Claims
- 1. A balloon sculpture formed 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 balloon sculpture comprising, in combination:
- (a) a plurality of rigid, lineal, rod-like balloon formers each including:
- (a) first end;
- (ii) a second end;
- (iii) means defining at least one axially extending diametric slot formed in at least one (1) of said first and second former ends, said slot defining means further defining an axial bore formed in said at least one (1) of said first and second former ends; and,
- (iv) means defining an axial bore in the other of said first and second former ends;
- (b) at least one connector pin adapted to be inserted into, and project from, said axial bore defining means in said other of said first and second former ends, said projecting portion of said connector pin adapted to extend axially partially into said slot defining means in a second of said plurality of rod-like formers for connecting said formers in end-to-end relation;
- (c) means for supporting a plurality of interconnected end-to-end rod-like formers in an upright state; and,
- (d) a plurality of at least partially inflated balloons, each of said balloons having:
- (i) its constricted neck portion passing through said slot defining means in one of said plurality of interconnected end-to-end rod-like formers;
- (ii) at least one (1) of its inflation aperture and/or its constricted neck portion removably secured to the particular former through which its constricted neck portion passes;
- (iii) its at least partially inflated sidewall stretched along, and in juxtaposition to, at least a portion of the unslotted length of at least one of said interconnected end-to-end formers; and,
- (iv) a portion of said stretched, partially inflated sidewall being secured to one of said plurality of rigid, lineal, rod-like formers at a point spaced axially from the slotted end of the particular one of said formers through which that balloon's constricted neck portion passes;
- whereby, said interconnected end-to-end rod-like formers define a lineal barrier precluding distension of that portion of said sidewall(s) of the particular ones of said balloons secured thereto and in juxtaposition therewith so as to cause each of said plurality of at least partially inflated balloons to assume an inflated configuration having one generally flat axial plane abutting at least one of said formers, tapered pointed extremities, and a generally ovate configuration in all other axial planes bisecting said interconnected end-to-end formers and wherein said plurality of balloons at least partially surround and conceal said formers.
- 2. A balloon sculpture as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of rigid, lineal, rod-like balloon formers further includes means defining at least one (1) laterally and upwardly projecting pin-like mounting lug.
- 3. A balloon sculpture as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of rigid, lineal, rod-like balloon formers further includes a plurality of radial bores disposed at an acute included angle with the axis of the former and extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom, said plurality of radial bores being located at diverse axial locations along the unslotted length of said former and being disposed about the periphery thereof; and, wherein said pin-like mounting lug defining means is(are) separably mounted in selected one(s) of said, radial bores.
- 4. A balloon sculpture as set forth in claims 2 or 3 wherein said plurality of at least partially inflated balloons are adapted to be stretched between, and secured at, selected ones of two (2) axially spaced points on said plurality of interconnected end-to-end rod-like formers where said two (2) axially spaced points comprise:
- (i) the slotted end on a first of said formers and said mounting lug on said first of said formers;
- (ii) the slotted end on a first of said formers and said connector pin on said other end of said first of said formers;
- (iii) the slotted end on a first of said formers and said mounting lug on another of said formers;
- (iv) the slotted end on a first of said formers and said connector pin on the other end of another of said formers;
- (v) the slotted end on a second of said formers and said mounting lug on said second of said formers;
- (vi) the slotted end on a second of said formers and said connector pin on said other end of said second of said formers;
- (vii) the slotted end on a second of said formers and said mounting lug on another of said formers other than said first of said formers; and/or,
- (viii) the slotted end on a second of said formers and said connector pin on said other end of another of said formers other than said first of said formers.
Parent Case Info
The present Application is a division of Applicant's copending U.S. application Ser. No. 07/183,720 filed Apr. 19, 1988, entitled "BALLOON SCULPTURING METHODS, APPARATUS AND PRODUCTS", now U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,926.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
183720 |
Apr 1988 |
|