Granted Patent B1

US 8,926,394 · App. 14/304,875 · Granted Jan 6, 2015

Inventor: Finn Alexander Strong (San Rafael, CA)

A63H3/48

Abstract

Claims (21)

1. An air-actuated device, comprising:

an article of manufacture configured to be carried by a user, said article of manufacture having body defining a cavity, a collapsible support structure coupled to said body configured for supporting said body, and a sheath assembly coupled to said body, said sheath assembly including an exterior wall having a first outside portion and a second outside portion with said sheath assembly having an unactuated mode and an actuated mode, said unactuated mode providing said sheath assembly overlying said article of manufacture displaying said first outside portion while concealing said second outside portion and said actuated mode providing said sheath assembly extending from said article of manufacture and displaying said second outside portion; and

a discrete air-powered actuator assembly coupled to said article of manufacture, said discrete air-powered actuator assembly including: a first discrete air bladder disposed within said collapsible support and having a first exterior wall containing a first bladder volume, said first exterior wall providing a first shape memory repeatedly inflating said first bladder volume after a collapse of said first bladder volume, said first bladder volume including a first capacity for a first quantity of air with said first discrete air bladder including an outlet exiting a portion of said first quantity of air from said first bladder volume when said first exterior wall is collapsed; a second discrete air bladder coupled to both said body and to said sheath assembly, said second discrete air bladder having a second exterior wall containing a second bladder volume, said second discrete air bladder remotely located relative to said first discrete air bladder, and said second bladder volume including a second capacity for a second quantity of air, said second discrete air bladder including an unactuated mode and an actuated mode, said unactuated mode providing said second discrete air bladder in an unactuated configuration having a proximal portion of said second discrete air bladder positioned relative to a distal portion of said second discrete air bladder, said unactuated configuration defining a separation between said portions equal to a first distance, and said actuated mode providing said second discrete air bladder in an actuated configuration having said separation greater than said first distance, wherein an actuating transition of said second discrete air bladder from said unactuated mode to said actuated mode transitions said sheath assembly from said unactuated mode to said actuated mode and wherein a biased transition of said second discrete air bladder from said actuated mode to said unactuated mode transitions said sheath assembly from said actuated mode to said unactuated mode; and an elongate communication channel, coupled to said outlet and to said second discrete air bladder;

wherein said second discrete air bladder is biased to said unactuated mode; wherein said second discrete air bladder moves from said unactuated configuration to said actuated configuration responsive to air exiting from said first bladder volume; and wherein said second discrete air bladder collapses from said actuated configuration to said unactuated configuration when air exits said second bladder volume.

2. The air-actuated device of claim 1 wherein said article of manufacture includes a lunch box and wherein said support structure includes a flexible handle coupled to said body.

3. The air-actuated device of claim 2 wherein said second discrete air bladder includes an elongate clamshell shaped actuator having a first portion overlying a second portion with said first portion coupled to said second portion at a hinging portion, wherein said actuating transition includes an unfolding of said second discrete air bladder about said hinging portion to increase said separation, and wherein said biased transition includes a folding of said second discrete air bladder about said hinging portion to decrease said separation.

4. The air-actuated device of claim 2 wherein said second discrete air bladder includes an elongate bladder extending from said proximal end to said distal end, wherein said unactuated mode includes said second discrete air bladder in a retracted configuration having said distal end rolled to said proximal end, wherein said actuated mode includes said second discrete air bladder in an extended configuration having said distal end at least partially unrolled from said retracted configuration, wherein said transition from said unactuated mode to said actuated mode unrolls said distal end from said proximal end, and wherein said transition from said actuated mode to said unactuated mode rolls said distal end towards said proximal end.

5. The air-actuated device of claim 1 wherein said article of manufacture includes a backpack and wherein said support structure includes a shoulder strap coupled to said body.

6. The air-actuated device of claim 5 wherein said second discrete air bladder includes an elongate clamshell shaped actuator having a first portion overlying a second portion with said first portion coupled to said second portion at a hinging portion, wherein said actuating transition includes an unfolding of said second discrete air bladder about said hinging portion to increase said separation, and wherein said biased transition includes a folding of said second discrete air bladder about said hinging portion to decrease said separation.

