Disco ball

Abstract

A disco ball with an outer skin (3) which on the outside is fitted with mirror pieces (6) and has an expandable inner structure (2) comprising an inflatable inner skin which in expanded state is spherical and holds the outer skin (3) in a ball shape, characterized in that the outer skin (3) has a plurality of approximately lenticular segments (4) which are arranged next to each other, and adjacent lenticular segments (4) are releasably connected together to form the outer skin (3), and the lenticular segments (4) are each fitted with mirror pieces (6) on the outside.

Claims

1. A disco ball with an outer skin (3) which on the outside is fitted with mirror pieces (6) and has an expandable inner structure (2) comprising an inflatable inner skin which in expanded state is spherical and holds the outer skin (3) in a ball shape, and with a north pole (N), a south pole and an equator, characterized in that the outer skin (3) has a plurality of approximately lenticular segments (4) which run along the outer skin approximately from the north pole to the south pole, whereby the lenticular segments (4) are formed tapering towards the north pole, and the south pole, and have their greatest width at the equator, the approximately lenticular segments (4) are arranged next to each other, and adjacent lenticular segments (4) are releasably connected by a Velcro tape or button-like connections or clamp connections together to form the outer skin (3), and the lenticular segments (4) are each fitted with mirror pieces (6) on the outside and it can be inflated and suspended over an event area or it can be dismantled into the lenticular segments for transport; and characterized in that a Velcro tape is provided on longitudinal edges on the inside of each of the lenticular segments (4), and a complementary Velcro tape is joined on the inside over Velcro tapes of the adjacent lenticular segments (4).

2. The disco ball according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner structure comprises an inner rod linkage with struts which can be connected together releasably.

3. The disco ball according to claim 1, characterized in that at a north pole (N), a ring (7) is provided on which tips (9) of each lenticular segment (4) are attached, and the ring (7) has suspension devices (11) from which cables depart for suspension of the disco ball (1).

4. The disco ball according to claim 1, characterized by a compressor (13) which is arranged at a north pole (N) and is connected to the inner skin via a supply air shaft (14).

5. A method for assembly of a disco ball with a north pole (N), a south pole and an equator comprising: dismantled lenticular segments (4) being transported to an event area and being connected together at their edges and arranged next to each other and form a slack outer skin (3) with mirror pieces (6) applied on the outside, running along the outer skin from the north pole to the south pole, whereby the lenticular segments (4) are formed tapering towards the north pole and the south pole, and have their greatest width at the equator and an inflatable inner structure (2) being inserted into the outer skin (3), the inner skin (2) being expanded and thus the outer skin (3) is expanded into a ball shape and characterized in that a Velcro tape is provided on longitudinal edges on the inside of each of the lenticular segments (4), and a complementary Velcro tape is joined on the inside over Velcro tapes of the adjacent lenticular segments (4).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that each of the lenticular segments (4) is attached to a ring (7) by a tip (9), and the disco ball (1) is suspended from a ceiling via suspension devices (11) of the ring (7).

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the inner skin (2) is constantly refilled with air by means of a compressor (13) in order to maintain a constant interior pressure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is described in six figures with reference to an exemplary embodiment. The drawings show:

(2) FIG. 1 a top view of the disco ball according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 a top view of a lenticular segment of the disco ball in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 a view of a detail of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 a diagrammatic view of the disco ball, showing the north pole with inner and outer skin and air inlet;

(6) FIG. 5 a disco ball in a diagrammatic cross-sectional view; and

(7) FIG. 6 a disco ball in FIG. 4 with a compressor introduced into the air inlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) A disco ball 1 according to the invention has an inner skin 2 and an outer skin 3; FIG. 1 shows only the outer skin 3 viewed onto a north pole N of the disco ball 1. The outer skin 3 comprises sixteen lenticular segments 4.

(9) A different number of segments 4 is also conceivable, in particular more but also fewer segments 4 may be used to form the outer skin 3.

(10) The segments 4 are preferably lenticular, they may also have different outer forms. The segments 4 of a disco ball 1 are preferably exactly the same. However, deviations in design and form of the segments 4 of the disco ball 1 are conceivable, in particular the segments 4 may have different widths at an equator of the disco ball 1.

