custom inflatable

Custom Inflatables

How it Works

Equipped with a nozzle or valve, closed-celled or air-tight inflatables rely on this opening so that air can be pumped inside mechanically or blown in with a good set of lungs. Once plugged, the blow-up item stays inflated and can be mobilized. While some small inflatable toys have one air chamber, other complex shapes and large inflatable objects have several sealed air pockets to provide stability and structure to the shape.

Some larger blow-up items have gaping openings at their base where air can be pumped in continuously with a mechanical blower. These inflatables are normally tied or tethered into place and remain stationary with their blowers pumping away underneath. This constant air flow tends to move and wiggle the structure as the air flow rushes in from below, giving the item a life of its own. Other inflatables that need to “rise” to the occasion can be filled with helium to float. These are also equipped with tethers and restrains for security. (Just remember to tie them!)

When not in use, blow-up items are commonly folded up and packed away to be used over and over again. Stored safely away from pointy predators, inflatables have many years of life in them.

History of Inflatables

The first inflatable recorded goes back to 880 B.C. and was in the form of a boat. Troops under the rule of the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II were ordered to cross a river during a mission. These resourceful troops grabbed some animal skins and greased them up to create a waterproof outer skin for their boat. In order to keep themselves afloat, the warriors-turned-sailors continuously inflated their makeshift vessel by mouth. On the same “wave” length were warriors of the Sung and Ming dynasties in ancient China, who went one step further and sealed their animal skins airtight before crossing the river. (No doubt saving a pair of lungs or two!)

The inflatable boat has since evolved and improved versions were designed and used during 20th century warfare. Inflatable boats were ideal during battle because they were lightweight, could hold weighty cargo, and allowed soldiers to cautiously land in shallow waters. We hope that between battles they may have also been used as bouncy play toys.

Nowadays, inflatables have numerous purposes apart from water travel. Whether inflated for entertainment purposes, leisure, transportation, safety, advertising, or just for fun, blow-up items have been embraced world wide and across industries. See Ideas for inflatable stuff.

Creating Original Inflatables

With your ideas, we can help you create unique inflatable toys or marketing tools with original designs.

Custom Inflatable Size and Shape

Big or small- the inflatable can take on any size you like. Together we can customize the size so that it best suits your needs for impact, storage and usability. While some inflatables contain one single air chamber, others are designed with several round air pockets attached together. We’ll help recommend the design that best suits the shape and size of your blow-up creations.

Graphic Design

The surface graphic design of your inflatable is completely customizable, with colors to match key PMS tones according to branding guidelines, imprints, and in some case, air brushing. Let us know if you already have a design or if you’d like some happy help to develop it.

Materials & Engineering

Inflatable toys are often made with PVC plastic, however there are many other alternatives like polyester, latex, rubber base materials, foil plastic and environmentally friendly materials plastics. We can help recommend the best material for design.

Let us know if you’d like to hang the inflatable or secure it to the ground and we’ll suggest tether cords and other features to allow for safe and secure display. Depending on the nature of your order, we’ll also provide foot pumps, electric pumps or inflators to help get your larger ideas off the ground quickly, easily and with as few light heads as possible.

Things to Consider When Inflating Your Idea

Inflatable Ideas

There is an endless number of original inflatable items that we can create together. Please contact us with your ideas and together we’ll discuss the best format for your original blow-up items.

Packaging

As inflatables are compressible, foldable and compact when deflated, custom printed poly bags are an ideal packaging option. Other packaging options such as tubes, storage bags, and boxes are possible as well. Learn more about custom toy packaging for all kinds of items and feel free to share your other ideas with us.

Project Timelines

It generally takes between 2 and 4 months to design, prototype, produce and deliver custom created inflatable items. In some cases, we’re able to reduce these timelines. Please let us know your ideal delivery date.

Inflatables Order Quantity and Pricing

We customize inflatable toys and promotions to fit many budgets and order sizes. We recommend creating a minimum of 5000 original inflatable toys per order. With flexible budgets we are able to produce one giant inflatable. Please contact us with your ideal budget and together we’ll help design an inflatable that suits your needs and your budget.

Inflatables - No Hot Air
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