Technabob » inflatable

Basic House Puts a Home in Your Pocket

Conner Flynn — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:00:38 +0000

Basic House is a design from Barcelona designer Martin Azua. It couldn’t be more simple. It’s basically a lightweight balloon that you can carry with you in your pocket and use for shelter if you need it.

This design would be a great help to homeless people or those in a disaster area. It’s made from a metalized polyester material, so when you unfold it, it self inflates with body heat or from the heat of the sun.

Just like that, you have an instant shelter. When you are inside, the material reflects your body heat to keep you warm. If you reverse it, the material will reflect the sun to keep it cooler inside. While it’s not likely to keep you from freezing to death in the wintertime, it’s still a simple and imaginative design.

[via SmartPlanet via Dvice]

R/C Inflatable R2-D2 Announced After Epic Space-Licensing Battle

Jack Kieffer — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:00:39 +0000

Bladez Toyz, that British retailer where you can meet all of your R/C helicopter needs, recently decided that it wanted to add Star Wars themed remote control items to its Pump and Play sets. LucasArts, as always, was reluctant to give licensing rights, but after a difficult series of negotiations, Bladez secured the ability to produce these toys. At the 2012 London Toy Fair, they unveiled their new R/C Jumbo Inflatable R2-D2, which will be coming some time late summer / early fall of this year.

The toy will retail for appx. $63(USD), and is a 26 inch-tall inflatable R2-D2 on wheels. A foot pump is included so that you don’t need to beat your lungs to death to satisfy your child (or yourself.) The Jumbo R2-D2 model is the first of the new Star Wars Pump and Play series – more will be coming later if the droid unit turns out to be a big hit. Now, this is all wonderful, but I need to ask – has anyone already called dibs on the Princess Leia demonstrating the toy? “I did.” *Sulking*

Pump and Play is a term that reminds me of my old days, when I used to shoot hoops with my boys. We’d pump up the ball, go out to the court, and then I would help them play by giving them water when they felt that they were thirsty. Those were good times – hey, if you think you’re falling in love with the Jumbo RC Inflatable R2-D2, you’re going to want to have a look at the R2-D2 Garbage Can and the R2-D2 Apron.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Contributor Jack Kieffer owns Cool Gizmo Toys, a blog that rants about random geeky products.

Giant Inflatable Spider Puppet Requires Crop Dusting with Raid

Conner Flynn — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:00:56 +0000

This image looks pretty tame to me. Just some guy playing with his inflatable spider. But watch the video and be creeped out by how realistically this spider air puppet moves it’s legs. It is an amazing creation, but it must die before it kills someone.

It looks like it is about 10 feet high, with the legs about 30 feet in diameter at full extension. This huge insect puppet was created by Tim Davies, who makes all kinds of cool things, including puppets for carnivals. That’s him beneath the beast (and living to tell about it.)

There is no info on how this thing works – Tim just says it’s “air-powered.” All I know is that it is creepy as hell when it moves. Call in some F-17s to spray this thing with Raid before it reproduces. You can see more of Tim’s work here.

[via Propnomicon via SuperPunch via Neatorama]

Carcapsule: The Car in the Plastic Bubble

Conner Flynn — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:00:10 +0000

You know how geeks protect their action figures with those clear protective cases? The Carcapsule is like that, but for cars. It’s a plastic bubble that you put your classic car in to protect it from the ravages of time. Heck, if you put some confetti in there and attached a vacuum, you would have yourself a huge snow globe.

Silly as it looks, it’s a great idea to protect your investment. Restoring old cars is super expensive and just the weather alone can destroy certain parts with rust. And this bubble keeps it visible for you to admire, so that beats a tarp. It even has a built-in fan that will keep filtered air circulating.

They start at $269(USD) and go up to $419, depending on the size.

It’s also how the Bubble Boy gets around town.

[via Redferret]

Safety Sphere Motorcycle Airbag Suit Turns You into a Giant Orange

Technabob — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 23:00:01 +0000

I’m one of those guys who thinks motorcycles are really cool, but I don’t ride one. I think it’s because I’ve always been convinced that I’d end up killing myself if I tried to negotiate the slick roads and maniac drivers of Chicago in the winter time. I actually knew a guy in college who rode a motorcycle and got in an accident and ended up as a paraplegic, so that doesn’t help with my anxieties.

But if I were to take up motorcycle riding, this would be protective gear which would convince me to ride.

