliable material;   an envelope made from at least one sheet of pliable translucent material attached to said .Iadd.film of .Iaddend.transparent material proximate to the edges of said .[.materials.]. .Iadd.film .Iaddend.and forming an inflatable chamber .[.having seams and at least one resealable access port.]., said .Iadd.film of .Iaddend.transparent material forming a window in said envelope;   means for forcing fluid .[.through said access port.]. into said envelope .[.in excess of any fluid losses through said seams and access port.]. and for maintaining in the interior of said envelope a pressure in excess of the ambient atmospheric pressure;   means for illuminating said interior;   a display banner made of pliable translucent material commensurate with said window and means for removably affixing said banner over said window; and   means for supporting said envelope from said building.   
     
     
       2. The inflatable sign claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for forcing fluid is .[.as.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.air blower. 
     
     
       3. An inflatable sign attachable .[.to a.]. to a building or the like which comprises: a .[.sheet.]. .Iadd.film .Iaddend.of transparent pliable material;   an envelope made from at least one sheet of pliable translucent material attached to said .Iadd.film of .Iaddend.transparent material proximate to the edges of said .[.material.]. .Iadd.film .Iaddend.and forming an inflatable chamber having seams and at least one resealable access port, said .Iadd.film of .Iaddend.transparent material forming a window in said envelope;   means for forcing fluid through .[.said at least one access port.]. .Iadd.an opening .Iaddend.into said envelope in excess of any fluid losses through said seams and at least one access port and for maintaining in the interior of said envelope a pressure in excess of the ambient atmospheric pressure;   means for illuminating said interior;   a display banner bearing graphic symbols made of pliable translucent material having the same translucency as the material of said at least one translucent sheet commensurate with said window and means for removably affixing said banner over said window; and   means for supporting said envelope from said building.   
     
     
       4. The inflatable sign claimed in claim 3 which comprises a portion of a rigid and generally planar structure to which the edges of the envelope are intimately attached so that said portion forms a peripheral wall section of said chamber. 
     
     
       5. The inflatable sign claimed in claim 4, wherein said planar structure is a wall of said building. 
     
     
       6. The inflatable sign claimed in claim 4, wherein said planar structure is a board. 
     
     
       7. The inflatable sign claimed in claim 4, wherein said planar structure is a roof parapet on said building. 
     
     
       8. The inflatable sign claimed in claim 3, wherein said access port comprises a slot in said envelope and a slide fastener closing said slot. 
     
     
       9. The inflatable sign claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for illuminating comprise at least one light fixture comprising a bulb, a wire cage surrounding it, and a support harness, said fixture being suspended within the central portions of said chamber, said light fixture placed and dimensioned to illuminate said banner without significant bright spots and shadows. 
     
     
       10. An inflatable sign attachable .[.to a.]. to a building or the like which comprises: an envelope made from at least one sheet of pliable translucent material and forming an inflatable chamber .[.having seams and at least one resealable access port.].;   means for forcing fluid .[.through said at least one access port.]. into said envelope .[.in excess of any fluid losses through said seams and at least one access port.]. and for maintaining in the interior of said envelope a pressure in excess of the ambient atmospheric pressure;   means for illuminating said interior;   a window in said envelope formed by a transparent section of pliable material;   a banner bearing graphic symbols made of pliable translucent material on the outer face of said envelope having the same translucency as the material as said at least one translucent sheet, said banner being made from a cut of pliable translucent material commensurate with said window and means for removably affixing said banner over said window;   a rigid and generally planar structure which a portion of said translucent material of the envelope is intimately attached so that said portion forms a peripheral wall section of said chamber;   braces extending from said portion of planar structure into said chamber, said braces being shaped and dimensioned to generally follow the geometry of the inner face of said envelope when said envelope is inflated; and   means for supporting said envelope from said building.   
     
     
       11. The inflatable sign claimed in .[.cliam.]. .Iadd.claim .Iaddend.10, wherein said means for forcing fluid is an air blower mounted on said planar structure and admitting air into said envelope through an opening into said planar structure. 
     
