Claims
- 1. The method of 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 plurality of rigid rod-like balloon formers each having: (i) a first end; (ii) a second end; and (iii), 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 a plurality of balloons;
- (c) passing the uninflated constricted neck portion of at least one partially inflated balloon through the slot defining means in each of the plurality of rigid rod-like balloon formers;
- (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 through which that balloon's constricted neck portion passes;
- (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 particular rigid rod-like former to which that balloon is secured;
- (f) stretching the grasped portion of each partially inflated balloon over and about the other of the first and second ends of the particular rigid rod-like former to which that balloon is secured; and,
- (g) coupling the plurality of rigid rod-like balloon formers together to form a balloon sculpture having a desired configuration;
- wherein each rigid rod-like former and each partially inflated balloon secured thereto constitute a basic balloon building block used in the composite balloon sculpture and wherein each partially inflated balloon is characterized by: (i) having a first generally flat axially extending sidewall in juxtaposition to the axial length of the particular former to which it is attached; (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 that rigid rod-like former.
- 2. The balloon sculpture formed by the method set forth in claim 1.
- 3. The method of forming a balloon sculpture as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least two (2) of the plurality of rigid rod-like balloon formers are coupled in end-to-end relation in Step (g).
- 4. The method of forming a balloon sculpture as set forth in claim 1 wherein a first of said plurality of rigid rod-like balloon formers and the balloon(s) attached thereto defining a first basic balloon building block is mounted in a vertically upright position by inserting one end of the first rigid rod-like former into a bore formed in a support base; a disk-like coupling device including a plurality of peripheral radial bores, at least one axial bore formed in at least one (1) face thereof and a plurality of angularly related bores formed in at least one face thereof in surrounding relation to the axis of the coupling device is mounted on the other end of the first rigid rod-like former in the first building block by insertion of the other end of the former into one of the radial bores; and, a plurality of additional basic balloon building blocks formed during Steps (a) through (f) are removably secured to the coupling device during Step (g) by insertion of one end of the rigid rod-like formers included in each of the plurality of additional basic balloon building blocks into respective different ones of the remaining radial bores and the axial and angularly related bores in the coupling device.
- 5. A balloon sculpture simulating a floral arrangement formed by the method set forth in claim 4 wherein the first basic balloon building block simulates a vase and the remaining basic balloon building blocks simulate the flowers and/or other foliage in the vase.
- 6. The method of forming a balloon sculpture as set forth in claim 1 further including a disk-like coupling device having an axial bore and a plurality of angularly related bores surrounding the axial bore formed in one face thereof; and, wherein the plurality of basic balloon building blocks are mounted in the coupling device in Step (g) by inserting one end of each rigid rod-like former in each of the plurality of basic balloon building blocks into the plurality of bores formed in the coupling device to form the completed balloon sculpture.
- 7. The balloon sculpture formed by the method set forth in claim 6.
- 8. The new method of use of modular connectable and disconnectable construction elements including: (i) rod-like construction elements having means defining at least one axially extending diametric slot formed in at least one end thereof and means, including the slot defining means, for permitting insertion of connector pins to permit end-to-end coupling of a plurality of rod-like construction elements; (ii) connector pins; and (iii), disk-like coupling elements having at least one axial bore coincident with the axis thereof, a plurality of radial bores, and a plurality of angularly related bores formed in at least one face of the disk-like coupling elements in surrounding relation to the axis thereof; said new use comprising a method including the steps of:
- (a) securing each of n at least partially inflated balloons, wherein "n" is equal to any desired whole integer, to the rod-like construction elements at two (2) axially spaced points to form basic balloon building blocks whereby said securing is by use of a closed balloon aperture in said slot defining means and imperforate sidewall stretched along said rod-like construction element and attached approximate the other end of said element; and,
- (b) coupling the basic balloon building blocks formed in Step (a) together utilizing one or more of the connector pins and/or disk-like coupling elements to form a balloon sculpture.
- 9. The balloon sculpture formed by the method set forth in claim 1.
- 10. A balloon sculpture formed by the method set forth in claim 1 and simulating an animate object such as a person, clown or animal.
- 11. A balloon sculpture formed by the method set forth in claim 1 and simulating an inanimate object such as a floral arrangement, a Christmas tree, a vegetable or a three-dimensional structure.
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 (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
900310 |
Dec 1953 |
DEX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
"Balloon Tree", Cascade Restaurant, Williamsburg, VA, Dec. 1984. |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
183720 |
Apr 1988 |
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