Designed by Rejean Neron, the Safety Sphere is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a special bike suit that automatically inflates into a sphere, enveloping the rider and protecting them from injury if they ever go flying off the bike in a crash. The suit inflates to its full capacity in 5/100ths of a second, and fills with compressed air to cushion the impact. The sphere is made up of two layers of fabric, including an inner layer of thin elastic material, and an outer layer of parachute-type cloth. A battery connects to an electric ignition which triggers nitrocellulose canister, inflating the suit in the event of an impact.

Yes, the resulting expanded suit looks completely ridiculous. I’m reminded of that part of Willy Wonka where Violet Beuregarde turns into a blueberry, except this time you’ll be turning into a navel orange. Still, I’d rather look stupid than end up dead. From the looks of things, you might still need some Oompa Loompas to come rescue you after an accident, too.

[via Motorcycle News]

Ant-Roach Inflatable Robot is Bizarre, Could Be Your Post-Apocalyptic Transport

Conner Flynn — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:00:53 +0000

It looks like a giant kids toy, but this 15-foot beast is actually an inflatable pneumatic robot. In the future, humans will ride these beasts across the wastelands of the apocalypse and wage wars with one another on their backs. Silly looking wars.

Developed by Otherlab, the Ant-Roach is like an ant and a roach in one, hence the name. It is in the concept stage at the moment. Inflatable actuators on the legs do all of the hard work, and are able to lift up to 1,000 pounds.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The goal of building this strange beast was to demonstrate the carrying capacity and high strength-to-weight ratios that inflatable structures are capable of. Inflatable robots have a lot of potential as they are low-cost, lightweight, extremely powerful, and at the same time safer for humans to interact with.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

It still looks like they’ve got a way to go before the Ant-Roach can actually move smoothy, quietly, or quickly though.

[via Hizook]

Inflatable X-Wing Fighter Snow Sled is Perfect for Your Hoth Ski Trip

Conner Flynn — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:00:13 +0000

Winter is coming. That isn’t just a reference to Game of Thrones, but it’s also a cold hard fact. Soon it will be chilly. Snow will fall. Ice will form. X-Wings will dash through the snow. Wait what?

Granted, Snow Speeders and AT-ATs are much more suited to the snow than X-Wing Fighters, but we have to take what we can get. This Inflatable X-Wing was made for sledding down hills, not making a run on the Death Star.

If I had had this sled as a kid, I never would have come inside for hot chocolate. And since this X-Wing has nothing but air inside, it will be super easy to lift it using The Force. I’d get one for myself, but it looks like only kids can fit inside. It’s probably the cheapest X-Wing around at just $19.99 (USD), over on Amazon.

Inflatable Neck Tie Pillow for Sleeping on the Job

Hazel Chua — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:40:29 +0000

Father’s day is just around the corner, and if you still haven’t found the perfect present for you dad, then I suggest you get him a Pillow Tie.

Before you ask, let me just say that, yes, it’s exactly what its name suggest. Use it as a tie and look formal and all dandy in your suit. But when no one’s watching, just sneak off into an empty room or into the far corner, quickly inflate it, and take a nap on your tie-turned-pillow. Perfect.

Seeing some of the cool stuff that only guys get to use makes me wish that I were a guy sometimes. Just sometimes.

The Pillow Tie will also have your dad catching his breath literally because it has to be manually inflated. But hey, it’s better than having to lug around one of those portable-but-still-bulky neck pillows or having to lie on one of those uncomfortable throw pillows, right? It’s available from Baron Bob for $19.95.

[via Craziest Gadgets]

ADEL Inflatable Earbuds Look Comfortable (And a Little Freaky, Too)

Hazel Chua — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:43:27 +0000

We’ve all been taught at a young age to never judge a book by its cover. I guess the same applies to these strange-looking earbuds that promise a whole new level of comfort when it comes to enjoying your music.

Say hello to the ADEL inflatable earbuds (with the balloon portion resembling the outer covering of hakaw, which is a shrimp dumpling dish that I absolutely have to have every time I go out to get some dim sum.)

Looks aside, the earbuds are made inflatable for two simple but very important reasons: comfort and improved sound quality. I love listening to music, especially when I’m on the go or when I’m in bed about to turn in for the night. I usually just pop on my earphones and I find that they aren’t the most ear-friendly things in the world because they start to hurt after an hour or two. That’s specifically what these ADEL inflatable earbuds hope to eliminate. Aside from the added comfort, it also delivers louder sound at lower volumes than what would have been required with your plain, old balloon-less earphones.