     
       12. An inflatable sign attachable to a building or the like which comprises: an envelope made from at least one sheet of pliable translucent material and forming an inflatable chamber having seams and at least one resealable access port;   means for forcing fluid through .[.said at least one access port.]. .Iadd.an opening .Iaddend.into said envelope in excess of any fluid losses through said seams and at least one access port and for maintaining in the interior of said envelope a pressure in excess of the ambient atmospheric pressure;   means for illuminating said interior;   a window in said envelope formed by a transparent section of pliable material;   a banner bearing graphic symbols made of pliable translucent material on the outer face of said envelope having the same translucency as the material as said at least one translucent sheet, said banner being made from a cut of pliable translucent material commensurate with said window and means for removably affixing said banner over said window;   a rigid and generally planar structure to which a portion of said translucent material of the envelope is intimately attached so that said portion forms a peripheral wall section of said chamber;   parts of at least two abutting walls, each wall being in a different plane whereby said portion define an angular surface; and   means for supporting said envelope from said building.   
     
     
       13. The inflatable sign claimed in claim 12, wherein said envelope spans said angular surface. 
     
     
       14. The inflatable sign claimed in claim 13, wherein said walls define a convex angular surface. 
     
     
       15. The inflatable sign claimed in claim 13, wherein said walls define a concave angular surface. 
     
     
       16. An inflatable sign attachable to a building or the like which comprises: an envelope made from at least one sheet of pliable translucent material and forming an inflatable chamber .[.having seams and at least one resealable access port.].;   means for forcing fluid .[.through said access port.]. into said envelope .[.in excess of any fluid losses through said seams and access port.]. and for maintaining in the interior of said envelope a pressure in excess of the ambient atmospheric pressure;   means for illuminating said interior;   a display made of pliable translucent material on the outer face of said envelope wherein graphic symbols are applied to the face of said envelope;   a window in said envelope formed by two layers of transparent pliable material;   a banner bearing graphic symbols, said banner being sandwiched between two layers; and   means to support said envelope from said building. .Iadd.   
     
     
       17.  An inflatable sign attachable to a building or the like which comprises: an envelope made from at least one sheet of pliable translucent material and forming an inflatable chamber;   a sealed window defined over a portion of said envelope;   means for forcing fluid into said envelope and for maintaining in the interior of said envelope a pressure in excess of ambient atmospheric pressure;   means for illuminating said interior;   a display banner commensurate with said window, wherein the combined opacity of said window and banner is substantially equal to the opacity of said material; and   means for supporting said envelope from said building. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The inflatable sign claimed in claim 17, wherein said means for forcing   
     
     
        fluid into said envelope comprises an air blower. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  An illuminated sign which can be attached or suspended from a stationary structure such as a building, which comprises: an inflatable envelope made from pliable, translucent, laminar material and forming, when inflated, a generally hollow and erect tubular body;   a blower connected to said envelope and forcing sufficient ambient air therein to maintain an internal pressure in excess of ambient atmospheric pressure;   at least one light fixture and means for suspending said light fixture inside said envelope;   said envelope having at least one access slot and means for releasably closing said slot;   a message-carrying banner mounted against an external section of said tubular body, said tubular body having an axial length in excess of its cross-sectional diameter; and   wherein said body is closed at each of its opposite axial ends by a rounded   
     
     
        cap integral with said envelope. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20.  The illuminated sign of claim 19, wherein said banner comprises an oblong sheet of pliable material having its longest dimension generally commensurate with the axial length of said tubular body, and its shortest dimension generally commensurate with one-fourth of the circumference of said tubular body. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. An illuminated sign which can be attached or suspended from a stationary structure such as a building, which comprises: an inflatable envelope made from pliable, translucent, laminar material and forming, when inflated, a generally hollow and erect tubular body;   a blower connected to said envelope and forcing sufficient ambient air therein to maintain an internal pressure in excess of ambient atmospheric pressure;   at least one light fixture and means for suspending said light fixture inside said envelope;   said envelope having at least one access slot and means for releasably closing said slot;   a message-carrying banner mounted against an external section of said tubular body; and   a rigid and generally planar structure to which said pliable translucent material of the tubular body is intimately attached, a portion of said planar structure forming part of said envelope. .Iaddend.