BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a straw for insertion into an inlet of a deflated balloon connected to a tube in accordance with this invention, the balloon being cut-away to show a self-sealing valve therein;
FIG. 2 is a broken-away elevational view of an inflated balloon connected to the tube of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a broken-away, perspective view depicting the removal of the straw from the inlet of the inflated balloon of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a broken-away, sectional view of the inflated balloon and tube of FIG. 2 mounted on the top of an upright container;
FIG. 5 is a broken-away, enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a broken-away, elevational view of an inflated balloon connected to a split tube and mounted on the top of a broken-away bottle;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a view analogous to FIG. 4, with a decorative element and a support base, especially useful as a centerpiece;
FIG. 9 is a view analogous to FIG. 2, but of another embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a view analogous to FIG. 4, with a motor for turning the balloon; and
FIG. 11 is a view analogous to FIG. 8, but with a tether for connecting the balloon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 identifies a combination of a pre-assembled unit 12 comprised of a deflated balloon 14 connected to a tube 16, and a hollow elongated conduit, for example, a straw 18 used, as described below, to inflate the balloon 14. The balloon 14 is preferably made of foil and includes a pair of juxtaposed, metallized films 20, 22, preferably of circular shape, peripherally sealed to bound an interior. Each film 20, 22 has integral stems 24, 26 (see FIG. 4) together constituting an elongated neck 28 on which a gas-admitting inlet 30 is formed. Shapes, other than circular for the films, can also be employed. Although the balloon 14 may have any diameter, it is preferred that the balloon diameter be eighteen inches or larger.
A pair of juxtaposed, elongated valve strips 32, 34 (see FIG. 4) is sealed along their longitudinal edges to bound a passage in gaseous communication with the inlet 30. The strips 32, 34 are generally planar, are in surface area contact with each other, and are captured between the films 20, 22 within the balloon. The valve strips 32, 34 function as a self-sealing valve, as described below.
The tube 16 is a hollow cylinder having inner and outer circumferential walls, as well as opposite, open axial ends. The tube 16 can be made of any material, cardboard being preferred. The unit 12 is pre-assembled by passing the neck 28 of the deflated balloon through at least one of the open axial ends of the tube, and connecting the neck 28 to the tube. This can be accomplished in various ways. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, the neck 28 is pulled through the opposite open axial end of the tube through the hollow interior thereof, and the end region 36 of the neck 28, which extends beyond the tube, is folded and secured to the outer circumferential wall of the tube, preferably with an adhesive. As shown in FIG. 2, an adhesive tape 38 is applied over the neck end region 36 and the outer circumferential wall of the tube 16. Alternatively, a double-sided adhesive tape could be applied between the outer wall of the tube and the neck end region. An adhesive layer could also be pre-applied on at least one of the outer tube wall and the neck end region, preferably the adhesive layer being covered by a peelable protective cover.
In a preferred embodiment, after the neck is secured to the tube, the inlet 30 is exposed. As shown in FIG. 1, the straw 18 is easily inserted into the exposed inlet and into the passage between the valve strips 32, 34. Air can be blown, by mouth, into the straw and through the valve strips 32, 34 into the interior of the balloon to inflate the same. Once the balloon is inflated, the straw is easily removed, as shown in FIG. 3, from the exposed inlet 30. The air pressure within the inflated balloon presses the valve strips 32, 34 together into planar sealing contact, thereby resisting escape of the gas from the inflated balloon. Should gas, however, escape, then the straw may be reintroduced into the exposed inlet through the valve strips 32, 34 into the interior of the balloon to reinflate the same.
Although the use of a self-sealing valve is preferred, the balloon can, for example, be inflated first, then heat-sealed, and thereafter connected to the tube. FIG. 9 depicts a view analogous to FIG. 2, wherein the neck end region 36 is wedged and held inside a slit 40 formed in the tube 16 to form the pre-assembled unit. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the exposed inlet 30 can be situated inside or outside the tube and, as shown, is outside the tube. The neck end region 36 can be left to hang free, or can be adhesively secured to the outer circumferential wall thereof.
