Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Shaped or strengthened by fluid pressure – Including ingress/egress provision
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-19
2001-07-31
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Shaped or strengthened by fluid pressure
Including ingress/egress provision
C052S002250, C052S002260, C052S002180, C052SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266927
ABSTRACT:
I. FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dome-type apparatus formed largely of flexible sheeting, which is provided with a fan or blower means inflatable to provide a chamber large enough to accommodate one or more human beings.
More particularly, the apparatus is also provided to be usable by just the fan or blower means without the dome member, so as to provide utility on occasions in which the dome member is not to be used.
II. PROBLEMS INHERENT AS TO THE PROVISION OF THESE FEATURES IN APPARATUS OF PARTICULAR PURPOSES SUCH AS HERE PROVIDED
Several problems and/or conditions need to be considered in providing the multi-purpose utility apparatus of the present invention.
That is, the dome member has to be sufficiently strong as to accommodate repeated inflation and deflation without tearing, yet it is desirably quite light in weight, and provision must be had for suitable support of it in its inflated or operational condition. It should be conventiently changed from inflated and deflated condition, for movement between temporary locations of usage and storage. Its operativity should be readily apparent to users of even pre-teen years. Although it should be operatively tight and leak-proof, it should be of a nature such that ventilation is assured for breathing. Control should be operable from either the outside or the inside of the dome. The dome should be readily removable from supporting structure when the blower effect from the fan is desired without the provision of the dome as a chamber. Lighting should be provided for adequate illumination inside the dome chamber. The assembly should be economical, should be interest-attracting, and should be of long-term dependability.
The above factors and/or conditions are not readily provided for in an accumulative sense, by conventional tent-like structures, even though, as herein provided, apparatus of the present invention can be seen to provide a novel, attractive, and interest-inducing apparatus.
III. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In an abbreviated summary the present invention provides, in a first embodiment, an inflatable dome member formed of flexible sheeting and a fan means assembly to which the dome member is releasably connectable by Velcro. A light bulb illuminates the dome member, and is controlable by a switch which is accessible from either within or without the dome chamber.
In a second embodiment, the fan means is usable without the dome, the connection of those members being conveniently releasable.
IV. PRIOR ART CAPABILITY AND MOTIVATIONS, AS HELPING TO SHOW PATENTABILITY HERE
In hindsight consideration of the present invention to determine its inventive and novel nature, it is not only conceded but emphasized that the prior art had details usable in this invention, but only if the prior art had had the guidance of the present concepts of the present invention, details of both capability and motivation.
That is, it is emphasized that the prior art had or knew several particulars which individually and accumulatively help to show the non-obviousness of this combination invention E.g.,
a. The prior art has had several features which contribute functionally toward this invention, such as roofs of various natures, electric fans, air-support of flexible dome-like roofing features, and various types of electrical apparatus and controls therefor, etc.
b. Such a huge number of variations of these apparatus or devices help to show that the novelty here is to be considered as inventive, for they show that this may be considered as quite a “crowded art”; and especially is this consideration logical when it is noted that shelters are such “simple” and well-known things from the standpoint of their simplicity of construction;
c. The relative simplicity of shelders, as an item of construction, has surely given manufacturers ample incentive to have made modifications for commercial competitiveness in a competitive industry with huge sales prospects reasonably expectable;
d. The prior art has always had sufficient skill to make many types of shelters, more than ample skill to have achieved the present invention, but only if the concepts and their combinations had been conceived;
e. Substantially all of the operational characteristics and advantages of details of the present invention, when considered separately from one another and when considered separately from the present invention's details and accomplishment of the details, are within the skill of persons of various arts, but only when considered away from the integrated and novel combination of concepts which by their cooperative combination achieves this advantageous invention;
f. The details of the present invention, when considered solely from the standpoint of construction, are relatively simple, and the matter of simplicity of construction has long been recognized as indicative of inventive creativity;
g. The prior art has shown that it is willing to use and undertake developments of various factors of shelter design;
h. Similarly, and a long-recognized indication of inventiveness of a novel combination, is the realistic principle that a person of ordinary skill in the art, as illustrated with respect to the claimed combination as differing in the stated respects from the prior art both as to construction and concept, is that the person of ordinary skill in the art is presumed to be one who thinks along the line of conventional wisdom in the art and is not one who undertakes to innovate;
i. The prior art has long had mechanisms and production equipment of various kinds which could produce all of the particulars of the present invention;
j. The cost of manufacture of inflatable shelters, even including the extra cost of various features, appealable to children is sufficiently low as to be within the marketability or supposed-marketability in this aggressive industry;
k. Accordingly, although the prior art has had capability and motivation, amply sufficient to presumably give incentive to the development of specilized inflatable shelters according to the present invention, the fact remains that the present invention awaited the creativity and inventive discovery of the present inventor. In spite of ample motivation and capability shown by the illustrations herein, the prior art did not suggest this invention.
V. PRIOR ART FACTORS, AS PARTICULAR INSTANCES OF FAILURE TO ACHIEVE THE PRESENT CONCEPTS
In view of all of these factors of capability and motivation, it may be difficult to realize that the particular combination of features which cooperate to provide those inflatable shelters has not been conceived, even though the equipment industry development is quite commercial and competitive. Further, the persons of sufficient knowledge and skill to have achieved this combination surely include a multitude of manufacturers and parents, such that this combination invention would have come about if its concepts had been obvious.
Some prior art has come to the attention of this inventor after his invention and his consideration of a patent award, and is illustrated by the volumnious types of developments of comparable apparatus and cooperating features.
Search efforts have shown the prior art as illustrated in the following U.S. patents and ones cited therein:
Des. 274,638
Henry
4,271,642
Karr
4,556,391
Tardivel et al
5,345,961
Yercha et al
5,437,126
Ramiro
5,471,797
Murphy
5,603,185
Murphy
5,636,478
Chen
5,678,357
Rubio et al
Of interest are the Murphy U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,471,797 and 5,603,185, as disclosing tents inflated by an air pump and having a design on the exterior thereof.
The use of VELCRO for fastening portions of a tent or the like is disclosed in the Ramiro U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,126, Chen U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,478 and Rubio et al Patent Number 5,678,357.
Without implying thoroughness, such prior art through the years illustrates the long-continuing inventorship and developments, but none shows or suggests the present invention of cooperating features.
VI. SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART'S LACK OF SUGGESTIONS OF THE CONCEPTS OF T
A Phi Dieu Tran
Friedman Carl D.
Spray Robert A.
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