Claims
- 1. The method of forming a sculpture from one (1) or more balloons comprising the steps of:
- (a) establishing a balloon forming device consisting of rigid rod-like balloon former defining means; and,
- (b) securing at least one (1) balloon to the rigid rod-like balloon former defining means in juxtaposition therewith; whereby, when each balloon is inflated the rigid rod-like balloon former defining means establish at least one (1) lineal barrier precluding distension of each balloon along that lineal barrier while permitting distension of each balloon as lobes formed on either side of the barrier so as to cause the inflated balloon to assume a nonspherical configuration which: (i) substantially conceals the rigid rod-like balloon former defining means; and (ii), conforms in shape to the shape of at least a portion of the desired sculpture.
- 2. The balloon sculpture formed by the method set forth in claim 1.
- 3. The method of forming a basic balloon building block for a balloon sculpture formed from one (1) or more balloons of the type having a constricted neck portion terminating at one end in an inflation aperture and at the other end in an imperforate inflatable sidewall, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) establishing a rigid rod-like balloon former having first and second ends and means defining at least one (1) axially extending diametric slot formed in at least one (1) of the first and second former ends;
- (b) partially inflating at least one (1) balloon;
- (c) passing the uninflated constricted neck portion of each partially inflated balloon through the slot defining means;
- (d) securing at least one (1) of the inflation aperture and/or the constricted neck portion of each partially inflated balloon to the rigid rod-like former;
- (e) grasping a portion of the sidewall of each partially inflated balloon and stretching the partially inflated balloon sidewall along the unslotted length of the rigid rod-like former; and,
- (f) stretching the grasped portion of each partially inflated balloon over and about the other of the first and second former ends so as to fixedly, but removably, secure each partially inflated balloon to the rigid rod-like former at two (2) axially spaced points; whereby, the at least one (1) partially inflated balloon and the rigid rod-like former constitute a basic balloon building block in which each partially inflated balloon is characterized by: (i) having a first generally flat axially extending sidewall in juxtaposition to the axial length of the former; (ii) having upper and lower tapered pointed extremities; and (iii), having an at least partially ovate configuration in all other axial planes bisecting that balloon and the rigid rod-like former.
- 4. The method for forming a basic balloon building block for a balloon sculpture as set forth in claim 3 wherein: (i) a plurality of balloons are partially inflated in Step (b); (ii) the constricted neck portion of each of the plurality of balloons is passed through the slot defining means in the former end in Step (c); (iii) at least one (1) of the inflation aperture and/or the constricted neck portion of each of the plurality of partially inflated balloons is secured to the rigid rod-like former in Step (d); (iv) a portion of the sidewall on each of the plurality of partially inflated balloons is grasped and stretched along the unslotted length of the rigid rod-like former in Step (e); and (v), the grasped portion of each of the plurality of balloons is stretched over and about the other of the first and second former ends so as to fixedly, but removably, secure each of the plurality of partially inflated balloons to the rigid rod-like former at two (2) axially spaced points in Step (f); whereby all of the partially inflated balloons define adjacent, lobe-like, partially ovate segments having tapered pointed extremities and radiating outward from a common lineal axis defined by the rigid rod-like former.
- 5. The basic balloon building block formed by the method set forth in claims 3 or 4.
- 6. The method for forming a basic balloon building block for a balloon sculpture as set forth in claims 3 or 4 wherein the inflation aperture of each balloon is secured to the rigid rod-like former in Step (d) by stretching the constricted neck portion of each balloon along the unslotted length of the rigid rod-like former and stretching the inflation aperture of each balloon over and about the other of the first and second former ends.
- 7. The method for forming a basic balloon building block for a balloon sculpture as set forth in claims 3 or 4 wherein the inflation aperture of each balloon is secured to the rigid rod-like former in Step (d) by stretching the inflation aperture of each balloon over and about a mounting lug secured to the former and extending outwardly and upwardly from the axis thereof.
- 8. The method for forming a basic balloon building block for a balloon sculpture as set forth in claims 3 or 4 wherein the uninflated constricted neck portion of each partially inflated balloon passed through the slot defining means in the rigid rod-like balloon former in Step (c) is secured to the former in Step (d) by wrapping the constricted neck portion of each balloon about the rigid rod-like former and again passing the constricted neck portion through the slot defining means.
- 9. The method for forming a basic balloon building block for a balloon sculpture as set forth in claims 3 or 4 wherein the grasped portion of each partially inflated balloon is secured to the rigid rod-like former in Step (f) by stretching that sidewall portion of each balloon along the unslotted length of the former and over and about mounting lug defining means formed on a coupling device coaxially mounted on the other of the first and second former ends for enabling two (2) or more rigid rod-like formers to be coupled together.
- 10. The method of forming a basic balloon building block as set forth in claim 3 wherein the at least one partially inflated balloon is wrapped spirally about the rigid rod-like balloon former during Step (e).
- 11. The basic balloon building block formed by the method set forth in claim 10.
