Patent Application
20130193355
This invention relates generally to a balloon sealing device, and more particularly to a balloon sealing device that has a neck in which a ribbon may be attached and which is safe to use with balloons filled with air or gases lighter than air.
Balloons filled with air or gases lighter than air are commonly used as decorations at parties, marketing promotions, sporting rallies, and as toys. For such events, it is common that a large number of balloons are filled, the necks of the balloons are then tied in a knot to then be secured to a string or “ribbon,” and then the balloons floating on the ribbon are displayed.
A common problem with tying a large number of balloons for a gathering is that the resilient nature of the material from which balloons are produced is such that one's fingertips are constantly strained and pinched and will often become tender and sore. In many instances, adults find that their fingers are too large to tie the small balloons. In other instances, adults may have arthritis or limited dexterity of their fingers, which makes tying a knot in the balloon difficult.
Balloon tying devices and methods are known in the art for sealing the neck of a balloon to prevent deflation. In most instances in which there is a need for a balloon, there is also a need for the balloon to have ribbon or string attached to it, particularly when presenting a lighter-than-air balloon which must be tethered to prevent its floating away. There is a need in the art for a means to associate ribbon or string with the sealing device because currently there is no means for accomplishing this. The present invention sets out to fill this need.
In one embodiment the present invention provides a balloon sealing and display device comprising a disk-like body member that includes a first sealing slit formed therein, extending from an open mouth inwardly to a closed end. The disk-like body member also includes a second sealing slit formed therein extending from an open mouth inwardly to a closed end. The closed end of the first sealing slit and the closed end of the second sealing slit are spaced apart from one another to define a neck wrap portion of the body member. The disk-like body member also includes a ribbon wrap portion. The balloon sealing and display device also includes a ribbon, having a first end and a second end defining a length thereof, having the first end secured to the body member.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as above, wherein the first end of the ribbon is secured at the neck wrap portion.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in either [0005] or [0006] above, wherein the majority of said ribbon is wrapped around the ribbon wrap portion of the device.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in any of the paragraphs [0005] to [0007] above, wherein the ribbon slit in said body member is sized to receive the ribbon therein and pinch and hold the same.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in any of the paragraphs [0005] to [0008] above, wherein the ribbon slit is formed in the ribbon wrap portion.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in any of the paragraphs [0005] to [0009] above, wherein the ribbon wrap portion is defined by two opposed non-parallel edges of the body member.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in any of the paragraphs [0005] to [0010] above, wherein the non-parallel edges define a tapered neck extending from an inner end to a distal end, said tapered neck widening as it extends from said inner end to said distal end.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in any of the paragraphs [0005] to [0011] above, wherein the non-parallel edges are angled relative to each other at an angle of from 5° to 45°.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in any of the paragraphs [0005] to [0012] above, wherein a majority of the length of the ribbon is wound around the tapered neck, and the second end of the ribbon is exposed for access, whereby the ribbon may be axially unwound from the tapered neck by pulling the second end of the ribbon in the direction from the inner end to the distal end of the tapered neck.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in any of the paragraphs [0005] to [0013] above, wherein the non-parallel edges are substantially straight and uninterrupted from the inner end to the distal end of the tapered neck.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in any of the paragraphs [0005] to [0014] above, wherein the disk-like body member is formed of a biodegradable material.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in any of the paragraphs [0005] to [0015] above, wherein the ribbon is formed of a biodegradable material.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in any of the paragraphs [0005] to [0016] above, wherein the disk-like body member includes at least one window defined by material removed from the disk-like body member.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon sealing and display device as in any of the paragraphs [0005] to [0017] above, wherein the window is provided in the ribbon wrap portion.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon display device comprising a balloon sealing and display device and a balloon. The balloon sealing and display device includes a disk-like body member that includes a first sealing slit formed therein, extending from an open mouth inwardly to a closed end. The disk-like body member also includes a second sealing slit formed therein extending from an open mouth inwardly to a closed end. The closed end of the first sealing slit and the closed end of the second sealing slit are spaced apart from one another to define a neck wrap portion of the body member. The disk-like body member also includes a ribbon wrap portion. The balloon sealing and display device also includes a ribbon, having a first end and a second end defining a length thereof, having the first end secured to the body member. The balloon of the balloon display includes a neck, said neck being wound about said neck wrap portion, so the balloon is secured to the disk-like body member.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon display device as in [0019] above, wherein the balloon neck is stretched and the neck is received into the first sealing slit, passing through the first sealing slit and pulled taut at said first closed end, the balloon neck further being wrapped over the neck wrap portion and pulled through the second sealing slit, passing through the second sealing slit and pulled taut at the second closed end, and the balloon neck further being pulled under the neck wrap portion and back through the first sealing slit, thereby sealing the balloon neck without having to tie the neck.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon display device as in [0019] or [0020] above, wherein the first end of the ribbon is secured at the neck wrap portion.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon display device in any of the paragraphs [0019] to [0021] above, wherein the ribbon wrap portion is defined by two opposed non-parallel edges of the body member and wherein the non-parallel edges define a tapered neck extending from the inner end to the distal end of the tapered neck. The tapered neck widens as it extends from its inner end to its distal end.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon display device in any of the paragraphs [0019] to [0022] above, wherein the non-parallel edges are angled relative to each other at an angle of from 5° to 45°.
In other embodiments this invention provides a balloon display device in any of the paragraphs [0019] to [0022] above, wherein a majority of the length of the ribbon is wound around the tapered neck, and the second end of the ribbon is exposed for access, whereby the ribbon may be axially unwound from the tapered neck by pulling the second end of the ribbon in the direction from the inner end to the distal end of the tapered neck.
It will be appreciated that balloons, particularly lighter-than-air balloons (such as those filled with helium), are often displayed on the end of a ribbon or string. The term “ribbon” is employed herein, but it is to cover all similar string-like or ribbon-like items.
Referring to
To complete the balloon sealing and display device 10, the ribbon 13 is secured thereto. The ribbon 13 has a first end 14 and a second end 15, which define the length of the ribbon. As seen in
As seen in
A second embodiment of a disk-like body member as shown in
With the structure disclosed, the ribbon 13 can beneficially be axially unwound from the ribbon wrap portion 30. To axially unwind the ribbon 13 an individual would grab the second end 15 of the ribbon 13 which is secured in the ribbon slit 36, as shown as being exposed for access in
A balloon display employing the device 10 is shown in
In some embodiments, the disk-like body member 12 may be formed from virtually any solid material. In some embodiments, the disk-like body member 12 is made from polypropylene, polyethylene, and/or high-impact polystyrene. In some embodiments, the disk-like body member 12 is made to be biodegradable. In a particular embodiment, the biodegradable material is a polylactic acid (PLA) such as Cereplast™ (Cereplast™, El Segundo, Calif.).
In some embodiments, the ribbon 13 may be formed from virtually any solid material. In some embodiments, the ribbon 13 is made from polypropylene, polyethylene, and/or polyester. In some embodiments, the ribbon 13 is made to be biodegradable. In a particular embodiment, the biodegradable material is cotton.
In light of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the present invention significantly advances the art by providing a balloon sealing and display device that is structurally and functionally improved in a number of ways. While particular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby inasmuch as variations on the invention herein will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. The scope of the invention shall be appreciated from the claims that follow.