These are actually an invention by Stephen Ambrose published in Sound+Vision mag. They’re not being produced yet but I’m going to stand in line to get one if they eventually will be made available commercially.

[via PopSci via Slippery Brick]

Divetek is the Sweetest Water Floaty Thingy Ever

Shane McGlaun — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:56:51 +0000

Summer is here in Texas and it’s so hot already that ol’ Beelzebub himself won’t come to these parts until late in October. With it being so hot, you can count on folks making it to the lake or down to the coast. There are also many people that hit the backyard pool to keep cool as well.

No matter where you go for your water fun in the summer, this awesomely sweet Divetek inflatable raft thingy by designers Chao-yang Chou and Sian-Zong Chen is the coolest water toy you could possibly have. Sadly, it’s only a concept.

There’s two ways you can use the Divetek. First, you can blow up the inflatable raft on the back and use the motorized front-end propeller to pull you around. The other method involves deflating the raft portion and actually using the propeller to scoot you around under the water.

Me want!

[via Yanko Design]

Laptop Lilo: Inflatable Laptop Stand Looks Comfy, Hopefully Not Melty

Technabob — Wed, 26 May 2010 01:08:30 +0000

If you’re sick and tired of having your laptop actually burning a hole in your lap, check out this unique laptop stand, which features an unusual inflatable design.

The Laptop Lilo not only keeps your lap cool, but provides air pockets for circulation so your computer doesn’t overheat. Now when I first looked at this, I thought for sure that the Sahara-like temperatures that my laptop throws off would melt such a contraption. However, the makers of the Lilo insist that the PVC stand can handle temps all the way up to 176-degrees Farenheit (appx. 80 Celsius). If your computer is running that hot, you’ve got bigger problems.

You can grab the Laptop Lilo over at perpetual kid for $16.99 (USD). Air not included.

[via Random Good Stuff]

Be Comfortable Anywhere There’S Air With the Blow Sofa

Lambert Varias — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:03:33 +0000

Despite it’s unintentionally naughty name, the Blow Sofa is actually a neat concept.

Just add “-up” to “Blow” and you’ll get the idea.

Measuring 71″ x 35″ when fully inflated, the Blow Sofa is made of a couple of dunnage bags, which are made from scrap wood and are traditionally used as cushions or airbags for cargo. A couple of rubber straps tied to what seems to be an easy to assemble metal rack hold the bags together.

I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to fill up the bags on my own, but it’s nothing that a small air pump can handle. I could see myself buying one of these, as long as designer Malafor changes the sofa’s name.

[via freshome]

Inflatable D20 Makes for Nerdy Pool Parties

Lambert Varias — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:32:22 +0000

Take this with you to the beach and you’ll certainly be the center of attention, mostly because a lot of people won’t know what the heck this huge polygon with numbers is.

No one’s stopping you from actually using it to play D&D, just make sure your friends are okay with it. Trust me, there are people who take their D&D seriously, and will not stand for inflatable d20s.

The inflatable d20 has a diameter of 17 inches; no word if it comes in other colors. You can order one at ThinkGeek for only $12 (USD).

Inflatable Wii Boxing Gloves Are Here to Pump You Up

Technabob — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:13:25 +0000

Are you really ready to get into the boxing ring on you Nintendo Wii? I don’t think you really are unless you’re wearing a pair of these goofy looking boxing gloves.

Just strap your Wii-mote and Nunchuk controllers into these inflatable gloves, pump them up with air, and you’re ready to duke it out with your favorite boxing game. Regardless of the extra padding the cushion of air might provide, I don’t recommend that you punch your $2000 plasma screen with these.

If you don’t mind looking a bit silly while you play a little Hajime no Ippo Revolution, you can pick up a pair of the gloves for just under 15 bucks here.

Giant Inflatable Talking Robots Invade Wal-Mart

Technabob — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:26:43 +0000

I’ve always wanted a headline like that. It sounds like something out of Weekly World News. However, I assure you that this time it’s 100% accurate.

The Mega Mech Airmagination Inflatable Robot has to be one of the worst product names I’ve heard in a long time. Even though this inflatable R/C robot is designed as a kid’s toy, it’s sure to be blast sneaking around the hallways and cubicle farms at your office. The inflata-bot stands over 4-feet tall and it can speak — in a typically robotic tone — although I’m not exactly sure what it has to say.

It’s only appropriate that the Mega Mech is available from everyone’s favorite Mega Store, Wal-Mart. It’s just $39.95.

[via 7Gadgets]