The pre-assembled unit 12 is mounted on a container to constitute a balloon display system. As shown in FIG. 4, the container 42 is cylindrical and has an open top 44 and a closed bottom 46. The tube 16 is slidably inserted into the open top 44 and frictionally retained therein. The sidewall of the container 42 may be light-transmissive or opaque as shown. The container may hold a product, for example edible items such as candies or jellybeans, or non-edible items such as toys.
In FIG. 4, the container 42 contains a music or sound module 50, analogous to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,065 and No. 6,821,183. The module 50 is powered by a battery and includes a microchip for actuating a speaker 48. The module 50 is mounted on the closed bottom 46, and the sound generated by the module is amplified and resonated by the container and travels through the tube 16, thereby allowing the films of the bottom to vibrate and enhance the musical presentation, for example, a song memorializing a social event such as a birthday. Air holes 52 are used to allow the sound to be heard more loudly. Preferably, the closed bottom 46 is weighted to prevent the container from tipping.
FIG. 6 depicts a different type of container on which the pre-assembled unit is mounted. This container is a liquor or wine bottle 54 having a cylindrical top 56 closed by an inner cork or an outer cap. The tube 16 is slid over and around the closed top 56, as shown in FIG. 7. Since different bottles 54 have cylindrical tops of different diameters, the tube 16 is advantageously provided with an axial slot 58 to permit the tube 16 to expand to accommodate such different sizes. The slotted tube 16 thus acts as a clip to resiliently hold the pre-assembled unit on the bottle 54.
FIG. 8 is analogous to FIG. 4 in that both depict the pre-assembled unit mounted on and within an open top of a cylindrical container 42. In the case of FIG. 8, however, the sidewall of the container 42 is light-transmissive to enable the product therein, in this case, jellybeans 60, to be seen. The jellybeans can be packed in a transparent bag (not illustrated).
Since the container 42 is relatively tall and narrow, a support base 62 is advantageously fitted on the bottom of the container to resist tipping. The support base 62 is preferably weighted. For increased adornment, a decorative element 64 is mounted on the container, especially in the region of the tube 16 to at least partially conceal the same from view. As shown, the decorative element 64 includes a sleeve 66 axially slidable lengthwise of the container 42 and frictionally retained in any selected position, for example, in the circumambient region of the tube 16, and a multitude of decorative strips 68 each extending downwardly along a curved arc. Other decorative elements are contemplated. A plurality of the same or different decorative elements may be located at different heights above the base 62.
Thus, in accordance with this invention, a foil balloon, even of large size, can be filled with air, helium or other gas, and, after being connected to a tube, can be easily and effectively used as centerpieces (e.g., FIG. 4 or FIG. 8), or gifts (e.g., FIG. 6). This opens up many new retail outlets to foil balloons, and provides many new uses for such balloons.
The exposed inlet 30 can be used for the initial inflation of the balloon, or for subsequent refills. The balloon is preferably, but need not be, pre-attached to the tube. The balloon is preferably a foil balloon, but could also be a latex balloon. For additional adornment, light emitting diodes may be provided on the container. In a retail environment, a purchaser can select and mix and match among different balloons, containers, and products for placement inside the containers. The purchaser can buy a pre-assembled unit with a deflated balloon, and then inflate the balloon at home prior to the presentation of the item decorated by the balloon display system of this invention.
In still another variation as shown in FIG. 11, the balloon is inflated and tied off by a string, ribbon or like tether 70, in which case, the tether is passed through at least one of the open ends of the container, and thereupon secured, for example, by being wedged between the container and the base 62. A weight 74 can advantageously be positioned within the container.
Motion can be added to the system by using a low voltage, DC motor 72, as shown in FIG. 10, or an AC motor, to cause the balloon and the tube to rotate relative to the container.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in balloon display systems, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080076322