(11) One of the segments 4 shown in FIG. 1 is depicted in FIG. 2 in plan view and in top view. The segment 4 is expanded flat in FIG. 2, while the segments 4 in FIG. 1 are arranged curved in a semicircle to form the outer skin 3 and are also connected together in this way.

(12) The lenticular segments 4 have mirror pieces 6 at their outer face, covering the outer face completely. The mirror pieces 6 are formed largely quadratic in their outer shape in FIG. 2, and are glued directly next to each other onto the outside of the lenticular segment 4. However, other forms of fixing are conceivable. A reflective surface of the mirror pieces 6 faces outward.

(13) Other forms, in particular of the outer periphery of the mirror pieces 6, may be used. In particular, they may be circular, triangular, hexagonal or have other shapes. The mirror pieces 6 of a disco ball 1 may also have mutually differing forms. Preferably however, the outside of the lenticular segments 4 is completely covered by the mirror pieces 6.

(14) FIG. 3 shows a design of the lenticular segment 4 with quadratic mirror pieces 6. The mirror pieces 6 at the edge of the lenticular segment 4 are adapted to the contour of the lenticular shape. Alternatively, it is also possible to retain the shape of the mirror pieces 6 over preferably each of the segments 4, and vary the distances between the mirror pieces 6 and thus achieve an even distribution.

(15) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the north pole N of the disco ball 1 as used, in order to suspend the disco ball 1 from a supporting structure such as a ceiling, a metal frame or similar. The north pole N is surrounded by a terminating ring 7 which is preferably made of metal. The terminating ring 7 firstly has bores 8 assigned in pairs to a tip 9 of a lenticular segment 4. The lenticular segment 4 also has holes at the same distance apart as the pair of bores 8 of the terminating ring 7. A bolt is passed through each pair of a hole and bore 8 from inside to outside in order to fix each of the lenticular segments 4 firmly and securely to the terminating ring 7. The terminating ring 7 has bores 8 on the periphery, preferably spaced equidistantly; in FIG. 4 therefore, thirty-two bores 8 would be provided for the sixteen lenticular segments 4.

(16) In addition, suspension devices 11 are provided on the terminating ring 7, which may also be holes, but also eyelets or similar, through which cables or other suspension means can be drawn in order to suspend the disco ball 1 with its entire weight from a ceiling, supporting structure or similar. Disco balls 1 may have substantial weight; with a diameter of 4 to 5 meters, because of the high number of mirror pieces 6, the weight of the disco ball 1 may amount to several hundred kilograms. The suspension devices 11 and the terminating ring 7 must therefore have a corresponding load-bearing capacity to comply with the necessary safety regulations.

(17) The lenticular segments 4 are also connected together on an inside. This may be achieved by various connecting methods, in particular a Velcro tape may be placed along each edge on the inside of the lenticular segments 4, and the Velcro tapes may be joined to a complementary Velcro tape so as to create cohesive outer skin 3 which covers the Velcro tapes.

(18) It is however also conceivable that the lenticular segments 4 may be joined together by clamp connections, button-like connections or similar. The outer skin 3 is slack and brought into a ball shape by the inflatable inner skin 2. FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically the inflated disco ball 1 according to the invention with the inflated inner skin 2. The inner skin 2 consists of a plastic, for example polyurethane or similar; in each case it is a flexible plastic which forms a normally slack inner skin 2, and in inflated state assumes a spherical shape and has a stability such that the inner skin 2 presses the outer skin 3 into a ball shape despite the substantial weight of the outer skin 3.

(19) The inner skin 2 has an air inlet 12 and an air outlet which can both be closed. Additional securing cables may be provided on the inside of the outer skin 3 which join the segments 4 together and also prevent a sagging of the segments 4 when the air is let out of the inner skin.

(20) Since the inflatable disco ball 1 is normally used for several hours or even days, and for events must be suspended above an event site for several hours inflated as firmly as possible, according to FIG. 6, instead of an air inlet 12, a compressor 13 with a supply air shaft 14 may be used, which constantly refills the inner skin 2 to compensate for escaping air. The supply air shaft 14 may be provided with an overpressure valve 16 to prevent the inner skin 2 from bursting due to overpressure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(21) 1 Disco ball 2 Inner structure/inner skin 3 Outer skin 4 Segment 6 Mirror piece 7 Terminating ring 8 Bore 9 Tip 11 Suspension device 12 Air inlet 13 Compressor 14 Supply air shaft 16 Overpressure valve N North pole