Sat Jul 26 08:49:39 UTC 2025: **News Article: From Bouncy Castles to Life-Saving Cushions: How One Man’s Inventions Changed the World**
**KENNER, LA** – John T. Scurlock, a New Orleans engineer, is being remembered for his innovative spirit and dedication to safety, which led to the creation of both the ubiquitous bouncy castle and the life-saving safety air cushion used by firefighters worldwide. Scurlock’s journey began with a personal tragedy: the 1972 Rault Center fire, where several women perished after jumping from a burning building. This event spurred Scurlock to develop an inflatable cushion that could provide a safe landing for those forced to jump from great heights.
Scurlock’s dedication to his idea included rigorous testing. He had his sons jump from the roof of their house onto his prototypes to ensure the designs safety. The safety air cushion soon became a standard tool for fire departments from New York to Tokyo, saving countless lives in fire emergencies and suicide attempts.
Interestingly, Scurlock’s life-saving invention was inspired by an earlier creation: the bouncy castle, originally known as the “space pillow.” Inspired by his work at NASA on inflatable space station concepts, Scurlock created the “space pillow” for his children in the 1960s. It quickly became a neighborhood sensation, leading to the launch of Space Walk Inflatables in 1972.
Though the family business initially faced safety challenges, Scurlock refined the design, adding protective features like columns, netting, and a roof. Today, the global bouncy castle market is a multi-billion dollar industry. The Scurlock family continues to manufacture safety air cushions, and continue to explore new ideas and innovations.
First Piper 