Inflatable doorknobs work and look a lot like regular doorknobs except that being inflated they are not hard. Instead of knocking holes in your walls they will bounce off the wall and keep your walls looking pretty.

The construction of the knobs would be similar to such things as Tennis Balls, or racquetballs and they could have a variety of textures and finishes.

They also, being non-metallic, will not conduct cold so that in colder climates the doorknob will be warm to the touch.

For Kids you can add the Whoopee kit so that the doorknob emits a fun sound when used. This can also be helpful as a security device.
-- jhomrighaus, Aug 16 2006

A profile sectional view http://www.bimmerbo...latabledoorknob.JPG
how its made. [jhomrighaus, Aug 16 2006]

I'm giving you that croissie there because of the whoopee kit but you still have to explain to me how an inflatable doorknob opens a door.
-- methinksnot, Aug 16 2006


Just like a regular doorknob. As you twist the knob it will deflect a little bit but will easily actuate the door latch mechanism. Im thinking these will feel similar to say a raquetball or a tennis ball which are more than stiff enough to do the job, yet still deform suffciently to protect your walls. Think like a Raquette ball molded in a door knob shape with a hard plastic fitting where it would attach to the door.
-- jhomrighaus, Aug 16 2006


Little deformation means only a limited quantity of air to create "Whoopee" effect. This humble correspondent suggests these doorknobs be oversized.

Although puerile, I think the whoopee effect will be the main selling point of the j-house range of gonflable door hardware.
-- methinksnot, Aug 16 2006


I think for the Whoopee versions they would be made of less rigid material to provide more air for the fun part, Or alternatively they could have an outershell that is much less rigid that is attached to the noisemaker with a slightly undersized inner knob(to better fit small hands)

Use with a Whoopee Carpet and you will have a mess load of fun.
-- jhomrighaus, Aug 16 2006


//vacuum clean the knobs// - apart from the "smirk" factor - you actually do this?
-- Frankx, Aug 17 2006


//you actually do this//

Well, no, because he doesn't have fluffy tennis-ball doorknobs yet.
-- angel, Aug 17 2006


Don't encourage our gorgeous UK government to legislate this into the Building Regs- we'll be living in padded cells before we know it, lest we hurt ourselves on hard things. Ban erections! You'll injure yourself if you fall on it!
-- Azazello, Aug 17 2006


Closing doors by thwacking the doorknob with a tennis racquet would be fun.
-- hippo, Aug 17 2006


Really should set up a campus for all things gonflable, yay.
-- skinflaps, Aug 17 2006


// I was mortified.//
Okay, who are you and what have you done with the real [UnaBubba]?
-- moomintroll, Aug 17 2006


He's in a padded room somewhere with fluffy dorknobs.
-- NotTheSharpestSpoon, Aug 17 2006


I'm wondering if they somehow got deflated, would it still be possible to open the door. (My bun hinges on the answer to this.)
-- xandram, Aug 17 2006


Of course it would still be possible to open the door. Unless you want it to stay closed, in which case: No, you wouldn't be able to open the door. Look, just give him a bun, ok?
-- methinksnot, Aug 17 2006


As stated these would not be like party ballons but more like Tennisballs or raquette balls so they will still be firm enough to work the door even if deflated.
-- jhomrighaus, Aug 17 2006


OK then, consider yourself bunned.

even though I am easily confused...
-- xandram, Aug 17 2006


what happens when these are popped? can someone then just pull them out and get to their workings? i see this as a serious flaw.
-- tcarson, Aug 18 2006


<reaches for (always on hand) racquetball> yay!

I popped a racquetball the other day and it was still quite pliable, mind you.

Also, theres no reason that a tiny metal ball can't reside within said extremely fun squishy ball. Therefore, under utter degradation, the door could still be open. Needless to say, BAHN!

btw. sp. racquetball. (This must be one of those commonly misspelled words)
-- daseva, Aug 18 2006


sorry [gumbob] I think its just that my spelling sucks.

[tcarson] As I discussed above these are not really soft and as stated they are more intended in an indoor setting. It would be easy enough to design the latch such that the knob slides into a cam type reccess(think like those round locks on Car wheels, or on soda machines) that would not be easy to tamper with. Take a look at your average home door knob and you will find that a screwdriver will get you into the latch mechanism in about 30sec.
-- jhomrighaus, Aug 18 2006


When I read thos, I thought Genius! For another reason than your own however.

It would be good to use as a security device in that when deflated would descend back into the door, leaving no knob whatsoever. This, combined with a locking system would baffle intruders.
-- shinobi, Aug 19 2006


Say, that is pretty cool.

Where's my crowbar?
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Aug 20 2006


Just use this bomb.
-- daseva, Aug 20 2006


//Take a look at your average home door knob and you will find that a screwdriver will get you into the latch mechanism in about 30sec.//

It's true. Even if they have the collar hiding the screws. I one morning, bleary eyed, found my closet door locked while I stood wanting my shirt and pants on the other side.
I had to mangle the collar, but it only took about 30 sec's (possibly even counting the time it took to go get the screwdriver) to get the door to open - once I got through telling the door every curse word I know auction-ere style.
-- Zimmy, Aug 20 2006



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