- 12. The method for forming a balloon sculpture from a plurality of balloons of the type having a constricted neck portion terminating at one end in an inflation aperture and at the other end in an imperforate inflatable sidewall, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) establishing a rigid rod-like balloon former having first and second ends and means defining at least one (1) axially extending diametric slot formed in at least one (1) of the first and second former ends;
- (b) partially inflating at least one (1) first balloon;
- (c) passing the uninflated constricted neck portion of each partially inflated first balloon through the slot defining means;
- (d) securing at least one (1) of the inflation aperture and/or the constricted neck portion of each partially inflated first balloon to the rigid rod-like former;
- (e) grasping a portion of the sidewall of each partially inflated first balloon and stretching the partially inflated balloon sidewall along the unslotted length of the rigid rod-like former;
- (f) stretching the grasped portion of each partially inflated first balloon over and about the other of the first and second former ends so as to fixedly, but removably, secure each of the partially inflated first balloons to the rigid rod-like former at two (2) axially spaced points to form a basic balloon building block;
- (g) at least partially inflating at least one (1) second balloon; and,
- (h) removably attaching each of the at least one (1) second balloons to the basic balloon building block formed in Steps (a) through (f) to form a completed balloon sculpture;
- wherein, each of the at least one (1) partially inflated first balloons is characterized by: (i) having a first generally flat axially extending sidewall in juxtaposition to the axial length of the former; (ii) having upper and lower tapered pointed extremities; and (iii), having an at least partially ovate configuration in all other axial planes bisecting that balloon and the rigid rod-like former; and wherein, each of the at least one (1) partially inflated second balloons is generally spherical in shape.
- 13. The balloon sculpture formed by the method set forth in claim 12.
- 14. The method for forming a balloon sculpture as set forth in claim 12 wherein at least certain of the at least one (1) partially inflated second balloons is(are) sealed by knotting the constricted neck portion(s) thereof and is(are) removably attached to the basic balloon building block in Step (h) by passing the knotted constricted neck portion(s) thereof through the region between the rigid rod-like balloon former and a first balloon in juxtaposition therewith whereby that(those) certain second balloon(s) is(are) frictionally retained in place by the rigid rod-like former and the adjacent juxtaposed first balloon.
- 15. The method for forming a balloon sculpture as set forth in claim 12 wherein at least certain of the at least one (1) partially inflated second balloons is(are) sealed and removably attached to the basic balloon building block in Step (h) by passing the constricted neck portion(s) thereof at least once through the slot defining means in the rigid rod-like former.
- 16. The method for forming a balloon sculpture as set forth in claim 12 wherein a plurality of second balloons are at least partially inflated in Step (g) and wherein less than all of the plurality of second balloons is(are) sealed and removably attached to the basic balloon building block in Step (h) by passing the constricted neck portion(s) thereof at least once through the slot defining means in the rigid rod-like former while the remainder of the plurality of second balloons is(are) sealed by knotting the constricted neck portion(s) thereof and is(are) removably attached to the basic balloon building block in Step (h) by passing the knotted constricted neck portion(s) thereof through the region between the rigid rod-like balloon former and a first balloon in juxtaposition therewith whereby the remainder of the plurality of second balloons is(are) frictionally retained in place by the rigid rod-like former and the adjacent juxtaposed first balloon.
- 17. The method of forming a balloon sculpture as set forth in claim 14 wherein the slotted end of the rigid rod-like former of the basic balloon building block formed in Steps (a) through (f) is inserted into a base for maintaining the balloon sculpture in an erect position.
- 18. The method for forming a balloon sculpture as set forth in claim 15 wherein a plurality of partially inflated second balloons are sealed and removably attached to the basic balloon building block in Step (h) so as to form a base for supporting the balloon sculpture in an erect position.
- 19. A balloon sculpture simulating a clown's face and formed by the method as set forth in claim 17 wherein three (3) first balloons are secured to the rigid rod-like former in Steps (d) and (f) with at least a portion of the centermost one of the three (3) first balloons simulating the clown's nose and wherein two (2) second balloons simulating the clown's eyes are removably attached to the basic building block in Step (h) on opposite sides of the centermost one of the three (3) first balloons.
- 20. A balloon sculpture simulating an open pea pod and formed by the method as set forth in claim 16 wherein: (i) two (2) first balloons simulating the open halves of the pod or shell are secured to the rigid rod-like former in Steps (d) and (f); (ii) a first plurality of second balloons are sealed and removably attached to the basic balloon building block in Step (h) by passing the constricted neck portions thereof at least once through the slot defining means in the rigid rod-like former to form a support base for the balloon sculpture; and (iii), a second plurality of second balloons are sealed by knotting the constricted neck portions thereof and are removably attached to the basic balloon building block in Step (h) by passing the knotted constricted neck portions thereof through the region between the rigid rod-like balloon former and one or the other of the two (2) first balloons to simulate the peas contained within the pod.
Parent Case Info
The present Application is a division of Applicant's copending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/183,720 filed April 19, 1988, entitled "BALLOON SCULPTURING METHODS, APPARATUS AND PRODUCTS". Now U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,926.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
"Big George," Washington Post, 8/76. |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
183720 |
Apr 1988 |
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