7. The air-actuated device of claim 6 further comprising an air-intake structure coupled to said communication channel, said air-intake structure defining a bidirectional air flow channel between said first bladder and said second bladder and further defining a one way air flow channel from ambient into said bidirectional air flow channel.

8. The air-actuated device of claim 5 wherein said second discrete air bladder includes an elongate bladder extending from said proximal end to said distal end, wherein said unactuated mode includes said second discrete air bladder in a retracted configuration having said distal end rolled to said proximal end, wherein said actuated mode includes said second discrete air bladder in an extended configuration having said distal end at least partially unrolled from said retracted configuration, wherein said transition from said unactuated mode to said actuated mode unrolls said distal end from said proximal end, and wherein said transition from said actuated mode to said unactuated mode rolls said distal end towards said proximal end.

9. The air-actuated device of claim 8 further comprising an air-intake structure coupled to said communication channel, said air-intake structure defining a bidirectional air flow channel between said first bladder and said second bladder and further defining a one way air flow channel from ambient into said bidirectional air flow channel.

10. The air-actuated device of claim 1 wherein said second discrete air bladder includes an elongate clamshell shaped actuator having a first portion overlying a second portion with said first portion coupled to said second portion at a hinging portion, wherein said actuating transition includes an unfolding of said second discrete air bladder about said hinging portion to increase said separation, and wherein said biased transition includes a folding of said second discrete air bladder about said hinging portion to decrease said separation.

11. The air-actuated device of claim 1 wherein said second discrete air bladder includes an elongate bladder extending from said proximal end to said distal end, wherein said unactuated mode includes said second discrete air bladder in a retracted configuration having said distal end rolled to said proximal end, wherein said actuated mode includes said second discrete air bladder in an extended configuration having said distal end at least partially unrolled from said retracted configuration, wherein said transition from said unactuated mode to said actuated mode unrolls said distal end from said proximal end, and wherein said transition from said actuated mode to said unactuated mode rolls said distal end towards said proximal end.

12. The air-actuated device of claim 1 further comprising an air-intake structure coupled to said communication channel, said air-intake structure defining a bidirectional air flow channel between said first bladder and said second bladder and further defining a one way air flow channel from ambient into said bidirectional air flow channel.

13. A plush toy, comprising:

a body having a first outside layer including a plush material and defining a body cavity;

a sheath assembly coupled to said body; and

a discrete air-powered actuator assembly coupled to said body, said

discrete air-powered actuator assembly including: a first discrete air bladder disposed within said body cavity and having a first exterior wall containing a first bladder volume, said first exterior wall providing a first shape memory repeatedly inflating said first bladder volume after a collapse of said first bladder volume, said first bladder volume including a first capacity for a first quantity of air with said first discrete air bladder including an outlet exiting a portion of said first quantity of air from said first bladder volume when said first exterior wall is collapsed; a second discrete air bladder coupled to both said body and to said sheath assembly, said second discrete air bladder having a second exterior wall containing a second bladder volume, said second discrete air bladder remotely located relative to said first discrete air bladder, and said second bladder volume including a second capacity for a second quantity of air, said second discrete air bladder including an unactuated mode and an actuated mode, said unactuated mode providing said second discrete air bladder in an unactuated configuration having a proximal portion of said second discrete air bladder positioned relative to a distal portion of said second discrete air bladder, said unactuated configuration defining a separation between said portions equal to a first distance, and said actuated mode providing said second discrete air bladder in an actuated configuration having said separation greater than said first distance, wherein an actuating transition of said second discrete air bladder from said unactuated mode to said actuated mode transitions said sheath assembly from said unactuated mode to said actuated mode and wherein a biased transition of said second discrete air bladder from said actuated mode to said unactuated mode transitions said sheath assembly from said actuated mode to said unactuated mode; and an elongate communication channel, coupled to said outlet and to said second discrete air bladder;

wherein said second discrete air bladder is biased to said unactuated mode; wherein said second discrete air bladder moves from said unactuated configuration to said actuated configuration responsive to air exiting from said first bladder volume; and wherein said second discrete air bladder collapses from said actuated configuration to said unactuated configuration when air exits said second bladder volume.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (9)